Iron Powder and Spellcaster

[empire]

[Wuyou Palace]

People said that the long corridor leading to the emperor's private office was the most "difficult" road in the empire.

Only those who have actually walked this road know that "difficult to walk" is not only a metaphor, but also the most objective and accurate description.

In order to highlight the emperor's authority and power, the architect of Mad King Richard specially set up a magnificent corridor in the office area of ​​​​Palace of Innocents.

Visitors must walk cautiously on the mirror-smooth marble floor tiles. Looking up, you can see the towering dome like a temple; looking forward, you can see the empty and solemn corridor.

The huge glass windows obviously provide excellent lighting, but they make the corridor even more tranquil. The stone walls are supposed to be airtight, but they make people feel chilly unconsciously.

Rather than ending at the emperor's private office, the long corridor known as the "Glacier" is more like a road leading to a dragon's lair.

Considering that the imperial nobles, regardless of their status, prefer to refer to [Henry III] with some kind of mythical creature that can breathe fire, has scales on its body, has sharp teeth and claws, is extremely dangerous but possesses supreme wealth, "Glacier's The saying "the end is the dragon's lair" is not entirely unfounded, and it always makes the audience smile knowingly at cocktail parties.

However, even on the "difficult" glacier, there are still people who can make some unusual moves.

In the emperor's private office, [Count Narzia], who was helping the emperor open the letter, couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth when he heard the muffled "dong dong" sound coming from the direction of the corridor.

"Your Majesty." Count Narzia put down the letter cutter in his hand and said with a smile, "General Arakchiev is here."

The emperor, who was sitting on the only chair in the room, nodded and gently put the quill back into the ink bottle.

Count Narzia understood, and helped the emperor tidy up the table with his hands and feet, and then consciously stepped aside, waiting for the arrival of the most popular figure in the imperial political arena - Minister of War Alexey Arakchiev.

…

In every sense of the word, Alexey Arakchiev was a figure who should not be found at the top of the imperial political edifice.

He was just the son of a poor little nobleman from the Far Eastern provinces. The property his ancestors had granted had been squandered in the passage of generations, leaving him with only a much-ridiculed aristocratic status.

However, relying on his "noble" status, Arakcheev entered the Royal Infantry Military School, and then relied on his ability to enter the empire's highest military academy in the Eternal City.

According to common sense, the best way out for this kind of aristocratic officer from other provinces who has no foundation is to be assigned to the Northern General Army or the Eastern General Army. Starting from the grassroots level as a junior officer, he will accumulate merits little by little in the ice, snow and yellow sand, and strive to reach the top by the age of forty. In the past, he was transferred back to the inland provinces to enjoy the rest of his life in a more generous job in a foreign province - or before that, he was put in a coffin and sent back to his hometown.

However, the emperor rescued Alexei Arakcheev from this fate. He made Arakcheev his auxiliary military attache, and released the latter at an appropriate time. After he obtained enough After winning military exploits, he was immediately transferred back to the center of power.

In the Eternal City, any individual who obtains such holy favor will attract countless criticisms and jealousies. Not to mention that Arakcheev was a provincial aristocrat with no foundation and no likability.

He was a strange and out-of-place figure among the extravagant, pleasure-loving Eternal City and the glorious celebrations of the Imperial Court.

Everyone knows that Alexei Arakcheev gets up at four o'clock every day, arrives at the work place at six o'clock, and requires all subordinates to arrive before he arrives. Violators will be warned for the first offense, fined for the second offense, and dismissed from office for the third offense. Even the prince cannot be exempted.

In terms of personal life, Alexei Arakcheev's stinginess is even more famous in the Eternal City.

He never went to the theater or participated in dances. He was very cautious about eating and drinking. He only occasionally played cards with the lowest stakes at home with only a few friends and comrades in arms. When he won, he would buy others a drink, and when he lost, he would Seeing off guests with a livid face.

When most people met him, they always saw a cold, gloomy, and acerbic look. Things might improve if he always smiled or joked, but he rarely did.

Many nobles of the Eternal City viewed him as an enemy, and when the Emperor appointed him as the new Minister of War, those who opposed the appointment included, but were not limited to, the Duke of Lothair, the Earl of Finlay, all of the Emperor's lieutenants, and the Empress—that is, every An important and influential figure in the court.

However, Alexey Arakcheyev still took office and single-handedly launched a large-scale bloody liquidation of the Southern General Army.

Count Narzia stood in silence with his hands lowered, listening with bated breath to the muffled "dong dong" sound that was getting closer and closer.

On the glacier promenade where others had to do their best not to fall, Alexey Arakcheev was the only one who could make heavy echoes every time the heel of his boot landed.

While other nobles of the court were trying to exert influence and try to prevent Alexey Arakcheev's new appointment, Count Narzia also publicly expressed his uneasiness about the appointment.

But that was just to avoid being squeezed out by others. Count Narziya knew from the beginning that Alexei Arakcheev's appointment could not be rejected.

The emperor wanted to use a character like Alexey Arakchiev who was resolute, selfless and unconditionally obedient to orders.

In other words, Arakcheev was a thug sent by the emperor to solve problems, and he was also a master problem solver.

For an emperor who ruled an empire with complex interests, internal infighting, and vast territory through an extremely large, inefficient, and overwhelmed bureaucracy, a figure like Alexei Arakcheev, Can be considered the most valuable asset.

As for the network of invisible patrons and patrons spread throughout the imperial government and the army, Alexei Arakcheev, who did not belong to any political faction and rose through the ranks solely on the appreciation and support of the monarch, was undoubtedly It's a bloody sharp blade.

"Alexey rose to great heights because he had no faction." Count Narzia secretly thought to himself: "When will he become Alexey who fell into the abyss because he had no faction?"

Although he had no intention of questioning His Majesty the Emperor's trust and sincerity in Alexei Arakcheev, Count Narzia did not think that the Emperor was unaware of this - a "thug" with no roots or connections among the upper-class nobility. , and can be thrown to the wolves without any burden if necessary.

As the dull footsteps disappeared, the door of the office opened a hand's width, and the attendant asked for instructions outside the door: "Your Majesty, General Arakcheev is here."

Count Narzia made a small gesture.

The door closed silently, and after a moment of silence, it opened completely.

Alexei Arakcheev, who was tall, with round shoulders and a long neck, walked into the office with his hat under his arm. The floor was still shaking after just a few steps.

Arakcheyev stood in front of the desk, pressed his boots together, and bowed deeply to salute.

Looking at the war minister's sunken cheeks and sparse head with pity, Count Narzia couldn't help but wonder: "Does this sharp sword who serves the emperor with 'solitude, loyalty and self-restraint' also know that one day he may be unburdened?" What about throwing the land to wolves?”

…

The distribution of power is like warming yourself around a fire. Location is everything. The closer you are to the flame, the warmer you will be.

So having access to the emperor's private offices was not only a privilege, but also a great power - Alexey Arakchiev knew this very well.

But even so, Arakcheev did not abuse this privilege.

Unlike Count Narzia, who "wanted to squat beside the emperor twenty-four hours a day," Arakcheev only met him once a week at a fixed time.

Today's interview is not on his schedule.

After the regular work report, Arakcheyev learned the reason why the emperor summoned him alone:

An unprecedented new institution will appear at the core of the empire's political ecology, and its name is the [State Council].

The emperor offered his sword a choice: either to remain as minister of war, or to serve as chairman of the newly formed Military Council under the Council of State.

According to Count Narzia's explanation, the function of the Council of State will be to debate all legislative and budgetary matters and provide advice to the emperor, while also shouldering certain supervisory functions.

Arakcheyev is no stranger to various "committees". In fact, the core of the imperial governance system is based on a series of large and small staff groups, councils, and committees.

The emperor established multiple councils for different areas of responsibility and areas of rule.

The members of the Council reviewed and discussed all letters, memorials and memoranda within their respective areas of responsibility, annotated them and submitted them to the Emperor to provide recommendations for actions the Emperor should take.

This system was established by the grandfather of the current emperor. At that time, the power of the emperor was far different from what it is today. Imperial power existed in the cracks between the nobles, and the area that the emperor truly ruled was like an isolated island in a principality.

The council system significantly improved the efficiency of the imperial bureaucracy, allowing the emperor to squeeze more power from a limited territory and continuously win in internal struggles.

However, as the imperial power expanded and the imperial government's rule became more sophisticated, the council was no longer able to cope with the massive number of reports coming from within and outside the empire.

So the Mad King Richard IV established a series of permanent institutions based on the parliamentary system to deal with matters within a specific scope of responsibility. This is how the concept of "government departments" entered imperial politics.

However, the redistribution of power will inevitably trigger a counterattack by vested interests. Richard IV's reform measures to establish "permanent departments" naturally aroused strong dissatisfaction among the "robe-wearing nobles".

In order to gain sufficient support to implement reforms, Richard IV compromised by placing the permanent departments under the Council.

From then on, letters, reports and memoranda from all corners of the empire were first handled by various government departments. Each department submitted the content that required decision-making to the relevant council. The relevant council then discussed it and attached recommendations, which were handed over to the emperor for decision.

Although this design has caused a series of problems such as overlapping powers, unclear responsibilities, and inefficient communication, so far, this administrative system is running reasonably well.

This was evidenced by a series of glorious victories in the Empire's foreign wars over the past thirty years.

So, what does this "Conference of State" with a name that sounds very Southern rebel style do?

Since the current emperor came to the throne, although drastic reforms like those implemented by his grandfather and father have never happened, small-scale flexible innovations have never stopped.

The structures and powers and responsibilities of various councils, committees, and government departments are constantly changing, so Alexey Arakcheev is not sure which agency will have real power in the future?

But compared to those court jesters who rack their brains to speculate on the divine meaning, Alexei Arakcheev had a very simple way to get the answer.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my ignorance." Arakcheyev frowned and asked the emperor bluntly: "Doesn't this so-called 'State Council' have overlapping powers with most existing councils? Do you want to To establish a committee of all councils?”

Next to him, Count Narzia looked at his nose, his nose and his mouth, and his mouth and his heart. He stood lifelessly in the corner like a sculpture, but his ears stood up high.

"As expected of you." Count Narzia's heart was pounding. He couldn't help thinking: "As expected of you."

Count Narzia could never ask questions that Arakchiev could easily ask.

The emperor looked at Arakcheev calmly, and behind him, the Mad Emperor Richard also looked at Arakcheev.

"A committee that takes the place of all councils," said the emperor.

A committee to replace all councils?

Committees that replace all councils!

A word as light as a feather, in the right ear, weighs more than a thousand pounds.

There was dead silence in the office, and Count Narzia swallowed subconsciously. He felt sincere remorse for staying here and listening to the emperor's conversation with Alexey Arakchiev.

From this moment on, he must pray that Arakchiev would remain silent until the emperor made his intentions known to the imperial subjects.

Before that, Count Narzia no longer dared to think about what would happen once a fourth person said the words "committee to replace all councils".

On the other side, Arakcheev's boot heel hit hard.

He answered bluntly: "Understood, then I will go to the State Council. Rather than being supervised by others, it is better for me to supervise others."

The emperor nodded lightly.

Arakcheyev asked again: "Your Majesty, who will take over my position?"

"Barclay de Tolly."

Arakchiev frowned, a Castilian with even more junior qualifications than when he was appointed Minister of War.

"The case of the Southern General Army." Arakcheyev continued to ask: "Should I bring it to the State Council?"

"No need."

"Barclay." Speaking of his successor, Arakcheyev said with a hint of contempt: "I'm afraid I don't have the guts to get to the bottom of it."

"There is no need to investigate further." The emperor paused briefly: "The case of the Southern General Army ends here."

Count Narzia's heart began to beat violently again, because the emperor's simple words meant that the Southern General Army fraud case that frightened everyone could finally come to an end.

"Mr. Arakchiev." The emperor rarely called out the minister's name.

"Your Majesty." Arakcheyev slammed the heel of his boot again.

"As Chairman of the Military Affairs Commission." The emperor explained patiently: "Your first task is to end the chaos exposed in the military and grain departments in the south and restore order to the military administrative system. Recruit enough new soldiers and horses to supplement the northern general army. losses in war and to prepare for losses that will be incurred in future wars.”

Arakcheyev listened to every word, thought for a moment, and shook his head: "It's too hasty. If the Southern General Army can be cleaned up and rebuilt, everything you want to do will be much easier."

Count Narzia's heart was tense. He had beheaded so many people and dismissed them from their posts. Didn't this bastard Arakcheev think it was not enough? Is this cruel reckoning that has finally come to an end, going to continue?

The emperor did not respond to Arakchiev's complaints.

He looked out the window and tapped the armrest.

Once, twice, three times...

"Time waits for no one," the emperor said.

[Happy New Year! ]

[I wish everyone a safe and healthy new year! ]

[The part about the imperial government in this chapter refers to the contents of [The Decisive Battle between Russia and Napoleon] and [Emperor: Charles V]. Since there is real information about empires in history, the author feels that it is better not to make something out of nothing]

[Additional note: Regarding Winters’ nickname]

[Winters’ nickname is different in different people’s mouths]

[Within the Veneta Army, the earliest nickname spread was [Bloody Montagne] or [Bloody Montagne]]

[The nickname "Wolf's Blood" or "Blood Wolf" comes from Lieutenant Colonel John Jessica. In a sense, Winters at that time had not yet been regarded as one of his own, otherwise Lieutenant Colonel Jessica would have given him a better nickname]

[So currently, Winters is generally called [Tribune] within the Tiefeng Army. Only under special circumstances, in order to strengthen the tone, Winters will be called [Blood Wolf]]

[Friendly troops and civilians do not avoid the taboo and usually call them "Blood Wolf\