I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist

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Once upon a time, in a world, there was a country called the Heavenly Nation.

Just at the moment when they were about to share joy and toast after their long and hard-fought victory against the octopus…

A red bear across the way started growling and shouting, “Soviet!”

Just when the market, liberated from those crazy bastards, was on the brink of falling into the hands of Gulag enthusiasts.

The Heavenly Nation, which could easily end up isolated if they weren’t careful, made a decisive call.

They decided to throw money at the problem and see if that would resolve things!

…Okay, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated and absurd, but anyway, here are the results.

Money is worth what you spend. If it doesn’t meet its value, then you simply didn’t spend enough.

In the face of big money, everything crumbles, and even light fades.

“Honorable Members, currently, support for the old Dedorant and the old Atria occupied territories and DeGale is gradually slowing down.”

“Well, that’s because our Empire needs to catch its breath, Chief of Staff.”

“The war has dragged on for too long. It’s been almost 3 years! You must know well how much tax has gone into military funding, Chief of Staff.”

“For now, our Empire must catch its breath. What could be more foolish and regretful than helping the outside and letting the inside shake?”

I know. I know it well. Because of that military funding, I’ve clashed quite a bit with the Ministry of Finance.

For the past three years, I know the Empire has prioritized war over everything else.

The High Command, the Ministry of Finance, and even the parliament have remained silent, hoping for our victory.

For this, I am infinitely grateful. I could call them hidden heroes of victory.

But that’s that, and this is this. Reconstruction in the West must not be delayed at all.

You might think, “What’s there to worry about, it won’t be painted red like in my previous life?”

In fact, the possibility is even higher. That wickedness of the Deo Ethnicity can bounce anywhere.

If we mess up, there’s a chance we could ignite the red taste ourselves.

“The rights to the territories of the two kingdoms will solely belong to the Empire. No nation can deny that. However, the original residents living there may feel differently. If there’s resistance, we’ll have to keep the military there or send more, and that amount won’t be negligible.”

“Hmm…”

“Right now, this can be managed with money, but as time passes, it can escalate into a situation requiring all our resources and strength.”

This isn’t just about Dedorant and Atria.

The most important thing is DeGale. I actually think rebuilding here is of utmost importance.

In any case, the Empire can legally claim rights to the regions of Dedorant and Atria.

However, DeGale is different, so we must firmly establish our influence there.

“As you’ve probably anticipated, we must exercise strong influence in the West as we did in the East. To achieve that, we must properly secure DeGale within our fence.”

“So, you mean we should support the DeGale Royal Family when they return soon so they can stand on their own?”

“Not at all. I’m saying the exact opposite.”

Am I crazy enough to give that kind of support? Those who’ve run away to Ross Tanika without even properly fighting?

Above all, thinking about the future order of the Western continent, DeGale must continue but not recover.

With Dedorant gone, which was keeping DeGale in check, that land will now belong to the Empire.

So, if DeGale takes it easy and grows wildly, that’ll be quite irksome.

Although there are those who fought against Dedorant, there are surely those who collaborated as well.

If those folks return to politics, DeGale will definitely become tumultuous.

In that process, the rumor could spread that it was our Empire that reinstated those bastards.

Why? Because it was our Empire that occupied the Dedorant region.

Is this some nonsensical argument? It’s true it sounds nonsensical. But it would become a reason.

The Empire that completely gobbled up Dedorant is trying to use those puppets to consume DeGale too.

Those trying to eliminate the traitors are surely going to shout their justifications.

“…If that happens, our Empire will have to project military power in the Western continent again for the sake of our justification. The military funding required won’t be negligible either, so we need to block that in advance.”

“So what are we supposed to do?”

“I’m already in contact with the existing factions of resistance in DeGale. I intend to openly support them under the name of the Empire. I’ll leave the restoration of DeGale to them.”

“You don’t mean the DeGale Royal Family, do you?”

I shook my head. They are too close to Ross Tanika.

There’s probably no suspicious plot held by Ross Tanika.

However, those close to each other will surely end up sharing some secret agreement or clandestine talks.

In the process, what ultimately emerges is the idea to hold hands and resist being absorbed by the Empire.

Ross Tanika cannot be shaken. But DeGale can be shaken.

And that shaking can now be accomplished with the cooperation of those who’ve fought against Dedorant.

It wasn’t intentional, but somehow, I’ve had some connection with those factions.

If I use that part well, influencing future politics in DeGale is not impossible.

“The DeGale Royal Family should be maintained, but we can’t give them power. If they mistakenly believe they’re the victors, that could lead to problems.”

“The DeGale Royal Family is indeed a victor, but I have no intention of granting them that glory.”

“Hmm. Indeed, if we can align with those factions of resistance, we wouldn’t have to worry about the Empire openly intervening in governance. Those who cooperated with Dedorant or remained silent during its invasion wouldn’t dare to speak up.”

As I was speaking, the members of parliament suddenly looked at me intently.

I have a pretty good idea. Were they really hoping for this, and that’s why they took the risk to infiltrate before?

To empower the factions of resistance in DeGale and tack on the Empire’s influence.

Are they predicting even the situation a year from now and sketching it out?

“Honorable Members, no matter what you imagine, it is not that.”

“Hmm. When have we ever said anything?”

“That’s right, Chief of Staff. We were simply impressed by your insight.”

So, isn’t that admiration being directed at the situation from back then, not the present?

“But, Chief of Staff, you still have to keep an eye on public sentiment. I believe the citizens of the Empire would agree with full support for the factions of resistance in DeGale. The same is likely to happen with Ross Tanika. But…”

“I understand what you’re saying. Regarding the former Dedorant and Atria territories, it may provoke the public’s backlash. That’s also a concern of mine.”

The war dragged on for almost 3 years. Our Empire’s casualties are unprecedented.

Especially losing two entire legions has not only been a numerical blow but also a huge dent to our pride.

The western part of the Empire is still gritting its teeth at the mere mention of Dedorant.

In such a situation, if we pour taxes into saving those people, they’d flip out.

“I plan to involve the residents of Dedorant and Atria preferentially in various reconstructions so that they can show they are redeeming themselves. There has likely been some input already in the occupied territories. Furthermore, I will actively utilize those who surrendered previously to reduce hostility.”

“That’s not a bad idea, but… it still feels a bit off, Chief of Staff.”

“It’s insufficient. Taxes are closely linked to public sentiment, so it’s even more crucial. If we can’t persuasively convince the citizens of the Empire, it might be better not to do it at all.”

I expected it wouldn’t be easy, but the opposition from the members is stronger than I thought.

One fortunate thing is, they seem to express concern rather than opposition.

It’s not that they’re trying to stop a rising noble; they genuinely care about the situation.

I can’t let myself get into a predicament because of an opinion I rashly suggested.

The Emperor has even publicly proclaimed, “This man is my son-in-law.”

If someone like that does something against the public sentiment of the Empire, the parliament would find itself in a difficult position too.

“I understand the members’ concerns.”

Of course, I didn’t intend for this to be just a matter of following the plan of the Heavenly Nation.

If we have to capture the public sentiment of the Empire, we will. How? By drawing the line between the bad guys and the good guys.

“So I’ve already prepared plans for that.”

“What do you mean by prepared?”

“I’ll spread the word that the residents of Dedorant and Atria are actually people who unjustly got swept away. All of this is down to the command of various nations who drove them to death through brainwashing and threats.”

Though it’ll be called a rumor, it won’t be simply spread; we’ll create a very meticulous narrative.

We’ll gather all the misdeeds of the Dedorant Command and scatter them throughout the Empire.

No sane person could possibly follow what we present as their actions.

And then we’ll claim those nefarious folks coerced and threatened their own citizens to make them comply.

For this method to work, one condition is necessary.

We must turn the Dedorant Command into the worst scoundrels in history.

Accuse them of all crimes, real and imagined, and set them up as scapegoats.

“There’s information about the cruel acts of the Dedorant Command obtained while expanding the occupied territories and liberating DeGale. We will publish it in newspapers and spread it across the Empire. However! We’ll cleverly omit the original kingdom’s residents and focus only on those above them.”

What makes this possible? None other than the truce that happened during the New Year’s festivities.

Even amid war, we could get close enough to play soccer with each other.

Now it’s about how those rotten bastards were doing such wicked things all this time!

Let’s not forgive those bastards even in death! We’ll treat the ones swept up with mercy!

“After all, the dead can’t speak.”