Chapter 443 - Episode 426: The Re-invasion Plan
"We have come to inform you of the plan for a re-invasion of the Kingdom of Lordberg by the Betumia Republic Army."
"!?
Hearing words spoken in a voice that closely resembled Irene's in his memory—slightly high for a man, but low for a woman—Noein gasped.
Oscar, on the other hand, did not seem surprised, as if he had already heard about this information.
"...Please tell me more in detail."
"As you wish. First, after the previous invasion operation of the Kingdom of Lordberg—what your country calls the Betumia War—ended in our practical defeat, public opinion within the Betumia Republic became severely turbulent."
Norman began his explanation in a composed manner that belied his youth. Seeing that he showed no nervousness in this situation, it seemed he was just as gutsy and capable as his older sister.
According to his explanation, the story was as follows.
After the Betumia War, public opinion in the Betumia Republic shifted toward condemning the faction of parliamentarians who had led the invasion—the Wealthy Nation Faction. Furthermore, Betumian society became divided between the wealthy class and the commoners, whose suspicions toward them had grown, and the commoners, who outnumbered them, began to show strong opposition to the Wealthy Nation Faction parliamentarians and the wealthy class.
This was the result of the tactics using the undiluted 'Angel's Nectar' devised by Noein, and the unsettling rumors he had whispered into the ears of the Betumian soldiers.
Amidst the chaos within the Republic, Irene, as the young, brave general who had achieved the only notable military success in the Betumia War, was appointed as the supreme commander in place of the purged General Hamilton.
Then, taking the words Noein had spoken to her to heart, Irene resolved to act to correct the Betumia Republic into a proud nation—specifically, she decided to bring about the downfall of the Wealthy Nation Faction, the representatives of the vested interests.
While outwardly showing submission to Prime Minister Phildrack, the leader of the Wealthy Nation Faction, she secretly maintained connections with a sensible faction of parliamentarians—the People's Faction—and aimed to change the country through democracy. In her official duties, she suppressed the commoners' backlash against the government and the wealthy, while behind the scenes, she leaked the movements of Prime Minister Phildrack and the military to the People's Faction, supporting them.
George, her uncle and adjutant, and Norman, her younger brother, also supported Irene's ideas and backed her. She also gained a certain number of collaborators among the sensible elements within the military. Irene and her allies proceeded with their plans secretly, bit by bit.
However, the Wealthy Nation Faction was still a major faction, and they were extremely skilled in political maneuvering when it came to protecting their own power and interests. Having the wealthy class, who monopolized the majority of the Republic's wealth, as their backers was also one of their strengths.
As a result, the Wealthy Nation Faction succeeded in suppressing the commoners' opposition over a period of more than five years. The schemes Noein had woven were only able to keep the Betumia Republic in chaos for about five years.
"However, the Wealthy Nation Faction made a mistake here... they went too far."
To suppress the commoners' opposition to them and to divert the commoners' eyes away from themselves, the Wealthy Nation Faction stoked their hatred toward the Kingdom of Lordberg. They incited them by claiming that the reason their families, friends, and acquaintances had returned home with paralyzed bodies and were still suffering was, in the first place, the fault of the Kingdom of Lordberg, and that that country was the enemy they should hate.
The Wealthy Nation Faction, desperate to protect the vested interest class, continued thorough agitation without considering moderation. It succeeded over more than five years—but eventually, it became uncontrollable.
Nearly ten million commoners grew in their hatred for the Kingdom of Lordberg, and it finally exploded. For the sake of revenge, they began to demand a re-invasion of the Kingdom of Lordberg.
It became a public opinion with a fierce intensity. To the point where the Wealthy Nation Faction government, if they did not decide on a re-invasion, might be seen as weak and could be destroyed by riots.
That said, the wounds of the previous war had not yet healed in the Betumia Republic. The condolence payments to wounded soldiers suffering from paralysis and the economic losses due to the decrease in the working population weighed heavily on society as a negative legacy.
A large-scale invasion like the previous one was simply not possible yet. The Wealthy Nation Faction was at their wit's end.
That was when Irene thought of utilizing this situation.
As the supreme commander of the military, she drafted an operational plan that was extremely convenient for the Wealthy Nation Faction—one to achieve complete control over the Kingdom of Lordberg with fewer troops and in a shorter time than the previous time. It was a plan that could hardly be called high in its probability of success, but Prime Minister Phildrack and the Wealthy Nation Faction, who were ignorant of military affairs and above all troubled by the current situation, jumped at it.
Having been given full authority regarding the re-invasion, Irene planned to send the main force of the regular army, which was under the influence of the Wealthy Nation Faction, into the Kingdom of Lordberg to leave the domestic front thin, and then use her own forces and trustworthy soldiers to overthrow the government and establish a new government led by the People's Faction.
In other words, she intended to cause a coup d'état by force using the People's Faction in the government and the sensible elements of the military. In order to reclaim a proud homeland.
"My sister is currently gathering evidence of the Wealthy Nation Faction's monopoly on wealth and their numerous irregularities. Furthermore, she is creating false evidence to make the Wealthy Nation Faction's crimes seem heavier. If she makes these public to society and simultaneously seizes control of the government, parliament, and courts, she will be able to crush the Wealthy Nation Faction all at once with public opinion on her side."
"...And as for the Kingdom of Lordberg, by leaking the invasion plan in advance, you intend to let us minimize our damages while crushing the main force of the regular army under the control of the Wealthy Nation Faction, is that it?"
"That is correct. As for the specific timing of the re-invasion, it is expected to be this summer... around July or August."
Having finished listening to Norman's explanation, Noein crossed his arms and exhaled.
"I heard everything up to this point immediately after they arrived. Around the same time, reports also arrived from the intelligence agents we had sent south, stating that public opinion within the Betumia Republic was leaning toward wanting a re-invasion. Since it is information from a distant country, it only reaches us a few months late... Now then, the real conversation starts from here."
Oscar, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
"I understand that the supreme commander of the military in your country intends to rebel against the government and cause a coup. That is a matter of your country's internal affairs. Do as you like. However, if there is a stage of re-invading the Kingdom of Lordberg as part of that coup, I cannot simply stay silent."
Oscar stared at Norman while emitting pressure.
"If we know of the re-invasion in advance, we can prepare ourselves perfectly and strike back. But even then, it cannot be said that damages will be non-existent... What is the reward for my country for playing along with your country's internal squabbles? What advantage does my country gain?"
"The conclusion of a formal peace treaty. The payment of reparations. And the return of the citizens of the Kingdom of Lordberg whom we took away during the previous invasion."
As if the answer had been decided in advance, Norman replied instantly.
"Currently, diplomatic relations between my country and the Kingdom of Lordberg are severed. After the new government is established, my sister and the leaders of the People's Faction intend to first restore diplomatic relations with your country and formally conclude a peace treaty. To that end, we have the intention to pay reparations, including for the previous battle. I do not know if it will be exactly as your country wishes... but if we seize the assets hoarded by the Wealthy Nation Faction, we can easily pay reparations of about ten to twenty billion Rebro in your country's currency value."
Norman spoke without flinching, even in the face of Oscar's grim expression.
"Also, I believe many Republic soldiers will become prisoners of your country during the re-invasion. Although many regular soldiers are under the influence of the Wealthy Nation Faction, they are also citizens of the Republic, and their family backgrounds are not all from the wealthy class. Moreover, many volunteers from commoner backgrounds will also serve. Naturally, from our side, we wish to return them to their homeland. In the form of an exchange with them, we will return the citizens of the Kingdom of Lordberg we brought here... though since seven years have passed since the previous battle, not all the abducted citizens are alive."
"...I see. It is not a bad deal."
Oscar answered in a low voice.
"But is there any guarantee that the Betumia Republic will provide those rewards? In the previous war, my country was subjected to every possible atrocity by your country. Just because you are reborn into some new government, where is the guarantee that your country will begin to show sincerity to my country? General Foster's personal conviction alone is insufficient as material to believe in."
"In the first place, there is no guarantee that the re-invasion plan you speak of is true. You might be intending to entrap the Kingdom of Lordberg and truly conquer it this time."
Whether the points raised by Oscar and Noein were within his expectations, Norman did not waver.
"The conclusion of a peace treaty, the payment of reparations, the return of the citizens of the Kingdom of Lordberg. Regarding these, we are fine with an order where you return the Republic soldier prisoners after we have fulfilled our obligations. I believe that will serve as one guarantee."
"I see, so until your country hands over the money and the people, we can keep your soldiers who were taken prisoner as hostages."
Oscar muttered, appearing somewhat satisfied for the time being.
"And as for the truth of the re-invasion plan... regarding that, our own persons are a guarantee."
Cutting his words there, Norman exchanged a look with George once.
"The Foster family has strong bonds, and I am very cherished by my sister. Also, this George-dono, our uncle, is held in affection by my sister. The proof of that is that he has always served as my sister's adjutant since she became a soldier... My sister will not abandon me or my uncle."
At Norman's assertion, George also nodded strongly.
"If the information we spoke as secret envoys was a trap to deceive your country, you would execute the two of us in retaliation. Knowing that, my sister sent the two of us, her beloved relatives. My sister believed that if we did not show at least that level of sincerity, we would not gain your country's trust. The two of us are also here prepared to be killed if we cannot gain your country's trust."
"...Hmm."
Having finished listening to Norman's explanation, Oscar muttered while crossing his arms.
"You two, please wait a moment. Grand Duke Arqvist, let us speak outside for a bit."
Then, Oscar took Noein and temporarily left the reception room.