People are moved by good deeds and try to emulate them.
People learn, as if compelled, when they see someone getting screwed over.
And they use it to their advantage. Benito is a prime example.
[ To the invading Empire. Is it not enough that you invaded this country, and yet you discuss legitimacy? If the enemies who invaded your Empire asserted the Emperor's legitimacy, would you then begin to doubt? ]
[ To emphasize one was pushed out of the succession dispute and discuss the master of the throne is against all propriety. In the first place, one should be grateful for the mercy of being allowed to survive despite being pushed out. Then again, how would invaders know such a natural principle. ]
Oof. The wording delivered to our side is quite aggressive.
Look at how those with high Loyalty grit their teeth and seethe every time they mention the Emperor.
This is a tremendous success. Aren't the Benito bastards startled enough to react so fiercely?
It proves the effectiveness of our great northern—no, our great Benito amplification Magic.
“See, Your Highness? What did I tell you? They'd go absolutely berserk.”
“It's surprising. I thought they would just ignore or mock it.”
“If you say something completely absurd, they might, but if you give them propaganda and fabrications based on facts, the ruler is bound to react eventually.”
Why? Because if they don't react, their own authority is indiscriminately undermined.
For someone who maintained power with that authority, there would be nothing more frightening.
In fact, the three little pigs of the north in my Memories of a Past Life were just like that.
“Alright. Now that its effectiveness has been proven, it's time to move on to the next step.”
“You're talking about the amplification magic through the prisoners cooperative with our Empire, right?”
“That's right. As it happens, that side is grappling with an epidemic, and wouldn't it be the icing on the cake if those thought to be captured and dead are shown shouting that they're happy, their faces shining with grease!”
“Seeing you at times like these… makes our Empire, no, Kael, look like a villain.”
Do you know, Your Highness? In war, that is the best compliment.
That bastard fights a war like a rabid dog. Wow, what on earth should we do with that son of a bitch?
Isn't this the highest praise, following 'You play the game like shit!'?
I'm even thinking of creating a separate Legion specializing in this kind of work.
The name… right. The Empire Psychological Warfare Unit. Something like that should do.
It would be very useful to have it under the Ministry of War or the Chief of Staff's Office.
“Choose, Your Highness. Which of these two do you think will be more effective?”
“Hmm. This one seems to overemphasize that only the prisoners are eating and living well. It might just end up fostering their discontent and hostility, Kael.”
“Actually, I had the same thought. In that case—”
“Let's go with this one.”
The great Benito amplification magic broadcast plan that the Princess and I indicated was—
*
[ Compatriots of Benito! You are being deceived. The very ones who clamored that the Empire's people were wicked and cruel were the first to drive us to our deaths, and they themselves ran away. The Empire has taken us in and is treating us like humans! ]
[ Are we doing this because we were promised wealth and power? No! The Empire has promised nothing. Of course! They are already close to victory, what more could they want! Then why are we doing this? It is to save our compatriots! ]
[ Do not throw away your lives in a fight with no justification. Our King is a man abandoned even by the gods. No, he is not even King! We are being punished because we failed to serve the true King. Why must we be the ones to pay the price for that! ]
[ Let us live. We must live. Do not treat your lives lightly. It is said that humiliation is more terrible than death, but if you are to die, living is better! ]
My, my. That fellow's voice is quite good. Did they say he was a platoon leader from the Benito Military?
He is definitely someone who leads soldiers, so his voice is very loud.
Thanks to that, with the amplification magic added, it's ringing out very loudly and pounding on each castle in Benito.
“Adjutant.”
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief.”
“Go and tell that friend to add a bit more moisture to his voice when he speaks.”
“By moisture, you mean?”
“Not just shouting, but a tearful voice that sounds like it's about to explode with sorrow. That's how our people of Benito will more fully realize their situation, wouldn't they?”
After a month, the power of the epidemic had also subsided to some extent.
But the suffering of the sick does not easily disappear even after a month.
On the contrary, even those nursing them would be collapsing from fatigue and contamination.
There is a limit to what healing magic can do. That is also something only the very high and mighty can enjoy.
There are medicines that work against epidemics, but in Benito's current situation, even that medicine is hard to come by.
It would have been difficult just to secure food and water. How could they have brought medicine in advance?
Now that the terrible plague has passed, they will start to see reality.
The Empire, which they thought would plunder and destroy them, is not actually a demon.
They say you'll die if you go outside the castle, but it feels like you'll die even if you stay inside.
The surrendered men are making tearful laments, begging not to die in vain.
Are we trying to set up a new king to shake them?
No. This is just a pretext. A pretext for them to come out of the castle.
Or a reason not to be called a traitor even if they open the castle gates wide.
The problem of legitimacy does not begin with legitimacy and end with it.
It's just an excuse. A different heart that everyone holds. An excuse to hide it.
Our empire has thrown that move, and those left in Benito have no choice but to bite it.
“Commander-in-Chief. The first castle to express its intention to surrender has come forward.”
The first one is difficult. But from the second one on, it's easy.
After eagerly broadcasting and presenting a new king, they watch and crumble on their own.
Especially the south, which had been eagerly pounded by our empire, was like that.
Since they had set up a defensive line along the Benito Royal Capital, the damage naturally accumulated even more.
On top of that, it was also outside the interest of the current king, Andrea II, so the reason is sufficient.
“We, the nobles of Benito, welcome the entry of the empire!”
“Please have mercy. Inside the castle, there are only the dead and the soon-to-be-dead. Only these two kinds of people!”
“We came here, having heard the true King of Benito is here. W-we have absolutely not surrendered to the Empire. We are merely trying to be loyal to the true Benito!”
Oh, my. Yes, yes. Of course. That's why you surrendered, right?
Don't worry. I'll listen to whatever strange things you have to say.
In the end, it's just them saying, ‘We've come to surrender, so please save us.’
I had already ordered them to simply accept whatever they chattered on about.
It's a win-win. Thanks to the justification we've put forward, those bastards are not traitors but loyal subjects.
And as those surrenders pile up, our Empire gains another justification to crush the current King of Benito.
“The road to the Benito Royal Capital is open.”
“4th Corps Commander.”
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief.”
“Pound them. Hit and break them without holding back.”
Thedorant's 5th Army had already left the Royal Capital long ago.
Only Benito's army remains, but it alone is no match.
A defender holds an advantage over a besieger, but the internal situation has to be favorable.
The Power of the epidemic has waned, but what of those who have suffered until now?
Just a week ago, they were soiling themselves from top to bottom even from just drinking water?
Amidst that, could they even carry those heavy weapons or wear armor?
And run around like crazy to fight a battle?
“From here on, I will leave it to the 4th Corps Commander.”
“Will you not be staying longer, Commander-in-Chief?”
“If I stay here, I'll be stealing all of our 4th Corps Commander's military merit.”
“No, sir! I have no interest in military merit! It's just that….”
“Hahaha! I'm joking, joking. Do you really think I'd do that for such a reason?”
I patted the 4th Corps Commander's shoulder a few times and told him the real reason.
“It's about time to resume the attack against Thedorant.”
A few days ago, a message came from the Ministry of War.
That the urgent crisis was resolved, and the Logistics Corps was fully prepared for subsequent activities.
Wouldn't our army's morale be blunted if we stayed for too long?
I fully agree with that. We shouldn't drag it out.
If the problem is solved, we must not hesitate and charge in at once.
Like splitting bamboo. Yes. That phrase seems to fit this situation perfectly. [TL] 파죽지세(破竹之勢, pajukjise) is a Korean idiom that literally means "the power of splitting bamboo." It describes an irresistible force that sweeps through obstacles effortlessly. [/TL]
*
“By the way, Kael.”
On the way from the southern front to the Thedorant front.
The Princess, who was riding beside me, glanced back and opened her mouth.
“Why are we suddenly carrying all those herrings?”
“There's a reason for everything.”
“Surely it's not for supply, is it? They're fine now, but after a few days….”
“Your Highness. What do you think Thedorant is aiming for right now?”
“Wouldn't it be a victory that will bring our Empire's offensive to a halt?”
At the Princess's answer, I shook my head slightly.
Thedorant of the past might have been like that, but now it was time for those bastards to change their pattern.
They can't hold on forever with just tactical victories. The well they've been drawing from is also running dry.
At times like these, what's important is to drag the enemy you're fighting down to your own level.
“By now, those bastards must know that our Imperial Army's food cart is a lifeline.”
How am I so sure? Because if it were me, I would have done the same. It's not difficult at all.