Chapter 147: Seventeenth Episode: Chapter Two (2/2)

”Keep it nicely!” the knight got onto his horse, ”But don't let it be seen by anyone else, what you've gotten is an honorary gift from a mighty Commander!”

As the knights were leaving, the boy raised his flying knife on impulse and shouted at the heavens,

”Tell mister Marshal that I'll fulfill my promise and that I'll find him with the golden coin once my height reaches the doorknob… and! Don't forget to tell him! My name is Liszt.”

The knight vanished! Liszt opened up his palms and kissed the golden coin which sparkled under the sun.

Until his height reaches the doorknob? Liszt stared at the wooden door of the church blankly, ”Woah! So tall!” Once he had a better grasp of the height, the young boy mumbled, ”And when will that be?” The boy now had his gaze fixed on the knife stuck on the doorknob, he recalled mister Marshal's action and the flying knife he received from another mister.

The boy smiled confidently, it did not matter even if he would not grow as tall as the doorknob, he had already found his way to protect his sisters!

Years later, though nobody knew exactly how much time had passed, little Liszt was still shorter than the doorknob! Neither did he become a skilled blacksmith like his father! But then, rumors of a legend had been spreading in Titan Empire.

That a young man with exceptional skills of a flying knife had helped lots of the poor! Rumors had it that during his travels, the World's Number 1 Ranger had lifted many people out of their adversities. He would give each a bag of candies and one Golden Ti to imply that a happy future awaits the kind and the poor. This ranger had even rescued an Emperor and married his daughter, the most beautiful Andrew princess among the royalties!

But the real legend was never the ranger's travels, but his knife! His flying knife! Against sticky conspiracies, ambushes by assassins, pursuits by the Judicial Police and the never-ending challenges! Until the end of the legend, no one had witnessed how he actually flung his knife! In the eras trampled by gunfire, his flying knife was the only weapon which was faster than bullets. But it was said that his knife had never been used to kill, it was only to help the people in trouble.

The Southern people even built a church for the poor to keep his stories alive. Among the touching stories, people would call him Liszt of the Flying Knife!

But of course… this was a story for a different time!

When night fell, the future Titan's Number 1 Ranger had fallen asleep on the grass mats with his lips curling upwards, his hand never leaving the flying knife and the gold coin on his chest. It seemed… that he was dreaming of world domination!

”Sorry! I can't sleep!” O'Neil Andrew Morisette stepped inside the temporary tent, his high-ranked colleagues and fellow men had been waiting for him.

Although they were all sleepy-eyed, there were no complaints at all when they faced the frowning Prince. The men picked themselves up and straightened their bodies.

”You never know until you've seen it! I've just discovered how absurd the Southern strategies we've developed in Dulin were!” Oscar hurled the thick files onto the round wooden table. The table was foldable it shook under the Prince's strength.

The soldiers exchanged glances, but nobody said a word.

As the Chief of Staff of the Southern army group, it was time for General Dario Gonzalez to speak his mind. Although it was the Marshal sitting atop the main seat, the Southern strategies were fixed plans that if changed, would put the army group in an awkward position.

”Your Imperial Highness…”

”It's 'Marshal'!” Oscar interrupted the old General, he could guess what he was trying to say.

”Yes, Marshal!” the old General looked defeated, he never imagined for the young man to be so blunt. ”I… I think that our Southern strategies are definitely in the right direction if we…”

Oscar waved. His attitude was proving to be difficult for Dario to continue speaking.

”I admit that the overall direction of the Southern strategies is perfect, they are a combination of wisdom from each and every one of you here. However, there's one point we've overlooked. Our current plans are just like the previous operations of the Guards which were restricted to a limited place and time to cease the bandits' expansion. The bandits will run when they can't beat us, but after we've retreated, they'll return again!”

”Marshal's concerns are justifiable!” General Tantalus nodded in agreement. ”This is how the bandits work, and as they've been fighting guerrilla wars for six to seven years, no one can surpass them in the art of escaping! Our operations may kill a great number of enemies, but it can't annihilate the armed bandits once and for all.”

This time, even the old General Dario was speechless. The truth was that the Southern army had surrounded the hills for two years, cleared the area for three, and killed for one! All possible measures had been employed, but once again the bandits came and went.

”Well then … what is the root cause of the failure to annihilate the armed bandits?” Oscar knocked his knuckles against the table. He swept his eyes across his men with a stern gaze only possible for a Marshal.

”Hadn't everyone witnessed it?” voiced Baron Messier as he understood the Prince's thoughts, ”All this while, we've been focusing on the idea of a strong military force for the Southern attack. But the truth is, we are wrong! What the Five Provinces of the South need right now is not the blades and arrows of the Guards, but the reestablishment of a sustainable societal system!”

The soldier nodded in unison as their thoughts went to the pitiable children. How could they not know the flavor of sweetness? They would not believe it had they not witness the heart-breaking scene themselves.

”Which is why I think... that our plans should be put on hold!” all the soldiers frowned upon Oscar's words. They all opined that the Marshal was making his decision out of rashness, or rather… emotional conflicts.

Oscar surveyed his men's expressions. Although he knew what his men were thinking, he did not bother reconsidering as he believed that he'd made the right decision. The young Marshal started reflecting from the time he was first put in charge of the Southern attack, he had been so confident of his capabilities and had believed that he would be greatly adored by the Five Provinces as long as he expanded his troops in the South to annihilate the bandits. From there, he would pressure the Empire into granting him direct control of the South. In reality, things were never the case!

Any method of ruling would have its own foundation. In Morisette's case, where did its foundations lie? They were the unwavering support of the Nobles from all over the Empire, and the loyalty of the people strengthened by the backbones of religion since 400 hundred years! What about me? Oscar tried to organize his thoughts. How can I get my hands on the power I desire?

Even if the armed bandits ceased to expand their influence, would there be any changes to the lives of the Southern Nobles? No! They have been living within the solid walls of castles under the heavy protection of the military. The eras of forceful offenses have long passed, there was nothing which could harm the Southern Nobles anymore! Which is why… to put any hopes on the good-for-nothing Nobles simply wouldn't work!

If that's the case … what else was there in the South to be used to my advantage? Businessmen? The recent uprising of the lower Nobles? Their living conditions must be terrible! Was it possible to obtain their support by influencing the government? Oscar could say for sure that it was absolutely possible. But the businessmen and new Nobles were experts in the art of discretion, they were lower than the nothing-for-good Nobles and would not state their stand before seeing practical benefits.

What else… what else was there?

Oscar was trapped in his thoughts. He seemed to have encountered an impossible question, but this question would only fall on the top Nobles like him. Top Nobles' ways of thinking were all the same, they would only think from the perspective of their personal interests. In some occasions where some of them had happened to expand their line of thoughts out of the framework, they had been isolated.

In fact, the question had been complicated by the young Marshal! Regardless of the ranking changes of the Nobles and businessmen, there was only one aspect to focus on--- how to get the most support!

Now, what did 'the most support' mean? Think of how the Rebel Army persisted their resistance! They were all sons of civilians, brothers of hunters, members of the handicraft industry, businessmen's offspring advocating for freedom, and the new Nobles who saw through the ugly natures of the ruling class! It was exactly because they had secured the most extensive support from all ranks of the South's Five Provinces that they were capable of dealing with the Guards for years without their manpower being depleted.

Now, think of the innocent looks of children, soon to be destroyed by the harshness of reality! That young boy had picked up a knife at his age! How would his future turn out to be? Without his parents' care and a teacher's nurturing, he would eventually walk a twisted path just like all the other suffering children! Maybe he would grow into a warrior of the Rebel Army, or develop into an inhumane bandit and murderer! Regardless of the outcome, his life had been destined to be destroyed before it had even begun!

”I got it! I got it!” Oscar suddenly jumped from his seat, his thoughts had ventured into a whole new world! He hopped around in joy! At that moment, he felt as if he was standing atop the peaks of Alps, readying himself for the new day upon sunrise!

The Prince stopped his movements, picked up the lonely document of Southern strategies and tore it into pieces.

”This is just as I've said! Full of bullshit!”

The soldiers were glancing back and forth between one another, what was wrong with the Marshal? Was he crazy?

”Muktha!”

Standing by the door, the Confidential Secretary of the Military Intelligence Bureau responded.

”Remember my orders.”

”Yes, Marshal!”

”From the next day onward, the Southern Branch of the Military Intelligence Bureau shall readjust its focus! First of all, have the troops retreat from the hills and assign only part of our elite operatives to the key and sensitive locations. Meanwhile, carry on with the investigative processes regarding the underground activities of the armed bandits. Next, with the basic groups as units, assign them to every single prison and labor camp which are under the jurisdiction of the military and the Ministry of Justice of Five Provinces, sort out any false cases and open a file for each prisoner for the convenience of supervision and pursuit, if any. Last but not least, complete the first wave of amnesty deployment by my birthday, which is 9th November…”

”Your Highness!” the Southern army's Chief of Staff was losing his cool. Was the guy even aware of what he's doing? What rights did he have to defy the battle strategies authorized by the King and the Imperial army?

”Are you kidding me? I'm not here to play some child games with you…”

”Call me Marshal!” without warning, Oscar scolded the old General sternly, ”Before a Marshal finishes, you have no rights to make any noise! But of course, as you've seen…”

Oscar pointed at the torn paper pieces, ”The Southern strategies are no more! Your responsibilities in this tent have come to an end! Any more questions?”

General Dario Gonzalez straightened his uniform. Oscar may be the Marshal but the General had not aged to the point where he could simply tolerate rude behaviors from a young man.

”If that's the case… I shall excuse myself!” the General saluted the Marshal and walked away. It did not seem that he will be forgetting the events that had just occurred anytime soon.

The tent fell into absolute silence, as the departure of the Chief of Staff had signified the dissolution of the fixed plans. However, no other soldier dared to object the Marshal's new orders.

”Have I done anything wrong?” Oscar turned to his subordinates. ”You are all my most trusted men, speak your minds!”

Major General Tantalus coughed. As the Marshal's Chief of Staff, he would have to take up some blame.

”I thought you still have some things to say?”

Oscar looked at his old friend and smiled, ”I still have things left to say, but as you can see, that old man Dario was rushing to retire, I think he's balding soon!”

The soldiers laughed aloud. The old General definitely had his dignity to preserve but it was inappropriate to argue with the Marshal upfront, although they had to admit there were times that the Marshal was being absurd.

”From what I can see, the investigation of the Southern prisons and labor camps mustn't be delayed,” Oscar pointed at the door, ”The Nobles' territories are guarded by the Guards and mercenaries and they have no need to worry about their lives, but it's different with the civilians! Along our way, how many abandoned homelands have we come across? How many refugee camps have we encountered? All we've seen was nothing more than just a tiny portion of what used to be the Nation of Fields!”

”We must free our people of the locks we've imposed on them!” Oscar knocked on the table with greater force. ”The usual habits of the Ministry of Justice and the Southern army's complete annihilation must be changed! The barren lands have caused the quality of lives to fall, leading to the cultivation of crimes, and from there on bandits will be roaming about, destabilizing the political scenes, causing us, the Imperial army which craves for stability, to blindly launch our attacks, leading again to destroying the already barren lands! The land is our foundation, and without plantations and produces, it all leads to the birth of crimes!”

Oscar calmed himself and sat down, ”I've just thought of this, do you understand? We've fallen into a never-ending cycle! Why is it that the Southern army still fails to annihilate the armed bandits even after seven years? It's because our military operations are part of the ugly cycle as well.”

”Do you mean that we have to destroy the roots of the hideous cycle?” asked Major General Tantalus while seriously considering the prospect.

”Yes! Absolutely correct!” never had Oscar been this elated. ”What do the Southern people hope to get? In other words… what do they wish for after the seven-years war? A piece of land for domestic productions and a simple house for shelter! Therefore, we must first break the prison walls and release some of the human resources! At the same time, there's another task of higher importance! Although the Southern Nobles have lost some of their lands in the war, I'm aware that they've actually gotten more lands due to compensation from the Empire and the land left by the bandits after their move into the valleys! So, we'll need the Imperial Tax Bureau to inspect the current level of land resources of the South's Five Provinces and to define the attribution of each land! Only then we can ensure that the newly released labors start anew, and not resume their old messy ways!”

”This… This will be a long-term process!” Baron Messier De Quixote sized up the Prince who was in high spirits, ”Furthermore, the lands are the most valued assets are the Southern Nobles and they won't tolerate the redistribution of their lands. You will have tons of trouble!”

”The Titan Codex!” Oscar abruptly pointed toward to sky. ”Don't ever forget, my Military Intelligence Bureau Chief, we have solid legal references. Is the clause forbidding the concurrent ownership of a large number of lands fake? Kings, Lords, Dukes, Barons, Counts, Discounts! Each status has their supposed land attribution, and each land must have its boundaries! The hard part doesn't lie in the investigation, but in the process of having the Nobles willingly surrender their illegal lands!”

All of a sudden, Oscar chuckled coldly, ”If His Majesty The Emperor commands to regain all lands and then redistribute them according to the Codex, do you really think there's any excuse for the Nobles to object?”

Enlightened by the Marshal's words, Messier nodded in agreement, ”You are right! There's no one better suited to this role other than Alfa III His Majesty, there's nothing the Southern Nobles can do! But will the Emperor move this boulder? Will he risk infuriating the Nobles?”

Oscar nodded affirmingly, ”He will consider, but you can never satisfy every party! In the South, there are landlords nearing bankruptcy while the other milking profits, we are bound to satisfy one and offend another! Since when had the land redistributions not been like this? Furthermore, three out of the five provinces in the south were the warzones in the year 791, while the other two had recovered faster after the elimination of the Rebel Army, which means, we have at least three provinces on our side, it's already the majority!”

”Don't worry!” said Oscar while patting the Military Intelligence Bureau Chief on his shoulder. ”I will definitely persuade His Majesty The Emperor! Even if it means another trip to Dulin!”

”What … what about us?” Oscar's Chief of Staff inquired innocently. He exchanged glances with the Special Combat Brigade Commander. ”There're no more plans for attack, is there? What are we going to do?”

Oscar surveyed the men, the majority being Imperial soldiers.

”As long as I'm the Marshal, you guys won't be free either! Which location is most affected by the armed bandits?”

Lieutenant General Luke Citel flipped open the map, thank God! He still had value for the Marshal! The special combat officer seemed to be scared of the Marshal's random tempers and swiftly pinpointed the location.

”Beya Valley and the Northern sections of Donsur Hill of the Weslevia Province, under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guards' Eighth Region.”

”We shall head there!” Oscar marked down the spot.

”What … what do you mean?” Luke Citel was confused.

Oscar laughed softly, ”Hehe! We can't leave the bandits there, these people have the Guards' blood on them and wouldn't be pardoned even by God of Light!”

Mad Tatan nodded in agreement, ”Of course! They will pay for it! Also, as His Highness has said, as long as the roots of the cycle are eliminated and the Five Provinces recover their productivity and economic levels, I believe that the bandits will break down internally!”

Oscar's thoughts went to the faraway Damorga and gave a shy smile.

Overwhelmed with nostalgia, the Marshal sighed, ”You wouldn't have forgotten, have you? I've been imprisoned for ten years! Nobody would dare to mess with the Titan Codex except for those greedy Nobles, and most of the poor civilians that started committing crimes were forced by their situations.”

Messier nodded. He had served as the Special Operations Officer in Rylie Province, and thus had a certain level of understanding regarding the Southern people.

”The people in the South are actually not bad, they love music, are passionate and patriotic! If it wasn't for someone's intentional provocation, the 791 Riot wouldn't have been that aggressive either!”

Oscar's demeanor turned cold, he had not forgotten the bastard who plotted against him with Alan! If he had guessed correctly, the conspiracy in 791 invoked by Alan against Italia had been plotted together with the mastermind of the riot. It was just that Alan had been stabbed by his partner at the end.

”Go!” the Marshal commanded softly, ”Before we enter the terrains, we must figure out the bandits' true identities, their gathering spots, their military and weaponry assembly and the sponsors of their Faran and Italia bases. I must know every single one of these details, if not, we'll still be tackling blindly. We can only emerge victorious after we've sniffed out the mastermind!”

”Eh? It's day?” the Brigadier General of the artillery soldiers commented.

Puzzled, Oscar turned his head. The rays of dawn had colored the curtains gold.

Discount Tove Van Sukhoi wiped off the saliva from the corners of his mouth and stretched his body. He noticed the Marshal walking toward him and swiftly put his arms back down.

”You slept well, I see!” Oscar stared at the Brigadier General who had never spoken a word throughout the entire emergency meeting.

Torry exclaimed, ”Sorry! Did I snore?”

Oscar rolled his eyes, ”I'm so lucky that you've slept soundlessly!”

Torry patted his chest in relief, ”Oh … that's good! That's good!”

”You!” Oscar grabbed Discount Sukhoi's collar violently and pulled him from his seat, ”Let's go out to the sun! We all need to stay focused!”

The troop of officers followed the Prince out the tent. The Prince's hair was showered with golden sunlight, looking just like the chosen one blessed by the Gods! They might still have doubts regarding the Marshal's plans or confused by his sudden changes in behavior, but all these could do nothing to alter one fact. As the sun rose from the East, O'Neil Andrew Morisette had become a perfect politician! When he proposed to implement his citizen-friendly policies, he had already equipped himself with strong leadership spirits! The road ahead would surely lead him to the highest pinnacle of the world!

Liszt woke up early in the morning. Once he sounded the church's clock, the children nearby rushed toward him, excited by the smoke rising from the church.

The future Titan's Number One Ranger cooked the grains in a simple manner and shared it with the poor kids.

Liszt required the children who have gotten their breakfast to chant a person's name like how they would praise God. However, the kids had already been distracted by the smell of potato cakes and porridge. Nevertheless, the name had long been ingrained in the young hearts of the children.

”Come! After me!” Liszt lifted up a kid who still could not speak clearly, ”Thank you … O”Neil … Andrew … Morisette!”

”Thank you …O … Andrew … Shet!”

”Not Shet! That means poop! Oh my god! Do you even know what you're saying?” Liszt growled in annoyance at the innocent child.

And that was how the ”O'Neil's Breakfast”, which meant being kind without asking for a return, had become a proverb spread among the daily lives in Titan.