145fury
145Either choice (two-person choice)) (3)
Northeast Association.
They were pushed to the brink..
I wanted to accept the favor, but I had doubts about the fact that the other person was Roman Dmitry..
‘Roman Dmitry is now packaging his intentions with plausible stories. You can't just sit by and watch because it's just an incident in the northeast? Nonsense! If Earl Douglas and the Northeast Alliance clash, the power that will benefit the most will be Dmitry, but he has no reason to get into a muddy fight..’
It was a common sense suspicion..
It wouldn't be possible if there wasn't any conflict in the past, but didn't we both blush just a few days ago?.
I wanted to ask about your intentions..
But I couldn't make a hasty mistake because I thought that if I did that, the possibility of not knowing might disappear..
‘Now is not the time to be reckless.’
I swallowed my doubts.
Viscount Conrad spoke as if grasping at straws..
“……The relationship between the Northeastern Association and Dmitry has not been good. In fact, it would be quite natural for Dmitri. Whenever a conflict broke out in the northeastern region, the Northeastern Association took Barco's side, and thus the ill feelings between them continued to build up. I will not deny that my relationship with Dmitry has deteriorated, especially recently. But we need help now. Although this may be a truly shameless request, I am willing to do anything if you promise to forget the bad past and help us. So please tell us what our attitude should be..”
Complex calculations are abandoned.
I thought simply..
If we go to war with the Earl of Douglas.
I can't handle what happens after that anyway..
In that case, it would have been more advantageous to bring in the Dmitri family and plan for the future..
‘Roman’s sincerity is not important. If he takes our hand, for whatever reason, he can minimize the damage in his war with the Earl of Douglas. If he can do that, he can afford to hold out even if he is attacked by Dmitry immediately after the war. Now is not the time to talk about pride..’
We considered profit and loss.
It was much better to keep your head down than to shout loudly for no reason..
How will Roman Dmitry respond?.
Since I was still young, I was intoxicated by the feeling of victory and hoped that they would show me less mercy..
however.
Roman’s answer was very different from what I expected..
[Since you acknowledge our past relationship, I will tell you my thoughts honestly. In fact, Dmitry is making practical gains by not helping the Northeast Alliance. But I don't want to lose sight of the big picture for the sake of small wins. Dmitry, and the northeastern region, must join forces, even considering the situation in Cairo, where war clouds are looming. I think Viscount Konrad knows this well. The geographical characteristics of the northeastern region shine when we join forces..]
Roman is now.
said out of pure kindness.
Viscount Conrad, who had naturally expected a mocking response, looked slightly embarrassed..
[We know that with this choice we may miss out on an advantageous position. Nevertheless, we cannot stand by and watch as the northern forces attack the northeastern region. No matter what your previous relationship was like. Aren’t we beings who live within a single fence called ‘the northeastern region’? If we allow the forces within the fence to collapse simply because they are hostile forces, the northeastern region will inevitably fall into the same abyss. My demands are clear. I am not asking you for anything in return, but please show that you sincerely regret what you have done and that you are willing to work together in the future. With that one promise, I will forget about the past bad relationships and, as people who live within the same fence, I will not turn a blind eye to your crisis..]
Moment.
Viscount Conrad was overcome with emotion..
If the other party had shown a calculating attitude, Viscount Conrad would have thought of taking advantage of the favor without hesitation..
But it's pure kindness..
My mind was complicated..
I had no idea that Dmitry, not another power, would reach out to the Northeastern Federation, which was pushed to the brink..
‘……What on earth should I do about this?.’
I couldn't open my mouth willingly.
Prejudice has been removed.
Dmitry, who had been looked upon as a pity because he was born as a commoner, now seemed like a great leader to lead the northeastern region..
It was so funny.
It's only when you need help that you realize Dmitri's worth..
‘It is certainly. Dmitry has the qualities of a leader to lead the northeastern region..’
in just one conversation.
The accumulated bad feelings were fading away..
Is that why?.
“We will contact you again after sufficient discussion with the association members..”
Even though it was a proposal that could be easily accepted, Viscount Konrad chose to take a step back with a rather serious expression..
* * *
Communication ended.
Viscount Conrad's reply that he would discuss it..
They seemed sincere in their own way, but their sincerity wasn't that important to Roman..
‘The Northeast Association has no choice but to accept my proposal. They may think there is no problem in accepting my proposal, but the moment they receive Dmitri's help, they will lose the foundation of the Northeast Union..’
Northeast Association.
They are like bats..
That didn't just mean that they were a cowardly type; it meant that they needed help from those around them to survive..
To those people.
A new path has opened.
Dmitry showed an attitude of accepting them just because they were from the same northeastern region..
‘The Northeast Association is like a necessary evil. If we cannot accept the sincerity of everyone in the world anyway, we can easily filter out disruptive forces by deliberately neglecting entities such as the Northeast Association. However, it is not like they can join forces to fight back like they used to. The people who started to have a genuine fondness for Dmitry because of this incident. They will cause differences of opinion within the Northeast Association, and people like Bat will not be able to show the same level of action as before. Losing the fundamentals. Even though they are not actually losing money, they will lose power without even realizing it..’
It was Baek Jung-hyuk’s method..
Baek Jung-hyuk, the Heavenly Demon.
He did not always accept only loyal subjects..
Among Baek Jung-hyuk's followers, there were selfish people who only knew about themselves, and there were also people who formed groups to protect themselves..
Baek Jung-hyuk embraced all such diverse people. In the process of governing thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands of people, he acknowledged from the beginning that humans are bound to be diverse..
but.
had complete control.
Open your pores but prevent foolish thoughts..
With overwhelming force and rule, Ma Gyo remained the ruler of the martial arts world until the day Baek Jung-hyuk died..
‘The moment you accept a favor just once. Dmitry can devour the northeastern region without much effort..’
Roman was greedy.
I wanted the entire northeastern area..
I knew that at that level, Dmitry would be able to survive even in future conflicts with the central government..
‘In order to attack Dmitry, you must go through other forces in the northeast. This may not have been a big problem for the central government when Dmitry had not yet won popular support, but now it is a different story. The moment that engulfs the Northeast Association. They must overcome numerous walls until they reach Dmitri. We can move the battlefield outside of Dmitry, and the more we help them against the central government, the stronger the solidarity in the northeast will become. And at that time. The forces tied up in the northeast are not allowed the option of betraying Dmitry..’
saw the distant future.
The plan that began with Dmitry's peasants formed a shockingly perfect governance structure..
so that.
The truth wasn't important.
If you're sincerely loyal, that's a good thing, but even if you're not, the result won't be any different..
Just one surrender.
That was enough.
Squeak.
I lay down on the chair.
waited for the right time.
If the Northeast Association sends a message.
At that time, you will reap the beauty of the end..
* * *
a few days later.
The day of the decisive battle has dawned.
Earl Douglas really gathered troops and incited the northern lords to go over to the northeast with them..
a northern noble said.
“Count Douglas. If you destroy the Northeast Association, you must make the calculations clearly..”
“Of course. Why would I talk nonsense to the northern lords? This war is a golden opportunity. Since the fall of Barco, the northeastern region has lost its cohesion, and they are like sand castles that collapse at the slightest touch. Shouldn’t someone take over this rich land??”
“you're right.”
“Hahaha, I feel good just hearing you say that..”
Lords of the North.
They did not add troops for personal reasons..
Earl Douglas offered a tangible benefit, a division of the spoils after victory..
‘People think of me as a mindless beast. But I also don't attack others blindly. If it's a fight I'm going to face anyway, increasing my chances of winning as much as possible is the way I've been able to survive..’
he was clever.
A matter of pride was directly translated into practical benefits..
Northeast area.
It was truly a lordless mountain..
When I got angry, I just let it out, but when I think back, I never had an opportunity like this..
Starting with the Northeast Association.
If done well, it seemed like it could engulf the surrounding area..
‘Stupid guys. When Barco was under the protection of the central government, I couldn't move too hastily, but now it's a different story. The Northeast Association is in trouble. There is no way the northeastern powers will help them, so it won't be that difficult to take them down..’
my blood boiled.
The stage of slaughter that will soon unfold.
I hurried along with a look of anticipation on my face, and before I knew it, I could see the troops of the Northeast Association in the distance..
The nobles' wars are orderly..
Barco and Lawrence, who fought a siege, are a special case, and they usually decided when and where to meet and then clashed head-on, competing with each other's strength..
This time was no different.
While announcing their intention to go to war to the central government, they gave the Northeast Association a choice, and they responded that they would fight here on the plains today..
Finally.
arrived at the scene.
Earl Douglas rode forward and spoke in a threatening voice..
“This is Earl Douglas. Commander, come out and answer what I say..”
In those words.
Viscount Conrad stepped forward..
Unlike Earl Douglas, who seemed likely to order an attack at any moment, he seemed a little troubled..
“The scheduled time has not yet arrived. Please wait a moment.”
“It looks like almost everyone has arrived, so why not get started right away? Or perhaps it would be a good idea to surrender right now. There's no reason to lose strength in a fight you're going to lose anyway..”
It was an arrogant statement..
Earl Douglas was already confident of victory, and the northern lords behind him also thought the same..
but.
Viscount Conrad did not lose his composure..
Despite the other party's provocation, he spoke calmly without changing his expression..
“Don't you have to know what's long and short to know? When the time comes, we have no intention of avoiding the fight either..”
Viscount Conrad abdicated..
Was it because it was a different reaction than expected?.
Earl Douglas looked slightly angry..
‘Cheeky bastards.’
I knew it.
couldn't forgive them.
I vowed that the moment I won the war, I would chew them up..
He also returned to his seat..
How much time has passed.
The northern lords, who were chatting with relaxed expressions, noticed a strange group approaching from afar..
“someone is coming.”
“Did the Northeast Association bring in reinforcements??”
It was relaxing at first.
Then.
The moment they saw the flag fluttering in the wind, their expressions hardened..
“……Dmitry?”
“This is crazy.”
That's really true.
It should never have happened.
* * *
this war.
I was confident that Dmitry would not intervene..
You've been blushing like that lately, but I didn't expect you to show up to help the Northeast Association..
At the head of Dmitry.
There was Roman Dmitry.
When he arrived on the scene, Earl Douglas asked in an aggressive tone:.
“……Dmitry, what's going on here??”
“Is there a special reason for appearing on the battlefield? Just as Count Douglas brought in the northern lords, I have simply brought troops for the Northeast Confederation..”
It was an answer that blocked backlash..
this incident.
It was possible to tie it to the problems of Earl Douglas and the Northeastern Union alone..
However, Earl Douglas called in the northern lords to secure victory, which gave the Dmitry family a reason to enter the war..
If I had known Dmitri would act like this.
Even if it was unreasonable, Earl Douglas would never have given them a reason to go to war..
‘this.’
He looked embarrassed..
The northern lords also looked at each other..
It was then.
“we are ready.”
It was Viscount Conrad..
a few days ago.
At the end of the meeting, the Northeast Association reached a conclusion..
“This is an offer that there is no reason to refuse. If we defeat Douglas with Dmitri's help, wouldn't it be beneficial in every way? I think it would be a much better choice to accept Dmitry, who has room for compromise, as an ally, rather than the northern forces trying to trample on us..”
at last.
They held Roman's hand..
Although there was a judgment that it was actually beneficial, some people, such as Viscount Conrad, seemed genuinely impressed by Dmitry's actions..
Whatever the reason. The fact that Dmitry was accepted into the same northeastern area served as an opportunity to look at the Dmitry family from a new perspective..
and now.
Viscount Konrad stood behind Roman..
Seeing that figure hiding behind a strong protector, Roman spoke on behalf of the northeastern region..
“Make your choice now. Hand-to-hand combat, or the Battle of Daejeon Temple. How do you want us to fight??”
From now on.
Roman Dmitry.
It was the turn of the ruler of the northeast to prove the meaning of his existence..
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