Chapter 349: To the North (1)
I stayed in the territory for a full day just in case, but Mother thankfully didn’t break down in tears again.
Of course, she was still worried about her son going to war, but it seemed she had come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t stop me. She just encouraged me to be careful and return after achieving what I wanted.
“Make sure you come back before you leave for the North.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
The next morning, Mother came to the main gate of the mansion and held my hand, repeating the same request over and over again. She wouldn’t try to stop me anymore, but she wanted me to come to the territory before heading to the North.
“You did well.”
And the Patriarch, who had just returned from an all-night work session, patted my shoulder in encouragement. It was probably for soothing and persuading Mother.
“It was something I had to do.”
“Still, I appreciate it.”
With those words, the Patriarch said nothing more. I didn’t feel the need to continue the conversation, either. We had already shared our thoughts back at my mansion in the capital, and we would be heading North together once the war began. There was no point in holding up a man who had just spent the entire night working.
By the way, the Imperial Council was brutal. How bad did it have to be for him to finish his shift only after the sun had come up, even if it was overtime?
That’s my future.
It felt bitter. I’d have to become an Imperial Count someday, so I’d have to work in that brutal Imperial Council.
I could pass on the council member duties to Erich if I continued working as a high-ranking administrative civil servant like now, but didn’t that mean I could never retire?
Either way, it was a terrifying future.
***Before I knew it, the academy schedule was racing towards summer vacation. Maybe the upcoming vacation felt reassuring because I was about to leave for the North soon. At least I wouldn’t have to worry, ‘How are those useless kids doing?’ during the war.
Last year was terrible.
Last summer was when the club members didn’t return home but stayed in the empire as a group. Thankfully, that didn’t happen this year.
Damn, just thinking about how I was summoned by the Crown Prince and the ministers to get roasted because those kids said they were staying in the empire—
“I heard you’ll be leaving soon.”
“Yes. It’s for the empire, so I should gladly lend a hand.”
Villar’s timely interruption helped me regain my senses just as the trauma was about to surface.
It was amazing at this point. Just thinking about last year’s club members nearly made me lose composure in front of a guest. The ’77 Season’s club members were legendary for all the wrong reasons...
“I’ve never faced nomads myself, but even from the records, I know they’re ferocious and barbaric creatures.”
“That’s generally true. Any nomads who aren’t vicious get swallowed up by those who are, after all.”
As I composed myself and lightly countered Villar’s words with a joke, he also smiled faintly.
It had been a year and a half since I met this knight. At this point, we could exchange jokes without a second thought.
“Of course, they’re powerless before the empire’s might no matter how ferocious they are.”
“That’s only natural. How could barbarians go against the Mandate of Heaven?”
I almost laughed. It wasn’t something to say when they’d already gone against it big time five years ago and were doing it again just three years after the war ended.
But it couldn’t be helped. As the empire bustled with war preparations, the Imperial Academy became noisy too. And as the academy became noisy, the three countries naturally learned that the empire was preparing for war.
It wasn’t like the Emperor was preparing for war in secret, nor did the foreign forces have access to any real military intelligence, so there was no need to hide it.
However, Villar, who suddenly found himself directly observing another country’s war preparations, was in a somewhat awkward position. It was another country’s serious matter so he couldn’t exactly acknowledge it outright, but he also couldn’t pretend to be completely oblivious.
This greeting was the result. He gave me strange encouragement, saying that no one could go against the Mandate of Heaven when the empire was facing enemies who had gone against the Mandate of Heaven.
Spoken like a true knight.
A more seasoned politician or diplomat would’ve used this situation to probe for weaknesses or to find openings, to test the waters. But Villar simply offered well wishes for my safety and victory. That sincere action was only possible for a blunt knight.
So what else could I do but accept it? Even if the phrasing was a little awkward, this was just his way of showing support.
“...And even if they go against it, their end is obvious.”
As if realizing how strange his own words sounded, Villar quickly added.
“Haha, Sir Villar is right.”
I let out a light chuckle and let the conversation move on.
In the end, it was still a kind gesture.
***The organization of the expeditionary force proceeded without a hitch. There were no traitors to sabotage the effort like five years ago and the sense of crisis about the nomads was different compared to before, so it was natural.
Moreover, there was no resistance to the expedition itself since public opinion was led by the Imperial Counts.
“The 8th, 11th, and 12th Corps from the Western Forces have arrived in the Duchy of Havlem.”
“Make the 8th Corps Commander a Marshal, and have the 8th, 11th, and 12th Corps move according to the 8th Corps Commander’s orders.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Minister of War bowed as he accepted the decree and withdrew. The forces drawn from the Central Forces were set to move alongside the nobles’ private forces near the capital, meaning nearly all forces were now in position.
12 corps.
The expeditionary force consisted of no less than 12 corps, with a scale of about 150,000 troops. Even without including the nobles’ private armies, the standing army alone outnumbered the nomadic forces by more than two to one.
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