"That's three, isn't it?

　Hercule muttered to himself as he watched his own troops rushing to the open city walls.

　Hercule was steadily dropping cities one by one near the border between the Lemurian Empire and the Bulgaron Kingdom.
　He only attacked cities that were close to the border line, and never invaded deeper into the cities.

　"Your Majesty, aren't you aiming for the capital of the Bulgaron Kingdom?

　Karolina asked.
　Karolina thought that Hercule was going to invade deep into the Kingdom of Bulgalon and strike a blow, but Hercule's military attack was very reluctant.

　"They'll just move the capital further north if we drop it. It's useless. It's more important to define the border.

　Hercule had no intention of invading the depths of the Bulgaron Kingdom.
　The risks are high and the benefits are small.
　It was more important to draw a favorable border for the Lemurian Empire.

　We will regain all the cities we lost during the time of the previous emperor. Then we will re-stabilize the borders.

　Basically, borders are drawn by mountains and rivers.
　The reason why the Bulgurons can so easily invade the Lemurian Empire is because they have dominions outside the natural borders of mountains and rivers (inside from the Lemurian perspective).
　Hercule is planning to push it up so that it cannot be easily penetrated into the country.

　Once we have a certain amount of cities, we'll build the Great Wall and string them together like beads. Then they won't be able to get into our side so easily.
　That's going to cost a lot of money.
　That's what security is all about.

　Hercule also really wants to drive the Bulgurons out of the Bulgarian lands.
　Then we can make the Hystere River our border line again.

　The Hysteria River is one of the largest rivers in the Western Continent, and it used to be the borderline between the Lemurian Empire and the barbarian world.
　Now, it has been completely abandoned and flows through the territory of the Kingdom of Bulgaron.

　If it were as big as the Hysteria River, there would be no need to build a Great Wall. ......
　There is no point in begging for what is not there.

　"Your Majesty!　Your Majesty, the reconnaissance team is reporting!　The army of the Kingdom of Bulgalon is approaching us!　Their number is about ninety thousand!

　"Ninety thousand. ......

　Karolina gulped.
　The number is too huge.

　Hercule, on the other hand, seemed unfazed.

　"I was expecting a hundred thousand. Surprisingly few. It seems there are some reluctant clans after all.

　If they penetrate deep into the Bulgaron Kingdom, all the clans of the Bulgaron Kingdom will unite to challenge Lemuria in battle.
　However, the clans of the Bulgaron Kingdom will not unite just because the territory of the Lemurian Empire was originally taken back.
　The clans of the Bulgaron Kingdom will not unite over the reclaimed territory of the Lemurian Empire, as it has nothing to do with the clans of the northern part of the Bulgaron Kingdom.

　I'm sure you've been trying to draw them in deeper, but they got impatient and attacked you. Fine, I'll beat you back.

　Hercule smiled fearlessly.






　First, he had them dig dug shelters around the city walls and placed a battalion of halberd troops in front of the city gates on the north, south, east and west sides.
　Then, he had all the archers go up to the top of the wall, and had the rest of the soldiers wait inside the wall.

　After confirming that the Bulgaron Kingdom had positioned itself in front of the western gate, Hercule left the halberd units in the north and south-east as they were and positioned all the remaining soldiers in front of the western gate.

　The enemy numbered about 10,000 infantry and 80,000 cavalry.

　Hercule said, looking at the soldiers of the Bulgaron Kingdom from the top of the city wall.
　The Kingdom of Bulgalon was a nomadic nation, but that did not mean that they did not use infantry.
　Sometimes they hire mercenaries and sometimes they dismount from their cavalry to fight because they need infantry when they attack castles.

　But 80,000 cavalry is an enviable number.

　However, considering the national strength of the Bulgaron Kingdom, the number of cavalrymen that can be mobilized at one time is at most 100,000.
　If you lose these 80,000, the Bulgurons won't be able to conduct military operations for the next few decades.

　Obviously, the Bulgurons are the ones who are being pushed into a corner.

　It would be a great help if they would agree to peace.

　Thus began the Battle of Astia.






　A week has passed since the battle between the Lemurian Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgalon, the so-called Battle of Astia, began.
　The Lemurian Empire had the upper hand in the war, and the Bulgaron Kingdom was unable to break through the Lemurian Empire's defensive positions.

　In addition to the trenches restricting the cavalry's movement, the pike wall created by the Lemurian infantry blocked the cavalry's assault.
　In addition, the arrows fired by Lemurian archers from the top of the walls would reach farther than the arrows fired by the light cavalry of the Bulgarson from their horses, making them one-sided shots.

　And occasionally, the Lemurian cavalry would launch a counterattack. ......
　There were many casualties in the Kingdom of Bulgalon.

　"I'm sorry, but we of the Territorial Clan are going home, King Bulgalon.

　The Territorial Chief told the commander-in-chief, King Bulgalon.
　It was a defensive war, and the Territorial Chief had offered a small number of troops as a gesture of gratitude, but he had no intention of doing so any longer.

　The Territorial Clan's territory was the northern part of the Kingdom of Bulgalon, and they had no interest in the city that King Bulgalon was trying to take back.
　In addition, the tribute from the Lemurian Empire was hardly distributed to the Territorial Clans.
　From their point of view, whether Lemuria or Cothrumia won, there was no gain or loss.

　Therefore, it is only natural that the Territorial Clans would try to get out of this barren battle. ......
　I'm not going to stop you.

　"I'm not going to stop you, but ...... I would prefer that you refrain from disturbing the peace in that way.

　King Bulgalon complained.
　I'm not going to tell you what to do.
　However, if the third most powerful clan, the Tellitelle, were to leave, the entire army would be greatly shaken.

　If they were not careful, the clans might drop out of the battle line one after another, like the teeth of a comb falling out.

　"That's my line, King Bulgalon. The majority of the clan leaders do not want to fight. It is you who are disturbing the peace.

　The Territorial Chief said disapprovingly.


　The main warring factions, led by the Kotormir and Krom clans, are certainly the majority in the Kingdom of Bulgalon in terms of population, but they are a minority in terms of the number of clans.

　No matter how weak the clans are, in terms of numbers, they are still one clan, just like the Kotormir clan.

　It was decided at the conference. ...... Are you running away?　The Terriers are cowards.

　It was the chief of the Krom clan who said this.
　It was a provocation to protect King Bulgalon as the main warrior and to prevent the Teritels from leaving the front.

　The Territorial Chief snorted and said.

　If so, the Crom clan is a bunch of idiots. How can they expect to win when they have run out of sheep, have no villages to plunder, and can't even feed their horses? There is a difference between bravery and recklessness.

　Nomads are able to maintain a large number of horses because they live scattered over a vast area.
　However, if 80,000 horses (or more than 100,000 if substitute horses are included) are gathered in such a small area, it is obvious that the grass in the grassland will be eaten up in no time and the fodder will run out.

　The logistics system of nomads is based on the premise of constant movement.
　By raiding and constantly moving sheep and horses, they can deploy their forces at will.

　It cannot cope with the situation of staying in one place for a week.

　"Aren't we supposed to draw them in and defeat them in the first place?　It's only a few dozen kilometers from the border of the Lemurian Empire, and I don't know where it is. It would be a strategic error on your part.

　Beating Lemuria that has invaded deep inside.
　This was the strategy of the Bulgaron Kingdom, and now that it has failed, there is no chance of victory.

　The Territorial Chief insisted.
　Then he turned on his heel and said.

　"Please don't feel bad. We Telltale clans cannot afford to wipe the asses of clans richer than us.


　Over the next week, one by one, the clans left the battlefield.
　Finally, the clan leaders of the pro-Cotormia Krom clan wanted to return, and ......

　The King of Bulgaron, who judged that it was impossible to continue the battle any further, decided to retreat.

　Thus, the Battle of Astia ended in victory for Lemuria.







　I'm in trouble.

　King Bulgur's head was in his hands.
　Since the battle of Astia, the Lemurian army has been gaining momentum and capturing cities one after another.

　The tax revenue raised from the farmers is an important source of income for the Kotormir clan.
　If the Lemurians are not defeated somehow, the power of the Kotormir clan will further decline.

　However, many of the clans have retreated, including the Territorial Clans.
　There was no way they could defeat Lemuria with their dwindling forces.

　"Excuse me, my king.
　"Chieftain Krom?

　The one who entered King Bulgalon's yurt was Chief Chrom.
　He was followed by Alicia Krom, the chieftain's only daughter.

　"Alicia says she has a solution for us. Will you listen to me?
　"Breakthrough?　...... Hmm, if you only ask.

　Grasping at straws, King Bulgalon nodded.
　Alicia stepped forward to greet him, and then told him her plan.

　After hearing this, King Bulgalon thought for a while and then said ......

　"Very well. I will prepare a hundred of the best. ...... But make sure they succeed. If any of them fail, ......
　"I understand, and I will pay for it with my death.



　
　Alicia would later come to regret ...... her decision to offer King Bulgaron a solution, her decision to go through with it, and her decision to underestimate Hercule.