Chapter 349 349-The Fall of the Empire
Howard pondered further, harboring hopes that his friend Nora could either unify the empire or, at the very least, maintain significant prestige within it.
However, the recent state of the empire, as understood through Portia, seemed fraught with negative incidents.
For some reason, the empire seemed to be plagued by more than its fair share of troubles.
While minor disturbances might be inconsequential in other regions, in the empire, they seemed to escalate into deeper issues.
Howard was inclined to attribute these problems to the imperial throne itself, but Portia held a different view.
The current state of the empire did not align with that of a thriving, rejuvenating emperor.
Putting aside the future of the empire and focusing on Howard's own situation, the recent victory over Osland Kingdom in the east had not come easily.
The war with Osland Kingdom was a challenge that Howard could not guarantee victory over.
He dared not even covet the eastern Osland Kingdom, feeling almost as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
Therefore, the inevitable conclusion was to expand westward into Oungria Kindom to strengthen his power.
Heading west meant directly confronting the empire.
Seizing imperial lands could potentially invite reprimand and demands for their return from the emperor.
Just as Phrus viewed the empire, Howard now found the empire to be an impediment.
To match the strength of Osland Kingdom in a direct confrontation, Oungria Kindom first needed to secure the empire's periphery.
The Tyro region, with its gold mines, became a strategic target.
Consequently, Howard, burdened by a sense of indebtedness towards Nora, chose to feign ignorance of Maximilian's declaration of rebellion.
Three days later, early in the morning, Maximilian departed from the camp.
He had not secured a promise of assistance from Howard, yet he was not angered.
Bosiden, hoping to intimidate him, deliberately threatened to inform Nora of his plans for rebellion.
However, Maximilian saw through Bosiden's tactic, remarking, "Although you are an excellent diplomat, you have yet to reach the pinnacle of your craft." With that, Maximilian left.
On the other side, Howard was deeply concerned about the situation of the empire and Nora herself.
He pondered that if Nora did not abdicate peacefully but was instead involved in a war, or if she fled to Oungria Kindom with her loyal troops, he would have to intervene at least to ensure Nora's personal safety.
Consequently, Howard negotiated a truce with the governor of the Nedolan region.
He secured the Duchy of Hagg, thus gaining an exclave in the northwest of the continent.
Additionally, Howard forced the transfer of all the empire's colonial bases in the New World from Nedolan.
Howard then turned his attention back to battling the people of Ing Empire.
The war was long and arduous.
William, a master of mobile warfare, innovated a running conscription method, assembling a large number of swift-footed soldiers.
Howard divided his forces into three armies: one under Ness, one under Kaido, and one under Boshni.
He tasked them with capturing unfortified locations, such as castles and defenseless villages and cities.
Howard himself led the main force to retake the capital of Fran Kingdom.
The capital had already fallen.
The King and Queen of Fran Kingdom, along with others, had fled southwards, now near the border of Provence.
The reserve forces of Fran Kingdom continued to replenish the wartime troops.
With some time, they would again have a fully staffed, organized brigade.
A month later, turmoil erupted again within Ing Empire.
Queen Mary, previously in power, was overthrown by the irate nobility and populace, and subsequently imprisoned in the dungeons.
Her sister, Elizabeth, ascended to the throne.
Mary harbored intense resentment towards Elizabeth, fueled by the bitterness of losing her crown to another.
As previously discussed during a meeting between Mary and Howard, Mary had been a flawless princess, the jewel in King Henry's crown.
William, a staunch supporter of Queen Mary, was infuriated that his absence on the battlefield had allowed the opposition to dethrone the queen he endorsed.
Consequently, William abandoned the Fran Kingdom campaign and set off to return home.
During this time, Howard and the generals of Fran Kingdom reclaimed all the territories previously occupied by Ing Empire.
Following this, internal issues surfaced within Ing Empire, but it seemed that William and Elizabeth reconciled.
Elizabeth, a politically astute figure, managed to deal effectively with William, a powerful noble of the distinguished Honor family.
However, the outcome of the war had already been decided.
With the ascension of the new queen, policies diametrically opposed to those of her sister were implemented.
Regardless, Ing Empire conceded defeat in the war, and all territories that had been under its distant rule became part of Fran Kingdom.
Ing Empire was completely severed from the mainland, transforming into an island nation.
The war had come to an end.
Howard, with his troops, slowly returned to Oungria Kindom.
...
Nora was eventually imprisoned following a palace coup.
Through Howard's stern negotiations, the new Emperor Maximilian released Nora in exchange for 150 gold coins.
The Empire and Oungria Kindom completely fell out; three months after Nora's release, the Empire demanded Howard return the crown of the Oungria Kindom to the Habsburgs.
Howard, without hesitation, refused, leading the Empire to formally declare war on Oungria Kindom.
Once the war began, Oungria Kindom's campaign was overwhelmingly successful, penetrating directly into the imperial capital and capturing Maximilian himself.
Shortly thereafter, Howard received news of the Empire's total surrender.
Oungria Kindom annexed the eastern part of the Empire, extending its territory up to the original Bavaria region.
Oungria Kindom's power surged dramatically.
Phrus challenged the Empire for the throne.
Frederick bluntly stated, "The Habsburgs currently lack the strength to protect the Empire. In such a case, it's best to abdicate and let others lead."
Maximilian, of course, refused, leading Phrus to threaten war against the Empire.
However, mediation by Fran Kingdom and Ing Empire prevented immediate conflict.
Fran Kingdom and Westia Kindom formed an alliance.
The immensely powerful Westia Kindom, having resolved its diplomatic issues in the north, focused solely on exploring the New World.
Many smaller nations and lords also waged wars against each other.
The Empire had lost all its authority and was on the brink of vanishing from history.
Bosiden once raised a similar issue at a tea party with Howard.
Bosiden believed that once the Empire collapsed or dissolved, it would never resurface.
Kaido, Ness, Boshni, Neplon, and Vettel shared similar views.
However, Howard, Alonso, and Cotler thought differently.
Apart from Cotler, who expressed some dangerous opinions that greatly alarmed Howard, the others' views were within reasonable bounds.
Howard believed that the framework of the Empire might indeed be dissolved, whether through the initiative of its internal members or under the coercion of external enemies.
Yet, the grand idea and tradition of the continent's various powers uniting under a single banner still persisted.
He foresaw that even without the Empire, other frameworks would emerge.
This perspective was something Neplon and others failed to grasp, but it was how Howard personally viewed the situation.
Suddenly, Boshni asked Howard, "Do you think the nations in the former imperial region will join this so-called new framework?"
Howard replied, "It's hard to say."
Boshni chuckled, then inquired further, "Lord Howard, would you be the one to deliver the final blow to the Empire?"
Neplon, though engrossed in his tea, slammed his hand on the table upon hearing this, exclaiming, "We should act immediately! Such a cumbersome, continental welfare-
detrimental, and peace-threatening nation must be utterly overthrown! I support Lord Howard in taking decisive action against the Empire and then actively dissolving this framework!"
Since everyone was enjoying afternoon tea in an open-air garden, enveloped in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, Neplon's sudden outburst and dramatic words struck a somewhat comical note amidst the serene setting.
Kaido burst into laughter, and the others couldn't help but join in, chuckling along.
Although Neplon's face reddened slightly, his resolve remained firm, and he showed no regret for speaking his mind.
Regardless, the current Emperor of the Empire, Maximilian, seemed utterly incapable of halting the empire's decline.
Neither the Habsburgs, the Empire itself, nor the gold mines of Tyro offered a solution.
Howard speculated that if Maximilian faced another major health crisis, Phrus might seize the opportunity of a new emperor's ascension to usurp the throne.
In such a scenario, barring any extraordinary events, the imperial throne was destined to be lost.
Howard possessed a remarkable quality, one that many rulers of nations aspired to.
He never constrained their freedom, nor did he express a desire for them to disperse across various regions instead of converging in the capital.
All these were their own thoughts and actions, free from any directive or influence from Howard.
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