Charlsharl Kingdom Royal Castle.
In the Throne Room, a group of emissaries from the warring Tartarus Kingdom visited, requesting a Truce Agreement in place of their King.
“What do you say? We are pained to continue this conflict with your country.”
Please, could you not agree to a Truce Agreement, even for a few years?
“…”
“Your Majesty. *Whisper* (low voice)”
The Minister of Left, standing by the King of Sharshar, whispers.
“Your country must have its dignity.”
“Hmph! Th-then the Truce Agreement is…”
The emissary asks the King what he wants to say.
I already had an idea the moment the Minister of Left whispered something to him.
“Cannot be. Please convey that to your King.”
“Haah. Then, Your Majesty.”
“Indeed, travel safely. I hear there have been highwaymen appearing along the Gashidou (Street/Road) recently.”
“Yes.”
The emissaries and their escort team leave the Throne Room.
“Your Majesty.”
The Minister of Right and the Minister of Left speak to the King simultaneously.
The Minister of Right.
Primarily in charge of the domestic economy.
The Minister of Left.
Primarily in charge of domestic military affairs.
“Minister of Right, I shall hear from you.”
“Haa. I report. The Minister of Left said something to me, and this time too, we did not agree to a Truce Agreement (glance).”
He looks at the Minister of Left.
The one being looked at returns a gaze as if he has nothing to hide from the Minister of Right.
The King looks at the two close companions since he ascended the throne.
And he addresses the Minister of Right.
As I told the emissary earlier.
If they accept a request for a truce, just like that, it would be ruinous to the country’s dignity.
They would be ridiculed by their friendly neighbors to the north and east.
“But, Your Majesty. The domestic economy… the citizens are losing their vitality. As Your Majesty just mentioned, some are resorting to becoming highwaymen. Supplies for the battlefield are delayed. I fear we cannot maintain the Front Line any longer. Please reconsider.”
“Minister of Right. Military affairs are under my jurisdiction. While I am pleased that you are concerned about the Front Line and supplies. The reports reaching me state, ‘No problems.’ Even if people are falling into desperation and plotting to steal supplies. They are like ants before His Majesty’s regular army. No matter how numerous their plans or how varied their numbers, we shall crush them.”
The King intervenes in the usual argument between the Minister of Right and the Minister of Left.
“We apologize, Your Majesty. For showing you such an unsightly scene.”
“It is fine. I understand both your feelings.”
“We are much obliged, Your Majesty.”
The three discuss how to negotiate a favorable Truce Agreement with the enemy country.
Dealing with bandits and special individuals within the country.
The citizens’ morale is also precarious.
“Both of you, please take care of domestic matters.”
“Understood.”
◇◇◇◇◇
The Front Line.
They do not even bother to loot the corpses of enemy soldiers.
They are merely waiting for reports on the supply lines.
“The food still hasn’t arrived!?”
“Hey, uh. The enemy soldiers’ food is dirty with soil, but can we eat it?”
“Stop it! You’ll get a stomachache.”
A meal takes precedence over gold.
Clear water that quenches thirst is more valuable than a famous sword.
The Front Line is like a swarm of starving ghosts, like a locust plague.
The supply units are ambushed.
They take, reducing the quantity.
Just as they are about to eat, they are attacked.
Losing even more food.
A vicious cycle.
They considered foraging locally.
But some were poisoned.
Others were traps.
They were wiped out as soon as they gathered around the food.
The food turned to ash.
“General! Should we retreat for now? If we continue like this, our blood will be shed in vain.”
A new order arrived from the Minister of Left a few days ago.
“To have a favorable Truce Agreement, maintain the current Morale.”
If they retreat, their Morale will drop.
“Due to orders from above! Your proposal is rejected!”
“General!?”
“The entire army, advance! If you wish to quench your thirst! Find a water source! If you are hungry! Plunder the enemy’s Food—! Victory is ours—!”
“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
In response to the regular army’s cry.
The conscripted soldiers, who want to return to their homes and Hometowns, also cry out that if they lose, those precious places will become battlefields.
They will never allow that to happen.
The Eastern Front Line of the Tartarus Kingdom.
Dieding soldiers are sinners.
The overseers are those who bother the regular army’s troops.
“Desertion is a death sentence! Kill 10 enemies! If you kill 10 people, you get a break! We are counting the numbers carefully! Kill the enemy before you with peace of mind! If you don’t draw your sword, you lose points!”
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
There are many rebels within the Tartarus Kingdom.
Even without conscription, there are prisoners in the jail cells awaiting execution tomorrow.
Residents of districts devastated by rebel damage are conscripted with the promise of rewards.
The Tartarus Kingdom still has formidable fighting forces and a solid foundation for war.
However, will the citizens fighting allow the rebel remnants to seize this opportunity? they worry.
That is why they are making offers for a Truce Agreement.
But the enemy country does not agree.
“This is troublesome.”
“Indeed.”
The General complains to his副将 (vice-general), the King of Sharshar Kingdom, and those involved in military affairs, about how he wants to voice his displeasure.
The war between the two countries has already lasted six months.
Although the difference in national strength is gradual, the Tartarus Kingdom has an advantage in the quality of its soldiers.
The unstable elements within the country are disappearing.
There are many Labyrinths in the country (more than the enemy country).
Furthermore, they have multiple ports, and supplies from distant trading countries arrive every one or two months.
The Sharshar Kingdom’s conscripted soldiers are dying in battle.
They have lost the men needed to manage and maintain the Fields, and signs of famine are becoming apparent.
Furthermore, an epidemic is spreading, carried by the wind from the battlefield.
They are not in a state for war.
However, if they lose and agree to a Truce Agreement.
The disadvantages are obvious. Furthermore.
Despite having proposed a truce several times.
They refused it.
It concerns the survival of the country.
Even if they wanted to swallow the disadvantages. If the country falls, they will have no Face to show the soldiers who died fighting fiercely.
