The doctor suffers from amnesia, but not complete amnesia.

He wanted to see how the person who got hit would deal with Nikolai.

"I'm sorry, this is not a matter I can decide. The formation of a new army group requires His Majesty's decision, and His Majesty's thoughts are beyond the control of either me or Grand Duke Nicholas."

Witte wouldn't get involved in this mess. If he pushed for downsizing and gave Nicholas a new army group designation, the nobles' anger wouldn't be directed at Nicholas, but at him.

"But how could His Majesty agree? He originally wanted to weaken the Grand Duke's military strength..."

Qiao Yelan realized he had spoken out of turn and shut his mouth halfway through his sentence.

"That's none of my business."

"Your Excellency Speaker—there has to be something to talk about, right?"

The man lowered his voice.

"Your Highness is not without other options. At worst, you can go all out and say that someone is trying to repeat the Great Rebellion of that year, and declare martial law throughout the city—there is always a way to suppress it."

Witt paused, his expression softening slightly.

Those damn soldiers! All they ever think about is resorting to violence when they can't handle things properly!

"As for the army group designation, only His Majesty can decide, that's for sure—but I can personally sponsor His Highness the Grand Duke with a political donation first. Even if it's downsizing, those laid off can be supported for now, right? Once His Majesty grants the designation, the Grand Duke can quickly establish one, can't he?"

Qiao Yelan narrowed her eyes and tapped her fingers on the table.

“Then, this matter cannot be discussed between the two of us alone. It must be reported to His Majesty. The military, you, and His Majesty must reach an agreement before I can give an account.”

"...Alright. When would you like to see His Majesty?"

Hooked.

"The sooner the better—but it's already late today, let's do it tomorrow, tomorrow morning, I'll come with you to see His Majesty."

Vita head.

Qiao Yelan nodded and took a deep breath.

"I hope I won't be held accountable when I get back, and that I can see you again tomorrow."

"Yes, of course."

Witt smiled and reached out to pour Qiao Yelan a cup of tea for the first time.

"Oh, I both hope to see you again and don't want to be sent here to see you again—you are truly the most terrifying negotiator I have ever met."

The man sighed, picked up his teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Your humble servant Witte greets Your Majesty."

"Your subject Qiao Yelan pays respects to Your Majesty."

The two men bowed to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I am physically disabled and beg Your Majesty to forgive my rudeness."

"It doesn't matter. Whether one is respectful or not has nothing to do with whether one's manners are appropriate."

The emperor seemed quite amiable towards Qiao Yelan, but he didn't show any sign that he knew Qiao Yelan.

Fyodor knew very well that his previous conversation with Qiao Yelan was just a secret meeting. He didn't need to mention the unspoken rules about removing Anatoli's responsibilities, but what Nikolai was handing over definitely needed to be done in a formal setting, witnessed by others—otherwise, what if the other party kept delaying and refused to give it to him?

"Your Majesty, Grand Duke Nicholas is getting on in years and feels that his energy is failing. However, there are too many matters to manage. Therefore, he would like to request Your Majesty to take over the command of a portion of the troops so that the old man can rest more."

"Since Your Majesty is unwell, I naturally cannot bear to let him overwork himself—I wonder which unit Your Majesty wishes to hand over?"

“Naturally, it is the First Army Group – a powerful army personally commanded by the late emperor. It was subsequently handed over to His Highness the Grand Duke for safekeeping. His Highness has been maintaining it with utmost trepidation until now, when he feels that he is unable to manage it all and therefore wishes to return it to His Majesty.”

Qiao Yelan went through the motions with utmost respect.

“Very well, since it is the army group that Father Emperor once commanded, I shall personally take command of it.”

Fyodor's voice startled Witte, clearly indicating that His Majesty the Emperor was very interested in the matter.

"In addition, Major General Valery, the Imperial Police Commissioner, colluded with nobles, abused his power for personal gain, accepted bribes, deceived his superiors, and repeatedly slandered others—all of these have been verified. This man must be executed to uphold justice and to appease public anger!"

"Is there such a thing?"

"Your Majesty is wise—this man was once a beloved general under the Grand Duke, but now that such a thing has happened, the Grand Duke feels he cannot shirk his responsibility and does not believe he is qualified to choose someone else to succeed him. Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to select a loyal and virtuous person to serve as the Commissioner of Police."

Fyodor waved his hand.

"Alas, Your Majesty is blaming yourself too much. This is a case of nobles colluding and bribing each other. People's hearts are fickle, how can one person control them? It is not his fault, Your Majesty need not feel so guilty."

"On behalf of His Highness the Grand Duke, I thank Your Majesty for your leniency."

Qiao Yelan bowed again.

Witt's eyebrows had already begun to furrow.

He felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Qiao Yelan's words were all reasonable and proper. The handover of positions and legions, at least on the surface, must be decided by the emperor. However, whether it was rebuilding the legions or selecting people to take office, the emperor could only rely on himself.

It seems I was just overthinking things?

"There is one more thing—this matter is of great importance. Before coming here, I had spoken with His Excellency the Speaker and we believe that this matter is absolutely beneficial to the Empire, so I cannot help but speak to His Majesty about it."

Why is there one more thing than yesterday?

Fyodor gave Witt a subtle glance.

It seems to be Witt's own idea, but he just forced Nikola's representative, Qiao Yelan, to bring it up so that he could stay out of it.

"The Empire is currently facing financial difficulties, with expenditures exceeding income, solely due to excessive military spending. Therefore, the Grand Duke hopes to reduce the size of each army group to decrease the Empire's military expenditures."

"Your Majesty, I humbly beseech you to have mercy on the people's strength and agree to the reduction of the army. Your Highness is willing to take the lead and devote yourself wholeheartedly to this matter!"

disarmament?

Fyodor's face remained expressionless, but his doubts grew stronger.

How could Nikolai have brought up the issue of troop reduction on his own initiative? Moreover, during his previous discussions with Qiao Yelan, troop reduction was not mentioned, and he had no such intention.

After all, I've already got my hands on the First Army Group. Wouldn't reducing the army now be like cutting off my own leg?

"...Is there anything else you wish to say, Imperial Uncle?"

"His Highness wishes to request His Majesty to grant a decree—Lord Anatoly is also of advanced age; could His Majesty possibly create a new army group designation and bestow it upon Anatoly?"

Qiao Yelan lowered his head and didn't look up after speaking, just pretending to be dead.

The holes that needed to be dug have been dug, and the things that needed to be said have been said.

Now we just need to wait for the results.

The emperor had already made up his mind.

It turns out that they were downsizing but not reducing personnel; the people cut from two army groups were used to form a third army group—that's more like Nikolai's style.

Looking back at the talk of disarmament now only raises more doubts.

Nikolai certainly didn't want to reduce the army, otherwise he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to preserve his troops. So this must be something Witte wanted to do.

What does Witt want to do?

Disarmament? Or something else...?

Fyodor's heart sank.

It's a newly edited version!

If he opens the door to new army groups for Nikolai while reducing the military, then more people will surely follow suit and ask him for the organization of new army groups. In this way, the requirements for reducing the military on the surface can be met while the desire to retain the entire army can be satisfied.

So here's the problem: for the nobles who control the army, doing this is obviously pointless—after all, all they have to do is not support disarmament, right?

But for Witt...

Nikolai said the entire army is being downsized, so does that mean the First Army also has to be scaled back?

If the emperor intends to maintain the size of the army, will he have to create a new organization?

But Fyodor knew very well that his private treasury was barely enough to support a shrunken army group, let alone open a new one—but if he didn't open one, wouldn't that be a pure loss for him?

So we'll definitely have to grit our teeth and add a new organization. So who will pay for and manage this new army group?

Nikolai has been ruled out.

So who else could it be but Islam Witt?

Who else could it be!

Qiao Yelan kept his head down, but the fact that the emperor had neither nodded nor refused since he finished speaking meant that he had achieved his goal.

He once said that he brought Fyodor the sweetness of power.

What will the Emperor think when Witte tries to intervene and take a slice of this fresh and delicious cake?

How can you quickly assess the level of unity within a team?

the answer is--

Give them some money and let them divide it among themselves.

Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Art of Language