CHAPTER 610: FACTION

Editor: Tseirp

“Let’s have a big celebratory lunch!”

“Well, we certainly did our best.”

Because both of them had worked hard at yesterday’s Kyoonkai, today’s lunch was apparently to be their afterparty.

Mind you, as always, it would simply be a meal.

However…

“Hmm? There are visitors.”

Ryo said that and ran to the gate.

Abel walked there more slowly.

At the gate, Ryo received a letter and read it.

Beside him stood the horned golem—Messenger No.1-kun*…and facing them was a small boy. (TLN: Previously Advance-Notice Officer No.1-kun)

Abel remembered that the child was a page from the neighboring Prince Ryun’s royal residence.

“Understood. Please tell His Highness we await him.”

When Ryo said that, the page bowed and ran back to the prince’s residence.

“Abel, the afterparty is cancelled.”

“Prince Ryun is coming?”

“Yes. He says he has something he wishes to consult about.”

Ryo said that and handed the letter to Abel.

Ryo himself folded his arms and fell into thought.

“What’s wrong?”

Having finished reading the letter, Abel asked Ryo.

He looked rather serious.

“I’m troubled about what to do for lunch.”

“Ah, right, I see…”

Serious Ryo—Abel felt a bit let down.

“It’s nearly eleven… His Highness will arrive in about fifteen minutes, so we can’t really go out to eat. But skipping lunch is….”

“If it’s absolutely necessary, couldn’t we have food delivered from a shop?”

“Delivery? That might be possible…but I feel awkward asking them to bring food during what will be a busy lunchtime.”

Ryo frowned and shook his head.

“Ryo, you’re so conscientious in matters like that.”

“I’m not like Abel, who always leans on his authority to have things delivered.”

“Have I ever done that?”

Abel tilted his head in confusion.

“When you were at the royal castle, you always had meals brought to your office!”

“Oh, well, yes…”

“The castle cafeteria staff must have reluctantly brought food to Abel. Tyranny from the king!”

“Marquis Heinlein also had meals brought to his private room.”

“Eh? The Prime Minister as well?”

Ryo was surprised at Abel’s remark.

Ryo held the Prime Minister, Marquis Heinlein, in high regard.

“When Marquis Heinlein or I, the king, appeared at the cafeteria, ordinary soldiers and clerks would get flustered or nervous.”

“Oh…”

“Well, he said that when he needed to hear things in person, he would go in person, but otherwise he preferred to have meals brought to his room.”

“I see! If the Prime Minister says that, it must be right! Abel accepting that suggestion proves he’s fit to be king.”

“What an about-face…”

Ryo was impressed while Abel shook his head slightly.

While they spoke, Prince Ryun and his entourage arrived and entered the room.

This time, only Prince Ryun and Chief Attendant Lin Shun came in.

On the hosts’ side, there were only Ryo and Abel.

After greetings, Prince Ryun got straight to the point.

“What I wish to consult about concerns factions.”

“Factions?”

Ryo tilted his head.

Because the letter had said he wished to consult about something, Ryo had thought of several possibilities, but factions was not among them.

“If I recall, the other three princes each have their own factions.”

“Yes. To be frank, Duke Rondo, do you think I should form a faction as well?”

It was a very direct question.

“The reason is that since yesterday, I have received multiple offers from Shitaifu-class members asking to join my faction.”

“Yesterday—you mean the Kyoonkai. Oh, could this be about Prince Bin?”

“Yes. Brother Bin’s behavior at the Kyoonkai could be called an unprecedented blunder.”

Prince Ryun’s expression did not look pleased at the rival’s mistake.

Rather, it looked almost sorrowful…

“In fact, over the past month… since the fall of Lin Sui-dono, who was Brother Bin’s right hand, Brother Bin has lost the Emperor’s trust.”

“I see…”

The assassination attempt on Prince Ryun had produced no direct evidence tying Prince Bin to it.

Thus, there was no formal accusation against Prince Bin himself.

But the Emperor is not foolish.

From the accumulated evidence, he suspected it was highly likely that Prince Bin had known of or permitted the attack.

Moreover, a witness was confirming Lin Sui’s involvement.

Thus, Lin Sui was expelled from Prince Bin’s retinue.

Then there was Prince Bin’s conduct at the Kyoonkai.

Especially his demand that Duke Rondo perform—the Emperor showed clear displeasure, his expression betraying it.

Everyone present—aside from Prince Bin—understood this.

Naturally, members of the Shitaifu-class who belonged to Prince Bin’s faction took notice.

Can one continue to stay under Prince Bin like this?

No—not at all.

That much was clear.

But now it was impossible to join the Second Prince’s or Third Prince’s factions.

So then…

They considered joining Prince Ryun’s new faction.

Originally, many of those in Prince Bin’s faction were people who had been late to join the Second or Third Prince when their factions formed.

Or they were people who had lacked influence five years ago…

They had grown in power over five years and had momentum.

But they had not attached themselves to Prince Bin because they admired his character or wisdom.

Those people were attempting to switch masters and were approaching Prince Ryun as their new destination.

Emotionally, one might say such people don’t deserve a second glance…

However, questions about factions are extremely difficult for those involved in politics.

From a civilian, non-political perspective, factions seem wholly negative.

One imagines putting one’s faction people into positions regardless of ability or merit.

And in reality, that often happens.

When it does, those around them and the populace suffer negative consequences.

Seen that way, it’s obvious that factions are undesirable.

Ignoring factional ties and placing talented people in appropriate positions.

That is the correct organizational approach.

That is true.

No one could deny that.

But in reality, it does not work that way…

Once an organization reaches a certain scale, factions inevitably form.

This holds true in any era and any world.

Therefore, people form factions and gather in groups.

Perhaps that is part of human nature.

What’s difficult is that some people dislike grouping.

Truly, people are complicated beings…

People gather.

In politics—an arena where a single mistake can mean dismissal, even death for oneself and one’s family—gathering in groups becomes a way to survive.

So they gather.

So they attack those who do not gather.

They may preemptively remove those who are not allies…perhaps logic like that prevails.

In democratic nations, matters are even more severe.

Numbers are power; those who do not gather lose their reason for existence.

A member of parliament cannot propose new laws alone.

Because rampant pork-barrel laws would be dire… numbers have become power.

In the end, decisions come down to majority votes…

Yes, numbers.

Humans still have no decision-making method better than majority rule.

Humans still lack political approaches that do not rely on grouping.

Denying factions is easy, but in practical politics, people simply don’t know another way.

Perhaps in a perfect dictatorship…

Ryo pushed those wandering thoughts to the corner of his mind.

“Before I answer whether you should have a faction, I want to confirm one thing with Your Highness.”

Ryo looked at Prince Ryun and asked.

“For whom do you believe politics should be conducted?”

“For the people.”

Prince Ryun answered immediately to Ryo’s question.

His gaze was fixed firmly on Ryo.

Completely unwavering.

Completely steady.

Prince Ryun then spoke slowly, choosing his words.

“Previously, Duke Rondo said this: ‘It begins with the Moral Law’.”

“Yes.”

He referred to a passage from Sun Tzu.

‘First: the Moral law, Second: Heaven, Third: Earth, Fourth: the Commander, Fifth: Method and discipline. The moral law is that which unites the people’s will with that of their ruler. Therefore, the people will willingly die and live for the ruler, without any doubt or hesitation.”

The Moral Law is politics that assimilates the people’s feelings to those of the rulers.

That is correct governance; if done rightly, the people will share life and death with their rulers.

Hence, the primacy of ‘the Moral Law’.

Although known as a military treatise, Sun Tzu’s focus is on statecraft.

How to maintain a nation.

How to strengthen it.

How to govern it…

Within national governance, Sun Tzu clarified the role of war.

Even in pursuing war, the aim is not merely to fight and win.

Win without battle; incorporate the enemy’s strength into your own and strengthen the nation.

Of course, when considering the foundation of a nation, what do you consider? The people.

That is the most fundamental basis of a nation.

On that rests war, diplomacy, and everything else.

“First is the Moral Law. The people are the nation’s core. Therefore, I believe politics should be conducted for the people.”

Prince Ryun said once more, and Ryo nodded and continued.

“Your Highness, if you do not lose sight of that, the nation’s politics will not go astray. Rulers must always keep that in mind.”

“Yes.”

“And if you keep that in mind, everything else is a minor matter.”

“Eh?”

“Whether to form a faction or not is a minor matter.”

Ryo smiled faintly and said that, then took a sip of tea.

He then spoke slowly.

“Do not confuse ends and means. The end is politics for the people; consider what means will achieve it.”

“Yes…”

“When striving to enact politics for the people, is it impossible without factions? Does having a faction guarantee success?”

“No…”

“When striving to enact politics for the people, is it always possible without factions? Does having factions always prevent it?”

“No…”

“Exactly. Whether factions exist or not, sometimes it can be done and sometimes not. Ultimately, factions are just one tool. Their absence does not make it impossible. Their presence is not a guarantee.”

This Darwei nation is, after all, a society based on status.

It might even be called a semi-dictatorship.

Not everyone can become the head of a faction, nor is holding a large faction the only way to win the imperial contest.

Numbers are power, but numbers alone are not the only power.

“In other words… whether to form a faction is up to you. Do as you like.”

“Yes.”

Ryo nodded to Prince Ryun’s reply.

“However, one thing…my personal opinion…”

“Yes, please.”

“You don’t need to actively form a faction, nor should you fawn on those who come courting… but for personnel whom you judge useful to the future nation you envision, it would be wise to keep an eye on them so other forces don’t crush them.”

“I see.”

Prince Ryun nodded at Ryo’s suggestion.

“Do not enclose them as your faction members. Simply let them feel you are watching—that someone is paying attention to them. Just the awareness that someone is watching can help people overcome difficulties.”

“I will engrave that in my mind.”

They discussed various other matters after that, and Ryo’s meeting with Prince Ryun concluded.

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