Chapter 263: Chaos of War

Chapter 263: Chaos of War

"Porcana and Caselmaroni have declared independence."

"They are being aided by the west and the north. Who would have thought they would ally with barbarians? It's hard to see even an inch ahead in this world these days."

"What is the empire even doing?"

Such was the common topic all over the empire. Even in the countryside where news was slow to reach, no one was unaware of the chaos in the civilized world. People were trembling with fear but also excited by the tiny hope of a new world opening up.

The plunderers from the west became allies with a kingdom of the civilized world. The northerners were claiming to be an independent nation under the Sun. Different factions with varying values had united against the common enemy called the empire.

"The so-called ‘millennium empire’ couldn't even last a hundred years."

"Hey, we don’t know that yet. Do you really think the empire would collapse so easily?"

"Apparently they were hit pretty hard this time. I heard they sought peace but were rejected. That just shows that the empire is really on the defensive."

All the men who could wield a sword in the civilized world were jumping into the mercenary business. Not only the empire but also the kingdoms were busy frantically bolstering their armies. If the empire fell, the peace and balance of the civilized world would crumble along with it.

"Well, it did feel like the peace was lasting too long."

The elders had lived their entire lives in war. In fact, the peaceful period that had fewer wars had lasted only about ten years. Considering the history of civilization, this peaceful era was an unusual era, while war had always existed.

"Have you heard of the leader of the plunderers? They say it's a barbarian warrior named Urich."

"Urich?"

"Apparently he’s a barbarian who drinks blood instead of water and enjoys eating human flesh. That’s what the rumors say, at least."

"How horrible. To think those kingdoms allied and shook hands with such a man...."

News of the empire's major defeat spread quickly. The name of the plunderer leader became a symbol of fear, and bizarre rumors circulated.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The remnants of the imperial army returned despondently to the imperial capital of Hamel. The sight of the knights was especially pitiful.

‘They call this mercy?’

The defeated imperial knights looked at their empty right wrists. They had kept their heads, but their lives as knights were over. With their right hands cut off, they couldn't wield weapons. Their bodies trembled whenever they saw their severed hands. It was a cruel fate.

‘Those crazy barbarian bastards.’

But Urich called it mercy. The knights recalled the day their fate was decided.

Knights who were of nobility naturally thought they would be released for ransom. Even the Porcana Kingdom leaned toward releasing them that way as well.

"Show mercy, Urich,” Gottval said while looking at the prisoners after the battle had ended.

"I can’t do that; these guys are masters of combat. Maybe if it was just a couple of them, but hundreds? You want me to just let all of them go?"

Urich shook his head firmly to dismiss any sliver of hope for the imperial knights. The knights who came out for ransom negotiations turned pale at his words.

Urich sat on a fur-covered chair, looking at the kneeling imperial knights. Ten knights of higher noble birth and rank stood as representatives.

Gottval looked at Varca as if he was pleading for help. Varca awkwardly smiled and spoke up, having been looking away.

"Urich, you can't kill them all. Many of them have relatives in Porcana. All nobles are somewhat related by blood, so their fathers or grandfathers might be from Porcana. This battle isn't just your alliance army's concern; Porcana is involved too... please save my face."

The last part was whispered.

"Letting such dangerous men go will only have them come back armed again. You've seen how they fight. They're scary."

As Urich said this, the faces of the imperial knights were filled with mixed emotions.

Urich, the formidable barbarian enemy, acknowledged their skills. Urich said he couldn't afford to let them live because of how strong they were. To the knights, it was a great compliment, but at the same time also made their hearts sink.

"We will accept whatever decision."

The representative imperial knights maintained their pride. They did not beg for their lives.

"See? They say it's okay to kill them. Exactly what I would expect from true warriors."

Urich laughed heartily. The nobles of Porcana grumbled and cursed Urich.

"Urich! We have shed enough blood already. Are you saying you intend to spill more?"

“Is the empire going to crumble under my reign? The empire?”

The kingdoms that had been under oppression were rising up. The empire's main army was busy dealing with barbarians and had no time to subjugate the kingdoms.

‘Will the nobles still listen to me at a time like this?’

He needed to gather an army one more time. This time, it wasn't enough with just the direct territory of the empire. He needed the support of even the nobles on the outskirts. All nobles, whether they were anti- or pro-imperial, had to send troops if the empire was going to resolve the current situation.

‘I need to return to Hamel. There's no time to waste on the northern front like this.’

Yanchinus looked at the tactical map.

‘Who should I leave in charge of the northern front? Sun Warriors Commander Alfnan? No, he's too blinded by ambition to be reliable.’

He couldn't immediately think of a capable commander. The empire was in a transitional period with their talents. The old men who had lived the empire's golden age were retiring, and the new young ones were just beginning to gain experience.

‘I don’t have anyone better than Carnius.’

The situation was dire. Soon, the kingdoms would declare war on the empire.

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

Yanchinus closed his eyes and reflected on his decisions. He had invested heavily in exploring the Eastern Continent and pioneering the Sky Mountains. Although some nobles cried out that it was a waste of national funds, it wasn't a major issue for the economically prosperous empire.

‘They were both investments worth making if we were thinking long-term.’

Yailrud and the western expedition were the crucial mistakes. He had essentially created a passage connecting the west and the civilized world. He had thought that one legion would be enough to develop the west.

On paper, it was a correct judgment. One legion should have been enough to handle the barbarians who were not united.

“That’s where you came in... Urich.”

Urich was the root of all problems. He was an early explorer and warrior who had traversed both worlds.

Urich quickly unified the west and awaited the empire's legion. No matter how weak the tribal armies were, their power, when united, was tremendously strong. The plunderers wiped out the legion, occupied Yailrud, and only grew stronger.

“Keke, I should have killed him when I had the chance.”

He never thought that Urich would become such a great threat. He had thought of him as just a barbarian good at fighting, merely a tool to be used.

“So, where should I start the cleanup?”

Yanchinus looked around the map with rolling eyes. Porcana and the plunderers were not going to agree to peace now. Even if they did, their demands would be excessive since they had just won a major battle against the imperial army.

‘The ones I can persuade are the other kingdoms. I need to give them what they want before they declare war.’

Yanchinus decided to give up on the kingdoms. It was nearly impossible to maintain vassal states in the current situation.

“If defeat is inevitable, it's better to give them what they want first,” Yanchinus mumbled the lesson he had received.

He needed to make concessions before relations with other kingdoms soured. At least that way, he could avoid hostile relationships.

‘If I return the territory we occupied to the Giskin Kingdom, which borders Caselmaroni, they will likely want to strike at Caselmaroni given their long-time rivalry instead of antagonizing us. If Giskin starts military action, Caselmaroni won't have the leisure to fight us.’

If the immediate military forces were insufficient, he had to use another kingdom to tie up the hostile kingdom. He was an emperor who had learned statecraft, and this was how the first emperor had achieved great unification fifty years ago; by expanding his power by allying with various kingdoms and sometimes even betraying them.

‘You’re supposed to learn from history.’

It was already too late to prevent the chaos of war. In that case, he needed to make the most of the turmoil.

‘Not much can be done about Porcana and the western plunderers gnawing away at the eastern part of the empire. It would be nice if the local lords could hold out, but I can't expect much from them.’

Yanchinus bit his thumbnail.

‘As soon as Caselmaroni is out of the picture, I need to push the northern rebels up with all my might. If I can take just three of their strongholds, I can create a stalemate.’

The northern rebels had occupied the strongholds the empire had selected as strategic points. With Caselmaroni's support added on top of that, they were managing to hold their ground against the empire. But this also meant that if the imperial army were to take those strongholds back, they could tie down the northern rebels with just a small army.

‘If I couldn't tie down the west and Porcana... then this time, I must tie down the north.’

Riiip!

Yanchinus picked up his dagger and stuck it into the map. He put on his coat and went out to summon the commanders and scribes. Even in a disadvantageous situation, the emperor was pondering a breakthrough.

The blood of conquerors spanning three generations was boiling hot. The breath of a hungry wolf spread fiercely.

After five decades, the era of chaos of war returned. Yanchinus thought of his grandfather's era. The great first emperor had built up the empire despite being in a more desperate situation. Compared to that, the current empire was still in a much more advantageous position.