The End of the Scheme (5)
The enemy had visibly lost their morale. Ever since the emperor sent an envoy with a letter to the rebels, their will to attack seemed to have evaporated completely.
Even their aggressive daytime maneuvers crowding near the walls to apply pressure had vanished. I predicted the enemy would collapse on their own before long.
They pitched large tents in places visible to us, scrawling pathetic slogans on them like "Emperor Velius is victorious." We laughed at the sight, but they erected several more along the walls. It was a valiant, if futile, effort to hide their weakness.
I scoffed at their antics, then suddenly realized the tents were blocking our view of their camp.
Could it be?
The enemy had lost morale, true, but their forces still outnumbered ours. If they breached the walls, they could turn the tide for certain. What if they were hiding some scheme behind those tents?
I immediately summoned my officers.
"It's a smokescreen to hide their troops deserting."
"But that won't gain them much."
Cogol stroked his chin at my words.
"Or maybe they're trying to make us misjudge how fast their numbers are dwindling, then lure us into open battle and crush us?"
It wasn't impossible. Our side was outnumbered, after all.
Still, Velius was in dire straits; he couldn't afford to wait it out. One misstep, and his own soldiers' blades would take his head. If I were him, I'd prepare a surer path to victory.
"Or they could be digging tunnels."
Boruman suggested.
"Tunnels?"
"Yes. They're not common up north, but I've heard they're frequent in sieges along the eastern Ersia border."
"Tunnels. But don't they take a long time to dig? Especially to reach under our walls without detection."
I'd considered tunnels myself, but time-wise, they weren't a card Velius could play.
Boruman shook his head at my response.
"Don't think of them for infiltration. See them as a way to collapse the walls."
"Collapse the walls?"
Only then did I realize what Velius had pinned his last hopes on. Bring down the walls.
Even with sagging morale, the sight of the walls crumbling would instantly rally the troops. Tunnels were a solid reversal card.
"Yes."
"If that's true, it's serious."
I crossed my arms, lost in thought.
Velius.
His claim of eastern army service wasn't bluffing, it seemed.
"We'll have to dig counter-tunnels as a precaution."
"But we'd need to dig toward where they're tunneling from. Any way to pinpoint it?"
"There's a method."
Boruman said.
We drove hundreds of poles along the walls. By feeling their vibrations, we could judge the direction of any enemy tunneling.
But we didn't need all that fuss in the end.
"Excellency. An envoy from the enemy camp."
"An envoy now? Unless it's full surrender, there's nothing to talk about."
I climbed the walls and looked down at the envoy.
"What do you want?"
Instead of answering, the envoy hoisted a severed head high.
"Th-that's..."
The officers and soldiers murmured at the sight. It was a face we all knew well.
The pretender emperor, Velius!
Our mortal enemy.
Velius.
I stared piercingly at the head, then shifted my gaze to the envoy.
"The head of a traitor."
"Yes. We present the head of the traitor Velius to His Imperial Majesty and wish to serve again under the empire's golden eagle."
"I see. Wait there. I'll report to His Majesty and decide your fate."
I beckoned Rikius.
"Yes."
"Go inform His Majesty. The traitor Velius's head is severed, and his army begs surrender."
"Yes, sir!"
Rikius saluted across his chest and vanished down from the walls.
I addressed the envoy again.
"First, one question. Who's commanding you now?"
"Senator Tersio, Excellency."
I wasn't surprised that snake had switched sides. For the leader of the Senate's largest faction, a political powerhouse, to stay loyal to a sinking ship would have been odder.
His ambition might pale next to Velius's, but his survival instinct was stronger.
I cracked my knuckles.
"Tersio? A mere senator commanding legions?"
"Yes."
The envoy answered without deceit.
Hearing that, I vowed to kill Tersio. I didn't know how, but he'd wormed significant influence into the reformed imperial field army.
Likely many slaves and paupers in it owed him favors.
Either way, a senator swaying legions was no good—especially a cunning one who'd sided with rebels.
I pondered a quiet way to eliminate him. As I thought, Rikius rushed back.
"Excellency. His Majesty bids us show mercy to the traitors."
"Mercy?"
"Yes."
"Tricky. Rikius!"
"Yes, Excellency."
"Shoot an arrow from above on my signal."
"Understood."
"Boruman!"
"Yes, Excellency!"
"Open the gates."
"By order of the consul! Open the gates!"
Boruman shouted, and legionaries turned the winches. The heavy gates swung wide. Mounted, I rode out slowly.
The rebel envoy flinched at my personal appearance. I faced him calmly.
"His Majesty commands mercy for you. I want to meet your leader Tersio in person. Bring him to the gates."
"Understood."
The envoy wheeled his horse and vanished into their camp.
I stroked my horse's mane, waiting for Tersio.
Soon, the wily senator I'd seen long ago appeared on a white steed, flanked by two imperial-looking officers.
He halted them at a distance and rode forward alone.
"Long time no see, Consul Ain."
"Hard to say I'm glad, regrettably, Senator Tersio."
He smiled faintly at my reply.
"But with pretender Velius dead, no need to shed blood in anger. And the new emperor will need my help too, no?"
"Can't argue that."
"Then shall we exchange proper greetings?"
"Indeed."
I nudged my horse toward him.
Tersio's smiling face drew closer.
I glimpsed his hand extending for a handshake.
That instant, I raised mine.
"Assassination, dare you?!"
My shout was the signal. Rikius's arrow flew. It struck Tersio's chest before he could react.
"A, a misunderstanding."
Tersio spat blood. I leaned in, voice low, cold, clear.
"Of course it is. But you die here."
I whispered to him, dropping a prepared dagger to the ground.
Chaos erupted; our soldiers rushed from the gates. Tersio's officers ran to check him—he was already gone.
I spoke softly to them.
"Senator Tersio tried to kill me. Motive unknown, but he hated me. Do you want to kill me too?"
They waved frantically, dismounted, bowed low, trembling denials.
"Very well." I had them summon Tersio's replacement.
Soon, legion commanders knelt before me, begging surrender in his stead.
Speaking for the emperor, I announced their fates.
All legion commanders: dismissed, families exiled to the southern deserts!
But with pensions guaranteed—not overly harsh.
Battalion commanders and above: demoted two ranks, posted to eastern legions!
Centrions and below: no punishment.
For rebellion, it was lenient beyond words. I believed harsher measures were needed for discipline, but the emperor's mercy tied my hands.
While issuing legion dispositions, I forced all Senate senators and officials in rebel camps from office.
Capital collaborators, the emperor said to overlook—but these were overt traitors.
I confiscated their wealth for the treasury and banished them beyond the homeland. They deserved hanging.
With major cleanup done, I reported to the emperor. He approved but noted the "work" wasn't finished.
I agreed.
Heigirt, the instigator of this civil war, still lurked in imperial territory.
Marius rose, clapping my shoulder himself.
"Only Heigirt remains to reclaim the empire's damaged prestige and order. Drive him beyond the borders and punish him."
"Wise words, Majesty."
"I entrust it to you. Use surrendered Velius troops, the 16th Legion, and conscript as needed. Make that barbarian pay for defiling the empire."
"By Your Majesty's command, I'll discipline the brigand."
"Good. From today, I add Northern Army Commander to your titles."
"Yes, Majesty."
I bowed.
Imperial Northern Army Commander.
Originally, no single field army commander existed for the imperial north. Legion commanders and governors on the frontier formed ad-hoc forces under centrally dispatched commanders as needed.
A unified northern command threatened the emperor and regime, given its proximity to the homeland.
Thus, the post shouldn't—and couldn't—exist.
Its creation meant two things.
The emperor trusted me. And even so, it took that to face Heigirt.
Both weighed heavily.
But I couldn't decline the empire's—and emperor's—faith.
As I left court, subordinates knelt, chanting "Imperator, hail!"
Imperator. Supreme field commander—originally for army leaders, now the emperor's title.
"Congratulations, Excellency. You've reached the pinnacle for any soldier."
"Yes, but the empire weakens as power burdens my shoulders."
I wasn't elated by the glory. Too much seen to rejoice in fleeting splendor.
Praetorian prefects, emperors, pretenders—all slipped to ruin unexpectedly.
If they fell, standing at the military peak in this declining empire was no cause for arrogance.
I'd lead a war-and-civil-war-weakened army against a formidable foe.
"But you'll prevail, Excellency."
"That's our faith."
They saluted across their chests.
Yes. With you eagles supporting, it's no impossible feat.
I descended the stairs, arms linked with my men.
(To be continued in the next episode)