Night of the Soulless Heathens – 469



#470. Northern Qi and the Overlord 5

Changgok Pass was a gateway that managed the Hahe River which was responsible for trade between Chitai and Asande. Outside of the Hahe River there were lush limestone mountains so it could be called a natural fortress.

Azadin’s forces took over the port at the Haha River gate and took control of the fortress then began inspecting the cargo of passing ships and collecting tolls.

It was not simply a matter of stationing troops but of beginning full-scale rule.

This was possible because the Changgok Pass gatekeepers presented the city seal to Azadin without much resistance and all of the existing officials surrendered to Azadin.

With this the Azadin army was able to trade with the sea via the Hahe River and the supply problem that had occurred due to the Sebalhan being cut off from the waist was largely resolved.

Although the warehouse burned down and there was a lot of food loss it is a long-term problem; there is grain to eat right now.

“The water is jade colored.”

Azadin stood on the watchtower of Changgok-gwan and looked down at the Hahe River in amazement.

The hot spring water gushing from the basin of Asander mixed with the river flowing in the north as a jade color but gradually changing to a bluish-gray color as it flowed south.

Because of the cold of Fimbulbert there was ice on the riverbank but because of the warm water of Assander the ice continued to melt so the middle of the river was relatively unfrozen.

Moreover Changgok was a very important place even in this cold weather because water transport ships would come and go and break the ice all the time.

When Azadin completely took control of Changgok the governors and governors of the neighboring regions came to greet Azadin.

Azadin standing on the watchtower with the snow-covered mountains of Changgok behind him looked back and saw that the scenery had a mysterious atmosphere like a sumi-e painting.

The governors and ministers who had gathered at Changgok-gwan were quite shaken by the sight of Azadin who they had only heard of through rumors and who was handsome and full of spirit.

“Okay. What brings you here?”

“Ah Your Majesty. The three-legged king can no longer perform his duties as king so please lead us.”

The governors and ministers who had gathered all presented the governor’s seal.

Of course this is nothing more than a formality. It is like a staged play that has already been set up with the story of the scholar Garasan.

Azadin praised the governors for their good governance of the city and for keeping the people’s hearts at peace and he returned their seals to them allowing them to rule the city again.

“As the representative of the royal authority of Chitai on behalf of Sebalhan I hereby declare that you will be exempted from paying taxes this year so you must provide relief to those in your territory so that no one will starve to death.”

Azadin did not hide his intention to become the king of Chitai and even took over the right to tax.

The governors were about to step down saying that they would follow Azadin’s will.

But then one of the governors asked

“Your Majesty then shall we now cross the Hahe River and advance to Asander?”

The other governors glared at the one who asked the question.

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But he continued to ask questions without any clues.

“Asander is an impregnable land that no one has been able to conquer except for the Nagas…”

“Yeah. It certainly looks that way.”

Azadin turned his gaze to the snow-covered mountains.

The road leading up to Asander the holy land of the messenger clan was also extremely difficult.

A waterway was built along the Hahe River but there were many fortresses overlooking the waterway so if Assander went on the defensive they would all become water ghosts.

The Hahe River is quite wide and has a gentle current but there are many springs that gush out at specific points and times throughout the river so unless you are a sailor who is familiar with the area it is difficult to navigate a boat properly.

Land routes are out of the question and water routes are also far more advantageous for the defending side.

“It’s okay. We won’t have to go to war with Assander. The famine is so severe that there’s no need for humans to fight each other and make things worse.”

“Is that so?”

The assembled princes were relieved to hear that Azadin was not willing to go to war.

I was also secretly relieved that the governor who asked the king a question without notice was not punished.

Everyone was afraid of Azadin’s army and offered the governor’s seal but they were anxious about what would happen if he said he would conscript them because he was going to war.

‘When I saw it in person the character was outstanding.’

‘Hey. Elves are also neat-looking so they eat humans.’

‘Why do you want to get out of the idiot?

But then Azadin opened his mouth.

“Well that’s only if the Northern Emperor agrees. If the Northern Emperor wants to fight then there’s nothing we can do. I’ll ask for your understanding in advance.”

‘Ah. Shit.’

‘also.’

The princes were relieved to hear Azadin’s words.

But then a messenger came.

“Your Majesty. An envoy from the Northern Qi has arrived.”

“An envoy? Hmm. I don’t see any ships that would be suitable for an envoy.”

Azadin was watching the ships coming from Assander from the watchtower.

There was no ship in sight that was large enough for an envoy to ride on.

So does that mean he’s an unofficial envoy?

“The envoy is… one person.”

“hmm.”

A look of astonishment spread among the governors.

Even though Azadin led his army to the border the Northern Qi still did not regard Azadin as its king and sent an unofficial envoy.

Is it inevitable that this will lead to war?

“But the envoy is… Lord Sion Etar.”

“Oh. Really?”

Azadin chuckled.

“Oh right. If we do this we won’t be able to avoid meeting each other.”

*********

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After sending away the governors and governors Azadin called his staff together separately.

A haggard Zion Etar entered the conference room of the Changgok Hall.

He was also embarrassed by having been captured without any support so he couldn’t speak freely.

“First of all I’m glad you’re safe. Zion Etar.”

“I am sorry Your Majesty. I should have died for causing you trouble due to my helplessness but I have shamelessly returned alive.”

Zion Etar bowed his head before Azadin.

“So how was it? Did you like Assander’s food?”

“The Northern Aragasa used the Kazas Code. Perhaps the Kazas Code was leaked through the elves and the Northern Aragasa learned it.”

“Hmm.”

Azadin scratched his cheek when he heard that.

If you listen to Sion Etar Azadin’s teacher Kazas was a spy for the elves and leaked the secrets of the Herald Clan to the elves. That’s what it sounded like.

‘Well that might actually be true.’

Azadin knows the strength of blood ties.

Just as Azadin could not abandon the Herald Clan even though he himself had received nothing but persecution from them Kazas could not have ignored the elves either.

“What’s the mood like in Assander?”

“I don’t know much since I’m locked up but they are also very confused. And at least the Northern Emperor is not a great man who would teach Nether’s magic to Sebalhan. He seems to be quite surprised as well.”

“Do you know that kind of thing in prison?”

“That’s it. To my shame I have entered into a marriage contract with one of the daughters of the chieftain of the Northern Aragasa.”

“Wait a minute Sion Etar you’re married… Oh I’m sorry. I acted like a newbie.”

It’s a political marriage and bigamy is common. Furthermore Zion’s intentions are not important in this marriage.

Azadin asked just in case.

“When are you getting married?”

“It happened… no it happened three days ago.”

“Are you here with me now?”

“yes.”

“Let’s meet up.”

As Azadin gave his permission a northern Aragatha woman who had been politically married to Sion Etar walked in.

Surprisingly she was a head taller than Zion Etar and her body was also large and muscular.

The thickness of his forearms was thicker than the thickness of Zion Etar’s thighs.

Zion who stands next to her is by no means short but he looks dwarfed.

‘He’s the kind of person who would cut someone’s throat and slurp down their blood.’

She bowed her head in front of Azadin.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Queen Damil Etar Azaddin.”

“Haha. Congratulations on your wedding. So what did the Northern Emperor say in return?”

“As you know the King’s Church still firmly refuses to recognize King Azadin. Excuse me Your Majesty you have not been negotiating much with the King’s Church either. That is why the Northern Qi is also in a difficult position. It would be difficult for the Northern Qi to lose the support of the King’s Church.”

So the Northern Qi side was telling Azadin to either bribe the king’s church or use conciliatory policies to gain recognition from the king’s church. That was what they were saying.

The expressions of Azadin’s subjects crumpled. It was a remark that could only be made with extreme disdain even if one were to ignore Azadin.

“So let’s not send an official envoy and negotiate behind the scenes?”

“Yes.”

“You’re still trying to save face even in this situation. It’s surprising. It seems like you’re not in a hurry yet. Well looking at the situation at Changgok-gwan I guess you can be confident.”

“I know that when the Nagas conquered the Elves of Assander they used the sea route not the land route.”

Even if Azadin takes over the Changgok Hall he won’t pose a big threat to Assander. That’s what he was saying.

“Of course the Northern Emperor himself seems to want to talk to His Majesty. It was his intention to feel free to send letters through unofficial channels.”

No matter how much they are the Northern Qi they cannot ignore Azadin who has occupied everything from Banling at the southern tip to Changgok Pass right in front of Asander.

However meeting only through unofficial channels is not what Azadin wants.

“Yeah. That’s right. I didn’t mean for it to turn out like this.”

Azadin decided to move on to the next step immediately.

The surrounding courtiers were newly afraid that Azadin who had been committing outrageous acts up until now was still holding back on something and now was deciding to do it.

If you have been careful about what you do and have acted so outrageously up until now how much more bizarre things will you do if you continue to do them without any caution?

*********

“So. Do you think it went well?”

In fact the Northern Emperor was anxious after sending a letter to Azadin through Zion Etar.

As the King of Kings of the King’s Church the King’s Church could not meet Azadin who was the disciple of the King’s Church at an official event and if they did not meet it would clearly be treating him poorly so they were worried that Azadin would get angry.

The Northern Qi army had been training and training for decades and was proud of being an incredibly strong force but Azadin was showing off his combat skills by crushing the Qitai in a single blow.

The Arangian Guard and the Celestial Fire are on Azadin’s side so anyone who makes fun of Azadin’s army would be truly crazy.

“Yes. For now the Azadin army is staying at the border and building a new supply line there. They are cutting down trees and building ships to open a sea route to the Rescue Knights Command.”

“Can ships be built that quickly? There probably isn’t even a shipyard.”

“There is no shipyard in Changgok but there is one in nearby Seocheong.”

“You mean you stationed troops in Changgok and then took control of Seocheong?”

“Yes. It is said that all the governors and governors of Chitai entrusted their seals to Azadin and received them back. He only lost the throne but he effectively became the king of Chitai.”