I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy - Chapter 125

EP.125

Then, a week later, some officers of the Reich Empire, including Count Benner and I, were invited by the French Republic and went to the nearby Castle of Nancy for negotiations.

I wonder if we want to protest that we are still alive and well, even though the situation in the country makes no sense since we lost the war due to the aftermath of the excommunication.

Inside the castle, a luxurious and extravagant scene was created, with colorful carpet chandeliers, various types of furniture made of luxurious wood, and desks made of carved marble.

While the peace negotiations were in progress, the clothes worn by François’ servants, who would provide comfort to Marquis Venner, me, and the officers in the entourage, were made of only the finest silk.

If you show on the outside that you don’t have money.

I guess it was to prepare for the fear that Marquis Venner would see this and find out their weaknesses and impose some unfavorable conditions on them.

As I waited, imagining how the future negotiations would turn out, the door opened and Francois’s negotiator came in and greeted me.

“Thank you for coming to Castle Nancy. My name is Pierre von Troyes, Deputy Foreign Minister and Member of Parliament for the Republic responsible for negotiating this war. “This man next to me is Henri de Régis, who serves as my aide.”

After hearing those words, the Marquis and I stood up, accepted his greeting, and chatted for a while.

At any rate, it was pointless content such as the high level of literature and culture of the Reich Empire or the fact that the food of the Francois Republic was very delicious.

In terms of diplomatic formality, it is also necessary to act hypocritically by having these conversations and getting to know each other.

It’s like going on a blind date and even if there’s someone you don’t like, you go out and eat a meal out of concern for the face of the arranger.

“Now let’s begin negotiations in earnest, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“Okay, please, it should be a negotiation that everyone can understand.”

“Then, let us present the conditions first. “I think you will like it as these are conditions that are as considerate as possible to the empire.”

The words exchanged on the surface were very cordial, but the meaning behind them was roughly this.

‘Now stop talking nonsense and how much are you going to pay for your life? Present it first. If I don’t like the sincerity, I plan to completely overturn it.’

After saying that, an aide named Pierre next to the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs laid out a map of the François Republic for everyone to see.

Next, the Deputy Foreign Minister drew a line from the Castle of Metz to the city of Belfort with the baton he was holding and then spoke.

“As compensation, I will hand over the territory from the eastern border of the empire to Celsta Castle and Sargmin Castle, as well as all the people living there. In addition, 300,000 gold as war reparations and 200,000 gold as ransom for prisoners. “How about giving a total of 500,000 gold?”

The territory from the east to Celesta Sargmin is 1.5 times the size of the Visocia region and is an incredibly large land, amounting to two duchies.

Moreover, this is a region with fertile land and a good climate that can support a population of over 700,000 people if only the devastated fields are rebuilt.

Considering the luxury goods such as wine and fruits produced as specialties, as well as the robust trade and established trade routes, its value is more than four times that of Visochia.

To be honest, this war reparations includes the price of canceling the excommunication of Francois and compensation for causing more than 300,000 people of the Reich Empire to lose their homes.

To be honest, 500,000 gold and territory equivalent to Celesta and Sargmin are pretty decent.

However, if the allies make up their minds and are prepared to push themselves, it is possible to continue the war like this and take over three times as much land as that nobleman suggested, even if it is impossible to reach Gobelin, the capital.

And since the other party knows that fact, it seems like they are trying to negotiate with us a few times and then settle on the condition of paying a little more.

Marquis Benner and I have already decided to start by asking for four times the conditions presented by His Majesty the Emperor.

“Heh, this is a difficult condition for us to accept. “Isn’t that a place that Francois’s Eastern Expeditionary Force has devastated so much that it will take several years just to rebuild the village?”

“Then how much do you want us to concede?”

At those words, Marquis Venner muttered for a moment as if he was thinking about it, but then he smiled and spoke.

“Shouldn’t you hand over the distance from Colmar to Metz Castle? And the compensation will only be 500,000 gold.”

Although he said it with a smile, this was a threat to the French Republic to cut off an arm or a leg and give it to him.

This is because the land requested was four times the size of Visuccia and was excellent in terms of usefulness, so it was intended to receive Francois’ land like Altoran.

And what if you use all of the 500,000 gold in compensation given by Francois?

In fact, from the empire’s perspective, it can completely rebuild the territory it received from Francois without spending a single penny.

The expression of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had been full of composure and a smile until just now, was filled with anger that he could no longer hide, but he tried to suppress his anger and spoke in a natural voice.

“We cannot cede such a large territory. So please adjust it to an appropriate level.”

“I’m just trying to get the compensation you deserve for harming the people of our empire. No further adjustments can be made. “You’re probably not planning on negotiating the cost of excommunication (money paid in exchange for forgiveness of your sins), right?”

“The conditions demanded by the two countries are very different. Don’t you need a cup of tea at a time like this? I happen to have some precious coffee beans that I had a hard time finding. How about a cup of coffee?”

Then, the Marquis and the other attachés, including the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, all stood up and tried to leave.

I and the other side’s aide could not leave the table after them.

Because the other party’s invitation to go for a cup of coffee means that the negotiator’s aides should have a sincere conversation in a place where no one is around.

Then, after several hours of conversation, we have figured out the other person’s true intentions and concluded the discussion, and only then can we go up to report that the paperwork has been completed.

Then, of course, I just have to report to the Marquis of Venner that I have discussed these terms with the other party.

Then, the strengthened negotiations will be signed after some additional discussion with the content agreed upon between the two aides.

“Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, then I will organize some of the documents here and join you.”

“I’m sorry, Captain, but me too.”

After saying that, as if it were natural, the two left without stopping us, telling us to take care of things slowly.

When only the two of us were left, Henri, the other party’s aide, looked at me and asked with a serious expression.

“Let’s talk really honestly and openly, following diplomatic convention. Do you really want the Empire from Colmar to Metz?”

Frankly speaking, the condition that His Majesty the Emperor commanded Count Vener was that he should only accept the land you first offered, and not the area from Colmar to Metz.

However, His Majesty said that he could freely extort a little more than the minimum amount of territory and compensation.

After making a big deal out of it, I plan to ease the conditions little by little, like feeding fish.

“I think we can reduce it a little more.”

“To what extent? No matter how you think about it, the mess in Colmar is too much. “Aren’t you asking us to give up almost the size of a principality?”

“Marquis Venner happens to be my father-in-law, and I think His Majesty the Emperor could be more merciful if only he would hand over a few of the Republic’s criminals for appropriate compensation and preservation of prestige. No, he will give it to you.”

In fact, this was such an obvious condition that the aide in front of me, in his mid-40s, looked distressed.

That’s because the republic can be forgiven only if the person responsible for causing the republic’s excommunication, François, is sent to the Vatican to be interrogated for heresy and then killed, and only then will the excommunication be lifted.

In addition, in the situation of His Majesty the Emperor, there are those who take responsibility and die, so the prestige is saved and there is a justification for reducing the amount of compensation and land received from them in exchange for the heads of a few politicians.

“All right. Then, after we cede the territory, we will give to the Holy Father those who are guilty among our lawmakers and generals…”

But I cut him off and said with a smile:

“What are you talking about? The Holy Father already knows that both the coiners and the coiners were deeply involved in the plunder of the Reich Empire, which led to the excommunication. So isn’t it important how much more appropriate you express your gratitude to the Reich Empire, who is now a victim?”

To be precise, the Juwar faction made a fuss about attacking the territory of the Reich Empire, which was busy conquering the north, and the Juhwa faction argued that they should be more cautious because they could be excommunicated if they attacked the empire’s territory without a declaration of war.

Later, I heard that the Jujeon faction passed it on the condition that a few nobles belonging to the Juhwa faction were given a few seats in the National Assembly.

So, strictly speaking, both sides are related.

The Empire can honestly decide which of the two factions will apologize to us first and contribute to lifting the excommunication of the Francois Republic.

“Furthermore, if adequate compensation is not provided, we are considering breaking down the peace negotiations and negotiating with the Juche faction rather than the Juhwa faction to which Advisor Henri belongs.”

At this level, it is a card that can be played within the scope of Captain Benner’s authority.

Now, show me how sincerely you want to live.

See next episode