The Martial Unity

Patriarch Shinken gazed at the Emperor of Harmony with a stunned expression. “…A democratic republic? But…”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Not even the Kandrian Empire is a democracy. So I do not understand why you wish to relinquish control over the Sekigahara Confederate and turn into a democracy.”

“Not immediately,” Emperor Rael clarified, leaning in closer as he steepled his fingers. “The nation isn’t ready to turn into a democracy, and simply making a hasty transition will lead to weak institutions that will collapse in the blink of an eye. Reform takes time. I suspect that it will be a decade before the transition to a democracy occurs and I relinquish control over the country. As for Kandria not being a democracy…”

He directed a knowing gaze at the Patriarch. “That’s because it doesn’t need to be a democracy as long as I occupy the throne. The point of a democracy is to ensure that leaders have the interests of the people at heart, as much as possible. In the case of the Kandrian Empire, they have me. There is a reason that the Kandrian Empire hasn’t ever experienced a major riot, at least not against the government or my rule, in the past seventy years.”

He gazed at Patriarch Shinken with piercing eyes. “It’s because I ensure that they never have any reason to. The only time there have been civil tensions and conflicts in the Kandrian Empire was when I wasn’t on the throne due to my illness, leading to the Kandrian Throne War. Comparatively, would you assert that your clan leaders are truly leaders for your people?”

Patriarch Shinken heaved a deep sigh.

“No.”

The Emperor of Harmony gazed at him with a disapproving look. “Your people lead a limited lifestyle due to the fact that you redirect all of the state’s resources to the Martial institutions of the nation, leaving the average citizen deprived of even basic technology. Frankly, it’s a wonder that your people have never retaliated. But that changes from now on…”

The Emperor of Harmony continued to present him with a concrete plan with the Sekigahara Confederate. The first stage of his plan was comprised of stability and security. They needed to focus on ensuring that the nation didn’t crumble away to pieces as it was very close to right now. This involved consolidating intact territory, resources, and capital and treating injured people. The Emperor of Harmony was considering having a squad of Martial Masters, comprising at least two peak Masters, to bolster the Sekigahara Confederacy’s security.

Once that was completed, he would leverage the threat of direct and indirect destruction to force all the clans to surrender all their power to a centralized authority known as the Sekigahara Mandate created by the Emperor of Harmony that would oversee the Sekigahara Confederate.

“I want you to lead that Mandate as my subordinate,” Emperor Rael informed him, earning a surprised reaction from him. “You will serve as the intermittent leader of the Sekigahara Confederate, soon to be known as the Sekigahara Mandate.”

Patriarch Shinken’s eyes widened with shock. “…Why me?”

Emperor Rael gazed at him with a calm expression.

“You were willing to let your head touch the ground to protect your people.”

Patriarch Shinken’s expression darkened. “…Something that shameful is not something to be proud about.”

“I disagree,” the Emperor of Harmony calmly replied. “None of the other clan leaders would have gone as far as you to protect their people. They would watch as their own people were massacred and killed, all while still holding their heads high and chests puffed. Because their ego and pride are more important to them than their own people.”

Patriarch Shinken digested the praise from a man now almost universally regarded as the greatest leader in human history.

“…What do you expect from me?”

“I expect you to use your vast knowledge and experience with the Sekigahara Confederate to lead the Mandate and bring about the changes that I desire to see,” Emperor Rael remarked. “You would be more suited to it with your understanding of your nation. You know how your people think. You know what makes them tick. That makes you more suited to creating a system with the right incentive structures to incentivize the behavior I wish to see. Additionally, with a familiar face leading them, they will be far less likely to reject you.”

The patriarch of the Shinken Clan heaved a deep breath.

“Understood, Emperor Rael. I will endeavor to help you help my people.”

And with that, the Shinken Patriarch had once more conceded the Sekigahara Confederate to the Kandrian Empire after hearing what the Emperor of Harmony had for the future of his nation. He hadn’t expected to be placed at the top of the new vassal polity formed by the Emperor of Harmony, but he didn’t reject this either.

If this path led to the people of the Sekigahara Confederate being even half as prosperous as the people of the Kandrian Empire, then it was more than a win in the books of the Shinken Patriarch. Soon enough, a formal ceremony that was broadcast to various polities occurred as the Shinken Patriarch signed a vassal treaty that recognized the ownership of the Sekigahara Confederate by the Kandrian Empire.

It was not a good day for the people of Sekigahara, but while its people would have rioted and revolted at the thought of being owned by the Kandrian Empire, this time there were no such riots or revolts.

With half of the population destroyed, and half of the remaining injured to various extents, not a single person was in a physical condition to riot and revolt or in a mental condition to do so, drowned in sorrow, grief, and misery at the death of loved ones and their fellow countrymen.

This was the one and only opportunity for the Sekigahara Confederate to undergo a revolutionary reform that would alter its destiny for the better and build a future for the nation and for the people. –