After discussing Iberia, Vig shifted the conversation to the hottest topic of recent months—the western Mediterranean.
With assistance from the remnants of the Franks, the Eastern Romans were making rapid progress in Sicily, far exceeding Vig's expectations.
He decided to adopt a defensive posture, instructing Hadava to focus on coastal patrols and avoid provoking the Eastern Roman navy while it was at the height of its power.
"Given enough time, the Abbasid Empire will eventually make a move," he said. "There's no need for us to get involved."
Next came northern Italy.
The reports submitted by the four dukes were largely identical.
Since the second half of the year, the Frankish remnants had sharply reduced their raids. Instead, they had concentrated their efforts on constructing defensive works, hoping to use networks of fortresses to block future Viking offensives.
Southern Italy possessed abundant deposits of high-quality volcanic ash, greatly improving construction efficiency.
Drawing upon surviving Roman records, the Franks had already completed fifteen stone fortresses.
The Crown Prince pondered this for a moment.
"Building fortresses strengthens their defenses, but it also keeps the refugees occupied and prevents them from disrupting order in Italy. My guess is that even more fortresses will be completed during 871."
Vig was unconcerned.
"The longer this drags on, the better it is for us. Once our strength recovers, I'll have plenty of ways to deal with them."
Then came Moravia in Central Europe.
The kingdom was undergoing large-scale religious conversion, and unrest was spreading throughout the country.
Imperial agents had successfully infiltrated major and medium-sized settlements, attempting to establish contact with temple shamans and nobles whose interests had been harmed by the changes.
To prepare for potential conflict in that direction, Vig decided to deploy the understrength Third and Fourth Field Divisions, along with two garrison regiments and fifteen hundred cavalry.
Once spring arrived, these forces would gradually move to Magdeburg on the upper Elbe, ready to intervene in Moravian affairs at any time.
As Britain's commercial economy continued to flourish, demand for currency had increased dramatically.
Vig needed sufficient supplies of gold and silver to mint new coinage and maintain an adequate money supply.
According to his memories, Bohemia—part of Moravia—contained rich mineral deposits.
Kutná Hora, for example, would eventually become the most productive silver mine within the Holy Roman Empire during the thirteenth century.
The final topic concerned Rurik in Eastern Europe.
The man remained occupied with trade along the Black Sea–Baltic route.
Vig mentioned him only briefly.
The gap in strength between them had become so large that he no longer deserved significant attention.
At noon, the meeting concluded.
The ministers left the chamber feeling greatly relieved, grateful to have survived another year-end review.
From now until spring, affairs throughout the empire would be relatively quiet—the easiest period of the year.
Vig felt the same way.
Since departing for West Francia in 867, he had spent years campaigning abroad and had not enjoyed a proper winter break in a long time.
Most days, he stayed in his office reading books or sleeping.
Other times, he fished along the Thames or rode through the city in a carriage, observing the capital he had spent decades building.
Following the end of the war, British industry entered a period of rapid growth.
People from across the empire poured into Londinium, increasing its population to thirty-eight thousand.
The current urban area could accommodate approximately fifty thousand residents.
The cabinet had submitted plans to construct a new city wall within two years, allowing for further expansion.
Looking through the carriage window, Vig watched rows of shops slide past, along with the towering amphitheater and opera house in the distance.
Suddenly, he found himself thinking that a peaceful life like this was not so bad after all.
Two months later, in the Baltic Sea—
Under a leaden sky, cold winds howled across the water.
Waves repeatedly battered the hull of a three-masted sailing ship as its captain slowly guided it toward the coast of Pomerania.
Ahead, a settlement gradually came into view.
A rough log palisade enclosed some three hundred low wooden houses.
Upon spotting the arriving vessel, large numbers of residents rushed to the docks, eagerly anticipating the various goods merchants usually brought for sale.
Not long afterward, the ship tied up alongside a crude wooden pier.
Yet those who disembarked were not merchants or laborers.
Instead, the first man ashore was a naval officer wearing a tricorne hat and a black double-breasted uniform, followed by a squad of marines.
Behind them appeared a man in a black robe, leaning on an oak staff.
He smiled kindly at the crowd.
"Do not be alarmed, children.
"I am Raven Speaker, Chief Shaman of the Empire.
"I have business to discuss with your chieftain."
After thirty years at the pinnacle of power, Raven Speaker had developed an indescribable presence.
The townsfolk dared not meet his gaze and instinctively lowered their heads, stepping aside to clear a path.
Norse paganism and Slavic paganism shared many similarities.
Over recent years, the Tainburg Cult had deliberately merged elements of both traditions.
Meanwhile, shamans skilled in medicine had been sent throughout the region, achieving considerable success.
Raven Speaker's mission in Pomerania was straightforward:
Persuade the local West Slavic leaders to accept imperial rule.
The chieftain's longhouse stood at the center of the settlement.
Broad and low, it resembled a giant beast crouching upon the earth.
Its roof consisted of thick overlapping planks, from which thin wisps of smoke drifted upward.
The weathered log walls had darkened into deep shades of brown and black.
The marines pushed open the heavy doors.
A wave of hot, stale air engulfed Raven Speaker.
He paused briefly, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim interior.
Then he walked past the rectangular firepit in the center of the hall and approached the chieftain seated at the high seat.
The guards on either side made no attempt to stop him.
Faced with his imposing presence, they lacked the courage.
"I am Raven Speaker..."
Upon learning his identity, the chieftain immediately rose and bowed respectfully.
Without hesitation, he agreed to join the Empire.
His tribe controlled an excellent harbor.
They profited handsomely by importing British goods for resale inland and exporting amber and furs from the interior to British merchants.
Given those circumstances, compromise was the obvious choice.
In late March, the leaders of one hundred and sixty Pomeranian tribes gathered in a forest clearing.
The Viking Empire now stood at the height of its power.
Scandinavia in the north and Francia in the south had both been brought under imperial control.
The tribal leaders discussed the matter among themselves but could imagine no realistic way to resist.
The meeting lasted little more than ten minutes.
They unanimously agreed to join the Empire.
Their only condition was that the imperial government recognize the hereditary authority of tribal chieftains.
"Of course," Raven Speaker replied with a gentle nod.
Before his departure, the emperor had explained his view of Pomerania.
The region was covered with forests and marshes.
Development was difficult.
Its soils consisted primarily of clay and sandy earth, making agriculture relatively poor.
Given the limited efficiency of the imperial bureaucracy, direct administration was impractical.
What the emperor wanted was not the land itself—but the labor force.
These two hundred thousand West Slavs had already accepted Tainburg missionary efforts and were considerably more loyal than the Franks.
During peacetime, the cabinet could recruit migrants from among them and settle them in directly administered counties.
In wartime, the Ministry of War could raise at least five garrison regiments from their population, helping alleviate the Empire's growing manpower shortage.
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