The three of them remained silent.
After a long while, Colonel Bolonik finally couldn't hold it in any longer. "Let's talk about what we should do next. It's none of our business whether Baron Strathern is guilty or not, but we must demand that Baron Strathern hand over his authority as admiral and let us take over the local garrisons of Tyrrsim.
If we don't do that, we won't be able to complete our task of forming a reserve force here. The local garrison forces are already in shambles. "
Savich said with a bitter expression, "Even though we have the task of organizing the local garrison forces, we don't have the authority to take over the local garrison forces. We have to wait for the next division and the army to send people over to form a logistics command center before we can do that.
Not to mention, this Baron Strathern is the empress' nephew and the local governor here. He can use his illness as an excuse to refuse to cooperate with us. "
"If that's the case, we'll just have to arrest him for corruption and malfeasance!"
Bolonik was much more ruthless than Savich. "We already have the evidence the viceroy gave us. We're in the middle of a war and we can't afford to let this Baron Strathern stall for time.
If he knows what's good for him, we'll wait for the reinforcements to arrive and he'll be free for another three to four months.
If he doesn't cooperate, we'll have to send him to jail. We don't have time to waste anymore. "
While it was a good idea to cut through the Gordian knot, it was easy to go to extremes.
Savich could only shake his head, disapproving of Bolonik's method of handling things.
It was rather amusing. Ranger was the most trusted force of the royal family. Yet, on the first day they arrived at Tyrrsim, they were already planning to make an example out of the empress' nephew. It was rather ironic.
"What do you think?" Savich asked Claude.
Claude had already given it some thought. He said to the two seniors, "Perhaps we've been oversimplifying things.
Before we arrived in Nubissia, we thought that the local garrison forces here would be similar to those in the kingdom.
But what we have seen shows that we have been too optimistic about the armaments of the colonies, and I think we must change our plans. We must leave a regiment behind to form and consolidate the local garrisons and reserves of the colonies.
Otherwise, if we go to the front lines, I'm certain that we'll have to fight alone if we can't provide support from the rear.
If we lose too many men and lose too many men, we won't be able to set up a sturdy defensive line to defend against the enemy.
Who knows, the enemy might even reach here in three to four months.
The local garrisons of Tyrrsim must be taken over by us. If this Baron Strathern is willing to cooperate with us and relinquish his authority, he can continue to be at home, sick and at ease.
We will even supply him with the men and muskets of the garrison of the port of Cobicus and the garrison battalions of the other four towns.
But if he's not willing, I'm sure it won't be strange for another to be sacrificed since one of the seven governors has already died. "
Colonel Bolonik and Colonel Sevict were flabbergasted. Bolonik only wanted to capture Baron Strassen, but Claude was even more ruthless and wanted to send him to the frontlines to be sacrificed heroically.
But when they thought about it, they had to admit that Claude's idea was better. Once he died, everything would be over. There would be no scandal or accusation and the reputation of the royal family would be preserved. Strathern's sacrifice would even bring them more prestige.
"I don't think Strathern has much of a choice. He'll definitely cooperate with us.
Besides, we have promised to supply him with men for the local garrisons and muskets, and he will be very satisfied. "Colonel Savitt laughed.
"It won't be that easy. He'll have to give us at least fifty thousand crowns to show his loyalty to the kingdom," Claude said through clenched teeth.
Bolonik was taken aback. "Is that even possible? How can he afford it?"
"He can afford it. You'll understand once you do the math.
Four thousand troops a year, two crowns a year for each soldier's salary and benefits. Just that alone would make him more than eight thousand crowns.
Add to that the military expenditure, the reselling of muskets and ordnance, as well as the pensions of the soldiers whom he falsely reported, and what not, that sly old governor estimated that his annual income to be fifteen thousand, I believe, was not much.
We won't ask for much. Just ask him to fork out the military expenses he's embezzled for the past three years.
If he's unwilling to pay up now that he's on the brink of death, he can only die in battle for the kingdom. "
Even though Claude's calculations were vague, the two seniors were still able to accept it.
With that amount of money, it would be much easier to recruit reserve troops and prepare supplies. They wouldn't have to argue with the viceroy about military expenses during wartime. That delay would be detrimental to the war effort.
"What about Lieutenant Colonel Alvelard, the head of the local garrison of Port Cobicus? It's said that he's a trusted follower of Baron Strathern. He's in charge of all the firearms and ordnance sales. And that Captain Hinkson, he should also be deeply involved in those matters. He's the one who asked us to purchase spare armaments …" Colonel Bolonik said.
"All of Baron Strassen's trusted aides and subordinates who know about his crimes will be brought to the frontlines under the guise of a guide. I hope Baron Strassen will cooperate with us and hand over his authority.
Otherwise, he would have volunteered to go to the frontline to investigate the enemy's situation … "
Claude believed that Baron Strassen would make a wise choice. Even though he'd lost a large sum of money and authority, all the crimes he'd committed in the past had been erased.
All the people in charge would be sent to the frontlines. Whether or not they could return would depend on their performance and luck.
The most important thing was to preserve the dignity of the royal family. As the empress' nephew, Strassen was a relative of the royal family. If his deeds were to be exposed, it would become a huge scandal in the kingdom. Even if the king were to appoint a relative of the royal family to a position in the future, he would be questioned by the ministers.
That was why the two seniors felt that sending Baron Strassen to the frontlines to sacrifice himself was the best solution. After all, even if Baron Strassen made a wise choice, he would still hate Claude and the other two.
There was a high chance that he would slander Claude and the others in front of the empress to take revenge for losing his fortune.
However, Claude didn't care about that. He had already discussed it with the two seniors. They would record everything that happened, including evidence of Baron Strassen's embezzlement, to be handed over to Prince Hansbach.
They believed that Baron Strassen would soon be discarded by the royal family. A baron without any authority wouldn't be of much use to Claude and the others.
The king and the prince, on the other hand, would thank Claude and the other two for saving the royal family's dignity.
"We don't have much time. My tribe 131 can rest for another day tomorrow. The day after, we have to head to the frontlines to scout the enemy's situation.
We need to figure out where the Shiksan army has advanced to and where they have conquered.
So, we only have a day at most to deal with Baron Strassen. If he really doesn't cooperate, I'll force him to the frontlines. "
Claude looked at the two seniors. "You have to leave a line of men here to reorganize and reorganize the local garrisons.
Tyrrsim can form at least two local garrisons to head to the frontlines. We don't have to do any voluntary recruitment. Doesn't Baron Strassen sell firearms to the commoners here?
We'll recruit a reserve force according to the roster. Families with three males will have to send one of them to serve. Otherwise, they'll be arrested for desertion and their entire family will be confiscated. "
"We're at war now. I think it's feasible.
Colonel Bolonik nodded. "During the banquet at the governor's mansion, I asked Viscount Cruise. Tyrrsim governs one port and four towns, and has 370,000 official citizens of the kingdom. It's entirely possible to recruit two local garrison troops."
"We don't have much time. We can only stay here for ten days at most before we head to the frontlines to set up a defensive line.
We don't know if we can form two local garrisons to go with us in the next ten days, "Sevict said.
"Let's form them first. We'll talk about training them on the way.
If we can set up a defensive line at the frontlines and the enemy hasn't arrived yet, we can take some time to train the local garrisons on how to fight. "
"Call back the garrison of Port Cobicus and the companies of garrisons from the other four towns, and form a regiment for now.
The other four towns also have to form a new garrison. We also have to leave a garrison in Port Cobicus to prevent the natives from rioting. "
Claude walked to the map of the seven colonies on the table and pointed at it. "Actually, I'm most worried that Baron Strathen's incident isn't an isolated incident. The other governors of the colonies are in a similar state. The situation with the local garrisons isn't looking good."
"Look at the map," Claude said, "There are seven overseas colonies in the kingdom. Apart from Balingana, the other six colonies are lined up along the coastline.
To the south of Tyrrsim was the Aduras Colony, which was bordered by an endless primeval forest. No one could enter or leave, so there was no need to worry about the safety of Aduras Colony.
To the north of Tyrrsim is Mormaly, followed by Anfiston. Anfiston connects to Balingana and Robisto.
Balingana is the only inland colony in the kingdom. Most of it is made up of the Albatol Plains.
On top of that, Balingana has the largest river on Nubissia, the Dorinibla River. It's connected to Robisto, so it's very convenient for goods to be transported there.
Balingana and Robisto were connected to Cromwell. Before we set off, we learned that Cromwell had fallen into the hands of the enemy. Currently, the enemy has split into two groups to attack Balingana and Robisto.
According to the ministry of the army, Shiks originally had two corps stationed in their colonies. Together with the local garrisons, they have a corps of their own.
After the war broke out, they sent another corps over. We don't know if there will be any more, but I estimate that the total number of their garrisons should be around 240,000 to 50,000 people. "
Boronik and Sevict nodded. What Claude said was common sense. His estimation of the Shiksan forces was also very accurate.
"Before the war broke out, Shiks asked us for jurisdiction over Cromwell, Balingana and Robisto.
It's not hard to imagine that the reason they started the war was to take over those three colonies.
"Of course, if our garrisons can't even withstand a single blow, I believe Shiks wouldn't mind swallowing all seven of our colonies in one go.
"Our kingdom doesn't wish to start a war with Shiks. Firstly, Shiks is the hegemon of Freia in the north. Secondly, we just ended a five-year war in the east.
"Even though we won, we were exhausted from the war and didn't have the strength to fight Shiks on Nubissia.
"So, we sent Ranger to teach the Shiksan colonial troops a lesson in hopes of forcing a truce.
"As a matter of fact, Shiks' colonies on Nubissia aren't that much smaller than ours, but most of them are located in the interior.
It wasn't until they gained control of the Nasri colonies that they found Port Vebator as a reliable and safe landing point for their troops and supplies.
"So, to Shiks, Port Vebator concerns the safety of all the colonies on Nubissia.
"Perhaps they asked us for Balingana and Robisto to find a second and third safe landing and supply port for themselves.
"So, I believe that apart from the local garrisons of the four Shiksan corps stationed at various places to prevent native riots, the other corps should be split between Port Vebator and the newly occupied colony of Cromwell.
"If that's the case, I believe that they can only use the remaining two corps to attack Balingana and Robisto.
"The capital of Balingana and Robisto are on our side of the Dorinibla River, so the enemy will need to cross the river to launch an attack.
"Port Patres is the capital of Robisto and it used to be the destination of our Dreadnaught fleet. The city has always been heavily defended and it'll be difficult for Shiks to take it down with just one corps.
"If they want to transport heavy siege cannons, it'll take even longer.
"Tribe 131 will set off the day after tomorrow and will reach Anfiston in half a month. The mission given to us by folk command is to set up the first line of defence in Anfiston.
I'll send my scouts to Balingana and Robisto first to figure out the enemy's current movements. Then, I'll look for opportunities to ambush the enemy's smaller units and supply convoys to delay the enemy's advance. "
Bolonik looked at Claude explaining the strategy on the map and understood what he meant. "I understand. Let me stay and reorganize the local garrisons in the rear.
We'll try our best to have Sevict lead Line 034 and the two garrisons of Tyrrsim to the north within half a month to set up a line of defence in Anfiston and complete the mission given to us by folk command. "