Chapter 539: Chapter 10: Taking Over Logistics

The mission had been assigned. Marquis Oscillate dismissed the meeting, and everyone went their separate ways.

...

Robson walked out of the command tent, Valentino on his arm. By now, they had no qualms about showing their affection in public.

"Robson, what are you planning to do?" Valentino asked, looking at him.

"What am I going to do?" Robson frowned.

’This task from the Marquis... it’s a real headache.’

The logistics for an army of 200,000 men.

"The last time I managed logistics was back at Qimo Fortress."

"Besides, I’m not familiar with the army on the central front. I don’t know anyone here," Robson said frankly.

He meant every word.

Robson truly couldn’t figure out why Marquis Oscillate would put him in charge of logistics.

Robson even wondered, ’Could the recent news about the Northern Mainland faction have made the Marquis feel betrayed?’ But after a moment’s thought, he dismissed the idea. That couldn’t be it.

The Marquis was no fool. He had to know that the Northern Mainland faction was splitting away from the main Northern faction. And while the Fengman Clan was currently part of the Southern faction, geography dictated that future Southern faction leaders would never be able to truly control them.

’So with me establishing the Northern Mainland faction now, the Marquis should be supportive, not suspicious.’

Valentino pondered for a moment.

"I might have an idea," Valentino said.

"What is it?" Robson asked.

"Do you know which group makes up the largest contingent of my grandfather’s men right now?" Valentino asked.

Robson thought for a moment.

He’d never bothered to investigate the composition of the central front army before. After all, he hadn’t thought it necessary. ’I, Lord Robson, was supposed to finish this battle and head back to the Royal Capital to receive my honors and get married.’

Who could have expected this mess to crop up halfway through?

But with Valentino’s hint, it suddenly dawned on Robson.

"The Northern faction is the largest... When Prince Noah was introducing me to the officers here, they were almost all from the Northern faction," Robson said.

The central front was primarily manned by the Northern faction. Because the front was so crucial and bore the brunt of the pressure, and because their own territories lay directly behind it, the numerous and powerful Northerners had no choice but to fight with everything they had.

This war was slightly different. In addition to the Northern faction, there were also men from the Meritocracy Faction, but they had mostly been sidelined to managing warehouses on the central front.

"There are some things Grandfather probably can’t say out loud."

"I think, perhaps, Grandfather wants us to use this opportunity to win over some of the Northern Mainland people."

"Besides, the logistics system is massive and complex, and it’s also where you’ll find the most parasites."

"In normal times, you might turn a blind eye, but at a critical juncture like this, it’s time to make those parasites cough up everything they’ve taken," Valentino said.

Robson nodded.

He had only been ignorant of the central front army’s composition. Now that he knew, his mind started connecting even more dots.

He was returning from a great victory, his prestige was immense, and he wasn’t afraid of making enemies. His political goal was to establish the Northern Mainland faction, which meant he would inevitably have to offend the traditional Northern faction led by Marquis George anyway.

This chance to manage logistics was a golden opportunity to accumulate political capital. But...

"’I think...’" Robson mulled over her words.

"’I think’ isn’t exactly a phrase that inspires confidence."

"Well, it can’t be helped. We didn’t have a choice to begin with, so why not try to look on the bright side?" Valentino said playfully.

...

Robson returned to his own troops and summoned the commanders of the First, Second, and Third Regiments, as well as Earl Uman.

He, Lord Robson, had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood; if it was combat commanders he needed, he had them in droves.

But when it came to political talent, he had precious little. Even the internal affairs of the Affleck Domain were being run by an old man he’d practically picked up off the side of the road.

Among those currently by his side, one was his own fiancée, Count Valentino. Back on the steppes, and in the Royal Capital, the two of them had often discussed matters of the state.

Though she still had a ways to go to match Robson, Valentino had always possessed a unique talent for politics. After the battle for control of the Fengman Clan, that talent had fully transformed into tangible skill.

The other was Earl Uman.

There wasn’t much to say about Earl Uman; he had been thoroughly defeated because he’d overestimated his own military abilities.

However, from the role he played during Robson’s unification of the lands beyond the pass, his coordination with Bo Yang to stabilize the army, and his many timely declarations of allegiance, it was clear that Earl Uman’s political skills were formidable.

Furthermore, the Gauss Clan behind Earl Uman had previously served the Wilmand family, who in turn answered to Earl Harold. In both his past life and his present one, they were dyed-in-the-wool members of the Northern Mainland Standard Yellow Banner.

Upon receiving Robson’s summons, Earl Uman rushed over in a great hurry.

Robson briefed him on the Marquis’s orders.

Earl Uman understood Robson’s intentions on the spot. He immediately declared his firm support for Lord Robson’s correct leadership and his commitment to successfully completing the task assigned by the Marquis.

Heaven knows how long Uman had been waiting for this moment.

Previously, while Robson had given him tasks, they were never anything of consequence.

Earl Uman understood. After all, most of the major affairs under Robson’s command were related to warfare, and it wouldn’t be right for him to interfere blindly.

This had led to a period where, among the nobles from beyond the pass, Bo Yang—a mere Baron—had actually surpassed him in prestige.

With Bo Yang’s return this time, it was a case of "when one person succeeds, all their associates rise with them." He was guaranteed a viscountcy at the very least; with a bit of luck, he might even become an Honorary Earl. After all, a title like Honorary Earl, handed out so freely, only became as valuable as a true earldom in the hands of someone with real power to back it up.

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