I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 268: Loyalist of the Empire (5)

There’s a famous saying among married men:

"Forgiveness is easier than permission."

Many men who buy high-end PCs, PlayStations, or Nintendo Switches without their wives knowing often live by this logic.

Interestingly, there are many people who apply this reasoning to politics, war, and business management...

"Isn’t that Baron Rothschild?"

At that, all the eyes in the room turned to me.

Guillaume City itself was quite friendly toward me, so no one openly shouted for me to leave.

“The Kingdom of Lyon and the Toscana Empire were supposed to be on the brink of war, weren't they? So why is Baron Rothschild here? Isn’t it dangerous for you?”

Some questioned why I was here.

“Baron, the Kingdom of Lyon has stationed a large number of troops in Guillaume City. It’s dangerous for you to stay here!”

Those who had gained significant economic benefits from me urged me to leave quickly.

The fact that no one was trying to kill me, despite my being a noble from an enemy nation, was surprising enough—but they were still concerned for my safety.

Seeing that no one here seemed to dislike me...

It seemed that persuading them would be much easier than I originally thought.

In this world, there are madmen who, just because they dislike someone personally, will ruin a hundred billion-won deal.

But there were no such people in Guillaume City.

"I’ll get straight to the point since the situation is urgent. I, Fabio de Rothschild, have allied with Mayor Louis Baudelaire and succeeded in eliminating all the commanders of the troops sent by the Kingdom of Lyon."

As soon as I spoke these words, the people gathered in the room began to stir.

Angry voices began to rise, and there was a general sense of hostility, as if a riot could break out any moment.

When some of the enraged individuals tried to approach the platform where I stood, a few soldiers fired their guns into the air.

“If anyone attempts to harm the Baron or acts suspiciously, next time, we’ll be using swords, not warnings.”

The best way to control people isn’t through lavish rewards or flattery.

It’s by instilling the fear that defying me could cost them their lives.

Confucius himself argued that, during a forest fire, if there were people who refused to help extinguish it, they should be executed immediately, as it was the most effective way to ensure cooperation.

I, too, had no reason not to use fear to control them.

With a whip to break their spirits, and a carrot to reward them when they listen, the method works wonders.

“Anyone who doesn’t wish to follow me is free to leave. I won’t stop you, and as soon as you step out of this chamber, the soldiers won’t smash your skulls with maces.”

Whether or not they believe it, I will make sure to follow through on my words.

When convincing people, especially large groups, killing them outright is not the way to go.

But creating an atmosphere of fear, where people believe they could die if they defy me, will lead to those who act loyal in front of me but secretly plot behind my back.

‘Giving them the freedom to make a choice.’

Of course, it’s the person’s own responsibility if they choose to invest in a risky venture and lose their principal.

The friend who makes a wrong decision might, by sheer coincidence, be ambushed by bandits while trying to leave the city with their family...

But that would be the result of their own choices, and they will have no one to blame but themselves, even in death.

“However, I ask that you hear me out one last time.”

It’s easier to justify a crime after it’s committed, just as it’s easier to convince someone to rationalize their actions after the fact.

“The Count of Guillaume has been planning to purge everyone in positions of power in the city, from the mayor to guildmasters, for some time.”

This is a line that often circulates on the internet.

Goebbels, a master of propaganda, said it only takes one word to stir up an entire crowd, but to refute it requires dozens of papers.

Though Goebbels never actually said this in his lifetime, it remains a historical truth that applies in any era.

The false rumors about tobacco being beneficial for health, which spread throughout Europe and Asia during the Age of Exploration, persisted well into the early 1900s.

People even encouraged infants to smoke for their health.

It took tremendous effort and funding to correct this mistaken belief.

Similarly, it will likely take a lot of time and effort before anyone realizes that the propaganda I’m spreading is fabricated.

‘By the time they figure it out, the war will already be over.’

“You might find this hard to believe, but think about it. Didn’t the Count of Guillaume seem to be particularly wary of you? For example, didn’t he appoint someone far less capable than me to the city council? Or wasn’t he collecting unusually high taxes?”

The way I’m speaking is similar to that of a fortune teller.

These charlatans don’t read the person’s unspoken thoughts. Instead, they subtly probe for information while pretending to have mystical insights, making the person believe in their abilities.

They might ask things like, "Haven't you had terrible headaches lately? Or perhaps you’ve been troubled by some pain in your stomach? Or maybe you’ve had trouble finding a job despite your qualifications?"

By casually mentioning issues that are likely to concern someone, they create the illusion of supernatural knowledge.

I’m doing the same here, subtly triggering the insecurities and frustrations of the powerful figures in Guillaume City, making them feel they’re part of the scheme.

‘If they keep hearing this, they’ll eventually fall for it.’

“All this is part of the Count’s plan to eliminate those closely connected to me after this war ends. It’s a well-thought-out scheme.”

In this world, purging someone without preparation rarely happens.

When you decide to purge someone, you begin by looking for ways to remove them, bribing people around them, and creating a reason to demote them or send them to a faraway post.

If things go wrong, the one attempting the purge risks losing their own life.

In Korea, the Duke of Suyang never expected his head to be severed by Kim Jong-seo during the Gyeoyu Jeongnan, when he unexpectedly started gathering incompetent individuals and attempted the purge.

“The Count of Guillaume is trying to purge you all without cause. Why, then, do you continue to pledge loyalty to him? Is it because you’re like livestock, ready to be slaughtered without even realizing it? It doesn’t make sense for us, as human beings, to submit so easily when we know our lord is planning to betray us.”

In Joseon, under the Confucian influence of the ruling scholars, it was expected that when a monarch sought to purge their ministers, they would quickly die after receiving poisoned wine.

But in the Toscana Empire or the Kingdom of Lyon, if someone tried to purge without justification...

It’s only natural for the people to rise up and rebel, even if only to cut off their clothes if they can’t cut off their head.

The prominent figures in Guillaume City must have been repulsed by the Count’s behavior.

“Why do you think Mayor Louis Baudelaire and other influential figures in Guillaume City have cooperated with me, a foreign noble?”

Humans generally act and judge according to common sense.

That’s why, during the Second World War, the French worked hard on the Maginot Line but were easily overtaken by a quick flank attack.

And why the Empire of Japan was able to pull off the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

When persuading people, common sense must always be applied.

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“So, I ask that you cooperate with me. The Emperor of Toscana will not abandon you. Those who no longer wish to follow the Emperor and I can leave. I won’t stop you, and I won’t prevent you from taking your wealth and leaving for another part of the Kingdom of Lyon.”

I won’t stop them.

If they’re unlucky, they’ll be massacred by bandits.

And those who abandon me will undoubtedly meet a bad end.

But fortunately, those here have chosen wisely.

“We will also join the Toscana Empire. We trust you, Baron.”

In this way, I was able to secure the foothold I needed for the Toscana Empire to invade the Kingdom of Lyon.

Soon after taking control of Guillaume City, the Toscana Empire’s main forces entered the city.

Leading the vanguard was Baron Ducat.

He entered with an army of 20,000 soldiers.

“I never thought... I never imagined you’d take Guillaume City without shedding a drop of blood. Truly, Baron, why not accept a military commission now? I could ask the Emperor to appoint you immediately.”

“I decline.”

“...I think you’d be an outstanding general.”

“I am not suited to be a soldier.”

Baron Ducat shook his head as he listened to my words.

“Then, if you wish for success, this is your opportunity.”

Guillaume City, now under the Count’s control, was essentially a vacant house.

“I understand. Then I wish you luck.”