Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 1 Red Grace Inn (1)
Chapter 2 Red Grace Inn (2)
Chapter 3 Dawn Academy (1)
Chapter 4 Dawn Academy (2)
Chapter 5 Young Noble
Chapter 6 The Origins Of Battle Force
Chapter 7 The First Days Since Reincarnation
Chapter 8 Battle Force And His Days As A Mercenary
Chapter 9 Dynamic Vision
Chapter 10 Aquametal Technique
Chapter 11 Incador Medal
Chapter 12 The Pawn And The Announcement
Chapter 13 Academy Head Levins
Chapter 14 Lakefront Residence
Chapter 15 A Fleeting Moonlit Dream (1)
Chapter 16 A Fleeting Moonlit Dream (2)
Chapter 17 A Fleeting Moonlit Dream (3)
Chapter 18 A Fleeting Moonlit Dream (4)
Chapter 19 A Fleeting Moonlit Dream (5)
Chapter 20 A Fleeting Moonlit Dream (6)
Chapter 21 A Fleeting Moonlit Dream (7)
Chapter 22 Locke And Els (1)
Chapter 23 Locke And Els (2)
Chapter 24 Locke And Els (3)
Chapter 25 Locke And Els (4)
Chapter 26 Els’S Request
Chapter 27 Final Preparations
Chapter 28 Selling Books And Requesting Help
Chapter 29 Settling Bills At The Inn
Chapter 30 Battle Force Awakening Course
Chapter 31 Pulse Reading (1)
Chapter 32 Pulse Reading (2)
Chapter 33 Journal Entries And The Duels
Chapter 34 Dueling Period
Chapter 35 President Peterson’S Thanks
Chapter 36 Attendant And Carriage
Chapter 37 Ambush On The Streets
Chapter 38 Counter Kill
Chapter 39 Aftermath
Chapter 40 The Duels Continue
Chapter 41 Counting Earnings And Beggars
Chapter 42 Arrival Of The People From The Family
Chapter 43 Troubles Within The Family
Chapter 44 The Fanatical Female Students
Chapter 45 The Decision
Chapter 46 Convoy Plans And The Oath Of Allegiance
Chapter 47 Knights And Gifts
Chapter 48 Northbound Journey Strategy
Chapter 49 The Academy Armory
Chapter 50 In Which Els Reports For Duty
Chapter 51 The Sloph Slavers
Chapter 52 Slaughter
Chapter 53 Occupying The Bastide
Chapter 54 Reorganization And Maidservants
Chapter 55 Ambush And The Yields
Chapter 56 Baron Miranda
Chapter 57 Various Preparations For The Journey
Chapter 58 The Journey North Begins
Chapter 59 Kill Them All
Chapter 60 Camp Intrusion And Takeover
Chapter 61 Arrival Of The Convoy
Chapter 62 Offense And Defense
Chapter 63 Breaching The Camp
Chapter 64 Winter Night Massacre
Chapter 65 Conclusion And Reorganization
Chapter 66 Mister Tim
Chapter 67 Josk’S Wish
Chapter 68 Strategizing
Chapter 69 The Battle Begins
Chapter 70 Troop Deployment
Chapter 71 Success
Chapter 72 Freiyar
Chapter 73 Trust
Chapter 74 Surprise Attack Successful
Chapter 75 The Final Assault
Chapter 76 Rounding
Chapter 77 Conference Of The Nobles
Chapter 78 On The Road
Chapter 79 A Withered Tree Crumbles Easily
Chapter 80 Forming Yet Another Convoy
Chapter 81 Telesti
Chapter 82 Viscount Kermas
Chapter 83 River-Crossing And Arrival
Chapter 84 Takeover
Chapter 85 The Plan Of The Kenmays Family
Chapter 86 Construction Staff Appointment
Chapter 87 Homecoming
Chapter 88 Power Struggle Rumors
Chapter 89 Inheritance Ceremony
Chapter 90 Three Chief Supervisors And Irina
Chapter 91 Sword Crisis
Chapter 92 Knight Belnick
Chapter 93 Enticement
Chapter 94 Midway Skirmish
Chapter 95 Family’S Forbidden Area
Chapter 96 Whitedeer Mound, Bread And The Slave Camp
Chapter 97 Mercenaries And Metal Armor
Chapter 98 Lorist’S Plan
Chapter 99 Maplewoods Bastide
Chapter 100 Barbarians, Gold Mine And Plotting
Chapter 101 Mistakes
Chapter 102 Trap
Chapter 103 Melee Outbreak
Chapter 104 Bloodshed And Remorse
Chapter 105 Repercussions
Chapter 106 Reward
Chapter 107 Supply Transportation
Chapter 108 The Pitiful Grandmaster Ciroba
Chapter 109 A Meeting With Telesti
Chapter 110 Intermission
Chapter 111 Breakthrough
Chapter 112 Blissful Night Life
Chapter 113 The Chosen Location And The Duel
Chapter 114 News Of The Mountain Barbarians
Chapter 115 An Unwelcome Guest
Chapter 116 Baron Camorra
Chapter 117 Tabik'S Demand
Chapter 118 The Issue Of Compensation
Chapter 119 The Decision To Deploy
Chapter 120 The Days Of The Expedition
Chapter 121 Duke Loggins'S Plot
Chapter 122 Return In Futility
Chapter 123 Urgent Reinforcement Request
Chapter 124 Warzone Merchants
Chapter 125 Battles Of Nobles
Chapter 126 Knight Carnival
Chapter 127 The Plot Of The Kenmays Family Head
Chapter 128 Request For Peace
Chapter 129 Knight Waxima
Chapter 130 Troop Deployment
Chapter 131 The Massacre And The Suspension Bridge
Chapter 132 Josk'S Fire Arrows
Chapter 133 Rolling Boulders
Chapter 134 Surprise Takeover
Chapter 135 Completion
Chapter 136 Out Of Options
Chapter 137 Aftermath Matters
Chapter 138 News Of The Kenmays Family
Chapter 139 Celebratory Banquet
Chapter 140 Shock
Chapter 141 The Whereabouts Of The Convoy
Chapter 142 Charade The Demon
Chapter 143 The Experiences Of The Messengers
Chapter 144 Hennard'S Ransom
Chapter 145 Release
Chapter 146 Departure
Chapter 147 Dilemma
Chapter 148 The Mounted Archers Unit
Chapter 149 Blockade
Chapter 150 Small Mountain Village
Chapter 151 Bypass
Chapter 152 Noble Rank Elevation
Chapter 153 Trivial Problems
Chapter 154 Lorist'S Strategy
Chapter 155 The Citadel'S Weakness
Chapter 156 Kill During The Darkness Of The Night
Chapter 157 Burn When The Winds Are Strong
Chapter 158 Worriless Journey North
Chapter 159 Assault During A Snowy Night
Chapter 160 Strategies And Plans
Chapter 161 The Long Wintery Night
Chapter 162 Gentle Spring Rain
Chapter 163 River Crossing
Chapter 164 Conditions And Request
Chapter 165 Plunder, Move, And Destroy
Chapter 166 Battle Preparations At Firmrock Castle
Chapter 167 Auguslo'S Counterattack
Chapter 168 Female Unit
Chapter 169 Felicitas Settlement
Chapter 170 Ridden With Matters
Chapter 171 Female Secretary
Chapter 172 Messenger And Alliance
Chapter 173 Top Kek
Chapter 174 Magical Beast Wave
Chapter 175 Central Town
Chapter 176 Goats In The Town
Chapter 177 Wrapping Up
Chapter 178 Ballistas And Metal Materials
Chapter 179 Daily Life Within The Dominion
Chapter 180 Count Kenmays'S Visit
Chapter 181 Facing The Magical Beast Wave Again
Chapter 182 Military Reorganization
Chapter 183 Sid Steel Armor
Chapter 184 Princess Sylvia
Chapter 185 Count Kenmays'S Letter
Chapter 186 A New Sea Port
Chapter 187 Development Plans
Chapter 188 The Ultimatum
Chapter 189 The Onset Of War
Chapter 190 Before The Battle
Chapter 191 Ballista Storm
Chapter 192 The Unfortunate Blademaster
Chapter 193 Confrontation With Princess Sylvia
Chapter 194 Victor Of The Duel
Chapter 195 Four Family Alliance
Chapter 196 Prisoners And Letter
Chapter 197 Escort
Chapter 198 Settling Down
Chapter 199 Master-Disciple Conversation
Chapter 200 Reidy'S Request
Chapter 201 A Failed Experiment
Chapter 202 Assaulted [Cliffhanger 1 Of 5]
Chapter 203 Grueling Battle [Cliffhanger 2 Of 5]
Chapter 204 Bloody Battle [Cliffhanger 3 Of 5]
Chapter 205 Executed [Cliffhanger 4 Of 5]
Chapter 206 Enslaved [Cliffhanger 5 Of 5]
Chapter 207 Mortification
Chapter 208 Wooden Shack
Chapter 209 House-Building
Chapter 210 Barbarians
Chapter 211 Departure
Chapter 212 Setting Out
Chapter 213 Analysis
Chapter 214 Royal Capital
Chapter 215 Arrangements
Chapter 216 The Decision Of The Duke
Chapter 217 Visit
Chapter 218 Whale Island
Chapter 219 Grandmaster Sid
Chapter 220 Flying Fish Of Dawn
Chapter 221 Tax Collection
Chapter 222 Arrival Of The Dominion Lord
Chapter 223 Tax Collector
Chapter 224 Hector
Chapter 225 Whitebird Restaurant
Chapter 226 Farama Village
Chapter 227 Imperial Capital
Chapter 228 Paradise Gathering
Chapter 229 Davey And The Princess
Chapter 230 Face-Smacking
Chapter 231 Flipping Out
Chapter 232 Leaving
Chapter 233 Breaching Five Camps In The Night
Chapter 234 Investigation
Chapter 235 Discussion
Chapter 236 Heading To Morante City
Chapter 237 At Sea
Chapter 238 Matters Back At Home
Chapter 239 Port Troubles
Chapter 240 The Secret Of Gunpowder
Chapter 241 Glassmith
Chapter 242 The Curious Case Of Luxcrimson Winery
Chapter 243 Unforeseen Changes
Chapter 244 Shocking Developments
Chapter 245 Two Letters
Chapter 246 Blockade At Sea
Chapter 247 Bathing In Blood [Cliffhanger 2 Of 3]
Chapter 248 Escape [Cliffhanger 3 Of 3]
Chapter 249 Senbaud
Chapter 250 Threat And Expropriation
Chapter 251 Dispute Within The Chikdor Merchant Guild (1)
Chapter 252 Dispute Within The Chikdor Merchant Guild (2)
Chapter 253 Mayflower Merchant Guild Assault Incident
Chapter 254 Setup And Counters
Chapter 255 The Glass War
Chapter 256 The Haphazard War
Chapter 257 Clash Of The High-Tiers
Chapter 258 President Peterson'S Conditions
Chapter 259 The Second Highness'S Assault
Chapter 260 The 5Th Day Of The 4Th Month
Chapter 261 Furybear
Chapter 262 The First And Third Young Masters
Chapter 263 Research And Improvements
Chapter 264 Firearms, War News, And The Nightmare
Chapter 265 Assault From The Hanayabarta Kingdom
Chapter 266 The Aftermath And The March Into Battle
Chapter 267 The Wait
Chapter 268 The Terrible State Of Silowas
Chapter 269 The First Household Blademaster
Chapter 270 Meeting Of The Four Families
Chapter 271 Battle Report
Chapter 272 The Death Of Duke Urubaha
Chapter 273 Before The Expedition
Chapter 274 Money Of All Things Comes The Fastest
Chapter 275 Battle On Shore
Chapter 276 Karman
Chapter 277 Hector And The Slave Camp
Chapter 278 News From Tarkel
Chapter 279 Changing Strategic Arrangements
Chapter 280 Encounter
Chapter 281 Setup
Chapter 282 Arrival
Chapter 283 Royal Capital
Chapter 284 Drunken
Chapter 285 Dueling Grounds
Chapter 286 Three Floors Underground
Chapter 287 Taking Action
Chapter 288 Secret Path
Chapter 289 Trap
Chapter 290 The Ploy
Chapter 291 The Persuasion
Chapter 292 Termination
Chapter 293 The Death Of A Nation
Chapter 294 Arrangements
Chapter 295 Dread Monument
Chapter 296 Garrison Division
Chapter 297 Surrender
Chapter 298 Shocking News
Chapter 299 Reconcilliation
Chapter 300 Refusal
Chapter 301 Jillin Harbor
Chapter 302 The Child'S Play Siege
Chapter 303 Anna And Arri
Chapter 304 The God Of War'S End
Chapter 305 The Odd Situation
Chapter 306 Return To Morante
Chapter 307 The Plight Of Dawn Academy
Chapter 308 Nostalgia
Chapter 309 Dauslyke Hotel
Chapter 310 President Bejisanro
Chapter 311 Preparations
Chapter 312 Arson
Chapter 313 Closing Act
Chapter 314 Ridden With Matters
Chapter 315 Reasons For Coming
Chapter 316 Huge Purchase
Chapter 317 Charade Returns From Seclusion
Chapter 318 Viscount Eidis
Chapter 319 The Duke'S Welcome
Chapter 320 Welcoming Banquet
Chapter 321 Count Chujway'S Narrative
Chapter 322 Duel
Chapter 323 Intelligence Center
Chapter 324 The Tournament Begins
Chapter 325 Three Requests
Chapter 326 Apologies
Chapter 327 The Princess'S Heart
Chapter 328 Missed Initiative
Chapter 329 Dominion Replacement
Chapter 330 Plan Of Attack
Chapter 331 Incident And New Equipment
Chapter 332 The Trouble With Compact Crossbows
Chapter 333 Arrival Of The Second Highness
Chapter 334 Refusal
Chapter 335 Reinforcement
Chapter 336 Negotiations
Chapter 337 Conditions
Chapter 338 Pledging Allegiance
Chapter 339 Lobbying
Chapter 340 Regret
Chapter 341 Landing
Chapter 342 Occupation
Chapter 343 Suggestion
Chapter 344 Reason
Chapter 345 An Audience
Chapter 346 Settling Debt
Chapter 347 Letter
Chapter 348 Gold Coins (1)
Chapter 349 Gold Coins (2)
Chapter 350 Bank, Entitlement And Real Estate
Chapter 351 Update On Catapults And Cannons
Chapter 352 Reidy'S Encounters
Chapter 353 Ambush, Pursuit And Assault
Chapter 354 Demongrass Swamp
Chapter 355 Gold Eagle
Chapter 356 Second Highness, The Path Seeker
Chapter 357 The Second Highness'S Strategy
Chapter 358 Made It In Time
Chapter 359 Captive
Chapter 360 Igloo
Chapter 361 Drinking Session
Chapter 362 Surprising Pledge Of Loyalty
Chapter 363 Banquet And Entitlement
Chapter 364 Strategy And Deployment Meeting
Chapter 365 Rainy Season
Chapter 366 Extermination
Chapter 367 City Entrance
Chapter 368 Escape
Chapter 369 Pursuit
Chapter 370 Humiliation Of The Duke
Chapter 371 Arrival
Chapter 372 Tower Defense Tactic
Chapter 373 Onset Of A Great Battle
Chapter 374 Open-Field Battle Preparation
Chapter 375 Victory
Chapter 376 Retreat
Chapter 377 Boblige Mountain Range
Chapter 378 Two Pieces Of Bad News
Chapter 379 Eidelwoke
Chapter 380 100 Thousand Barbarian Cavalry
Chapter 381 The Bloody Battle Of Pedro (1)
Chapter 382 The Bloody Battle Of Pedro (2)
Chapter 383 The Eccentric Queen
Chapter 384 Scheme
Chapter 385 Galini Beloput
Chapter 386 Three Requests
Chapter 387 Property And Taxes
Chapter 388 Mayor Doboff
Chapter 389 Barbarians And Gold Mine
Chapter 390 Jaeger'S Consolidation
Chapter 391 Persuasion
Chapter 392 Admitting Loss
Chapter 393 The Barbarians Cometh
Chapter 394 Defeating The Barbarians
Chapter 395 Gold Mine Obtained
Chapter 396 Insomnia
Chapter 397 Untitled
Chapter 398 Decision
Chapter 399 Effect
Chapter 400 Right Of Inheritance
Chapter 401 Way To Settle The Debt
Chapter402 Marital Bliss
Chapter 403 Negotiations
Chapter 404 Salt Merchant Committee
Chapter 405 The Storm Brews Again
Chapter 406 Inspection
Chapter 407 The Oddity Of The Second Highness
Chapter 408 Carriage Track
Chapter 409 War In The South
Chapter 410 Before The Grand Wedding
Chapter 411 The Wedding
Chapter 412 Survey
Chapter 413 Second Highness'S Scheme
Chapter 414 Changes
Chapter 415 Crossing The Border
Chapter 416 Meeting
Chapter 417 The Allies
Chapter 418 Plotting
Chapter 419 Declaration
Chapter 420 The Battle Begins
Chapter 421 War
Chapter 422 Trenches And Mud Walls
Chapter 423 Stalemate
Chapter 424 Flooding
Chapter 425 The Two Dukes' Decisions
Chapter 426 Rescue
Chapter 427 Migration
Chapter 428 Hot Spring Valley
Chapter 429 Word Of The Swordsaint
Chapter 430 Method
Chapter 431 Three Methods (1)
Chapter 432 Three Methods (2)
Chapter 433 All Quiet On The Southern Front
Chapter 434 The Line Of Succession
Chapter 435 Round Up And Hunt
Chapter 436 Envoy And Conditions
Chapter 437 Moonlight Stones
Chapter 438 Argument
Chapter 439 House Nordingham
Chapter 440 Submission
Chapter 441 Distribution Of Rewards
Chapter 442 Big Business
Chapter 443 Return To The Northlands
Chapter 444 Dealing With Matters
Chapter 445 Trouble And Busywork (1)
Chapter 446 Trouble And Busywork (2)
Chapter 447 Knight Lundmorde
Chapter 448 Conspiracy
Chapter 449 Helplessness
Chapter 450 A Peaceful Year
Chapter 451 Joint Development
Chapter 452 Contract Singing
Chapter 453 Hostage
Chapter 454 Rescue
Chapter 455 Swordsaint'S Domain
Chapter 456 Platinum Beach
Chapter 457 Refusal
Chapter 458 Lorist'S Considerations
Chapter 459 Secret Plot
Chapter 460 Deal Sealed
Chapter 461 Prepare For War!
Chapter 462 Start The War!
Chapter 463 Baron Abott
Chapter 464 Surprise Attack Ongoing
Chapter 465 Siege
Chapter 466 From Attack To Defense
Chapter 467 Danger
Chapter 468 Resolution
Chapter 469 Triumph
Chapter 470 Fall Of The City
Chapter 471 The Coming Of The Rainy Season
Chapter 472 Regroup
Chapter 473 Banquet
Chapter 474 Reply
Chapter 475 Envoy Krilos
Chaper 476 Invitation
Chapter 477 Lashing Out
Chapter 478 Severely Injured
Chapter 479 Awakening
Chapter 480 On The Run
Chapter 481 Hunter'S Cabin
Chapter 482 Recuperation
Chapter 483 Internal Strife (1)
Chapter 484 Internal Strife (2)
Chapter 485 The Feral Wolves And The Magical Bear
Chapter 486 Karitoke
Chapter 487 War On The Plains
Chapter 488 Bad News
Chapter 489 The Loyalty Of A Scoundrel, The Loyalty Of A Traitor
Chapter 490 Various Matters
Chapter 491 Human Resources
Chapter 492 Heavy Military Reorganization
Chapter 493 Tying Up Loose Ends
Chapter 494 Reinforcement
Chapter 495 To Deploy Or To Not Deploy
Chapter 496 Invincible Fleet
Chapter 497 Northsea
Chapter 498 The First Encounter
Chapter 499 The Second Naval Battle
Chapter 500 Conclusion Of The Battle
Chapter 501 Lorist'S Preparations
Chapter 502 Intel And Final Battle
Chapter 503 Captain Woodleis'S Worries
Chapter 504 Confident Of Victory
Chapter 505 Decisive Naval Battle
Chapter 506 Suicide Charge
Chapter 507 Messed Up Victory
Chapter 508 Meeting After The Battle
Chapter 509 Decision And Promise
Chapter 510 Plan
Chapter 511 Befuddle
Chapter 512 Occupation
Chapter 513 Fall Of The City
Chapter 514 Trouble
Chapter 515 Crisis Control
Chapter 516 The Angle Of Merchants
Chapter 517 Miscalculation
Chapter 518 Pitfall Trap
Chapter 519 Jindoz'S Gift
Chapter 520 Auguslo'S Trust
Chapter 521 Charade'S Plan
Chapter 522 Economic Measures
Chapter 523 Response To The Peace Negotiations
Chapter 524 Leaving The Camps With Nothing
Chapter 525 Dinag'S Encounters
Chapter 526 Protest
Chapter 527 Shocking News
Chapter 528 Rather Miss Than Meet
Chapter 529 Merciless
Chapter 530 Loan Problems
Chapter 531 Two Letters
Chapter 532 Agreement And Rumors
Chapter 533 Two Conditions
Chapter 534 Callisto Hills
Chapter 535 War Discussion
Chapter 536 Approaching Battle
Chapter 537 Duel
Chapter 538 Day Of The Grand Battle
Chapter 539 Duel Of The Swordsaints
Chapter 540 Grand Victory
Chapter 541 After The Battle
Chapter 542 Year 1781
Chapter 543 Arrangements
Chapter 544 Report
Chapter 545 Independence Pact
Chapter 546 Debate
Chapter 547 War Council
Chapter 548 Mountain Path
Chapter 549 Sandbag
Chapter 550 Duke Nikolas
Chapter 551 The Change Of The Tides
Chapter 552 Knight Wecksas
Chapter 553 Count Mireitas
Chapter 554 Duke Peterson'S Demands
Chapter 555 Surrender
Chapter 556 Reconciliation
Chapter 557 Retreat And Leasing Land
Chapter 558 Dominion For Rent At 3000 Gold
Chapter 559 Study
Chapter 560 Still So Busy At Home
Chapter 561 Enfeoffment Talks
Chapter 562 Secret Intel From The Trade Union
Chapter 563 Enfeoffment And Arrangements
Chapter 564 Alisa'S Marriage
Chapter 565 Blissful Union
Chapter 566 Belief And Supervision
Chapter 567 Dean Claude'S Request
Chapter 568 Who Would Assassinate You?
Chapter 569 Arrival At The Imperial Capital
Chapter 570 Terrence-Donkey Whip
Chapter 571 Invitation And Murder
Chapter 572 Kill Them All
Chapter 573 Flipping Out And Falling Out
Chapter 574 Turning Back Suspicion-Filled
Chapter 575 Marquis Krilos'S Frustration
Chapter 576 Suggestion To Demilitarize
Chapter 577 Entanglement
Chapter 578 Free Citizens
Chapter 579 Auguslo'S Provocation
Chapter 580 Plundering Incident
Chapter 581 Auguslo'S Objection
Chapter 582 Huge Blunder
Chapter 583 The Obstructive Andelou Merchant Guild
Chapter 584 Malek'S Defenses
Chapter 585 Taking A Few Steps Back
Chapter 586 Auguslo'S Handwritten Letter
Chapter 587 The Bird Called Bolga
Chapter 588 Trade War
Chapter 589 Lack Of Manpower
Chapter 590 Celebration And Budgets
Categories Genre: Action, Adult, Adventure, All, Comedy, Completed, Drama, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Mature, Romance, Slice of Life Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 591
Estimated words: 1635811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 8179(@200wpm)___ 6543(@250wpm)___ 5453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1635811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 8179(@200wpm)___ 6543(@250wpm)___ 5453(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 591 Page No. 590 Page No. 589 Page No. 588 Page No. 587 Page No. 586 Page No. 585 Page No. 584 Page No. 583 Page No. 582 Page No. 581 Chapter 440 Submission
Submission
"Most men do not get to choose their own fates. Those that do, tend to not choose wisely." ~ Duke Fisablen
Though he had agreed to seriously consider Handra's requests, Auguslo didn't really wish to. Whether it was a misunderstanding or not was of no concern. The key lay in the fact that he had a good chance of victory at the moment. Everyone knew the dukes were on the brink of defeat and tethered on their last lifeline, as long as he gave it another push, Handra's second defense line would collapse. What remained would be stomping on a losing hound.
However, the thing he most hated was Lorist's attitude. Lorist didn't agree to press the attack at all and believed there was no need to continue and sacrifice the lives of his soldiers given that the whole situation was set. Since the dukes had already admitted defeat, even though they had brought up conditions, they were still surrendering. What need was there to kill them? Additionally, they had also made it easy for him to step back from the war without harming his reputation by agreeing that it had started because of a misunderstanding. People didn't know whether the duchies had actually betrayed the empire.
Lorist had told him to accept the olive branch instead of dallying. He was the one in the wrong in the first place anyway. The dukes had been on good terms with the kingdom during the late king's reign and were also famed heads of prestigious houses during the empire's era. Not only had they been loyal, they had made great contributions to it. Yet they were now called traitors. He should clean up his own mess before accusing others.
The ing was pissed off a lot by Lorist's arguments, but he couldn't do much about it. He was inferior to the man in both personal strength and military might and House Norton had made huge contributions during the expedition as well. Lorist himself had also solved the king's refugee problem. While he had poked around where he shouldn't have, it was still a great help to the empire's reformation. The attack on Welony Pass had also been the deciding move that had placed the king in a superior position on the battlefield and had forced the duchies to send an envoy to sue for peace.
In stark contrast to the amazing performance of House Norton's forces, the other nobles's forces were just tagging along. His own Whitelion was used as a labor force, they had lost nearly half their numbers for meager results. House Fisablen's reserve legion had accompanied Whitelion and served as fodder. Though, since the ones who had died were mainly grassland barbarians, the duke didn't really care. In fact, the more he lost, the stronger his loyalty to the king was.
It was the king's greatest tragedy. Lorist's achievements were great, but his men didn't obey their king. The four houses of the alliance were in cahoots; since Lorist, the alliance's unofficial leader, couldn't be ordered around, neither could Kenmays, Felim, or Shazin's forces.
No matter how he tried to divide or tempt them, it was useless. Shazin had appeared infinitely grateful when he had ordered him to sweep the dominions of Forund's rich nobles, so Auguslo had thought he was now loyal to him, someone he could use. But the moment the man returned to the frontlines he obediently took up his place behind Lorist again. The mere thought of that particular failure incensed Auguslo all over again.
While Andinaq's army numbered 300 thousand in name, he was aware he could only command Whitelion and House Fisablen's reserve legion. Whitelion had lost nearly half its men during the campaign so far and only had 30 thousand men left. The reserve legion was formed from grassland barbarians and their casualties had filled with resentment. They may be barbarians, but they weren't idiots. They had become very willing to follow Lorist's orders since hey didn't incur as many casualties and even profited quite handsomely on occasion, while Auguslo had lost his ability to easily command them because he would only send them on suicide missions.
As for Third Frontier, it was Duke Fisablen's treasure. The king knew there was no chance in hell the duke would give him command of it. It wasn't quite like he wanted to shatter it anyway, he preferred it remain intact to cause trouble for Lorist when they returned home. At times — when he was calmer — he would ask himself whether the expedition's casualties would have been this low without Lorist's help. If he had been in total control on his own, he would've opted for a brute force approach and might've not even taken a single duchy by now.
It wasn't that he considered his achievements in military strategy inferior to Lorist's; he just had to consider the bigger picture since he was now the king. From this perspective, the ideal result was for both the duchies' and the alliance's forces to be battered and defeated by the end of it, while he would deal the final blow and conquer everything. It would cement his superiority over his disobedient vassals and shave off a considerable portion of their power. He also had to keep both Lorist and the duke on the frontlines so he could keep an easy eye on them. It had the unfortunate side-effect of allowing Lorist to rake in great achievements.
House Kenmays's two heavy-armored divisions had suffered the most casualties, around 1300 men, of the four houses' forces. Shazin's men had suffered the worst next, losing around 800 men during their sweep of the Forundian nobles' dominions. House Felim's pegasus came thereafter. They had been in charge of defense and scouting, and had lost around 500. Tigersoar had lost the least men, just 400. These numbers could barely be considered casualties compared to Whitelion's losses. It could even be considered an insult to Auguslo. It had even gotten so bad that rumors were spreading that he wasn't really the genius strategist he had been thought to be.
He was incredibly frustrated. He couldn't do anything about Lorist, and the rest of the man's alliance had stood behind his decision to not press the attack firmly. Even Duke Fisablen had privately told him to leave a thread of mercy for the dukes. They had already admitted their loss, after all.
Though he had his worries, they weren't something he could speak of publicly. It wasn't that he didn't want to spare the dukes, he had already set his sights on their dominions. While Andinaq's territory was vast, most of it wasn't under his direct control; he only had command of a couple around the capital and they had long been stripped of all their worth already. He had been sucking the provinces dry since the day he decided to reform the empire. That was why he had killed all the nobles involved in the rebellion after he retook the throne, even at the cost of his reputation. Without the resources those nobles had, he couldn't maintain the forces he needed to achieve his ambition.
He had planned to use the four duchies to rebuild his forces, to assemble an army half-a-million strong and to march on the Union. Them having a swordsaint supporting their position as the continent's largest nation, but it would cost them dearly. Even they had to be wary of creating a death-feud with a nation with an army half-a-million strong.
He believed the merchants would make a wise decision. His requests weren't excessive. As long as they returned the provinces of the old empire they now occupied, there was no need for war. He might even consider trading with them, even giving them special privileges, once the empire had been restored to its former glory. He looked especially forward to using them to deal with the alliance and its salt merchant committee.
In order to achieve these things, he couldn't accept Chujway's conditions, even after considering it for several days. He had decided; the duke would not get their dominions. They were crucial to his future and his ambitions. Lorist and Fisablen continued to pester him, so he wanted to finalize his decision as soon as possible. He summoned Chujway and gave him his conditions. He could forgive the dukes, but they would not get their current dominions back. They had to accept new dominions around the capital. They would also have to pay way steeper fines than they had offered. Handra, Forund, and Shabaj each had to pay 1.5 million gold Fordes, and Farkel had to pay 3 million because he dared to burn his city and the surrounding settlements. Finally, the dukes were only allowed to take 45 thousand men with them, everyone else had to be left behind and would be under his direct command. The duke's vassals would also no longer be such, they would fall directly under the king and would be demoted depending on their house's historic contributions to the empire.
His conditions were unexpectedly harsh. Though Chujway had wanted to contest, the king withdrew to his quarters and refused an audience. His attendants simply said the conditions were final and couldn't be negotiated. Chujway had no choice but to return and pass the message along.
Kenmays and the others were confused. The went to Lorist for clarification. Why had the king come up with such ridiculous demands? Wasn't he forcing the dukes to fight to the death? Would continuing the war be beneficial to him somehow?
Lorist smirked and pointed at the map.
"Our king has his eyes on the duchies. It's simple. To him, while gold is important, it can't compare to the manpower the duchies can provide. Reforming the empire with the provinces near the capital is a pipe dream. With these provinces, however, he stands a chance against the Union."
The rest gasped. Lorist warned them to be prepared just in case the dukes decided to fight to the death. Nobody could predict how long the war would last if they did. They might even resort to underhanded methods like assassination, so they had to watch out. Lorist was more hopeful that the dukes would accept Auguslo's conditions.
"What? Why would they even consider it?" Shazin exclaimed, "If it were me, I'd rather die than accept those demands."
Lorist shook his head.
"You don't understand. This concerns their houses' survival. It's not something the dukes can decide on a whim. They have no choice but to seriously consider it. The demands are unfair, but not so much so that it's completely unacceptable. While wealth is important, it can't compare to the house's legacy and continued existence. The most important thing is that they won't lose their peerage or be demoted, granted, they will lose their current titles.
"Their new dominions will be poorer, but they can rebuild. They haven't lost the right to have levies either. They can each keep a force of 45 thousand. If they bring these men's families along, they will have secure control of their new lands in no time. They don't have to be too concerned about their future"
......
On the 6th day of the 7th month, Year 1783, more than 50 days since Chujways' return. Andinaq's army remained stationed opposite the second defense line. Auguslo was still rather mad at Lorist for not wanting to press the attack and couldn't command Whitelion and House Fisablen's reserve legion to go on a suicide mission either. Duke Fisablen tried his best to appease the king and had managed to get him to agree to stay on the defense for a little longer.
That night, the sounds of fighting echoed over no man's land into Auguslo's, Lorist's, and the others' ears. Fires lit up the night soon thereafter. It appeared Farkel's Forestmont and Bloodspear's camps were under attack. It was incredibly odd; Auguslo believed it a trap to lure them into attacking.
A few scouts soon brought over a bloodied Chujway. He reported that Handra, Forund, and Shabaj had accepted his conditions and were willing to surrender. But Duke Farkel wanted to resist to the end and swore he would rather die than surrender. Though they managed to convince him otherwise after much difficulty, he then said he didn't have that many gold Fordes.
Just as they were considering whether they should send a messenger to ask for the Farkel's dues to be lowered a little he actually ordered his two legions to raid the duchy's towns and villages. They took, killed, and burned, committing every sin imaginable. Handra had sent his men to stop him, but the latter said that since the rest were going to surrender anyway, and that the territory would soon no longer be theirs, he might as well take what he could and leave nothing for Auguslo.
Angered to the point of coughing up blood, Handra led his troops into battle against the duke and managed to push him back to the frontline. He convinced Forund and Shabaj to surround Farkel's two legions. But before they could mobilize, Farkel attempted to escape.
Fortunately, Handra's garrison troops had long been prepared and didn't allow him to go anywhere. The situation had been thrown into chaos and Forund's forces had broken into Farkel's camp and were slaughtering everything on the hill. Chujway only barely managed to make it out of the mess to request reinforcements.
Greatly elated, Auguslo hurriedly ordered his generals to reinforce the frontlines to prevent the criminal ringleader, from escaping. Lorist actually obeyed his commands without protest for once. The mobilization of cavalry was the last nail on Farkel's coffin. They crumbled like withered barks as the cavalry charged into their lines. Many died or surrendered. Perhaps because the two legions had committed too many evils in Handra, Handra's men began to slaughter the surrendered soldiers after gathering them up. By the time Lorist realized what was happening, it was already too late. Most of the 30 thousand captives had been slaughtered, less than a third were still alive.
Handra and Farkel's clash marked the end of the campaign. The three dukes surrendered without further ado. Farkel, unfortunately, managed to escape towards Majik with a hundred riders and sought asylum in the Union. From that day forth he was a renegade noble.
Total Chapters in book: 591
Estimated words: 1635811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 8179(@200wpm)___ 6543(@250wpm)___ 5453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1635811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 8179(@200wpm)___ 6543(@250wpm)___ 5453(@300wpm)
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