I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 367 Chris's Overt Scheme
Nearly seven thousand warhorses and two thousand steeds, all to be delivered before sunset tomorrow…

In the military tent of Retelia, after listening to Lord Cassani's description, Seba remained silent, deep in thought.

Seven thousand warhorses are something the Reteria army can currently produce, and even after today's heavy losses, it is still not a problem for Seba.

Because the captured nobles were not just Seba's problem, their relatives and friends were all in the army. In order to rescue the captives, they would certainly be willing to generously donate their own warhorses to ransom them.

What Seba needed to do was to urge the military nobles to pay the ransom based on their territories, titles, and the compensation he himself had provided.

Because of this incident, Seba now actually has a slight liking for Chris.

Throughout history, wars have involved prisoners of war and ransom negotiations. Due to the feudal system, such ransom negotiations should actually be conducted by the captors sending people to negotiate with the families of the captives.

So what has Chris done now?
He skipped the formalities and instead of contacting the prisoners' families, he went to Seba through an envoy to discuss the ransom issue.

This made Seba feel that Chris respected him... Of course, this was based on the premise that Chris was the victor and Seba was the loser.

The principle that the winner is king and the loser is a bandit is applicable throughout history and across the world.

By doing this, Chris would save a lot of time and tedious negotiations, but he would suffer considerable losses. If he had sent people to negotiate with other nobles separately, Chris could have acquired more than seven thousand warhorses.

For Seba, this incident could enhance his personal prestige among the noble groups and circles that included members of the captured people.

Well, if Chris were to find out about this, he would only tell Seba, "You're overthinking it. I did this simply because I didn't know such a thing existed..." It's that Chinese unification mentality again that misled Chris.

However, even though this would be quite beneficial to Seba, he could not agree to Chris's ransom... delivering the warhorse before sunset by tomorrow was impossible.

Seba was confident that with the current number of horses in the Reteria army, delivering more than seven thousand warhorses would not be a problem.

However, the problem is that while the Retalia army retains its strategic mobility, it loses its battlefield mobility... Simply put, there are many horses, but not enough warhorses to carry knights in a charge.

This would prevent the Leterian army from launching the same cavalry charge as today, reducing their field impact by at least 50%.

Therefore, Seba would never agree to hand over the horse tomorrow... Wait a minute!
Seba thought of a possibility.

Could he be deliberately using this situation to cripple the Leterian army's field combat capabilities?

Chris didn't want the ransom at all, or rather, the ransom was just a pretext.

What he really wanted was for the Reteria army to completely lose its ability to engage in large-scale field battles with Bagnia on the plains; he was clearing obstacles for the next step.

Whether for the sake of the Leterian Empire's strategy to invade Minnesota or to retaliate against the Minnesians' betrayal and deception, these seven thousand warhorses absolutely cannot be handed over.

However, the noble prisoners must be ransomed; otherwise, they will lose their personal reputation... Wait a minute, Chris handed this matter over to me directly. Is he planning to leave me with no other choice?
If that's the case, then Seba really has to admire his opponent's plan... It's a completely unavoidable, open scheme.

Thinking of this, Seba looked up at Lord Cassani, who was looking at him with a nervous gaze, like a prisoner awaiting a judge's verdict.

Seba found it a little strange, but didn't think much of it.

"Lord, I need you to go to the Bagnia camp again now..."

As he spoke, Seba looked up at the outside of the military tent. Although it was already midnight, this matter was too important for Retelia to delay.

"I have agreed to Chris's ransom of seven thousand warhorses, and I can even increase that number to eight thousand, while withdrawing the troops that are besieging Tavitsky. But I have one request: the ransom delivery time can be extended by one month."

We need time now, Lord.

"Understood, Your Highness."

"Go."

Seba instructed.

"We can make some concessions on the number of warhorses and other matters, but we cannot compromise on time. I need you to appease the Bagnians and give us a month."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Kassani was in a very difficult position, but could he really refuse at this moment?
……

"You're here again?"

Chris put down the documents in his hand, rubbed his slightly sore eyes, and looked at the envoy from Reteria who had come again two hours later with a bit of surprise. He couldn't help but raise his hand to check the time on his watch.

Yes, it's exactly 3 a.m.

Damn it, are all the Leterians night owls?

However, the fact that the enemy is so eager shows that we have indeed captured their balls.

Lord Casani.

Chris's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible inquiry.

"It seems your prince's decision... has been very efficient!?"

Lord Casani took a deep breath, trying to maintain the demeanor of an envoy, but the urgency and a hint of pleading in his eyes could not be concealed.

"Your Excellency Chris, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night, but His Highness the Prince takes your conditions very seriously and has given a positive response."

"Oh?"

Chris raised an eyebrow and leaned back slightly, signaling him to continue.

"Your Highness fully agrees with the ransom standards for noble prisoners of war you proposed, including 500 horses for earls, 200 horses for viscounts, 100 horses for barons, 30 horses for knights, and 10 horses for squires, totaling 6820 warhorses." Lord Casani spoke slightly quickly, as if reciting a memorized text.

"Furthermore, Your Highness is willing to add an extra 1,200 horses, bringing the total to 8,000 warhorses, to express the utmost sincerity!"

This number even moved the adjutant behind Chris slightly.

Eight thousand warhorses—this was a fortune enough to equip two powerful heavy cavalry legions—yet Chris showed no joy; instead, his eyes grew even more profound.

Seba's "generosity" suggests that his demands must be even greater.

Sure enough, Lord Casani changed the subject, his tone becoming clearly pleading.

“However, Your Highness, eight thousand warhorses is no small number. Therefore, His Highness humbly requests that you extend the delivery time to one month later.”

He paused, then quickly added, as if to increase his stakes.

"To demonstrate his sincerity, His Highness promises that during the ransom payment period, the Reteria army will immediately cease its siege of Tavitsky and withdraw thirty kilometers. He guarantees that he will not provoke your army during this period."

"At the same time, we will pay the ransom and supplies for the ordinary soldiers within ten days." Lord Casani finished speaking in one breath, looking at Chris with anticipation and nervousness.

Retreat 30 kilometers, halt the siege, and add 1,200 warhorses... The concessions Prince Seba offered were considerable. He only hoped that the other party would agree to this timeframe in consideration of "sincerity."

The tent was completely silent.

Chris fell into thought, speculating about Seba's thoughts and intentions.

A month and eight thousand horses...

Chris's fingers tapped lightly on the table unconsciously.

As I pondered, Seba's intentions gradually became clearer, like a silhouette emerging from a thick fog.

It's not that the other party doesn't want to redeem the nobles, but rather that they need time. What do the Reteria need a month to do?
The allure of eight thousand warhorses was immense, and the gestures of retreat and truce were quite "sincere," but this precisely exposed Seba's urgency and...insecurity.

Is this urgency a pretense, or a predicament that is difficult to avoid in reality?

Does he need this month to consolidate the rear and to call for reinforcements?
No, that doesn't seem likely. If that were the case, he should have been more discreet, rather than deliberately retreating and revealing his intentions.

Chris's gaze fell on Lord Casani's face, where anxiety was barely concealed yet still evident.

Perhaps he can get the answer from the messenger.

Lord Casani,

Chris's voice broke the silence, calm and unchanging, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Eight thousand warhorses, retreated thirty kilometers, and stopped the siege... Prince Seba's 'sincerity' is indeed considerable."

Lord Casani felt a tightness in his chest and held his breath.

"but……"

Chris changed the subject.

"A month is too long. The battlefield is ever-changing; a lot can happen in a month. Therefore, I would like to know why Prince Seba needs a month."

Chris laughed, a laugh that, in Kassani's eyes, sounded like a devil's mockery. He leaned forward slightly, his voice lower, yet carrying an irresistible allure:
"Your Excellency, you are a wise man and a good father. I have only just learned of a very unfortunate incident... Edmund Hohenzollern, a promising young man, should not be in this filthy POW camp, although I assure you that the medical conditions in the camp are excellent."

However, a month is still too long, so…

Lord Cassani held his breath. He had guessed this would happen after he left the Bagnian camp. He had prepared himself mentally before going to the prisoner-of-war camp, not wanting to reveal to the enemy that his son had also been captured.

However, when Kassani was in extreme despair, he suddenly saw hope and completely lost control of himself.

Chris continued in his steady yet penetrating voice.

“I appreciate your honesty and your responsibility as a father. So, to show my sincerity and to allow you to return to Prince Seba with peace of mind… I can make an exception and let you take Edmund away now.”

"Wha...what?"

Lord Casani looked up abruptly, staring at Chris in disbelief, thinking he had misheard.

"Yes, now."

Chris nodded firmly, his tone carrying a peculiar "magnanimity".

"You just need to tell me, what is Seba's real goal in buying this month?"

Chris's voice was like the devil's whisper, pounding on Lord Casani's fragile nerves.

“Tell me these things that are not secrets, and are even tacitly known among the high command in your military, and you can leave immediately with your perfectly healthy son.”

I think he can receive better treatment at the camp in Retalia. As for the ransom and the subsequent delivery time... we can discuss that later. This deal is very worthwhile for you, isn't it?

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze.

Lord Cassani trembled slightly, torn between two conflicting emotions. On one hand, there were the state's secrets and Prince Seba's trust; on the other, his son's life and the freedom within his grasp.

Chris's offer was like the tongue of a viper, precisely licking at his deepest fears and desires. And what the other party said was true... the royal family's goal was the saltpeter mine, and the nobles' goal was the land; this was not a top secret among the military's high command.

His Highness Seba's plan to retaliate against the Minieses is an open secret.

Looking into Chris's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, Lord Casani's last line of defense crumbled.

He closed his eyes, took a painful deep breath, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a resigned despair and a resolute determination for his son.

"...You guessed right, Mr. Chris."

Lord Casani's voice was hoarse and low, filled with endless weariness.

"Our main purpose in attacking the Kingdom of Minicia this time is to find the Minicians' saltpeter mines, which are the key to making gunpowder, while the nobles crave the fertile lands of southern Minicia."

He paused for a moment, as if he had used up all his strength.

"Half a month ago, the Minisians sent envoys. I don't know exactly what they discussed with the prince. I only know that after the negotiations, His Highness ordered his troops to prepare to withdraw from the province of Dur.

It will take a month now, probably because the prince wants revenge on the Miniese.

Oh.

Lord Cassani's words echoed in the tent, carrying a deliberate, official ambiguity, yet precisely pointing to the core issue.

He did not directly acknowledge Seba's revenge plan, but cleverly outlined the fundamental motives behind the Reteria invasion—nitrate mines and land—and "inadvertently" revealed a key time point... After the arrival of the Minisian envoy, Prince Seba ordered preparations to be made to withdraw from the province of Dur.

This seems to say nothing, but in reality it says everything.

Chris's amusement deepened. What a cunning old fox, trying to save his son while preserving his own "loyalty" as an envoy.

He precisely controlled the "degree" of leakage, only providing information that was not top secret within the Retalian army, and might even be semi-public.

The core intention of "Seba's impending revenge on Minicia" is cleverly hidden behind the open goal of "finding nitrate mines" and the seemingly contradictory action of "withdrawing from the Dur province".

This self-deceiving rhetoric, in Chris's eyes, became the clearest form of honesty.

(End of this chapter)