The End of the Plot (2)
The emperor's enthronement happened in the blink of an eye, like roasting beans in lightning. Formal accession and minting coins to announce it would take time, but from the moment the acclamation was made, it was all but over.
I received full authority from the new emperor, Marius, to suppress the rebellion and ascended to the position of consul.
The appointment of the Praetorian Guard commander was left to my discretion as well, putting the empire's military power effectively in my hands.
But I had no intention of abusing this immense power or using it to seize authority.
Erenia seemed to hope I'd become some king of the barracks, but I was just a nameless nobody who'd never craved power before. Politics was a garment that didn't suit a life hardened by the soldier's path.
I assigned Cogol, one of my trusted comrades, to maintain order and security in the capital, while I prepared to confront Velius.
A few among the troops hinted that we should seize the Praetorian Guard posts while we had the chance, but it was a foolish greed. Stirring up trouble like that would only provoke backlash from the frontier legions.
I already believed I'd spilled too much blood within the empire. There could be no more strife between legions. With that firm conviction, I quashed any rash thoughts among the men.
Instead, as rewards for enthroning the new emperor, I distributed a tidy sum in gold coins to stifle their discontent.
Of course, such rewards could soothe the soldiers only because the veterans had shared life and death with me.
While calming the ranks, I began preparatory work ahead of subduing Velius. The first step was spreading word that Velius had been declared an enemy of the state by the imperial senate and the emperor's will.
I hoped these rumors would seep into Velius's imperial forces and sow chaos in his ranks.
Truth be told, Velius lacked the personal bonds with his troops that I had forged. The moment his borrowed imperial authority evaporated, his position would crumble. A false emperor—an enemy of the state!
While undermining him through authority, I also spread a barrage of rumors. One was that the Drvina garrison commanders would soon march their legions toward the heartlands on orders from the imperial government.
The western and southern commands had sworn loyalty to the capital. I bluffed like this to rattle Velius's side.
During these days of groundwork, I sent word to Rubiot, still holding the Varant front, ordering him to sever communications between the imperial north and Velius.
With these double and triple measures in place, Velius had only one option left: bring his main force down and assault the capital.
With Rubiot blocking the north, he couldn't easily exchange messages with Heigirt. That was his sole remaining choice.
But the capital was the world's largest city, home to a million souls. Sieging such a place was a massive burden for any attacker. Without tricks like ours, even breaching the walls would be no easy feat.
Velius knew that full well.
On the fourth day after we took the capital, Velius made his move.
"A messenger under a white flag has appeared."
Rikius informed me, seated in the office where past consuls had handled affairs, that an envoy had arrived.
Velius must be getting desperate.
I allowed the envoy into the city.
Velius's messenger was one of the senators who'd fled like rats when we seized the capital—a bald fifty-something who stammered in a quavering voice.
"Our emperor—"
"Enough."
I raised my hand the moment he said "emperor." Rikius and the guards instantly drew swords to his throat, silencing him.
I fixed him with a cold stare.
"Correct your title. The only one called emperor in the empire is His Majesty Marius on the throne. Velius is a pretender emperor and enemy of the state. Make that mistake again, and I'll have your tongue ripped out."
"Ahem."
The senator swallowed dryly. I gestured for the guards to stand down. Color returned to his face.
"Th-then, grant me an audience with His Imperial Majesty."
"A pretender's envoy dares request the emperor? Absurd. Even meeting you as consul is more than you deserve."
I shut down the demand cold.
Of course, I could let him see Marius, but it would diminish the emperor's dignity. Better to handle this myself.
"B-but I bear a message—"
"If it's from the enemy of the state Velius, you can tell me. I'm the consul delegated full authority over him."
At my declaration, the senator clutched his throat—a sign of frustration. He couldn't afford to lose his temper here.
"Decide. Deliver your message to me and go, or be expelled."
"I-I'll speak."
"Good. Out with it."
"Our senate-approved 'new sovereign' is descending on the capital with thirty thousand troops. He is furious at the recent events in the capital and vows to hold Governor Ain strictly accountable for orchestrating them.
However, should the governor repent his crimes, fling open the gates for the city's safety, and welcome him, His Majesty will show mercy and offer fitting recompense."
"Velius knows he's in a bad spot, it seems. So, what exactly is this 'fitting recompense'?"
Ridiculous as it was, I was curious what bribe he'd offer. The envoy replied cautiously.
"Appointment as governor of Egypt, His Majesty's private domain. There, you could revel in wealth and glory without a soul to answer to."
Not a bad offer, by any means. Governorship of Egypt was reserved for the emperor's innermost cronies.
Floating that as bait proved how much Velius dreaded assaulting the capital.
"Of course. But it seems the senator hasn't heard the rumors about me. I prefer rough rye bread from the frontiers over lavish banquets, and hot oatmeal from wooden bowls. I'm an eagle accustomed to that.
What use have I for luxury? What joy from glory granted by the empire's betrayer?
Go back and tell him clearly: We will not compromise with a rebel. Nor show mercy.
Better prepare a noose. If I come myself with the sword, your head will adorn a pike."
I drew my sword; the senator yelped and fell on his ass.
I slammed the blade into the wooden floor and roared.
"Begone."
"Ah-ah—"
The senator scrambled on all fours, then bolted upright on two legs—a vulgar sight, dignity be damned.
As he fled, Rikius chuckled and said,
"Now that he's scampering back, Velius will harden his resolve."
"He never expected much from the start. The envoy was just probing the capital's mood."
"Probing the mood? Then shouldn't we have killed him?"
Rikius reached for his scabbard.
"No harm in letting him go. He already guesses our situation without seeing it. Killing the envoy would just give them propaganda about our barbarity."
"Indeed."
Rikius nodded.
"Anyway, with him blabbing about an imminent arrival, we need to hurry our preparations. Fetch Battalion Commander Boruman."
"Yes, sir."
Soon after, Boruman arrived from the palace side.
He saluted crisply, arm to chest.
"You summoned me?"
"Velius warned us he's arriving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Faster than expected."
"Could be even sooner. He might say tomorrow and strike tonight."
I trusted no enemy word. Even a simple timeline could be a ploy.
"Then—"
"From now on, bolster night defenses thoroughly. Just in case."
"Yes, sir. I'll double the watch."
"And hire slum-dwellers as soldiers if you have to pay them. Put them on sentry duty too."
"They won't amount to much fighting force."
"True. But line those scarecrows along the walls, and the enemy will think we're running our meager troops ragged without rest."
Boruman smirked.
"It's all for show, then."
"Exactly. This fight is a war of attrition. Drag it out, and Velius's grip on his army weakens.
Without authority to back him, he'll need bread and gold to hold them—but fresh from campaign, he has no such reserves.
He can't loot the heartlands either. Hold out a week at most, and he'll collapse on his own."
"So he'll stake everything within that week."
"Right. And he'll use it to exhaust our smaller force before the decisive blow."
"Barbarian tactics?"
"Yes. But even I'd do the same against these walls. Sieging head-on is daunting; tiring the defenders is the best play."
"Wise counsel."
"I trust you alone. This battle hinges on our endurance."
"I'll prepare meticulously."
"Good."
I dismissed Boruman.
The next day, at dawn, Velius appeared before the capital with his host, true to his boast. My worry of a night raid after forced march felt foolish in the face of such straightforwardness.
But I wasn't grateful for his honesty.
"He's brought the full expeditionary force intact. Scarcely any stragglers."
I clicked my tongue.
The visible disparity was stark. Our three thousand against their twenty thousand—a gap of over eightfold by numbers alone.
In open battle, we'd be crushed.
Qualitatively, our veteran-heavy legion outclassed his fresh conscripts, but the odds still forbade field engagement.
And siege defense wasn't rosy. Even mustering defenders perfectly, the walls were too long. More ground to cover favored the attackers, despite height and strength.
"Lordship. Velius is there."
Rikius pointed across the plain.
Sure enough, a lavishly dressed man in a laurel wreath rode a white steed. The purple cloak of emperors marked him unmistakably—none other in his host would dare claim it.
I leaned on my longsword and stepped onto the battlements.
"Velius!"
My shout drew his reaction. He recognized me by my fluttering cloak.
Soon, he spurred his horse toward the walls.
"Ain!"
He called my name. Not for friendly chit-chat, of course.
"Velius! A betrayer who abandoned us now claims the throne? I heard the rumors. If you're calling yourself emperor, you should've guarded the throne better. What is this?"
I mocked him like an old comrade.
"Ain. Not content with groveling to barbarians for survival, you slunk into the capital like a rat! That you're hailed a hero baffles me. Come down and bow now. I'll show more mercy than Heigirt did."
"I already answered via your envoy. And I declared you enemy of the state. I made you a traitor—now crawl between your legs? Laughable."
"Not laughable. I command thirty thousand; your laughable few thousand is all."
"But I'm atop the walls, you're below. Learn that difference first, Velius."
He gnashed his teeth.
"Can't talk sense into you."
"I was never your friend. The moment you stabbed the backs of your eagle comrades, you became a cowardly bat."
Velius wheeled his horse irritably.
"Legions, prepare for battle!"
At his command, several legions advanced slowly, beating drums.
Here it comes.
A classic probe—test the defenders.
But let vigilance slip, and we'd shatter in an instant.
I drew my sword and bellowed to the troops.
"With honor! With nobility! For the empire!"
"For the empire!"
Confirming their roar, I turned to the approaching foe.
(To be continued next episode)