315 - He Whose Generosity is the Bounty of the World

By pigeon to Vae Arahi, hyerasora 78:

Ardi, Thara-e allies meeting, let me know no conquest prop’s till done. -Che

From:
Fourth Chevenga Shae-Arano-e,
Demarch and First General First
residing ad hoc in City Hall, Thara-e
To:
Lithae Korelae, judge
Court of Justice of Tinga-e

On the matter of Nainano-e Shae-Vakyira of Tinga-e,
charged under the statute common with treason

hyerasora 73 Y 1550

Honoured Judge:

In reply to your question, I confess I am torn. As you know, the accused was acting under the cruelest of compulsions on the part of the Arkans, the threat of death for her entire immediate family, and that was her entire motive; she was otherwise loyal to Yeola-e. She is not guilty of plotted malice, but of weak-mindedness and softness of heart. In the spirit of compassion and of chiravesa, as demarch seeing her as one of my people, I am drawn towards urging lenience.

On the other hand, it could be argued that she should have sacrificed herself, and by extension her family, for her people, as so many other Yeolis have done in this war. War forces hard choices, but they are hard—not impossible. She cannot argue that she knew she was doing right, or did not know she was committing a crime. Weak-mindedness and soft-heartedness are often punished with the most extreme severity in war, whether formally or naturally, on the field. In the spirit of the resolve of the warrior, as First General First, seeing her as a subordinate in the sense that we must all be warriors against Arko in spirit, I am drawn towards urging severity.

You ask me to answer the question not only from the philosophical standpoint, but the practical, drawing on my military expertise. Here, the answer can be gained from imagining ourselves the next Yeoli made by an enemy power to face such a dilemma. Do we want that person to think, ‘If I go ahead with this but I am caught by Yeolis, I will be treated with lenience as Nainano-e was”?

The answer that springs to mind is “No!”, of course; but that is too simple, as you will see if you truly play it out. If she considers lenience likely, she is more likely to go ahead with the action but then allow herself to be caught by Yeolis—and that next hostage rescued and freed as I was—especially if special effort is taken to rescue and free her loved ones who are being held, as I undertook. (Because I did so, the next person in this place will expect that, at least if the hostage is me.) There is a trade-off here, between deterrent and promise.

What is imperative, however, for the sake of that next hostage, is that it be very clear that should he end up dead or captive of the enemy by her actions, she will be punished with the ultimate severity. That will make it less likely for her to kill him in thoughtless panic or desperation, as people in such situations sometimes do.

Yeoli law does not distinguish between attempt and success, but I wonder if an exception may be made here in the wording of your ruling somehow. How well the next Nainano-e knows that her fate will be very different if she kills the next Chevenga might be the difference between life and death for him.

I urge you, Honoured Judge, to engage in full chiravesa here, playing out each increment of punishment or reward the Arkans promised for each possible result, against each increment of severity versus lenience you are considering.

I hope this aids in your deliberations.

Respectfully offered,
Fourth Chevenga Shae-Arano-e

From:
Fourth Chevenga Shae-Arano-e,
Demarch and First General First
residing ad hoc in City Hall, Thara-e
To: Nyereha Shae-Kiniko
First Admiral First

hyerasora 73 Y 1550

Dear Nyereha:

To this letter I attach a delivery of Arkan gold chains in the amount of ten thousand, gained by the unintended largesse of He Whose Generosity is the Bounty of the World. I send it on the assumption that this amount will enable you to liberate Asinanai. If so, begin actions to do so immediately; if not, or if you have some other reason for delay, reply stating that reason or what else is needed. If some other action is necessarily strategically first for reasons I don’t know, you have my permission to undertake it without my approval, as you have my trust.

I will be meeting very soon with representatives of our allies with respect to considerations in return for their aid, so expect possible orders for actions towards fulfilling those agreements—first priority, however, remains the total liberation of the Yeoli coast, until it is complete or until further notice.

The day of the celebration of our lifetimes is not far off, now. I can’t say how much I look forward to next seeing you, because it will be on that day.

Goddess-in-you infuse you,
Chevenga.