Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire
Chapter 222: The March of Mercenaries

Chapter 222: The March of Mercenaries

* * General Haddin POV * *

It’s been quite some time since we parted with his majesty the grand duke.

It was my honor to be chosen a the leader of the primary force meant to invade the Peloponese and unite with him and whatever remained of his forces.

At first when the legions assembled and were informed we left in high spirits the people likewise seeing us off as if we were heroes ourselves, as the legions marched ever onward we entered the newly claimed territories of Roserun, and then South Lunan, each province we marched through our numbers grew as citizens would join up on the march as mercenaries, we did not pay them anything they came with the promise of riches in conquest.

By the time we’d reached the Germanic borders the army under my command had swelled to twice it’s origional size, as pleased as i was i was honestly also disappointed.

The professional army of his majesty was strictly trained and surely a force to be reckoned, but the mercenaries who joined us well they were rough, like the Aquitanian army from before our lords rise.

These are not soldiers just regular people who took up a sword, a spear, sometimes even farming implements and calling them weapons.

The nation was newly born, but most of the Lunanese, and Roserun peoples had lost everything in the recent years wars and while things were recovering under Latinium rule, they wanted a faster solution and nothing was faster than getting a bag full of gold for ones service on the battle field.

Sure it came with risks but what in these turbulent times doesnt.

Onward we marched knowing the homeland was defended by his highness’s trusted advisors.

We peacefully crossed over the borders and kept on marching a few times we came across some scout who inquired about our presence but both they and we parted amicably.

The few villages we passed likewise saw us peacefully perhaps scared what might happen if they were to be hostile and result in us razing their village to the ground instead, though as our nations friend the villagers seemed happy to sell their excess food and simple wares to us.

The soldiers of course were please to get a chance to increase their personal ration beyond what the quartermaster would dole out, and others purchased souvenirs to keep or give away upon getting home.

This feeling... It’s been decades since last i felt it back during the last of the wars before the long peace.

I was a general for so many years but a soldier at peace is just a man waiting for conflict to arise.

Now was clearly an era a of war, our small province had participated in and won countless wars already and even now we were marching off once more only just having secured our own borders, and those of our allies.

The Grand Duke himself had raced out to aid the Spartan’s who i’d been informed were our Ally... just when had that happened?

I know numerous dignataries had been coming to the palace recently but had they also?

The marching procession proceeded at a fast pace, many times we’d lose our trailing mercenaries who had not the stamina to keep up only for them to rejoin at our nights rest, the soldiers having made camp while the mercenaries would just sleep on the ground knowing they’d need the rest so’s not to be left behind entirely when we began our march once more at days light.

Our crossing of Germania was a simple one but on the fourth day we were greeted by an accompanyment of horsemen, which forced us to halt our march.

I alongside my Millenion’s met these newly arrived a distance away from the army who stood at attention.

"Greetings." <???>

"And to you as well, My name is General Haddin from Latinium, or i guess some are already calling us Romanus now, our Exalted Lord Julius is off campaigning in the Pelloponese to rescue our Spartan allies who’ve come under attack by an allied coalition of greecian states." <General Haddin>

"So you lot are all going south to join in that fight then?" <???>

"Aye, that’s right, the command i received was to bring my army and any volunteers who wish to serve as mercenaries with me to open a second front and in doing so drive a wedge into their black hearts." <General Haddin>

"Ha Ha Ha, well met then General Hadin, names Johann i’m one of the local leaders in these parts, we received word of your march but also that it was peaceful, if you’re taking on volunteers we’ve got plenty of youth’s who are looking for chance to prove them selves. If you don’t mind them tagging along we’d be happy for the influx of coin and slaves." <Johann>

"No worries at all my friend, our march can’t be halted but any who wishes to join surely can, of course our pace will certainly slow when we reach the southern border so no need to worry about them being left behind." <General Haddin>

"That’s good to hear, no need to feed them either we’ll make sure they know they life is in their own hands, i mean unless they want to properly enlist in your army. Ha ha ha." <Johann>

The talks continued on for a while longer but the result was the same, we were allowed to continue our march, while Johann and those with him took off riding horses in several directions, clearly to send out word that we were on the warpath and taking volunteers.

By the time we reach the Southern border and cross into Greecian lands we might very well have over 100,000 men with which to bring about the Greecian’s collective fall.

The lands will be unstable as a result however compared to our takeover of Roserun and Lunan, unless our Grand Duke has a plot in place to solve that problem while also bringing these lands like the others under the fold and into our arms.

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