Unwavering 7 (Overlord, Zanac!SI)
The 'Third Re-Estize-Baruth War' was meant to be a slightly more gruesome version of the previous one.
When the conflict began, the war council was summoned to handle the organization behind logistics and potential war plans. The Defensive Strategy had worked last time, but there was a grim outlook that Stronoff introduced as the usual speeches were made to confirm the maximum readiness for the defensive lines.
"It is a known rumor that some nobles wish to see an 'attack' for once to retaliate what the Empire is doing. By merely defending, we can truly avoid major issues, but there has been a growing interest to see a proper 'rebuttal' to this behavior."
I sighed, eyes closed as I knew quite well what this meant.
"They want us to deliver an offensive of sort, isn't it?"
"That's correct, Prince Zanac," Gazef confirmed, his tone as serious as it could be. "Which is why I ask you for an answer to this issue. Prince Barbro wishes to take part to an offensive if you were to find this task too... difficult."
My lips twitched at the slight insult I knew Gazef wasn't mentioning as his own thought on the matter, but rather how my brother would react to this. The idiot was growing desperate to find support to attain, even scraping the barrel with those few militarists among the nobility.
Leaning back in the chair, I knew that it would be right to get something to shake things up. My conversation with Renner on the matter back in the last visit I had at the capital left me with this dreadful thought: it could go on for decades if I just let it be like that. And with the chance of Nazarick becoming a political element very soon, I had to put the Kingdom in a position of power where the Empire would fail to stand out as the best option.
I wasn't planning to be Ainz's vassal, but if I fucked hard with pseudo-Gilgamesh's reputation, I could make his claim of being the rule of one of the strongest nations in the New World less reliable. Hence why I looked at the map and... studied the matter at hand.
The main force was located in the Imperial Castrum beyond the Katze Plains, and there was no way I was going to authorize a fair clash between what forces I had and what huge army Jircniv could boast. The quality factor was also important since the spies could tell that the Emperor wanted to be there, so his own guards to be there. If the he was there, then Fluder would be there and...
And it meant that all the worst we could have were all in a single well-defended place that was away from their source of logistic.
The closest city was devoid of major protections beyond the city-militia. And since they weren't expecting us to try an offensive when a huge army was literally on our doorstep and could sweep at us if we were to be less-defended... it meant that something could be done less to 'conquer' and more to 'do damage'.
The true general idea came when I realized that the Empire had a curious set of roads that looked like a noose beside its capital. And as I realized part of it reached the northern sea, I felt like a brilliant and most evil idea coming to mind. A March to the Sea.
My gaze was now back to Gazef.
"Lord Stronoff, a simple question in return if I may... what do you think of visiting the Imperial beaches?"
Confusion flickered in the eyes of many nobles and Gazef offered a smile.
"Depends on how long I would have?"
"I want to say it depends on you, sir," I argued, my finger landing on the map as I gave him a potential route to follow. "The plan is to sight-see, meet new people and possibly destroy any military depots that comes to your hands. Yours and those of a small quality group that is fast, heavily destructive and has no issues in giving us a fighting chance and a good victory in this little offensive."
"Possibly a month, maybe a little more," Gazef assured, while the rest of the officers appeared shocked by what I was proposing. Those that had a degree of 'fairness' in war were clearly displeased, but those that were aware that this could never be a fair war were merely awed at the stupidly feasible idea I just thought about. "However, we shall start after the first Imperial attacks are dealt with."
"Obviously. But the window of opportunity will be limited. I want your group ready by the end of those first skirmishes."
While Gazef did so, happily intrigued by the idea of finally 'seeing some of those Imperial lands for himself', I also readied the few RENDA agents that were already a bit spread within Imperial territory.
Where the Kingdom was able to prevent any infiltration through a strict regulation over who was allowed and who wasn't allowed in the city and other villages, the Empire had been too lax on the matter and, while some laws were implemented within the immigration policies, a few bribes were enough to smuggle some 'drug traders' across the central and northern region.
My new order for the agents was to sabotage walls and front doors, give maps to Gazef's troops over supplies that could be destroyed or claimed to sustain the expedition, and also deceive any potential mobile force sent to intercept Gazef by leaving behind erroneous proof of where he would go next.
Soon, the first probe attacks unfolded, with a few waves of cannon fodders easily dispatched within the matter of a week. The first real battle unfolded through an attempt to breach the right line of defenses, with the forts there hammered heavily and invaded by some air guards, magic casters that could fly over the fortifications through spells or familiars.
Luckily for us, the few Lizard Men employed in the forts had been craving for chicken for a while, making their interest to fight off gryphons and eagles more intense than most. There were far more losses than I predicted however, and while the Imperial Troops were mostly decimated, it was clear we had just touched the tip of a bigger iceberg.
Still, the day was upon Gazef as his small force finally marched onward beyond the range of the fortresses, away from the sight of scouts and began its little 'Hell Ride' into Imperial lands. It was kind of amusing to see the reaction of the Empire as they realized their once safe cities were no longer safe. Gazef literally brought a few explosive shells with him to be used as makeshift bomb to destroy some supplies faster, rendering his sabotaging even more swifter than he had promised.
Scouts soon reported that the second wave of attacks lacked a lot of cavalry, and then it was an absolute murder-fest with more cannon fodders being hurled at the walls with no extra support. The spies reported of alarmed troops being deployed and mobilized to try and keep up with Gazef, something that became louder when Gazef reached the small trip stop that was just in front of the Capital.
Fluder was to fortify the Magical Academy since Gazef moved near it, but didn't siege as he moved to the sea. From there, the deception campaign of his next steps became important to not get cornered by Imperial troops.
Expecting Gazef to take refuge in the Karsanas City-State Alliance's lands rather than go back home, the Emperor had sent messangers to have the republican state to close their borders... which may potentially trigger a diplomatic mess, but for now they thought they had Gazef...
And then Gazef made it safely down south back behind the fortifications.
Gazef was praised as the man that 'scared Baharuth to death' and his glorious march was reasonably labeled 'Stronoff's March to the Sea'.
A heavily-destructive and highly-damaging campaign that not only wrecked the logistics of the imperial troops on our border, but also created an economic issue in the form of fear for many merchants that no longer thought that the roads of the Empire were as safe as they used to be.
It didn't came as a surprise when I received a request for peace talks from the Emperor himself.
The so-called 'Katze Peace Conference' was a relatively awkward event that finalized the war within just two months of actions. Two small armies were rallied from both sides to act as 'security', but it was just me, the representative of the Re-Estize Kingdom, facing the Emperor himself.
Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix was what I would call a strange concoction between Gilgamesh of the Nasuverse for his appearance, Maximiliam of Valkyria Chronicles for his outward reputation, and the isekai protagonist of some anime that see some lowly son of the previous Emperor finding the strength to take revenge on those that killed his family and become the greatest. All that combo was then burned up by Ainz and Nazarick becoming a paradigm in the New World.
A brilliant Emperor, but one faulted by a rather unfair world.
As he descended from his mount and I did so with mine, we both took a seat by those chairs that had been prepared before the meeting. Two chairs, a table, and some papers. All that was needed to prepare a peace deal as we both finally stood in front of each other.
"My name is Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself, Second Prince of Re-Estize and Governor of E-Rantel. Let us bring peace."
A smile appeared on his face. "I am Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, Emperor of Baharuth. Let us bring peace."
We sat down and soon the real 'war' started. The first issue to dabble was the worry of any potential territorial gains on my side. They had accepted defeat after all, but I was rather unwilling to absorb more land that couldn't be properly settled, had any resources, and just meant a greater urge to further secure the extended border.
My proposal was relatively simple, and while it wasn't pleasant as it entailed a hefty years-long war reparation system, I knew that the Empire's coffers could afford it. It wouldn't put a dent, but it was going to bruise the economic pride of the country- that much I could tell from the displeasure shown by Jircniv.
"Isn't it excessive?"
"As much as it is excessive to hurl another war and expect that things would be the same as the previous ones? Or as excessive as trying to ruin our fields by exploiting our mobilization system?"
He had a smile as I rebuked that, and the reason I was so sharp and so upset was because the guy was getting under my skin by questioning my loyalty to 'a kingdom that was not going to be mine' or 'to people that would still criticize me'. Either of those really didn't matter as 1) I was going to fucking coup the country if Barbro was accepted as King and 2) I didn't mind having an opposition. In fact, I think it's better to have an opposition rather than have just yesmen and hardly any criticism to something that could be done better.
But then Jircniv had to say something that truly had me answer to his prodding questions, knowing I was close to snap but unaware that my anger was not something to play with as I knew him enough to know how to hit back without causing a new war.
"I heard your sister has no suitor. I wonder if I should-"
"No," I hummed dryly, stopping writing as I put my pen on the side and glanced up at him and his surprised look. "You know what? Let me tell you something so you never forget. I don't pity you for being put there in this spot, I don't pity you for being given what you deserve in this defeat. But I sympathize with you because you feel comfortable enough to make those comments because you think that crown could ever compensate what you lost. I may not love my entire family, but I know I would be just as monstrous and just as rude as you are right now. I hate you for what you did to us, but I think this whole charade of trying to piss me off will only get me reason to hurt you where it matters. This is my first and only warning for you."
He went quiet real fast. I kind of expected him to get angry, but Jircniv was quiet through the diplomatic negotiations. He signed the deal, we shook hands and that was it... for that day. Then I received news a week later that Jircniv had sent a letter to the king to ask to 'normalize relationships between the two countries' and 'approach a more permanent peace'.
I think I made him shit his pants or made him respect me. Either way, that was less worry for me as I prepared for the next issue: Nazarick and Ainz.
AN
Sadly for Zanac, there's one last hurdle before that. And she is currently creating an issue by merely being a prisoner but... that's for next chapter to explain.