Chapter 480: Chapter 421: Aren’t the Money and Men Right in Front of You? No Loyalty? Then Be Made Loyal
Agate turned to look at his former superior. “Regardless, I will faithfully convey the Lord of Vengeful’s goodwill to Archbishop Zeka.”
He saw Lu Jia and the head of the Military Affairs Department enter.
Reinhardt lowered his voice. “Enough about that. How is he doing?”
“Everything is going smoothly.”
Agate offered no further response.
The conference hall was abuzz with people. Whether they were Local Lords in person or the representatives they had sent, everyone wore an exceptionally grim expression, their minds heavy with worry.
After meeting with the head of the Military Affairs Department.
In contrast to the arrogance he’d shown by ignoring the local Governor, Cateline’s attitude was far more humble now that he was before Reinhardt and Agate.
Local Governors held power due to their bloodlines and political standing. The two men before him, however, *were* power itself.
Cateline bowed his head slightly in greeting.
“Lord of Vengeful.”
The two men behind him bowed their heads as well.
Even though Cateline had served for many years, trading blood and sacrifice for his current station and power, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of apprehension upon meeting the Lord of Vengeful in the flesh for the first time.
In the Military Affairs Department, and indeed across all the major centers of power in the Iberian World, many had already come to accept a simple fact: Reinhardt, the Lord of Vengeful, was one of the titans of the Imperial Administrative Region.
It wasn’t just a minor director like him; even the Chief of the Administrative Court and the Commander of the Defense Army had to show this man the utmost respect.
Lu Jia made the introduction. “My Lord, this is the director of the Rebel Suppression War Command Hall, Cateline.”
After brief pleasantries, Cateline, representing the Military Affairs Department, immediately stated his position to Reinhardt.
“…We all want to end this farce as quickly as possible. But if we apply too much pressure, I’m afraid a good number of them will go over to Cicero’s side. Then things will get even more complicated.”
“Go over to them?”
Reinhardt glanced at the imposing Imperial officer before him. “Is it the position of the Military Affairs Department that we should compromise and capitulate to these traitors?”
Confronted by the Lord of Vengeful’s imposing presence, Cateline’s heart sank. A drop of cold sweat slid down his brow as he replied, “It’s not that, my lord. You may not be aware of just how strained the Administrative Region’s military budget is.
Too many soldiers have been killed or wounded on the Verne Front Line. Even among the officially recognized dead, more than two-thirds of their families haven’t received their pensions.
It’s become common for some front-line units to go a month without resupply.
Golden City may have raised the commercial tax by 5%, but it’s a drop in the bucket. Now, more and more Local Lords are refusing to pay taxes. Even when the Ministry of Internal Affairs sends its Tax Collection Ships, they just drag their feet for as long as possible.
They’re all betting we can’t win the war at the Verne Front Line.”
At the mention of tax collection, Cateline’s tone turned grave, and his expression grew frighteningly dark.
If the Great Rebellion hadn’t completely upended the Empire’s administrative and military structures, these Local Lords wouldn’t dare refuse to pay their taxes, not even if you gave them a hundred times the courage.
In the past…
‘Refusing to pay taxes?’
‘An entire Imperial Knight Battle Group would have been at your gates in an instant!’
They were certain the war on the Verne Front Line had drained the Administrative Region of any troops that could be spared to deal with them. That was why they were so brazen, even secretly forming alliances to resist taxation.
The Administrative Region’s Tithing was based on the Old Empire’s tax system.
In addition to resources and wealth, new recruits and population were also part of the Tithe.
Failure to collect the Tithe meant that, on top of lacking funds and food, the front line couldn’t receive sufficient reinforcements.
In response to Cateline’s concerns, Reinhardt’s gaze swept over the many lords and representatives in attendance. “Look behind you,” he said coldly. “Aren’t the money and men the Military Affairs Department needs right before your eyes?”
Cateline turned to look behind him. He didn’t see any money, but he certainly saw plenty of people.
In the vast, circular conference hall, hundreds of Local Lords and Knight Warlords were still filing in, searching for their seats.
At that moment, Cateline visibly froze. His pupils contracted slightly. It wasn’t just him; even the superiors who had sent him would never have imagined that the Lord of Vengeful would target the Local Lords.
It wasn’t just him.
The two Adjutants behind him also paled slightly.
The Military Affairs Department had, of course, considered moving against the Local Lords, but such a thing was no small matter. Even the Grand Governor had failed to bring them to heel after twenty years of effort.
Cateline’s left hand began to tremble uncontrollably. Perhaps it was from the immense pressure, or perhaps the old bullet wound in his head was flaring up. His brow furrowed deeply.
“My Lord, there are over two thousand Local Lords in the Administrative Region. Fewer than a third of them took part in the Cyrenaica rebellion. If we move against them, I fear it will incite rebellions elsewhere.
Furthermore, Governor Cicero has been in secret contact with them…”
Reinhardt ignored Cateline’s concerns. “You’re afraid,” he said coldly.
“I…”
The short reply left Cateline speechless.
Just then, a voice spoke in his ear via Spiritual Energy transmission: “This is Commander of Vengeful Koller. Inform the Military Affairs Department that the Lord of Vengeful is giving you seventy-two Holy City standard hours. Use that time to calculate the materiel and troop shortfalls for the Verne Front Line. Compile a report and submit it.”
Hearing this voice, Cateline’s expression changed. He immediately snapped to attention and replied, “Lord Koller!”
He clearly knew Koller.
“Don’t ask why. We have already arranged everything. If you exceed seventy-two hours, I will personally visit the Military Affairs Department and hold the Chief of your Administrative Court accountable.
And when that happens, I worry his head alone won’t be enough to answer for such a massive failure.”
Koller had served in the Grand Governor’s Think Tank Group for many years. Over those two decades, he had recommended many of the officials in the Military Affairs Department and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for promotion to the Grand Governor.
This was especially true for the Military Affairs Department, where many in the high command were his former subordinates from his time as Chief of Staff.
Though Koller never spoke of these matters, his influence and authority within the Administrative Region Military Affairs Department far surpassed anyone’s imagination.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Cateline gave Reinhardt a slight bow, then turned and strode briskly out of the hall.
As the Supreme Commander of the rebel suppression war, Reinhardt would not have called a closed-door meeting like this on a mere whim.
On the contrary, the real purpose of the forty-eight-hour notice was to give himself time to make arrangements and maneuvers.
After the meeting was announced.
Reinhardt had already secretly deployed forty Silencers via Urus. They had assembled within thirty-six hours and covertly boarded the private vessels of the most powerful and defiant Local Lords.
Their mission was to monitor their every move and, if necessary, eliminate these lords who defied the Administrative Region and plotted a second rebellion.
Furthermore.
After the main rebel suppression army arrived in Cyrenaica, the Fourth Fleet had already blockaded near-orbital space.
The area around the closed-door meeting hall was secured by Stearns and the Vengeful Angels Second Company—one hundred battle-hardened Imperial Knights.
He had waited until this moment to have Koller issue the real orders to the Military Affairs Department for a simple reason: Reinhardt had every reason to believe the department was crawling with enemy spies.
If his plans had leaked, the rebels attending the meeting would have learned his intentions and prepared countermeasures.
But now…
Once they stepped into this conference hall, what they said and did would no longer be up to them.
As for why he had the Military Affairs Department calculate a list of needed supplies and troops, the reason was also simple: Reinhardt planned to make these Local Lords share the burden of supplying the front line.
In other words, they would be paying to save their own lives.
Any Local Lord who voluntarily pledged allegiance to the Emperor and received his proof of Loyalty would not only be spared by Reinhardt but would also receive a commendation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This would praise their support for the Verne Front Line, their great and selfless spirit, and their absolute Loyalty to the Empire and the Great Emperor.
And if they refused to be loyal…
They would be made loyal.