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Ch.04.04 Southern Gambit
By 1493 Ainxiou had his hand forced. What funds he did have were gone and with them his time to prepare. He would need to act fast if he were to ever restore the power of his house and excerpt full control over his kingdom again. And with this in mind he began to accelerate his plans as soon as possible.
He called a council with all the lords and nobles in the kingdom to be held in Axaa in spring of 1494, notably he required that all his nobles be there, a departure from prior language he had used in his addresses which struck a more polite tone.
The king would spend the winter performing last minute checks, planning out the coming campaign, and organizing his forces. He did not send further letters to the lords to see if they would meet with him. Instead he did his best to project nothing but strength and authority. He was king and anyone who did not attend his council would face the consequences.
By the time the snow melted and the country thawed a majority of the nobles and lords from the kingdom chose to attend the kings conference. Many having their curiosity piqued at the sudden shift in tone in the letters the king had sent them and wondering what game he was playing at.
Axaa was crowded with troops, many of them Japanese troops. All flying the kings banner. This further raised the interest of the nobles and they hurried to attend to the king in the recently completed royal palace at the heart of the city.
Ainxiou addressed his nobles in full battle dress. A further sign that war was coming. It is said that the king let his nobles speak amongst themselves for several minutes before he said anything to them directly, instead addressing his attendants.
But he did not let them wait very long before he announced that he planned to launch an invasion of the south. Capturing the rich Japanese lands beyond the kingdoms current borders and adding them to his own personal holdings. Any who did not support this war would be dealt with, their authority removed, and their lands seized. This done the king then left, leaving the stunned nobles to think over what had been said.
He called a council with all the lords and nobles in the kingdom to be held in Axaa in spring of 1494, notably he required that all his nobles be there, a departure from prior language he had used in his addresses which struck a more polite tone.
The king would spend the winter performing last minute checks, planning out the coming campaign, and organizing his forces. He did not send further letters to the lords to see if they would meet with him. Instead he did his best to project nothing but strength and authority. He was king and anyone who did not attend his council would face the consequences.
By the time the snow melted and the country thawed a majority of the nobles and lords from the kingdom chose to attend the kings conference. Many having their curiosity piqued at the sudden shift in tone in the letters the king had sent them and wondering what game he was playing at.
Axaa was crowded with troops, many of them Japanese troops. All flying the kings banner. This further raised the interest of the nobles and they hurried to attend to the king in the recently completed royal palace at the heart of the city.
Ainxiou addressed his nobles in full battle dress. A further sign that war was coming. It is said that the king let his nobles speak amongst themselves for several minutes before he said anything to them directly, instead addressing his attendants.
But he did not let them wait very long before he announced that he planned to launch an invasion of the south. Capturing the rich Japanese lands beyond the kingdoms current borders and adding them to his own personal holdings. Any who did not support this war would be dealt with, their authority removed, and their lands seized. This done the king then left, leaving the stunned nobles to think over what had been said.
- Count of Crisco
- Word Count: 380