Well, what do we do now? Todoris.

　After confirming that the Bulgaron army had returned to the Bulgaron Kingdom, Hercule and the others also returned to Nova Lemuria.
　Then Hercule immediately called Todoris and asked him.

　Todoris pondered and then replied.

　"Why don't you try to make peace?　They must know that things are not as they used to be. If we can suspend the tribute and conclude a non-aggression pact, I think we'll have achieved our goal.
　"A non-aggression pact with them would be of little use. It doesn't change the fact that barbarians are settled in the north of our country, less than three hundred kilometers away from our capital.

　Nova Lemuria, the capital of the Lemurian Empire, is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is a natural strategic point.
　The capital of the Lemurian Empire, Nova Lemuria, is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is a natural strategic point.
　To compensate for this, a double wall has been built. ......
　But it is still a weak point.

　The Bulgaron Kingdom can attack there at any time. 　
　The citizens of Nova Lemuria would not feel safe.

　"But ......
　"Yeah, I know. I was actually planning to use this war to reduce their strength and mitigate the threat for the next few decades. Now that that has failed, we have to do the next best thing. Let's offer them peace.

　Hercule didn't want to go to war with the Bulgaron Kingdom for a long time.
　It is not in the interest of either Lemuria or Bulgalon to have a prolonged war.

　"You go and negotiate, Todris. The terms are suspension of tribute, a non-aggression pact, and trade.
　"Yes, Your Majesty.







　"Peace.

　Kotormir, chief of the clans and representative of all the Bulgaron clans.
　The King of Bulgalon muttered in displeasure.

　The King of Bulgaron is in a huge tent-like structure called a yurt.
　The Bulgarons do not settle down, but live nomadically in these huge tents that they carry around.

　For this reason, their view of the state is very different from that of the agrarian states such as the Lemurian Empire.
　For the agrarian people, a country always has land.
　As the word "land" implies, the land itself is the nation.

　However, the Bulgarians, who are not bound by land, are a little different.
　For them, a country is a collection of people.
　Even if there is no land, as long as there is a huge group of people, it is a country.

　The King of Bulgaron looks around at the heads of the Bulgaron clans gathered here.
　Their expressions are varied.

　"My friends, do you think we should accept peace from Lemuria? Do you think we should accept it?

　King Bulgalon asked the clan leaders.

　The Kingdom of Bulgalon is a clan state formed by an alliance of clans, of which King Bulgalon is only a representative.
　It is true that the Kotormir clan is the largest clan in the Kingdom of Bulgalon, but it does not have a majority of the clans alone.
　There are also many clans that are dissatisfied with their rule.

　The expression "friends" truly represents the national government of the Kingdom of Bulgalon.
　In the end, King Bulgalon is just one clan leader.

　Incidentally, if the relationship between King Bulgalon and his friends is "friends," then the relationship between the Emperor of Lemuria and his vassals is "master and slave.
　This is especially true of the relationship between the Lemurian emperor and his bureaucrats.
　Just as a slave calls out to his master, the bureaucrats of the Lemurian empire call out to the emperor, "My master," and the emperor uses the bureaucrats as his hands and feet, like slaves.

　It is because of this admiration for the Lemurian state that King Bulgaron calls himself "Emperor.

　"You should accept it, I think. King.

　The person who said this was the chief of the Teritel clan, the third most powerful clan in the Bulgaron Kingdom.
　The chieftain of the Territorial Clan had originally been reluctant to fight against the Lemurian Empire.

　In fact, he had contributed almost no troops to the war.
　In fact, he offered very little in the way of troops in this war, only a modest amount.

　"With all due respect, ...... King, please make peace with us.　The young men of my clan are trapped in Lemuria!

　It was the chief of the Tulam clan who insisted.
　The chief of the T'ram clan was the second or third most powerful and weakest clan in the Kingdom of Bulgalon.
　Therefore, they could not go against the Kotormir clan and sent many young men to the battlefield.

　For a weak clan with a small population, it is fatal to lose a man's hand.

　Hearing the words of the chief of the T'ram clan, the chiefs of the weaker clans who were in the same position supported peace at once.
　When the entire meeting began to lean toward peace, ......

　I don't think we should accept it.

　A man opened his mouth.
　"I don't think we should accept it," said a man, the chief of the Krom clan, the second most powerful clan in the Kingdom of Bulgalon.

　"Hmm, why?
　"To accept peace is to admit defeat. If we accept defeat, our control over the peasants will be shaken.

　The Kingdom of Bulgalon is not a nation of Bulgalonians alone.
　In fact, there are more peasants under their rule than Bulgarons.

　If they were to revolt in sympathy with Lemuria, the ruling system of the Bulgaron Kingdom could be turned upside down.

　In the first place, there are always victories and defeats in war. The string of victories up until now has been abnormal. Our opponent is the infamous Emperor Hercule I of Lemuria. If we admit defeat here, he will hunt us down little by little, as if he were choking us with cotton. ...... We've all heard of the deeds of that cruel man.

　The first glance at the island of Rosa was not only transmitted to the Messianic world, but also to the outside of it, to Bulgalon and Foulds.
　A man who would do such horrible things to his fellow believers in the same god, even if their doctrines differed slightly.


　Many feared how cruel they could be to those who believed in a different god in the first place. ......
　And many were afraid.

　We need to win and show them how strong we are. Then the Emperor of Lemuria will not be able to touch us easily.
　"I see. ....... Should we send another expeditionary force?
　No, that won't be necessary. They will come to the land of Bulgalon themselves. We have the advantage of the land. We will defeat the Lemurian Emperor here in Bulgalon.

　King Bulgalon nodded his head in satisfaction.
　If it's a defensive war, even uncooperative clans like the Territories will contribute troops.

　"A good idea. It would be a shame to our ancestors if we broke our knees in a single defeat. We are the proud and valiant people of Bulgaron. We will not bow to Lemuria. We will not accept peace.

　So declared King Bulgalon.
　Once the Kotormir and Krom clans agreed, there was no clan in the Kingdom of Bulgalon that could stand against it.

　Thus, the Kingdom of Bulgalon rejected the Lemurian Empire's offer of peace.







　"Hmmm ...... refusing peace, no wonder. Let's go on the offensive. ......

　Hercule said with a sigh.
　Lunalie asked him.

　Isn't it true that you prefer to attack?
　"If they're agrarian, on the same field, yes. But they're mounted nomads. They're much more agile. My strategy won't work.

　Hercule's strategy is to use his mobility to keep control of the war.
　However, the army of the Lemurian Empire, which is accompanied by infantry, and the army of the Kingdom of Bulgaron, which consists only of cavalry, cannot compete in terms of mobility.

　They will inevitably lose the initiative.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　Hercule scratched his head.
　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.

　"So you're saying we can't win?
　It's not like that. It doesn't mean we can't take advantage of them.

　Hercule does not fight battles that he cannot win.
　It is precisely because of the possibility of victory that Hercule has decided to end the war against the Bulgurons.

　For example, ...... the quality of the cavalry is uneven. For example, the quality of the cavalry was uneven. Specifically, there was a difference in skill between the cavalry of the Kotormir clan and clans friendly to the Kotormir clan and the cavalry of the other Bulgarons.
　"In skill?　That's ...... why?

　Lunalie tilted her head.
　I'm sure you can understand some of the politics, but I'm not so sure about the military.

　The Cotormia clan has been embezzling tribute from our country for years. The Cotormians have been embezzling tribute from our country for many years, and the quality of their cavalry has been deteriorating because of their lavish lifestyle. The same is true for the friendly clans that have been taking advantage of the money. The Chromes' cavalry was as strong as the other Bulgars.

　The Chromes have only recently approached the Kotormir.
　As a result, the Crom clan still maintained a simple and robust lifestyle and culture.

　The majority of the Kingdom of Bulgaron is agrarian and is ruled by the Bulgarons. The Bulgaron Kingdom is dominated by the Bulgarons, who are a majority agrarian people, and have a large number of messianists and monks in their ranks. If we can somehow take advantage of that conflict, we can win.

　Originally, I did not aim for a complete victory.
　We are not aiming for a total victory, just a conditional victory and a successful future security guarantee.

　So you're saying you've already done all the work?
　"The Bulgurons are not a monolithic nation. There are a number of tribes that have been communicating secretly since the time of the last emperor.
　Are you trying to start a rebellion?
　That's not going to happen.

　Being pro-Lemuria does not mean that you are under Lemuria's control.
　They are only taking a pro-Lemurian attitude for their own benefit, not because they have any intention of working for the benefit of Lemuria.

　They will not revolt unless they are pushed too hard.

　But we can encourage them to make peace, or at least mediate. But we can encourage them to make peace, and if we can combine that with an uprising by the peasants, we can make peace on favorable terms.

　In the end, war is just a means of diplomacy.
　There is no need to be concerned about winning the war.

　"At any rate, we have to take action this time. Lunalee, take care of the logistics. I'm sending a large force.
　"Yes, Your Majesty.


　A few weeks later, Hercule left the border guards to the Tunda soldiers. ......
　All of the standing army.

　That is, four legions of infantry, one legion of archers, one legion of heavy cavalry (cribanarius), one legion of medium cavalry (cataphract), one battalion of light cavalry, and two battalions of rangers.

　With a total of 876,000 troops, they invaded the Kingdom of Bulgaron.