Chapter 27
As soon as Viktor ascended to the chairman position, he quickly began stabilization work.
First, he released all troops in Zabinsk to search for remaining traitors.
Nobles who were trying to flee after sensing something was wrong, and nobles who were sleeping at home unaware of anything, were all transported to the palace without distinction.
After more than ten thousand troops were released within the capital, Viktor officially announced the fact of the king's assassination and the establishment of the council.
Most people with unsavory intentions became docile due to the pressure from the soldiers, and afterwards Viktor himself and the corps commanders went around directly reassuring people.
Because Viktor, who had been a hero of the Rus Kingdom, came forward and promised to stabilize the kingdom as quickly as possible and then step down immediately, people accepted the council composed of corps commanders without much resistance.
Viktor sent a letter to the empire detailing the situation the kingdom was in and his determination to keep his promise.
However, he thoroughly concealed the fact that he had sent the letter for later use.
The nobles gathered in the palace were classified according to Vladimir's testimony and the council's judgment.
Mikhail Kapayev, Nikolai Smilov, and other nobles who had some power in the Rus Kingdom all became traitors due to Vladimir's confession, and the nobles who accompanied them were the same.
Of the Royal Guard, only Andrei, who directly participated in the attack, and a few of his subordinates were classified as traitors.
Except for them, the Royal Guard was punished only to the extent of being disbanded for failing to protect the king, taking into account their cooperation in the palace.
As Vladimir's crime was certain, and the punishment for traitors was set as execution.
On the day of the rebellion, their public execution was decided and carried out.
Dozens of traitors' heads were cut off at the execution ground.
As most of those executed were nobles with poor reputations from before, the people who flocked to the execution ground cheered at their deaths.
The property and territories of the traitors were confiscated in the name of the state, and their families were either executed together depending on their degree of involvement, or lost all their power and were expelled from Zabinsk.
In a situation where all the nobles and the king who originally led the country had disappeared.
Temporarily, all authority in the Rus Kingdom was concentrated in the council, and some feared that too much power was being given to the soldiers.
In response, Viktor quickly filled the vacant positions in the court by gathering nobles not involved in the treason, and quickly searched for candidates to ascend to the king's position, dispelling those worries.
Although nobles connected to the former king's family all held positions and couldn't escape treason charges, there was someone among the uninvolved nobles who had even a slight blood connection to the royal family.
The council recommended him as the new king.
The king's accession procedure is usually quite long, but Viktor prepared for the king's accession as quickly as possible, skipping unnecessary procedures on the grounds of quickly ending the confusion.
At the same time, he publicly stated his intention to dissolve the council immediately upon the king's accession, building people's trust.
As Viktor had the simultaneous support of the military and civilians, and it was nearly impossible to go against him who had the justification of resolving the rebellion.
All work continued without obstacles, and most of the situation was resolved within two days of the rebellion occurring.
The new king of the Rus Kingdom is scheduled to ascend to the throne in two days, giving one day of leeway.
Thus, before the council dissolved, support for Viktor, who had excellently resolved the rebellion situation, was sky-high.
Viktor, as the chairman of the council and commander-in-chief, on the day before the king's coronation ceremony.
Announced he would give a speech, and gathered the entire army.
---
The council was a means for me to legally hold full authority.
During the process of suppressing the rebellion, I strictly maintained a position of just a collaborator, so I couldn't directly exert influence on the army except for persuading Anna.
However, once the council was created by agreement of the corps commanders.
A justification was given for me, who was just a civilian with connections to the military, to directly handle state affairs as I wished.
The chairman must be recognized with power close to the king without the help of legitimacy, and must step down when state affairs stabilize.
Moreover, although the authority is powerful, the basis for that authority is weak.
If stabilization is delayed even a little, there's a high probability of facing backlash from people.
In that respect, it's very natural to appoint me, who has high authority and credibility, receives popular support, will return to the empire again, and as a commoner has a significantly lower possibility of aiming for the king's position, as chairman.
Moreover, even if a temporary court is formed, it can't fill all the positions of existing nobles.
Rather than becoming the chairman of a temporary council that has almost only responsibilities, it's a more rational judgment for those with desires for power to increase their influence in the new court after the council ends.
As expected, Alexandrov and Anna supported me, and other corps commanders agreed.
Having become the commander-in-chief and interim council chairman in such a reasonable way, as long as I act appropriately as the council chairman, no one can stop me.
The corps commanders?
With the entire army supporting me, from private soldiers to officers, and having been reinstated as commander-in-chief, I am nominally their superior.
It's difficult in many ways to tackle me while I'm taking the lead and moving.
Civilians?
If I properly show the image of clearly rectifying the confusion, there's no reason to be dissatisfied.
Even if I move and solidify command over tens of thousands of troops in the capital, even if I publicly execute nobles with risk factors without proper trial.
Because the justification is clear, there are no complaints.
Now, when support from the military and civilians towards me is higher than ever, is the perfect opportunity to make the Rus Kingdom surrender to the empire.
Because a government hastily established with the help of military power can't survive without the military.
"...General Viktor?"
"Excuse me."
As groundwork before the speech, I visited barracks and conversed mainly with soldiers who had connections with me or were marked green.
"I have to return to the empire."
"...What?"
I mentioned to them the fact that I have to return to the empire, and personally persuaded them why we shouldn't fight against the empire.
"This war broke out because of the greed of the nobles, those who have now been beheaded as traitors. I don't want you to shed blood in vain."
"...General."
Because I had shown a caring attitude towards soldiers from before, and mainly met those who had seen this side of me for a long time.
They accepted my advice not as treason but as sincere concern.
"But it hasn't even been a month since the war with the empire stopped."
"On my way back to Zabinsk, I saw places occupied by the empire. The prisoners were released and living normally, and except for the changed flags, the appearance of the villages hadn't changed."
"...Is that so?"
When meeting personnel whose personalities I had roughly grasped, I changed the persuasion method to fit their tendencies.
"I will keep my promise, but since the king and nobles who negotiated have all died. The empire might use this as an excuse to invade."
"..."
To realistic ones, I persuaded by explaining the difference in strength between the empire and the kingdom, and the precarious current situation.
"We might win or lose, but not a small amount of blood will be shed. I don't want to see you sacrificed needlessly."
"General..."
To emotional ones, I reddened my eyes and bowed my head.
"You said your family remains in Garogorod."
"H-how did you..."
"The imperial army didn't touch civilians at all. Your family will be waiting for you."
"Ah..."
To those who had to retreat, gritting their teeth while leaving their families behind, I showed hope.
"I swear. I'll make your name go down in history."
"...Understood."
To those addicted to the heat of war, I promised new battlefields and honor.
"I will follow you to the end, General."
"...Thank you."
There was no need to persuade my closest aides including Anna separately.
"In my speech, I will persuade the soldiers. I need your help."
"Yes."
To allow them to act as instigators when all troops gather, I personally visited and talked to more than hundreds of soldiers all day long.
As it's difficult to intentionally place them, I persuaded a variety from the 1st Corps to the 4th Corps so they could position themselves appropriately.
Even before being sold to the empire, I used to go around directly encouraging soldiers, so no one found it suspicious that I was going around separately.
Those who heard my advice might spread rumors, but that's not a big problem.
I mainly went around to those who seemed persuadable, and my influence won't be damaged by such rumors.
***
Time passed, and at 10 AM the next day.
The time for my announced speech arrived.
"Waaaaaaah!"
The soldiers' cheers shook the waiting room.
"Hah..."
When such an important moment comes, fear of failure rises along with tension.
A sigh comes out, cold sweat flows, and fingertips tremble.
"...Ha!"
However, because 'Viktor' must always be confident.
I clench my fist tightly, and blow away negative emotions with a short shout.
I arm my mind with trust towards my past self who prepared for this opportunity, and find confidence by recalling past successes.
"Let's go."
Then the ordinary man full of worries disappears, and I become 'Viktor, the great general of the Rus Kingdom'.
After tidying my attire one last time.
I open the door of the waiting room with vigorous steps and stand in front of the podium prepared for the speech.
"Waaaaaaah!"
"Viktor! Viktor!"
Soldiers shouted and chanted my name below the podium.
Right now, all 28,000 troops of the Rus Kingdom, except for a very small number of guards, are gathered here.
I pick up the magical tool placed on the podium to amplify my voice, and,
"My fellow soldiers."
With a solemn voice.
I began the speech announcing the end of the Rus Kingdom.