912 Submission to the King
While Linde was having a conversation with Hans and his multiple fiancees. Berengar was enjoying himself across the world in a foreign Kingdom where he was treated as their most esteemed guest. Aside from Princess Anggraini, who was sitting in the man's lap and feeding him local delicacies. Several other beauties were attending to Berengar's every need at the feast.
Despite the attention of the other women, Berengar was not the least bit interested. For a man like him, only the most beautiful princesses caught his interest. Every other woman on the planet was simply beneath his notice. Still, he did not shoo them away, and allowed these noble women to play around with him while the Majapahit King was forced to watch the shameful display of flirtation.
As Berengar was enjoying himself, he shot a glance over towards King Suratman, who was surrounded by the fathers of these women. Each of which was a prominent nobleman, and many of them were opposing the efforts to centralize the Majapahit Kingdom's authority under its monarch. As if to fan the flames, he posed a simple question to one of the girls, who was reaching her hand underneath his shirt so that she could feel the definition of his abdominal muscles.
"So tell me, sweetheart, what do you think about the potential Japanese invasion of your homeland? Are you perhaps scared?"
Unknowingly, Berengar had posed this question to a prominent nobleman's daughter, one who bitterly refused to buy into the notion of an upcoming Japanese invasion, let alone cede his authority as a vassal to the Majapahit King.
The woman was beautiful, though not quite in the same league as Anggraini, however she was happy that she had caught Berengar's attention, and simply spoke her thoughts on the matter as if it weren't a big issue.
"I've heard tales of Germany's strength. I'm sure that with such big, strong men protecting us, our people won't need to fear the Japanese and their petulant schemes. Isn't that the case?"
However, Berengar's reaction shocked the woman, as he merely chuckled before responding to her, and by extension, her father.
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"Do you really believe I would deploy my army to protect you from Japan? I might be willing to sell your realm arms, and munitions, but I have no intentions of defending your Kingdom from the avaricious gaze of Empress Itami. That will be something you have to do yourselves..."
This response astonished the woman, her father, and the other nobles who had presumed the German fleet would counteract Japan's attacks. After all, the German military had taken up residence in their backyard. Surely that meant that had ambitions for the region?
The woman's father gazed sternly at the Majapahit King, believing that perhaps it was Sarutman who convinced Berengar not to intervene in their defense as a means of ensuring their submission. After glaring at his liege for several moments, he could no longer hold his silence.
"What is the meaning of this? Do we not have an alliance with the German Empire? Is that not why you have ceded control of the Malacca strait to their navy?"
Suratman glowered at the unruly nobleman and was about to speak when Berengar did so on his behalf.
"Alliance? I'm afraid you are mistaken... I merely promised to provide arms, munitions, and training to your troops at an affordable price. Though I have taken a liking to your Princess, I have never made a defensive pact with your King. If your reason for resisting centralization of authority was because you thought that I would send my forces to fight a war with Japan on your behalf, you have severely miscalculated the geopolitical situation.
Make no mistake, the future of the Japanese Armed Forces relies on one critical resource. How do I know this? Because my Empire also makes use of it, and unlike Empress Itami, I actually have an ample supply of the mineral. Once the Japanese realize that they can no longer gain access to this resource from the Indian subcontinent, they will be presented with two options. Invade the Ming Dynasty, or seize Borneo.
Naturally, the Japanese will not invade the Ming Dynasty. The Chinese have too much land and have too many people. Any territory which the Imperial Japanese Army gains would be faced with stiff resistance by the local population. The fact of the matter is, the Japanese Empire does not have the required manpower to launch a successful invasion of the Ming Dynasty.
Since this is the case, there is really only one option that Empress Itami will be left with. Now that you know the truth, are you really willing to say that this is merely a hypothetical threat that doesn't require immediate action on your behalf?
Whether your realm survives the upcoming war is based entirely upon the level of cooperation that you are all willing to make in your defense against the Japanese. I can provide you with the means to resist, but I will not risk an all out war with the Japanese Empire just for your sake."
These words were like a massive bombshell, as they evoked an emotional response from all the nobleman, and vassals present. It was just as Berengar had said, their resistance to the centralization of authority was based entirely upon the false belief that the German Military would come to their aid. Now that they were presented with evidence to the contrary, they had to rethink their actions.
Anggraini smiled as she did the unthinkable and kissed Berengar on the lips with such passion in front of all her guests. Though they were aware of the relationship between the Kaiser and the Indonesian Princess, they did not expect her to behave so shamefully in a public setting.
Berengar merely accepted the woman's kiss and twirled his tongue with her own for several seconds before breaking apart. Anggraini then whispered something in his ears that nobody else had heard.
"Well played... With a single speech, you have forced these old fogeys into action. I must say that I am impressed..."
Berengar simply ignored the woman's words before speaking to the nobleman, whose daughters were now trembling with fear at the prospect of a Japanese invasion.
"It is the dawn of a new era, gentlemen. Just like how in Europe feudalism has gone extinct, so too must you all face this reality. Power lies in the hands of Kings, not the nobility. You can either peacefully hand over your authority to King Suratman, or he can bring your noble houses to ruin with the weapons and training I provide to his troops. I suggest you take a few moments to think about your choice..."
The nobles and vassals of the Majapahit Empire exchanged various worrying glances with one another. Not all of them could swallow their pride and hand over their power at the sudden drop of a hat. They needed time to think about this carefully.
There were even those who would rather die than give up the power they currently held. However, Berengar did not care about any of this. Instead, he was drinking wine from his glass while fondling Anggraini's breasts.
The woman was deeply embarrassed by this action, but she did not halt his movements. She knew better than to upset the Kaiser, and it was clear by the glint in his mismatched eyes that he was putting on a display of his authority.
Even King Suratman gazed upon the sight of the foreign emperor groping his daughter in shock. Though he wanted to say something, he knew just how powerful the Reich was, and did not dare utter a word of grievance.
This alone told the King's errant subjects that if they were to cling onto their feudal powers, it wasn't simply a matter of dealing with Suratman's personal forces. By taking such a scandalous action in front of them, the Kaiser was practically declaring that he was the one who held the authority to decide their fates.
The only sounds that could be heard within the dining hall of the Majapahit palace were Anggraini's muffled moans as she held her hand over her mouth, trying not to give voice to the pleasure she was receiving. Finally, Berengar halted his actions, and the room came to a sudden silence. He took another small sip of his wine before posing a question to all the Indonesian noblemen who were present.
"So... Have you come to a decision?"
Upon realizing the capabilities that the Reich possessed, and the fact that they had set up a massive military base in their backyard. Not a single one of the Majapahit vassals dared to utter a sound of disagreement. Instead, they got up from their seats and kowtowed before King Suratman before surrendering their feudal powers to their King.
"We hereby declare our eternal loyalty to King Suratman and his bloodline. If you so desire to revoke our feudal powers, who are we to disagree?"
Suratman was still shocked by the shamelessness Berengar had displayed just a few minutes prior. However, though he did not want to admit it. The Kaiser had his ways of forcing people to submit to his will. After several moments of silence, the Majapahit King accepted his vassals' loyalty, and officially incorporated their territories into a single state.
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