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?"

Gottval desperately tried to save the knights. The knights were stirred by his actions.

‘Who is this Sun priest shouting like this before the leader of the barbarians?’

It was clear to everyone that Gottval was a priest of Solarism. The pairing of a barbarian leader and a Sun priest was rather peculiar.

Urich scratched his chin and picked off a scab. His opponent was Gottval, and he wasn’t easy to ignore.

"Why can't you understand what I’m saying? If we let good fighters like these guys go, only more of us will die later. It's that simple, man."

Urich grumbled. The debate about what to do with the imperial knights continued. From Porcana's perspective, who were a part of civilization themselves, they couldn't annihilate the imperial knights.

Urich rubbed his forehead and looked at the knights. He sighed deeply.

"Fine. I'll show mercy."

Gottval's face brightened, and the knights' eyes wavered.

"You've made the right decision, Urich. Lou will surely return the mercy you’re showing today with even greater blessings."

Urich didn’t pay any attention to Gottval’s words and threw a hand axe in front of the knights.

He then spoke casually, "Cut off your right hands. Then I'll let you go."

"What?!"

The knights jumped up.

"This is as much as I can concede. If you can't accept it, wipe your necks clean and come back to me when you’re ready."

Urich was firm.

Neither Gottval nor Varca could say anymore. Urich didn't kill the knights, just as they had asked.

The knights had no choice. They looked at each other and nodded. It was better to return alive even if it meant having their hands cut off.

"We will not forget this humiliation," the knights said as they grabbed the axe Urich had thrown at them.

Urich shrugged and chewed on some jerky.

"No, no. Feel free to forget it. Just remember that I showed you mercy, keke."

Urich's low laughter echoed in the knights' ears. The captured imperial knights lost their right hands. Their lives as knights were as good as over, even if any of them were left-handed.

The knights who had their right hands severed made it back to the empire with their arms wrapped in multiple layers of bandage. Seeing their condition, the people of the empire were even more terrified. The physical mutilation was more shocking than the deaths they couldn’t see.

* * *

Emperor Yanchinus could not avoid struggling on the northern front.

The northern warriors, who had essentially become civilized by now, followed the empire's strategies and tactics exactly. When at a disadvantage, they held out in fortresses and engaged in defensive warfare while sending separate units to attack the empire's rear. Moreover, the Caselmaroni Kingdom, allied with the northerners, fiercely pressured the empire.

The regular army of Caselmaroni repeatedly attacked the empire's supply lines. The imperial army, unable to divide its front any further, was in a desperate situation.

Amidst all this, news of Carnius' defeat reached the north.

“Carnius....”

Yanchinus received the letter and clasped his forehead. He turned a bottle of wine upside down, pouring it onto the ground.

“Y-your Majesty!”

The maid next to Yanchinus trembled violently. None of the women in the imperial household were unaware of Yanchinus' temper. His violence especially peaked when receiving bad news.

Crash!

Yanchinus struck the maid’s head with the empty wine bottle. Glass shards embedded themselves in her head and face. She couldn't even scream, just covering her mouth and sobbing.

“Go tell the doctor I sent you,” Yanchinus said without even looking at her. He grabbed a few pieces of clothing from beside the bed and threw them at her.

‘Not only did he fail to make peace, but he also lost the battle....’

It was the worst possible outcome among many choices. He couldn't even reprimand Carnius because he was already dead.

“Ha, haha.”

Yanchinus laughed hollowly and then covered his mouth. He leaned over and retched. Cold sweat poured down his face.

“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.