Chapter 50: Council Meeting and the Southern Plans 2

An air of extreme seriousness instantly appeared as all the gathered ministers narrowed their eyes, and furrowed their borrows, suddenly remembering my odd question about the state of the southern army during the last meeting, that they simply disregarded at the time due to more pressing issues.

Some of them also recalled that when I raised said question, they theorized that I simply planned to reinforce and restrengthen the infamous southern army, that is widely known as the weakest of all the Eclipse Empire's armies, so that it can be used as a reserve force, ready at any moment to reinforce the frontlines in any future wars, but according to these papers in their hands, they realized that they couldn't have been more wrong.

Sensing their solemn disposition and impatient curiosity, I turn to Horus and order him to present the map he'd been carrying, which he very quickly did, almost instantly causing all those who beheld it for the first time to gawk at it in sheer awe, as they gazed at it's sublime and exquisitely drawn features, that could enrapture even the most ignorant people in the field of cartography!

The map, as you would expect, depicted the Eclipse Empire to an almost scary degree. So much so, that it even had the names of the most insignificant fishing villages on the western and eastern shorelines that flanked both sides of the nation.

Or the tiniest caravan stop and garrison on the northern edges of the empire, that pushed against many powerful and hostile nations such as the Luminous empire in the northwest, the Yue Dynasty in the northeast, as well as many neutral states such as the Astrapi Kingdom and many, many more!

But by far the greatest time and effort in this cartographic masterpiece was obviously committed to the southern frontier, that jutted into the Hadrian Mountains.

A massive steep mountain range that ran perpendicular to the coast, segmenting the continent in two, with only three passes to bypass the towering peaks.

Two of these passes were situated near either coastline, where the mountains gradually receded into nothingness.

While the third was crammed in the middle of the mountain range, where a narrow valley known as the Broken Gate was, which also happened to be where the southern army's main barracks and head quarters was based, so that it could quickly and efficiently defend against the fearsome, and equally mysterious tribes that existed beyond the known world!

Being the smartest and most competent men in the empire they almost immediately understood my plan as three dreadful words appeared in their minds 'Another southern expedition!'

Darius immediately rose from his seat and solemnly said "I implore you to reconsider, sire. Every expedition that has ever been attempted, has ended in complete failure with few survivors to speak of. And even among those who miraculously returned, they all soon turned mad, and took their own lives!"

"I concur. Even when the empire was at it's finest we failed to enter the southern lands, doing so now would be the height of recklessness." Hamilcar further reinforced Darius' argument as well, despite his own desires to witness such a glorious and bloody campaign.

"I also agree with both the Grand Marshal and the Grand Vizier. Especially since we have no guarantee on what we might gain from said conflict." Rhett spoke up as well.

"Indeed, sire. Even if we manage to win such a war, for all we know we might have to sacrifice tens of thousands of men, only to gain a few more pieces of possibly worthless land." Ashtad added.

"Not to mention the astronomical amount of resources we might lose due to this as well." The minister of agriculture was not silent either.

But despite such vehement arguments raised against me, the smile upon my lips didn't fade, as I calmly replied "Gentlemen, before you reject my plan, I urge you to finish reading the files I have presented you with, then you may speak your mind."

Frowning upon hearing my words, they looked back down in front of them, before carefully and meticulously reading the papers in their hands, which included another map that showed all the previously unknown southern lands that looked like a slightly curved dagger, half the size our own empire, while I enjoyed their expressions go from mild curiosity to utter disbelief, before finally settling on absolute astonishment!

"Where did you get all this information from, sire?" Darius asked incredulously.

"Although they are an isolationist people, I'm certain that many of them are still thirsting to taste the greater world, to discover what lies beyond their borders, and who the supposed demons of the north are.

You must unite these people, gaining us not only a weapon behind enemy lines, but also their support which we will desperately require if we are to claim victory where so many others have failed." I cunningly reply, as a cruel light flashes in my eyes.

A poisonous chuckle escapes his mouth as he says "Ingenious, sire.

You wish to destroy their unity, while not only using their labor to replenish our military supplies, but also as an auxiliary force during the war, which would not only erase the tension between our two people, but also strengthen our bonds as brothers in arms, fighting for a common cause, making it easier in the future for us to assimilate them into the empire.

Such a perfect plan is truly exemplary, my liege!"

"Enough with the praise Grand Vizier, I can already imagine you finding several ways of further improving the plan." I said smirkingly.

"Well... maybe a few." Darius replied jovially, which sent shivers down the spine of all who heard it, as the image of a giant puppeteer, smiling unnaturally as he gazed maliciously upon the world, while twisting the fates of all, with merely a simple tug of his fingers.

Returning back to my serious expression, I turn to Hamilcar and say "The western and eastern armies will slowly reposition southward in the coming six months, to avoid enemy detection, as well as to make sure that when the war does in fact start, we will not be flanked from the other passes by the Murathicus tribes."

"Certainly, sire, but that would mean that the southern army will be the main attacking force." Hamilcar said doubtfully, as his bloodlust began to unconsciously leak out of him.

"Indeed. That's why we will begin recruitment for the southern army to increase it's number from it's current thirty four thousand to at least seventy thousand, while also dispatching a few veterans as instructors to make sure their in top shape for the coming conflict.

I will also dispatch an extra twenty thousand from my personal army as reinforcements." I calmly reply.

"But sire, we're already rebuilding the northern army after the last war, and if we now begin recruiting more men for the southern army, we won't have enough equipment to arm them all. Unless we gain the full support of... that city." Hamilcar cautions with narrowed eyes.

I feel a headache beginning to form as I think about what Hamilcar said, while the words 'The Free City of Qaynan.' appear in my mind. I rub my temples, as I say "Isaac, prepare everything required to travel to Qaynan in the coming few weeks."

"I will do so immediately, sire." Isaac acknowledges.

As I finished my interaction with Isaac, Hamilcar says excitedly "That only leaves the issue of who will lead this mighty host, sire." A sudden hush permeated the room, as all the men stared at me in anticipation, as they also wondered the same.

I serenely smiled, as I looked at Hamilcar and replied "I shall of course honor my word."

A wild, enlivened smile appeared on his face, as he bowed his head and said with heartfelt gratitude "You have my eternal thanks, my emperor."

I nod to him, as we continue discussing the finer details of the plan, while my unusually quiet uncle frowns as he continues to drown in his own thoughts while reading the plans in front him over and over again, before a sudden chilling idea blossomed in his mind, shocking him senseless, as he desperately tries denying it, while internally screaming 'Impossible!'