Chapter 103: Playing With Fire Called Excommunication
Three months later, at the Marseille Palace of the Francois Republic.
“Heheheh, Councilor Andorra, don’t worry. The Francois Republic will stand firm.”
“Who doesn’t know that? It’s just that the Reich Empire’s trickery has become a nuisance.”
“We are the ones who rose again after driving out the Cafe Royal Family that plunged our Republic into disaster 30 years ago. There’s no way our Republic would be shaken by just one excommunication decree.”
They were so composed that it was hard to believe they were the same people who received the excommunication decree from the Pope of the Latina Papacy and had diplomatic severance delivered to the ambassadors of all neighboring countries a week ago.
Therefore, the butlers, lower officials, and officers of the Marseille Palace, having witnessed this, harbored expectations that the senior figures of the Republic, which had defeated the evil Royal Family and regained prosperity, were different.
However, when the doors of the ‘Mirror Room,’ the meeting room of the Republic’s Parliament, closed completely, the atmosphere among them completely reversed.
A moment ago, they seemed somewhat composed despite facing a crisis, but now they are gripped with fear like prisoners sentenced to execution the next day.
The councilors at the top of the Republic were now pointing fingers and hurling insults at each other.
“President Robes Pierre, are you out of your mind? I told you it was a good opportunity for us when the Imperial bastards attacked the North. We should have sent a proper declaration of war and hit them back. What is this mess now? If you have a mouth, speak up!”
“Are you done talking? You agreed back then too! Yet you’re blaming it all on me now.”
“No, think about it. If it weren’t for the sword wielded by Peter Yaeger, the Crown Prince of the Reich Empire, the Empire would have spent at least four years subjugating Ludwig.”
“Trying hard and doing well means nothing! It’s the results that count! The results!!”
Fortunately, due to the thick walls and doors of the Mirror Room, the guards outside the door and all the officers and officials within the castle could not hear these councilors hastily swallowing their fear and shifting blame.
For the councilors, who could be considered the ruling nobility of the Republic, what mattered most was whom to blame in the worst-case scenario.
Even if they won the war, they needed someone to bear the brunt of the anger from the nobility and citizens over being excommunicated by the Papacy.
While everyone was shifting blame, Councilor Anjou, the Minister of Finance, slammed a large book onto the table and said,
“Is everyone here out of their minds? Our Republic might collapse at this rate. It’s excommunication! We are now unable to trade with foreign countries! Because of this, we’ve given our goods to foreign countries but can’t claim the money due to the lost basis for demanding payment, leading to bankruptcy, or we’ve paid in advance, but the contracts for receiving goods are now void, so merchants who can’t receive anything are committing suicide in droves!”
Since the councilors themselves were politicians funded by the heads of various factions, the downfall of merchants meant that, despite holding positions, they would essentially become beggars.
Thus, with the sense of crisis that all the Republic’s councilors might end up hanging themselves, they all fell silent.
“Interior Minister Henri speaking. And that’s not all. Honestly, being excommunicated by the Deus Church doesn’t necessarily mean falling into hell. Among the serfs and ignorant citizens, many tremble with fear of falling into hell as soon as they hear the news of excommunication! There are more than a few who have already taken up arms against the Republic, which caused the excommunication.”
To be precise, nearly a thousand remnants of nobles who served the former Cafe Royal Family, refusing to recognize the excommunicated government, had gathered for an uprising.
In about 20 villages where serfs lived, significant peasant rebellions had occurred, causing turmoil.
The Francois Republic’s government had solved the problem by killing all the noble remnants during this opportunity, and the peasant rebellions were brutally suppressed by killing the leaders and their families and using barbaric methods of retaliation in the surrounding areas.
No one knew when the serfs and other citizens, deeply rooted in their obedience to the Deus Church, would rise in a large-scale rebellion as they had done before.
So, everyone agreed that the situation had grown too big to be resolved by merely selecting one or two to blame, hanging them, and begging for forgiveness from the Papacy.
“That’s why we, the chosen councilors of Francois, must enlighten the ignorant serfs and foolish citizens. To tremble in fear of falling into hell over just one excommunication decree issued by a mere secular pope, and to distrust us who defeated the wicked Cafe Royal Family and incite reactionism!”
“Right, the senior politicians who initiated the revolution would be appalled.”
“Moreover, while we have the honorable record of once overthrowing a corrupt Royal Family, it’s a double-edged sword. It means if they seize on our mistakes and rebel nationwide, they could hang or behead all of us in the Republic!”
Like the saying that in the face of death, one would join hands even with a parent’s enemy, the leaders of the Republic, who usually bickered and fought, now united for survival.
However, the thoughts of the war-supporting faction led by Robespierre, the chairman of the Republic’s parliament, and the war-opposing faction led by Vice-Chairman Charles were different.
The thoughts of the pro-war faction were as follows,
“First, we must unite our strength to defeat the rotten Reich Empire and argue forcefully to the Papacy that, although we were excommunicated in the secular world, we are righteous in the eyes of Deus, and our victory in the war proves it. Then, we must claim that we couldn’t win more decisively because the pacifists didn’t properly support the war.”
On the other hand, those in the opposition thought,
“If we win the war against the Reich Empire, we must legally and severely punish the pro-war faction that invaded the Empire without a declaration of war and ask the Papacy to revoke the excommunication. Then, we should make an agreement with the Reich Empire under suitable conditions to secure our national interests.”
However, there was one situation in which they all agreed,
“If we lose the war to the Reich Empire? I can’t die, so I’ll hang the members of the opposing faction.”
However, since it was more advantageous to engage in political struggles in a victorious country rather than gain power by killing the opposition after a defeat,
“Let’s properly prepare for the war first. We’ll deal with the political fights after we win. If we can’t hold off the Reich Empire’s army, we’re finished. Do you agree?”
At these words, all the councilors nodded in agreement.
“Therefore, we need to mobilize an army of 100,000 to confront the Reich Empire’s forces coming from the east. For centuries, they’ve had to march from Sargminne to Ballon due to supply issues, so let’s build a field fortress in Riera, a strategic location, and wait.”
For centuries, they had invaded the Republic using this route, so no one opposed this opinion.
To survive, they worked together to devise the best strategies.
“Such a wise plan, but how do we convince the humble serfs and uneducated citizens?”
At this, one councilor stroked his beard and said,
“It’s quite simple. The devils of the Reich Empire have blinded His Holiness, the Pope, leading to our excommunication. We will claim that the victory in the war proves that divine justice is with the Francois Republic. After all, we just need to win, right?”
At that, other councilors of the Republic also nodded and responded,
“Yes, if we win, it’s over. IF we win.”
“The justice of Deus is with our Francois Republic.”
Half a year later, I, Peter Yaeger, received orders to establish a new brigade for the upcoming eastern expedition of Francois next year.
I officially escaped from the staff office, where I had been working overtime at least four days a week and more often than not on Saturdays, and moved to the eastern front.
Furthermore, many soldiers and officers who had fought alongside Ludwig in the Northern Army were assigned to our brigade.
Naturally, Laura also came to work under my command.
Unexpectedly, someone who could be of help to me also joined under my command.
“Loyalty! I am Lieutenant Anastasia Kerzhit. As of this moment, I have been assigned to the 12th Brigade.”
Anastasia, who wanted to serve under me, came along with another tribe leader from the north, bringing 200 archers from their tribe.
“According to the orders of the Staff Headquarters, I am Charlotte, assigned to attend to Major General Yaeger. From now on, wherever you go, I will serve as your hands and feet. Please command me as you see fit.”
… A pretty young girl, seemingly strongly influenced by the Crown Prince’s influence, was assigned as my personal maid.
I had already made it clear to Laura last time. There was no need for her to be jealous, as I would never lay a hand on this girl first.
After all, Laura, more than anyone, knew that it was unavoidable to have a personal maid, just like her father, Commander Benner, did.
Surely she wouldn’t be needlessly jealous of a maid.
In reality, unlike in comics, it was unlikely for a maid to fall for her master.
Above all, there was only Laura for me.
As proof, I always declined invitations to go to fancy places for drinks by high-ranking individuals.
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