Volume 8 Chapter 14 The Coming Of The Warring States
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Fabulanova’s Perspective
”Sister! Why aren’t we attacking Gwain’s territory? I hear he’s directing his troops towards the northeast, the land without a Lord, and that his territory is nothing but an empty shell! If we don’t seize this chance to weaken his strength, he’ll cause more trouble for our country again!”
Ugno’s roar echoed through the throne room of the palace.
The assembled retainers flinched at the sound.
”Your Highness Ugno… now is the time to sort out domestic politics. We don’t have the budget for an expedition at a time when we need to develop the newly acquired mining territory!”
It was Nord, a bureaucrat whose presence had been growing in economic affairs, who spoke up without flinching from Ugno’s anger.
He had been put in charge of the national treasury of the Black Dragon Duchy, following in the footsteps of Rosvita, who chose my daughter Delprius and fled to the South District.
This was because, starting with Rosvita, who was an exceptional economic bureaucrat surpassing Kent Blackdagger, the successors led by Delprius and Ludmila included many young bureaucrats of the Dragonian race and military officers of the Dragonewt race.
As a result, the number of Dragonians holding high positions in the Black Dragon Duchy had drastically decreased, and instead, high posts were being given to competent newcomers who had newly sworn allegiance in the capital city, as well as to the western lords who had sworn allegiance after the Travers Incident.
This caused the Black Dragon Duchy to be on the brink of splitting once more.
The old guard, the leading Black Dragon faction, was fiercely engaged in a political struggle with the newly appointed newcomers.
As for me, I’ve been prioritizing abilities in my hiring, but it seems the old guard of the Dragonia species don’t appreciate that. I’ve received reports that many in the Dukedom’s administration, those who aren’t Dragonia, are frowning upon this change.
The Black Dragon faction has been leading the charge in the military, with Ugno at the forefront, pulling the strings hard.
On the other hand, the newcomers, with the rising star Nord at the helm, seem to have a list of talents ready, from economic bureaucrats to regular bureaucrats.
”Hmph… Both of you, stop your bickering! If you keep fighting like this, our country will be mocked!”
”But we can’t just sit back! Our national security will face a serious crisis if we don’t act! Gwain is amassing power and will likely strike at our country before the Kingdom does! My sister should understand that the most!”
Ugno may have childlike political judgment, but when it comes to matters of war, he shows a keen understanding and tactical prowess that was evident during the previous upheaval.
Thanks to that, the military can entrust things to Ugno, but it’s still a headache that his political thinking is completely out of the question.
”I know, I know, as Nord pointed out, we can’t mobilize without money! Our treasury is already stretched thin from the Travers incident and the Gertroud rebellion. Everyone here should be well aware of that.”
My words made the retainers bow their heads in dejection.
In fact, after 2 major mobilizations, the Black Dragon Dukedom’s treasury was in critical condition, barely holding on thanks to the tribute from the newly subjugated western lords.
”Your Highness Ugno, please accept reality. You can’t grasp what isn’t there.”
Nord is desperately trying to turn the economy around, but sales of our main products──processed metals and raw metals──are sluggish across the board, and the newly constructed Lindblum products in the South District are gaining popularity within the Dukedom, as I’ve been informed.
It’s believed that Kent Blackdagger is the one developing and exporting the mine that Rosvita discovered, using his excessive wealth. That mine should have belonged to the Black Dragon Dukedom, had it not been for Dee’s incident.
Kent Blackdagger, you scoundrel!
How dare you!
”I won’t rely on the national treasury! Even if I have to accept funding from my son-in-law, I’ll make sure Gwain has a blast! Sister, do you approve?”
Ugno made an outrageous suggestion.
His daughter, whom he’s estranged from, is Ludmila, and her husband, without a doubt, is Kent Blackdagger.
He intended to let Kent cover the costs of this expedition.
”That’s reckless! There’s no way Kent Blackdagger would agree to such a deal! He is our enemy, the Black Dragon Dukedom’s!”
”No, that’s not correct, sister. Kent holds more hostility towards Gwain than us. This expedition is also because of Ludmila in the South District Margrave’s country…”
”Ugno! You cut ties with your daughter, didn’t you?!”
When I exiled the successor faction, I cut ties with Delprius, and I thought Ugno had cut ties with Ludmila too. But it seems he was still connected to her under the surface. This preposterous idea seemed to be a cunning move from Ludmila, or perhaps from Lila, the Chancellor of the South District Margrave’s country.
I thought he had grown a bit, but I guess it’s still too much to ask for Ugno to have any political sense…
Ugno’s words caused a stir in the throne room.
The top brass of the military being connected to the potential enemy state, the South District Margrave’s country, had been exposed.
”Your Highness Ugno! Are you colluding with the South District Margrave’s country?!”
”Shut up! Who do you think would do something as cunning as collusion! I’m just looking for investors for this expedition! Even your brother has put his name down as an investor!”
Ugno, incensed by Nord’s pursuit, hurled another bombshell statement.
”What?! Aldo?! Are you an idiot?! There’s no way he’d just hand over money…”
”What’s an idiot?! An idiot?! I’m a successor to the throne! Watch your mouth, newbie!”
If Chancellor Aldo’s involved too, then this whole thing was probably pre-arranged between Lila and Aldo.
Maybe even a trap was set during the postwar processing conference.
This is such a pain…but if we can get Gwain Territory without providing expedition funds, it’s a deal our country can’t refuse.
”Hold on! I’ve told you to stop arguing! Ugno, have you figured out a plan for covering the expedition costs?”
”Yes! We’ve already arranged for funds from the Blackdagger family and the royal family. Occupying Gwain’s abandoned territory shouldn’t take more than a few months. A flying corps and 3 thousand infantry should be enough.”
Ugno seemed determined to push through with the expedition, even with the opposition. He answered my questions smoothly.
”Your Majesty! We can’t start a war with the True Demon Dukedom now!”
”Nord, True Demon Duke Rashid is just a opportunist. He’s nothing but a commoner and lacks the decisiveness to make a real stand. As Ugno said, if Gwain regains his strength, he’ll surely turn his fangs on us.If we secure the expedition funds, weakening his territory is acceptable. However, this expedition will only go as far as Drakakarlia, the core territory. Agreed?”
The military officers cheered at my decision.
On the other hand, the bureaucrats frowned and looked downcast.
”Sister! I will immediately prepare for the departure. I am dismissed!”
Ugno, with a smug grin, left the throne room.
I wanted to get mad at his face, but considering the rewards this expedition could bring, his expression was tolerable.
”Your Majesty… Your brother would never just hand over money! This is a trap! Please reconsider!”
”I know. Moving now will probably tip Gwain off, but we just need to strike faster. Ugno might be a political dunce, but he’s a top-tier general. Like I said, he’ll wrap up the campaign at Daracallia. Then, when Gwain turns back, he’ll probably try to solidify control over the northeast using the Garuda Principality.”
”If you’ve thought that far ahead, then why are you still going through with this?”
”I need money… Expanding the territory is great, but we can’t do anything if the treasury’s empty. I hear Gwain’s stashed a fortune in Daracallia. This expedition will be a success if we can snatch that. If Gwain retreats, we just take the treasure and abandon the territory. Like you said, you can’t shake what you don’t have. Without money, we can’t implement any meaningful policies.”
Nord was speechless.
Just as he’d said, they were broke.
In other words, our country was on the verge of bankruptcy.They’d hoped expanding the territory would boost the treasury’s income, but in reality, unnecessary expenses had skyrocketed, like maintaining border security and settling disputes.
Instead of growing, the treasury was bleeding red.
…If we can just hold out for a few more years, the treasury’s income should improve… We need to establish a self-sufficient system with our own domestic income, or we’ll be absorbed by the True Demon Kingdom again, and this time, they might not let us keep our autonomy…
”…Nord, I’m sorry, but I need you to ensure the treasure Ugno seizes arrives here safely.”
”…Yes, ma’am.”
”Sorry, but I’m going to take a rest…”
With that, I rose from the throne and headed for the hallway leading to my private chambers.
* * *
*Rashid’s POV
”Father, there seems to be some unrest brewing in the Black Dragon Dukedom. Shouldn’t we send a warning to Lord Gwain?”
Yalaan, my son and the next Duke, came to my private chambers.
He usually holed himself up in his own room in the palace, and I never knew what he was doing, but his magic skills were far superior to mine, and he was well-regarded by the elders of the True Demons.
I felt a sense of unease that he would visit me in my private chambers.
”Yalaan, you haven’t exactly been one for sticking your nose into politics before. What’s gotten into you?”
”Well, it seems Flamil’s become King Kent Blackdagger’s concubine. I figured it was about time I got serious too, you know?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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