Chapter 70: Traitor (4)
The world's largest city, the capital Lan.
Boasting a population of a million, the city itself was a massive consumer market.
To sustain this colossal metropolis where no one could survive alone, the empire had dredged the bed of the Tere River west of the capital to create a grand port. Castia, the vital gateway.
Castia served as the primary hub importing the vast quantities of wheat and other necessities and luxuries the capital demanded from the provinces. Ships came and went daily—sometimes as few as twenty, often over a hundred. Its prosperity endured even as the empire's economy continued its decline.
"Beacon fires are rising."
"So they've finally spotted us."
I smirked at the flames flaring up from the harbor direction. The imperial navy had a few fast patrol ships there, but nothing capable of stopping our fleet.
Challenging thousands of troops with small craft meant for pirate-hunting and a few dozen sailors aboard was sheer madness.
"Sound the drum!"
At Rikius's command, the legion drummer beat out the rhythm. The deep thuds aligned our ships into three columns. The veteran oarsmen and sailors handled the maneuvers with skill.
I watched them form up, then signaled the standard-bearer.
"Infantry to stations."
The soldiers swiftly lined the decks. It was preparation for any arrows that might rain from the riverbanks as we entered.
Of course, they likely posed no real threat, but the difference between readiness and not was vast.
We ascended the Tere River slowly. The imperial warships anchored along the banks merely fluttered their flags, offering no resistance. Shockingly, the capital's gateway lay completely undefended.
Pathetic.
It wasn't my place to say, coming here to strike it, but the capital's defenses were a mess.
Luckily, every attacker on Castia Harbor so far had been pirates. Against anything more, it didn't bear imagining.
Soon, the world's grandest port came into view.
Over two hundred ships at anchor presented a sight of awe and wonder.
The harbor itself was defenseless, yet even we were momentarily overwhelmed by its majesty.
I stared, entranced for a beat, then raised the signal flag.
"Commence landing."
Starting with my command ship, the vessels surged into the harbor one after another. A port authority boat approached to manage traffic, but upon seeing the heavily armed troops crowding the decks, it hastily retreated.
We docked at the quays without interference.
"Eagles of the empire! Time to enter the capital!"
One battalion commander bared his teeth in a grin.
The soldiers, exhilarated, vaulted over the rails onto the docks. Heavy infantry crossed the wooden gangplanks and soon set foot on solid ground. Before long, I too stepped onto Castia.
The capital is right before us.
I squared my shoulders and glared at the distant capital walls.
"Governor, sir. First through third waves will take over four hours to land."
"Because of supplies?"
"Yes, sir."
Landing operations always devoured time with unloading gear and provisions. Especially for our siege army.
"Pay laborers to handle it. The legion main force advances on the capital immediately."
"Without siege engines?"
"Exactly."
I said it calmly. The imperial government knew of our landing but not who we were. I planned to exploit that.
"The capital still has defenders."
"Of course. But dragging this out helps no one—least of all us. March the main force openly toward the capital.
And strip some soldiers of uniforms, mix them with refugees, and send them in."
"You don't mean—"
"Right. No need for a siege then."
I intended to recreate the ploy barbarians had once used against our empire. If it worked, we'd have the world's greatest city on its knees in a day.
Without firing a single siege engine.
I believed it possible.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
As our standard-bearers galloped before the walls, raising fists, the troops roared. The capital defenders atop the towering walls, gawking at our army's might, looked a bit cowed.
"You traitors! The Senate has declared you enemies of the state. Border legions will swarm soon and mount your heads on pikes!"
A senator bellowed from the wall. One who'd firmly sided with Velius, no doubt.
But such bluster didn't faze us. Most border legions hadn't even received word of the emperor's change.
I sneered back at him.
"The army you trust is a hundred kilometers away. Border legions? Think they'll arrive in a fortnight? Nonsense. Your heads will be on pikes first."
"Y-you traitor Ain. Inciting soldiers to rebel. A border peasant like you talks big!"
"Better than bloodlines landing cushy seats. I guarantee it. If you're so sure, open the gates. I'll duel you one-on-one."
"Hahaha!"
Our soldiers burst into laughter. It was absurd, of course. A grizzled border veteran like me against a senator lounging in the capital? The outcome was obvious without crossing blades.
"Filthy cur playing word games."
"Those 'filthy' ones have guarded the empire till now. Arrogant pig. Ever faced barbarians blade-to-blade at the frontier, dreading each day?"
"That's for lowly soldiers!"
He shouted.
The defenders' faces hardened slightly. Even nobles shouldn't say such things.
"So what do you nobles do? Sit on capital toilets straining?"
The senator's face flushed crimson. Mistake trying wordplay with a man who bickered barbarians daily.
Refined Senate debates were beyond such vulgarity for him.
I couldn't hide my smirk.
"Traitor scum. No matter your filth, you're the empire's enemy. Government-declared rebel!"
"Ah, traitor. Got something on that. You lot killed a healthy emperor, colluded with barbarians, and crowned one. Not traitors?"
"Wh-what?"
"Brothers of the legion! What did we see in Libitus?"
"Velius, that cur, abandoning imperial honor, slinking away like a whipped dog!"
The soldiers bellowed.
"Hear that? You crowned a dog emperor."
"Traitor's lies!"
The senator screamed.
Of course.
I ignored his solo rant and returned to the ranks.
Officers clustered around me.
"Status?"
"Proceeding smoothly. Boruman leads a hundred mixed with refugees into the capital."
"Good."
I nodded, pleased. A hundred wasn't many. But too many risked suspicion.
Sending a thousand for certainty could doom them if spotted.
Better an ambiguous number hard to detect.
And a hundred could seize the gate mechanism in a flash. Impossible against ample defenders, but the capital had scant forces now.
If it goes well, the gates open in one stroke.
Once inside, it was over. Even if outnumbered, it changed nothing.
A few thousand raw recruits would panic at the news and abandon resistance.
By nightfall.
I ordered the troops to rest. We'd move hard tonight; no sense exhausting early.
Night watch was stricter than expected. Torches blazed, watching our every twitch. Fearing a night assault, perhaps. Some experienced officers Velius had installed?
Arms crossed, I waited for our men to act.
"You're anxious."
Erenia murmured beside me, hood pulled low.
"Of course. Sent subordinates into danger, now just waiting."
"You're different from my father in many ways."
"I'm no king."
"But you might become one soon?"
Her blue eyes gleamed strangely in the dark.
"No plans for that."
"But I think you will. People flock to the powerful."
I couldn't deny it. Perhaps resentment built under inept Emperor Baccus subconsciously demanded I lead the change.
Still, I mustn't crave it.
As I bit my lip, staring into her blue eyes, a shout echoed from the wall. Boruman.
"Kraaagh!"
A defender screamed, tumbling down. Boruman roared.
"Turn the windlass! Open the gates!"
Disguised troops dashed across the wall to the gate mechanism.
A few defenders resisted, but our surprise was swift, ruthless.
Boruman lowered ropes mid-unwinding. Dozens waiting below swarmed up them.
They joined their comrades, blocking late-arriving defenders.
"Stop the traitors! Don't let them open the gates!"
A defender officer yelled, futilely. Boruman spun his spear like a whirlwind before ascending troops.
"One more step. I'll slaughter you all."
Defenders climbed here and there, but the windlass was over halfway turned.
And then.
Dr-r-r-r-rrrk.
The massive gate groaned slowly over the moat.
"Legion, enter the capital!"
"Waaah!"
Troops surged like ants toward the gates. Arrows flew, but couldn't halt thousands.
As the gate bridged the moat, thousands poured in like a furious wave. Rikius at the fore bellowed.
"No looting or arson! Spare the non-resisting!"
Watching legionaries flood the capital, Erenia placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Now you're master of the world."
"Not quite. The north's uncertain, but the empire is ruled in the name of citizens and Senate."
"But now they'll watch your eyes."
True.
I spurred my horse toward the capital slowly.
"Maybe as you say. But I'm an imperial soldier, loyal to the empire."
"I believe that of you. Anyway, I trust you."
Erenia rode beside me.
"Trust what?"
"Your promises. To my father, to me. I believe you'll keep them."
"I will. So don't test my ambitions."
I kicked my horse's flanks. Erenia watched me with shining eyes.
(To be continued)