Chapter 24: Reformation (1)

Half through persuasion, half through threats, my older brother Julius reluctantly agreed to join my plan.

Though it wasn’t a relationship he had hoped for, he did the job properly.

The number of people joining the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction began to grow rapidly.

“Hey, are you really okay with spending the budget as freely as I want? You won’t scold me for wasting it, right?”

“I told you several times, I won’t. Are you paranoid or something?”

“I’ve been tormented so much by those idiotic superiors in the Ministry of Finance constantly changing their words…”

“Regardless, I won’t stab my own brother in the back, okay?”

Funding comes from the state budget funneled into the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction .

Information? That’s easy — just task the intelligence department under the General Headquarters.

Having secured the two keys essential to managing people, my brother started gathering talent wherever he could.

He began with the Ministry of Finance, where he worked, and moved on to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Chancellor (supporting the chancellor), and so on.

Literally, he attempted to scout anyone and everyone he could get in contact with.
Quality didn’t matter.

Right now, quantity was the priority.

Securing size was essential for enduring the power struggles that would arise later.

“Still, accepting too many low-quality people might hinder efficiency.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’re not gathering them to be personal aides, are we? As long as they can do their jobs and follow our orders, that’s enough.”

Age, rank, and reputation didn’t matter. As long as someone was willing to join, they were accepted on the spot without questions.

With such radical conditions, participants flocked in no time. Most of them were third-rate nobodies drawn by the scent of power, but still.

My brother asked me if we should filter some out, but I firmly refused.

For now, ensuring sheer size took precedence over improving quality.

To have enough strength to manage state affairs independently when the time came — combining my faction and potential allied factions — size was a non-negotiable factor.

Of course, it’s not like we can keep dragging along all these nobodies forever.

Once the foundation is stable, we’ll need to start weeding them out.

“I’ll keep sending you funds. If you need more, contact me through my aide.”

“Understood.”

However, despite my brother’s efforts, passion, and my financial backing, things didn’t always proceed smoothly.

The high-ranking lords found it unbearable to see someone so openly rampaging within the administration.

“That damn Carolus brat is acting like the kingdom is his personal playground!”

A secret meeting held periodically between the king and the major nobles.

With Carl VII seated at the head and the nobles gathered around the round table, a duke burst out in frustration.

“We held our tongues even when he took away the private troops we painstakingly raised. After all, we bore some responsibility for what happened on the frontlines. We decided to magnanimously overlook it, thinking of it as an act of clemency.”

“… But after conceding once, he became even more arrogant.”

“Exactly my point! What on earth does that man think of the kingdom’s sacred laws and order?!”

Taking soldiers to organize reinforcements for the frontlines was tolerable.

If viewed as taking responsibility for past mistakes, it fell within an acceptable range of patience.

However, diverting the state budget at will, renaming the revolutionary army as the “central army,” and stationing them in the capital was entirely unacceptable.

Does he think he’s become a king just because he staged a coup?

The authority to form royal guards and a defense force for Rahator lies solely with the monarch.

So how could he arbitrarily make decisions and even complete the paperwork without permission?

“Is he so insecure about gaining power by force that he had to bring his army into the capital?”

“It must be because he has no legitimacy. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, he’s desperate to rely on military force.”

It might have been different if he had at least tried persuasion. But Carolus always operated through unilateral notification.

Through the so-called Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, he made decisions on his own, informing the royal family only of the outcomes.

As if to say, “I’ll decide, and you just stamp your approval.”

“We can no longer hesitate. Action must be taken, no matter what.”

They could no longer tolerate such actions.

Though they had been silent out of fear of swords and guns, remaining passive any longer risked the kingdom ceasing to be a kingdom.

“Let’s teach that lowly, petty noble his place.”

“And how do you propose we do that? Right now, his power is overwhelming,” replied the Marquis of Operte.

The conversation was led by Duke Barelmud, who answered with a grim expression.

He was the elderly noble who, not long ago, pointed his finger at Carolus during a banquet and ended up with a gun pressed to his jaw.

Clearly driven by personal vendetta, he looked toward the king and implored him.

“Your Majesty, may I make a request?”

“Of me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Could you perhaps contact the clergy and have them act on our behalf?”

The clergy.

They were devout followers of the goddess, the kingdom’s state religion, and were responsible for managing cathedrals, monasteries, and temples across the land.

Some nobles seemed puzzled by the sudden mention of religious figures, while others, grasping the idea, voiced their admiration.

“Ah, of course! You intend to incite the people, don’t you?”

“Exactly. That Carolus brat is highly sensitive to public opinion.

Religion is an unparalleled tool for guiding the ignorant lower classes.”

All citizens of the kingdom were expected to attend Sunday mass each week.

City dwellers went to their city’s cathedral, rural residents to the nearest small temple.

Even in the poorest remote regions, where nothing else might be available, traveling priests would hold mass.

It was an unspoken rule to attend mass unless one was gravely ill or on the brink of death.

And during these services, in addition to scripture readings and group prayers, priests always delivered sermons.

In other words, it was possible to mobilize the clergy across the nation to incite widespread dissent.

If opposition grew in various regions and public support waned, the military dictatorship led by the Supreme Council would undoubtedly falter.

“It’s a plausible plan, but… will they actually act as we ask? Those who claim to serve the gods are disgustingly greedy.”

“…We’d need to offer them something they can’t refuse.”

Naturally, the odds of the avaricious bishops and cardinals moving as desired were slim.

Even during the upheaval of the kingdom’s power structure, they stayed idle so long as it didn’t threaten their own interests.

Only by making significant concessions, enough to fully satisfy them, would they cooperate willingly.

“And what specifically would that entail?”

“Well, that’s for His Majesty to decide…”

The duke cautiously glanced at Carl VII and spoke carefully.

“We might have to return the authority to appoint bishops to the Papacy or create new ecclesiastical estates.”

“What?!”

“That— that would mean reverting the religious structure to what it was centuries ago!”

The backlash was immediate and intense.

It was an expected reaction, given the weight of what was being suggested.

The authority to appoint bishops referred to the power to nominate and ordain clergy — essentially control over the appointments of all religious officials within the kingdom.

This right had been wrested from the Papacy 150 years ago and had since been a sovereign privilege of the royal family.

And now they were proposing to give it back?

That would be tantamount to relinquishing the royal family’s control over the kingdom’s clergy.

Conversely, ecclesiastical estates involved the monarch granting land to clergy members in exchange for their loyalty.

While this would preserve the royal family’s authority, it required giving up territory.

Creating new estates meant carving out land from existing territories.

Either choice would entail significant losses for both the royal family and the kingdom as a whole.

“Is there no other way? Perhaps offering them a large sum of money—”

“There are bishops with private plantations and even mines. Do you think bribery would work? Do you have any idea how much it would cost to sway them all?”

“How long would it take to buy them off one by one? We’re in a desperate situation right now!”

Opting for alternative persuasive methods presented its own set of drawbacks.

They were time-consuming and uncertain in their likelihood of success.

Dragging the matter out too long risked Karolus and the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction catching on, so a swift resolution was imperative.

“…I will handle this myself.”

Finally, unable to endure the nobles’ endless debate, Carl VII intervened.

“Your Majesty?”

“How can we know what they want without meeting them? I will negotiate directly. If concessions must be made, I’ll ensure we get a clear answer in return.”

“Wise and decisive, Your Majesty!”

“It’s a painful decision, but it will surely pay off in the future!”

No matter the cost, securing the cooperation of the clergy was paramount.

What came after could be dealt with later. That was the conclusion they reached.

And.

Having obtained this entire account through Colonel Kys, I let out a quiet sigh.

“Looks like the clergy needs a cultural revolution.”

Ah, the euthanizer of landlords, the fried rice master’s father, the sparrows’ butcher—Comrade Mao.

I shall carry on your legacy in this world!