Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 363: Proclamation (4)

THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS

There is a lot of scattered document on top of the huge long table, the sound of jotting document and the sound of scuffling papers. 

The wind blows slowly giving the people of in the chamber some coolness to endure their work. 

Reports streamed in inside the chamber from the council members.

'My lord there is 60 armed men from Lord Mortain of Terland. 50 from Lord Sachs and 70 from Lord Austere.' 

The report is being told to the Duke. The duke nodded smiling in satisfaction.

'Accept them all. For the lords, offer them some office if my venture becomes successful. To the unlanded knights offer them some gold. Surely with this kind of benefit they would more inclined to enter our services.'

'Yes, my lord' Silas said. 

'How about the North? Did Liao Bao send any report? Will the Austen join us or will they fortify their base at Taiyuan?' Arial asked Oliver

'Liao Bao has sent us the report. The situation at Southern Tai and Northern Chu is still volatile. Both of these powers still have their secret wars.'

Arial nodded understanding the situation on the north, which means that they possess no threats to Arial position right now.

'Liao Bao, my lord has a conflict of interest here' Oliver interjected. 

'He is married to the princess of the Chu family and as such wouldn't he is bias towards the Chu family? I would not want us to prepare for an enemy on the north while we are attacking on the south. Then we are truly in great calamity. Attacked and squished by two forces. Liao Bao is not someone we should underestimate. His position might be your vassals but he is the Princess husband. And as such wouldn't he have some stakes in the Northern Chu or might he be plotting a plot we never knew? This is why Southern Tai regard us like a vague ally.'

'It is true that Liao Bao has a conflict of interest there but I also meant to call him back later. We will know where his loyalties lie then.' Arial said answering Oliver worries.

'If he has thought to rouse the Northern Chu to rebel from the crown of Aetherland, then we will deal that at that time.'

Oliver nodded in agreement of his lord line of thought.

'I might have to choose someone else as the Supervisor. This also has been in my mind for a long time, Lord Oliver. But there are many things to consider.'

'I understand my lord' Oliver said bowing his head slightly

'Aetherland also decide to take the matters of the North more seriously and King Adrian have been sending me message to pull my people out of Southern Tai and Northern Chu. After all Northern Chu is under their dependency of Aetherland not Arrandy. But even with these matters the flow is still in our favor. Southern Tai could not march to Arrandy even if they wanted to unless they made an alliance with Aetherland and I don't see that King Adrian will broker such alliances with the Generals of the Austen family who might prove to be a messier headache if they are let loose on the land of Alan than me.'

Arial explained. It is quite complicated the relationship between the states and kingdoms of the volatile region of the far North

'Hmm, anyway for that we will discuss in another time. Is there anyone else that rendered their services to my employs?'

'Priest Coubertin from Zettel and Priest Frois from Great Renasia, dignitaries of the church also send some of their private retinue. For Coubertin, a 100 armed men, for Frois 60 armed men, though they requested to be appointed bishop of a valuable Vanguan diocese should my lord established yourself on the throne.'

'Hmm'josei

'Will you accept their help?'

'Take them all. For now, we need all the help we can give to give Harald pressure. Their army might be numerous but with this enthusiasm to join from many people; surely the gap in numbers will be bridged.'

'Yes my lord' they answer

'And what of Harald movement?'

'Cori has surrendered to Harald my lord.'

'Hmmm.' Arial sighed.

'Why would they…. I don't understand? And why this has not been mentioned before, this important news. Who filters this news?' 

Arial said, there is some hint of anger. If he knew this wouldn't he make haste to attack Vangua while Harald is occupying Cori?

'It is me, my lord' Silas said with a bitter smile.

'Silas…you? Why would you hide this news from me?' There is a shocked expression that Arial rarely shows. 

Why would Silas hide this news from him? Arial could not understand Silas line of thoughts.

'They are alliances against you my lord. And Cori royalty did marry into Vangua royalty. It is not surprising that they would do this. They are part of anti- Vermont's alliances.'

'But surrender? Wouldn't this mean that their Kingdom-' 

'Not that kind of surrenders my lord…. It is a temporary federation meant to stop your march to further south. Right now Harald controls all the south. Truly he is the undisputed ruler of the south. This tactic is known as "surrender in war time, dissolving in peace time" is a famous tactic of Zhu Ar Zur.'

'Which means?' 

'None of the royalty of Cori is harmed, none of their city conquered or sacked, but instead their resources pooled together to fight a common enemy or in your case, to fight of my lord who is the stronger enemy. If there is any news saying differently it is news planted by Harald men.'

'But why surrender? Why not say cooperation.' Arial asked puzzled by such tactics.

'This surely meant to confuse you my lord. Zhu Ar Zur uses this tactic to trap the Demon Lord Thunor to attack the city of kingdom of Cercei who Thunor thought is occupy with sacking the Kingdom of Shavarma. The end result was the army of Thunor is defeated with the reinforcement that came from Shavarma who has been waiting since the beginning to exact their vengeance to the Demon Lord.'

Massey nodded as he is seen nodding. Since Massey is proficient in warfare he must have known of this story. Arial also remember this tactic in the Art of Battle by Zhu Ar Zur. 

'I have seen though this tactic of theirs my lord. They must have thought if you have heard about Cori surrender you will make haste to attack the new capital of Vangua at Arleans and then with my lord army tired and exhausted fighting the Vanguan soldiers, the reinforcement from Cori would arrive. From my experience if they won the war they would surely return back their status quo like Zhu Ar Zur did with Shavarman and Cercei kingdom.'

Arial nodded. Even if he is a Heavenly King, if he is trapped long enough and attack long enough even he would suffer severe injury.

Truly Silas is not only a talented politician but also a very brilliant strategist to see the enemies tactic with a glance. 

If not for him, if he is presented with this information surely even he would do exactly like Silas said and make haste to attack the capital of Vangua. 

It is fortunate that the council filters the news before telling it to Arial.

'Truly, Silas you have rendered a great merit to me in hiding this news from me. Do not worry then. I will not fall to their trap.'

Silas nodded.

'Silas, you may be dismissed now. You all keep up the good work. I will leave the council for today.'

The council member nodded. Silas also get up from his seat and take his leave to finish his task.

'If there is nothing else to discuss, my council, I will excuse myself. You may continue your work and inform me if something out of the usual happen.' 

'Yes my lord' they responded as Arial get up from his seat and exited the chamber room.

Behind him the council is hard at work organizing the list of names and their contribution. The road to war is nearing.

Arial is descending the towers and now one last obstacle remains before he could march to Vangua. 

Right now he is descending down to the gardens to enjoy a walk with his wife and daughter. It has become increasingly hard to spend time with Helia and Ariadne after the proclamation.

He has put all these people to work under him under the church authority and his charisma of leadership.

However, Arial recognize there is one more point which it was necessary for him to secure before finally marching, and that is the co-operation and aid of the Aetherland King, King Adrian.

In his character of Duke of Arrandy, the King of Aetherland is his liege lord, and he is bound to act, in some degree, under an acknowledgment of his superior authority. 

In his new capacity, that is, as King of Vangua, or, rather, as heir to the Vanguan kingdom, he is, of course, wholly independent of Adrian, and, consequently, not bound by any feudal obligation to look to him at all.

But Arial feel it prudent to retain goodwill and surely he will settle this matter. He has finished descending the stairs and his feet bring him to the garden. 

And even before he enters the garden he could hear the beautiful laugh of his wife. And as he put aside the worries of tomorrow he enters the garden.

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