Chapter 286 – Chapter 28 – Don’t Get Caught
It was said that in war it is harder to defend land than to occupy it.
On the outside, while facing the enemy’s counterattack, on the inside, comforting those who were hostile.
It was right to see that they had to literally fight messy battles inside and out.
If Yulia moves to the front line, it will be an instant to wipe out the empire.
If he wasn’t enough, he might even be able to crush the fairies and subdue the beasts right away.
In fact, there were times when he encouraged him to do so, and in about 3 months, he conquered the entire continent.
However, considering what happened after that, such a rapid advance is rather poisonous for Dongbu.
The East has long been called a barren environment compared to the West.
Right away, he brought all the victories in the First Continental War, but was caught in the defense of Klaus, consumed human and material resources, and could not recover them, so he admitted defeat himself.
And unlike the West, which has entered a period of recovery, it is true that the East is still struggling.
Not all of the damage was recovered, and there was a loss of troops due to the civil war.
Considering that they had mobilized as many as 100,000 troops during the Continental War in the past, it was at the level of saying that the eastern part of the country was shabby.
That’s why Yulia had to stabilize the inside not from the front, but from behind.
If what he was trying to occupy the kingdom for was not just to promote safety in the rear, but to offset the inferiority of the East with resources from there, he had to do so even more.
“As expected, the biggest problem is how to get rid of the distrust that has accumulated between demons and humans. This must be it.”
“That’s right. It is said that they turned away due to dissatisfaction and hostility towards the nobles, but if they do not feel that their lives have improved, that dissatisfaction will return to us.”
“If that happens, it will only leave a good chance for a counterattack to the runaway nobles, or beastmen and fairies.”
At Yulia’s words, Klaus nodded his head saying that he was right.
The most important thing is to put an end to internal chaos and quickly prepare for the next battle.
So, didn’t Yulia herself come out of the palace a few days ago and make an announcement face-to-face with the people of the kingdom?
All the land the nobles were playing with was yours, and you wouldn’t have to pay any crops from it, just pay the land tax.
It must have been a shocking thing to say to those who had been plundered by the nobles so far.
Those who wanted to attack the kingdom, take everything and plunder it, occupied the kingdom and took care of their lives, so it was inevitable.
“First of all, public sentiment has been somewhat strengthened due to land and tax issues, but it is weak to this extent. We need something bigger, but the problem is that there is very little we can do right now.”
“No, Yulia. Rather, the land and the solution to the tax problem will act as the biggest strength. It hasn’t even been a few days since those words came out of your mouth right away. You can’t feel it with your skin right now. But in a month, the story will be different. In the past, there was nothing left in their hands, but if there is anything left after the arrival of the demon king. Whether it is the demon king or not, it becomes the best saint for them.”
“Is that really going to happen?”
“For those who are always hungry, the best law is the one who makes them full. There is nothing that shows the power of a ruler at a glance than not going hungry. So far, all wealth has been concentrated in the nobles, so now we just have to return them.”
If you add up all the wealth that the nobles secretly hid, it will be a huge amount.
Not only did they possess various luxuries, but they also secretly stored food and other daily necessities in storage, which in themselves became weapons.
How to oppress and harass the commoners to make them obedient slaves.
To avoid starving to death, do they suppress their dissatisfaction, chew their anger, and bow their heads?
In the meantime, I had been working very badly, so there were people who were good at that part.
Thanks to that, things went very smoothly for Dongbu and Yulia.
Apparently, demons from the east crossed the border and attacked again this time.
The anger of the people of the kingdom was not directed at the demons, but rather at the nobles.
No matter how angry they were and how they lived, they were the ones who didn’t get mad at the nobles.
In response to their anger, Klaus poured oil on them and even lit a fire.
“Currently, property of nobles who have fled or died is being confiscated. That work was entrusted to the human aristocrats who cooperate with us, not the demons, so as not to incur a backlash from the kingdom people.”
“I was worried about that part, but you seem to be paying attention to that part like you.”
“Since you are from that kingdom, shouldn’t you be reading the thoughts of the people there?”
It won’t be long, I’ve already spoken to Darnell Kienmeier and James Fremont.
Everything about where the aristocrats hid their wealth, or whom to contact to get information about it.
In addition to that, those who worked hand in hand with the nobles and took unfair advantage even told the red tarantula to take care of it.
Monopolies are literally the worst of the worst at a moment like this, and we need to act fast and break them.
There would be no confusion if it was just to get rid of the tension between the kingdom and the East and let them know that the ruling king and his ruling power have changed, but the way of life has not changed at all.
“The next issue is a bit sensitive, Yulia.”
“It’s a matter of my whereabouts.”
The current location of the Demon King’s Castle is slightly tilted to the west from the eastern region.
If you look at it from the east alone, it feels like it is heading west, but if you look at it after unifying all the continents, it will not be that way, but there will be a sense of being biased towards the east.
You may ask why the location of the capital is so important, but the West is a place where there are beasts and fairies besides humans.
And they were also the ones who would soon rise up in rebellion if they thought they were being looked down upon, even if they submitted to the Demon King’s rule.
In my mind, I just want to grab it, grab it, kick it, and make it rule with fear.
But if that’s the case, then there’s no reason to put so much effort into the human kingdom.
Can the people of the kingdom be relieved while watching the beasts and fairies get smashed?
Rather, the next turn will be us, and the worries will pile up like a mountain.
“When fairies and beasts come out cooperatively with me like the people of the kingdom, I need a picture that takes care of them a little. In that sense, the issue of my whereabouts will become even more important.”
“… Although there are ways to pressure with fear and crush with fear.”
“If you say that, Klaus, you’re going to stop me if I really ask you to do that.”
“Oops, I got caught right away.”
Yulia had no intention of treating beastmen and fairies the way she treated nobles.
It is impossible to obtain their acceptance with fear, fear, sword and blood every time.
A king is above all, but must also fear those below.
He said that he was an existence that had to live with such double things always on his back.
“Later, if they want to directly challenge the King’s authority, I might be able to draw a sword. But after taking everything as a knife, it’s burdensome to bleed more. It’s not because I’m a good soldier and I don’t want to see blood, but it’s because of the eyes of others who might be looking at it.”
“I understand.”
“I have no intention of changing the location of the castle, but even after the continental unification is over, I will stay in the west for a while. First of all, I have to stay here in the royal castle and look at the situation, and then, if possible, visit the land of fairies and beastmen, and see the public sentiment that way.”
“If that method bothers you, there are plenty of other ways, Yulia.”
“Nope. In my opinion, this method is the best for now. It’s not that the uncomfortable road is always the right road. The right path usually involves a little effort.”
Deciding where the demon king lives is more important than I thought.
As for the East, it could suddenly appear that their king is paying more attention to other things rather than paying attention to them.
Conversely, from the West’s point of view, if you don’t show your focus on something, you may suffer from anxiety that you might be coveting everything in the West from now on.
Whatever it is, there is no easy and sure way, this is not to win one person’s heart.
It is to buy the hearts of far more than millions of people, so of course it is difficult and hard.
“Klaus. I’m talking about old age.”
Yulia cautiously opened her mouth while keeping her eyes on the continent map.
She gazed at the drawing of her empire for a moment, then tapped it with her finger.
“It’s not that I don’t trust Ferdinand and Ashley. But really, if they lose the battle, it might be hard to hold the line.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yeah. Right now, we have no choice but to focus on the kingdom, and anyway, the soldiers are limited, so we won’t be able to support for a while. Even troops from the East would take weeks at best to get to the Imperial front. If they are defeated in the meantime, the beasts and fairies will never miss the chance.”
Yuliada, who saw right through it, actually intended to defeat the demons by launching a massive counterattack the moment the beasts and fairies set foot in the empire.
Up until now, they have not suffered any defeat, and they are a morale-filled eastern army.
However, if one suffers a decisive defeat, the morale can be reeling at any time.
There is a possibility that the coalition is the one that is on fire right now, and the eastern side is a little confused by the successive victories.
That’s why it was clear that the coalition would aim for an even stronger shot.
“Honestly, I want you to go to the front.”
“I don’t like it.”
Klaus expresses his disapproval of Yulia’s words at once without any hesitation.
Thanks to that, Yulia showed a bit of her bewilderment.
Even though he and he are not simply in a relationship with God and God, but a much closer relationship.
Klaus had never once expressed his intention to refuse Yulia’s request.
On the contrary, since I absolutely do not want the authority of the demon king to be damaged, it is to the extent that he tells me to give an order rather than a request.
But this time, the answer came out like a knife.
Thanks to that, Yulia was a little flustered and looked away, but Klaus cleared his serious face and opened his mouth with a smile on his lips.
“Was it so shockingly sudden?”
“No… What is it. Are you kidding me? Or be sincere. Don’t get me confused.”
“It’s a joke to have hardened facial expressions. But I really hate it, Yulia.”
“… Why?”
She seemed to know the reason, but Yulia thought that she still wanted to hear the reason.
No matter how strong she is, no matter how strong she is, no one dares to touch her.
Strangely, she seemed to have become a tender woman by listening to every word she said.
“Where am I going to leave my wife and my child behind? Even if I go, I’m sure things won’t get out of hand.”
Whispering so, Klaus carefully stroked Yulia’s belly.
The touch was so warm and soft that Julia said, ‘Don’t go. Actually, I want you to stay by my side,’ she almost replied.
“… Klaus.”
But she is also the woman of a man and the mother of a child.
She was also her greedy demon lord who wanted to keep this continent under her own.
“Come on. Instead of me, make sure to step on them and come back.”
