I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 269: Loyalist of the Empire (6)

Not long after taking control of Guillaume City, the main army of the Toscana Empire arrived at the city.

Leading the vanguard was Baron Ducat.

He entered the city with an army of 20,000 soldiers.

“I never thought... never imagined you’d take Guillaume City without shedding a single drop of blood. Truly, Baron, have you considered taking a military commission? I could ask His Majesty to appoint you starting now.”

“I refuse.”

“...I believe you’d make an outstanding general.”

“I am not suited to be a soldier.”

Baron Ducat shook his head as he listened to my words.

“And if you seek success, now is the opportunity.”

Currently, the area around the Count of Guillaume’s domain was essentially abandoned.

“I understand. Then I wish you good fortune.”

My official role in this war was now over.

I could return home immediately, and no one would criticize me, nor would there be anyone to criticize me.

But returning now felt a bit unsatisfying.

I felt there was one more opportunity to exploit the wisdom of the Great Empire and make one more strike...

“What more can I take advantage of?”

I shouldn’t resort to petty schemes like embezzling military supplies or engaging in corrupt military contracts.

If I were just an ordinary merchant, it might be one thing, but as a Baron of Toscana Empire, committing such acts would be madness.

The Emperor would be within his rights to have my head for such a crime.

‘If you chase after money recklessly like a moth to the flame, you’re bound to meet a miserable end.’

And even if I were a person of conscience, could I really play around with the soldiers’ food or tamper with weapons?

“No, I’ll need to be more careful.”

“Baron Rothschild, is there anything I can help with?”

Just yesterday, Mayor Louis was still a vassal of the Count of Guillaume and thus of a lower rank than me.

But now, with His Majesty having formally granted him the title of Baron, I had to show him the proper respect, especially given his age.

Even in Europe, there may not be direct honorifics, but it’s customary to speak respectfully to elders, and this culture is no different throughout the Toscana Empire or the entire Albanian continent.

“You’ve already done so much, Baron, and you don’t need to overextend yourself...”

In a historical drama about the Imjin War, the actor playing Toyotomi Hideyoshi said:

“War is an opportunity.”

To soldiers dragged into war, this might seem like a great tragedy, but to businessmen with vast capital or politicians with power, war can present an invaluable opportunity.

They buy up land cheap from people fleeing, trade food for precious metals, or take over critical tasks during war to earn vast sums of money.

If you keep your eyes open, you’ll always find an opportunity to make a fortune.

“While I’m not sure about women, money is always better the more you have, isn’t it?”

Many people say money isn’t everything in life.

And that’s not entirely wrong.

Precious family, friends you can confide in, health, hobbies, and emotional stability—all these things are invaluable, and sometimes more important than money.

‘But to keep those things, you eventually need money.’

If you fail in business or can’t find a decent job by the time you’re 30, your loved ones might leave you.

Sadly, economic reasons are often behind divorces or marital arguments.

“If you and your vassals help me, I can set up a way for you to make money.”

Those blinded by greed always try to take all the opportunities for themselves when they see a chance to make money.

Especially the CEOs of so-called small companies.

They drive expensive cars like the Benz Maybach and live in luxury apartments, but they won’t even give their employees a holiday bonus.

At first, it may seem like they’re benefiting alone, but eventually, the quality of their workers deteriorates, and their company collapses.

‘To avoid that fate, you need to know how to share.’

I needed to provide opportunities to those nobles and citizens in Guillaume City who had cooperated with me.

“Doesn’t Deos also say to love your neighbor as yourself?”

The message in the Bible about treating others with generosity also has a deeper meaning.

‘If you don’t care for your neighbor like you care for yourself, you’ll die.’

“So, let’s work together.”

“How can we assist you?”

“It’s nothing too complicated. I’m planning to send volunteers from the citizens and nobles, disguise them as soldiers from the Kingdom of Lyon, and spread false information.”

“What kind of information are you thinking of spreading?”

“It’s simple. I’m going to spread a rumor that the Kingdom of Lyon’s army is losing to the Holy Empire and urgently needs reinforcements.”

I was always acting in the best interests of the Toscana Empire.

Therefore, the more I could increase the damage both the Holy Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon suffered in their war, the better.

While weakening these two powers wouldn’t directly improve the Toscana Empire’s strength or economy...

It would increase Toscana’s relative influence and prestige, making it easier to rise in the international arena.

“If we manage to send some of the troops stationed near the Count of Guillaume’s domain to the Holy Empire’s front lines, our Empire’s forces would only need to take over an empty city, wouldn’t we?”

When you’re plundering a house, it’s always safer to rob an empty house rather than one where the owner is present. The same goes for occupying territories—less resistance means fewer casualties.

After securing as much territory as possible, we would just have to hold it.

If we do that, the war will end in the Toscana Empire’s victory.

I had already prepared this strategy long before the declaration of war...

And once we spread the forged orders, along with the seal and command of Major Alue, they would believe the orders were legitimate and leave their posts.

The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

“They’ll think they’ve received valid orders and will vacate their positions.”

“No one will suspect that we’ve forged these orders.”

“By working with Baron Baudelaire and the citizens, if they carry out such a dangerous mission without anyone asking, the Emperor and all the nobles of Toscana will have no reason to doubt your loyalty.”

There is a saying in the kingdom: “To govern one’s own body, family, and surroundings is to serve the state.”

Mayor Baudelaire, now a Baron, is part of my circle.

More precisely, if he wants to keep his title and live well, he has no choice but to cling to me.

Although he’s not my direct vassal, he is in a position where he must obey my orders, even pretending to die if necessary.

By taking care of him now, I can rely on him whenever I need something in the future.

“...Let’s stay close, Baron.”

Baron Baudelaire grasped my left hand with both of his and bowed his head.

It was a clear sign of who held the upper hand.

“As long as the Baudelaire family exists, we will consider you, Baron Rothschild, as our lord and serve you.”

And in Guillaume City, a few brave souls volunteered to spread the false information.

Their dedication, not fearing danger, deeply impressed the generals of the Toscana Empire.

A messenger from Guillaume City arrived at the Banouar Fortress.

“Major Alue has ordered that all the forces stationed here immediately move to the front lines of the Holy Empire for engagement.”

The major in charge of the fortress looked puzzled.

Just three weeks ago, the command had issued orders for the garrison to prepare for a possible invasion by the Toscana Empire.

Now, it seemed contradictory for a mere division commander to issue orders contrary to the command.

“My direct superior is Baron Greenhill. The commander-in-chief has no authority over me, so I cannot follow this order.”

The messenger, sweating nervously, lied fluently.

“Your words are correct, but the Kingdom of Lyon’s forces are being steadily pushed back by the Holy Empire. At this rate, even the Count of Basel’s domain is about to fall.”

The battle between the Kingdom of Lyon’s and the Holy Empire’s armies was still in a stalemate, but if the major had known this fact, he would have immediately killed the messenger for his lies.

But the major in charge of this fortress had no idea.

“Moreover, here is the order from Commander Alue, with the official seal of the command. It states that all forces, except for those necessary for basic security, are to be redirected to the Holy Empire front.”

The seal on the document was genuine, and even the seal of the Kingdom’s command had been flawlessly forged, making it nearly impossible to discern the forgery at a glance.

The major had no choice but to believe it.

“We’ll mobilize with minimal supplies and weapons immediately. Please relay this message to Commander Alue.”

“Yes, thank you.”

In this way, I successfully used forged information and orders to redirect the Toscana Empire’s forces away from their current positions and towards the Holy Empire’s front lines.