308. The War of the Puppets (5)
Kagan Amar was sitting on a crudely decorated throne. The throne was clumsily stitched together with flags. Some were stained with blood, while others were half-burnt.
Old, worn, and dirty flags. They were military banners and insignias. A new tradition born from the overheated loyalty competition for Kagan Amar.
With a short reign, mostly achieved through civil war, Kagan Amar was, in short, a cruel and inscrutable ruler. His generals had to live in constant fear of being discarded at any moment.
It was the fear he induced. Unable to earn genuine loyalty, Kagan Amar built his dominance on terror.
For both enemies and allies. The wheel of fate rolls equally for all.
“Great Kagan, an envoy has arrived.”
“Good. I was curious about what he would say.”
The generals who had not yet departed were seated in a circle around the Kagan’s throne. Soon, the curtain of the ger was lifted, and a sturdy man entered.
Dark brown eyes and a sharp nose. He was from the Kirzat Tribe. Amar’s lips curled as he noticed the envoy’s gaze fixed on his throne.
“Ah, you see it.”
“……”
The envoy suppressed his anger and bowed his head. Though it was hard to discern due to the damage, it was nothing less than a blatant insult to their nation. Sitting on the noble insignias as if they were mere cushions!
The banners of Ajman, the family crests of Al Ain, the emblems of Shayhan, and the command flags of Kahat… Just what was visible indicated that more than four cities had already been burned.
“Spoils are the virtues of the victor. The radiant sun of our nation has acknowledged your spoils.”
“Haha! Did you all hear that? He ‘acknowledges’ the spoils. Well, then, what is it that he does not acknowledge?”
The envoy suppressed his anger and bowed his head. He did not respond to Kagan Amar’s words. Soon, he took a step forward and spoke.
“You must remember. The mercy and generosity we showed you! You have insulted the Great Kirzat and violated the rightful territory of our nation.”
“Mercy? Generosity? Haha!”
“We sent you food when you were starving. We supplied you with iron tools when you had neither plows nor pots! When your grain ran low in winter, who supported you through the cold?”
“Grain? Food! Iron tools!! You always took more than you gave in return for our resources!”
One of the generals jumped up and shouted at the envoy. The envoy turned his head towards him and spoke.
“You must remember! When you opposed Kirzat. When you dared to trample our territory and plunder our cities! Remember your ancestors, your forefathers, all buried alive before the fortress of Lahore! Did you think you were the first to set foot on Kirzat’s land in your wretched history?”
A roar of anger erupted. Kill him! Stuff him in a sack! The generals could not forgive this civilized man who dared to stand before them and insult them so brazenly.
-*Click*.
Then, the Kagan raised his hand. Silence instantly filled the ger. Watching these rough men cower and submit to a single gesture, the envoy shuddered.
“Continue.”
“You… The great Sultan has declared judgment on your invasion. However, the Sultan, in his generosity, has considered that you may have acted out of desperation in your hunger and misery. He has decided to give you bandits a chance!”
“…A chance?”
“Leave! Never set foot on this land again! If you wish to acknowledge the spoils you have seized and live off the meager wealth like pig herders, then do so! The Sultan’s mercy is to educate, not punish, the crimes born of ignorance and hunger!”
The envoy growled as he spoke. The atmosphere in the ger grew increasingly tense. The generals, who had barely bowed their heads under Kagan Amar’s pressure, flushed with anger and gripped their sword hilts at the envoy’s words.
Then, the Kagan stood up.
“It was delicious.”
“…What?”
“The flesh of the nobles was delicious. Tender and fatty, perfect for a drink. Much better than pigs or horses.”
“…!!”
“The hawks of the plains are fierce, but your children are not. They were as tender as lambs or calves. The women were warm, and even your so-called ‘warriors’ were not so tough.”
“You… bastard!”
“Education, you say? Why did you not accept the lessons we gave you these past few days? We have given you only one teaching, and the teaching we will give in the future is also just one.”
The Kagan slowly walked up to the envoy. The envoy looked up at the Kagan, who was more than a head taller, trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
“Do not worry. We have much patience. If you do not understand, we will continue, continue, continue to teach you. Our wisdom is but one, so it will not take long for you to learn.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“The only wisdom we will give you is the law of the jungle.”
-*Crack*!
The envoy’s shoulder shattered. He didn’t even see the Kagan’s hand move. With one hand, the Kagan ripped off the envoy’s arm and threw it to the ground. Blood splattered as the envoy screamed and collapsed.
“I admire this man’s courage. Do not kill him.”
“But Kagan!”
“Tie him to his horse. The cowards of this nation do not deserve to ride, so let him be dragged by his own horse.”
The envoy’s face turned pale at these words. It was impossible to keep up with a galloping horse. Dragged behind a horse with his injuries, he would not survive the journey.
But the Kagan sat back on his throne and rested his chin on his hand.
“You must hurry. You must arrive before us so that your king may hear my words while he still lives.”
* * *
‘The ley lines are twisted.’
-The work of a demon.
No. This is… magic.
‘To be precise, demon magic.’
Fernandez straightened his back and thought. He had been riding for nearly two days, surveying the ley lines of the land from the farthest to the nearest regions.
Every land is imbued with a certain level of magical power. When this crystallizes, it can be processed into magic stones. There were many theories, but Fernandez believed that the veins of crystallized magic stones scattered across the land were remnants of ancient magic usage.
Like the aftermath of Mumto’s ascension, which overturned the Great Wilderness and created a massive vein of magic stones beneath it. Deep within the earth, magic stones lie dormant.
And these magic stones resonate with each other, creating paths of magical flow called ley lines. The ley lines beneath this land are twisted and tangled, emitting a specific wavelength.
On this land, normal magic usage is difficult. The magical interference seeping from the ground acts as a wedge, disrupting spells.
‘Are they trying to suppress magical warfare?’
-Their level is low. That’s why the war will proceed.
In this era, it’s hard to guarantee victory in war with just military power alone. Major powers of a certain scale must train combat mages.
Mages wage a silent war above the battlefield, while soldiers bleed and fight below. That was the foundation of modern warfare. If one has the ability, time, and sufficient magical power, a mage alone can tear apart dozens, even hundreds of soldiers.
Therefore, the disdain of civilized society towards the Hundred Demon Tribes has substantial grounds. Their magic barely surpasses the level of primitive tribal sorcery. But now, the tide has turned.
‘Kirzat’s magical forces are effectively sealed.’
-Let’s go back. I’ve gathered enough information.
Fernandez nodded briefly and mounted his horse. Kirzat’s combat mages won’t be able to wage war for a while.
With the ley lines twisted and the stability of great magic disrupted, large-scale magical discharges, except for small-scale individual spells, risk friendly fire.
This means that high-value tactical weapons now hold no more significance than a few dozen archers.
‘Karadskar. Does history flow the same as in my previous life?’
-It would have, if we weren’t here.
In his previous life, the Hundred Demon Tribes used the same strategy. The identity of this relic is unknown. During the uprising of the Hundred Demon Tribes, Fernandez was active in a region completely unrelated to Karadskar’s forces.
But he had heard rumors. That when Karadskar’s legion advances, their magical forces are sealed. That’s why the Hundred Demon Tribes’ legion, focusing all their combat power on ground forces, could trample civilized society.
Fernandez chuckled at Faijashi’s words and waved his hand. The magical power tied itself into unintended knots several times, crumbling on its own. But gradually, with each attempt, the knots became more refined.
-Whoosh!
After several attempts, a black halo ignited behind Fernandez’s head, and sparks flew from his fingertips. Success. Fernandez smiled lightly and turned his horse’s head.
The ley lines are twisted, distorting the knots of magical power? The explanation is complicated, but the logic isn’t much different from magical wedges. And magical wedges are within the realm of magical warfare—
He had never lost a single battle in magical warfare.
* * *
“Ah, you’re back?”
The Sultan smiled mysteriously and looked at Fernandez. When he left, the banquet was in full swing, but now the field tent was filled with a gloomy, sticky atmosphere.
The ministers and generals all had stiff expressions and remained quietly in their seats. Fernandez walked through them and stood before the Sultan.
“What happened?”
“Yes. The envoy has returned.”
The Sultan smirked and tilted his cup to the side. Immediately, a servant approached and poured wine into his cup.
“He was nearly torn apart and dragged back by his horse. He barely made it to me before dying.”
“Did the envoy bring any news?”
“No. He died before he could speak.”
The Sultan smiled faintly. The only person who had met Karadskar and returned alive was dead, and the enemy’s movements were still unclear, yet he showed no emotion as he drank.
And Fernandez was the same. He took the cup offered by the Sultan, drank, and smiled along with him.
“Everything is going according to plan.”
“Yes. It’s going according to your plan.”
The envoy didn’t need to bring back information. No, he didn’t need to return alive. In fact, he had to die.
The operation Fernandez had given to the Sultan began with the envoy’s death.
“That man who died for your plan was a soldier I cherished. He was one of my bravest and most steadfast guards. It was necessary, but let’s drink to him.”
“Yes.”
The Sultan drank the wine and looked at Fernandez. His tactics are not the Empire’s way. They are more radical and brutal. It’s not a tactical logic of achieving maximum results with minimal losses.
The basics of tactics are to minimize friendly losses or avoid threats. Even if it means missing opportunities to inflict greater damage on the enemy.
But Fernandez always considered only the impact on the enemy. His tactical judgments force friendly sacrifices. To maximize enemy losses, he creates friendly sacrifices.
It’s not about being willing to sacrifice if necessary, but seeing sacrifice itself as a necessary factor.
“Do you think he’ll move as you expect?”
“He should. Karadskar’s reign hasn’t been long, and his subordinates serve him out of fear. What matters most to him is the authority that power brings. We’ve provoked him and his tribe, so he must respond to maintain his authority.”
By sending the envoy to provoke the Hundred Demon Tribes’ generals in their midst, Karadskar must respond to this provocation and crush the enemies. For his authority.
Now, Karadskar’s forces will abandon other strategic objectives and rush straight to the Sultan’s main force.
Even if their location is known, it doesn’t mean victory in war. But at least, Kirzat can now choose the battlefield.
Fernandez looked at a section of the map. Coincidentally, the Sultan was looking at the same area.
Lahor Fortress.
During the years when the Hundred Demon Tribes’ bandits were active, this was the deepest line they had penetrated, and the area the envoy mentioned to provoke them.
Karadskar will surely want to capture this place.
‘Let’s make it happen.’
We should leave him a gift. Fernandez smiled as he faced the Sultan.
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