Shadow King Chronicles: Building a Kingdom From Behind the Scenes
The Road to the North
Amidst the kingdom's considerable progress, there were still problems that were quite alarming to them. Waves of refugees from the empire came to the west of the kingdom which was Randall's territory.
They were the inhabitants of the empire who ran because the civil war there continued to drag on. Fearing themselves to be victims, many citizens fled to the kingdom whose situation has stabilized.
There is also a much more dangerous threat to them. It was Prince William's activities in the North that were the base of Duke Balzaac and the former Schazar region. Instead of the ultimatum given by Aurellia, they made matters worse by declaring a new kingdom.
The Kingdom of Heinz eventually sanctioned them. A massive embargo was carried out to suppress the faction of Prince William. As a result they entered a crisis period due to lack of basic materials and raw materials.
In the end, they were willing to have talks with the queen Aurellia's side. They still consider Prince William to be the rightful heir of the kingdom of Heinz. But they had no choice but to open up a negotiation opportunity between them and queen Aurellia.
"Is, are you sure to leave for the North and talk to Duke Balzaac and the others? Isn't it too dangerous to allow the chief of staff of the kingdom to go to the North alone?"
"Haha. I'm not going there alone. Didn't Lia say she would bring a second army based in the west to accompany me there? Their number is 25,000 and that's more than enough."
Since queen Aurellia came to power, the system of nobility has been reorganized. The kingdom divided the territory in the kingdom into four major provinces. West, East, North, and South.
Each of those provinces was governed by a Duke and the cities that were within those provinces would be managed by Baron and Viscount-level nobles depending on how vast the city was and how much its population.
The exception to the border, they would be managed by Marquis-level nobles and the supporting area was governed by Earl-level nobles. All of these administrative affairs are under the supervision of the interior ministry.
In each province was built a military headquarters under the royal authority. The nobles now no longer had a private army like the one before.
To the west itself, the region closest to the North, is the Headquarters of the second and fourth armies which, if reputed, would amount to 45,000 people. And as promised by Aurellia, he would send a second army of 25,000 to accompany Issac's departure to the North.
In the middle of the journey, some of the 7,000 third soldiers based in the North will join the second army. Their number will reach 32,000 when they arrive in the territory of the former Marquis Schazar and Duke Balzaac.
"But still...I'm worried about... hmmmpphh!!"
No, Issac didn't kiss Aurellia! The one who kissed him was Margaret! The three of them were now on one mattress today in a position of not wearing a single piece of clothing on their bodies.
"Come on, Aurellia. I'm sure he won't do anything, right, honey?"
Issac just laughed softly and ruffled the hair of the two of them. In front of his subordinates, they had to be professional. And as they get busier, moments like this are rare.
With complete confidence in Issac, the two of them willingly let go of Issac towards a dangerous place in the North of the kingdom.
Three days later, Issac left for the North. Outside the capital, some 25,000 troops are on standby there and ready to deploy. The entire squad saluted Issac and escorted him while Issac was behind the second soldier.
The second army consisted mostly of private soldiers belonging to nobles who had sworn allegiance to Aurellia. They had been dumped by their master who had fled to another continent and were stranded.
It would be a pity if he wasted their abilities. It was for this reason that Issac regrouped all of these armies into a new, more powerful, effective, and united unit.
It should take about three weeks from Venz to the Northern regions of the kingdom. But thanks to the large road built, the travel time can be reduced to two weeks or even ten days. The streets are quite crowded. Merchant caravans carrying various merchandise alternately enter and exit Venz.
Because the road is built large and wide, so the accompaniment of the army does not interfere with the activities on the highway. Even a parade of troops of this size became an attractive spectacle for passers-by.
Issac saw the surrounding scenery. Once on the right and left side was just a view of the forest. But due to the increasing population and the need to live near the capital, many small towns have sprung up.
These small towns became the center of economic activity because they are commonly used as a place of rest by traders, adventurers, or travelers who have needs in Venz. And this doesn't just appear in the North direction. Elsewhere is the same.
The troops continued walking and resting when night fell. And so on until the next few days. Sometimes they stop to refill their supplies and Issac. It was only during one Sunday's journey that the second army was building a camp, that the leader of the third army came to the second camp and confronted Issac.
"Lieutenant General Drake Waller faces the noble representative of queen Aurellia."
Lieutenant General Drake Waller kneels before Issac. He was the head of the Waller knight family who had served Marquis Schazar for many years. But as he is abandoned by his master, Issac decides to make him swear allegiance to Aurellia, who is greeted with pleasure by Drake.
"Welcome, lieutenant general Drake. It's nice to meet you. Looks like you're okay now."
"Yes! It is an honor for me to meet you, Mr. Starfall. Thanks to your kindness, the Wallers were forgiven for the sins we committed. You even gave us a good place in the national army. I have no words to say thank you!"
The Waller family has been responsible for maintaining security on the border between Heinz and Moskov for hundreds of years. Even during the civil war, the Wallers decided to focus on guarding the border and not send any of their men to fight Aurellia.
That was the reason why Issac advised Aurellia not to punish them. Well, technically, they didn't commit any sins either. Compared to giving them a good position for them, the Wallers had done a lot that could save the country from foreign invasion.
He reported that some of the 7,000 third soldiers had camped near the second Army and would join them in a parade towards the former Marquis Schazar. After all this was the right momentum for them since most of the third army came from there.
Tomorrow, the journey will continue and talks with William's princely faction will occur three days after they arrive.