Age of Adventure

Saying this, some of the generals hope that the Chancellor would not dive further into the matter and Aero did not.

He just simply said

’Karak was never a good kingdom in nurturing their soldiers. Their navy while have the potential to grow was never expanded. It is because they never took to the ideas of expansion, content to stay as they were. After the reform of the Empire, our army is very powerful. The army and the military is always well supplied. I have fought for the benefits of the military in the court and as you can see, each and every one of our soldiers are all armed to the teeth. We have used the resources we have all in our domains, to mine iron and supply each soldier with high quality weapons and shield. As such, even though we have split our army to four forces, we could still maintain the situation’

The other nodded. It is true that the Empire had to split the forces into four because of the sudden onslaught from many forces.

One of them were sent to the eastern border.

The other was sent to near the northern border of Veranis, defending it from Karak infiltration

The third force is sent to hold and push back the Veranis invasion. The fourth was sent to Duvar using sea route as the route to the west was cut off

They sail and landed in Nero Republic before quickly entering Duvar border and maintain their forces there to discouraged any attack from the western kingdoms

At that time, the Empire was in a grave danger. It is because of this splitting of forces that made destroying Karak so much harder. Karak might not be big but in the end, Karak is still not Vanheim lands. The soldier of Karak of course knows better about Karak terrain

The generals agreed with Aero words. The dangerous thing about Karak was their alliance. If not for that, how could Karak become such a huge problem?

Aero paused for a moment before saying

’In the past, the Empire did not do anything to Karak. We never had a reason to. I have never intended for Karak to be a part of the Empire. Their people did not share the same feeling as ours and they did not strive to the same ambition that we are striving toward. As long as they did not overstep their boundaries or challenge the superiority of our Empire or holding us back from our dream of unifying the world, there is a place for Karak in the world.

The other nodded

Aero then continue saying.

’Karak in the past was the center of trade and prosperity. However, in recent years it is Vanheim that have become a center for trade and our capital city is the most prosperous city in the world. With the population of the Empire rising and their ability to buy increased, we have managed to take the title as the richest kingdom from Karak. This is a war of trade. This is why I have never tried to break the agreement we had with Karakian. They effectively were under our rule since they are a vassal kingdom of the Empire. And they possess no threat. Alone, that is’

’We have let them to maintain their culture, their way of life and their rule. We did not change anything in their kingdom except for them to accept the power of the Empire over them and they had to answer the summon when they are called. I think this is a pretty good deal right?’

Kyle and the people in the tent nodded

Aero then sighed.

’I was the one that convinced the four families to surrender to the might of the Empire in the past. I had hoped that they would know that fighting Vanheim is a hopeless endeavor. They were wise before, but now they have become unwise

Sighing, Aero continue

’So, one could only imagine my disappointment when I heard Karak had rebelled against Vanheim and colluded with an enemy to bring down the Empire. Know this, that they started this first. I have never done anything to them that harm their kingdom, but now, I decided we the Empire had to do something to them so that they would remember that there is a price when they play with fire’

Aero then said with a smile on his face

’But we have managed to turn the tide and now we are at an advantageous position. The Three families have been captured by us, leaving the entire kingdom to be leaderless. Most of the eastern side of Karak is hold by our people. The western side is hold by Savillia kingdom. I would stick with my agreement with Savillia kingdom giving them the western side. But what we are concerned about, what should we do with the eastern side of Karak. Should we annex them? Should we raze it all to the ground?

Pausing for a second he continues

’Their entire society is in chaos, giving us the perfect chance to clamp down the eastern region of Karak with our soldiers. Karak right now is in terrible position. As for Savillia kingdom, Savillia would never release the land on the west to any of the three families as they would rather use it to expand their lands’

Hearing Aero words, some generals frowned and said

’Your Excellency! Are you thinking of restoring back the Karak kingdom to those three families?’

When the other generals hear this, and understood what Aero was trying to say, the other was also shocked and they look at the Chancellor

Aero smiles and instead said

’The Imperial army is already sending ten thousand soldiers to aid marquis Dan after the great Orc horde on the eastern border retreated. Veranis is in tatters with warlords rising up all over Greater Veranis, all of them want their shares of land to declare themselves king. Greater Veranis might not be as big as Vanheim, but they are just slightly smaller. Do not forget that Greater Veranis was composed of three kingdoms’

’There is a lot of land to fight for and there is a lot of people with ambition. With the situation as it is right now, there is no external help that could help Karak.’

’What about Savillia kingdom? What if they pull the same trick like Veranis one day and allied with Karak again and try to attack the Empire’

Aero smiles and answer

’the ruler of Karak would not have the chance when such moment came. Do not forget that we now control central Veranis. We could slowly gobble up the south and north of Greater Veranis and put all of the domains of Greater Veranis under the Empire rule

We must not bite more than we could chew. Greater Veranis is already a headache. And I believe that it would take a few years before we could truly pacify the region and truly brought all greater Veranis into the fold’

Kyle sighed and nodded

’I agree’ Kyle look at the map that is on the table and he could see the new makers and the new name that Aero had added to the map and he could see what Aero could see

That the area in Veranis would be in chaos for a few years. Aero did not yet speak what he is planning to do but Kyle asked

’Who will the Six Council would send to pacify the region?’ Aero who was about to tell his plan stopped for a second and then said

’You want it?’ Kyle thought for a second and shook his head

’Too much for me’

’Who would you send?’ He asks Aero. Aero then smiles a bit and said

’I need to know what happen in the court before I decided who I could send’ Kyle nodded

He himself understood that this is a chance to gain merit. But Kyle did not need it or want it

Instead, he wanted to stay in the imperial court. He had spoken with Aero a couple of days ago and he knew that the center of power is not in the border but in the capital city.

Unless he could create a reputation like that of Archduke Bradheim, it was better for him to cultivate his power in the Imperial Court instead of gaining merit in the battlefield.

And having too much merit is also not good.

Just look at the Chancellor.

Of course, Aero could handle it.

But he could not. If Kyle had too much merit and invite jealousy among the other officials, his fate would not be the same like Aero

But just because he did not want to go to the region and gain merit this did not mean that Kyle is not interested with who would lead the pacifying expedition.

As such, he said to Aero

’Aero, I have a few people I wanted to recommend’ Aero hearing this raise his eyebrows a bit and then chuckles.

’Give me the list later. I would look upon it impartially’ Kyle nodded.

The other generals and commanders inside the tent all look at each other and sigh a bit.

This matter of deciding who would be sent to the area to pacify a region should be discussed in the parliament as it is a big matter.

But, the Chancellor always had the power to meddle in this matter. Such public discussion had become private and could be decided by the Chancellor alone.

The older generals were accustomed to this but the new ones were not.

Only today, they could see why even in the military faction that most of the general there were very afraid to cross the Chancellor.

A man with the power to change the Imperial Decree.

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