Chapter 231
Chapter 231
Iron Emperor — Chapter 231
Chapter 73: The Storm That Swept Through Haian
The entire continent was gripped by upheaval.
At the center of that upheaval, the nation called Gauri stood boldly. After reclaiming South Roselin, their relentless advance had everyone calling them insane.
They called it reckless bravado, too. But when they crossed the border and set Partean ablaze, the continent was thrown into sheer shock. Although the household of the North Roselin royal family was said to have fled, their whereabouts were completely unknown, and the nations of the continent had no choice but to focus every nerve on Gauri.
The three great powers still formed the central axis of the continent, but Gauri's actions were more than enough to shake the continental order. For the Federal Empire and the Maritime Empire, a superb card had emerged to check the Holy Empire. And for the Holy Empire, North Roselin—which had always been obedient—had been smashed to pieces, effectively creating a troublesome new enemy.
On the other hand, the Federal Empire had yet to establish any proper exchange with Gauri, so it could not help but feel some unease over whether Gauri would truly serve as a force capable of checking the Holy Empire to the end.
If they continued to treat Gauri as an enemy, invasion by the Holy Empire was all but a foregone conclusion. In that case, as the political maxim went—yesterday's enemy could become today's comrade—Gauri could just as easily join hands with the Holy Empire, mad as that might seem, and turn its blade toward the Federal Empire.
While the nations stewed in such agonizing dilemmas, the place seething with the greatest turmoil was none other than the Haian Kingdom.
Was Haian not the gateway to the Reganza Mountains and the nation directly adjacent to them?
Moreover, South Roselin—which was practically another neighbor—was now in an alliance with Gauri. To say Haian was caught in an impossible predicament would be stating the obvious. In the end, the great hall where the Haian Kingdom's council and king resided could not help but be blanketed day after day by the clamorous quarrels of the nobles.
'Nothing's changed.'
The scene reflected in King Bera Han's eyes was no different from before. The loudest voice, which had once belonged to Duke Perisman, the head of the Central Noble Council, had merely shifted to Marquis Iwaen, the deputy head. The hall was still filled with spokesmen representing the powers backing them.
"Do you not see that the international situation is already turning against the Holy Empire! The Federal Empire is the answer! Furthermore, now that Gauri has made an enemy of the Holy Empire, they too have no choice but to join hands with the Federal Empire!"
"It is said, befriend the distant and attack the near! How can you be ignorant of this fundamental diplomatic principle! At this opportunity, we must cultivate closer relations with the Maritime Empire while keeping Gauri at a strict distance. No—distance alone is not enough; we must seize this chance to thoroughly seal every trade route and impose economic sanctions."
"Count Mihitzu, have you lost your senses? Economic sanctions, you say! Gauri is a nation that has sustained itself for nearly a thousand years. What preposterous economic sanctions can you impose on a self-sufficient nation! And suppose Gauri does bare its fangs at us. How long would it take the Maritime Empire to send reinforcements across that vast sea!"
"Count Duntal, then what exactly is your alternative?"
When Marquis Iwaen thrust his flushed face forward and shot back the question, Count Duntal opened his mouth as if the answer were obvious.
"At this juncture, we must restore Duke Perisman to the council and strengthen our ties with the Holy Empire. There are rumors that Gauri and South Roselin are reaching out to avoid the Holy Empire's wrath. If that comes to pass, the Federal Empire will be a candle in the wind."
"Why are you bringing up Duke Perisman here! And to call the Federal Empire a candle in the wind—what absurd nonsense is this! I have already received word. Like the other duchies, we too must formally accept a Federal Empire garrison at this time. Such a measure already serves as a fully sufficient deterrent against war, does it not!"
At the sight of their impassioned speeches, King Bera Han—who had even let out a scoff—slammed his hand down on the table.
BANG!
"Am I not visible to your eyes?"
"Your Majesty, we apologize."
"Your Majesty, we were foolish to raise our voices."
As if they had never been shouting and raising their voices moments before, they bowed their heads and each offered a word. As if even such behavior had become chronic, King Bera Han let out a derisive chuckle and mocked them.
"So you do know you were in the wrong."
"Ahem."
"Hrm."
Awkward, forced coughs sounded from every corner.
"In the end, if I were to summarize your proposals, there is the matter of accepting a Federal Empire garrison and dedicating ourselves to defense..."
"That is correct, Your Majesty!"
Marquis Iwaen chimed in with a face brimming with delight. King Bera Han turned his gaze from Marquis Iwaen to Count Mihitzu and continued.
"To remain faithful to the diplomatic fundamentals of befriending the distant and attacking the near and to strengthen our friendship with the Maritime Empire—ah, but in that case, since it would be difficult for the Maritime Empire to send aid by sea, we could simply accept a garrison as we would with the Federal Empire, could we not?"
"Truly, what insight!"
Count Mihitzu's exclamation burst out, and Marquis Iwaen's face crumpled into a frown.
"Or perhaps we should recall Duke Perisman—who has been enjoying a fine rest—and instead grow closer to the Holy Empire?"
"We believe that to be the best course!"
As if professing his own conviction, Count Duntal bowed his head and answered. King Bera Han let out a sigh, then slowly opened his mouth.
"Anyone watching would think this is a Continental Nations Conference. You have it all. A Holy Empire representative, a Federal Empire representative, even a Maritime Empire representative."
"That is merely in accordance with the tides of the times, so..."
Though their faces reddened at King Bera Han's mockery, the nobles still demonstrated their loyalty (?) by refusing to yield their positions to the very end.
"Be that as it may, is there not a common thread among all your arguments?"
"What common thread do you speak of, Your Majesty?"
As the nobles' eyes filled with curiosity, King Bera Han quietly ventured the point.
"In the end, is it not all about our lack of military strength to oppose Gauri? The answer has already presented itself. Would the solution not be to accelerate the ongoing formation of the thirty-thousand-strong Central Army and complete it even more swiftly?"
"Your Majesty, those numbers are woefully inadequate."
"Indeed. We cannot keep them in check with our strength alone. Gauri is a powerful nation that swiftly shattered even the Kingdom of North Roselin, which had waged that war for so long. We cannot regard them lightly."
"Hm. Then we shall have to conscript more soldiers, not merely thirty thousand."
"N-no, that, that is..."
At King Bera Han's words, which grew more and more outrageous, the nobles each started in alarm and rose in opposition.
"Enough! For now, see to it that every preparation is flawlessly made for the Central Army's deployment ceremony in fifteen days. After that, this kingdom will decide its course. You are all dismissed."
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty! We beseech you to see reason!"
Leaving behind the nobles crying out for him to see reason from every direction, King Bera Han departed the great hall.
* * *
At the news relayed through the crystal orb, Duke Perisman's face remained thoroughly grim.
[...and so the only thing decided thus far is the Central Army's founding ceremony, and nothing more.]
"Ha... I cannot tell whether King Bera Han has grown bold or simply lost his mind."
Duke Perisman's manner of speaking about his own king had strayed far, far beyond the bounds of decorum. It was as if he were addressing the monarch of an enemy nation.
[For now, I shall continue to shape public opinion. Your Grace, simply think of it as resting a little longer before returning.]
"Hm. Understood. Count Duntal, continue consolidating our power base and increasing our influence."
[You may trust me.]
Having concluded the magic communication, Duke Perisman sank his body into his chair and exhaled a bitter sigh.
A few days later, Duke Perisman received a letter from King Bera Han summoning him to the founding ceremony of the Central Army Corps.
"Heh, so he has finally come to his senses."
Duke Perisman tossed the king's letter onto his desk with a cold sneer. It was the signal flare for his return to central politics.
* * *
That day as well, King Bera Han was strolling through the gardens with his queen, Lian Su.
"Su. The time has come to decide. I can endure no longer, and neither can this kingdom, it seems. If not now, we may lose the moment forever, might we not?"
As if answering King Bera Han's composed voice, Lian Su gazed intently into his eyes and replied firmly.
"Now you must return to being a proud member of the Han clan."
"Indeed. That is the fate passed down from our ancestors who lived in order to cast off the yoke of being descendants of traitors. We have a purpose—we must resurrect the forgotten legends. And I can no longer stand by and watch our people be helplessly tossed about."
"You will do well."
Lian Su nodded at King Bera Han's resolve and gave him her support.
"Just a little, just a little longer. Wait for me."
King Bera Han held Lian Su as if soothing her and murmured quietly. His eyes were those of a man seizing a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
His eyes burned with conviction.
* * *
The founding ceremony of the Central Army Corps—which was to shoulder one pillar of Haian Kingdom's national defense after the great void left by the disappearance of the Hawk Corps—was more splendid than any occasion before it.
On this day, at least, the nobles wore bright smiles and chatted warmly among themselves. Yet some could not conceal their discomfort.
The reason was simple.
King Bera Han had personally appointed the supreme commander of the Central Army Corps, and he had even unilaterally decided upon the staff officers and the general-grade deputy commanders.
The sole reason the process had reached the founding ceremony without incident was largely because the composition of the staff officers and deputy commanders had been balanced across the various factions.
"The king has certainly dressed to impress."
"Indeed he has."
Unlike other occasions—perhaps because he was overcome with emotion—King Bera Han had appeared not in ceremonial robes but in full armor and was personally inspecting the troops. A few nobles murmured at the sight, but they soon lost interest and turned their gazes to the corps arrayed in formation.
"Before His Majesty King Bera Han, sovereign of the Haian Kingdom, I, Viscount Gaun, together with the full thirty thousand men of the Central Army Corps, do swear upon this ground our unyielding loyalty!"
"Glory to Haian!"
A resounding roar shook the vast plaza where the troops stood in formation. At the spectacle, the spectating citizens also cheered in admiration and applauded. King Bera Han descended to where Viscount Gaun knelt on one knee, and with both hands he raised his ceremonial sword high toward the heavens.
"Do you swear to become the sword of the Haian Kingdom!"
"I swear!"
"Do you swear to fight until your dying breath against any foreign foe who covets the Haian Kingdom!"
"I swear!"
King Bera Han's cries and Viscount Gaun's answers continued back and forth. The Oath Ceremony of five questions and five answers drew to a close, and the nobles waited for the moment when the ceremonial sword would be bestowed. But King Bera Han did not immediately bestow the sword. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then slowly continued speaking.
"Are you..."
"What is this?"
"The five-part Oath Ceremony is clearly over."
The nobles, being well-versed in state ceremonies, all found it strange that King Bera Han was not yet finished speaking. Paying no heed to their murmuring, King Bera Han pressed on.
"Are you prepared to execute the rotten nobles who make the Haian Kingdom dance to the tune of foreign powers!"
"We have long been prepared!"
"What is the meaning of this!"
The nobles began staring at the dais with startled eyes. But King Bera Han, unwavering, continued his words with even greater clarity.
"Do you acknowledge that you are descendants of Han—the children of the heavens who bestowed grace upon us in ages past!"
"We acknowledge it!"
"Gah!"
"Has the king gone mad!"
The nobles began to erupt into chaos.
The ancient people called Han—that name was taboo on the continent, a forbidden existence. And now he was shouting it openly. What made it grave was that envoys from each of the empires were present here.
King Bera Han slowly placed the ceremonial sword into Viscount Gaun's hands, then turned toward the people witnessing this scene and shouted in an even louder voice.
"From this moment..."
King Bera Han's hand slowly moved toward the ring on his opposite finger.
"We..."
He clutched the ring tight.
"We declare to the heavens that we shall rise once more in the name of Han!"
Flash!
As the ring slipped from King Bera Han's finger, light burst forth as if to engulf the entire plaza.
"Th-this cannot be!"
"Gasp!"
"How can such a thing happen!"
The nobles of the Haian Kingdom scattered in panic. The envoys who had gathered to observe were no less shocked. At that moment, Queen Lian Su, who had been standing at the rear, likewise emitted a beam of light before revealing hair as black as ebony.
Had that served as the signal?
Viscount Gaun, who had received the ceremonial sword, and all the deputy commanders of the Central Army Corps were enveloped in streams of light. Nor was that all—among the nobles, those who had been marginalized also emitted beams of light.
People with black hair and black eyes appeared once the streams of light faded away. Viscount Gaun, his black eyes gleaming, raised the ceremonial sword and shouted to the soldiers.
"The legend begins anew!"
"Waaaaah!"
"I issue the first order! Cut out the festering rot of Haian!"
The moment King Bera Han's storm-like command fell, the blades of the Central Army Corps turned upon the nobles of the Haian Kingdom.
"What is the meaning of this!"
"Gasp!"
As if by prior arrangement, the soldiers of the Central Army Corps began swarming toward the wide-eyed nobles. Of course, there were bewildered soldiers as well, but they still moved forward at their officers' orders.