What are some ways to ruin the relationships of allies?
There are many ways, but I would like to choose this one.
Disparity of information, the presence or absence of knowledge, and the resulting conflict of opinions.
"Give shorter breaks to prisoners from Burkheim and Carden. Give Fohrland prisoners more than them. Oh, of course, you know you have to openly discriminate on work hours, right?"
I'm struggling to death, but those guys next to me are lazing around.
Not because they're hurt, nor because they sold information. Just because they're from different kingdoms.
What would our prisoner friends think when they see that scene?
"Let's also arrange the guarding soldiers differently. Place more rugged and scary ones near the prisoners of the two kingdoms, and gentle soldiers near the Fohrland prisoners."
As a bonus, I instructed the guards near the prisoners from the two kingdoms to remain silent.
Conversely, I ordered the guards of the Fohrland prisoners to laugh a lot and talk a lot.
The atmosphere must be perfectly divided in half, creating a feeling where some are prisoners and some are friends.
"Prisoner meals. This is important. For those from Fohrland, supply them not with prisoner meals, but with the meals our soldiers receive. Conversely, give the prisoners from the two kingdoms half rations of the standard prisoner meals."
It's hard to find anything more maddening than discrimination through food. It's enough to make even old and high-ranking people feel resentful.
Imagine openly discriminating against soldiers on the battlefield, where eating is their only joy?
'They'll go crazy. It's perfectly fine to make them think there's something going on.'
The important thing here is that everyone should be able to see all of this.
You absolutely must not keep the prisoners from the two kingdoms separate from the Fohrland prisoners.
The two groups must clearly see what is happening to each other.
Oh, and the most important part. This could be considered the climax.
"They'll sleep in the same space. …What if they fight? That's great for us. I hope there will be a fight among the prisoners."
When they see that the devils, from their perspective, are treating those others well!
What will the prisoners of Burkheim and Carden think when they see that scene?
That they're trying to drive a wedge between us! Don't be fooled! Will that be it?
How could that be? They'll think there's something going on between the Empire and Fohrland.
Conversely, Fohrland soldiers will feel wronged, but subconsciously they will find it convenient.
Having been harassed by those two kingdoms in the past, they'll be laughing inside, thinking 'good riddance!'
If they hear complaints from the prisoners of the two kingdoms, asking why they should be discriminated against.
Will they really say, 'Ah. You're right. Starting tomorrow, we'll share the work and the food'?
'Is that even possible?'
That night, the news I'd been waiting for came right away.
"Young Master Kael. There was a fight in the prisoners' quarters. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but there are injuries..."
"Who won?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes. It is believed that the prisoners from Burkheim and Carden won, considering the difference in numbers."
I see. Then our Fohrland friends must be very upset.
If the we, the Empire says 'You scoundrels!' at this moment, the picture will become very pretty.
How can I resist this? I see agitation, so I have to join in right away.
"Increase the labor of the prisoners from Burkheim and Carden starting tomorrow."
"Ah..."
"And make the Fohrland prisoners rest in front of their work area."
"Will that be alright? The atmosphere among the prisoners is already tense due to the blatant discrimination..."
"That's why I'm doing it, to make them fight more. Blatant discrimination. Yes. Please do that."
Our Empire continues to treat the prisoners from the two kingdoms and Fohrland differently.
Then the guys from the two kingdoms will get angry and keep provoking the Fohrland prisoners.
The Fohrland friends, who initially thought they were the same prisoners, will also become furious.
I'm really curious what they'll say when we send our prisoners back in that state!
"Formally release the Fohrland prisoners. As for the Burkheim and Carden prisoners, not all of them, but only a few. And not through normal methods, but make it look like they escaped."
Whose words will the Three Kingdoms alliance listen to more?
Those who were well-fed and well-treated, looking sleek and not like prisoners at all, and were even released.
Or those who are underfed and abused, looking like beggars, that escaped on their own.
I don't know about anything else, but wouldn't the command staff of Burkheim and Carden be in chaos?
"...Even if Fohrland jumps up and down claiming injustice, they won't have a leg to stand on, Young Master Kael."
"If they jump, it's even better for us. The two kingdoms will see that and think they're acting that way because they have something to hide."
After I told the commander in charge of the prisoners that he had done a good job, I immediately went to find the Corps Commander for the next operation.
"A letter?"
"Yes, Commander."
"You're sending a letter to the commander of the Three Kingdoms alliance. Alright. What kind of letter are you planning to send?"
At that question, I smiled and handed him what I had prepared in advance.
"...Young Master Kael?"
The Commander who received the letter from me looked at it and tilted his head.
He must have been surprised. He had to be, after all...
"Did you bring the wrong one? There's nothing that can be called content, just a simple greeting. And half of the sentences are smudged and unreadable?"
"I'm sure this is the right one, Commander."
Suspicion may be a powerful weapon, but if you don't keep pumping it, it will eventually die out.
So, you have to keep blowing the wind of suspicion every day without rest.
Until finally, it accumulates and explodes among them!
"The enemy is already full of suspicion due to the treatment and release of the prisoners. If the commander went to see what letter he received, and the content is like this, what would he think?"
"Under normal circumstances, they would think that the enemy is using a tactic of sowing discord. But..."
"There is no mercy in the flames of suspicion once they are lit."
Burn brightly. So that you all burn to death among yourselves.
Didn't Cao Cao, who played this wonderful prank, think the same way as me?
"Then it would be better to send a messenger as quietly as possible when delivering this letter."
Now the Commander is quick on the uptake. I like it very much!
*
"They say the Imperial Army treated our soldiers very generously."
"There was no abuse at all, barely any labor, and the guards were very kind."
"I don't know about the soldiers of the two kingdoms, but the story must have already spread among our Fohrland soldiers."
Betel, the commander of the Three Kingdoms alliance in the direction of the Pavilion, had to grab his head.
It would have been better if they had fought and been defeated.
The Fohrland soldiers returned but It was doubtful whether they were really prisoners.
They were so well-fed and well-slept that their faces were shining.
How much trouble did he had to calm down the commanders of the two kingdoms who were foaming at the mouth at the sight of them?
Meanwhile, the Empire side continued to send daggers towards them.
While the soldiers of Burkheim and Carden 'escaped' the Imperial Camp, it was clear that they were intentionally released as well.
As soon as they returned, an even more uncontrollable fire ignited in the allied camp.
"I wonder why they're only taking care of Fohrland prisoners. Oh, I'm not particularly suspicious."
"We need to take care of our prisoners who haven't eaten or slept well. Please give us some food supplies from Fohrland."
"Hmm. The Fohrland soldiers said they were well treated, so they might fight more enthusiastically. They'll be released again anyway if they get captured."
When everyone initially shouted 'This is an Empire trap!'
As the murmuring among the soldiers grew stronger, they cast suspicious glances as if they had never said that.
Betel got angry and tried to persuade them, asking what they were doing, but it was not easy.
Anyway, the calculation that the Pavilion force is the defeat of the alliance has already been made.
Therefore, all that remains for them is to whom. To which kingdom to shift the responsibility for that defeat.
Whether they lose or win the war, it's all about who will be superior in the future leadership.
"Stupid fools..."
And they, chose the easiest target - Fohrland.
The commander is Betel himself, and the prisoner issue overlaps, so they thought it was perfect.
Using this as an excuse, they will pressure Fohrland to extract human and material resources, but will not give them command authority.
It's obvious the two kingdoms have always treated Fohrland that way.
Not a colleague or a friend. Just a punching bag to take from whenever they need something.
Now Betel feelt even more disgust towards the two kingdoms than anger towards the Empire.
"Commander."
Just then, one of the Fohrland commanders carefully enters the barracks.
"An Imperial Herald has arrived."
"A Herald? But how can the military camp be so quiet?"
"He approached our Fohrland side quietly, saying he's here to deliver a letter. What should we do?"
"...Bring it here for now."
Betel couldn't kill the Herald, and since he brought a letter, he needed to check it.
So Betel, who received the letter, could not help but frown.
"Was that really an Imperial Herald just now?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes. Commander. He was carrying a white flag and the Imperial Army flag."
"Then what on earth is this?"
Betel handed the letter he was holding to a fellow Fohrland commander.
Some sentences were erased and obscured here and there. But otherwise, it was just simple greetings.
Just as the two men were about to continue discussing that absurd thing,
"Commander!"
Suddenly, the entrance to the barracks was thrown open, and a group of commanders entered.
They were from Burkheim and Carden respectively. Their mood was ominous.
"We heard an Imperial envoy came. Why did he come so quietly?"
"What are you holding in your hand? Isn't it something sent by the Imperial Army?"
"Why are you looking at it alone without a word to us, Commander? Weren't we an alliance?"
…This damn it. Alliance? What Alliance??
Betel barely managed to resist the urge to throw the letter in his hand at them.