The atmosphere inside the hut grew cold as if frozen by the strong warning of the 'brave wolf'.
"...."
The Abnaki confederacy chieftains were now as silent as mice, unable to even make excuses. They felt it too. That what the 'brave wolf' said was not a lie, but the truth.
Just a moment ago, the 'Roaring Thunder' who had been as angry as fire glanced at the 'Brave Wolf' and took a look.
'It's scarier to speak calmly rather than get angry.'
'Roaring Thunder' looked at the 'Brave Wolf' who still radiated cold air and vowed to himself again and again that he would never dare to rebel or disobey him again.
At that moment, 'The Sand Being Washed Away' spoke with a stern expression.
"Half a day… I understand what you mean. I don't think it's something I should talk about right now, and it's not something I can decide on my own, so I'll discuss it with the chiefs and come back."
The 'brave wolf' stood up from his seat, still with an indifferent expression.
"I look forward to hearing good news."
A deep sigh was heard among the chieftains of the Abnaki confederation, and the 'Brave Wolf' and 'Sun of the Sky' people left the negotiating table first.
The remaining Abnaki confederation chieftains at the negotiating table looked at the 'grains of sand being washed away' with worried eyes.
"The negotiations we had planned seem like a pipe dream."
"What are you going to do now?"
'A Grain of Sand Washed Away' couldn't answer easily as his mind was complicated as he considered various cases.
"Let's go back to the garrison and talk."
* * *
The half-day that the 'Brave Wolf' had promised the Abnaki Federation was less than an hour away. The warriors of the 'Sun of the Sky' were ready to storm the Abnaki Federation garrison at the first sign of the order from the head of the Ministry of National Defense, the 'Brave Wolf'.
"Get in formation!"
"Check the fire in the furnace again!"
"Make sure to have plenty of arrows!"
"The infantry are waiting with shields and swords."
"Is the ladder ready?"
Even from the citadel across the river, the 'Unbroken Mountain' and four hundred warriors came out and prepared to support the attack from the rear.
Meanwhile, the 'Brave Wolf' inside the barracks was holding a strategy meeting with 'Roaring Thunder' and the white generals, fully armed.
"I think it would be a good idea to set fire to the fire arrows in the north and then attack from the west."
"In any case, the 'Unbroken Mountain' unit is guarding the southern part of the back gate like an iron wall, so it will not be easy to send the Abnaki Federation warriors elsewhere."
As if they did not tolerate even the smallest mistake, the 'Brave Wolf' continued to hold strategy meetings and meticulously checked everything in order to achieve a perfect victory.
'Roaring Thunder', who attended the operational meeting, spoke with a very tired expression, as if he was tired of 'Brave Wolf's' meticulousness.
"Sir! I'm getting tired of these meetings."
Clang! Clang!
When the fierce gaze of the 'Brave Wolf' turned towards him, 'Roaring Thunder' looked startled and awkwardly smiled, quickly turning his head away.
"Poohahahahaha! I'll be the vanguard, so make sure you have plenty of fire arrows ready."
At that moment, a warrior entered the temporary barracks.
"Chief! The chieftains of the Abnaki League are waiting for you at the negotiating table."
"You came just in time."
'Brave Wolf' stood up and gave instructions to 'Roaring Thunder'.
"If negotiations fail, we will immediately attack the Abnaki Federation garrison."
"Yes, sir!"
As the 'Brave Wolf' left the barracks, 'Roaring Thunder' breathed a sigh of relief.
"Anyway, this snout is the problem. I have to be careful from now on."
After a while, the warriors of 'Brave Wolf' and 'Sun of the Sky' appeared at the negotiating table. The 'Brave Wolf', sitting across from the Abnaki League's chieftains, spoke first.
"Now, let's hear what decision was made."
'The Sand That Washes Away' exchanged glances with the other Abnaki Federation chieftains, nodded, and then got straight to the point.
.
"If our Abnaki Confederation surrenders, will we be granted autonomy like the other tribes entered the 'Sun in the Sky'?"
"This is a different situation, so we won't be granting autonomy right away."
In fact, the Avnaki League was well aware of the conditions, procedures, and obligations for the 'Sun of the Sky' to join.
"then?"
"In return for their defeat in the war, the Abnaki people will undergo several years of forced labor and then, in due course, gain autonomy."
Although it is called autonomy, in reality it will be managed by the central administration. 'A Grain of Sand Washed Away' nodded his head repeatedly, lost in thought for a moment.
"Very well. As a condition for the surrender of our Abnaki Confederation, we will accept one year of forced labor and give you autonomy. If you do that, we will actively persuade the tribes and village chieftains of the Abnaki Confederation."
'Brave Wolf' had no idea that the Abnaki Federation would come up with a negotiation proposal like this.
"One year…."
Although he had been entrusted with full authority to conquer and negotiate with the Abnaki League by His Majesty the Emperor, the 'Brave Wolf' still pondered with a cautious expression.
Although the southern part of the Abnaki confederacy was said to have been conquered, there was still two-thirds of the land left to be conquered.
Can you conquer the tribes in that area without fighting a single battle? Honestly, it was a very attractive offer. After much deliberation, 'Brave Wolf' finally came to a conclusion.
"Okay, let's do that."
Only then did the 'Washing Sand' and the Abnaki League chieftains loosen their anxious expressions.
"Thank you for accepting our terms."
"We will disarm our soldiers as soon as we return to our bases."
The 'brave wolf' also did not remain silent and spoke politely.
"I hope that we can cooperate smoothly without any major problems in the future."
* * *
The next day. Disarmed Illinois Confederate warriors emerged from their camp one by one. There were nearly a thousand prisoners, including wounded.
"This is the Mohegan Tribe!"
"The Wampanoag tribe, this way."
The captured Illinois Confederate soldiers were dispersed to various regions and forced into labor to prevent them from forming factions or rebelling.
The Mohawk tribe, the Queli Phi tribe, the Mohegan tribe, the Pequot tribe, and the Wampanoag tribe. In particular, many captured Illinois Confederate warriors were stationed in the Nanticoke tribal territory where the ports and shipyards were built.
"Please take good care of the prisoners."
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
The 'Brave Wolf' successfully completed the final handover and, escorted by the 'Unbroken Mountain', turned to conquer the northern region of the Abnaki Federation.
"The war is not over yet. The war will only end when the last remaining Abnaki Confederation tribe is conquered. Then, let us enjoy the victory of the war to our heart's content."
After receiving the surrender of the Avnaki Federation, the Brave Wolf shouted again as he straightened up the slightly disoriented and disorganized warriors of the 'Sun of the Sky'.
"Let's go!"
* * *
A town south of the Illinois Confederacy, a stronghold of the 'Sun of the Sky'. The Illinois Confederate tribesmen, brought in from the villages that had conquered the southern region, were busily building a wall under the control of the 'Sun of the Sky' warriors.
"There is a shortage of sand and water."
"Put the bricks here."
A short while later, at lunchtime, the Illinois Confederated Tribe members excitedly flocked to a number of tents.
"What kind of food will be served today?"
"I wish we had some turkey for the first time in a while."
Usually one meal a day, two at most. However, 'The Sun in the Sky' provided three meals a day while making people work.
Moreover, the amount of food served was enough to fill one's stomach. Is that why? Even the occasionally discontented and rebellious Illinois Confederates were now following the orders of the 'Sun in the Sky' warriors.
While the Illinois League people were having their lunch break, a very dark cloud of dust rose in the distance. The 'Sun of the Sky' warriors standing guard on the watchtower shouted with joyful expressions.
"These are the warriors of the Royal Guard!"
"His Majesty the Emperor has returned!"
After a while, I arrived at the base village with the Kaokia tribesmen and gave instructions to 'Heavy Snowstorm'.
"Thank you for your hard work. After finishing the handover of the Kaokia tribe, let the Royal Guard warriors rest for today."
"Understood, Your Majesty! Then, are you planning to set out for the stronghold village in District 2 tomorrow as planned?"
"That's right."
"Then, I will prepare for the expedition separately."
As soon as my permission was granted, 'Heavy Snowstorm' quickly moved around, giving orders to the guard warriors.
I turned around and walked towards the recently built village hall, looking around. In a matter of days, the stronghold village was rapidly developing with new buildings being constructed.
The current population of this village was approaching six thousand. Once the fortified inner city was built, construction would continue on to the outer city, where the Illinois Confederates would reside.
"It's going smoothly."
A brief impression The moment I entered the town hall, I saw a guardsman arguing with the 'Far-off River' in the building on the right.
"Why is it in the shape of the letter 'ㄱ'?"
"What is the principle of this letter?"
As they returned to the base village, the bodyguard warrior who had been assigned to teach Hangul to the 'long-travelling river' became angry with a face that looked like it had burst out in anger.
"Does that matter? Why do you keep nagging me? Just stop nagging and learn."
"I'm sorry. I'm the type of person who can't stand to be curious… I became curious about the principles of how the divine text was created, so I kept asking questions without realizing it."
The 'river that goes around far' looked very timid and pitiful.
'You seem to have a lot of curiosity about various things, so you have the makings of a scholar.'
I entered the town hall, giving him a rather positive evaluation. After a while, without even being able to rest properly, I sang 'Ferocious Wolf' and 'Sharp Antlers'.
"Ferocious wolf! How many villages are currently under threat?"
Warriors from the Shawnee and Susquehannock tribes were arriving, waiting to fortify the next stronghold they would conquer.
And the Illinois Confederate towns that had not yet been conquered continued to gather information and decide on a schedule for where and how to attack.
"It seems like there are some warriors in the four villages."
The Illinois Confederacy, having suffered a major defeat at the hands of our warriors in the villages of 'Claw' and 'Corn', is bound to have a vacuum in its warrior strength.
I looked at the map and gave instructions to the two warriors.
"I would like to conquer the Illinois Confederacy within a month before fall comes. Is that possible?"
'Sharp Antlers' answered without hesitation.
"It is quite possible, Your Majesty! If we divide the guard into three units and conquer the Illinois Confederate towns that pose a threat first, we can conquer the other towns through threats and persuasion."
Up until now, I have led three thousand warriors of the Royal Guard and conquered villages large and small, but it was simply a waste of manpower and time.
And the population of the Illinois Federation, as determined by the Office of the Inspector General, is just over twenty thousand.
Even though it had a territory 1.5 times that of the Korean Peninsula, its population was ridiculously small. Anyway, I knew the location of each village of the Illinois Confederacy.
In any case, it was necessary to modify the strategy to suit the current situation.
"Three units… Okay. Then, let's quickly conquer the remaining three Illinois Confederate districts with three units of the Royal Guard."
"Understood, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
'Ferocious Wolf' and 'Sharp Antlers' answered forcefully.
* * *
The next day. In the stronghold village, the guardsmen split into three groups and quickly dispersed. Zone 2 was taken over by the 'Ferocious Wolf' unit, Zone 3 was taken over by the 'Sharp Antlers' unit, and the last Zone 4 was taken over by me.
Knock knock! Knock knock! Knock knock!
A thousand warriors of the Royal Guard followed me, riding buffalos and galloping at full speed.
"Since the bet is on, we can't afford to fall behind the other SS warriors. Let's go!"