People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

"You already knew about Grand Prince Baikal's plan in advance, while the other side was completely unaware of your and the Emperor's schemes. This is the fourth advantage."

"With these four victories, Lord Ernst, even if Grand Duke Baikal is strong, there's nothing to fear, right?"

Ernst nodded in deep agreement.

Kal'tsit makes a good point; this is definitely something we can do.

What he was most worried about wasn't whether he would be in danger. After all, while he might not have much fighting ability, it was unlikely that he would have absolutely no fighting ability.

He was covered in a bunch of "eyes" from head to toe, almost turning into a demonic pillar. He himself had no idea how many people might be "idle" and secretly watching him while he was speaking.

"People" may be human, or they may not even be human, but they are definitely not weak.

It would be a little difficult to hurt him.

What he was actually considering was the impact.

Would there be any political risks involved in helping the Ursus Emperor to lure out Ursus rebels? How would the Ursus people view this?

Now, after listening to the analyses of Fyodor, Witt, and Kelsey, Ernst was certain.

They'll watch and eat their fill of gossip.

The political sensitivity of the Ursus people is somewhat mysterious; most likely, they will simply not react at all.

Then do it!

The following afternoon, Ernst visited Speaker Witte. That evening, Ernst was invited to the palace for the second time.

Fedor made a solemn promise:

"Prime Minister Ernst, I will not keep this honor to myself!"

On the other hand, contrary to Kal'tsit's analysis, Grand Duke Baikal did not actually do nothing.

He is doing something very important.

The plan to have Ernst die in Chernobog, during the "infected riots," so that Ursus's relations with other countries would break down and return to war, was a good one, but it was not so easy to execute.

Chernobog is now a large city; due to its trade with Lungmen, it could even be considered the largest city on the Yanwu border, with a permanent population of several million. Although Marquis Boris was terrified by the "purge" of years past, he was not an incompetent man. The city's security is quite good.

Of the Ursus police, military police, city garrison, and the 3rd Army stationed near the city, Grand Duke Baikal could only truly control the 3rd Army.

But he couldn't just order the Third Army to attack the city, could he?

A "well-trained, disciplined, and well-equipped" "infected army" has invaded Chernobog and caused a riot in the city? That's a bit too scary. If we were to report this to the Emperor, whether he would believe us or not would be a big question mark.

If he doesn't believe it, even a fool could figure out whose unit this is most likely to be. How will he explain it then?

If he couldn't explain it, the emperor would have to send the central army group to ask him for a physical explanation.

If he believes that, then the problem is even bigger. Infected people actually have such capabilities, and they actually dare to launch a full-scale attack on a mobile city? These are no ordinary thugs; we must strike hard! Watch me send the Central Army Group to send them all to their doom!

At that time, we can use the pretext of a route to conquer Guo, and then launch a large-scale attack with a legitimate reason. We can also reorganize his Third Army Group as well. That wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?

Therefore, this matter needs to be considered carefully.

Just then, Viscount Kerke approached Grand Duke Baikal and offered him a plan:

"Your Excellency, you have a long-standing reputation for virtue and high prestige in the army. Many soldiers and generals are grateful for your kindness and rewards. Now is the perfect opportunity for them to repay your kindness with their lives?"

“Directly mobilizing the Third Army to disguise themselves as infected and attack the city is indeed impossible. But you can select some shrewd and capable officers in the army and have them instigate a rebellion within the city. Then you can send troops outside the city, saying that Ernst has died at the hands of the infected. Under the pretext of suppressing the infected, you can coordinate an attack from within and without. In this way, Ernst will die in the chaos of battle. Then you can simply say that he died in the riots of the infected.”

Grand Prince Baikal's eyes lit up; the more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. There was only one problem: three…

"Are there so many infected people in Chernobog that we can instigate? And if I send my officers to instigate them, will those infected people fall for it?"

Viscount Kerk's lips curled into a sinister smile:

"This is where I said the soldiers and generals should repay you."

"The number of infected people in the city is definitely not enough. Even if it were, those people are just a bunch of incompetent fools. How much trouble can they cause? I'm afraid that if the military and police in the city wave their batons, they would be beaten until they screamed!"

"Therefore, these infected individuals who caused chaos in the city must be soldiers under your command! Only your soldiers possess such unwavering perseverance and courage!"

Grand Duke Baikal paused for a moment, then understood what Viscount Kerke meant:

"You want me to turn them into infected people and then let them into the city to cause trouble?"

Viscount Kerck smiled and nodded.

Grand Prince Baikal hesitated for a moment:

"But they probably won't agree to that, right? Infected people are a serious problem in Ursus."

"My lord, this is for the sake of a grand plan!"

Viscount Kerck interrupted,

“If this matter is discovered, you yourself will lose your life. If you are willing to take such a risk, what do those soldiers have to be afraid of?”

"Besides, you're asking them to sacrifice their own interests for the country. Didn't they already prepare for this when they enlisted? Your Excellency has treated them well, so what is there for them to hesitate about?"

He paused, his eyes narrowed, and with a slight hesitation, added in a questioning tone:

"Furthermore, if Your Excellency is truly merciful, you could also share this plot with some of the chosen soldiers, letting them know their mission and promising to ensure their families' safety and prosperity after the deed is done. It wouldn't cost much."

Grand Prince Baikal, who had initially feigned hesitation, immediately changed his expression upon hearing Viscount Kerke's words and shook his head hastily.

"Forget about this!"

As soon as he said it, he seemed to realize that his rejection was too abrupt, and quickly added:

"They're going to sacrifice themselves anyway. Knowing too much will only lead to the exposure of the truth. Let them sacrifice themselves. They are heroes, and the history of Ursus will remember them."

"They"

The hesitation in Viscount Kerck's eyes vanished, a smile returned to his face, and he nodded sincerely:

"The Duke is right."

Chapter 917 Ursus Integration Operation

Know yourself and the enemy, a hundred battles will never end.

Ernst also inquired with Witte about the deeds of the Grand Prince Baikal.

To put it simply, this Duke of Ursus is actually quite capable.

He had excellent foresight. Chernobog was a newly established city, and Marquis Boris was just an ordinary nobleman with little background, connections, or notable achievements. The people here were far from the political center of Ursus, and with the empire ceasing its wars of expansion, they lacked opportunities for advancement. Most were either listless and apathetic, or dissolute and exploitative of the populace. As a minor nobleman, when Marquis Boris wanted to lead the city's construction, almost no one supported him.

But Grand Prince Baikal supported it.

The successful establishment of the very special city of Chernobog was inseparable from the assistance of the Third Army stationed in the region and the contributions of Grand Prince Baikal.

And this was not the first time he had made such a "wise and insightful" decision.

His ability to emerge from the Ursus region's matchmaking system and become a true military leader speaks volumes about his numerous military achievements. In fact, his judgment of battlefield situations is often remarkably accurate, frequently seizing fleeting opportunities in complex circumstances. Although his Third Army did not participate in the Four Emperors War, it made significant contributions in the later Ursus Conquest era on battlefields such as Kazimir, Victoria, and Letania.

It is said that if he wore his medals, they would be too many to fit on his clothes.

Therefore, it would be a lie to say that he didn't have high prestige in the military. If his prestige were really that low, he would have been replaced as commander when the Third Army was exiled.

It was precisely because easily replacing this increasingly powerful old duke could have led to a mutiny, causing the recently quelled rebellion to resurface. Fyodor would not have compromised by sending him to the frontier, merely restricting his development rather than directly punishing him.

However, what you did yesterday will happen today; retribution may be delayed, but it will come soon.

Fyodor's request for Ernst's help in "fishing" directly revealed the true ruthlessness hidden beneath the emperor's "gentle" exterior, and also formally announced something.

Old Baddens, the reckoning is coming!

"Then dealing with such a person will not be easy."

Ernst looked at Witt with some suspicion.

Witt wore a humble smile, but his words were unusually cold:

"Prime Minister Ernst, you are overthinking it."

"Time is a wondrous thing, unmatched by any Originium Arts. It can turn the humble into the proud, the gentle into the cruel, the wise into the foolish, and naturally, the intelligent into the idiot."

"Grand Duke Baikal was a remarkable man in the past, but unfortunately, he was not the Duke of Wellington, and he could not remain remarkable forever."

Witt also attended the Duke of Wellington's second funeral at Tara.

As a representative of the Ursus Empire and a colleague at the International Summit, he should go to pay his respects. As the Speaker of the Empire and a seasoned politician, he should also observe the changing situation in Victoria. As someone who practically embarked on his political career listening to the heroic legends of the Four Nations War, he also hoped to meet this legendary figure.

Although the end of this illustrious Grand Duke Victoria was not so glorious, his life was brilliant enough, wasn't it?

At least in the end, he fulfilled his lifelong dream. He fired the first cannonball of Tara's independence at the Victorians, venting the anger that had been burning for a thousand years. Then, he made timely arrangements to rein in this beast that was about to run away, preventing Tara from becoming a second "Ursus".

Witt was not a Victorian, so from a third-party perspective, he could say that the Duke of Wellington was wise from beginning to end.

But Grand Prince Baikal was different.

"The harsh cold of the frontier and the frost of time have worn away his willpower."

"He used to be a leader who rewarded and punished fairly. But in recent years, in order to control the Third Army, he promoted many of his own cronies. These people are emboldened and bullying occurs in the army all the time. They even gave that behavior a name: 'Hatchlings Take Flight'."

"He used to be generous with his soldiers' rewards. But in recent years, he has been pocketing almost all the protection money he received from Marquis Boris and his cronies. He owns more than sixty properties in the heart of Chernobog, more than even Marquis Boris himself. Ironically, the soldiers of the Third Army have not received any improvement in their treatment for a long time."

Witt paused slightly.

"He once knew that war was a means to make Ursus powerful. But now, he is convinced that Ursus's purpose in becoming powerful is to wage more wars."

"What a pity."

Witt uttered a small sigh, but Ernst, watching his face, showed no sign of regret; his voice sounded more like a monotone reading.

"The emperor had actually planned to take action against him a long time ago, hadn't he?"

Ernst asked.

Witt didn't answer, he just smiled.

There's no need for an answer; Ernst already knew the answer when he asked that question.

Ursus's intelligence system may indeed be very powerful, but this intelligence is a bit too detailed.

He even investigated what evil things Grand Prince Baikal had done and what his current personality was like.

If Ernst hadn't been prepared beforehand, he could have swallowed that Ursus rye bread on the table whole!

Witt continued:

"Even so, His Majesty has not ignored the possibility of unrest. This operation is also a test."

The four military leaders within Ursus must be eliminated. If the country splits into four factions, it might be possible to suppress the rebellion while Fyodor is still alive. However, once Fyodor dies and the lessons and shadows of the great rebellion brought by bloodshed dissipate, Ursus will become a second Victoria, and the Bear King will be hanged on the guillotine in no time!

Fyodor was well aware of this, so he decided to do it himself.

Grand Prince Baikal was his first target. He was now old and senile, but his status and prestige in the military were still very high, making him a very, very suitable candidate for testing the waters!

Both Fyodor and Witt hoped to use this opportunity to extend their reach to the local area again.

If the plan succeeds, it means that the corruption of the army group has reached a point where the soldiers are no longer as absolutely loyal to the army group leaders as they used to be. Then they can try to take direct action, eliminate the local military leaders, and reorganize Ursus!

If the plan fails, it means their judgment was wrong, and they still need to wait for the right opportunity.

The reason they didn't take action themselves but instead had Ernst act as the "fishhook" was because Ernst was neither Ursus nor highly regarded in Terra. Only he had the ability to enter the territory of any army group head-on without being met with overt vigilance or hostility.

Grand Prince Baikal was no exception. He dared to plot and slander in private, but openly, he dared not directly attack Ernst. He could only use the thoroughly discredited group of "infected" to kill him with a borrowed knife. He was even less likely to be wary of Ernst joining forces with Fyodor to lure him in, because almost everyone thought that Ernst would never resort to conspiracy.

This kind of thinking is ridiculous. Everyone wants to kill him, yet people still believe he would be upright and honest with others. But that's the buff that the word "fame" brings; people just think this way.

As for other hooks, they probably won't even go in, and even if they do, the other person will definitely be on guard, making it much harder to catch fish.

Ernst wouldn't have agreed to this at first. After all, helping with fishing meant he would have to do something, whether it was provocation or being unreasonable, he had to make Grand Duke Baikal reveal a weakness and do something "against the rules" so that Fyodor and the others could pull the line in a legitimate way.

These things, in themselves, will damage his reputation.

Reputation is hard to maintain, but once it collapses, it happens very quickly, like an avalanche, and you can't stop it!

But who knew that the matchmaking system in the Ursus region would be so magical? Grand Duke Baikal provided a perfect excuse—Ernst hadn't done anything, and he really wanted to kill Ernst!

That's the power of initiative!

So, Ernst, the Terra idol who was originally worried about the collapse of his house, now has nothing to fear.

He had to go to Chernobog anyway, since the Doctor was lying there and he was going to open the coffin with Kal'tsit; it was something that had been planned from the beginning.

He doesn't have to do anything; as long as he goes there, Grand Prince Baikal will come to kill him, giving him a free "pretext for war."

That's great! It's like running around exploring the map, casually picking up a well-paid NPC quest, turning it in at the destination, and then just waiting for Old Deng to drop tons of gold!

Perhaps, if it's a lucky coincidence, he can even increase the intensity of the newly awakened doctor's abilities.

He remembered that in the original timeline, when the Doctor first woke up, it was like this, right?