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The Winter of Ambition: War for the Throne.

RUNPIGDUKE
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Synopsis
A beast named Ambition walks across the continent, devouring every hero who dares to embrace it. In just three short years, heroes and tyrants, villains and saints, schemers and dreamers—all have stepped onto this grand stage, burning bright before falling into silence. This is a world of intelligence, deceit, and power. No foolish villains. No godlike protagonists. Only men and women driven by desire, cutting down countless lives in pursuit of a single throne— to become the one and only Sovereign.
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Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: The Wind Through the Defile

The piercing chill of deep winter, like the roar of a savage beast, ruthlessly tore across the continent. In February of the year 1444 on the Continental Calendar, this cold was particularly bone-jarring.

The Divine Frostbreath Empire (神圣霜息帝国) and The Snow Wolf Kingdom (雪狼王国) —two names seemingly bound by the threads of fate, yet like sworn enemies predestined to clash—were once again reluctantly swept into ceaseless warfare during this frozen season. This marked the untold hundreds of times they had engaged in military conflict since the founding of their nations.

The inevitable consequence of this perpetual warfare was exhaustion, an endless fatigue; no one desired to continue, yet no one could cease.

A thousand years later, a detached observer might flippantly attribute the two nations' prolonged campaigns to mere "belligerence," dismissing it with a scornful chuckle. However, for every individual caught within the conflict—from the high-and-mighty monarchs and generals to the mercenary whose life was as cheap as grass—this war carried an unavoidable weight and deep helplessness.

The spark that reignited the flames of war this time was absurdly ridiculous, trivial, and full of despair: the winding Border River (界河) separating the two nations had solidified into a sheet of silver mirror due to the extreme cold. With the river frozen, the barrier was gone, and the previously distinct residents of the two countries clashed violently over the sparse fishing grounds atop the ice.

A petty dispute escalated into a storm of opposition. When the first drop of blood was shed, and the first life was harvested, the situation devolved into an irreversible tragedy.

To the soldiers of both nations who had to brave the fierce winds and march to war, this reason was a dark, cynical joke. Their hearts might have been filled with confusion and dissatisfaction, but military orders were absolute; personal feelings were insignificant before the cold machinery of war.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army (帝国军) was the third Imperial Prince, Dipper Aureus (北斗煜), a beloved son of Emperor Dipper Huǎng (皇帝北斗晃). At the age of twenty-six, he had already been bestowed the title The Winter Duke (寒公爵) and commanded the empire's military power. Though young in years, Dipper Aureus (北斗煜) was a seasoned veteran, a battle-hardened campaigner with abundant, glorious military achievements.

This was thanks, in no small part, to The Snow Wolf Kingdom (雪狼王国); the perennial conflict allowed the young prince to amass a wealth of experience and dazzling battle records.

Dipper Aureus (北斗煜) was not only distinguished in battle but also possessed compelling leadership charisma. His gaze was like a torch, keen and insightful, his brow noble and his demeanor heroic. He was tall, upright, and possessed an elegant bearing. All who witnessed his presence were sincerely convinced of his authority.

In an age that revered personal heroism, Dipper Aureus's (北斗煜) handsome appearance was undoubtedly a potent tool for commanding troops and rallying support. A good-looking face is always the best label.

However, the Imperial Army (帝国军) was currently at a disadvantage.

They were forced to set up camp deep within the low-lying Cold Well Gorge (冷井峡谷), like beasts trapped in a jar—an extremely unfavorable position. Such a plight worried even the experienced staff officers, who frequently emitted ominous sighs.

Dipper Aureus (北斗煜) maintained an unusual calm and composure. He stood steadily before the formation, his deep, ink-green eyes fixed upon the surrounding towering mountains, as if silently calculating a strategy to defeat the enemy, brewing a spectacular plan to turn the tide.

"What kind of offensive will the Royal Army (王国军) adopt...?"

The Winter Duke (寒公爵) Dipper Aureus's (北斗煜) staff officers discussed among themselves, but all shared a common anxiety. After all, this was a "dead ground" in military doctrine, a situation fraught with variables.

"Do you feel uneasy?" The Winter Duke (寒公爵) Dipper Aureus (北斗煜) asked the group of staff officers behind him.

A faint smile touched The Winter Duke's (寒公爵) lips. That smile was neither contemptuous mockery nor a forced pretense of calm, but a deep-seated certainty and confidence that held the power to reassure. This smile, like the warm sun of winter, dispersed the gloom hanging over the staff officers, easing their palpable anxiety somewhat.

"We follow Your Grace, conquering battlefields and sweeping all before us. What is there to fear from the enemy rebels of the Kingdom! There is absolutely no reason for us to lose this battle!"

The staff officers straightened their chests, forcefully and clearly expressing their immense trust and resolve. These words were imbued with a near-blind adoration for The Winter Duke (寒公爵), also reflecting the high morale of the Imperial Army (帝国军).

No sooner had the words been spoken than a clear, resonant horn blast abruptly shattered the tranquility of the gorge. The sound was stirring and high-pitched, vibrating eardrums like a clap of thunder, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the battlefield.

The gentle smile on Dipper Aureus's (北斗煜) face vanished, replaced by a killing intent as sharp as ice. A fierce light flared in his eyes, and a sharp fighting spirit surged out like a broken dam, filling every inch of space around him.

Silent and majestic, he decisively wheeled his horse around and, transforming into a gust of wind, flew past the disciplined ranks of waiting soldiers with the speed of lightning.

"Aureus! Aureus! Aureus!"

The earth-shaking cheers of the soldiers, like a mountain roar and a sea wave, reverberated through Cold Well Gorge (冷井峡谷). The fervent adoration in their passion was so intense, so blazing, that it far surpassed the customary three-times-ten-thousand-years salute given to the Imperial Emperor. The bitter cold of winter, the treacherous terrain, and the perilous environment had not diminished the soldiers' fighting will; instead, they ignited the courage and spirit deep within their hearts.

In this icy, snowy expanse, every advance or retreat was fraught with the threat of avalanches for both sides. Fortunately, Cold Well Gorge (冷井峡谷) was positioned at a defile, where the howling winds swept away the heavy snowfall, leaving much less snow than in other areas. The narrow mouth where the two peaks met was the birthplace of the wind, and the wind shear here was far more violent than elsewhere; the wind here could cut a man's throat.

The torrent of cheers from the Imperial Army (帝国军), riding on the severe arctic wind, spiraled furiously up the steep, craggy slopes of the gorge like an unbridled horse. It pierced the solemn silence of deep winter and clearly reached the ears of the Royal Army (王国军), which occupied the commanding high ground.

The Royal Army (王国军) had established a continuous line of fortified camps along the mountain slopes. Within the main command tent, a humble, simple canvas tent, the yellow light of an oil lamp illuminated a tough, weathered figure: Bā Hàorán (巴浩然), the veteran General of the Royal Army (王国军).

General Bā Hàorán (巴浩然) was already old enough to be a grandfather. A lifetime of military service had etched intricate lines of frost and wind onto his face, and countless glorious medals covered his body beneath his uniform. His once firm jaw had begun to sag, and his beard had lost its luster, yet the light in his eyes still flickered, sharp and incomparable, like that of a young, hungry wolf.

When the impassioned shouts of the Imperial Army (帝国军) surged up from below, the old general Bā (巴) instead revealed an understanding smile, shaking his head slightly.

"Why is the old general smiling?"

Standing beside General Bā Hàorán (巴浩然) was the rising star of the Royal Army (王国军)—the young general Eisenhāo (艾森豪).

Eisenhāo (艾森豪) was clad in fluid, finely crafted silver armor, which gleamed with a cold metallic luster in the dim light, further enhancing his gallant and heroic bearing. His eyes were as sharp and luminous as a leopard's, with a cold, hard bronze sheen in their depths, indicating keen aggression. Yet, at this moment, the young, vigorous, and ambitious general was frowning, his expression solemn and perplexed. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze full of confusion and doubt.

"The Imperial Army (帝国军) is in a desperate situation, yet their morale is undiminished. Should we not be more cautious? Perhaps The Winter Duke (寒公爵) has a hidden reserve force?"

The tragic and defiant spirit of the Imperial Army (帝国军) to 'fight in a place of death to find life' seemed completely beyond his comprehension. He could not grasp by what conviction the Imperial soldiers, in such a desperate situation, could erupt into such earth-shattering cheers.

Young Eisenhāo (艾森豪) possessed exceptional courage, superb martial arts, and a passionate desire to serve the Kingdom, but he lacked the strategic vision refined by years of experience and the profound insight into morale and human spirit that was crucial to winning wars, as General Bā Hàorán (巴浩然) evaluated him.

"Hmph, these foolish fellows of the Imperial Army (帝国军) are laughably naive! Do they truly believe that a few shouts of The Winter Duke's (寒公爵) name can conjure a reversal of this obvious topographical disadvantage, and make up for their fatal strategic blunder? Utter fantasy, a fool's dream!"

"War is not fought this way. No matter how high the morale, it cannot overturn a sure defeat. The external environment dictates that the Imperial Army (帝国军) will suffer a massive loss in this battle. I don't know what strange maneuver The Winter Duke (寒公爵) has, I only know that the force of a charge from high ground is always greater."

"Even if there is a surprise force, so what? We just crush them."

The Royal Army's (王国军) had seven supreme commanders known as The Seven Leopard Generals (七豹将军). The most crucial posts in the Kingdom—Commander of the Expeditionary Force, Commander of Capital Defense, Commander of the Royal Guard Corps, or Supreme Marshal of the National Army—were all filled by these seven.

The current Royal Army (王国军) Expeditionary Force was commanded by this pairing of one old and one young general.

Eisenhāo (艾森豪) was twenty-four years old. His most striking feature was a long, thin scar stretching across his porcelain-white right cheek, winding from his sideburn to his jawline. Whenever his emotions ran high, the scar would rise and turn vividly red, like a brand. At this moment, though Eisenhāo (艾森豪) nodded and echoed the old general's laughter, his expression was somewhat incomprehensible, and he gazed reflectively toward the Imperial Army's (帝国军) formation in the distance.

If The Winter Duke (寒公爵) were that simple, he wouldn't have kept the Royal Army (王国军) suffering defeats all these years.

The positioning of both sides was complete. The Imperial Army's (帝国军) geographical disadvantage was obvious; anyone could predict the outcome of this battle.

The sun was high. Justice from the heavens was due; it was time to put an end to The Winter Duke's (寒公爵) myth.

The Royal Army (王国军), occupying the high ground, naturally initiated the offensive. They opened the war with the most conventional move: tens of thousands of arrows, unleashed by the archers on high ground, rained down, blackening the sky. The Imperial Army (帝国军) had no ability to resist other than raising their shields. Fortunately, the shields used by the Imperial Army (帝国军) were large square shields that could shelter a man. By forming a tortoise formation, they were able to withstand the assault of the arrows.

However, merely blocking arrows was no path to victory. The main force and archers of the Royal Army (王国军) advanced step by step, while the infantry tortoise formation of the Imperial Army (帝国军) retreated in the opposite direction.

Yet, a peculiarity was noted: the heavy infantry, who should have been clad in heavy armor, were only wearing light armor or even just padded cotton coats for warmth. Apart from their large shields, they had nothing that could be considered heavy equipment.

When the Royal Army (王国军) approached the Imperial Army (帝国军), entering the range suitable for a cavalry charge, Bā Hàorán (巴浩然) decisively gave the order.

"Attack! Cavalry charge! Cut open these useless tortoise formations and pull the turtles' heads out to be severed!"

The heavy cavalry, the elite crack force of the Royal Army (王国军) used to break formations, was even more lethal in this two-flank-restricted environment. As long as they pierced the Imperial Army's (帝国军) first line, the wave would sweep over line after line, causing the Imperial Army (帝国军) to collapse under its own human tide. Once the first formation broke, the rest would follow like an avalanche.

The heavy cavalry of The Snow Wolf Kingdom (雪狼王国), a force of three thousand, was the elite of the elite. Only the sons of nobles could be selected, having received a complete warrior's education since childhood. Equipped with the finest gear and possessing the highest martial skills, they were the Kingdom's pride.

Committing this force at the start of the battle was General Bā Hàorán's (巴浩然) calculated move, seeing that the Imperial Army (帝国军) had no other choice. With insufficient space to deploy their forces, and under the suppression of arrows from above, the infantry could only huddle together in a cluster. They had defended against the arrows, but they were completely defenseless against the shock of heavy cavalry.

"Charge! Accelerate the charge! Ram your long spears into these turtle shells!"

With the cavalry's superb horsemanship, the long spears of the heavy cavalry could still pierce the gaps in the tortoise formation even at high speed. Under the momentum of the charge, the spears even ran through the wooden shields, stringing two men together.

The tortoise formation, seemingly devastated by the heavy cavalry, indeed suffered heavy casualties. As expected, the Imperial Army's (帝国军) first formation broke and fled.

The soldiers of the Imperial Army's (帝国军) first formation abandoned all their shields and were seen without weapons in their hands, running backward like a large group of fleeing peasants.

"Infantry formation, follow up and advance! Protect the cavalry!"

Bā Hàorán (巴浩然) ordered the subsequent infantry to launch a full-scale advance. This main thrust was personally commanded by General Eisenhāo (艾森豪). If successful, this battle would completely force the Imperial Army (帝国军) out of the field.

However, when the Royal (王国) heavy cavalry broke through the Imperial (帝国) second formation, causing it to scatter like the first, and charged toward the third formation, they encountered an unexpected trap.

Pits, deep enough for two men, were covered with branches and straw. A night of snowfall had turned the area into a perfect minefield. The heavy cavalry plunged into the holes, horses breaking legs and warriors snapping necks. The pride of the Kingdom now turned into wails of agony.

The soldiers from the two previously broken Imperial (帝国) formations retreated only a short distance before flipping out weapons and new shields that had been hidden in the snow. They had no time to don armor, but they rearmed and reformed. They simultaneously blocked the advancing infantry and joined forces with the third formation to slaughter the remaining heavy cavalry.

The loss of this valuable heavy cavalry was the Royal Army's (王国军) most devastating blow. The clash between infantry and infantry was merely a mutual waste of life. Therefore, General Eisenhāo (艾森豪) concluded that the battle had lost its chance for victory and that it was time to retreat. There was no need to get caught in a meat grinder; after all, the Imperial side had a larger population and could afford the attrition, while the Kingdom did not have the means to sustain such losses.

However, going down the mountain was easy, and climbing back up was difficult, especially when facing an enemy pursuit—it was even harder.

General Eisenhāo (艾森豪) personally led his personal guard to cover the retreat and halt the Imperial Army's (帝国军) pursuit. Yet, how could the Imperial Army (帝国军) miss such an opportunity? The lightly equipped Imperial soldiers found climbing the mountain much easier than the fully armored Royal (王国) soldiers. When General Eisenhāo (艾森豪) was shot down from his horse and killed by an arrow from The Winter Duke (寒公爵), the reverse tide surging up the mountain from below became unstoppable.

End of 1-1.