Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World - Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Mirante will move
Mirante, the principal fortress city protecting Stahl’s borders from the neighboring kingdoms of Luak and Aritreia, occupied a crucial and strategic position. It was situated in the only area that offered a clear path for a large army to pass through, from where the White Merchant Road expanded. To the west of Mirante, stretched a vast mountain chain and rugged terrains, making it almost impossible for large troops to march. And, the eastern side was marked by the ocean and a dense snowy forest that created a natural barrier for any invading army to navigate.

As a result, hostile armies’ only option was to use the White Merchant Road, a road opened by the kingdom’s founder, Garret Von Stahl, which stretched across all regions of the kingdom. Garret understood that this infrastructure asset held great value in the military field, improving the communication, the economy, the transportation and working as a tool to integrate the whole territory. It had the power to bring unity and cohesion within the kingdom.

When he first laid his eyes on the White Merchan Road’s blueprint in an old parchment, Henry couldn’t help but compliment the man’s genius. Garret’s plan seemed to mirror the Roman Emperor Agustus’ strategy, which enabled the Roman Empire to conquer most of Europe and a large part of the Middle East. It also resembled the plan of some Chinese dynasties, such as the Han and Tang, who created and maintained an extensive network of roads, which came to be known as ‘Silk Roak’. It spanned from China to various regions, including Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The key distinction between Roman and Chinese road systems lay in their primary objectives. Roman roads were ultimately designed for military and administrative purposes, whereas Chinese roads, particularly the Silk Road, were created to facilitate commerce and cultural exchange. While reading the blueprint, Henry understood that Stahl’s White Merchant Road followed the Roman model, with a stronger emphasis on military applications. These roads were strategically linked to cities crucial for defense and the supply of wartime essentials, while trade and commerce operated as a parallel objective, something that seemed to develop together.

Olaro was walking on the main road of Mirante, which had been remade to be wide enough to accommodate carts, wagons and the march of large troops. In contrast, some other streets had been intentionally narrowed to hinder the advance of potential invaders, allowing the defenders to deploy urban tactics. The bald General was accompanied by a woman and a man, soldiers that he had personally chosen to serve as his right and left-hand adjutants, ever since Henry appointed him to protect the city and the kingdom’s borders against the neighboring kingdoms.

As he walked along the bustling street, the chaotic sounds of the city enveloped him. Merchants enthusiastically showed their goods, and townspeople hustled through their daily routines, creating a lively symphony that had been long forgotten by the town’s residents. Not even the elderly, who had lived through the reigns of Henry’s father and grandfather, had witnessed such prosperity. Day after day, the citizens raised their hands to thank their ancestors.

Under Henry’s throne, the city was undergoing great transformations. The king ordered the reinforcement of the walls, the construction of new watchtowers and fortified gatehouses, and the expansion of the training facilities. He had also recruited over a thousand new soldiers, all of whom used Henry’s new training routines and a Technique provided by the king. In addition, administrative facilities were rapidly being built to ease the burden on the military. Henry had also been imparting lessons to Luke, the midget with a talent for management, wishing to develop someone to help him with this. However, it was a plan in progress.

“Where are they located?” – Olaro inquired his two assistants, not trying to hide his frustration while navigating the crowded and lively surroundings.

Upon hearing that tone, the man and woman exchanged a knowing glance, followed by a soft sigh. They understood the General’s frustration all too well. Several days have passed since Aritreia’s army appeared on the horizon, with at least five thousand soldiers within their ranks. This force was being led by a middle-aged man with grizzly hair, an unkempt beard, and a simple golden crown adorning his head. He wore what appeared to be a cloth made from a brown bear while carrying an ornamental axe. It was none other than the King of Aritreia himself.

The army that appeared outside the city’s gates represented a significant and formidable threat to Mirante. They could potentially capture the fortress, but it would come at a cost, likely resulting in the loss of half their troops. The lack of a powerhouse like Luther, who could easily breach the gates, meant they would need to gradually take control of the town.

Despite their smaller numbers, Stahl’s citizens were ready to protect their new lives and defend their city. The commoners armed themselves with rocks and knives, gathering on the main road of the gate to confront the invaders. However, to their surprise, Olaro got up the walls and shouted to the enemies, declaring he had no wish to attack them and that they could use the White Merchant Road without any attacks. This fact led to the king of Aritreia, Lussandro, to suspect of an internal conflict within Stahl.

As the words left Olaro’s mouth, he couldn’t help but clench his teeth in frustration and scratch his bald head. It was now the second time that Olaro had allowed an enemy army to bypass him and enter the kingdom’s territory. His anger only deepened when he noticed a blonde-haired man among the enemy’s ranks, clearly missing an arm. This man, named Marcus, appeared sullen and resentful, his gaze were full of hostility towards Mirante, as if he intended to tear the walls down single-handedly. It was the messenger from Aritreia, responsible for negotiating the Cold Iron Mines, whom Henry had tortured and burned his arm.

Despite his deep frustration, Olaro received direct orders from the king to allow both armies to use the White Merchant Road, opening the gates of the territory to enemies. This strategy was followed by a strategy called ‘Scorched Earth’, named by the King himself, on which the citizens were evacuated, and the food and houses were burnt to the ground. This tactic would make it exceedingly difficult for the invading armies to sustain themselves and continue their campaign.

“Based on the reports from our scouts and the intelligence we’ve gathered, it’s highly likely that they have already arrived in Icemit” – Te female assistant remarked. She was a woman with long, brown hair, who was responsible for collecting information about Mirante and managing the scouts.

“It’s proceeding as we’ve planned”- Olaro mumbled, his gaze drifting toward a food stand where a woman was selling what seemed to be a meat stew. A long line of both soldiers and ordinary citizens waited for their turn. The enticing aroma wafted through the air, tempting Olaro’s taste buds, but he knew he had no time to wait on the line or eat. There were things more important.

“What about the king? Have you received any news?”- Olaro inquired, trying to divert his attention from the aroma that crawled its way towards his nostrils.

“Well…” – The woman started, her eyes searching for support from her fellow assistant, who avoided her gaze by pretending to be interested in the woman’s stew. She continued alone- “It has been seven days since our messengers lost contact with them. The last communication we received was regarding their operation against the enemies in a mountain, near Herrera Village, where Luak’s army established their base camp.”

As she spoke, their pace gradually slowed until they came to a complete stop. The smell didn’t seem that good anymore and lost Olaro’s attention. The king had repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining constant communication with allies. The General could immediately infer that something must have happened to the king, but he had faith on him. There is no way that such a smart man would die or be in some kind of danger.

“When you receive any updates” – Olaro declared after a brief pause, resuming his stride, with his two adjutants trailing behind – “Immediately relay them to me.”

Suddenly, their attention was drawn to a figure sprinting toward them, his breaths heavy and labored. The man was a simple soldier, clad in basic iron armor, clutching a bow in his trembling hands.

“G-General!” – He panted, his voice barely holding together – “A barbarian is outside the gates… He’s asking for you! Says his name’s Grok, and he brings news about the king!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Olaro kicked the ground and hurried towards the city gates, using his Mana to go even faster. The ground that had been recently renovated cracked, but the general didn’t care.

-x-

A few moments later, Olaro’s voice resonated through the entire fortress city – “We’re marching to the capital! Mirante will move!”