Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! - Chapter 70.2

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“As expected, they didn’t bring any military forces along?” (Wendelin)

“Even gathering them costs money after all.” (Burkhart)

Morning of the next day, the Margrave Browig household sent in a delegation to carry out the arbitration negotiations according to Burkhart-san’s report.
As the occupied territory increased, our allies are waiting in a large built tent to be used for the negotiations in the front line grasslands where our troops are stationed. The delegation arrives there together with around 100 guards.
However, the negotiations suddenly turn into one big failure.
Or rather than failing, they didn’t even start.

“I’m Philip von Browig.” (Philip)

“I’m Christoph von Browig.” (Christoph)

I expected it to some degree, but as there are two tops in Browig’s camp, both parties started to quarrel when Margrave Breithilde asked with whom he is supposed to negotiate.

“Being the eldest son, I will join the negotiations.” (Philip)

“What are you talking about!? Your failure led to this situation. I will be the one negotiating!” (Christoph)

Not just the two but even the retainers, both parties brought along, have started to argue.

“You lot, who planned something stupid like a war, have no qualifications to join the negotiations! Even before that, as everyone became prisoners, there’s only small fries attending from your side. Such a line-up is a discourtesy towards Margrave Breithilde-sama!”

“Didn’t you guys prepare the budget and goods without even any decent opposition at the beginning!? Then you changed your attitude quickly just as the war progress became disadvantageous! Simple bookworms should be silent!”

“Negotiations with idiots who have no brains and can only swing their swords? Don’t talk nonsense!”

“You are a retard who only behaves like an intellectual! You guys’ intelligence is just fake, isn’t it!?”

There were probably various problems, but they might not have shown such disgraceful behaviour if Margrave Browig were in good health.
Another problem is that only up to 20 people of both sides are allowed to participate in the negotiations.
Even so, given that both, Philip and Christoph, brought 20 retainers to attend, it ended up becoming a dispute without either side yielding.

“How about going with a 50-50 split?” (Breithilde)

As expected Margrave Breithilde was unable to keep watching and threw them a lifeline, but even that resulted in nothing but a new cause for quarrelling.

“Philip-sama, who has many of his feudal army staff members turned into prisoners, shouldn’t join the delegation of 10 people.”

“It’s an arbitration related to military movements! What do you intend with excluding Philip-sama who unifies the feudal army!? You guys have no merit other than signing documents! There’s no need for 10 of you to join the negotiations, right!?”

Since the negotiations wouldn’t start no matter how much time passed if things were left like this, Viscount Knappstein, who was unable to bear it any longer, recommended each side to enter the tent while taking half of their attendants along.
Not counting as part of either side’s numbers, he is a person who has a neutral position due to being sent by the kingdom.
The two, who felt that it would be bad for the negotiations to make him angry, entered the tent obediently after picking 10 retainers to attend with them.

“There’s the signing of the arbitration document before the negotiation, but…” (Knappstein)

“Father died five days ago. Won’t it be valid if both sides sign together?” (Christoph)

“It will.” (Knappstein)

Viscount Knappstein showed an agreeing expression due to Christoph’s reply.
However, the reason why they finally showed up here is because their father, Margrave Browig, died.
He was a person whose face I don’t know, however he was a somewhat pitiable man, I think.

“With this the negotiations can continue, however…”

Of course the previously presented arbitration draft is completely invalid.
That’s because the prerequisites changed completely.

“As a matter of fact, the nobles who joined Browig’s camp with their armies have…”

Due to the far too irresponsible manner of the Margrave Browig household, they cleverly declared that they will change their patron to Margrave Breithilde.
The negotiations about the reconciliation money for the disputed cases and the ransom hasn’t finished, but since the economy of their territories will fail if the dispute keeps prolonging like this, they returned to their territories after being released first.
And they will restore the state of the disputed cases to their pre-war state. Since it’s wrong for them to allow things like merchant groups of Browig’s camp to enter their territory due to their status of being occupied, they have agreed to trade with the south.

“The conditions have already changed. Please understand that aspect.” (Knappstein)

They, who were vassals of the Browig household before the war, have become vassals of Margrave Breithilde now.
All the disputed cases will be restored to their pre-war state. The nobles and soldiers, who became prisoners, will be released.
In other words, it signified that the domain controlled by the east ended up going north quite a bit. (T/N: Meaning they lost the southern parts due to the switch of the nobles)
And, moreover another cruel reality is thrust at them.

“Be that as it may, that doesn’t mean that the reconciliation money of my vassals, who attacked us, has been waived. It changed into the shape of me demanding the entire batch from you.” (Breithilde)

“The entire batch?”

“Well that’s only natural. After all there’s these document here.” (Breithilde)

What was grasped in Margrave Breithilde’s hand were more than 40 contracts, which were given to the former nobles of the Browig camp, stating that all the damages incurred due to the dispute would be covered by the Browig household.

“As they were opponents in the dispute, it will be wrong for them to not pay the reconciliation money to return the interests into their pre-war state. However, in this contract it’s written that the Browig household will cover for that. Based on the negotiations’ efficiency, it’s better for me to demand it all together in one go.” (Breithilde)

Since Margrave Breithilde has already paid the reconciliation money to the nobles before that, he will end up in the red if he doesn’t collect the debts.

“My vassals are…”

Moreover, the part beyond redemption for the Browig household’s side is the point that more than 40 noble households won’t ever work under them as vassals even if they pay the reconciliation money.
The have only lost money and their own ruled domain has ended up shrinking.
It’s unmistakable that the Browig household only lost out in this war.

“There’s also the ransom for the prisoners who were mainly captured by Earl Baumeister.” (Breithilde)

The prisoners over here have been already released and the management expenses for the prisoners, who are taken care of by our allied nobles, have been paid in advance.
Naturally, I will demand this share from the Margrave Browig household as well.

“In addition, there are 10.000 and oh 567 prisoners of the Browig feudal army. Quite a few of the cities and villages in the eastern domain are in a state of being occupied. To return these as well, it’s necessary for you to pay reconciliation money.” (Breithilde)

At the time of the first arbitration negotiation Viscount Knappstein estimated four hundred million cents.
However, in the current situation the same amount of money won’t suffice.
It should become a drastic increase in the amount of money.

“How much is it?” (Philip)

Philip, who finally opened his mouth, asks Margrave Breithilde.

“According to the calculations, it’s one billion cents.” (Breithilde)

“No way!”

Due to the excessive amount of money, both successor candidates become speechless.
However, even before that reckless night attack it was five (T/N: author means four here?) hundred million cents.
It likely can’t be helped that the increased amount has reached this level.

“No matter how you look at it, it’s far too high!”

“Still, it’s a big failure to such an extent. The increased amount is unavoidable.” (Knappstein)

“Special Envoy-dono, are you siding with Margrave Breithilde!?” (Philip)

Due to Viscount Knappstein’s comment, Philip snaps at him, but Knappstein answered calmly without changing his expression at all.

“Side with him? I don’t understand the meaning of what you are talking about. Prolonging the nonsense called 『dispute』 which is tolerated by the kingdom, you equipped real weapons and planned a night attack once the situation became disadvantageous in the first arbitration. Let me tell you clearly, the kingdom’s distrust towards the Browig household has become strong. Having a succession struggle is fine, but please make at least sure to not become a bother to other nobles. And, if you plan to say something like “return to the pre-war state without paying any reconciliation money” in this place, I won’t be able to agree to that as it will turn into a one-sided support of the Browig household’s side.” (Knappstein)

His tone was indifferent, but both succession candidates end up silent due to the merciless rebuttal of Viscount Knappstein.
Since there was also the possibility that he would have been killed in the night attack if it wasn’t prevented by us, he was probably highly offended.

“I think it might be possible to get a bit of debt reduction, but I believe it will be pointless even if we negotiate about the other matters. It’s the same with the separation of the vassals. The Browig household has the responsibility to pay their losses in accordance to those contracts, but they won’t return being vassals of the Browig household.”

Carrying out an unyielding occupation while using the fact that their vassals can’t refuse, they didn’t show their faces at the front lines as they were engrossed in their succession struggle.
There’s truly no other way but to express it as “they reap what the have sown.”

“Since today’s objective was to make introductions and to present the conditions, let’s wrap it up with this?” (Breithilde)

Even if they negotiate about the reduction of reconciliation money, it’s probably necessary to discuss it with the Browig household’s side.
Margrave Breithilde declared today’s negotiations to be finished and both sides broke up.