Spring turned to autumn, and as time flowed by, the rice sown in the spring fields had ripened into golden grains. A gentle breeze swept through the fields, making the heavy ears of rice sway in waves, creating golden ripples across the land.
Such a scene could bring a smile to anyone's face. In Gai Kingdom, men of military age who had been sent back to their homes due to the cessation of war stood at the edges of the fields, gazing at the golden crops. Their faces were filled with anticipation.
"This year's another bountiful harvest! The king should call for war now, right?"
...
"Since you declared peace and turned the entire kingdom's focus toward building canals, irrigation ditches, and transport roads, this is now the fifth consecutive year of abundant harvests. Are you still planning to stockpile grain?" Fernand asked.
"Another year of abundance," Muria replied as he reviewed the reports summarizing the grain yields from across the kingdom. A smile appeared on his face.
"Five straight years of bumper harvests. There's no need to stockpile anymore. It's time for the first expansion," he said.
"I thought you were going to keep waiting," Fernand remarked with mock surprise at Muria's statement.
"Wait for what? If I delay any longer, the people below will riot."
"So you do know what's going on with the people?" Fernand retorted.
"Of course, I know." Muria rolled his eyes, fully aware that Fernand's remark was a jab at his "idle" behavior over the past five years. In truth, Muria had largely distanced himself from governance, leaving most affairs in the hands of his ghoul ministers.
But Muria wasn't truly idle. He had invested his time and energy elsewhere. He had established a military academy, producing a large number of mid- and lower-level officers. He also identified individuals in Gai Kingdom with exceptional talent and trained them intensively.
To completely conquer and govern a territory in the long term, brute force alone was insufficient. Governance required officials familiar with local customs and environments to implement targeted administration. This governance also needed the support of a military capable of suppressing rebellion and maintaining order.
"If you keep suppressing the people's desire for war, the number of petitions for military campaigns next year will double," Fernand warned.
"Probably," Muria agreed. Starting from the second year after the ceasefire, people had begun petitioning for war. Every year, the number of petitioners grew, and their ranks included increasingly high-ranking officials and generals.
No one was a fool. Over the past five years, Muria had directed massive projects to dig canals, build reservoirs, construct roads, and stockpile grain—all clear preparations for war. Petitioning for war aligned perfectly with the kingdom's circumstances and the king's intentions.
Now, Muria decided it was time to unleash the beast that Gai Kingdom had become. The kingdom, transformed into a bloodthirsty wolf, was famished and eager to devour. Muria was the only one holding its leash. When he let go, the wolf would surge out of its territory, consuming everything in its path to satiate its hunger.
...
"Your Majesty, five years ago, during our reforms and weakened state, the kingdoms of Salah and its two allies launched a massive invasion of Gai Kingdom. Thankfully, under your leadership, we repelled the invaders and preserved the kingdom. Today, after five years of recovery, we now have abundant soldiers and supplies. I humbly request—"
A general stood in the grand hall, his voice ringing with conviction. Muria listened impassively as the general described the events of five years ago, painting Gai Kingdom as a victim of great injustice. From his speech, one might think Gai Kingdom had suffered grievously in that war, though in truth, the kingdom had emerged stronger than ever.
The general's rhetoric, however, was little more than a thinly veiled excuse to justify launching a new war. This sentiment reflected the collective will of nearly everyone in Gai Kingdom—they craved war, expansion, and the conquest of more land and resources.
"Granted," Muria finally said, his face calm and indifferent. The generals in the hall froze for a moment, then broke into expressions of uncontrollable joy.
"Your Majesty, who shall we target first?" one general cautiously asked after the initial wave of excitement.
"Five years ago, who attacked us? Those are the nations we will target," Muria replied.
"Attack all three at once?" The hall fell silent, the generals stunned by the audacity of their king's ambition.
"Why not?" Muria asked. In his view, the key challenge of war wasn't the initial conquest but the subsequent governance and management of the conquered territories.
Given enough time, Muria alone could defeat every nation on the Ymir Plains. But that wouldn't constitute true conquest. Real conquest required cultural assimilation, the unification of language and customs, and a deep-rooted acceptance of his rule.
This required time, collaboration between administrators and the military, and effective governance. Sheer military might wasn't enough.
"Prepare for war!" Muria declared.
The call to arms resounded across Gai Kingdom. Soldiers, who had long prepared their armor and well-fed warhorses, rushed to join the army. They had been waiting for this moment for far too long.
Every capable individual in Gai Kingdom was mobilized. Under the nation's combined military-agricultural system, the entire country transformed into an efficient war machine, unleashing a terrifying display of power.
...
In fields filled with the aroma of ripe rice, strong farmers wielded scythes to harvest the golden grains. The bountiful harvest brought smiles to their faces, but those smiles lacked their usual brightness.
What they truly longed for hadn't arrived yet. They were waiting for their king to issue the long-anticipated order to wage war.
"The king has issued a decree—"
A soldier clad in black leather armor rode through the fields on horseback, holding a black banner with red patterns. Dust rose in his wake as he passed, and the young men working in the fields straightened their backs, watching him disappear into the distance.
Moments after the soldier vanished, a wave of cheers erupted in the fields. The young men quickly climbed out of the paddies and ran home. They bid farewell to their families, donned their prepared armor, grabbed their meticulously sharpened weapons, and marched to the nearest military camp.
...
The war began. Just as it had five years ago, except this time, Gai Kingdom was the aggressor.
Five years ago, Gai Kingdom had fought a defensive war on three fronts against the invasion of three allied nations. Now, it concentrated its forces to attack a single nation.
Behind the army, administrators who had studied the enemy's language and customs were prepared to take over governance immediately after the military secured the land.
Unified script, standardized measurements, synchronized infrastructure—these were the pillars of true rule. Cultural assimilation and systemic transformation would ensure long-term stability.
Gai Kingdom's invasion came suddenly and without formal declaration, much like the way its enemies had attacked five years earlier. In this chaotic era, where lives were as expendable as grass, concepts like etiquette and morality had long faded, replaced by the pursuit of raw power and self-interest.
Though Muria carried the noble blood of a golden dragon, as a king, he couldn't afford to act as a gentleman. A king's duty was to his people, not to abstract principles of honor or fairness.
Thus, Muria personally joined the campaign. After five years of preparation, Gai Kingdom's military power had surpassed that of any neighboring nation, making it a dominant regional force.
With Muria leading the charge, Gai Kingdom's army was unstoppable. Muria eliminated most of the enemy nation's ruling class in the early stages of the invasion. Without centralized leadership, the enemy forces crumbled, and Gai Kingdom's troops swept through their lands, achieving victory after victory.
In less than a month, Gai Kingdom conquered a nation with territory and resources comparable to its own. The black-armored soldiers occupied and scoured every city in the defeated kingdom.
This stunning success sent shockwaves across the region. Neighboring nations elevated their assessments of Gai Kingdom's threat level, particularly those that had invaded it five years earlier.
But Gai Kingdom's forces didn't stop. After leaving sufficient troops to pacify and secure the conquered territory, the main army turned its sights on the second nation.
This time, Muria refrained from direct intervention. The morale of Gai Kingdom's troops was at an all-time high after their initial victories. Every soldier believed in their inevitable triumph.
While the advance slowed somewhat due to the enemy's preparations, Gai Kingdom's forces continued to press forward. The second nation's defenses crumbled in the face of the relentless assault. They had no hope of holding out for long.
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