Chapter 29 - Crown Prince Eirik's Military Strategy (Part One)
That evening, Count Nord, Ludovico Foscar, visited the office of Crown Prince Eirik Nadar.
When he had sent word asking for a specific time, he had been given consent without hesitation.
Over the past few days, Ludovico's position had changed significantly.
First, he began to be requested to attend when the ministers were summoned by the Crown Prince.
He would supplement the ministers' explanations as necessary, grasp the intent behind the Crown Prince's questions to provide answers, and step in to mediate with a "now, now" if there was excessive reprimanding.
The Crown Prince was not exactly known for being pleasant toward his subjects, but for some reason, his attitude toward Ludovico was softer—though only slightly—than toward others.
Next, bad reports—reports likely to displease the Crown Prince—began to gather around Ludovico.
While thinking, What do they expect me to do? Ludovico reported each one.
It had become customary for him to seek explanations from the ministers in advance if necessary, making himself capable of providing a certain degree of supplementation before heading to the Crown Prince's office alone.
The excuse of the ministers who brought him their troubles was that His Highness would listen if it was an explanation from Count Nord.
Ludovico thought it was likely because he was the father of the prince's fiancée.
Perhaps feeling he couldn't be too harsh, the prince would listen to the full explanation, even while becoming displeased.
"So, Count Nord, what do you say should be done about this?"
That had become the Crown Prince's catchphrase over the last few days whenever Ludovico entered to report.
Since it was never good news, the Crown Prince's mood naturally did not improve.
Once, as soon as Ludovico showed his face in the office, the prince had even said aloud, "You again?"
When Ludovico replied, "It is I again," he was offered a seat on the sofa with a "Very well, sit."
While drinking the tea provided, Ludovico would explain various matters to the Crown Prince.
Ludovico did not know this, but a truly displeased Crown Prince would never offer a chair to a subject. Naturally, tea would not be provided either.
Under such circumstances, Ludovico was once again facing the Crown Prince alone on the sofa today.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, I believe you must consider an early subjugation to be no longer feasible."
The Crown Prince remained silent and averted his gaze.
The profile Ludovico stole a glance at was, as expected, the very picture of displeasure.
"The reason?"
"It is the provisions.
The military stockpiles east of Ezrin are almost exhausted.
Even if we try to bring them in from the west—"
"The ships?"
"Yes, Your Highness.
As you say, there are not enough ships.
It seems large vessels are not something that can be moved immediately; they are things that must be planned for well in advance."
"What if we gather small and medium-sized ships?"
"The amount of cargo they can carry is negligible, and they are not suited for voyages away from port for long periods.
In addition, there is no one who can establish a connection with those who own such ships."
"...Things do not go well, do they?"
Returning his gaze, the Crown Prince said with a small laugh.
"I have failed in my—"
The Crown Prince cut off Ludovico, who was bowing his head to apologize, with a wave of his hand.
"So, Count Nord."
The Crown Prince uttered his usual line.
"What do you say should be done about this?"
Ludovico swallowed hard.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, I believe we have no choice but to reduce the number of troops to be moved..."
"Was it not you who said that if we move the troops and by some chance lose, Count Nord?"
"It is exactly as you say.
However, as it stands, no matter how we calculate it, the provisions are insufficient.
A war cannot be fought with starving soldiers. Furthermore, forced requisitioning will invite the resentment of the people.
Even without that, requisitioning would eat up the stores of the various territories.
Fortunately, this winter is not predicted to be extremely severe, but—"
Weather was weather; there were parts that couldn't be known until they happened.
If they were to fight an unnecessary war and cause the deaths of people who didn't have to die, it would damage the prestige of the Royal Family more than the victory or defeat of the war itself.
"Then what will you do?"
"Looking at the country as a whole, the stockpiles are sufficient.
I might even say there is a surplus. Therefore—"
Just as he was about to explain the plan he had devised with the Minister of War.
The sound of a knock echoed in the room.
"What is it? His Highness is currently—"
Ludovico's voice, which was about to continue with "busy," was cut off by the voice of a chamberlain from the other side of the door.
"The Minister of War requests an audience.
He says it is an urgent matter."
Ludovico and the Crown Prince looked at each other.
The Crown Prince nodded.
"Let him in."
Ludovico replied to the chamberlain on the other side of the door.
While saying to let him in, Ludovico felt a sense of suspicion.
In the first place, it was the Minister of War who had asked him to explain this matter to the Crown Prince.
It was by no means something Ludovico himself had desired, but he had accepted because the talk went through smoothly when he explained it.
The reason for explaining alone was simple—while anger was rarely directed at Ludovico himself, the other ministers were subjected to harsh words.
If Ludovico was going to end up stepping in to mediate anyway, it was better if the target of the anger wasn't there from the start.
That was the tacit understanding between the ministers and Ludovico.
Well, perhaps he changed his mind, he thought as he waited for the Minister of War to enter.
Without much of a wait, the Minister of War entered the office.
Unusually for lately, he had a look of joy on his face.
"Your Highness, please rejoice! It is a chance for victory!"
"What so suddenly? What do you mean by a chance for victory?"
The Crown Prince asked suspiciously.
"This, Your Highness. It is something that arrived from Redan just now."
The Minister of War held out a letter.
Ludovico's gaze turned toward the letter in the Crown Prince's hand as he received it.
His eyes met those of the Crown Prince, who had suddenly looked up.
Letting out a small sigh, the Crown Prince placed the letter on the desk.
"...Forgive my rudeness."
"It is fine."
The Crown Prince responded curtly to Ludovico's whispered apology.
After reading the letter once, the Crown Prince looked up again.
"What does this mean?"
"It means the rebels are not a monolith either," the Minister of War replied in a voice that couldn't hide its delight.
"...Is it genuine?"
At the Crown Prince's question, Ludovico thought that they had indeed reached the point where they had to doubt even that.
"I compared it with the previous letter from Viscount Redan, and there are no suspicious points," the Minister of War responded.
"If that is the case, Minister of War, it must be as you say.
It means those fellows are not a monolith either."
The letter from Redan was concise.
It stated that they had taken into protection a knight from Marquess Mares's territory who had visited the Viscount Redan's estate.
According to the knight, Marquess Mares was plotting an invasion of Alas Pass.
Also according to the knight, the attack would bypass Redan and be carried out via the Rinal Road.
Viscount Redan had judged that Marquess Mares had intent to rebel and was on alert at the Red River, which formed the border with the Marquess's territory.
Finally, the letter ended with a request for information and instructions from the royal capital.
"What is this Rinal Road?"
The Crown Prince asked, pointing to a line in the letter.
"I cannot say for certain immediately, but I suspect it is a side road of the Mares Road, Your Highness."
At Ludovico's reply, the Crown Prince gave a "hmmm" and nodded.
"Bring the Minister of Works here. Tell him to bring the geographical records for the Mares Road and Rinal Road near Redan, as well as those for the vicinity of the Red River."
"Yes, immediately."
Ludovico, having answered, stood up and called the chamberlain.
He informed him that His Highness was summoning the Minister of Works and told him what should be brought.
When he returned to his seat, the Crown Prince spoke as if he had been waiting.
"Now then, Count Nord, your story was interrupted.
While we wait for the Minister of Works, let us hear the rest."
"Yes, well, it is also related to this letter."
Thinking that he still wasn't used to this, Ludovico began his story, exchanging a glance with the Minister of War once.
Seeing the Minister of War give a small nod, he continued.
"The Minister of War and I have consulted regarding the future.
As I mentioned earlier, due to the issue of provisions, an early subjugation of Marquess Mares's territory is difficult.
However, we have confirmed a situation where, looking across the whole land, there are stockpiles of provisions, and what is needed is time to transport them."
The Crown Prince listened to Ludovico's story in silence.
"In other words, if there are means of transport and a place where supplies can be gathered, it is possible to send in an army even in winter.
Even if an immediate subjugation is difficult, if it is possible to prepare and send in an army—"
"We can win, then? You mean ships as a means to transport supplies and troops.
And how does that relate to this?"
Ludovico once again stole a glance at the Minister of War.
"In short, Your Highness, it means those fellows are thinking the same thing," the Minister of War began to explain with a somewhat proud expression and tone.
"First, the reason they emphasize Alas Pass is because it is the only road leading to Mares that crosses the Dragonwing Mountains.
If that pass is seized, neither supplies nor reinforcements can enter Redan.
It is nothing but logical that those fellows would try to seize Alas Pass."
Ludovico listened to this, thinking how convenient it was.
He pushed the troublesome reports onto Ludovico, and as soon as it looked like results were coming, he went to sell them himself.
—Well, Ludovico himself was that kind of person too. He couldn't really criticize others.
If it weren't a matter involving his daughter and her future husband, he would have been the first to throw everything aside.
Since the Minister of War had the will to fulfill his duties as duties for the time being, he might have considerably more sense of responsibility than Ludovico—even if it was tied to a desire for power.
"Second, there is the importance of Redan itself.
East of Alas Pass, excluding Mares, Redan is the only port where large ships can come and go.
As long as we hold Redan, we can send in troops or supplies through the port without much restriction."
The Minister of War's explanation continued.
He spoke passionately, occasionally mixing in gestures.
"If that happens, Your Highness's victory is as good as decided."