An envoy’s work isn’t simply to arrive carrying a document, deliver it, and be done.
He must stay there and send as much information as possible back to his homeland.
There is a reason diplomats are called white spies.
That is also why I have been on the eastern grasslands for more than half a year.
I have to take back as much as possible. I have to send as much as possible.
And as a bonus, it would be best to secure a few things that only I can.
So that the channel through me becomes the most effective conclusion.
How great a benefit it is to have one area of expertise.
Even in my previous life, they said one specialized trade could feed you for a lifetime.
‘I can’t live off only eastern diplomacy forever, though.’
While taking charge of the executive office of the National Tax Service, I must also influence the flow of money.
If possible, be a jack-of-all-trades. If not, become an expert in at least a few areas.
That is the shortcut to raising my value enough that people will come begging to take me in.
“Chief. This is news that came in from the Empire.”
Of course, we are not always the only ones sending information to the Empire.
Conversely, we receive information from the Empire and grasp the situation there as well.
At the same time, information that can be disclosed is handed over to the Urut tribe as a gift.
This was all approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so there is no problem.
They know we are digging up information here, so honestly, they would be the ones losing out otherwise.
So it is only right to tell them news from the Empire as well and give them at least some compensation.
Was it not long after the envoy delegation arrived at the Urut tribe?
The first piece of news from the Empire was that the Fifth Prince had gone west.
I thought he had gone to the frontier because flames of rebellion had risen there.
But after waiting a little longer, I heard that was not it—he had headed to the kingdoms.
Apparently, he went to obtain their promise that they would not aid the rebel forces.
‘That absolutely won’t be easy.’
Since it was none other than the Fifth Prince, I thought he must have some method.
Even so, the kingdoms were not fools, and they would know this was the best opportunity.
There are still quite a few people in the western frontier who support Condor.
If they split them off, a buffer zone would be created between the kingdoms and the Empire.
They might even be able to make good use of them and control them as puppets.
At the very least, it could greatly help sap the Empire’s strength.
“…And yet he pulled this off?”
The Fifth Prince had ultimately succeeded in negotiations with the kingdoms.
He had obtained their promise not to intervene in the western frontier rebellion.
The rebel forces, who had been hoping for their help, panicked and floundered.
Meanwhile, not all the frontier regions had turned against the Empire, so they ended up divided among themselves.
In the end, they betrayed one another on their own and slaughtered the ringleaders.
After that, they sent those heads to the imperial capital and bared their bellies, begging for mercy.
Thanks to that, the Empire resolved the situation before even moving its army.
From what I heard, the Seventh Prince had been preparing to march, but it was all for nothing.
The Eighth Prince’s faction failed to prove any notable ability.
On the other hand, the Fifth Prince had once again proven his capabilities.
As if shouting that he was the one who should become Crown Prince.
“They say there has been a lot of talk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because of that incident.”
“For example?”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was originally on the Chancellor’s side. But after hearing of His Highness the Fifth Prince’s achievements this time, a great many people have begun leaning toward the Fifth Prince.”
“Mm.”
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has completely split from the Chancellor and should be seen as being on the Fifth Prince’s side.
The Ministry of Finance will soon have my godfather as its minister, and my godfather is wary of the Chancellor.
In other words, the Ministry of Finance is also ready to support the Fifth Prince at any time.
And now even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which should originally have been considered the Chancellor’s side, is wavering.
‘The military authority appears to be in the Seventh Prince’s hands for now, but… who knows about the commanders beneath him?’
If you look into it, they too have deep ties to the princes born of the first wife.
Some of them are even bound by blood and belong to a firm allied faction.
The Chancellor is trying by any means to turn them toward the Eighth Prince, but who knows.
If not for their loyalty to the Founding Emperor, they would have turned long ago.
In truth, it would be right to see even that as being in a precarious state.
The pretext used to strike down the existing princes can be used on them as well.
What would they think, watching those who rendered service in the founding of the nation being pushed aside?
No matter how strong their loyalty is, their own survival and their family’s survival are a different matter.
“…Wait. Wait a moment.”
Amid that, an ominous piece of information was written clearly below.
“Her Majesty the Empress is critically ill?”
“Yes, Chief. This also took quite some time to arrive, so…”
For the Eighth Prince, the Empress is an existence that must absolutely be there.
Considering how powerful the legitimacy granted by the name of Empress is.
The reason the princes cannot raise their voices despite their many complaints.
For that Empress to now be on the verge of death is by no means good.
‘This is a little dangerous….’
The Eighth Prince’s faction may be small, but it will not remain that way forever.
If the Eighth Prince grows older and begins proving himself.
Even if not now, the balance may change later.
There is no way the Fifth Prince’s side does not know this.
If they are going to make a move, they must proceed as quickly as possible.
The Empress’s death will become one of the decisive factors.
‘Of course, as long as the Founding Emperor holds firm, it’s impossible… But after sending off two wives before him. And with him already fairly old. The key question is whether he will truly remain fine.’
They say losing a spouse is one of the worst stresses a person can experience.
If he suffers that twice, even the Founding Emperor would find it difficult.
The Founding Emperor’s body is sturdy. But his mind may not be.
The stress caused by a spouse’s death will certainly have an effect.
“And because of the materials you sent this time, not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but the entire imperial administration is showing great expectations.”
“Is that so?”
“You have gone beyond simply establishing friendly ties with the Urut tribe and formed a sworn-ally relationship. On top of that, you have built a certain degree of trust with the surrounding tribes as well, creating room to at least hold talks even if something happens. All of this is the result of your efforts as you visited each tribe, Chief.”
To be precise, it is the result of enthusiastically beating and getting beaten by the warriors of each tribe.
It is fortunate that, unlike the knights of the Empire, they do not take defeat as humiliation or dishonor.
If they did, they would surely have been fuming about revenge or whatever right away.
If I had gone to visit, they might have thought I was mocking them and tried to kill me.
But the warriors of the grasslands place the victor’s rights above defeat.
If they were spared, they judge it not as humiliation, but as the victor rightfully exercising his rights.
Because they survived like that, they gain another chance to duel again later.
We fought as wolves of the grasslands. If so, we became the same wolves.
A wolf is a friend. A friend is a guest. A guest is welcomed, fed, and given drink.
With this simple yet important thing, I was able to raise my position.
“They say there was even talk that it would be better to entrust all future matters regarding the eastern grassland tribes to you, Chief.”
“Wouldn’t the people at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs feel slighted if they heard that?”
“Well. Considering it takes over two whole months just to get here, and that once you arrive you have to stay here at least half a year, I think they would rather be grateful.”
Good grief. What kind of diplomats are they if they dislike that kind of work?
It is fine to go to the kingdoms, but not fine to dislike the grassland tribes, you bastards.
Plenty of people lived drunk on their own greatness and ended up gone, you know? Do you want a taste of Mongolia?
“Come to think of it, what happened with that marriage arrangement?”
“How do you even know about that?”
“The Urut warriors told me as they passed by. They said Beoilleo has marked you, Chief, as his son-in-law. At first, the warriors were displeased, but after watching you fight the warriors of the surrounding tribes, they changed their minds. Along with the words that a wolf of the Empire is still a wolf!”
As it is, I am already troubled because Arte keeps coming to my tent.
She keeps asking whether I truly have no intention of embracing her, and it is wearing me out.
A peerless beauty with exotic features keeps attacking me head-on.
When I recall why I came here, I must not waver.
Even my marriage must be carried out for profit and political intent.
“Let’s stop talking about that part.”
“Isn’t it something even better for improving relations with the grassland tribes?”
“I’m embarrassed. That’s why. Embarrassed.”
“Ah… Yes. I apologize, Chief.”
When I emphasized the word embarrassed, he backed off on his own.
“Ah, and. Chief. This is something written at the end.”
“Is there something else?”
“They are asking when you will return. They say that even if not for personnel like us, you, Chief, should return to the Empire if possible.”
Only me? They are singling me out and saying that at least I should return?
The first thought that came to me was worry that something had happened to my family.
But along with news from the Empire, I have also been receiving separate news about my family.
There was nothing particularly worrying in what my uncle and aunt sent.
Even if something had occurred, if that were the case, they would have written the reason there.
They did not explain the reason and simply told me to hurry back.
At present, I am someone who has gained quite a bit of popularity among the eastern grassland tribes.
I have become the Imperial citizen with the most influence here after the Founding Emperor.
It is not an enormous achievement, but it is true that I have accomplished something fairly remarkable.
This is not self-praise, but an objectively viewed diplomatic achievement.
‘And they are calling someone like me back to the Empire.’
The Empress is critically ill. Perhaps she may die in the near future.
The Fifth Prince has once again succeeded in proving his capabilities.
There is a possibility that even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will fall, following the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Finance.
‘No way.’
If, at a time like this, they are trying to attach me somehow to the Eighth Prince’s side.
The only thing that can bury the matter in the west is achievements in the east.
If it is me, the one who achieved a major improvement in relations with the grassland tribes, it is possible.
If someone like me supports the Eighth Prince, it would become quite a significant force.
‘Does this mean they intend to force through the appointment of the Crown Prince soon?’
Though they say the Eighth Prince’s faction and the Fifth Prince’s faction are currently fighting.
The moment the Founding Emperor appoints the Crown Prince, everything ends.
The Eighth Prince’s faction will gain strength, and conversely, the Fifth Prince’s faction will collapse.
Since the current balance of power is dangerous, they intend to simply bring it to an end.
“If I go back, I may end up meeting His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Chief?”
Though whether that Crown Prince position will be maintained well is unknown.
“How much work do we have left to do here?”
“The organization of information on the tribes near the border is in its final stage. However, beyond that—the tribes at the center of the grasslands—are still only in the early stages…”
Damn it. It is too regrettable to fold things up right now. It is fairly important information.
At present, there are no tribes near the border that can threaten the Urut tribe.
But once you go to the center of the grasslands, the story becomes completely different.
If they were to form even a state, it would be a catastrophe from the Empire’s perspective.
That is why we have been slowly gathering information on that side as well….
“For now, let’s pick up the pace. It’s not as if we can come here whenever we want. The situation may suddenly change at any moment. Even if we leave when the time comes, we must carry out as much of our mission as possible before we go.”
“Understood.”
But as if to render such efforts meaningless, the next pieces of news came in one after another at two-week intervals.
In the end, the appointment of the Crown Prince had been forced through, and the Eighth Prince had taken that position.
And perhaps because her tension had snapped the moment she saw that, the Empress had died.