Chapter 49
At Gerhart's sudden summons, I visited his office with Anna.
-Knock knock.
"Commander. Deputy Commander Viktor has arrived."
As soon as Anna announced my arrival, attaching the title to my name that had now lost the word "temporary",
"Come in right away."
Gerhart's voice was heard from inside, as if he had been waiting for me.
-Click.
"Welcome."
As I opened the door and entered, Gerhart stood up from his seat to greet me, and his adjutant, who had been standing quietly behind him, slightly bowed his head to me.
I approached the desk where Gerhart had been sitting.
"Deputy Commander Viktor reporting. Commander, why did you call for me?"
"Hmm. There's a matter on which I'd like to hear your opinion."
Gerhart, who received my salute with his right hand, opened the desk drawer and took out an envelope that seemed to contain a letter.
The high-quality outer packaging was impressive at first glance, but more noticeable was the seal of the Dragonian Empire's imperial family stamped on the outside.
"This is it."
"..."
"While writing a report summarizing the situation here recently, I asked for Her Majesty's thoughts on the Brotan Kingdom. This letter that arrived today is the response."
He handed me the envelope with his usual plain expression, but with a hint of expectation.
Gerhart's name was written in the recipient field of the envelope.
"...Is this Her Majesty's instruction?"
"If you're asking about the contents of the letter, yes. As for showing it to you... Well. Let's say it's my own decision for now."
"I see."
I didn't immediately receive the envelope.
I was more concerned because the contents of this envelope were the Empress' message to Gerhart personally, and he said the decision to show it to me was his own.
Whether he genuinely wanted to ask for my opinion as he said earlier, or if there was another intention.
"Is this content that can be disclosed?"
When I cautiously expressed my anxiety,
"Of course. Although you're the first I'm showing this to, everyone will know in a few days."
He actively eased my burden.
If it's content that everyone will know, there shouldn't be any disadvantages just from reading it, so there's no need to feel too burdened.
The content might change things, but if the intention is to hear my thoughts before making a decision, it's not bad at all.
"...Understood."
I took the envelope held out in front of me and took out its contents to read.
"..."
The letter was filled with sentences full of all kinds of flowery phrases.
Ignoring the extraneous expressions, I quickly read through the main content.
Most of it was about mentioning Gerhart's written report and praising the soldiers who had achieved a great victory.
My name was occasionally mentioned, but knowing that Gerhart wasn't the type to call me separately just for this, I didn't pay much attention.
Reading through the content quickly like that, when I got to the latter part of the letter.
"...Well."
I could grasp what Gerhart wanted to ask about.
After reading the letter to the end, I folded it neatly and put it back in the envelope.
"Have you finished reading?"
"Yes."
As I returned the envelope to Gerhart and checked my surroundings, his adjutant, who had been standing behind Gerhart when I entered, had somehow moved right next to the entrance door.
Feeling that this movement was some kind of signal, I,
"Anna, could you wait outside for a moment?"
Instructed Anna, who was standing behind me.
It might be seen as a bit rude, and if it's just a misunderstanding, this could be a self-defeating move.
But considering his favorable attitude from before and the mention of "a matter on which I'd like to hear your opinion" along with the contents of the letter, I was confident this was right.
As Gerhart highly valued the youth of Friedrich and me, I also calculated that this attitude of mine would be seen as boldness or confidence rather than rudeness.
"Understood, Deputy Commander."
Anna nodded without hesitation, then quietly closed the door and left.
"...Oh ho. Adjutant. Would you also leave your post? I'll call you again if needed."
"Yes."
As if my prediction was correct, Gerhart let out a small exclamation and similarly sent out his adjutant.
-Click.
As the door closed, only Gerhart and I remained in the office.
"Hahaha! I like your quick wit. Can I take it to mean you know what I want?"
"That's right."
He laughed loudly and came around from beside the desk, sitting on the sofa in the middle of the office.
"You understood what I was going to ask, right? The conversation will be long, so come and sit comfortably."
"Yes."
I sat on the opposite sofa, facing him.
"First, I should show you this."
He took out an envelope stamped with the Empress' seal from his bosom and handed it to me.
Now that there was no need to hold back, I immediately moved to receive that envelope.
"...It's an order."
"That's right. It arrived with the letter."
What came out of that envelope was the Empress' order, containing content confirming the delegation of diplomatic authority over eastern countries mentioned in the letter.
"Congratulations, Commander."
"Haha, congratulations, you say."
"Receiving delegated diplomatic authority over eastern countries including the Brotan Kingdom, isn't this the result of the trust you've built up, Commander?"
"Thank you, Deputy Commander."
Gerhart, who had been nodding his head briefly at my congratulations,
"...So, of course you didn't send the adjutants away just to congratulate me."
Changed his posture and looked at me with a serious expression.
"Of course not."
"If it's you, you probably know the reason why I called you first to ask."
"I'll do my best."
"Good. Speak confidently."
As Gerhart wasn't hiding his expectations at all, I also hardened my face and adjusted my posture to match him.
I know that real diplomacy is worlds apart from in-game diplomacy that ends with a few button clicks, but I have no intention of being perceived as just a general who's good at commanding.
"Currently, the options that the Brotan Kingdom can choose are extremely limited."
I began confidently as he requested.
"Limited. What's the reason?"
Gerhart asked me with an interested smile.
"There are three countries located in the eastern part of our Dragonian Empire: the Brotan Kingdom, the Ildmar Kingdom, and the Caen Kingdom."
"That's right. The diplomatic authority I've been given is for those three countries."
"The Brotan Kingdom shares borders with all three other countries. Among them, they're treating the Ildmar Kingdom favorably, but they recently waged war with the Caen Kingdom."
"I heard the Brotan Kingdom achieved a great victory through King Guillaume II's in-laws."
"Yes. The Caen Kingdom was defeated in battle and pushed back beyond the Ar River."
One of the important things in diplomacy is understanding the political situation.
Gerhart, who has much experience in being entrusted with diplomatic authority, would know this importance, so I mentioned first that I was aware of this.
"In the midst of this, the Brotan Kingdom suffered an unexpected defeat in the war with the empire. Having lost all three strongholds for defense, rather than finishing off the Caen Kingdom pushed beyond the river, they're more likely to conclude a ceasefire and seek cooperation from the Ildmar Kingdom to focus on the urgent war with the empire."
"Hmm..."
Up to this point, it's close to an introduction with obvious talk, so Gerhart didn't react more than nodding his head.
"However, as long as the Brotan Kingdom hasn't properly recovered from the damage of defeat, it's impossible for them to attempt an immediate counterattack, and the initiative lies with our Dragonian Empire."
"..."
"As we're also in a situation where further advances are difficult without securing reinforcements, we'll prepare for negotiations, but the content will change depending on where we set the purpose. I see three main purposes."
"Three. Hmm."
To give Gerhart, who now seems to show light interest and expectation, trust and confidence, I slowly began warming up to present my opinion.
"The first is to aim for a settlement through negotiations with some concessions. The Brotan Kingdom needs time to shake off the effects of defeat and reorganize, so they will actively respond to our negotiation attempts."
"Hmm."
"However, they also know that if they agree to a ceasefire in the current state of having lost Anyac, Saint-Toire, and Montfieu, the destruction of the Brotan Kingdom is only a matter of time. Negotiations will only drag on sluggishly, making settlement difficult."
While talking about the expected reactions of the Brotan Kingdom, I didn't forget to mention that I was considering alternatives taking into account the kingdom's situation.
"The Brotan Kingdom, having already been defeated in a major battle, will feel burdened by accepting unfavorable negotiations and showing weakness, and neither the nobles nor the king will want to make politically dangerous decisions."
"So that's why you suggested concessions."
"That's right. In the long run, the empire with its different scale of national power will inevitably be advantageous, so we aim to obtain a definite ceasefire even if we return part of the occupied territories within the limits of not losing our advantage."
This is a purpose that can be considered given that there are limits to the national power that can be immediately invested, even though the empire is in an advantageous position.
It has the advantage of being the safest without variables and maintaining the benefits secured without additional consumption.
However, the problem is that we have to return occupied territories gained through the blood and sweat of soldiers, and above all, the empire in an extremely advantageous position doesn't need to make concessions.
Not only practical benefits but also face must be considered in diplomacy.
"...And the second?"
Gerhart, seeming to know this, slightly hardened his expression and asked about the next purpose.
"It's to keep maintaining negotiations at a level favorable to us and drag out time."
"Drag out time?"
"The point is to drag out time by presenting proposals that are not completely nonsensical but at a level the Brotan Kingdom cannot accept."
"You mean we should make our own preparations during that time?"
"Yes. The preparations that the Brotan Kingdom, having already lost a large army, can make have clear limits, and we have preempted terrain very advantageous for defense. Just by stabilizing the rear and supply routes and strengthening defenses, we can block most variables, so we negotiate after withstanding any subsequent counterattack by the kingdom's army."
"..."
"If we defeat their scheme, we can proceed with favorable negotiations without necessarily making concessions."
The second opinion is intended to complement the disappointing parts of the first opinion.
This purpose is also realistic and not entirely wrong, but it's a relatively passive choice.
Although the result is certain, it will take a long time to achieve those results, so it's far from the proposal Gerhart might have expected from me.
"Deputy Commander."
"Yes."
"All valid opinions. My thoughts are similar to yours. However..."
By this point, Gerhart also seemed to notice that the previous suggestions were meant to secure the legitimacy of my final proposal.
If he had asked for advice on military operations, I would have gone straight to the main point without such preparation, but what he's asking now is about diplomacy.
It might feel like hiding behind my hand, but for me, who hasn't shown any particularly successful appearance in diplomacy separately, I need to lay the groundwork diligently to make a strong proposal.
"I'd like to hear a proposal that's more, how should I say... like you."
Therefore, instead of being disappointed, Gerhart seemed to place his expectations on my third proposal.
"Understood."
For such a Gerhart,
"The final purpose is to use negotiations as a tool to pressure the Brotan Kingdom without even giving them time to reorganize, inducing hasty movements from the kingdom."
I revealed my main purpose without further concealment.
"...I'm already excited. Please continue."
As soon as he heard my third purpose, the corners of Gerhart's mouth rose greatly.