After various interruptions, the second half of the lesson finally began.
From recent events, Camille seemed to have learned that 「going against Frea-sensei is scary」, which was a relief.
「Next is the Empire.」
Frea pointed to the handmade world map hanging at the front of the classroom.
「This central area of the continent is the Empire… the territory of the Broidwan Empire. It is said to be the largest in the continent. Does anyone notice something when looking at this?」
Sensei asked a very vague question.
This is the pattern where no one answers and it comes back to me! What kind of teacher harassment is this?!
「Sensei. Yees～」
「……Go ahead.」
「It’s attached to all the other big countries on the continent～」
「That’s right. Correct.」
The dark horse Camille got it right.
Now work, my brain. What does this mean?
「The Empire borders four great powers on all sides. That makes further territorial expansion very difficult. Even so, they were planning to push forward until the dragon attacks began. Now they focus on maintaining the front lines and conquering smaller nations.」
Looking at the map, there really is no safe zone at all.
Being surrounded by enemies on four sides means they can also be attacked from four directions.
This reminds me of something I saw in a game screen. The Oda Nobunaga encirclement, was it?
「The industries supporting the Empire are forestry and underground resource mining. With so many mines, the Empire produces most of the gold, silver, copper, and iron used across the continent. We have mines in Univance too and do some small-scale mining, but compared to the Empire’s output it is tiny. Still, we produce enough iron for our own use, so even if we fought the Empire, we wouldn’t run out and say 『No iroooon～』.」
That’s right. The only real strength of this small nation of Univance is that it can sustain itself with local production.
That’s one reason why the Republic and Empire desperately want this country. What a problem.
「The current Empire… since the emperor took the throne, it has attacked and subjugated countries everywhere. Most of what is called imperial territory consists of nations that surrendered. The Empire’s original land is only about the size of a mid-tier country. The consorts and children of the surrendered nations are all gathered in the imperial capital, so no country dares to resist.」
Unhappy voices rose from the students.
They didn’t like the idea of living apart from parents, and the structure of one nation dominating another was hard for them to understand.
Maybe because I studied history in my previous world, I can accept this more easily? Huh?
「Yes, sensei.」
「What is it?」
「The Empire is basically taking hostages, right? Then what about the Republic?」
The Republic should also dominate through economics and have many vassal states.
「I forgot to mention that. The Republic does not use this kind of policy.」
Frea scanned the classroom.
「Instead of taking hostages, the Republic takes something else from the countries that submit to it. That something is soldiers. The Republic takes all the soldiers into its custody and lends them back to the vassal states as dispatched forces. That is why the vassal states cannot go against the Republic.」
I understood. That would indeed make it difficult to resist.
Even if someone tried to persuade the dispatched soldiers to rebel, since they are only 「dispatched」, their families are likely kept in a different location.
In a way, it is still taking hostages—or securing collateral. It seems like something a very clever person would come up with.
「We went off topic a little, but that is how the Empire dominates other nations. However, surprisingly, the tax rate is low, and many people living there say it is 『easy to live in』. Some even try to migrate during the rainy season after hearing that.」
Huh～. I didn’t know that.
I always imagined the Empire as oppressive and militaristic just from the name.
「The Empire imposes three years of labor on these migrants before accepting them as full citizens.」
The classroom buzzed again.
They had thought it was a bad country that took hostages, but now it sounded like a good one, so they were confused.
It might actually be a good country in some ways. But they’re thorough about covering their bases.
「Yes, sensei. What kind of labor do they do during those three years?」
「……Mainly land reclamation in undeveloped areas.」
「What about their living conditions during that time?」
「They receive the minimum rations, apparently.」
Frea gave me a slightly angry look.
Was that supposed to be the big reveal later? If so, sorry for jumping ahead.
「As you can see from that question, people who move to the Empire end up doing farm work. But that creates a small problem… after three years of working the land themselves, they naturally grow attached to it. Most people don’t want to let it go. So they end up staying there and continuing to farm.」
As a result, the Empire gains more taxpayers, so even with low tax rates, there is no problem.
If more people come from other countries, they give them undeveloped land… and the cycle repeats.
「The Empire is surprisingly smart.」
「Argusta-sama? That comment itself sounds pretty dumb.」
Frea threw a sharp retort at the words I muttered without thinking.
Yeah. What a rude thing to say to your own superior.
I glanced at Noie, wondering if she would say something too, but she was hugging Camille and asleep.
Um… is the princess being suffocated in that chest still alive?
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