Chapter 190: The War Between the South and North 5

“What…what did you say? General Spinola…was…defeated?”

“Yes…Your Majesty…it is true.”

“Where…where is the general now? That…that cannot be! I must speak with him directly!”

“About that…General Spinola has already…”

“No…this cannot…”

Upon receiving the inconceivable news, Emperor Sigismund Ferdinand – whose faith had long rested upon this man, one of the Imperium’s mightiest mages and the governor of its eastern Esfahan territories – found Spinola’s defeat and death utterly unbelievable.

“How could this be possible?! Was the operation not deemed flawless? Did I not proclaim we would capture that vile heretic leader Friedrich and force him to kneel before me?”

“I…have no words, Your Majesty…”

The tear-stricken minister hung his head remorsefully.

Consumed by grief and fury, the Emperor’s ferocious glare demanded answers:

“What were Generals Tilly and Wallenstein doing while this catastrophe unfolded? Why did they allow matters to deteriorate to such an extent?”

“My…deepest apologies, Your Majesty. Reports indicate they engaged Chris IV’s southward-advancing forces…leaving them unable to aid General Spinola in any capacity…”

“Damn them! Damn these treacherous heretical scum for making a mockery of me!”

The Emperor’s hateful roars reverberated with profound loathing for the heretical factions.

Yet Spinola’s demise had ignited an intensity bordering on madness within him.

“This cannot continue…issue orders to Tilly’s forces immediately! I can no longer tolerate these vile heretics’ insolence for even another day! Attack! Go forth and sever all their miserable heads! Such demonic filth have no place in this world! And contact every lord – execute any who follow this heresy without exception!”

“You…Your Majesty! Please, compose yourself! Such commands are—”

“Silence! I am the Emperor! This Imperium is mine! Do you dare defy my will? Carry out these orders at once! Exterminate those heretical dogs from the face of the earth! Now! Immediately!…Ughh—khuhh!”

“Your…Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

“You…summon the physicians! At once!”

Raging uncontrollably, the Emperor’s excessive fury caused him to collapse, prompting frantic calls as the stunned ministers rushed to his side – plunging the imperial palace into utter chaos.

“Hmm…”

“How…is he?”

Examining the recumbent Emperor, the court physician addressed the ministers calmly:

“Merely a loss of consciousness due to excessive shock and rage. Fortunately, his life remains unendangered for now.”

“I…see…”

“However…given the depth of his affliction, a full recovery may require considerable time.”

“Ahhh…”

The physicians’ words elicited both relieved and concerned sighs from the ministers.

After his departure, they convened privately to discuss the matter.

“What should we do now? Can we truly proceed with…that?”

“Ordering the execution of all heretics within the Imperium…the Emperor’s previous edicts alone have already sown enough internal turmoil.”

“We must accept the truth: no matter our efforts or His Majesty’s adamance, eradicating this heresy from our lands is an impossibility.”

“Who could deny that reality? Even here in Vienna, nearly a tenth follow the heretical doctrine. Elsewhere, between two to four-tenths at minimum.”

“Slaughtering them all borders on insanity – it would cripple the Imperium’s power, if not outright disintegrate it.”

“Yet…His Majesty alone remains oblivious to these facts…”

Over a century had passed, allowing the heresy to deeply entrench itself throughout the Imperium.

The desire to find genuine faith amid the corrupted Church’s teachings had blossomed beyond mere ‘discomfort’ – rendering its eradication an impossibility.

Perhaps suppressing it during Frantz’s reign may have stemmed its spread, but the Imperium had long passed that juncture. Ultimately, the regional lords’ entrenched autonomy impeded any such measures.

Faced with this harsh reality, the ministers could only reach a consensus:

“We have no choice but to disregard those prior ramblings as mere delirious ravings.”

“Indeed…realistically implementing them would prove disastrous.”

“Then what of Tilly’s forces?”

“On that front, some pragmatism remains – we should urge an offensive. Should Lorraine’s forces mobilize while this stalemate persists, our position will only worsen over time…”

“Very well, let us proceed accordingly…”

Thus resolved, the ministers enacted contingencies while inwardly harboring grave trepidations.

The Emperor remained shackled to the Church, his escalating demands growing increasingly unhinged.

Profound unease gripped them regarding where such conduct might ultimately lead the Imperium.

News of Lorraine’s triumph cast a pall of dismay upon Generals Tilly and Wallenstein.

“Inconceivable…that General Spinola was defeated…”

“Despite his meticulously devised strategy…I simply cannot accept such a resounding failure – not mere setback, but utter catastrophe.”

“Nor can I. Variability is war’s nature, yet to have one’s masterstroke so utterly deflected, the blade itself shattered…”

Though smaller than their own, Spinola’s contingent served a pivotal role:

Eliminating the threat from restive Lorraine while pressuring the heretical northeastern forces.

With that objective’s failure, Tilly and Wallenstein now found themselves potentially enveloped on three fronts.

“At least Lorraine’s military prowess remains limited…had they marched forces here, our plight would have grown truly dire.”

“Even so, time is not on our side. Should Bohemia mobilize while we remain deadlocked thus, our prospects would plummet. We must swiftly execute our intended stratagem.”

Wallenstein voiced his adamant counsel with solemn gravity.

For him, this campaign marked his inaugural foray – the first step toward achieving his ambitions.

Hence, he yearned to instill the soldiers under his command with the conviction of imminent victory as swiftly as feasible.

Especially amid such demoralizing news of their allies’ rout.

After contemplating Wallenstein’s insistence, Tilly ultimately concurred:

“…Very well. His Majesty has been urging an offensive anyway. Let us proceed, though whether the enemy will oblige remains uncertain…”

“They shall – arrogantly prideful in their might, emboldened further by this latest triumph. Rest assured…they will seize the bait.”

Wallenstein’s tone brimmed with certitude, prompting Tilly to nod slowly with mingled apprehension and anticipation.