Chapter 192: Twenty-second Episode: Chapter 2 (2/2)

Oscar shrugged, ”Nothing much. Murat is getting married and he asks me to be a witness to that.”

”You are kidding!” Torry widened his eyes.

Oscar glanced at his old friend mockingly, ”Why am I joking about such things? You should go and take a look. Murat's fiancé is a nice lady. You will like her.”

Torry quickly waved his hands, ”I already have a girl that I like. Who knows, she may be my marriage partner as well!”

This time, it was Oscar's turn to widen his eyes, ”What is with this world? Are all single men organizing a mass wedding?”

Torry laughed, ”It's not what you think. I still need to observe for a while. After some time, let me introduce my lover to you!”

Oscar could only nod, but he was a little curious. Since this lady was able to let ”Walking Stick Torry” who flirted around for so many years fell so deeply over her, he guessed it must be a very beautiful lady!

Before the ball entered its climax, the Prince left quietly. He greeted General Eugene briefly by the door, then followed the Chief Commander of the Southern Army Group into a dark alley in the nursing home. Even though the people noticed the Prince leaving with a high-ranked general, they did not think otherwise. Only Marshal Alan and Marshal Robin took a seemingly unintentional glance at each other. Their glances separated as soon as they met.

The Prince was brought to a huge mansion in the nursing home. After passing through the living room and dining room, they entered the meeting room of the master of the house. The soldiers who had been waiting for some time here quickly stood up as the Prince entered. Oscar did not even bother with the military greetings. He quickly got everyone to be seated and said, ”This is not the main venue.”

The generals of the southern army who came to Dulin included their Chief Commander, Chief of Staff, a few generals Oscar knew before and the main people-in-charge of Southern Military Intelligence Bureau including the head Major General Janin Sherman and a few members.

”Tatan, my old friend, my classmate! How have you been?” Oscar hugged Lieutenant General Tantalus Piche who was the Chief of Staff of the Southern Army.

Mad Tatan was full of smile. He kissed Oscar's cheeks, ”Everything is fine. Only that I miss you!”

Oscar laughed, ”Enough! Your way of saying it disgusts me.”

The people present all roared with laughter especially Janin Sherman. It seemed that he was on good terms with Tatan. After laughing for a while, Oscar turned to the quiet Commander of Fifth Region General Gondol Abbasia. This single-arm hero was still quiet as usual. Only when he felt the person's strong hug that he gave a sincere smile.

”How was Vielonna?”

Gondol stared at the Prince, ”Isn't it better to just ask how Madam Sasha E. has been?”

Oscar touched his nose, ”Hehe. You saw through me huh!”

General Abbasia patted the young man's shoulder, ”Rest assured. Everything is alright at Vielonna. Madam Sasha E. is doing fine as well. She just...miss you as much as Tantalus!”

The men laughed again. This time louder.

Oscar clapped his hands. He was sitting in the main seat of the roundtable.

”Glad that everyone is doing well. Now, let's talk about our problems. Who first?”

The meeting immediately plummeted into silence. The soldiers stopped their smile and straightened up. The Chief of Staff Tantalus was the first to hit his glass.

”Let me first brief the situation in the south!”

Oscar nodded. He had already seen the southern Empire as his land. No matter what others thought or how his Empress wife arranged, no one could affect his status and influence in the south. At least not in a short amount of time.

After years of war, the south's production economy had resumed to slightly more than half of the level before the war. This was mainly thanks to the constantly perfected market system and the effort of every large business association. The southern army had set up a large batch of stations lately. These stations were all set up at the route that the business team must pass through. Other than that, according to the standardized arrangement of the Army Division, the enlistment for the new year had begun from the moment the country announced the enlistment until now. The southern army group had sent 19833 veterans away and enlisted 47749 soldiers. There were still 14008 part-time soldiers in the reserve unit.

”Not enough! This is not enough!” Oscar shook his head greatly towards this number.

”We still have three months until the enlistment is over!” Tantalus could only explain this way.

Oscar did not say anything further. He knew that this was not something that could be achieved in a short time. To complete the preparation to invade the Slovenian Empire according to Lighthouse Strategy, he needed a huge combat group that had total forces of around forty hundred thousand people. Even if this was something unrealistic, Oscar had a hunch and the determination that Titan's war against Slovenian would start from him.

The southern noble had learned their lesson. After the war, they no longer looked down upon the new nobles who attained their wealth from the business. Instead, they learned from these people about managing business wholeheartedly. Some nobles even managed their own wine farm and art workshops in their lands. This was almost impossible in the past, but the smart southern people were willing to accept new things. They brought in tea leaves from Engels, arts from Italia and ship-building technique from West Percy. It seemed that every citizen in the Southern Five Provinces planned to do something well. No matter in the city or village, the place that the eyes could fall upon were scenes of busy work.

”Then, what sort of things are hidden behind the development?” Oscar scanned the military officers present here.

The first to speak was Commander of the Eighth Region, General Stuagate. This general had omitted the useless praise and courtesy and went straight to the point. From his point of view, only one thing would threaten the southern Empire. That was the Farans at the border. From the revengeful attack of the Titan Empire towards the Riel Kingdom, the Farans had been increasing their army forces at the border. Today was a group, tomorrow a division. Such actions had persisted until the Anti-Titan Alliance finally lost the war. However, until this moment, the Farans had managed a defense line of twenty thousand people at the border of southern Titan. Of course, it could be a line of assault.

Except for the military pressure from the Faran, Major General Janin Sherman who was promoted to the person-in-charge of Southern Military Intelligence Bureau before the war also mentioned another worrying matter. The bureau solved an agent case which involved a lot of people in a large-scale cleaning activity during the war. Even if the main culprit of this case did not mention his buyer, the investigation of the bureau all pointed to the Faran Kingdom Court Investigation Council – the ”Aragon”.

Aragon's agent activities at southern Titan were out of control. This case alone had involved more than ten local government officers.

Towards such situation, the Southern Bureau had created a strict strategy to defend and investigate. All action units had entered the frontline of the anti-agent. They were diving into all sorts of professions, especially Faran's embassy, sensitive governmental departments and military department. They investigated all suspicious people and matter according to groups carefully. Specific records showed that the bureau had interrogated more than ten thousand people during the war and had filtered few foreign agents amongst them.

”So, Head of bureau! I strongly suggest that the Military Intelligence System to build a special military jail which is not restricted by the common law and moral and is completely separated from the outside world!” Janin Sherman spoke carefully. He was afraid that his companion and this high-status officer in front of him would think of him as being smart of himself.

”Yes!” General Eugene finally spoke, ”General Janin's subordinates have turned a few jails in southern army worse. I don't want to undermine the effort your subordinates did for the safety of the Empire, but their way is simply too extreme. Moreover, until now, there have been a few bishops complaining about this matter to me. Obviously, they have heard the news!”

Oscar remained silent. The Military Intelligence Bureau had their own jail, but it was still restricted by the law and rules of the local military region. Janin's suggestion was very attractive.

”Your Highness!” the head of southern bureau spoke again, ”This is extremely urgent. The Church must be instigated by someone with ill intentions. If this matter is heard in Dulin or Roman Church, the next Pope who is from Faran will pressure Alanis. If we could not explain the source of our prisoners at that time, then all our effort will be in vain!”

Oscar nodded finally, ”Do as you say! Have you chosen the location?”

Janin was a little awkward but still happy. This showed that the head of Bureau acknowledged his abilities.

”Your Highness, I have chosen a good place for you. There is an old castle called Picatix near Vielonna. Of course, it is still your judgment in the end--”

”Since it is an urgent matter, there's no need to wait for my decision!” Oscar interrupted the head of the Southern Military Intelligence Bureau, ”I still don't know when I will be returning to the south. Moreover, Janin, I believe in your judgment and your working capabilities!”

”Thank you, Sir!”

Oscar waved his hands, ”Build a jail and put the dangerous ones in there!”

Janin nodded. It seemed that there was nothing more the southern bureau could do.

After that, O'Neil Andrew Morisette conveyed some of his thoughts and decision to the southern army. Actually, it was simply about increasing control from within and strengthening the defense. The action of the southern bureau had given him some inspirations and made him feel that the current southern was not peaceful. It was exactly because O'Neil Andrew Morisette had taken such careful considerations when he managed the south that the southern army group and he did not fall into a disadvantaged position in the future Anti-Titan activities.

However, speaking of that, if one gained something, one must lose as well! The ill-famous Picatix Castle was meant to be the special military jail that was meant for agents when it was first built. But after some time, the people who were kept there had changed. They were mostly those who stood against O'Neil Andrew Morisette. In the end, Picatix Jail was used as the symbol of totalitarian of the Andrew Dynasty and the pronoun of living hell by those fighters that believed in freedom and independent activities.

Until the 20th day of the 9th month, the meeting had entered its actual stage. Marshal Alan was stating the duty focus and arrangement of the Guards in the next three years. The old Marshal had spoken for a whole day without stopping that his pharyngitis hit him at night. But Alan's spirit of the meeting had been conveyed to others, the generals present all listened to the marshal with the thinking that ”the war was coming”.

Actually, Alan's view on the foreign and internal affairs was extremely simple but full of insights. He thought that the Guards' future focus should be on perfecting defense at the frontline of the west, north and south, especially military infrastructures such as the fortress, castle and army bases. As for internal affairs, peace was a must. The Guards must maintain the traditional spirit and never get involved in local government and civilian matter.

Never involve in a local matter? This seemed a bit odd but true soldiers would definitely understand its underlying meaning. The fall of the local government did not only manifest itself in the ”ever-changing” tax policy but also the heavy burden imparted on the country and people from the expanding ranking system.

Alan suggested the idea of Guards never participating in local government affairs and that meant that the soldiers should carry out their duties and stay clear of the local groups. As to not meddle in a civilian matter, to be honest, this was the smartest move of the cunning Silverfox Alan! Under normal circumstances, the beginning and development of riots and large-scaled rebellions all came from one place. Those who were familiar with history should know that it was the result of cruel oppression by the nobles. This matter was catalyzed by the use of special rights and violence by the local governments.

Marshal Alan's idea of soldiers not meddling with civilian affairs served simply as a reminder of the force Guards put forward to control the citizens. During the time they should not meddle with, they should be alerted to their surroundings. When they should deal with it, only then they could use violence to exert their rights.

However, the representatives who came from the south did not care too much about the words of the Marshal of Guards. The large-scaled violent war that sprang from civilian affairs could not be avoided no matter what. Alan's actions might relieve the conflict on the surface but, if done badly, it could cause serious rebellion.

From O'Neil Andrew Morisette's point of view, he had no idea at all about such civilian affairs. Thus, when the Marshal of Guards was stating related problems regarding that, Oscar nodded off.

It could be seen that the Prince did not rest well. He was worried about the future of the joint government of the Southern Five Provinces because his wife had publicly announced that the time to establish a joint government in the southern Empire was not matured yet. But when would count as mature? Oscar knew that this was totally unrealistic. Oscar's opinion would be taken as splitting the Empire apart. He could not have this sin on him. He was still trying to convince his wife.

On other problems, the meeting only involved a few situations on the surface. For example, some military regions had lied about the budget or expenses of some unit was over the average. Alan had allocated effective solutions to each special situation. There was only one that the Marshal of Guards was bothered about. That was Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette's Military Intelligence Bureau.

One day, Alan suddenly found himself totally unfamiliar with the current Imperial Military Intelligence Bureau. Such understanding was odd to him. He established the Military Intelligence Bureau all by himself but when the Marshal visited the main branch of Military Intelligence Bureau at the Capital, all he saw was unfamiliar faces. He only understood after asking about it. The military analysts who he was fond of had been placed on the frontline of actions.

During the meeting, Alan pointed that the Military Intelligence Bureau's actions in some aspects had completely gone out of the control of the Army Division and the Guards. Only then, Oscar opened his sleepy eyes. If it was a fox, it would surely show its tail! Describing Alan with this was perfect. The young Prince, no matter how naïve he was, knew that this was Silverfox's warning to him not to do too much.

But O'Neil Andrew Morisette naturally did not care about Alan's words. He still managed his Military Intelligence Bureau and placed a large number of agents to Slovenia at the eastern border as usual. He believed Alan had heard of the Lighthouse Strategy because that ”map of the traditional border between Titan and Slovenia” was already in the market and sold for a huge amount in an underground auction.

If one way did not work, Alan would naturally try another way. At the end of the meeting, after Chief of Staff Marshal Robin Sparse had introduced the Empire's ”Summary of Five-year War Resources”, a topic which the Marshal of Guards had prepared since before. It was about the actual control over the ”First Cannon Division of the Guards”. He involved all soldiers in discussion and said, ”We can't just let the only modernized fire cannon units running around.”

Oscar smiled coldly. He knew what ”running around” meant so he slammed the table with great force in front of all representatives. After saying ”Ola”, he shouted to the Marshal!

”Don't ever think about the First Cannon Division! No! No!”

Alan naturally did not expect the Prince's fierce reaction and Oscar had already prepared for this. Instead of letting Torry being sent to some strange place, it was better to let Alanis knew that her husband fought greatly with the Marshal of Guards.

As expected, when the discussion got heated up, an Imperial messenger from Hamilton Palace arrived.

”From the order of Her Majesty Empress Alanis! Due to the glorious result of the First Cannon Division and the strategic value of large fire weapons, the Imperial family bestowed the Commander of First Cannon Division Viscount Tove Van Sukhoi the title of Lieutenant General. Lieutenant General Tove Van Sukhoi and his Cannon Division will serve under the Capital's defense department and under the control of Home Base Command.”

Oscar applauded in his heart. His Alanis was still understanding as ever, and accurate in her guesswork.

Next, the ”fiercest” auction began. ”Summary of Five-year War Resources” was in need of an elite division to be the trial unit to use fire weapons. This topic had caused a huge stir-up since the beginning. Almost all commanders of military regions and army groups had stood up. They compared their strong points with others without shame. They acted as if they were entering a duel right away.

Since the venue was getting out of order, Marshal Robin could only stop the meeting. Alan and he invited Oscar and said that this was something that could only be decided after their discussion.

Oscar said that he did not care about it. Since it was a trial unit, it would be the same for any unit in any region.

At last, Alan and Robin made a decision. Both the Marshals had chosen Great Titania Province. Not only there was a rich resource of iron ores and better foundation of the metallurgical industry, the Great Titania was located at the inner part of the Empire, surrounded by three army groups and Narcissus Knights. There should be less risk at that place.

When the news reached Prince O'Neil, he was already in a carriage, heading back to Dulin. General Eugene who shared the carriage with Oscar said as he recalled, ”The expression of the Prince is not clear at that time. He was simply smiling coldly.”