37-109

EP.109 The Shaking Balkan Empire (2) 

While Yuno’s territory rapidly developed thanks to the efforts of three women, the empire gradually descended into chaos. 

As the imperial army confronted the Teseito army on the Zenon Plains, the Kent rebels in the southwest grew more powerful, and in the east, Prinz steadily expanded his influence, overcoming the aftereffects of his previous defeat. 

With food supplies failing, the number of refugees increased, and as a result, tax revenue continued to decline, sending the Balkan Empire into a downward spiral. 

Adria Imperial Palace. Throne Room. 

As soon as the court meeting began, the nobles had to face Emperor Heinrich’s wrath head-on. 

“What are you all doing!! What are you so-called nobles actually accomplishing?!” 

“P-please calm down, Your Majesty. It seems the defeat of Count Radan was too decisive, so it may take some time for the military to show results.” 

“Don’t even mention that useless fool’s name!! He should be grateful I only had his head cut off!” 

Former Minister of Defense and Zenon Plains recovery army commander Count Radan was executed for his defeat. Normally, such a loss wouldn’t merit execution, but Heinrich’s current situation was so dire that even that couldn’t be tolerated. 

“Are you telling me there’s no one? Not a single person among all these nobles who can devise a solution to this situation?! You useless parasites!! I’ll have all your heads cut off!!” 

No noble was brave enough to make a proposal to the emperor, who was screaming about beheading everyone, and Heinrich’s fury continued. 

“Your Majesty, what about a change in perspective?” 

“Oh! Chancellor. As expected, only you are of any use to me. But what do you mean, a change in perspective?” 

Marquis Dietrich, calming the raging Heinrich, walked to the large map in the center of the throne room and pointed to the Zenon Plains. 

“As you know, the imperial army’s situation is very poor. The elite 1st and 2nd Corps have suffered little loss, but the heavy losses in the 6th and 7th Corps during the last battle mean there are only 30,000 imperial troops on the western front. An aggressive offensive is impossible.” 

“Everyone knows that. That’s what’s giving me a headache. We couldn’t even harvest properly on the Zenon Plains, and those damned nobles who sided with Prinz aren’t sending taxes, so we can’t conscript more, and supplies aren’t getting through either!” 

As Heinrich finished, Dietrich pointed to the east on the map. 

“Exactly. So, I propose we simply recognize the territory of the Zenon Plains currently occupied by Teseito! Then turn the army to subdue Prinz first!” 

Since Teseito was occupying about a third of the Zenon Plains a vast territory Dietrich’s proposal to give it up shocked all the nobles. 

“Th-that’s impossible!! How can we so easily give up land won with so much blood by our ancestors?!” 

“Absolutely not, Your Majesty! You mustn’t fall for such nonsense!!” 

“Marquis Dietrich should be removed as chancellor for making such a ridiculous proposal!!” 

“He’s only saying this because his own lands were recently taken by Prinz’s forces! Your Majesty, you must not give up the Zenon Plains!!” 

Protests erupted from all sides, but Heinrich calmly weighed the pros and cons of the chancellor’s suggestion. 

‘Setting aside emotions... it’s not a bad idea. Realistically, retaking the Zenon Plains quickly is impossible. If this stalemate continues, the empire will only grow harder to govern, and it will be even more difficult to subdue my brother’s faction, backed by Duke Windrage. It’s better to cut losses here and focus on gaining elsewhere.’ 

Having been highly sensitive to profit and loss since his days as crown prince, Heinrich quickly made up his mind about the chancellor’s proposal. 

While Heinrich closed his eyes in thought, the nobles’ protests grew even louder. Marquis Garcia, the secretary, stepped forward to calm the emperor. 

“Enough!! What’s all this commotion in the throne room?! Quiet! His Majesty is about to speak!!” 

Marquis Garcia, who had kept his position despite betraying Karl III and the crown prince, shouted to silence the nobles. 

“My judgment is... the chancellor’s proposal is reasonable. Teseito is our main enemy, but sometimes flexible thinking is needed.” 

“Your Majesty!! Absolutely not! That shakes the very foundation of the empire!!” 

“The Zenon Plains are the backbone of Balkan! Don’t forget that a third of the empire’s tax revenue comes from there!!” 

The nobles’ opposition was fierce, especially from those with lands on the Zenon Plains, who protested with complete disregard for the emperor. 

But... 

Slice. 

Heinrich drew his sword and, standing at the front of the group of protesting nobles, beheaded the old noble who had been shouting the loudest. 

“Your Majesty... what is this...” 

The beheaded noble was only a minor baron, but he had fought honorably on the front lines of the Zenon Plains before fleeing to the capital after Teseito’s occupation. The faces of the nobles in the throne room were filled with shock and horror. 

“Anyone else want to object? Step forward, and I’ll listen to your opinion personally.” 

With blood dripping from his sword and a terrifying aura, the emperor silenced all the nobles, and Marquis Dietrich’s proposal passed unanimously. 

The next day, an envoy carrying a letter requesting a truce was sent to the Teseito-occupied Zenon Plains. 

Teseito Army Headquarters 

Duke Tiruene, Teseito’s supreme commander, rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he looked at the truce agreement in his hand. 

“W-wait, am I seeing this right? Maybe my eyes are going bad these days...” 

“We can hardly believe it either, but... it seems to be a genuine truce agreement.” 

Tiruene’s staff also looked at the agreement with uncertain eyes. 

“Is this some trick to stab us in the back? The Balkans giving up the Zenon Plains? Even though I gave money and mercenaries to Kent to stir up rebellion, I can’t believe they’d give up so easily.” 

“Well... it must be true. The imperial seal is on this agreement. If it’s a trick, the emperor’s authority would be ruined.” 

“It’s probably because they failed to capture the first prince in the recent civil war. According to spies, the eastern region has even issued a declaration refusing to recognize the emperor and pledging loyalty to the first prince.” 

“...Then should we push further and take all of Zenon?” 

Tiruene’s suggestion enraged his staff. 

“Sir!! You know that’s impossible! We’re struggling just to hold the territory we have. If the Balkans attack, we’d have to retreat. You know that better than anyone...” 

“Yes, yes! I was just saying. Don’t overreact.” 

In fact, although the Teseito army had driven the imperial army back at first, their situation was far from easy. 

The remnants of the 5th Corps, unable to retreat, were hiding throughout Zenon, stirring up the locals to wage guerrilla warfare, making supply lines unreliable. 

If it were just a war, they could forcibly requisition food from the locals, but since they wanted to make the occupied territory their own, they couldn’t do that. The Teseito army could only bluff and hope the imperial army wouldn’t attack. 

In this situation, Heinrich’s truce proposal was a ray of light, but they were careful not to accept too quickly, suggesting negotiations to discuss a few terms. 

A few days later, both sides’ diplomats signed a three-year truce, temporarily ending the battle for the Zenon Plains. Prisoners were released and returned home, and the imperial army, leaving only one corps behind, began preparing to move to the eastern front.