Chapter 50. Propose Carefully, Negotiate Boldly (2)

Proposing a preemptive strike to take advantage of momentary superiority against numerous enemies, and that well-founded boldness to attack the enemy commander by exploiting weaknesses even when outnumbered more than two to one.

This was exactly what Gerhart had hoped for from Viktor.

From the previous questions and answers, he could grasp that Viktor's diplomatic insight was at a decent level, but Gerhart wasn't satisfied with just that.

Gerhart expected him to go a step further from 'decency', just as he had shown on the battlefield.

"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."

As expected, Viktor was not content with the current advantage, but spoke of a bold intention to use that advantage and negotiations as tools to gain even greater benefits.

If the basis isn't clear, that boldness could easily turn into recklessness, but Gerhart couldn't help the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably.

"...I'm already excited. Please continue."

He was already prepared to be persuaded by Viktor's words.

"I came up with this based on the fact that the enemy is blocked by mountains and finds it difficult to grasp our army's movements, while we, with many capable scouts, can easily grasp the movements of the enemy located in the plains."

Gerhart, who had experienced the competence of scouts from the Rus Kingdom in the last battle, quietly nodded.

"We send negotiations containing demands for complete surrender and vassalization, or something to that effect, to the Brotan Kingdom to provoke them, while simultaneously making it clear that we have no room for concessions. Afterwards, we continuously send letters to the Ildmar Kingdom and Caen Kingdom to create the appearance of isolating the Brotan Kingdom, and stimulate the Brotan Kingdom through appropriate provocations and deceptions utilizing the information gap."

"Oh ho..."

"The key is to make the kingdom move its troops. The Brotan Kingdom is likely to feel that the longer time drags on, the more disadvantageous it becomes, so even if reorganization isn't completely finished, they will move their troops the moment they feel an appropriate opportunity has come."

"So you'll devour those moved troops and crush the kingdom's resistance."

"That's right. If we topple the kingdom's reckless counterattack, they will have to watch as the negotiation contents they felt were provocative are settled as they are."

"...Haha."

At Viktor's opinion to completely crush the kingdom on this opportunity,

"Hahahahaha!"

Gerhart burst into laughter, greatly satisfied.

"Interesting. Very interesting. Deputy Commander Viktor."

Gerhart, who had been laughing loudly while slapping his own legs for a while, called out to Viktor, who was still maintaining his posture as if he had more to say.

"Yes."

"I quite like your proposal itself to use diplomacy as a tool and crush the Brotan Kingdom that jumps out as if its feet are on fire."

"Is that so?"

"However, it seems your prepared content isn't finished yet."

Although Gerhart had initially intended to end it at the level of receiving light advice, seeing Viktor still burning his eyes even after making such a proposal, he simply couldn't stop.

"Perhaps, do you already have the basis for that proposal up to detailed plans prepared?"

He was curious how far Viktor had thought through in the short time since learning about the delegation of diplomatic authority.

He was prepared to be satisfied and move on even if the detailed matters weren't decided yet, but,

"Yes."

"...Well."

Viktor's resolute answer didn't let him feel disappointed at all.

"...Give me a moment. I'd like to ask a few things."

"Understood."

Hearing Viktor's answer, Gerhart carefully chewed over his proposal and recalled questions to reinforce that proposal.

A few minutes later.

"First, a question about the kingdom's response. You said you would force the Brotan Kingdom to move through negotiations, provocations, and deceptions. However, the Brotan Kingdom also knows that Anyac, Saint-Toire, and Montfieu are extremely advantageous for defense, so I think it might be difficult to draw out their movements."

Gerhart began his questioning.

"I'm curious if you're confident they'll move and why, or if not, if you have alternatives."

"I'm certain that the Brotan Kingdom will have to move."

"Hmm."

Gerhart, wanting to believe Viktor's opinion, asked about the doubtful parts, and Viktor answered with confidence.

"It's because of the disposition of Guillaume Chatillon, who recently ascended to the throne of the Brotan Kingdom at a young age."

"..."

"According to rumors, he often showed irrational behavior such as using violence against subordinates who were defeated or impulsively drawing his sword in the audience chamber, and chose the high-risk method of personal rule as a way to establish his authority."

"Hmm..."

"This could simply mean he's an immature and reckless king, or considering that he's not clashing with Antoine Clavière, who has long worked as the kingdom's chancellor, he might have intentionally chosen such an appearance to avoid losing initiative to Antoine, who has strong influence in the court, but..."

Gerhart waited for the next words with both confusion and expectation at Viktor's appearance, who was more knowledgeable about the kingdom's situation than he had expected.

"More important than the intention is the fact that, as a result, Guillaume is controlling the nobles in a form close to rule by terror, and is using the success of his personal rule as the foundation of his authority."

"Hmm? Ah..."

"As you said, Commander, the Brotan Kingdom would like to avoid reckless attacks, but Guillaume, who has established his authority through fear and achievements, cannot ignore our provocations without response."

Viktor continued speaking confidently while maintaining a line that wouldn't appear disrespectful.

"Although it would be best for the kingdom to not react to our provocations while allying with other countries or buying time by making some concessions, if Guillaume maintains no reaction or decides to make concessions, both the fear and achievements that are his foundation will be diluted, and his leadership will weaken."

"You mean there's a great political risk."

"That's right. Once our pressure exceeds a certain level, even maintaining negotiations will be evaluated as diplomatic incompetence. If he has no intention of stepping down from the throne, he has no choice but to respond strongly to provocations."

"...I understand what you mean."

Gerhart, inwardly admiring Viktor's statements, moved on to the next question.

"But as you know, we lack the strength to actively launch an offensive. The kingdom's army has probably roughly grasped our strength through several battles, so there's a high possibility they'll think our provocations will stop at the level of threats. The kingdom might respond equally strongly to our negotiation proposals believing this."

As Gerhart, having already heard Viktor's explanation, was inwardly half-convinced to adopt his third opinion,

"Yes."

"Do you have a way to pressure them enough to move their troops urgently, not just making noise with words?"

Instead of further questioning the validity of the opinion, he asked about the detailed implementation methods of the plan.

"I do."

"...Tell me."

"First, we'll dispatch messengers to the Ildmar Kingdom and Caen Kingdom several times."

"Hmm... If we could get promises of help from those two kingdoms, it would be pressure, but it seems difficult to get a good answer from the Ildmar Kingdom as they maintain friendly relations with the Brotan Kingdom. Moreover, for messengers to reach the Caen Kingdom, they have to pass through the Ildmar Kingdom, so even the possibility of dialogue is unclear."

Although Gerhart spoke as if refuting, thinking Viktor's proposal was too general and ordinary compared to the goal,

"We don't need to hear good answers. We won't propose cooperation to them."

"...What?"

Viktor's answer, which didn't lose any confidence at all, was different from Gerhart's expectation.

As he pondered the meaning of the answer,

"...No way."

He looked at Viktor with wide eyes.

"The messengers sent to the Ildmar Kingdom and Caen Kingdom will do nothing more than deliver nominal gifts."

"..."

"The Ildmar Kingdom will carefully refuse or cautiously accept, and the Caen Kingdom will naturally accept. From then on, we'll spread rumors to the Brotan Kingdom. That 'the Ildmar Kingdom is carefully considering the empire's proposal, and the Caen Kingdom has accepted that proposal.'"

"Huh... Hehe..."

Gerhart let out a low laugh at the cunning of this plan.

He felt chills at the fact that such a person had been facing the empire just a few months ago.

"And, the negotiation team to be dispatched to the Brotan Kingdom will drive a wedge into their anxiety."

"Negotiation team?"

"Guillaume, thinking he's cornered, might commit the extreme act of attacking our negotiation team to maintain his authority. To this end, we'll return prisoners from the Brotan Kingdom, including Bevis, and use them as our messengers."

"...What do you mean?"

"The prisoners don't even need to properly convey our intentions, we're showing off our composure and letting the Brotan Kingdom know that settling negotiations is not our goal."

Although Gerhart hadn't thought of such a method at all, he wasn't ashamed of that fact.

In his thinking, it didn't seem like any person could come up with all these strategies in such a short time.

"This is also to stimulate the kingdom's fear towards the empire. Every word of the prisoners will naturally spread in the kingdom how terrible that day's defeat was, how strong our imperial army was."

He could feel dizziness just by briefly imagining Guillaume's position.

"Touching the returned prisoners to maintain pride is revealing his own incompetence, and it means his position within the kingdom is unstable enough to have to do so. On the other hand, treating the prisoners normally will make it seem like the kingdom isn't properly responding to our provocations."

This dilemma is not something Guillaume can easily solve.

If it goes according to Viktor's plan, Guillaume will have only one option left to choose.

"Harming prisoners who were allies is far too dangerous, so Guillaume, who inevitably has to accept the prisoners, will try to recover his lost leadership by showing strength in other ways. If we further stimulate Guillaume's impatience by deceiving him as if reinforcements are being replenished with some deception operations, we can even advance the timing of his attack."

"..."

"We can move our troops to appear as if showing weaknesses at an appropriate time to induce his attack. Guillaume will have no choice but to attack, if only because of political risk, unless he can reveal that weakness is a trap."

Gerhart lost his words and blankly stared at Viktor, then,

"If I say I feel afraid of you right now, would you believe it?"

"...Is that so?"

"I'll hold a meeting on this matter tomorrow. I'll ask for your opinion then too, so please answer well."

"Understood."

"Thank you for your advice. In the future... I'm counting on you."

"Thank you."

After sending him away first, he sat down on the sofa, sincerely relieved that such a person had pledged loyalty to the Empress.

"..."

Gerhart, putting his trembling hands in his pockets, remained alone in the office, chewing over the conversation they had just had.

---

The next day.

At the meeting held with the imperial army officers gathered,

"I agree."

"I concur with the Deputy Commander's opinion."

Viktor's opinion, backed by Gerhart's support, was unanimously adopted.