A weary historian dies and finds himself in a different world awakened in a life as the notorious young Duke of a southern state. His nation is weakened, his army underfed, and his neighbors revolve around his lands menacingly. No one believes his land is going to hold out until winter.

But this newfound duke is no naive simpleton his enemies recollect. He carries with him the experience of centuries of war and empire, of starting and ending monarchies. From Caesar to Napoleon, from the Mongols to world wars, he has learned from each of them—and his strategy is to make history his very own arms.

He organizes his smashed levies into well-trained formations, rebuilds his castles, and turns his villages into supply centers. Where others see defeat, he senses opportunity. As he triumphs, rumors spread: of a pennant red as winter snow that shall not go to ground, of a bloody duke who writes his name in gore and flame.

Is he a savior who's constructing a new empire, or a tyrant who's going to bring the world to endless war?

"There have been sightings of a huge army currently on the north of the border; some of the scouts even reported that a few cavalrymen had entered the duke's domain."


"They're all bearing the flags of Arethrus, it means their planning a war."


"Not only that, with the information we have right now, we have all the reason to suspect this is a war that is waiting to happen."


Bjorn's council began bickering and debating, each expressing their opinions and stance on the current situation.


The army stationed there was large, and not only that, it was highly prepared, with most of its ranks completely outclassing the Thirell Duchy's equipment.


It was an army they were all familiar with; everyone in the kingdom was. It was Marquis Raven's signature force, one that he had led over countless campaigns over the years.


There was no mistaking it; it was a force that planned to completely overwhelm the duchy and invade it.


Chapter 89 - Vesuvian