War: Preparation (III)
"Wars in ancient times used to occur on a daily basis however after the foundation of the Menvegr Empire and The Holy Church war was not something one could do anytime they desired.
Wars started to have strict rules and one of many rules was that war should have a reason and be fair. If both the criteria were fulfilled and the holy church in charge of that area approved then only the war could happen.
By fair, it did not mean that one must fight with an equal amount of soldiers it meant that they do not use a powerful backer to support them for example bribing a high-scale kingdom to participate into supporting them and winning the war easily-"
"That's just- annoying," Andrew interpreted Victor as he was explaining his plan to him and Oliver "If we have money we will and we should use that to buy us powerful support. What kind of useless rules are they? Who even makes them?"
Victor laughed a bit awkwardly at that and said "Sire please do not interrupt me every time I speak..." He sighed "And Menvegr empire creates these rules and the holy church executes these rules."
"But isn't it too unfair? Like if a kingdom was suffering from a pandemic or just had a heavy loss in manpower by an attack from a beast? Then all they would have been left with would be money. What are they supposed to do when some other kingdom attacks them at that moment? they can't even seek help! how is this fair?" Andrew's voice slowly got from calm to loud and angry as he spoke.
"That is indeed true, Sire... that is why they are allowed to take from a kingdom who supported them and have been in a friendly term for more than two years or they can use that money to get help from mercenaries." Victor explained calmly.
"Is that so... and what is this mercenary again? No, wait... I know the answer," Andrew did not have knowledge of wars even in his past lives, however, since he had gained information about war through the system he was well aware of the terms such as mercenary "They are people who do tasks for money right? they are not loyal to a single kingdom or man but money... right?"
"That is... indeed right..." Victor had hesitated his voice since he was also aware that Andrew did not receive any knowledge about wars ever before. He was curious how Andrew knew about it however he did not question it since there was nothing that could surprise him anymore.
"Very well... then I guess it is at some point fair but not entirely. Anyways, continue your explanation."
Victor nodded at Andrew's words and without wasting any further moment.
"As I was saying. They were not to use the money to bribe a powerful backer to support them, for example, a high-scale kingdom to participate in supporting them and winning the war easily without actually fighting in the war.
After everything gets settled the one on whom the war was declared is given the choice. A choice of where the war will be fought. Usually one chooses a point in the middle of two kingdoms for a fair fight.
This way of war is known to be the "humanly way" however in ancient times the art of war was different. It was the "Barbaric way". In that way... war is fought like a war.
No rules and no humanity. One could invade a kingdom without restriction or reason. In that way, people were allowed to steal armor and weapons as they liked. In that way, soldiers could have stolen everything from the kingdom and were even allowed to kill civilians. That is the true path of war."
Andrew titled his head with eyes shining with curiosity and interest "That sounds interesting and... fun-"
"That is not fun for sure... Although it is the proper way of war it was cruel... countless kingdoms have turned into complete ruins because of these kinds of wars. That is why it is completely banned." Victor sighed.
Andrew squinted his eyes at those words with his eyebrow frowning in a bit of anger and confusion "Then why did you mention that here?"
"Because- although it is said to be banned there is also something added further to the rule that many ignore. The kingdom on which the war is declared requests the church to be allowed to fight in a barbaric way then it can be fought that way... although it is very unlikely for any kingdom to request that since even after that they care about their civilian safety along with the fact hardly anybody knows about this extended rule."
Andrew tilted his head to the right once again in confusion "Hm? What do you mea-?" Andrew's eyes suddenly widened a little as he came to a realization "Wait... technically speaking they were the ones who said they wanted the war first, right?
"That is indeed correct and even without that... we can trick them to choose the barbaric way." Victor smirked.
"How-?" Andrew was new to all these at that moment. Even if he had all the memories from before he had no knowledge about wars or battle tactics thus it was obvious for him to react like that.
Although Andrew surely had knowledge and information about the war through the system however that was all like rote. He had everything memorized but it did not mean he comprehend everything completely.
"That would be because of me." Victor smiled "I am a grand wizard. A magic user that has eight circles around his heart. In the lower ranks kingdom and even in the middle ranks kingdom I am unparalleled. It would take me a minute to end kingdoms like those. We could say if they choose the barbaric way then I would not participate in war."
"No. That won't do." Andrew said instantly after Victor completed his statement "You are my main force and I have no idea how powerful that kingdom is but... if they have all their soldiers at the same level as the one I fought earlier then I would have no problem."
"Well..." Victor scratches the side of his face "The king of Kalyra is a beginner 3rd tier aura user and he has a brother that is a peak 2nd tier aura user... other than that I heard their commander just broke through the peak 1st tier and the vice commander reached the level of mid 1st tier aura..."
Andrew stared at Victor but he quickly looked away to avoid Andrew's gaze. Andrew got up and walked over to Victor so he could move his face wherever Victor moved his face.
They did that for a couple of seconds before Oliver just sighed and said "Sire please calm down. Lord Victor cannot leave the kingdom and thus no matter what he can not participate in war."
Andrew's ear twitched at those words and he quickly looked at Oliver with a serious expression on his face "What do you mean?"
"I am not sure either, Sire..." Oliver spoke in a quiet tone "He just says that he is not allowed to leave the kingdom no matter what... if he was allowed to leave the kingdom we would have already been the strongest kingdom in the lower ranks..."
"Wha-" Andrew paused and stroked his chin a few times thinking about the matter 'Now that I think about it... grand wizards are supposed to be extremely strong... if we have such a powerful backer then why are we in such a condition? Even if ministers were corrupted, our kingdom shouldn't be weak at all...' He thought.
Andrew looked at Victor and was about to ask "Why can't you leave?" However, before he had a chance to ask, Victor already said "Sire... please do not ask me why I can not leave... even if I want to, I can not tell you... please..."
No one understood that everyone has a secret better than Andrew in the kingdom of Zion thus he did not say anything but just nodded agreeing to the request.
"Very well then... but why are we even worrying about that? It is them who declared war upon us. We will choose the barbaric way and choose the position close to us so they have to come here and we use Victor to easily get rid of them." Andrew said with a big grin on his face.
"..." Victor and Oliver looked at each other before looking at Andrew and back to each other before they started to talk with head gestures and sign language (bro code).
Andrew looked at them in confusion "What's the matter?"
Victor hit Oliver on the elbow and whispered "You tell his highness or I will throw you into well-" At which Andrew tilted his head to the right since he could hear their whisper because of his enchanted senses "Tell me what?"
Oliver sighed defeated and slowly looked up at Andrew "Um, uh... so..." He spoke with nervousness in his voice and while playing with his fingers "We kinda already... sent- um... letter to the church saying we are declaring war on them... we were just thinking if we should send the pigeons to church or not, however... we suddenly heard you were injured... we kinda like... accidentally sent out the letter..."
Andrew stared at them but they quickly looked away trying to avoid his gazes as he said "You guys... DID WHAT!?"
Hearing Andrew yelling both Victor and Oliver quickly got up and tried to run away while saying "Sorry Sire!"
To be continued...