Chapter 75
The preparations of the Red Dragon Corps proceeded smoothly.
Not only the soldiers but also the horses that would run on the battlefield repeatedly underwent adaptation training so that they wouldn't be startled and bolt at the sound of guns or cannons.
"...We're probably the only ones who can go to the battlefield wearing these."
"Covering the ears seems better."
"Instructions seem clearer, and it reduces tension too."
Since my commands could be heard even with covered ears, earplugs were distributed to the soldiers to prevent hearing loss.
"Would rifling work be possible?"
"On a very small scale, yes."
"Good."
In addition, rifles with rifled barrels were provided to particularly elite soldiers to increase combat power.
"The additional quantities have arrived!"
Just when the corps' preparations seemed complete, the additional weapons promised by the Anchester Kingdom arrived, allowing the entire Red Dragon Corps to be armed with muskets.
"...Recently, the elf nations in the southeast have been turbulent. They're importing minerals like iron and food indiscriminately, but we don't know the exact internal situation."
"Thank you for letting us know. We'll look into it separately."
The dwarves who came to the empire for transportation didn't just hand over weapons but also informed about the recent situation of the elves bordering their country.
This could be a sign of a crisis related to elves like the 'Wrath of the Forest', but for now, it's just a sign.
We'll need to investigate a bit more to know what the actual situation is.
"Deliver this letter to Her Majesty."
"Understood."
"And... give this letter to Grand Marshal Gerhart."
"Yes."
For now, I prioritized the tasks at hand.
---
In the audience chamber of the Dragonian Empire's imperial palace.
"How is it these days?"
"Oh, don't even ask. The soil is so barren it's almost embarrassing to call it soil, hardly anything sprouts properly."
"It wasn't just my land like that. It looks like we'll be spending more than we earn."
"The northern winters are said to be harsh, so it'll be worse in winter."
"Hah... We should have checked when the population was so small..."
With the throne still empty, the nobles waiting for the meeting to start gathered in groups and chatted.
"Shouldn't you move now?"
"The military is consuming too much money. Some checks are needed."
"...Not yet, not yet."
Theodore conversed with nobles wary of the growing voices of nobles from military officer backgrounds, and,
"...Is it really alright? There are still too few practical cases."
"It's really expensive, and maintenance requires much more attention, but it's certainly worth it."
"Huh..."
Viktor talked among the orthodox pro-empress nobles, including Gerhart.
"There are too many wild animals in my territory, does that gun thing work well for hunting wild animals too?"
"Of course."
At first, the pro-empress nobles were anxious about this newcomer participating in the triumphal entry and receiving the Empress' favor.
But as Viktor focused solely on nurturing the Red Dragon Corps for months, such worried voices quickly subsided.
Moreover, he cooperated with existing pro-empress nobles and showed no greed for power or territory.
Instead of continuing to be wary of Viktor, who was receiving the empress's blatant attention, they quickly extended their hands.
"While it depends on the shooter's skill, it can take down large animals like bears or wild boars in one shot."
"Is that so?"
"It's still difficult to obtain except through purchases from the Anchester Kingdom, but our craftsmen are working hard with Anchester Kingdom craftsmen for domestic production. If your territory's situation is too serious, we might be able to send some prototypes that have finished firing tests."
"Oh, really!"
Viktor didn't reject those hands either, and he soon found himself engaging in conversations as one of the senior members of the pro-empress faction.
Although he hadn't been granted a title yet, his position as commander of the Empress' direct corps meant few could treat him carelessly.
Viktor conversed while closely observing the nobles showing interest in introducing firearms and Theodore's group.
As the time for the meeting approached,
"...She's late."
The throne where the Empress should be was still empty.
"Has something happened?"
"I don't know. Nothing comes to mind."
The nobles murmured at this unprecedented event, and,
"Entering is the great ruler of the Dragonian Empire, the rightful leader descended from the bloodline of the progenitor dragon Vulcanus, Her Majesty Louise Zainburg!"
The Empress arrived at the audience chamber only about 5 minutes after the original scheduled time for the meeting.
At the attendant's announcement, the noisy audience chamber fell silent, and a moment later, the huge doors opened and Louise appeared.
Wearing a red dress with a purple tinge, a splendid imperial crown, and a cloak so long that attendants had to hold its end, she walked without hesitation and sat on the throne.
She sat in an elegant posture and scanned the nobles.
"Everyone seems to be here."
"..."
After briefly taking in the nobles, she didn't mention the reason for her lateness, and the nobles couldn't ask, either bowing their heads or averting their gaze slightly.
"...Let's begin today's meeting."
Louise declared the start of the meeting with a smile, seemingly satisfied with such reactions.
"The first agenda is dealing with the recent turbulence on the western border."
She surprised the nobles by using strong expressions from the start.
"Recently, the war with the Esperia Kingdom has intensified again, and intelligence has come in that the Paris Kingdom and San Bastian Kingdom are also showing suspicious movements."
"...!"
"We've neglected them until now because enemies like the Rus Kingdom and Brotan Kingdom were interfering with us, but now they've completely submitted. I intend to dispatch Corps Commander Viktor's Red Dragon Corps to show our strength to the insolent and arrogant Esperia Kingdom. Corps Commander Viktor will explain the details."
As she finished speaking, Viktor came forward with Anna, who was holding a map of the western empire, in front of the nobles.
"Although the Esperia Kingdom didn't conclude a truce with us, it was considered that the war had effectively ended as there had been no conflicts on the border for a long time. However, several battles have occurred recently on their border, and the Paris Kingdom and San Bastian Kingdom, which had been quiet, are also reinforcing troops deployed at the border."
"..."
"The staff sees this as an alliance to check our Dragonian Empire, which has now annexed even the Rus Kingdom. Timing-wise, it's estimated that they started moving as soon as news of General Josef Steiner's attack on the Rus Kingdom spread."
He explained the plan while pointing at the map with a thin rod.
"If all three kingdoms become hostile to us at once, we'll have to block enemy attacks coming from here, here, and here. This will become a big war, so Her Majesty wishes to bring down the Esperia Kingdom before their plans surface."
Gerhart nodded and looked at Viktor, while Theodore kept biting his lips watching this.
"Although the Paris Kingdom and San Bastian Kingdom have deployed additional troops, many troops still remain on each other's borders. Before they declare war and attack the empire, we need to break the momentum of the Esperia Kingdom, which is a clear enemy. If the Esperia Kingdom, with the strongest army, doesn't go on the offensive, other kingdoms will restrain themselves."
"What do you think?"
At Louise's question, the nobles fell into thought.
"...We can't move now."
"At least taxes need to start being collected before we can do anything..."
Nobles who had been granted lands in the Rus Kingdom as fiefs were not interested in the western situation as they were busy governing their territories, and,
"Those pirates were persistently targeting our merchant ships, was it the Esperia Kingdom moving?"
"If Her Majesty personally sends reinforcements, there's no reason to refuse."
Nobles with territories in the west were directly affected by the war and welcomed the dispatch of the Empress' direct corps as reinforcements.
Rather, nobles who had feared that the Red Dragon Corps' spearhead might be pointed at them had no reason to refuse the use of the Empress' gathered strength externally.
With those people eliminated, there were no nobles from the noble faction who could raise their voices.
The pro-empress nobles didn't particularly step forward either.
"Since it's Her Majesty's will, is there any need for discussion?"
"Hmm, well then."
The orthodox pro-empress nobles didn't want to hinder the Empress' path of actively building up the empire's strength.
"...It seems difficult to do anything about the Red Dragon Corps."
"Stepping out now is..."
As the Red Dragon Corps was close to pure imperial power untouched by noble influence, going against the Empress' words to move it could be seen as a challenge to authority.
The nobles gathered around Theodore only exchanged glances.
"...Your Majesty Louise Zainburg."
In the end, only Theodore stepped forward alone.
He glanced briefly at Viktor, whom he hated most, then bowed his head towards Louise.
"Hmm, Duke Oppenstadt."
"It's true that the 5th Corps and Your Majesty's Red Dragon Corps are powerful, but the Esperia Kingdom is a military power that actively utilizes numerous mercenaries. They are wealthy and their walls are strong, so I think more troops are needed to safely bring them down."
"Hmm, hmm."
"I'd like to propose dispatching more soldiers as reinforcements, including the 1st Corps staying in the capital."
He tried to somehow catch Louise's attention by proposing to dispatch the 1st Corps, where he could exert his influence, but.
"I oppose that opinion."
"Duke Weissilt. Could you tell us the reason?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Recently, many of our troops have been dispatched to stabilize the occupied territories of the Rus Kingdom and Brotan Kingdom, and more troops are needed in the direction of the Paris Kingdom and San Bastian Kingdom. Moreover, the elven kingdoms in the southeast, including the Este Kingdom, are showing suspicious signs, so additional troops need to be deployed there as well."
"Oh ho..."
"The Red Dragon Corps is armed with new weapons, so I believe its strength is great compared to its size of 10,000 men. And with Corps Commander Viktor, who showed his competence in the war with the Brotan Kingdom, commanding them, if the 5th Corps and Red Dragon Corps work together, they can sufficiently deal with the Esperia Kingdom."
"Hmm, if we want to show the empire's strength, now is the opportunity. I also think the Red Dragon Corps is most suitable for that role."
Gerhart stepped forward and blocked Theodore's opinion.
Theodore's hand trembled slightly, and,
"...I understand."
He retreated, gritting his teeth while hiding his face reddened with shame.
As he retreated, the first agenda proceeded in an instant, and…
"I will dispatch the Red Dragon Corps to punish the Esperia Kingdom, and send supporting troops including the 1st Corps to the borders with neighboring countries to check them. Corps Commander Viktor."
As the Empress stamped the official seal on the order, Viktor's dispatch to the west was decided.
The nobles of the noble faction kept their mouths shut, while on one side, some nobles enthusiastically agreed and applauded.
Some nobles exchanged glances while watching Theodore, but Theodore didn't notice those nobles.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will engrave Your Majesty's prestige into those of the Esperia Kingdom."
"Hmm, I look forward to it."
He just glared intensely at the back of Viktor's head as he received the order, filled with jealousy and hatred.
There was no longer even a shred of reason left in his eyes.