Chapter 174 : Chapter 174

Chapter : 174

“The peasants’ rebellion is sweeping the south!”

“They say Armand has fallen to the peasant rebel army.”

Bad news kept pouring in from every direction.

Most of it was about places falling to peasant revolts, or suffering through unrest.

But even so, most nobles other than me were indifferent to this, or they downplayed it.

-How weak do you have to be to fall to mere peasants…. Tsk.

-Utterly incompetent. To think I ate at the same table as a fellow like that, calling himself a lord. Hah, seriously!

To lose to peasant rabble!

That was truly a laughingstock in noble society. Were they not the ones who ate, slept, and trained every day as a matter of combat skill? And they even wore solid armor thoroughly, too.

And yet they lost?

As nobles, they had nothing to say.

Because of that, even though peasant revolts were erupting everywhere, they were not making proper preparations.

Instead, they were still leisurely watching things, thinking it would not be their domain.

And that was a very good opportunity for me.

“How large did they say the peasant revolt is?”

“For now, in the southern region alone, they say about twenty places have gathered nearly ten thousand peasant rebels.”

“And if you count the whole kingdom?”

“Because trade networks have been severed due to the peasant revolts, it is difficult to estimate precisely…. We are estimating roughly thirty to forty thousand. Some fallen nobles and errant knights are joining, and reports say it is gradually becoming more organized, my lord.”

“Hmm. I see.”

They were scattered across their domains, so the actual forces gathered in one place were in the hundreds to thousands, but even so, the total was not something to ignore.

And with those numbers, did it not mean at least close to a hundred small and mid-sized domains had been taken?

“They still do not look like they are paying much attention yet, do they?”

“Hoho. At first, yes, but in the end, they are peasants, are they not. Peasant revolts happen frequently…. Once the lords properly step in, it is a problem that will be subjugated quickly.”

“Magician Agpiel’s words would be right in normal times, but…. now the situation is a bit different.”

“The situation is different?”

At Viscount Avignon’s words, Magician Agpiel asked, his eyebrows twitching.

“Yes. Because of the prolonged Great Famine, the lords’ situation is not good either. From what I have grasped, most domains are reported to be producing less than fifty percent of a normal harvest.”

“You mean, even if they want to maintain an army, they lack food? And on top of that, they already pulled their troops into the subjugation of the Crusader Knight Order.”

Listening quietly, I backed up Viscount Avignon’s point.

“Yes, that is right. And because peasant revolts are breaking out here and there, trade networks have collapsed as well. Even if some regions have abundant food, it seems proper supply will not be possible.”

“Still, will the king sit still? If he commits the central army, it seems like a rebellion would be crushed quickly?”

“The central army will not be committed, Magician Agpiel.”

I answered that firmly.

“No, why?”

“The central army is ultimately the king’s guard. In name, it was created with shield taxes for the defense of the kingdom, but it is no different from the king’s private soldiers.”

“So it is a political reason?”

As expected of Magician Agpiel, called a Great Sage.

He immediately pierced the essence of what I meant.

“That is right. Now that the royalist faction and the clerical faction are divided, the king will not move his army to protect the local lords.”

“Hoo…. Then is that not a disaster?”

At this point, Magician Agpiel’s expression became serious.

If that was the situation, then the current peasant revolt would not be easily suppressed, and it meant enormous damage would come from this chaos, did it not?

“But on the other hand, it will be a great opportunity for me.”

“That is right, my lord. With this opportunity, you will be able to exert even firmer influence over the southern region. In the end, the only person they can rely on is you, is it not.”

“I will not just watch this happen, either.”

“How wise!”

At my words, Chamberlain Hamil and Viscount Avignon’s faces brightened. Was the rise of the lord they served not the happiness of a vassal?

“…….”

Of course, Magician Agpiel did not exactly like how we were trying to profit even in this situation.

I looked at Magician Agpiel and gave a bitter smile.

“What can we do, Magician Agpiel. The lords have little interest, and the powers that should be responsible for this will not move because of their own profits. Should we not step in quickly and stabilize at least the south?”

“Ghnn. That is true, but…. when I think of the great chaos this will bring, I worry too much.”

“I know. So I will promise you this, Magician Agpiel. Those who come under my protection will be able to live well without great worry. I promise.”

“Yes, if you say so, then it will be so. I will trust you. I will go rest for a while. If something happens, call me.”

After saying that, Magician Agpiel left the office.

He seemed sick of the king’s behavior. Well, even fox tricks needed moderation, did they not.

Not fulfilling one’s duty in an emergency like this was basically the same as handing someone a pretext.

Of course, I was deeply grateful for the king of the Elang Kingdom’s behavior.

“I intend to change the customs union into a system with stronger binding force, taking this opportunity.”

I swept my gaze over the office’s vassals and said that.

“Send envoys to the lords belonging to the customs union. Tell them we should respond together to the current situation. First, I will gladly mobilize a large army for defense, so have them either send troops later or provide funds.”

In other words, I was saying I would support military force like a real alliance.

Of course, it was not free, and they would have to steadily pay defense funds to the customs union.

At that, the expressions of Chamberlain Hamil and Viscount Avignon, and the other vassals, stiffened slightly.

“Mm….”

“My lord. But troop movement could be an act that infringes upon the lords’ authority.”

“That is right. And telling them to provide funds is, in the end, funds in name only. Is it not almost the same meaning as the shield tax that goes to the king?”

“Resistance from the lords under the customs union seems likely to be quite severe….”

Everyone was talking about the risk factors in their own ways.

Of course, it was all within what I had anticipated to some extent.

“Ah, yes. I know what you are saying.”

“You do…?”

“Yes. I did not intend to say it as a compulsory matter in the first place. Do you think I would try to infringe upon the lords’ authority?”

“Then…?”

At my words, the vassals tilted their heads. They had thought I meant to apply it across the customs union members, but it was not?

Looking at their expressions, I let out a small chuckle.

“If I forced it like that, would they not misunderstand that I am trying to become a king? Do you think I would do something that stupid? When the king of the Elang Kingdom and the Duke of Bourgogne are both sitting right there.”

Things like this had to seep in slowly.

If you went strong from the start, you only invited backlash. That was why I intended to go very gently.

“Each domain’s situation is different, so are there not places where it is hard to properly maintain an army?”

“Yes. That is right. The Lwinyang domain is especially like that. Hoho.”

“Yes. Places like that. I am saying that if they want, I will support them with soldiers. And I will take only a certain price. Like mercenaries. At the very least, should not the people inside our customs union help and protect each other.”

“Mmm…. So you mean you will support only the domains that want it, not force it?”

“Exactly. If they can protect their own domain themselves, then there is no need for me to send troops.”

Of course, there would be no domains that could protect themselves.

The peasant revolt that had started, and now flared….

Because I would make the board even bigger. The lords of the kingdom—no, of the continent—would now be swept into the great peasant rebellion they were experiencing for the first time.

---

The meeting in the office ended in the end according to my proposal.

Even from the vassals’ perspective, there had been no reason to oppose it.

Send troops to help a customs union lord who lacked strength, and receive a certain reward. Did it not fit both justification and profit perfectly?

Most lords would probably say they did not want help, but petty lords would be different.

According to the reports, the peasant revolt was becoming more organized and moving into other domains, so it would be difficult for them to stop it.

So the vassals had pushed this forward while thinking only to that extent.

Of course, I was a little different.

“You called for me, my lord.”

“Oh, yes, Viscount Avignon. You came.”

I wanted to make this board bigger, and make the customs union into something even more clearly subordinate to me.

In the end, to the point it could practically become my fief.

“For what reason did you call me…. Do you have a separate task for me?”

Viscount Avignon, bowing his head, asked with sparkling eyes.

A one-on-one audience with my lord.

He had caught the scent of a plot for the first time in a while.

At that quick-witted look, I grinned and opened my mouth.

“Yes. My loyal confidant. I called you separately because I have something to ask of you.”

“Just give the order. I will carry it out at the cost of my life!”

“Come now. Why would you risk your life? I always think your life is more precious than that kind of task. So do not say such things.”

This kind of lip service was an extremely effective method of management. Look at him now.

“Ah…. My lord….”

He was looking at me with a deeply moved expression.

The nobles of [Pangea Universalise] were indeed quite weak to things like this.

“Enough being moved, and let us talk about the work.”

“Yes, yes. Speak, my lord.”

“I heard that there are still some people of the Crusader Knight Order in prison within my domain. Is that right?”

“That is right. I believe about twenty are in the underground prison.”

“What is their health like? Are they still healthy? And what about their faith?”

“Mmm…. Given their status, they have not been harmed much, and most are fine. And they have great hostility toward the Holy See, but their faith still seems firm.”

At Viscount Avignon’s report, I brightened. Then would they not be worth using this time?

As if he had read my thoughts, Viscount Avignon asked cautiously.

“Could it be…. are you thinking of releasing them?”

“Yes. Exactly. I intend to use them. I will secretly release them and send them to the regions where revolt has broken out. Along with various weapons and food, and translated Bibles.”

“S-surely?!”

At my words, Viscount Avignon was horrified.

Was that not saying I was determined to plunge the world into chaos?

Looking at his expression, I grinned.

“That is right. Exactly what you are thinking. I intend to give the peasant revolt a center. At this rate, it will just collapse, will it not. I want the kingdom—no, all the nations of the continent—to burn even more. Well? Can you do this?”

-DIRIRING!

[Insidious Stratagem!]

[You have devised a dangerous plan to shake the world. Regardless of success or failure, because of the seeds you have sown, the world will fall into a terrible chaos. Those who have been oppressed will cry out for freedom and faith, and those who ruled will endlessly struggle to protect their power. But remember. The seeds you sow may grow and bind you again.]

[Notification : An enhanced great peasant rebellion debuff is applied to the entire continent.]

[Enhanced Great Peasant Rebellion : Stability –5]

[If you cannot control it at a fast pace, the state will collapse and peasant rebel armies will spring up like mushrooms after rain.]

And not long after.

-A prison break!

-The Crusader Knight Order bastards broke out! Chase them!

An incident occurred where twenty Crusader Knight Order members imprisoned in my domain’s prison escaped together.

All according to plan.

아르망 Armand (Place)