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?

*** Northern Front – The Frozen Fields of Ilden ***


A thousand torches flickered in the white haze, their flames fighting to stay alive against the cutting wind. Beneath them, men moved, tired, hungry, desperate, their armor patched with leather and mismatched steel.


Specifically, the cheaper ones, men perfect for razing and causing chaos.


Thirty banners, none the same, all marching under a hope that reinforcements will come.


"Keep the pace! Once their formation breaks!" the commander shouted, voice hoarse, frost collecting in his beard. "We strike!"


The ground trembled under the distant creak of siege machines. From the enemy encampment beyond the ridge, the faint orange glow of firelight painted the snow in sickly color. Drums echoed, the rhythm of Arethrusian zeal.


They didn't know they were walking into their graves.


"The enemy's returning fire with arrows!"


Chapter 91 - Elberich