As the representative of the Iroquois Confederacy answered with a sincere expression, the 'Washing Sand' snorted with a suspicious look, as if he found it a little bewildering.
"Are you serious about that? We've heard rumors, too. The Iroquois Confederacy is said to have attempted to assassinate the Emperor of the Sun in the Sky. Unless you're an idiot, there's no reason for our Abnaki Confederacy to be involved in that war."
"That is a complete misunderstanding. And it is a one-sided claim on the part of the Sun of Heaven."
"hmm!"
As if they had anticipated the rebuttal from the Penacook chief, the Iroquois Confederates began to explain calmly.
"Chief, don't you know the current situation of the 'Sun of the Sky'? The 'Sun of the Sky' centered around the Lenape tribe is rapidly expanding its territory by uniting or subjugating the surrounding tribes."
"Just by looking at this, I think the Great Chief can sufficiently guess the ambition of the 'Sun in the Sky.' In addition, the Mohawk tribe is said to have attempted to assassinate their emperor, and the 'Sun in the Sky' side has not presented any evidence and is simply pointing the finger at our Iroquois Confederacy as the culprit and demanding compensation."
"Not only that. We are trying to negotiate peacefully to resolve this issue, but the 'Sun in the Sky' side is deliberately dragging their feet as if their goal is war."
All the Penacook elders in the large hut, including the "Washing Sand", nodded their heads repeatedly at the factual story told by the Iroquois.
"The Abnaki Confederacy may refuse our request for help, but if the 'Sun in the Sky' conquers our Iroquois Confederacy, where will they go next? In my personal opinion, I don't think the Sun in the Sky's ambitions will end here."
"...."
For a moment, a heavy silence fell over the large hut. The tribes belonging to the Abnaki Confederacy, as well as the chieftain of the Penacuk tribe, 'The Washing Sand', were very wary of the territorial expansion of the 'Sun in the Sky'.
No, the reason the Abnaki Confederacy was formed in the first place was because of the 'Sun in the Sky' and the Iroquois Confederacy.
'A Grain of Sand Washed Away' was lost in deep thought, repeatedly moving the hand on her thigh.
'That makes sense in its own way.'
These days, the 'sun in the sky' is becoming so rich that it's scary. Even so, there was no particular reason to participate in this war.
The Penacuk chieftain, who had gathered his thoughts to some extent, broke the silence inside the large hut and opened his mouth with difficulty.
"It doesn't seem like something our Penacuk tribe decided on its own. There's a meeting of the tribes that belong to the confederation in two days, so I'd like you to wait until then for an answer."
With little time left to declare war, the Iroquois Confederacy was in a hurry.
"Of course. By the way, the Illinois Confederacy, a confederation of prairie tribes, also saw the ambitions of the 'Sun in the Sky' and thought it was very serious, so they decided to fight alongside our Iroquois Confederacy."
A representative of the Iroquois Confederacy brought up a story that had not yet been confirmed. Of course, people went, led by the Mohawk chief, to negotiate with the Illinois Confederacy, a confederation of tribes on the plains.
"Illinois Federation?"
When the Penacook chief tilted his head and asked if he had ever heard of the confederacy, the representative of the Iroquois Confederacy gave a brief explanation of the Illinois Confederacy.
"You may not be familiar with the tribes of the central plains, beyond the 'mountains that divide the earth' on the easternmost tip. The Illinois Confederacy is a confederation of thirteen tribes, including the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, Peoria, and Tamaroa tribes."
When a tribe he knew appeared among them, 'The Grain of Sand Being Washed Away' nodded.
"I think I've heard of the Cahokia tribe."
"Yes. The Illinois Confederacy, to which that tribe belongs, has decided to join forces with our Iroquois Confederacy in the fight against the 'Sun in the Sky.'"
Without blinking an eye, the Iroquois representative, who was lying once again, nodded with a strange expression that he could not understand.
"The Illinois Federation… I see."
"If our three alliances join forces, we will be able to defeat the 'Sun in the Sky'."
"Hmm! I see what you mean."
'A Grain of Sand Washed Away' opened its mouth again, sorting out its complicated inner thoughts.
"By the way, if I'm going to persuade the chieftains of other tribes, I'll need some kind of suitable gift… I can't say it myself."
"Hahaha! We didn't just come here."
As the Iroquois leader smiled awkwardly and nodded to his companions, several people stood up and brought something.
"A small gift we brought for the chieftains of the Abnaki Confederacy."
The eyes of the 'grain of sand being washed away' who received the gift sparkled with greed.
"Is this a gray bear skin?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How did you get this precious leather?"
"With luck, we can trade with the tribes that live in the frozen lands to the north."
A total of twenty gray bear skins. A smile appeared on the face of 'The Sand That Washes Away', as if he was very pleased with the gift sent by the Iroquois Confederacy.
"And they brought out two hundred sacks of corn."
"Hahaha! The gray bear skin is fine, but why even something like that? Anyway, I'll try my best to persuade our alliance's chieftains in the best way possible."
"I just hope we can fight together against a common enemy, the sun in the sky."
The secret meeting in the large hut ended on a good note.
* * *
Three days had passed since the Iroquois men had been waiting in the Penacook village.
"I don't know why the meeting felt so long."
"I hope the results will be as good as the effort we put in."
"By the way, what happened to the Illinois Confederacy? The Mohawk chief must have had a hard time persuading them."
In the huts provided by the Penacook tribe, the Iroquois waited anxiously for the results of the Abnaki conference. Meanwhile, in the large hut, the tribes belonging to the Abnaki confederacy were engaged in a heated debate for two days.
"If we get involved in this war for no reason, our alliance may suffer great damage."
"Rather, how about going to war on the side of the 'Sun in the Sky', which has the justification of assassinating the Emperor?"
"You want to join the battle against the Sun in the Sky without asking for help from our Federation? Let's think about it and talk about it."
As various stories were being told, opinions were gradually coming together in the direction of not participating in this war.
At that time, the chieftain of the Penacuk tribe, 'Washing Sand', who led the formation of the Abnaki Confederacy, expressed his opinion with a sinister smile.
"Okay! How about this?"
"...."
Many chieftains and delegates of the Abnaki confederacy perked up their ears to hear his words.
"I think you have a good idea, but I'm curious."
"I will listen."
'The Sand That Washes Away' began to speak one by one about the things that had been organized in his head.
"First, let's help the Iroquois Confederacy. However…."
After a while, the atmosphere inside the large hut became cheerful.
"Hahaha! That's a really good idea."
"I wholeheartedly agree with that opinion."
"The cause is good and it will bring great benefits to our alliance."
'A Grain of Sand Washed Away' nodded and immediately summarized the meeting contents.
"Then, I will pass it unanimously."
* * *
In the large hut where the Abnaki League meeting had ended, the Iroquois League members stood with a tense look on their faces.
At that moment, 'The Washing Sand', who was sitting on the high seat and exchanging glances with the other Abnaki Federation chieftains, slowly opened his mouth.
"Let me ask you one thing. If we go to war with the Iroquois Confederacy and win, how will the territory of the 'Sun in the Sky' be divided?"
In response to that question, a representative of the Iroquois Confederacy stepped forward.
"The three federations, including the Illinois federation, will share the territory of the 'Sun in the Sky' equally."
"hmm!"
The chieftains of the Abnaki confederation, sitting side by side on either side of the 'Washing Sand', murmured among themselves, apparently dissatisfied with the answer.
As the atmosphere inside the large hut became increasingly tense, a representative of the Iroquois Confederacy hurriedly stepped in to extinguish the fire.
"Of course, that part can be adjusted later when the three federations meet separately and discuss it."
The 'grain of sand going to be washed away' who had been repeatedly touching his forehead clicked his tongue and said.
"Somehow it feels like our alliance is suffering a loss… Half of the territory?
"yes?"
The representative of the Iroquois people asked back with an expression of great bewilderment, as if he could not believe his own ears.
"If we win this war, I want half of the territory of the 'Sun in the Sky'. Otherwise, our alliance has no intention of participating in this war."
"That, that…."
'It's not something I can decide on my own.'
Those words almost came out. ortunately, however, the representative of the Iroquois Confederacy did not say those words out loud.
'Dirty bastards! Their greed is endless.'
The Iroquois representative, who had been secretly cursing the Abnaki Confederacy, regained his composure and, with a smiling face, tried to somehow lead this negotiation to success.
"Hahaha! I know what you mean. Alright. If you win this war, I will give you half of the territory of the 'Sun in the Sky'."
'A grain of sand being washed away' glared at him with suspicious eyes, wanting to make a proper agreement.
"I question your ability to make this decision. We want a clear answer in the form of the Iroquois Confederacy's token. Go. Bring me a necklace that symbolizes the Iroquois Confederacy. Then, we, the Abnaki Confederacy, will fight together with the Iroquois Confederacy against the 'Sun in the Sky.'"
The Iroquois men exchanged opinions for a moment, and then their representative spoke with a regretful expression.
"I wish we could decide right here, but… I understand. I will return and convey the Abnaki Alliance's wishes to the Great Chiefs."
"I hope you have good news. And tell your chiefs that I have received your gifts."
"…yes."
"You seem busy, so I won't be escorting you far. Take care."
* * *
A dense forest. Near the Penacuk tribal village, ten warriors from the 'Sun of the Sky' Intelligence and Surveillance Division were waiting in hiding.
At that moment, the 10th platoon leader discovered something and sent an urgent signal.
-The Iroquois Confederacy people come out.
A short time later, the Intelligence and Surveillance Corps warriors exchanged opinions as they watched the Iroquois people walk away from the village without even being escorted out by the Penacook tribesmen.
-Everyone's expression is not good?
-That's right. Didn't the negotiations with the Avnaki Federation go well?
-I'm dying of frustration because I don't know what kind of conversation the two alliances had in the village.
-Anyway, it is true that the Iroquois Confederacy visited the Abnaki Confederacy, so let's report it to our superiors quickly.
The Information Inspection Department's 10 soldiers quickly moved to clear the area of any traces and retreated.
* * *
The capital of the 'sun in the sky', a 'very big' city. The date is clearly displayed at the top of the map window. Summer of 1405.
In the training camp parade ground, fully armed warriors were listening to my speech.
"… … You are the warriors of the 'Sun of the Sky'! Trust in yourself and the warriors beside you. I, the son of God and warrior, will lead the way and conquer the Iroquois Confederacy!"
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Oh, and another cheer erupted among the rank-and-file warriors. All preparations for war are complete. I shouted in a voice full of majesty.
"All forces, advance!"