Ch.154Dividing Sides

The joint declaration of Herestin, Balkeginia, and Dvelusi, followed by Amurtat’s debt settlement.

This delivered no small shock to all the northern countries.

People were sensitive to impacts they could feel but strangely insensitive to those they couldn’t perceive. So even if Amurtat and Fahrenheit fought over the Grand Sovereign’s throne, most maintained an attitude of indifference as long as they themselves weren’t harmed.

But when countries equal to, weaker than, or slightly stronger than themselves sided with Amurtat, they were suddenly gripped by anxiety that the flames of war might consume them as kindling.

The overwhelming fear that refusal to submit would mean destruction.

The helplessness of being unable to offer any resistance in the process.

And the humiliation of having to entrust their sovereignty not to themselves but to the rise and fall of two great powers.

These three emotions began to envelop the northern countries.

“Damn it! What did we do wrong to get caught between fighting whales?! This is clearly a violation of sovereignty!”

The first reaction to emerge was essentially “fuck everything.”

To avoid misunderstanding, neither Amurtat nor Fahrenheit had yet made any military threats against the surrounding small countries.

However, recently the north had been swept by such ominous events that when everyone’s teeth were pulled out, even a blow from a front paw could be fatal.

Consequently, the small countries reacted nervously to even the slightest movements of the two great powers, while Fahrenheit and Amurtat made no response to these reactions.

The reason was simple: nothing particularly changed just because the neighbor’s children built a fence.

In the face of these two great powers demonstrating what an overwhelming difference in strength truly meant, countries distant from both powers began to band together without anyone taking the lead, and soon nations declaring neutrality started to emerge prominently.

“We, Avalonia, hereby declare that we will form an alliance with neither Fahrenheit nor Amurtat, and simultaneously resolve from this moment forward not to invade either side. We shall remain a neutral country, and be it known that we will not hesitate to take military action if necessary to protect our independence and sovereignty!”

First, Avalonia, a country caught between Fahrenheit and Amurtat, issued a declaration of neutrality, and other countries near Avalonia began to issue similar declarations one after another.

Unfortunately, their statements and resolutions meant nothing to the two great powers.

Even the faltering Fahrenheit could crush Avalonia and its neighboring countries like stepping on eggs. With the alliance system already collapsed in the north, there was only one country that could stop Fahrenheit.

“Our country will just open the gates and surrender! I don’t care anymore, damn it! First come, first served!”

And the second reaction was essentially “just come and eat me.”

Though it might sound somewhat vulgar, this was the medieval version of what in modern times would be called an “undefended city.”

An undefended city referred to a city that declared it would offer no further resistance in order to avoid looting or arson when conquest by an enemy was certain.

Most pitiful small countries, too weak to fight and too feeble to take sides, generally went in this direction. Since many didn’t even have proper city gates to begin with, they were perceived similarly to the “fuck it all” type.

Simply put, this was the approach typically taken by poor countries with nothing worth taking.

“Your Majesty… is this truly the best course of action?”

“You know as well as I do, advisor… half our economy comes from transit trade… If trade is cut off after fierce resistance… we will die of starvation faster than by bullets or swords…”

“Urgh…!”

The exceptions were commercial states that had invested everything in trade. Since their fate was sealed to wither instantly once borders were closed, it could be considered an unavoidable choice to save their country as much as possible.

Of course, all countries would suffer economic damage from war, but for these countries, the issue was that they faced not just severe damage but the very endangerment of their national existence.

The walls they had so diligently built and the mercenaries they had hired at great expense were nothing but reeds in the wind in a war between two great powers that could burn down the entire north.

“Build the walls higher! Reinforce the gates and mount ballistae and catapults on the towers!”

“Let them come! Whether it’s fucking Amurtat or bitch Fahrenheit! If they touch us, at least their vanguard will be ground to pieces before it begins! Damn it!”

And the grand final reaction was “if I die, you die too.”

This was the opposite version of the undefended city, known as a “defended city,” meaning cities equipped with military defenses where unlimited attacks were permitted.

These countries were essentially saying, “We may lack strength, but we don’t lack pride!” They were hardline states advocating for total resistance with the premise of national suicide.

Since these countries had always been interested in military matters, they had completely given up on the idea of defeating Amurtat and Fahrenheit, and instead were determined to send as many invaders as possible to the angels’ court.

For this reason, they were also the most troublesome countries. Even cannons would eventually run out of ammunition after pounding thick walls all day, and infantry on open ground would inevitably suffer one-sided losses when arrows and stone projectiles rained down from high towers.

One of the greatest advantages of gunpowder weapons was the demoralization caused by loud noise and impact, but armies united in determination to defend their homeland were very difficult opponents to face with gunpowder weapons.

Especially for Fahrenheit’s forces, which centered on conventional military power, the desperate resistance of defended cities was extremely irritating.

*

“How did it come to this?”

“I wonder…?”

What was absurd, however, was that the great powers had “not yet” intended to fight.

Of course, given the qualifier “not yet,” it was clear that the two countries would eventually engage in total war, but at least not at that moment.

However, the small countries that had preemptively panicked did not believe this, and even their own citizens did not trust these words.

Monarchs were capricious beings, and the phenomenon of national and personal desires merging and distorting was universal.

“Well, anyway, it’s fortunate for us that we can distinguish between enemies and allies. Make sure to give clear advantages to countries that side with us.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

However, the fact that countries had taken sides was good news for Fahrenheit and Amurtat.

This was because they could now clearly identify allies and enemies.

Strengthen allies, weaken enemies, and when the time is right, persuade them to become allies.

This was the foundation of tactics and the basis of strategy—a Great Game using the entire north as its playing field.

“It’s not easy. Ascending to the Grand Sovereign’s throne.”

“The world never flows according to our wishes. But turning that to our advantage is precisely the role of politics.”

The advisor said this while organizing the list of countries that had pledged to side with Amurtat, and began to prepare the “favors” that would go to them.

These “favors” were mostly resources rather than money, as recklessly providing financial aid could lead to problems like hyperinflation.

Therefore, materials that were easier to control in quantity, such as timber, stone, and iron, were provided as primary support, while consumables like medicines and daily necessities were provided as secondary support.

“Hahaha! Behold! The grace of Amurtat!”

“Does pride feed you? Even the tallest tree bends its branches before the storm!”

The dog-like countries (no offense) that clung obsequiously to Amurtat eagerly accepted what was thrown to them, and like dogs barking for their master, they tried to draw in countries that were still maintaining contemptible neutrality.

In the midst of economic collapse that had made even basic necessities difficult to obtain for decades, the enormous supplies provided to various countries became a powerful temptation for those maintaining neutrality.

While those others were roasting pigs and cattle and drinking beer and whiskey with brandy and wine, they themselves had been eating only rye bread and persimmon soup for decades.

And throughout history, economics has always been an issue.

*Thud!*

“Long live Amurtat…!”

“Your loyalty is commendable. Here, take this meat and alcohol to grease your belly.”

This kind of under-the-table diplomacy went back and forth, and in the year 73 alone, Amurtat succeeded in bringing three countries to its side.