He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 232

Became the Ultimate Crazy Emperor – Episode 232

Became the Ultimate Crazy Emperor Episode 232

“Hmm… let’s handle this agenda in this way. Next agenda, please.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Imperial Capital Augsburg, Imperial Palace.

Crown Prince Leon was overseeing the empire’s affairs, standing in for his absent father, the Emperor.

Normally, when the Emperor is absent, internal strife arises within the Imperial Palace due to power struggles, but surprisingly, in the Emperor’s empire, such things didn’t really happen.

To be precise, there had been no opportunity for such things to occur until now.

This was because, even 10 years ago, the Emperor’s habit of frequently vacating the Imperial Palace was excessive.

As a result, whether it was the Prime Minister, the Empress Dowager, or later, Empress Sarah Orland, they had to become accustomed to the Emperor’s absence.

Even during power struggles, shouldn’t state affairs continue? Of course, anyone who didn’t care about such things had long been physically purged by the Emperor’s sword.

“Haa, the work never ends.”

“This is the last agenda for today, Your Highness.”

“And tomorrow’s agenda will start again, won’t it? Do I have to do this every day?”

As a result, within the Imperial Palace, there was a movement to distance oneself from the center of power as much as possible, as holding power meant more work.

Unfortunately, capable individuals were unwillingly and appropriately deployed by Prime Minister Bright and Empress Orland, who couldn’t die alone, and were subjected to forced labor.

And Crown Prince Leon, thanks to the label of being the next Emperor, had to face a mountain of documents without any escape.

“It can’t be helped, Your Highness. Even this has been greatly reduced because His Majesty the Emperor has been taking care of state affairs for the past 10 years.”

“Oh… now that I see it, becoming Emperor is just a poisoned chalice [something that seems appealing but is actually harmful].”

If he had known it would be like this, he would have somehow yielded to his younger siblings.

He briefly had that thought, but then he thought that those siblings would probably run away with the same excuse, so Leon thought the conversation he had with his father might have seemed funny.

But soon, with the thought that he should do his part as a member of the blue bloodline [royalty or nobility], he picked up the documents again.

“Hmm? Isn’t this… something Father submitted?”

“Yes, it seems he intends to intervene in the internal war of the Elves.”

“Internal war intervention plan, is it.”

Leon carefully examined it as it was an important agenda. But its contents were quite extraordinary.

“Intervene in the internal war, but the goal isn’t just victory, but to divide the Elves?”

The main point was to help the pro-Imperial Elves, but to create resentment so that the Elves would never unite again.

“Hmm… so, until the demons intervene, the Imperial Army will focus on relief operations?”

“That seems to be the case. In short, victory in the internal war is only a secondary goal.”

“I understand that point. But I have one concern.”

“What is it?”

“I think I know Father’s plan and intentions, but I feel like this operation is insufficient.”

Leon certainly understood that if the Elves were set against each other, they would harbor resentment.

The pro-Imperial Elves were already dealing with guerrilla warfare in a brutal manner.

But in Leon’s view, that alone didn’t seem to create enough resentment.

With just this, all the blame could be placed on the pro-Imperial faction.

“I think we need to create deeper resentment.”

“Hmm, I somewhat agree, but is there really a way to stir things up even more here?”

The Prime Minister somewhat agreed with Crown Prince Leon’s words but couldn’t think of a way to further complicate the situation.

“…Actually, I have an idea. But the method… is a bit rough.”

But Leon had a good idea. However, it wasn’t a method he could speak of proudly.

“Whatever the plan, His Majesty won’t hesitate to use even the most cruel methods if they are for the sake of the Empire. Tell me your plan.”

“Um… so, I think….”

The Crown Prince soon told Prime Minister Bright his thoughts.

“…Certainly, it’s far from a fair method.”

“But there’s no fairness in war in the first place. Unless we’re discussing outdated chivalry [the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code].”

“That’s right. For the sake of the Empire, we must endure any tyranny.”

Prime Minister Bright nodded and agreed with the Crown Prince’s plan.

“Then it would be good to ask Father if we should try to execute this plan.”

The Crown Prince immediately sent a messenger through the warp gate, and soon received the Emperor’s permission.

* * *

Guerrilla tactics, or guerrilla warfare, are established on one condition.

That is, the local public sentiment is on the side of the guerrillas.

Due to the nature of guerrilla warfare, which is carried out without proper supply lines, if public sentiment turns against them, they cannot receive their cooperation and naturally wither away.

Not to mention if their location is reported.

“Thank you always, everyone. Thanks to people like you who have love for your fellow Elves, the future of our Elves is bright.”

“Don’t say that, Captain. Shouldn’t we Elves fight against the invaders together?”

The Elf rebels also knew that, and therefore prioritized local public sentiment.

They never looted and prohibited forced conscription. Sometimes they raided camps and released those who had been forcibly taken, and sometimes they defended villages against government forces.

“We’ll be leaving for a while, be careful in the meantime, Dark Elves or traitorous bastards might come.”

“Even if they come, we won’t sell you out. So rest assured.”

“Then I’ll ask for your help.”

Thanks to such measures, public opinion of the rebels was very good. Conversely, those who cooperated with the government were few and far between.

So this time too, the Elf rebels left with peace of mind. And as they warned, some time later, an army came.

But strangely, they weren’t Dark Elves or pro-Imperial Elves.

“You are… the Imperial Army?”

“That’s right. But we’re not combat units. As you can see, we’ve brought supplies and relief goods.”

“Supplies are one thing… but relief goods?”

The elder of the Elf village asked the Imperial Army officer holding a musket. The officer nodded and kindly replied.

“Of course, we’ll give them to you. Isn’t it hard to make a living these days because of the war? Graciously accept this grace bestowed upon you by His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…Even if you give us this, there’s nothing we can do to cooperate with you.”

The elder did not hesitate to answer, even though it was a word that could anger the officer.

Although the Elves had lost their hegemony [leadership or dominance], they thought they couldn’t lose their pride for mere relief goods.

But the officer’s reaction was unexpected.

“It doesn’t matter. Regardless of whether you cooperate or not, we will distribute relief goods. His Majesty the Emperor is merciful, so gratefully accept them.”

“What is this…….”

With those words, the officer left behind relief goods that were more than abundant.

There were many luxury goods such as alcohol, candy, snacks, and cigarettes, not just simple food.

Then the ‘supply unit’ left without any regrets.

“This is a trick to buy us off. We must never accept it.”

“But they haven’t asked for anything, have they? What are we supposed to do if we don’t accept it?”

“Th, then… let’s share it with the rebels.”

“…What if they find out and try to massacre us?”

Arguments went back and forth, but before the villagers could make a decision, the rebels returned.

“The Imperial Army gave you relief goods?”

“Yes. We swear we didn’t cooperate in any way.”

“…I’m not doubting you. But…….”

The rebels drooled over the luxurious relief goods at a glance. The village elder, noticing their expression, said.

“Of course, I’ll share it with you. Those foolish Imperial bastards seem to think they can buy us off by showing this kind of favor.”

“That can’t be. Thank you.”

The rebels received a considerable amount of relief goods and returned. At first, the villagers didn’t have much dissatisfaction.

But strange things kept happening.

“They brought relief goods again this time.”

“Hah, no… it hasn’t been long since they came last time, has it?”

“Didn’t the rebels take all those relief goods?”

“That’s…….”

“I know everything. His Majesty is saddened by your suffering from the rebels’ tyranny. Here, receive it again this time.”

“…….”

The Imperial Army gave a considerable amount of relief goods several times after that. There was a lot of food, but there were also various necessities, so the relief goods were quite valuable.

“They gave relief goods again?”

“…That’s right.”

“Hmm, I understand. Then this time too…….”

“…….”

Every time that happened, the rebels took a certain amount of relief goods. Almost more than half, sometimes more than that.

The villagers showed dissatisfaction. They were dissatisfied with why they were giving most of the relief goods that should have come to them to those people.

They were pacified with the words ‘for the sake of the same race’ once or twice, but as the number of times increased, they were not pacified with the elder’s words alone.

The elder decided not to give relief goods to the rebels next time they came. It wasn’t just because he was stingy, but because he thought the village would be divided if things continued like this.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t give you relief goods. I hope you understand. The villagers…….”

“…Elder, tell me the truth.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Isn’t this not relief goods, but… rewards we received for selling us out?”

“Wh, what, what are you…….”

“Our location has been exposed. Because you betrayed us!”

“No, we-”

Taang!

A massacre suddenly broke out at the hands of the rebels.

Similar things happened in several other places, and the Empire actively informed the Elves of these events.

Then, the solid support for the rebels changed to suspicion, and in severe cases, places where they turned against each other appeared.

“Good job, Mirror.”

“Um, this kind of operation isn’t something our Doppelgangers [a look-alike or double of a living person] often do…….”

In fact, this massacre was somewhat induced.

Contrary to what the elder thought that he had betrayed them, the rebels’ location was exposed by Doppelganger spies.

However, the rebels half-suspected the civilians because of the increasing relief goods they received for no reason, and around that time, the location was frequently exposed, giving them the conviction that the civilians had betrayed them.

The hard-line resistance forces themselves massacred those who sold out their own race for a measly amount of wealth.

“Originally, we planned something more severe… but it’s good for us that they killed each other on their own around this point.”

Now, conversely, the Imperial Army was able to protect the villagers who were attacked by the rebels and gain their cooperation.

That’s how much resentment they spread among the Elves.

Regardless of the outcome of this civil war, it has now become difficult for the Elves to unite with each other.

“Sorry, but this is war.”

It wasn’t a fair method, but the Emperor didn’t feel any remorse.