Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 112

It took about a month to conquer the inland territory of the Republic bordering western Wallachia.

During that time, the losses suffered by my and Gerhard’s forces were minimal, but the entire coast of the Empire became uninhabitable.

It wasn’t just that it became barren; piracy became so rampant that the entire coast had to be evacuated. Piracy was so severe that settlements had to be emptied and people forcibly relocated deep inland.

“A letter from Rachel.”

Calliope handed me the letter.

“Hmm.”

I passed the letter to the Minister of Military Affairs, Gerhard, and pressed my fingers to my temples.

Gerhard read the letter and frowned.

“The Holy State is attempting to cross the border again.”

“Germania is in chaos because of the pirates, so they must be seizing the opportunity. Don’t worry about it. It’s expected, and Rachel will take care of it.”

There was no point in worrying anyway.

Germania wasn’t the only one in turmoil.

In the southern border of Wallachia, the frequency of local warfare increased, and several fortresses were lost. In the northern part of the Oroko Great Plains, orcs and goblins were also rampant. Now that Germania was in such a state, there was no point in making a fuss.

“I didn’t realize losing the sea would be this devastating.”

Gerhard shook his head and sighed.

As he said, the attacks coming from the sea were fierce.

The Republic was landing on the coast with a policy of unlimited plunder, kidnapping Imperial citizens and fleeing. This simple and brutal method was being carried out simultaneously on the entire coast of the Empire.

In a month, over a hundred villages were attacked, and reports came in that even some cities with Familiars defending them had been ravaged.

‘Marching into the sea, I’m experiencing this again.’

I had experienced it once before.

A strategy of using superior naval power to land in vulnerable areas, hunting down all humans in the vicinity, and destroying facilities.

Through this, the Republic reduced the enemy’s war-fighting capabilities without directly confronting them. The enemy, whose power was diminished by the Republic, was conquered by the Republic’s allies.

“The biggest problem is that the heteromorphs [monstrous beings] sent by the Council have joined the pirate fleets. Most of them are on par with Familiars, so humans can’t handle them, and if Familiars fight them, the damage is significant.”

I create eight Familiars a day, which is 240 a month.

Less than half of these can be deployed in combat.

For reference, the number of Familiar casualties in the past month was 92.

The damage was severe, even though it wasn’t a full-scale war.

“It’s a relief that the replenishment is greater than the losses, but the frequency of attacks continues to increase, so it’s uncertain whether it will continue to be the same in the future.”

“That’s what happens when you rely solely on Familiars.”

Ta-da-da-da-dang!

I looked at the musketeers who were undergoing shooting training on one side of the garrison.

The number of musketeers was just over 600. A few days ago, Ollimus sent 443 muskets produced last month, so I reorganized part of the Imperial Army regiment under my command into musketeers.

Gerhard made a hmm sound while looking at the musketeers.

“Isn’t their combat experience too lacking? Also, it doesn’t seem appropriate to deal with heteromorphs who are carrying out guerrilla warfare.”

“Don’t worry. They’ll be facing them directly.”

“You mean facing them directly?”

“Soon, they won’t even have the *yoyuu* [余裕 – leeway/room] to touch the Empire’s coast. They’ll be convinced that there’s no other way but to annihilate us.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t understand what you mean…”

“It means we just need to get them all out of the city.”

I said, looking at Tishireddon.

An island at the southwestern tip of the Republic’s inland territory.

There was a wide sea between the island and the mainland.

The distance was more than 1 km. It was farther than the maximum range of a field gun.

“Hmm…”

Gerhard still groaned, as if he didn’t understand.

“Heavy artillery might reach it.”

“Even so, it’s outside the effective range.”

What’s the point of firing iron balls that might fall anywhere?

“The damage that can be caused by firing shells is minimal. At best, it might put psychological pressure on them for a few days. But I don’t think that will make the Republic surrender.”

“Yes. That’s right. To end it for sure, we have no choice but to land directly in that city and plant our flag.”

Nuadil, who was listening to me and Gerhard, said.

“But how are we going to land? We don’t have a navy.”

And Horatio continued Nuadil’s words.

“We don’t even have a base to operate a navy from.”

There are no technicians who can build ships either.

Even if we gather technicians like when we made cannons, they’ll only be able to make slightly larger fishing boats. The two kingdoms have no history of building warships.

“Hmm.”

I looked at the sea again.

The Republic’s ships were densely filling the sea.

They must be wary of us crossing the sea.

“We should assume it’s impossible to cross the sea secretly.”

Tsk, Horatio clicked his tongue.

“Do you have any good ideas? You didn’t come all the way here for nothing, did you?”

“Horatio. Your tone is rude to His Majesty.”

“His Majesty allowed it, so what’s it to you?”

Gerhard glared at Horatio, who scoffed. Gerhard was more fastidious than Calliope about hierarchy, so they often bickered over such things. On the other hand, Horatio had a vulgar personality that didn’t match his position or name.

Considering that Gerhard was the Minister of Military Affairs but also served as the Army Chief of Staff because there were no suitable candidates, and that Horatio was the Navy Chief of Staff, it felt strange, like a conflict between the army and navy.

“Stop it.”

I calmed them down before the argument escalated.

“There is a way to occupy Tishireddon. But before that.”

I gestured towards the three approaching warships.

The warships, flying white flags, anchored a little away from the land, and lowered twelve rowboats to the shore. Thirty hybrids, neither human nor naga, set foot on land.

【Lv. 77】

The hybrid with the highest level among them.

He was almost completely mutated into a subspecies.

Gills had formed on his neck, all his fur had fallen out, and his eyes bulged out as if they would pop out. Not to mention that his entire body was covered in scales.

“Indeed…”

When he saw me, he raised his hand to cover his eyes.

Since his level was so high, he must be able to recognize the dignity of my soul.

“Indeed, you are worthy of being called Emperor, human Edar.”

He soon lowered his hand, seemingly adapted, and smiled brightly.

His mouth corners reached his ears, making him look like a frog.

“So, you’re becoming a subspecies. Lucio Dantollo.”

“Oh?”

Lucio, one of the ten members of the Republic’s Council, seemed slightly surprised. Because his eyes protruded so much that his eyelids were meaningless, I couldn’t be sure if he was really surprised.

“Have we ever met before?”

“Well.”

I raised one corner of my mouth and looked at Lucio.

‘He wasn’t a subspecies yet back then.’

The image of him as a fully mutated subspecies overlapped with his current appearance in my mind.

“Let’s put aside trivial stories and hear your business first.”

“You’re impatient.”

Lucio shrugged.

“Well, fine. I was wondering if it was time to end the pointless disputes between our two countries. Don’t you think so too?”

Without answering, I received the letter he handed me.

“Here are our Republic’s conditions.”

The letter began with a story of hoping for friendship between the Empire and the Republic, but it wasn’t until halfway through that the conditions Lucio mentioned came out.

– Immediately return the confiscated slaves.

– Offer periodic tributes.

– Pay war reparations.

– Allow human trafficking.

“······.”

The conditions were so absurd.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“It’s like a surrender document.”

“That’s right. It is a surrender document. Isn’t the outcome of this war obvious?”

“Yes, it’s obvious.”

When I didn’t lose my smile, he tilted his head.

“Do you perhaps believe that the Empire can hold out? Do you think it’s safe to evacuate the coast? That can’t be the case. Do you know how many Imperial citizens we’ve captured in the past month?”

I know very well.

Over 20,000 Imperial citizens were hunted down in a month.

Even assuming that the damage was great because preparations were not in place immediately after the war, it was a huge number. If they were hunted down in this way every month, it would mean that the same number of people I had relocated to Ollimus would be hunted down in half a year.

“It’s useless for the Empire to evacuate the coast and flee inland. All inland fronts of the Empire are in crisis. That’s because we induced it. Our prediction is that the Empire won’t last more than a year if it continues to hold out like this.”

Lucio is right.

The Holy State is pressing the Empire from the west, the small countries from the south, the orcs and goblins from the north, and the Republic from all coasts.

If we just continue to hold out like this, the situation will not improve.

A crack will occur at some point, and the crack will break the dam.

“But we’d be in trouble if the Empire collapses already. That’s why we’re giving you a chance. Know your place and yield at this point, human.”

But didn’t he say it?

If we just continue to hold out like this, that is.

“It is you who must know your place. You race that is neither human nor naga.”

I tore up the letter, twisted my lips, and sneered.

“The Empire won’t last a year? Then I guarantee it. The Republic won’t last half a year.”

Hybrid War (5)

“What did you just say…”

Lucio, a member of the Cesena Republic’s Council, blinked and stammered.

It was unusual for a host of a parasitic plant, a hybrid, to show such a *moseup* [모습 – appearance/figure]. It was common to show the characteristic of not blinking during the process of mutating into a subspecies, but Lucio, who was close to becoming a subspecies, kept blinking.

His bewilderment was so great that the habits of his human days came out.

“Didn’t you hear?”

Minister of Military Affairs Gerhard took a step forward and threatened.

“His Majesty said he would conquer you within half a year.”

“…Are you serious?”

I scoffed.

“Do you think it’s nonsense?”

“How do you intend to cross the sea? You’re not going to say you’re going to swim, are you? No matter what the Empire does, it can’t land on Tishireddon. In the first place, doesn’t the Empire not even have a proper shipyard? No, do you even know how to build ships?”

They can’t build them.

Germania and Wallachia had hardly ever had ships other than fishing boats due to the Council’s ban on maritime activities. It was fair to say that they had no shipyards or port facilities.

Even if they tried to build facilities now, there would be no technicians.

There are shipbuilders among the Familiars, but the scale is not something that can be solved with just a few of them. The manpower required for shipbuilding was incomparable to the manpower required for cannons.

It was a level of creating something from nothing, and I had no idea how much time and money it would take.

“There’s no need to build them. Because we won’t be riding ships.”

So I chose another ignorant but sure method.

“What…”

“Why build ships when we can just fill the sea?”

“…”

Lucio’s eyes widened.

I thought they were already about to pop out, so they couldn’t get any bigger, but I was wrong. His eyes really looked like they were about to burst out.

“I’m going to fill the sea from here to your hearts.”

“Are you… are you crazy!”

“Why do you think so?”

“Filling the sea! That’s insane!”

His cry was full of sincerity.

After all, the distance between the mainland and Tishireddon was considerable—farther than the maximum range of a field gun. Filling that distance with dirt? If I were him, I would have shouted that I was crazy.

“I’ve already done it before.”

“You’ve done it…?”

In the previous timeline, that is.

I swallowed my thoughts and smiled.

Back then, it took over a year because I went through trial and error.

But now, I have the experience and my Familiars [trusted subordinates/allies] from that time.

“This time, half a year will be enough.”

“What on earth are you talking about…?”

I gestured with my chin.

Calliope and the Imperial Guards came forward.

Lucio tried to say something but hesitated and stepped back as they approached. Calliope was drawing her sword with a swish, so he couldn’t possibly misunderstand her intentions.

“W-What are you doing!”

“Aren’t you just going to fight us as enemies when you return?”

“Are you saying you’re going to kill an envoy because of that!”

“Is there a reason not to?”

He trembled. He knew that no matter how strong he was and how many guards he had, he couldn’t match my Familiars.

I was rather curious as to why he came out so confidently.

Did he presume that I would act humble to that extent?

“Killing a diplomatic envoy! You’ll suffer the same fate!”

“The Empire does not engage in diplomacy.”

Calliope stated calmly.

“…!”

Swish!

Before he could finish his sentence, Calliope swung her sword.

Lucio couldn’t even react and fell to the floor, his head severed.

His guards were dealt with by the Imperial Guards, and their bodies were thrown into the sea.

“Ahem.”

Horatio held the letter that I had torn in half and discarded.

“Concessions, demilitarized zones, tariffs, jurisdiction… Goodness, the Republic sees us as fools. Did they really think we would accept these conditions?”

“They were serious. To be blunt, the Empire’s situation isn’t very good. If there’s no way to turn the tide of the current war, accepting them is the best option.”

As Nuadhil said.

Looking at the area of the occupied territories alone, it may seem that I, who occupied a considerable portion of the Republic’s inland territory, was in an advantageous position, but the inland territory was so worthless that it was disparaged as a colony.

For the Republic, the inland territory was merely a place to cheaply supply timber for shipbuilding or humans for tribute. It wasn’t worthless enough to give away for free, but it was dispensable compared to plundering the Empire.

On the other hand, the Empire was under attack from the west, south, and north, not just in the all-out war with the Republic. It was a precarious situation, like stacking eggs to the point of reaching its limit.

“Edar.”

Horatio scratched his left eyepatch.

“Were you serious about what you said just now?”

“About filling the sea, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t talk nonsense, Horatio.”

Horatio sighed.

“Goodness… You’ve chosen a very ignorant method.”

“Ignorant, you say! That’s disrespectful to His Majesty.”

Gerhard interjected, raising his voice.

“Do you see any other way? There are only two ways to end the war with the Republic: either accept the Republic’s demands, or beat the Republic to a pulp!”

Bang!

He glared at Horatio, slamming his fist on the table. Horatio rolled his only eye and avoided his gaze.

“You’re not thinking of accepting their demands, are you?”

“Of course… not.”

“Then that’s a relief. What the Republic demanded was no different from what the representative assembly demanded. Why would His Majesty have turned against the representative assembly if he was going to listen to such demands now?”

He pointed to the ships sailing around Tishireddon.

“If we can’t negotiate with the Republic, we have to beat them to a pulp. But we don’t have ships, and we can’t build them. Then there’s only one way to send the army to that island.”

Building a causeway between the island and the mainland.

Horatio frowned with his remaining eye.

“Even so, filling the sea is… too ignorant. And within half a year, at that.”

“If it’s not impossible, we have to do it! Even if it’s difficult, isn’t it our duty to assist His Majesty? Don’t be so weak.”

“I’m not being weak, I’m stating an objective fact.”

“Hmph. Doubting His Majesty’s words is already lacking objectivity.”

I gestured to Calliope, watching the two bickering again. She calmed the quarrel by passing between the two growling men without a word.

Calliope has no mercy, after all.

“Do not argue in front of Edar.”

“Ahem… I apologize.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

It’s difficult, but we have to do it.

As Lucio argued, the Empire cannot last long. We had to turn the tide of the war before one of the four fronts—north, west, south, and coast—collapsed.

I returned to the military camp and held a staff meeting.

The attendees were all Familiars: Calliope, Gerhard, Nuadhil, Horatio, representatives from each department, and their respective adjutants.

“First of all, this meeting is to discuss the capture of Tishireddon. I think you all know why we must capture Tishireddon.”

Gerhard took the floor.

“Because it is the capital of the Cesena Republic, and everything is concentrated there.”

In the human realm, it has port facilities, shipyards, and even the Great Temple.

“The Republic has many islands, but it cannot replace Tishireddon. Therefore, if we occupy this place, it will be difficult for the Republic to continue the war.”

“That’s right.”

I spread a map of Tishireddon and its surroundings on the table.

“To be more specific, there are three reasons. The first is to lure the enemy. Gerhard, do you remember what I said a little while ago? That I would face the enemy directly?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You said that the Republic would not have the 余裕 [yoyuu – Japanese word meaning ‘leeway’ or ‘room to spare’] to touch the Empire’s coast, and that there would be no other way but to annihilate us.”

Gerhard hesitated for a moment before asking.

“Is that the reason for capturing Tishireddon?”

That’s right.

Since Tishireddon is so valuable, if the Republic judges that the city is under threat, it will not be able to afford to divert its forces to attack the Empire’s coast.

They will have no choice but to target me directly to protect the city.

“The second reason is for us to create a navy.”

Horatio yawned sleepily.

“Well, that’s obvious. You’re saying you’ll conquer Tishireddon and use its facilities as they are, aren’t you?”

I nodded.

In terms of port size alone, Tishireddon was smaller than the capital of Pritrand, one of the southern small countries. However, Tishireddon was a port city no different from a Naga city [city of snake-like humanoids].

Nagas treat their subspecies as their own kind.

They transferred quite a lot of their technology to the subspecies, and the technology that the subspecies acquired was passed on to the citizens of the Republic, developing Tishireddon’s shipbuilding technology.

“If we get Tishireddon, the Empire doesn’t have to create something from nothing. It will be difficult to obtain it completely, but it will greatly reduce the suffering over the years.”

“Good. What’s the last one?”

“It’s the same as what Gerhard said. The Republic’s foundation is concentrated in Tishireddon.”

The Republic had many islands, some of which were larger than Tishireddon. So why did they bother reclaiming two islands to create Tishireddon?

It was because other islands had difficulties in expansion due to various problems such as volcanic eruptions or bad climate, so they artificially created a city.

In addition, the Republic was a strong centralized state, so the driving force to develop cities other than Tishireddon was weak. For the citizens of the Republic, most islands were just stopover points.

And these reasons combined to increase the value of Tishireddon, and if they lost Tishireddon, it would be to the point where the Republic would be destroyed.

“I will entrust the capture of Tishireddon to Horatio of the Navy Department. Any objections?”

Gerhard opened his mouth.

“Horatio is impeccable in terms of ability, but his will is weak. Didn’t he just express dissatisfaction with the operation? I’d rather you entrust it to me.”

“Any other opinions? Nuadhil, Calliope.”

“I have nothing else to say. His own will is important in this kind of thing.”

“As Edar wishes.”

One in favor, one against, one abstaining.

I took out a cigarette, put it in my mouth, and looked at Horatio.

“Horatio, what’s your opinion? I want to connect Tishireddon to the mainland. Can you fulfill my wish?”

“I may have grumbled a bit, but I never said I wouldn’t do it.”

Horatio scratched his head, answering in a tired voice. Gerhard frowned at his attitude. He looked like he was about to say something right away, so I raised my hand to stop him.

“Can I ask a few questions before answering?”

“As much as you want.”

Horatio pointed with his index finger between Tishireddon and the mainland.

“What’s the distance?”

“The distance from the mainland to the island is a little over 1.3km. And the distance is much closer because it’s mudflat up to 200m from the mainland. We need to create a 120m wide causeway centered here to reach Tishireddon.”

“Filling 1.3km of sea with a width of 120m…”

Horatio blinked a couple of times to shake off his sleepiness.

“What’s the depth?”

“After the mudflat, it gradually deepens from 3m to 6m up to half the distance. After that, it deepens to a maximum of 10m.”

It’s deep, but not to the point where we can’t fill it.

“Hmm… Let’s say we bring the materials from the surrounding occupied territories… How many batteries can you support? The sea side is too vulnerable while we’re building the road. We need to build coastal batteries.”

“Olymus’s armory is constantly sending siege cannons. We will provide enough cannons and gunpowder to protect the causeway.”

Horatio made a hmm sound and scratched his head.

“It’s going to be a bit difficult… But if you entrust it to me, I will achieve as much as you expect.”

Gerhard sighed at his somewhat weak answer.

I wish they wouldn’t argue so much in terms of work since their personalities are so different.

I smiled bitterly and said.

“The laborers needed for the work will be prisoners of war. They are the ones whom Priest Karamazov, sent by the Public Church, has judged to be impossible to convert, so there is no need to feel sorry for them.”

“How many are there?”

“About 30,000, including rear support personnel.”

A group that regards humans as an inferior species and wants to become a different species. If that were all, I would show leniency and relocate them inland, but the fact that the Public Church judged them to be impossible to convert meant that the possibility of rebellion was extremely high.

Like the fanatics of the Wolf Church.

“Well, maybe they’ll feel like converting after filling some sea.”

“Yes, I hope so.”

I looked around at the attendees and said.

“That’s all for the plan. Any objections?”

“No.”

“Then get started. We will plunder them as they plundered us. We will take the hearts they have and make them our own.”

Humans have been the ones being plundered so far.

Now it’s time for the tables to turn.