The theatre had decided to build a town on the border with the nikancha nation to serve as a market for all sorts of trade with the nikancha. It would become a bridgehead for all sorts of goods produced by the theatre to be sold to the nikancha nation.
The end of the colonial war forced the factories established by the theatre to change their target of production from military to civilian use.
The theatre's logistics department greatly reduced their military orders and also had to find a trade route for their products.
That was also the reason Skri had his eyes on the nikancha nation. As a trusted friend of the nikancha, Borkal was the most suitable person to lead the project.
Rubiwell wanted to rebuild his family's trading company in the colonies, but he was a newcomer and didn't have many business connections in the theatre, so it was difficult for him to do so.
The Wild Bull Firm he was in charge of in the past mostly used the war theatre's name to carry out all sorts of scams and smuggling activities. It was a way for the war theatre's intelligence department to cover up their own secret activities, so it didn't provide much help to his family's business.
Even though Borkal had promised Rubiwell that his family's trading company could get a share of the profits from the trade with the nikancha, it would take at least half a year for Borkal and the nikancha to reach an agreement.
Rubiwell also had to open a few production workshops to house the families of his family's employees and provide goods for his own trading company.
If Eriksson's Blacksail pirates came looking for him, Claude would agree to trade arms with them.
They had captured a lot of Shiksan equipment anyway. Even if they sold some of it to the officials in Cape Loducus, most of it was stored in the various warehouses in the theatre.
Claude didn't mind selling some weapons to Eriksson so that his Blacksail Pirates could maintain the safety of the war theatre for some time. At the same time, the war theatre would be able to make up for the military expenses incurred during the war.
But it seemed that Eriksson wouldn't be able to trade with the war theatre in the near future. Claude estimated that they would return to their base and set sail to pillage the kingdom's population and wealth before transporting them back to the war theatre to trade. The round trip would take at least two months and the war theatre would have plenty of time to prepare.
After discussing it with Bolonik and Skri, Claude decided to set the location of the trade at the burnt fishing town.
The Shiksans' unexpected landing point made Claude and the others realise that the fishing town could be turned into a deepwater port.
However, the rebuilding of the fishing port town required a complete sea defense system. At the same time, they also needed to deploy a reliable local garrison force so that the war zone command could be assured of the vital areas nearby.
After all, it would take two to three days to reach Lanu from Port Patres in Robisto.
On the other hand, the journey from Port Patres to the fishing town would only take a little more than two hours. From the fishing town to Lanu, it would only take half a day's journey. That would save them two days. War zone command couldn't refuse such a convenience.
Claude planned to set the trading point with Eriksson's Blacksail Pirates in the fishing town. The one who would handle it would naturally be Wild Bull Trading, who was willing to take the blame for the war theatre.
If Borkal was done with the nikancha, he would be in charge of the trade.
If he didn't return, Claude planned to let Rubinwell take over.
The war theatre, on the other hand, would be able to deduce the true strength of the Blacksail Pirates based on the amount of goods traded with Eriksson.
The only thing that gave Bolonik and Claude a headache was that the war theatre couldn't find a commander in charge of the patrol fleet.
It wasn't that there weren't any excellent naval talents in the war zone. For example, the smugglers who were willing to work for the war zone were all excellent candidates for captains, but they couldn't make the war zone feel at ease handing over the entire fleet to them.
In any case, this was the era of sailing warships. Naval battles were nothing more than cannon bombardment from afar, sinking or forcing enemy ships to land, while close combat was fought with all sorts of weapons. Whoever had more men would have a higher chance of winning.
As long as they learned those two points, as well as tactics such as taking a detour, seizing cannons, preemptive strikes, and surrounding the enemy at sea, they would be able to form a basic fighting force on the sea.
Originally, the most suitable candidate to lead the fleet should have been Eiblont. Bolonik couldn't leave his position as the acting commander-in-chief of the war theatre. Claude, on the other hand, was in charge of the deployment, reorganization, supervision, and training of the two corps and the local garrisons, so he couldn't be a fleet commander.
Birkin was stationed at Cape Loducus. As for Skri, he was the head of logistics and wasn't suited to lead troops.
Only Eiblont, as the chief of staff of Thundercrash, was Claude's assistant.
All he did was carry out the various missions Claude had arranged.
However, these missions could be carried out by the officers under him and didn't need to be conveyed through him.
So, Bolonik decided to let Eiblont be the commander of the fleet and be in charge of organizing and organizing the fleet.
In the end, he was firmly rejected by Eiblont.
General Eiblont refused without hesitation, expressing that he would rather disobey orders than become a fleet commander.
The reason was simple. He was afraid of water and didn't know how to swim.
Sitting on a ship for a long period of time would cause him to get seasick. Instead of letting him be the commander of the fleet, he might as well just burn the entire fleet down. That way, he would be able to reduce the number of casualties for the war theatre.
Well, they couldn't let someone who was afraid of water, couldn't swim, and had seasickness become a fleet commander. It was difficult to choose a fleet commander.
Not only did Bolonik and Claude put in the effort, even Skri joined in the fun.
However, the candidate he proposed wasn't all that impressive. The biggest problem was that he couldn't convince the people and the war theatre of his loyalty.
The captains of smugglers were brave and fierce. They could fight one against ten in taverns and calmly shake off pirates when they encountered them at sea.
However, piloting a ship and commanding a fleet were two different things. Fleets were not defensive in nature, and the goal of all naval fleets was to attack.
They didn't have to think about how to escape from pirates. Instead, they had to think about how to wipe them out with the least amount of casualties.
At that moment, Claude received a letter from Colonel Moriad of Thundercrash's 1st Line 1302 in Port Vebator.
Moriad said in the letter that he had wanted to join Fearless since he was young and become a naval soldier. However, due to his low status in the family, he wasn't allowed to study in the royal naval academy.
After he grew up, he joined the army, and by a freak combination of factors, he gained his current status.
Now that he heard that the war theatre was building an ocean-going fleet, he wanted to ask Claude to transfer him to the fleet. Even if he was just an intern captain, he would still be able to fulfill his childhood dream of roaming the seas. He blabbered on and on.
Hmm?
Claude's face darkened when he read the letter. What was Moriad trying to do? Why would he suddenly want to transfer to the fleet?
Who would believe his childhood dream? He was already a colonel of the kingdom's army. If he hadn't been cut off from the mainland, he would've been promoted to major-general long ago.
Now that he wasn't a commander and wanted to become a probationary captain, was he out of his mind?
A messenger hawk told Moriad to appear in front of him half a month later.
Claude gestured for his adjutant, Mason Hughes, to stand guard at the door. Ignoring Moriad's dusty appearance, he slammed the letter on the table and asked what was going on.
Moriad replied with a bitter smile. Boss, him going to the fleet was the result of everyone's discussion. He just lost by drawing lots.
They had met Colonel Borkal in Port Vebator on an errand in the Loki Mountains and learned of their journey to the royal capital as well as Stellin XI's actions.
Now that the war theatre had won against Shiks and ended the colonial war, the royal capital would soon send an emissary to take over the war theatre.
There were still four generals in the war theatre and nobody would believe that they would go against the emissary from the royal capital.
After all, there were very few rebellious generals in Aueras' 300 years of existence. The royal family's prestige was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
So, after some discussion, everyone felt that they should take control of the fleet and leave a path of retreat for Claude and the others. At worst, they could just sail out to sea and occupy an island as pirates.
The end of the colonial war meant that they wouldn't be of much use in Thundercrash. When the emissary arrived, they might even disband the corps.
The soldiers didn't mind it too much. Their families and relatives had already moved to the colonies and were given private land by the war theatre. They would have a good future as farmers and ranchers.
But Berklin, Moriad and the others weren't willing to just let the emissary do whatever he wanted. That was why they came up with a strategy to take control of the fleet when they were powerless to resist. They sent all the soldiers loyal to Claude into the fleet so that they could bring their families away when the situation in the war theatre changed. They wouldn't have to bear the wrath of the emissary.
Claude was rather touched. He didn't think that his lackeys would be so considerate. However, their methods were a little too passive. They only knew how to run and leave.
After a moment of silence, he asked Moriad, "Are we really going to transfer to the fleet?"
Moriad expressed his affirmation without hesitation.
Claude sighed. "How about this? You'll temporarily take over as the commanding officer of the fleet. You'll be in charge of the formation and reorganization of the fleet. Pick the necessary personnel from Thundercrash and Monolith.
Remember, all suitable personnel must be loyal to the city. As for piloting the ships and other skills, you can learn from the captive Shiksan marines. The faster they learn, the better. That way, you'll be closer to your release. "
With Claude's guarantee, Moriad became the acting commanding officer of the fleet. Whether he could get rid of that title would depend on the results of his reorganization of the fleet.
The theatre gave him three months to complete the selection of the fleet's personnel. Within half a year, he would be able to get the entire fleet organized and go on a tour of the ocean.
After spending a few days dealing with the cruising fleet, Claude returned to HQ with Borkal's report on the journey to the royal capital to meet with Stellin XI. He summoned the guards who followed Borkal back to the kingdom and had them recount everything they saw and heard along the way to the royal capital, as well as their fight against the bandits. He then had them compile the details into a travel journal and have it published in the newspapers of the vassal territories. After some time, the book would be published and distributed to all the garrisoned troops.
Skri tacitly cooperated with Claude and soon, the people of the colonies learned of the tragedy that happened in the kingdom. Newspapers sold like crazy and taverns would hear people denouncing Stellin XI's ridiculous actions. Morale wavered and they began to doubt the royal capital's promise of a special envoy to reward the soldiers who participated in the colonial war.
Bolonik was so angry that he barged into Claude's office with a newspaper in hand and asked him what he was trying to do.
Claude calmly told him that he wanted the people of the colonies to know the truth and understand the tragedy that happened in the kingdom.
Only with comparison would they understand how much the war theatre had paid for their peaceful lives. Humans had to learn to be grateful.
"But … But you're spreading our dirty linen!
Publish these tragedies on the kingdom's mainland in the newspapers and let the people in the colonies comment on the king's wrongdoings. This will soon become the new crimes of the generals in these theatres.
When the articles in the newspapers reach the colonies on the west coast, His Majesty will become a laughing stock! This is treason! "Bolonik roared.
Claude stared at Bolonik in disappointment. "I know what you're thinking. You're too selfish and only care about your own reputation. You've never thought about the people of the colonies or the soldiers who sacrificed so much for the war theatre.
You only want to wait for the kingdom's envoy to come and hand over your power and responsibilities. That way, no matter how much you suffer, you'll be able to leave a good name in the history books of the kingdom. "
Bam!
Claude slammed his palm on the table and pointed at Bolonik with an even louder voice. "You're going to hide the truth just like that?
Do you think His Majesty's actions are something you can hide?
In a few months, we won't even need to announce it and the other nations on Freia will start laughing about our new king!
I'd rather the people of our colony know what's going on than be clueless and clueless about it!
Also, who do you think the kingdom's envoy will be? Just think about what our new king said to Colonel Borkal. He doesn't care if we're fighting a colonial war with Shiks. All he wants is the wealth of the colonies to satisfy his extravagant lifestyle. Do you know how many tragedies will happen if we don't tell the people the truth?
When you inspect the troops, tell them that all the soldiers who contribute to the colonial war will be promoted and rewarded when the kingdom's envoy arrives.
You know it's impossible, so why lie to them?
When the envoy really arrives, you can give up your power and responsibilities and relax.
But what about the soldiers who were deceived by your promises? The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. When they mutiny out of disappointment, do you know how much damage the war theatre will suffer?
Why did I publish the report of Colonel Borkal and his party's journey to the capital to meet the new king? It was to warn the people of the colony and our soldiers that they shouldn't place too much hope in the arrival of the kingdom's envoy!
That's the only way we'll be able to control ourselves when the envoy arrives and avoid a regrettable outcome.
As the acting commander-in-chief, I hope you can think more about the people of the colony and our brave soldiers instead of just worrying about your own reputation! "
Bolonik came in a fit of rage, only to be scolded by Claude. He had nothing to say and could only return in shame.
During that period, Bolonik had been delaying many matters in theatre command like Claude said. He wasn't willing to make decisions on his own.
He was preparing to hand over his authority and responsibilities to the envoy once he arrived so that he wouldn't have to worry about such trivial matters.
Claude, on the other hand, was more proactive and took over those matters and passed down orders in his own name.
Both General Skrit and Claude knew that Bolonik wanted to relinquish his authority because he believed that the kingdom's envoy would arrive soon.
He wasn't willing to make decisions on small matters, but the important ones were to maintain the stability of the colony's troops and colonies until the day he handed over his authority and responsibilities.
That was why Bolonik announced to Claude that Colonel Borkal had returned to the royal capital to meet with Stellin XI. He was furious and dissatisfied that it would bring unrest and unrest to the colony.
However, he didn't think that Claude wouldn't give him any face and exposed his thoughts, calling him a selfish liar who only cared about his own reputation.
After being scolded by Claude, Bolonik became bedridden and no longer came to theatre command.