Wolf Hunt (1)
The day after the festival honoring sacred Mars, the god of war, I led the legions out of the capital.
This force included the Atillca Legion, which had sided with the rebels in the past, along with the Praetorian Guard, the 11th Legion, the 12th Legion, and others.
We marched north along the imperial highway and linked up with Rubiot and the remaining garrison troops who had already set up camp ahead.
With this, our army's total strength easily surpassed thirty thousand.
But facing Heigirt head-on with this many men was impossible. Leaving aside numbers, the quality of the troops was unreliable.
Most of the soldiers were slaves and paupers—decently equipped on the surface, but their combat prowess was sorely lacking.
First things first, I needed to transform them into a proper army.
Of course, their experience from recent marches and battles made them better than fresh conscripts, but that didn't change the fact they were still rabble.
During the march, I disciplined the men harshly to enforce legion standards. Velius might have hesitated to crack the whip, illegally turning the army around and wary of the troops' moods, but I had no such qualms.
If they didn't obey, out came the lash—and if needed, harsher punishments. That's how I sharpened the army's edge.
But even with this force, matching Heigirt toe-to-toe would be tough.
Libitus currently held at least fifty thousand of Heigirt's men. Considering the enemy's capabilities, thirty thousand felt short.
In our last clash, they'd cornered us completely and grown complacent, but after taking heavy losses, they wouldn't make the same mistake again. We had to prepare meticulously.
At minimum, we need forty thousand.
After much deliberation, I set our course for Bellgorod.
Passing through there, I'd supplement our forces from the barbarian tribes and, if circumstances allowed, reinforce from neighboring provinces.
From there, we'd ascend the Drvina River, then advance toward Sian along the Line River.
This route would take us from the river's upper reaches downstream, allowing rafts to transport supplies and easing logistics.
Of course, it carried the risk that Heigirt might strike the now-vulnerable imperial heartland.
I worried about that, but no war plan survives absolute perfection.
I decided to accept the exposure of the homeland to enemy attack.
While the legions marched north, I dispatched a messenger to Briton—not for our forces there, but for Heigirt.
Bring the Dane tribes and strike Belanga.
By reminding him of that threat, I'd pin his army in place, preventing a westward push.
But if Heigirt was dead set on mobilizing his tribes, even this wouldn't stop him.
In any case, we left imperial soil behind within a week and entered Bellgorod territory.
"Finally home."
Returning to the frontier after so long, even this frozen hellhole felt welcoming.
The barren, desolate land, ramshackle huts, and mud-choked roads all screamed borderlands.
"Excellency!"
As our group arrived with banners snapping in the wind, Riti and the other subordinates rushed out, dropping to one knee. I dismounted and clapped their shoulders.
"Any trouble on the Drvina while I was gone?"
"All quiet now, sir. We were worried when more troops pulled out, but nothing major happened."
"Maybe the barbarians shifted west, leaving a vacuum. We'll rest in the governor's residence tonight—issue summons to the tribal chieftains in the meantime."
"Yes, sir."
I ordered the officers to stand down and headed to the residence.
It was as spotless as when I'd left.
Come to think of it, I'm not governor anymore.
I hadn't been formally relieved of Bellgorod governorship, but I'd been appointed to the higher post of Imperial Northern Army Commander.
Stepping down from the subordinate role was only natural.
Once the capital appointed a new governor, I'd have to vacate these quarters.
That's a shame.
I gave a wry smile and sat on the bed.
Click.
The door cracked open, and a little girl's head peeked in.
Lucrecia.
I beckoned her over.
She hesitated, gauging my mood, then approached cautiously.
"Lucrecia. Looks like you've been eating well—your cheeks are nice and plump."
I pinched her cheek, twisting her face into a comical grimace.
"It hurts."
She shook her head like she hated it.
I let go, and she rubbed her sore cheek, stepping back.
"Speaking of which, you'll have to leave the residence soon too. What to do about your teeth?"
I gazed at Lucrecia, lost in thought for a moment.
If the new governor disliked kids, she couldn't stay. It'd be weirder for any governor to tolerate an orphaned border province girl hanging around official quarters.
What now?
As I pondered, the door opened.
"Oh? Who's this kid?"
Erenia entered carrying a tray of drinks and asked about Lucrecia.
"She lost her family to tribal raiders. I've been letting her stay here temporarily."
"I see. But won't we have to clear out soon?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm."
Erenia looked at Lucrecia with pity.
Like an abandoned puppy without a home.
In a way, she and Lucrecia were alike.
Erenia stared at her a bit longer, then turned to me.
"How about I take her with me for a while?"
"You?"
I blinked in surprise.
She'd played the dutiful attendant, but she was still a princess. Not the type to tend to others.
"Yes. It's lonely on my own, and I need something to bond with."
"If that's what you want, sure."
I agreed readily.
It gave Lucrecia a guardian for now, and I could grant Erenia's request. No downside.
Though looking at this, it feels like a family home.
I chuckled and shook my head.
A few days after issuing the summons, the barbarian chieftains began arriving in Bellgorod.
These were the types who'd barely budge after endless prodding before—they came running now.
Terrified by the sight of over thirty thousand imperial troops assembled along the riverbank.
Worried they'd be trampled flat.
Pale and sleepless, they bowed before me.
"Garmann of the Butia tribe greets Excellency Ain, Commander of the Imperial Northern Army."
As the chieftains offered formal obeisance, Rikius and Boruman paced before them, swords at their sides, exuding menace.
The chieftains waited tensely for my word.
"I'm grateful you've all hastened to the empire's call. His Majesty the Emperor will surely appreciate your loyalty too."
"You honor us, Excellency."
"I've summoned you today for one reason: the empire's enemy, Heigirt."
Heigirt.
The name rippled tension through the chieftains.
The empire scared them, but so did Heigirt. He'd built what amounted to a kingdom—a peerless monster.
Defy him? No simple choice.
Of course, tribes settled south of the river had no options.
Folk like Usiper or Jeshuter needed imperial protection, or rival barbarians would ravage them. They had to side with us.
"I want you chieftains to bolster our forces for the empire. This aligns with His Majesty's and the empire's will."
They swallowed hard at my words. No one spoke up immediately.
In the silence, I drummed my fingers on the chair arm.
Each tap made them flinch.
Wait for their answer.
I didn't bother threatening them outright—just let the silence press down.
They knew vague replies wouldn't cut it anymore.
Empire or Heigirt?
My silence forced the choice.
"Excellency,"
"You'll provide troops?"
I cut in sharply.
"That's—"
"Refusing to fight the empire's foes means you're no ally. You won't contribute?"
I cornered them deliberately into a binary decision.
Of course, such coercion wasn't ideal. Diplomatically, pushing allies into a bind was a no-go. I'd never handled things this way before.
But now, no choice.
To advance into eastern Libitus from Bellgorod, I needed the rear tribes neutralized.
Forcing contributions minimized their chances of stirring trouble behind us.
It also filled our ranks to challenge Heigirt.
"It's so sudden—we need time to think."
"Think? I hear true warriors act on instinct from the heart. Does no loyalty stir for the empire?"
"Of course it does! We just need to explain to our warriors."
"Money's no issue—I'll pay ample wages, distribute rations as needed, double market access too.
Allow your women riverside entry. But tribes refusing troops lose all privileges."
They licked dry lips at my words.
The pressure was bad enough, but revoking privileges hit harder. They scrambled to weigh pros and cons inwardly.
Finally, one spoke.
"We'll obey, Excellency. Our tribe offers five hundred for the empire."
Five hundred!
The number made others rethink.
A tribe with a thousand warriors offering half—if they skimped similarly, they'd face backlash even after contributing. Tough spot.
The second chieftain followed.
"Our tribe pledges a thousand. A show of loyalty to you and the empire."
I nodded.
They had fifteen hundred warriors—yielding a thousand left others needing to match at least half.
Eventually, they pledged roughly half, give or take.
In return, I promised thousands of solitus and hefty war spoils.
But coerced as they were, their faces soured.
After the chieftains returned north of the river, I tallied their pledges.
Ten thousand total.
More than expected.
Still, they'd likely deliver less than promised—barbarian oaths meant that much.
Even if they sent men, expect half-grown boys or ancients.
Better than nothing.
I breathed easier knowing they'd comply—for now.
Next up: the showdown with Heigirt.
Given our numerical disadvantage, we needed to avoid open plains at all costs.
If their cavalry shone in the field, we'd be pulverized meat.
I unrolled maps, scrutinizing my planned route, checking for spots Heigirt might ambush.
And contingencies if battle erupted there.
With tens of thousands of lives at stake, no room for carelessness.
I pored over the maps deep into the night, steeling for the coming fight.
(To be continued)