CHAPTER 516: CHAPTER 494: LAKUNIO’S ANALYSIS

"Back off, Charles, there are knights protesting outside."

Closing the window shutters of the tower, Lakunio spoke earnestly to Prince Kongdai.

"What are they afraid of? We haven’t even raised enough money for the war yet. If I back down now, they’ll think I’m scared," Prince Kongdai snorted dismissively.

Listening to the relentless shouting outside, Lakunio shook his head.

He knew with Charles’s personality, any attempt to persuade him would be futile.

He didn’t bother further and continued discussing the previous topic in the compact study room: "Our next focus, besides military resources, is Kasha County to the south."

"Kasha County has built many castles lately. If we were to fight in the beginning of the year, there might be a chance. But it’s October now, what’s the point of fighting?" Prince Kongdai had done substantial research on the situation in Kasha County.

"Shut up and listen to my analysis."

Lakunio wasn’t a patient person. After being interrupted multiple times, his temper flared.

Especially in matters of such importance, he had the authority of a long-time regiment leader.

Prince Kongdai hesitated for a moment but reluctantly closed his mouth.

"You’ve enlisted the lance cavalry for food; it’s rough, but necessary for quick military funding.

If we can win, these are minor details. The real problem is how do we win?"

"I’ll attack the north, while the Oslar Clan’s army attacks the south, and then we adapt as necessary," Prince Kongdai quickly replied, in line with his usual approach.

When the Pope was around, anything requiring action would involve the Pope setting the objectives, Prince Kongdai suggesting ideas, Mizam planning, and local troops coordinating.

Now that Mizam and the Pope are both gone, there are issues in strategy and implementation, leaving only Prince Kongdai’s tactics.

"The overall direction is correct, but the specifics are completely wrong," Lakunio sighed with exasperation, pulling out a map from behind him.

He knew Prince Kongdai rose from nothing, without much education as a child, and trained as a brave general.

Ask Prince Kongdai how to charge in a battle, control marching speed, or discern enemy intent, he’s proficient.

Ask him about grand strategy, and he can only stammer like now.

"Currently, the major rebel forces in Thousand River Valley are divided into two groups: the Horn Salvation Army in the south and the Duke of Moliat’s Army in the north.

The northern Moliat has been well-established, with hardly any internal weaknesses, making them difficult to split. They are the main enemy; you got that right."

But your decision to actively attack them might not be correct.

Lakunio refrained from stating this, aware that Prince Kongdai was stubborn and not easily swayed.

With the necessity to attack the north established, Lakunio, after a month of investigation and planning, had largely devised the next steps.

"Since we must attack the north, we need to consider how to suppress the uncertainty in the south. We need internal chaos among them.

The Southern Salvation Army appears united, but is actually composed of four parts: the merchants and citizens of Rapids City, the Salvation Army headquarters of Daze Village, the Kush Knights of Jinhe Town, and the Blago Monastery of Kasha County.

They mainly form the base of the Juanist Faction and the Holy Path Faction.

The biggest distinction between the Juanist Faction and the Holy Path Faction, who are from the same sect, is their attitude towards nobles and land.

The Juanist Faction advocates for [Common Ownership of Church Assets, Fixed Tax No Increase], meaning transferring church lands to public ownership, collecting fixed per acre tax, the specific rate negotiated by the church for the people with the lords.

The Holy Path Faction is more radical, implementing [Direct Management by Holy Father, Nobles Are Useless], meaning stripping all religious and secular nobles of their status and power.

In other words, knights changing faith to the Juanist Faction, though losing part of their land, could retain their knightly titles.

Meanwhile, knights converting to the Holy Path Faction would lose their titles and keep only some land and risk arrest and execution if resisted.

The first three were forged in warfare, making them difficult to split, but the Blago Monastery is different as it is peacefully united.

The Shadowless Man investigated that internally, the Blago Monastery holds an ambiguous stance towards the Salvation Army and the Church; accurately speaking, they are intimidated by the Salvation Army’s extensive land distribution.

The Blago Monastery operates under a monastic system, and internally contains a portion of Juanist religious nobles, let alone secular nobles.

Their main goal is to break the invisible promotion limits within the existing system, not to overturn the current framework.

After the battle in Rapids City, the Salvation Army held considerable power, leveraging victories to station troops in critical Kasha County city, Xiaochi City.

For their safety, they permitted Dean Ludvik to visit the Salvation Army to try fortifying alliance relations.

That farmer-born Horn is a rare genius; if he hadn’t rebelled but joined the Church, he might’ve risen to the position of Cardinal... what a pity... how did I digress...

With Horn now summoning Dean Ludvik, I reckon he’s recognized this.

Given his establishment of localized systems within Salvation Army territory and his approach to the Kush Knights, he likely aims to create some form of one-army-three-systems to temporarily pacify the Blago Monastery.

It isn’t that the opportunity will be lost then, just that the difficulty will increase significantly."

Prince Kongdai sat in the armchair, his gaze as clear as a schoolchild’s: "Huh?"

Lakunio took a deep breath, touched the area below his nose: "Do you understand what needs to be done?"

"Win over Kasha County." Prince Kongdai pondered for a moment, giving an answer—not that he’s stupid, just unable to see the larger picture, "But what can we offer to win them over?"

"Satisfy the Juanist Faction’s demands? Meet the Juanist’s requirements, allow for Church property public ownership in Kasha County, waive taxes—this isn’t hard to think of," Lakunio casually listed out.

"Won’t that anger the Church?"

"Previously, you maintained relations with the Church to avoid standing out, reminding other nobles of your royal lineage and targeting you.

With Leia’s civil war, the Church is already divided, with military and financial powers split, reducing influence.

Other nobles are tied up in civil war; with the Oslar Clan backing you, why bother keeping good relations with the Church?

Mizam was somewhat useful—not sure how Old Duke Omes was convinced to support you, but that old fox wouldn’t take losses easily, probably with conditions.

Regardless of the conditions, give him whatever he asks for."

As Prince Kongdai pretended to nod thoughtfully, Lakunio extended two fingers:

"Just do these two things right.

First, create a marriage alliance with the Oslar Clan to establish a formal alliance.

Second, dispatch all Demon Hunters and Shadowless Men, using all means soft and hard, tell them we’ll grant them autonomy—taxation, military...

Everything will be self-managed, and pledge not to wage war on Kasha County’s land. The Salvation Army cannot offer such terms.

The only requirement is to remain neutral during the war and grant us military passage rights..."

"Then we seize the opportunity to crush them?" Prince Kongdai eagerly countered.

"A king must keep his word," Lakunio retorted with wide eyes, "For your words to wield influence, passage rights mean just passage rights."

Prince Kongdai elongated his philtrum and nodded cluelessly.

This lad, though seasoned by life’s journey, returned unchanged, leaving Lakunio to rub his brow:

"We don’t expect Kasha County to surrender immediately, but as long as it destabilizes, the Salvation Army’s bandit lines will double, even granting us a chance to engage with the Kush Knights."

Holding a piece of charcoal, Lakunio traced a black line along the Ibe River:

"By then, the Salvation Army will lose the ability to attack, forced into defense, immobilizing the south and making the northern battle easier."