Chris IV’s Army, marching southward
At present, he was greatly buoyed by a streak of good fortune that had been occurring one after another.
“But still, I hesitated at first due to the severe famine… But luck was on my side. Who would have thought Bohemia would sell food on such a large scale?”
Though the exact source was unknown, as the famine worsened, Bohemia began to sell food at relatively low prices to the Heretic Forces.
Even if the price was 1.5 times the usual, given the skyrocketing grain prices, it was practically a steal.
Moreover, even though he belonged to a different nation, Chris IV was still a ruler who believed in heretical doctrines.
Thanks to this, he was able to secure supplies more easily than expected, allowing him to initiate the war that had originally been scheduled for after the famine ended.
“Such consecutive strokes of luck! Clearly, I am blessed by the gods. Now, all I have to do is ride this momentum and seize the glory of victory!”
As Chris IV reveled in his continuing good fortune, he began to reflect on the unexpected favorable situations that had unfolded thus far.
In his initial plan, Chris IV intended to march merely in the form of an alliance with Mansfeld.
He held the title of lord of a northern small city in the Sacred Empire, which he intended to use as a pretext to participate in this war.
However, he now had two mighty forces supporting him, far exceeding his original plan.
Friedrich, the Elector of the Sacred Empire, was a figure who was formally the leader of the Heretic Alliance.
His wife, Elizaveta, the Princess of Britain, had formed an alliance with Chris IV, giving him not just a formal cause but also great clout as a so-called protector of heresy to gain local support for his march.
This might seem simple, but it was a vital aspect of moving his army.
Wherever he and his forces passed, people welcomed him as a savior of the Heretic Forces, not as an invader.
Moreover, even the northern lords of the Sacred Empire, who usually had poor relations with him, were starting to send him some support, and no one was there to block his army.
“Excellent! To think they would welcome me like this. With such support, I could tread lightly in this area without facing much resistance.”
Thus, receiving local acclaim, Chris IV confidently continued his southward advance.
At this moment, another factor added to Chris IV’s joy.
“While Friedrich’s side showed some potential, honestly, the other side was a surprise. Who would have thought the Franz Kingdom would offer to support me?”
The Franz Kingdom, fundamentally a church power and a traditional stronghold that could not be ignored even by the Sacred Empire, extended unexpected support to Chris IV.
Though they didn’t send actual military forces, the Franz Kingdom provided him something far better in some respects.
Funds.
True to the economically prosperous image of the Franz Kingdom, they provided Chris IV with a significant amount of cash.
With this financial assistance, Chris IV could not only expand his already powerful army but also sustain it.
Thus, buoyed by this unexpected windfall, Chris IV’s already elevated spirits soared even higher.
In his mind, glorious moments to come felt so close he could almost touch them.
Chris IV had successfully captured the hearts of the people from the beginning of the war.
This would undoubtedly make his future plans even smoother.
“As we descend, they say the Emperor’s army began to march northward too? If I crush them with overwhelming force, my influence in this area will grow significantly. Our Mark Region will lord over this territory.”
Moreover, if the Mark’s power grew to such an extent, he wouldn’t have to worry about King Gustav’s watchful eye.
When that time came, Chris IV could finally establish the kingdom he had longed for and boldly achieve independence.
“This Chris IV shall become a king… not just a lord of the Kalmar United States, but establishing my own country!”
With such great expectations, Chris IV continued to march south with his army.
However, the imperial army they would soon face was not to be underestimated.
Though General Spinola was staying in the Palatinate due to his age, the strength of the Emperor’s army was anything but ordinary.
General Tilly, who had shattered Mansfeld, and General Valenshtein, who appeared like the wind with an enormous army, enjoyed the Emperor’s trust.
It was already known that the might of the armies led by these two was no trifling matter, and multiple of Chris IV’s aides suggested that since it had come to this, perhaps he should ally with Bohemia, the actual leader of the Heretic Alliance.
However, Chris IV firmly rejected their claims.
The main reason was that relying on another power would surely diminish the support from the lords and people who had warmly welcomed him.
Other heretic forces were run-of-the-mill, but the power of Bohemia was anything but ordinary.
His personal capabilities had been sufficiently proven in the past battles, and with the backing of the Dragona Empire, their involvement would risk ruining Chris IV’s plans to expand his influence in the north.
It would be better to thoroughly finish everything on his own.
Furthermore, although the Imperial Army was powerful, Chris IV had a dependable backup.
“No matter how impressive they may be, our strength is formidable. We have Mansfeld, and above all, we have that 11th-grade mage fighting alongside us. As long as that person, whom we acquired at a great cost from Kaalon, is with us, we shall never face defeat.”
While there were indeed limits to the influence an individual mage could exert in battle, that was only the case for mages of lower ranks.
A High Mage…
One positioned just below the 12th-grade, the so-called realm of the gods, could genuinely turn the tide of battle single-handedly.
In fact, the previously lost battle at Baeksan demonstrated how the 9th-grade High Mage, General Tilly, could dramatically sway the battlefield in an example.
Such faith, believing he had an unassailable hand, allowed Chris IV to decide to confront the Emperor’s army alone.
“All conditions have been met. Now, what remains is only victory. I shall plant the flag of Chris IV and Mark in this vast continent!”
*
Against Chris IV’s advancing southern army, General Tilly and General Valenshtein’s forces set off northward from the Palatinate.
Watching them from a distance, Vicer Andreas involuntarily swallowed hard.
“I expected it, but it’s truly stunning… It looks at least twice as large as what I saw at the Baeksan battle.”
Even in a year of famine, the scale of the army was so daunting it induced a primal sense of danger.
Realizing this, Vicer Andreas felt keenly the extent of power wielded by the Emperor.
Having achieved a basic reconnaissance mission, Vicer Andreas didn’t intend to turn back just yet.
While there were reasons for seeking more detailed information, ultimately, she couldn’t return until she fulfilled her purpose for being here.
“It’s dangerous, but I suppose I have to take that risk. I must find my sister…”
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