```
These military nobles had long since formed a "community of interest," monopolizing the army's resources and ensuring that any substantial military maneuver had to pass through their consultation to proceed.
Otherwise, the troops wouldn't budge, or the involved officers would be ostracized, or you could find a 1 million livres campaign costing 5 million and still failing.
"It was the Royal Family who directly ordered the movement," another officer said, "without going through the Minister of War."
"How could this be allowed?!" the general with crow's feet at the corners of his eyes said somewhat agitatedly, "We must never set this precedent! I mean, allowing the Royal Family to use force at their whim..."
Surrounding people hurriedly signaled him to be quiet, fortunately, the music was loud enough that no other nobles heard.
