Towards the Present We Go, Langobards AAR (The Steppe Wolf MOD)

[blklizard]

History of Kangju

Chapter 217 (The Beginning)

Many small tribes settled in central Asia. They settled in a region that would be known as Kangju today but, at the time, it was only a loose collection of tribes. There was no identity to unify these people which has been the case for milleniums. The people of these tribes lived simple lives and were content with their lives. Few conflicts arose between the tribes since there were plenty of food for everyone. However, the region would go through major changes as the local climate become colder and drier. The once abundant resources were becoming more scarce forcing the tribes to migrate around the region so that they wouldn't deplete the few pastures. As the tribes moved about, conflicts would inevitably arise as the tribes fought for control of the pastures which dictated their survival. The stronger tribes would survive while those in the weaker tribes were either assimilated into the stronger tribes or simply die off from starvation or battles. It was a cruel world in the steppes where only the fittest can survive. In 8 AD, three dominant tribal confederations would form following decades of conflicts. The three tribal confederations were: the Kangjus, the Yuezhi and the Dayuan. The three tribal confederations have survived the many conflicts and were, more or less, equal in strength. The chiefs of the tribal confederations must fight it out knowing that the region couldn't sustain the people of all three tribal confederations. The conflict to decide the rightful owner of the region would be known as the Tribal War.

The objective was simple for the three tribal confederations as they attempted to defeat and oust the other two tribes from the region. With survival on the line, there was no other options but bloodshed. As mentioned earlier, their strengths were relatively equal meaning that it took time for a victor to arise. However, the chiefs of the Kangjus and Yuezhi would form a secret alliance against the Dayuan. Against the two tribal confederations, the people of Dayuan stood little chance seeing their people slaughtered and homes destroyed. Those that escaped the slaughter would die from the winter with no food and little protection from the harsh elements. With Dayuan eliminated, the alliance between the two tribal confederations would be dissolved as the two chiefs were at each other's throat. The two sides fought many bloody battles resulting in heavy casualties for both sides. In one decisive battle called the Battle of Aralsk, the Yuezhi chief was killed in battle. The loss of would serve as the turning point for the Kangjus who took advantage of weakened leadership within their enemy. The new chief of the Yuezhi was forced to lead his people in the southeast direction to form the Kushans nation. The Kangjus were victorious in the Tribal War seeing them the undisputed power in the region. They would form the nation of Kangju in 10 AD with the leader of the Kangjus known as the Khan. The Kangjus seemed unified but the peace was only an illusion.

Following the defeat of the Yuezhi, some of the powerful tribes within Kangju rose up against the Khan. The leaders of these smaller tribes were discontent with the new ruler and were convinced that another man should be the Khan. Thus, the first Kangju Civil War began as a split occurred within the nation. The Khan would, through many difficult battles, come out victorious against the pretender and his followers. All those that rebelled against him were ousted to neighboring lands where few would survive past a month. The Khan may have became victorious but the civil war has greatly weakened his nation. In the southwest, the nation of Khwarezm broke free during the conflict and, in her weakened form, Kangju didn't have the ability to retake the territory. In the east, the Xiongnu has taken over some of Kangju territory and the Kangju Khan knew that the Xiongnu Chanyu had every intention of expanding further west in Kangju territory. Despite being weakened by the civil war and losing land in the process, the Khan was determined to defeat all invaders. In 11 AD, Kangju was faced with Xiongnu in the east, Kushan in the southeast and Khwarezm in the southwest. As for the Magyars in the west, the Khan of the nation seemed more interested expanding westwards than eastward which meant that western border of Kangju was, for the time being, safe. As though Tengri was blessing the Khan of Kangju, the years following 11 AD would bring milder and wetter climate to the Kangju nation which would have a great impact on future Kangju expansions.

Kangju (11 AD)

 

[blklizard]

Do note that I don't have any screenshots until 700 AD so please bear with me on lack of pictures. Thank you!

History of Kangju

Chapter 218 (The Great Expansion [Part 1])

Milder and wetter climates would have unforeseen impact on Kangju. There was a rapid increase of livestock and war horses allowing the Kangju military to nearly quadruple in a year. Their sudden increase in military strength would catch many of their neighbors off guard. The Kangju would first reclaim their former territory from Khwarezm which stood little chance against the new dominant power in the region. The ruling class of the Khwarezm was brutally murdered as the Kangju Khan hoped to warn those that dared to oppose him in the future. Following the brief war against the Khwarezm, the Kangju would invade Kushans who didn't anticipate the war. The swift movement of Kangju forces had the Kushans people capitulated only days after the declaration of war. The acquisition of new lands would give the Khan confidence to challenge the might of the Chanyu who dared to attack Kangju when she was the weakest. Xiongnu was, at the time, fighting a war with the Chinese nation of Han with neither side winning any decisive battles. Thus, the Khan's declaration of war caught the Xiongnu at the worst possible timing. By riding through Xiongnu territory literally unopposed, the Kangju war machine occupied a third of Xiongnu within a few months which was an unthinkable task. The Chanyu, faced with the prospect of annihilation, agreed to cede most of his territory while offering tributes to Kangju to preserve his titles and some land. The Khan, not in the mood to overextend his nation into the east, agreed as the Kangju became the undisputed power of the steppes with no single nation that could challenge her might. The Khan would stabilize his new realm until he passed away in 75 AD leaving his son as the second Khan.

The second Khan was equally ambitious as his father and wished to be remembered for his conquests as well. However, the north basically belonged to the Kangju leaving nothing left to conquer. However, the Khan learned of lands in the south that had wealth and large populations. The stories claimed that these people settle down in one location that was either a village or a town and the people relied on growing food from the ground. Upon hearing the stories, the second Khan became curious of these new lands so he and some of his subjects headed south to explore these lands. With his escorts, the second Khan went to the south and explored a large empire called Parthia. The sights amazed the second Khan as he saw many things he thought humans weren't capable of. Unfortunately, disaster would strike when an uprising occurred in the region where the second Khan was exploring and, during one battle, he was caught in the crossfire resulting in him being mortally wounded. His escorts tried their best to get him home but he breathed his last breath during the journey. His escorts eventually returned to the Kangju capital where they brought back the news of the second Khan's death. The second Khan was buried just within the Kangju border since his escorts knew that he wouldn't approve being buried in foreign lands. When asked about the cause of death, the escorts mentioned the battle in Parthia they were caught in. While they couldn't determine who was the culprit, the third Khan, the son of the previous Khan, would blame his father's death on Parthia and vow to avenge his father. There was also a story that claimed the second Khan wanted his son to conquer Parthia though little evidence was available to support the claim.

The third Khan was devastated by the loss of his father which saw him strike at Parthia the moment he felt he was ready. The first war between Parthia and Kangju ended in a draw as neither side could gain an edge. The Parthian Empire had an enormous manpower allowing them to field huge armies that made taking towns and cities very difficult for the nomads. The Parthian Emperor saw little sense to expand into the north which meant his forces remained inside friendly territory during the entire war. The war lasted a year with the third Khan realizing that his nation lacked the capabilities to even make a dent in Parthia which saw him searching for a different route. He would eventually decide upon attacking the nation of Pahlavas, a nation east of Parthia, to strengthen his nation further so that he may one day defeat Parthia. Pahlavas was a strong nation but they were significantly weaker than their Parthian counterpart. After a difficult war, much of Pahlavas was conquered by the Kangjus. However, there were many revolts that halted further Kangju expansion. To deal with these revolts, the third Khan took up cruel methods of massacring entire populations in villages and towns which helped struck fear in the local populace and ceased further rebellions. Putting down the rebellions and stabilizing the region did require a few decades until the death of the third Khan in 137 AD. His son would take over as the fourth Khan who would continue his father's dream of one day taking down Parthia. The fourth Khan would be the first Khan to enter the Indian Peninsula where he would make a name for himself in Kangju history.

 

[blklizard]

History of Kangju

Chapter 219 (The Great Expansion [Part 2])

The fourth Khan would rule over a more stabilized Kangju following his father's cruel methods to put down all rebellions. He would declare war on Sakas in 142 AD who was also at war with the rising Indian power, Satavahana. The war was in a stalemate between the two Indian nations until the Kangjus came knocking on their backdoor. With most of their forces along their eastern borders, the Sakas could do little to halt the advances of the Kangjus in the early stages. Faced with a new threat, Sakas forces were split between the two sides which severely weakened them on many levels. Sandwiched in the middle, Sakas would eventually crumble seeing them split between the two nations. Kangju took the northwestern half while Satavahana took the southeastern half in 150 AD. The fourth Khan had plans to attack Satavahana next on the assumption that Satavahana required time to fully recover from their long war with Sakas. Yet, an unexpected setback would occur at the Kangju-Parthian border putting the invasion on hold. An uprising in Parthia has failed seeing the rebel leader move across the border and occupy a few Kangju cities or towns. The fact that these cities or towns cut off the Kangju supply route to India posed a serious threat to the invasion which the fourth Khan cannot ignore. Thus, the fourth Khan was forced to deal with this minor inconvenience. However, the rebel leader proved to be a difficult enemy with his excellent tactics while defending in a city. The sieges would take two decades before the rebel leader died of disease resulting in his men surrendering. The fourth Khan would pass away soon after leaving Kangju to his son.

The fifth Khan would be facing a challenge the moment he rose to the throne. The Satavahana, after the twenty years of peace, has recovered resulting in them declaring war on the Kangju in 170 AD. The new Khan was fortunate that the rebels were dealt with before the war but he still faced unfavorable odds. Satavahana had massive armies given their large populations in India. In addition, Kangju spent time and resources putting down the rebels weakening them while the Satavahana grew stronger during that time. The fifth Khan would personally lead an army as his nation faced off against another Asian superpower. Kangju had considerably less men than the Satavahana which was definitely a major disadvantage for them. However, they, unlike the Indians, have mastered cavalry which has encountered no counters during the campaign in Sakas. The fifth Khan hoped the same could be said about the Satavahana and it proved to be correct. The mobility of the Kangju horsemen made the Kangju armies very difficult to catch. By staying at safe distances while they unloaded their arrows, the Indian soldiers would be slaughtered en mass while they couldn't even threaten the Kangju horsemen in any way. The Kangjus were winning small battles but their enemy was too numerous for them to achieve a decisive victory. In the end, the two nations agreed to a white peace in 200 AD. The fifth Khan was satisfied with the white peace considering many of his officers were doubtful such was even possible. The Khan earned respect from all his subjects but he would be tested once again soon.

In 210 AD, the fifth Khan would learn that the Magyars have decided to attack the Kangju. The Magyars have been meeting success in their western Campaigns seeing them crush all the major powers there. The Magyars Khan wasn't too happy with the progress he heard about the Kangjus. He felt that only one nomad nation can reign supreme which could only be the Magyars. This would be one of the greatest wars in world history as two rising nomad nations clash for supremacy. The victor would likely continue expansion with impunity while the loser would enter a decline. The two sides were quite evenly matched in numbers while both have proven to excel in cavalry. Numerous battles were fought but neither sides could get an edge. Their prolonged war would hurt both nations as their neighbors began to have ideas. In 228 AD, the rising European power, Langobards, declared war on the Magyars in an attempt to destroy the scourge. Initially, the Magyars Khan chose to ignore what he saw as a minor inconvenience. However, he vastly underestimated the Langobards which allowed the European nation to get an upper hand while the Romans were able to win a small victory. As for the Kangjus, Satavahana was knocking on their door once again forcing both nations to agree to a white peace in 230 AD as they dealt with more serious threats. The fifth Khan would die from an unfortunate accident as he rode to Kangju's eastern borders. The defense of the nomad nation would be left in the hands of his son in 231 AD.

 

[DKM]

Question - How long are you planning on making the story, not that I want it to end any time soon?

 

[blklizard]

Question - How long are you planning on making the story, not that I want it to end any time soon?

If you're talking about the History of Kangju, I'd say there's quite a bit of chapters left. I have to reach the year when they were annexed. If it doesn't seem that interesting, I apologize. I just wanted to include their history since Kangju did have a huge impact in the world history. As you read from the last chapter, they played a part in Langobards defeating the Magyars.

History of Kangju

Chapter 220 (The Great Expansion [Part 3])

The sixth Khan's ascension to his position was a hasty one as he must defend his nation against the Satavahana Empire. The war with the Magyars has yielded little for too high of a cost. Now, the weakened Kangju must face off against the Indian giant that has rebuilt its strength from the last war. However, the sixth Khan was what many Kangju elders called a warrior by birth. Unlike his other siblings, he showed great promise at the age of four and, by seven, he could rival most of the warriors in the Kangju army on horseback. He was always the favorite of the fifth Khan which resulted in him being named the next Khan. The sixth Khan not only had the skills and courage expected of a Kangju horsemen but he excelled at reading the battlefield finding the weak points of the enemy. His talent would soon play a pivotal role as the Khan's army defeated the Satavahana armies one after another. The heavy casualties were starting to hurt Satavahana to the point where their ruler was willing to peace out. However, the sixth Khan knew that such a peace would give his enemy time to recover so he refused the white peace. Once Satavahanan forces were repelled from Kangju soil, the sixth Khan would lead his warriors deep into enemy territory razing and looting whenever possible. The Satavahanan ruler soon realized he couldn't win the war and agreed to the peace deal from the sixth Khan in 241 AD seeing him ceding a large chunk of his empire along with a hefty reparation. The looting and reparation would help Kangju rebuild quickly from its previous two wars while the new land could bolster the ranks of the Kangjus while weakening the ranks of the Satavahanan armies.

The sixth Khan would wait patiently for a few years before he declared war on Satavahana. Knowing the Indian empire was still recovering, he chose to strike when they were still vulnerable. The sixth Khan's assessment of situation was quite accurate and the Satavahana struggled to halt the advances. This time, Kangju reached the Satavahanan capital where they would discuss the peace terms in 251 AD. The mighty empire would be dismantled seeing many smaller nations rise up. In addition, Kangju gained large tract of territory that provided them with complete control of northern India. The Satavahanan empire was no more than a medium power in the Indian Peninsula but Kangju would have her own problems. The sixth Khan died shortly after his victory over Satavanaha leaving his nation to his son. The seventh Khan couldn't match his father's achievements but he would make his mark during the Indian Rebellion. The unexpected death of the sixth Khan meant that he didn't have time to stabilize the region for his son. The people in the newly conquered territory rose up as they tried to overthrow their new overlords. The loyalties of these rebels weren't towards Satavahana but they were banded together by the hatred of Kangjus. The razing and looting of cities were still fresh in these people's minds resulting in them desiring the blood of their enemies. In the early stages, they were successful in occupying much of the region and ousting the ruling class sent by the sixth Khan. The rebels seemed also certain of gaining independence following two years of peace where no Kangju forces were spotted.

The seventh Khan was, at the time, busy with internal problems when one of his uncles rose up demanding the title of Khan from him. The Khan was forced to deal with their internal threat first which lasted for nearly two years due to his uncle rallying some support. In the end, the Khan captured his uncle in battle and unexpectedly freed him. The seventh Khan argued that his uncle would be more useful if he chose to serve his side. The act helped cement the relations between the Khan and his subjects who then prepared their march towards India. The rebels were growing complacent following the two years resulting in lowered alertness and they would pay dearly. The seventh Khan would lead his forces swiftly from cities to cities taking the rebel garrison completely by surprise. The mobility and decisiveness of the seventh Khan's army proved to be enough in handling all the rebels who were crushed almost instantly. The region was liberated from rebel occupation but the Khan wasn't done yet. He would round up the rebel leaders and those who were sympathetic for their cause before massacring all those that opposed him. The seventh Khan wanted to send a message and, for the next few decades, the method bore fruit as no rebellions rose up from the region. The seventh Khan died in 260 AD leaving his title to one of his brothers. The brutal suppression of the rebellion has brought about peace and stability to the region. Wealth and prosperity would soon follow helping to strengthen Kangju further on the world stage.

 

[DKM]

If you're talking about the History of Kangju, I'd say there's quite a bit of chapters left. I have to reach the year when they were annexed. If it doesn't seem that interesting, I apologize. I just wanted to include their history since Kangju did have a huge impact in the world history. As you read from the last chapter, they played a part in Langobards defeating the Magyars.

I find it interesting. However, my question was directed at the AAR as a whole. I'm not hoping it ends soon nor do I find it boring; I just saw that you ended the Timurids story and wondered if this one was next.

 

[blklizard]

I find it interesting. However, my question was directed at the AAR as a whole. I'm not hoping it ends soon nor do I find it boring; I just saw that you ended the Timurids story and wondered if this one was next.

This AAR has long ways to go assuming real life doesn't put it to a halt. I still have a millennium of gameplay with plenty of content to go through. Like I said, the History of Kangju would take awhile and it's not even part of the main storyline. I'm expecting this, in the best case scenario, to last at least two more years but we'll see. I've decided from the start this would be my biggest project. I want to cover a lot of topics so I can learn and have fun.

History of Kangju

Chapter 221 (The Great Expansion [Part 4])

The eighth Khan took his title when Kangju was the most stable. With a large treasury and large armies at his disposal, the eighth Khan declared war on the smaller nations that broke free from Satavahana. What the Khan assumed initially as easy conquest proved to be more difficult as the smaller nations banded together against the Kangjus. The people of these nations, having fought for their independence for decades, weren't going to give up their freedom without a fight. The fierce resistance would result in a white peace between them and Kangju as the eighth Khan learned that a greater threat that had its eye on Kangju territory. The new Parthian Emperor has declared war on Kangju for what he claimed to be his land. The sudden declaration of war put the Khan at a difficult position. The Parthian armies struck quickly at the Kushans region allowing them to effectively cut the nation of Kangju in half. While a large force was sent to hold off the Kangju armies, the main Parthian force was sent into the heart of Kangju where it was the least defended. By capturing the Kangju capital, Kyzylorda, they could force the Khan into a peace deal they dictated which was the Parthian Emperor's plan all alone to minimize his casualties. The eighth Khan pushed his army hard to return home but the Parthian holding force proved to be a difficult wall to break through. Soon, the Khan received a letter from one of his daughters claiming that they were held prisoner by Parthians. With no choice, the Khan agreed to the peace deal with the Parthians in 275 AD.

The peace deal saw the Kangju handing over the Kushans region to Parthia while the Kangju's Indian territories were all granted independence. The peace deal was a terrible blow for the Kangjus but the eighth Khan would soon suffer more. When he returned home, he learned that his wife and daughters were all raped by Parthian soldiers while his two sons were maimed. The horrific events sent the eighth Khan into a terrible rage as he vowed to destroy the Parthian Empire. Luckily, the Khan wasn't foolish enough to challenge the large empire when Kangju didn't stood much chance. However, he would use the large treasury he had to support rebels within Parthia. The Persians have been discontent with Parthian rule for several centuries. Their past uprisings may have failed but that hasn't stopped them from trying. The eighth Khan hoped his funds could allow the Persians to weaken the empire so that he may one day dismantle the empire personally. Sadly, the eighth Khan died in 300 AD leaving his title to a nephew due to his sons being maimed, thus seen as incapable. The ninth Khan, at the death bed of the eighth Khan, was forced to vow upon Tengri to bring about the destruction of Parthia. The new Khan would see his predecessor's efforts pay off as a massive Persian revolt in southern Parthia threaten the bring the empire to its knees. While Parthian forces were busy with the rebels, the ninth Khan used the opportunity to declare war. His primary goal was to retake the Kushans region but the Khan was determined to put the nail in the coffin of the Parthian Empire.

The Kushans region was liberated within a month before Kangju forces began pouring into Parthian soil. With the enemy distracted in the south, the Kangju armies made huge progress seeing them occupy the empire with little resistance. The combination of a massive revolt and a foreign invasion was too much for the Parthian Emperor, son of the emperor that declared war on Kangju, to handle. Thus, he, in 331 AD, granted the Persians their independence while returning the Kushans region to the Kangju along with some of their eastern provinces. The ninth Khan assumed that he needed another war to dismantle Parthia but he would eventually learn that a second war wasn't necessary. The Langobards, a nation in the west, have declared war on Parthia in 331 AD and their invasion was enough to destroy the empire. Satisfied that he has accomplished the task left by his uncle, the ninth Khan passed away leaving his title to his son in 335 AD. The new Khan demanded territory from the Persians for the support of his two predecessors but they refused and even killed the envoy. Such an act was an insult to the Kangju resulting in a war between Kangju and Persia. During their revolt, Persia suffered considerably more casualties compared to the Kangjus which put the nomad nation at a huge advantage. In 360 AD, all of Persia would become part of Kangju allowing the nomad nation to gain several rich provinces. The tenth Khan would spend his remaining three years pacifying the area to stabilize the region so that his successors could retake Kangju's Indian territories lost earlier.

 

[blklizard]

History of Kangju

Chapter 222 (The Great Expansion [Part 5])

A new Khan would rise in 363 AD and he turned his attention to northern India that belonged to the Kangjus once. The conquest of the region did take awhile due to the muddy terrain as a result of monsoon season. Reconquering the region required ten years but the Kangjus suffered very few losses in the process. With the northern region under his control, the eleventh Khan would turn his sights on the small nations that broke free from Satavahana. Last time, their coalition was giving the Kangjus difficulty while an invasion by Parthia concluded the campaign without any gains. Parthia was no more and the smaller nations were no longer banded together like they used to. Now, those small nations fought each other to expand which weakened them. With the nations fighting amongst themselves, the Kangju invasion met little resistance resulting in Kangju controlling a third of India. Satavahana has, by then, recovered some of their territory in the north but they would share a new border with Kangju following Kangju's latest conquests. The new border sparked a war in 378 AD between the two nations. Satavahana, while not fully recovered from their last disastrous war with Kangju, wasn't a pushover as the two sides fought several close battles with neither sides gaining a decisive edge. The war would have continued had internal problems not arise for both nations. A Kangju noble proclaimed himself the new Khan challenging the eleventh Khan for the title while a Satavahana civil war engulfed the Indian nation. The eleventh Khan required ten years to defeat the pretender. Fatigued by the internal conflict, the Khan passed his title to his son in 394 AD.

While Kangju recovered from her internal turmoil, the same cannot be said about Satavahana. The civil war has split the Indian nation into a northern half and a southern half. Lots of blood was spilled in the conflict with no end at sight. This was the ideal situation for the twelfth Khan to strike. The northern half could do little to halt the advances of the nomads. While large tracts of their territory were ceded to the Kangjus, the remainder returned under the Satavahanan sultan's control. Kangju spent the next two decades pacifying the region where disorder and chaos still plagued the people. The local populace weren't too content with foreign rulers and, despite heavy casualties in the civil war, the large population base allowed the locals to continue their resistance. Initially, the twelfth Khan hoped to use diplomacy with the rebels but that method failed to yield anything. Left with no other choice, the twelfth Khan ordered region wide massacres where large populations in villages and towns were killed off. He wanted to send a message to the people in the cities that similar fate awaited them if they continued their resistance. The massacres created more outrage forcing the Kangju forces to practically massacre the people within cities. With a much smaller and fearful population to rule over, order was restored in the region. The Kangjus suffered sufficient casualties during the suppression of the rebels that the twelfth Khan had to cease any expansion during his lifetime. The peace would last until 430 AD when the thirteenth Khan came to power. The thirteenth Khan would gain the title of "the Conqueror."

The thirteenth Khan was an ambitious man who heard of Alexander the Great when he visited the Indian region. The idea of creating a large empire inspired the thirteenth Khan to do the same. First, he attacked Satavahana and reduced it, in 435 AD, to only a handful of provinces in southern India. Satavahana would pay tribute yearly to avoid further bloodshed. Not satisfied with his new conquests, the thirteenth Khan searched elsewhere and, in 438 AD, turned his sights on a distant land called China. Tibet would be the first to fall in 445 AD as it stood between the thirteenth Khan and China. With the mighty Han empire crumbling, the Kangjus met no equals in China seeing them acquire the northwest parts of China. The mobility and ferocity of the Kangjus struck fear in the Chinese as many nations agreed to pay tribute so they can be spared from further destruction. The addition of so many more tributaries immediately filled up the Kangju treasury strengthening the nation as she entered her golden age. Kangju would enter a period of peace following the massive conquests under the thirteenth Khan who earned himself the title of "the Conqueror." This Khan would lived till 490 AD when he left his title to his son. The death of the thirteen Khan would mark a great decline for Kangju. Overextended, the subsequent Khans would spend their rule suppressing the many uprisings, mostly in the Chinese region. The occasional uprisings in the Tibetan region were especially difficult to put down with the rebels gaining exceptionally well defended locations. The tributes from Satavahana and Chinese nations stopped coming but, with the rebels rising everywhere, the Kangjus could do little as their treasury slowly depleted.

 

[blklizard]

History of Kangju

Chapter 223 (The Great Collapse)


Since the death of the thirteenth Khan in 490 AD, his successors were largely busy holding the Kangju empire intact. The Kangju empire encompassed a huge land area that rivaled the size of the Roman Empire and Langobards Empire. One of the main problems with the nomad nation was its inefficient administration which couldn't keep up with the growth of its borders. In addition, Kangju's harsh treatments in her newly conquered lands did little to pacify the locals in the long run. Thus, the locals, when given the opportunity, rose up against their oppressive overlords for their freedom. Despite the numerous rebellions in all parts of Kangju, the successors have managed to keep the empire intact with its borders resembling those left behind by the thirteenth Khan. Between 700 AD and 750 AD, there was actually a slight surge in Kangju strength as they expanded slightly in eastern Asia. However, this would be the last bit of expansion for this enormous empire before it began collapsing into itself. Suppressing the constant rebels would have a massive strain on the nation's treasury and manpower seeing the empire eventually forced to its knees entering the second half of the eighth century.

Left: Kangju (700 AD) Right: Kangju (750 AD)​

Entering the ninth century, Kangju has basically lost control of its east Asian provinces. The rebellions grew in size and number as the rebels overwhelmed the Kangju garrisons and armies stationed there. The rebels either defected to existing nations or created a nation of their own. There were only a few Kangju territory in east Asia but those were under siege of rebels too. With no clear way for reinforcements to reach those provinces, the local defenders were alone in fighting a losing battle against the rebels. Meanwhile, Kangju's grip of India was loosening at this time too. There were already many successful uprisings here and there making Kangju territory in India look like Swiss cheese. Given time, the Kangju forces in the region could make a comeback. However, their hope of reclaiming India evaporated when the two major powers of the west, Langobards and Rome, declared multiple wars. The nomad nation, having already lost many territory in Asia, could ill-afford a war against one major power, let alone two major powers. The few wars with the two major powers saw the Kangju empire split into two large pieces. One piece was in the north where they homeland was located. The other piece was in northern and central India. While their northern possessions were stable, Kangju's possessions in India were slowly lost through both rebellions and new wars.

Left: Kangju (800 AD) Right: Kangju (850 AD)​

Entering the tenth century, the Kangju empire has practically collapsed. Except for a few provinces in India they held on with dear life, Kangju was reduced to just their northern possessions. There was no chance for this nation to ever recover from their complete collapse. The Langobards Empire surrounded them almost completely. The Kangjus only had the Xiongnu who, as a weaker power, continued giving their tributes which amounted to very little. There were a few defections in Asia that saw land returned to Kangju but those were only temporary. The Kangju Khans worried about an invasion from the Langobards that would no doubt be occurring soon. However, the invasion they anticipated from 900 AD never materialized in 950 AD. Thinking the Langobards might have their own internal problems, the Kangju Khans believed that their nation was safe. Still, they chose not to poke the great beast in case it decided to show its wrath. For the remainder of the tenth century, the Kangjus solidified their rule in the north and peace lasted for several decades. The Langobards would eventually attack and annex them in 1013 AD concluding the end of the Kangju empire. The nomad nation has survived for more than a millennium which was a remarkable feat. To be annexed by the Langobards was a fitting end for the once almighty empire.

Left: Kangju (900 AD) Right: Kangju (950 AD)​

As mentioned above, the Kangju nation lasted for a millennium or so. She was once the scourge of the east that conquered much of Asia striking fear in all those that heard her name. Kangju also played an indirect role for the rise of the Langobards. The Langobards were once suppressed by the Magyars who were the scourge of the west. However, the war between these two nations provided Langobards the opportunity to finally deliver a fatal blow to the scourge of the west. Then, Kangju helped weaken the Parthian empire allowing the Langobards to expand easily into the broken empire. Finally, the lack of stability within Kangju territory made it possible for the Langobards to quickly establish their presence in Asia which would ultimately see the empire unite all of Asia. In Langobards history, the accounts of Kangju were quite generous as many viewed the nomad nation as the one to pave the way for the Langobards to conquer all of Asia. Without Kangju, the campaign into Asia would be filled with a lot more difficulty. Thus, the Langobards, after the annexation of Kangju, allowed the locals to continue their lifestyle while paying very little taxes. Both sides were happy as northern Asia entered a long period of peace and prosperity following the annexation of Xiongnu.

 

[DKM]

It's kind of cool to see how AI nations in this mod can both blob and collapse! I can see why you would consider the Kangju and important nation to go over. Also,

was its inefficient administration which could keep up with the growth of its borders.

I believe you mean couldn't.

 

[blklizard]

It's kind of cool to see how AI nations in this mod can both blob and collapse! I can see why you would consider the Kangju and important nation to go over. Also,
I believe you mean couldn't.

Well, I wouldn't say they blob and collapse as intended. Rome is still huge with no signs of collapse. Still, it's pretty cool writing about the Kangju that has definitely resembled an actual empire. Thanks for the catch! I hate it when I miss it during my quick proofread . Anyways, enjoy my last update of 2014!

English War of Independence

Chapter 224

In 1100 AD, a new Tzar rose to the throne after his father passed away days after learning the war in the east has ended. He and his subjects were busy celebrating the conclusion of the massive campaign in Asia. The unthinkable happened with the Langobards taking over a huge landmass that was even larger than that of Europe. The accomplishment would no doubt be recorded in history books for the future generations. Once the garrisons were assigned and a few armies were situated throughout Asia, the remainder, making up the majority of Langobards forces that were sent to Asia, was making its way back from Asia. The trek home would be a long one but these soldiers needn't worry about any danger on their way home. New roads have been built connecting Asia all the way to Trier with patrols regularly monitoring the regions. The roads have become a lot safe for merchants and traveler. Thus, there was little to fear as no one would foolishly attack Langobards armies filled with veteran soldiers that have defeated more enemies than one can count. However, many of these soldiers would soon enter forced march upon learning a threat closer to home. There was no warning of the uprising and the Langobards capital was wide open for an attack. The Tzar was threatened with only his royal guards and garrison to protect him. Apparently, a dangerous foe, across the English Channel, has been biding his time and chose this moment to strike. Knowing that Langobards reinforcements weren't close enough to get to Trier in time, this foe sneaked his forces across the Channel as he targeted the heart of the Langobards Empire. His objective was to force the Tzar to recognize England as a free and independent nation.

This foe would be Jake Banister or, commonly known today as, Sir Banister. Jake was an influential land owner on the British Isles from a well distinguished family. He wielded a lot of power in the region and seemed to get along with the Langobards government officials that governed over the region. Secretly, Banister had a different agenda he wished to pursue. The Banister family was an ancient family that dated back to the days when the Misguided Druids still terrorized much of the British Isles. Those within the Banister family were grateful of the Langobards for ridding the Druids but they were shocked to see the Langobards remaining behind to govern the land. The British Isles, as seen by the Banister family, belonged to those that settled it long before the Langobards even heard of the region. The Langobards were seen as outsiders that had no right to stay behind. Thus, members of the family would, on the surface, befriend the Langobards so they would be viewed as the ideal model of Langobards citizens to lower the guard of the Langobards. In the shadows, they gathered weapons and men for their cause. Finding the men loyal to their cause was difficult as one betrayal could bring about disaster. Thus, they spent the centuries gathering their strengths waiting for an opportunity to strike. It wasn't until Jake Banister became the head of the family did they launch their attack on the Langobards for independence. Of course, Jake wasn't foolish enough to reenact the failure of the Scottish War for Independence. He decided to go on the offensive instead of hoping to defend against the Langobards which would ultimately fail. Jake would lead an English army across the Channel to attack Trier, the heart of the empire he wished to defeat.

Jake realized that the Scottish War for Independence failed due to them being on the defensive. A large empire like Langobards has proven to be resilient as they defeated the Roman Empire not once but twice. To achieve victory, Jake believed that going offensive is the only option. Otherwise, the empire would no doubt gather enough strength to crush England and, therefore, her chances of independence. Thus, Jake, while gathering men for his cause, bought several large transport vessels. The vessels carried him and his army across the Channel so they could march to Trier. Jake has already paid many patrolling officers while explaining that they were performing a drill should an actual disaster occur. These patrols would not be alarmed by the presence of such a large army heading to Trier which was what the man hoped for. Trier wasn't well defended and, during the conclusion of the campaign in the east, there would no doubt be celebrations within the city. The guards would more likely than not be too drunk to do anything providing Jake with the opportunity to capture the Tzar. With the Tzar as his prisoner, independence for England was pretty much guaranteed for Jake. On January 6 of 1100, Jake's army crossed the Channel in secret. Jake led his men quietly towards the Langobards capital. When they arrived outside the city, they could hear the people within celebrating the great occasion. As luck would have it, the city gates were open which allowed Jake's army to enter unopposed. The guards were, as expected, too drunk to realize what was happening while the civilians assumed that display of the army was part of the entertainment. The English army closed in on the Langobards palace where the Tzar was sleeping.

 

[DKM]

Happy New Year blklizard!

 

[blklizard]

Happy New Year blklizard!

Happy New Year to you too! 34 minutes before I can have my countdown .

English War of Independence

Chapter 225

The Tzar was in his bed when several of his royal guards entered his chambers to wake him up. When asked, the royal guards stated that an unknown army has entered the city. They were unsure the intent of the army so they came to inform the Tzar. The Tzar immediately ordered his guards to escort his family through the secret tunnel beneath the palace out of the city. When the guards tried to persuade him to leave as well, the Tzar was firm in staying behind. He then got dressed and, before he left his chamber, he grabbed a dagger with him. With his royal guards with him, the Tzar went to meet with the general of the unknown army. It was still dark outside seeing many of the Tzar's subjects still asleep. The Tzar hoped that the general had a logical explanation for his late appearance and everything would be resolved before morning. As he stepped out the palace gates, he knew instantly that this wasn't the case. The soldiers before him were wearing different colors than those of Langobards soldiers. Even the general was wearing a different attire that suggested he was from the Isles. Jake spoke up the moment he saw the Tzar leave his palace. He demanded the royal guards to put down their weapons if they wanted to be spared from death. He then requested the Tzar to come with him without resistance. Jake claimed that he preferred to see no bloodshed if possible so it was best for both parties should resistance be avoided altogether. When the Tzar asked Jake why committed such a treason, Jake simply replied that he was meant to liberate the British Isles from Langobards control. Thus, the Tzar replied back.

I am the Tzar of the Langobards. My empire spread from the west all the way to the east. This wasn't always the case for my people. My ancestors were once one of the many tribes in the region struggling to survive. With Rome bordering us, we always had to watch our back whenever we fight our smaller neighbors. When we thought we were close to rivaling Rome in power, we learned of a new threat in the east called the Magyars. Their armies proved nearly invincible as they defeated our forces. Our soldiers were killed en mass while our towns and villages were razed to the ground. The Magyars were the nightmare that Rome never was. Still, we fought on and our determination enabled us to overcome the scourge of the west. The Magyars were defeated and we entered a period of peaceful times. Then, we finally fought the Romans. Rome was at its golden age and we traded blows. In the end, we won the war with small gains. Soon after, another war sparked between our two nations seeing us as the victor again. We have won two wars against the mighty Roman Empire. Then, we spread our influence all the way to Africa and Asia where we conquered all the nations that stood in our way. Langobards isn't a nation you can threaten. The Tzar isn't someone you can simply take as prisoner. We have our pride because we rule over the greatest nation in the world. If you think that you can earn your independence by using underhanded tactics, I fear you have underestimated me and my people. We will not grant you cowards the independence you seek. We liberated your kinds from the Misguided Druids and yet you aren't grateful. I am saddened to see the English people, having thrived and prospered under Langobards rule, bite the hand that fed them. If you want your independence, then fight it out like the Scottish!

The Tzar knew that his chance of escaping was very low so he chose the next best option available. Taking out his dagger, he stabbed it into his abdomen to end his life. The royal guards rushed over but it was already too late. The Tzar was dying and the royal guards felt themselves failing their duties. Jake was shocked by the development of the situation. He had hoped for a quick capture and, therefore, a quick victory. The sudden death of the Tzar would bring about the wrath of the Langobards that he wished to avoid from the start. Searching for a new solution, Jake ordered his men to search the palace for the Tzar's family members. The men, as they neared the palace entrance, were cut down mercilessly by the royal guards. The royal guards were determined to die this day and they wished to do it by delaying the enemy. The royal guards backed into the palace so a choke point was between them and the enemy. Jake ordered his men to break through but the fight to overcome the royal guards proved to be a difficult one. The royal guards were furious about the death of the Tzar and fought with ferocity unseen in humans. It took several hours before the last royal guard was killed and that was enough time for the Tzar's family to reach the safety of the another city. Jake immediately withdrew his forces from Trier knowing that his gambit has failed. The Tzar was dead and he could only wait for the inevitable invasion of the Langobards. He must bolster the fortification within his home so that they stood some chance. Jake knew for a fact that the Langobards forces, with the Tzar dead, won't accept anything but the death of the rebels.

 

[blklizard]

English War of Independence

Chapter 226

While Jake Banister was preoccupied with his plans in Trier, England would face a threat from its north. The Langobards armies in the Scotland region were marching south towards the rebellious state. The soldiers of these armies were all recruited from the region itself. Many of these men had ancestors that were separated from their families in Scotland but returned later. They had no ill will towards the Langobards knowing that their predecessors made the mistake of crossing the Langobards. In fact, many of them were shameful about the Scottish War of Independence and looked for ways to fix the mistakes of their ancestors. With the major campaigns occurring in the far east, the Scottish population could contribute little other than some supplies which wasn't in much of a contribution. They prayed to God for a chance for salvation and they were given the opportunity. It didn't take long before news arrived that a nation called England broke free from Langobards. The local population claimed that they were the rightful owners of the British Isles trying to rally the support of the Scottish and Irish. Their rallies failed as both the Scottish and Irish were content with Langobards rule. The Irish were basically given complete autonomy allowing them to make their own decision on their little island. The Scottish didn't enjoy the same freedom but their low taxes and just laws made the locals content. To rise up against the Langobards was essentially begging for bloodshed and instability which neither group wanted. For the Scottish, this uprising was their opportunity to prove their loyalty to the Tzar.

Two armies would march out from Scotland. The armies were led by two brothers, Conn and Iain MacGill. The two brothers were known for their marshal capabilities in the region and seemed the ideal candidates to lead the armies. Ironically, the MacGill family was the same family the Scottish monarch belonged to when Scotland broke free. The two brothers viewed their chance of redemption hanging on their performance against the English. With a total of fifty thousand men between them, they marched directly to the Langobards-English border preparing for an offensive towards the supposed English capital, London. The weather was surprisingly good for the marching army allowing them to arrive at the border in only a week. The English has apparently neglected their defenses in the north having not anticipate an attack there. The two brothers wisely sent out scouts to the nearby cities and towns to gauge the strength of their enemies in the region. Few days later, the scouts reported that all English forces were situated in or around London. The brothers concluded that the English were making a desperate last stand at their capital. By consolidating their forces there, the Langobards would require a massive force to take the capital. The two brothers debated what they would do before the Langobards forces arrived. Following lengthy discussions with their officers, they chose to occupy much of western England to cut off the supplies and men from the area. The English were unlikely to venture out fearing that the Scottish forces were baits to get them to leave their defenses. Therefore, the two brother carried out their plan to weaken the English.

The two brothers would soon go above and beyond their initial plan. The Langobards reinforcements required several months before they arrived at the other side of the Channel. By then, the Scottish forces have occupied four fifths of England. Unknown to them, they have cut off the much needed supplies for the large English forces garrison in and around London. Because of their occupations, the soldiers were getting rationed which started to create discontent amongst them. The English soldiers were promised an easy war against the Langobards and getting starved wasn't part of the bargain. When news of massive Langobards forces rumored to number to the hundreds of thousand, many English soldiers began to desert their stations. When the first Langobards army arrived onto the British Isles, Jake has lost nearly a third of his entire army. The remaining two thirds were further weakened by starvation and diseases that plagued the region due to overpopulation. The chances for the English to resist seemed to grow slimmer by the day with Jake sending many envoys requesting an audience. He stated that he would give up his foolish idea and bow to the Langobards once again. However, the death of the Tzar, along with rumors that Jake killed him personally, had the Langobards generals and soldiers thirsty for blood. All the towns and cities around London surrendered which helped them avoid bloodshed. London, however, would be another story altogether.

 

[blklizard]

English War of Independence

Chapter 227

The Langobards army, numbering up to a hundred thousand men, marched towards the English capital, London. It was an incredible sight if one wasn't part of the garrison. The garrison has been reduced to only twenty thousand men and most of them were too ill to fight. Jake stood above the city gates watching the incoming enemy forces. He wasn't sure what awaited his family but, with the blood of the Tzar on his hands, even if indirectly, they were going to pay a steep price. Jake thought he came up with the perfect plan but it proved to be flawed. The Tzar has found a weakness and now the English nation has lost its war. News of the Langobards army marching towards London has spread across the city. The inhabitants inside no longer cared as they grieved for those that died from starvation or disease. The garrison pretty much stayed where they were not responsive to the incoming threat. They had, more of less, accepted the outcome as they waited for the inevitable to happen. Jake knew his people lost hope and, to prevent any further bloodshed, he ordered the city gates to open. He would walk out of the city and surrender. His fate would be decided by God who clear didn't approve this uprising. Jake and a few of his royal officer marched out and knelt down before the Langobards generals. The generals, without another word, ordered their soldiers to arrest the rebel leader. Next, the soldiers were sent into the capital where they herded all those of the Banister family out the gate. Finally, they delivered food and supplies into the city while their physicians worked to halt the spread of the diseases. The English War of Independence has ended in failure. The Langobards lost their Tzar which was a bitter pill to swallow. With the Banister family as prisoners, the generals discussed the proper punishment for their treason.

It took many days before the generals came up with the proper punishment. They weren't going to be merciful to any Banister family members, including their toddlers and elderly. The prisoners would be taken across the Channel by ship and sent into exile to the Steppes where the nomads thrived. They would either find a way to survive in exile or die horribly to the unforgiving elements. The generals picked the far reaches of the Steppe where these people won't be aided by the nomads who, after being pacified by the Langobards, would no doubt give those in dire needs a hand. They felt this was a fitting punishment for those that not only rose up against the Tzar but also played a role in his death. The prisoners were set out on a ship immediately seeing them arriving in the steppes a year later. The prisoners were given some food and clothing but, after that, they had to rely on themselves. When a Langobards patrol returned to the area months later, they found no survivors amongst the Banister family. The family was wiped out and, to show some sympathy, the patrol helped dig graves to bury the remaining corpses. It was better fate than being eaten by the wolves and other scavengers that lived in the region. The patrol would later report their findings to the new Tzar which helped conclude the entire uprising. The old Tzar didn't leave behind any heirs seeing his brother rising as the new Tzar. The new Tzar was devastated with the loss of his brother but, unlike many others, he felt sending the Banister family to exile was too cruel a punishment. Despite voicing his opinion, his subjects were unmoved about the decision so those committing the ultimate treason perished.

The English population was spared bloodshed but they would suffer under the new policies implemented by the new Tzar. Much higher taxes were imposed along with limitations to how much wealth a family could accumulate. Weaponsmithing and shipbuilding were banned in the region to cut off all supplies of arms to the local population. The policies were meant to prevent the English population from building any future armies or even build ships. Several Langobards armies would be situated in the region at all times and suspicious actions were investigated without question. In addition, the other powerful English families were forced to give up a large portion of their wealth while their children were sent to other parts of the empire to be educated. Spies were sent to keep an eye out for those families with every single action reported back to the Langobards generals. Finally, any large gatherings of people would require the permission of the Langobards generals and soldiers must be present to keep the order. As for the Scottish, their contribution to the uprising was significant. The new Tzar understood that the Scottish War of Independence has created a divide between the two parties but the latest uprising proved that the Scottish were indeed loyal to the empire. As a way of thanking them, the new Tzar passed several laws granting the Scottish more autonomy. Before the laws were passed, the new Tzar made it clear to the Scottish population that they were given a privilege. If the Scottish ever betray the Langobards again, their privilege will be revoked and the resulting punishment would be more harsh than that of the English. Thus, the British Isles have went through two War of Independence seeing both put down by the Langobards. The new Tzar only hoped that these uprisings won't arise in Ireland despite his spied reporting the Irish were content with their lives.

 

[blklizard]

Colonialism of Africa

Chapter 228

The Langobards first gained African territory following their crusade on Aksum in 514. The annexation of the nation allowed the Langobards to gain their first foothold on the largely unexplored continent. To the Langobards in 11 AD, the Africa continent was distant land they never thought they would reach. Struggling for survival in the Germanic region, there was little reason for them to be curious about the continent. When the Langobards first heard about Africa, it was from Roman travelers who told of a lengthy coastline controlled by Rome. They explained that the region produced plentiful grain making it the breadbasket of the Romans. The Langobards people naturally paid little attention to such stories. First, they weren't even sure if the stories were accurate or not. The Romans were known to embellish their accomplishment so any stories they tell must be taken with a grain of salt. Secondly, they have too many dangers nearby to be wondering about lands that could only be reached by water. One must remember that the Langobards, at the time, were landlocked with only no idea what a boat was. As the nation slowly became an empire, the empire grew steadily despite many challenges, both internal and external, it encountered along the way. The steady expansion eventually encompassed Aksum territory which was at the edge of the African continent. The newly conquered region consisted of mostly desert which made the local provinces seemingly worthless. The Langobards have already learned the harshness of desert following their encouter with the Syrian Desert during the expansion in the Middle East. Thus, it amazed the Langobards that a nation could be born in these harsh climates.

As mentioned above, the African provinces taken by the Langobards were largely worthless. The local inhabitants all built their settlements by the river which was the main source of water in the region. The locations of these settlements made it relatively easy for Langobards forces to maintain order in the region as they simply had to position patrols along the river. While the majority of the local populace settled in towns and cities, there were still a portion of the population that lived on nomadic lifestyle. The new Langobards officials that governed the region allowed them to continue their lifestyle in exchange for a two things. First, these people must help Langobards mapmakers in mapping out the region. More accurate maps would help the Langobards better govern the region while providing them with ideas of possible future expansions. Secondly, the nomads must volunteer a few of their youths to train Langobards soldiers on survival of the region. The training involved learning when sandstorm would hit and how to avoid them, along with the most important lesson of finding water sources. Once the training were completed, the youths were given camels for their help. The nomads originally thought the Langobards wished them harm but, after a few interactions, there was an understanding that developed between the two sides. For the years to come, the Langobards forces would have nomads as their guides while they scour the region to eliminate all bandit strongholds in the region. By 525 AD, the roads in the region, as few as they may be, were safe which helped convince the locals to trust their new Langobards overlord.

Pacifying the region was relatively easy because the locals were more or less civilized. They lived similar lifestyles as the Langobards and even the nomads, who lived differently, could get along with Langobards soldiers quite well despite the language barrier. However, the governor of the region soon learned of a new threat. There were new raids by groups of what his soldiers claimed to be savages. These new threats lived backward lives and they only answered to violence and blood. The Langobards soldiers tried a few times to communicated with the savages but their efforts were in vain. All these savages wanted were to kill all strangers that approached them. Langobards forces could have left them alone if they didn't start their many raids in the region. They were disrupting the peace and, as the protector of order, the Langobards soldiers must act. Interestingly enough, these savages, upon seeing a large enemy force approach them, would flee swiftly knowing they cannot win the battle. The problem was that, once the Langobards force withdrew, the savages returned to continue their havoc. To strike at the root of the problem, the governor ordered several expeditionary forces to march out of Langobards borders into the unknown to level the villages, or whatever they called their settlements, and, if necessary, kill the savages to cease the raids. Thus, five expeditionary forces were established with the task of exploring the frontier and vanquishing all the savages they encountered. The five expeditions began in 540 AD as the Langobards began their trek deeper into the African continent.

 

[blklizard]

Colonialism of Africa

Chapter 229

At the time, the Langobards, like all the other civilized nations, made two assumptions about the land they called Africa. The first assumption was the view of Africa as a small landmass with the Romans occupying most of it. Asia was, at the time, distant land that was only told in stories. There were no European mapmakers that charted out the distant land of Africa or Asia so it was common belief that Europe was the largest landmass in the world with many much smaller masses that branched out from Europe. There was no reason to believe a larger landmass existed outside Europe, especially when there were plenty of opportunities in Europe. The second assumption was the idea that remainder of the unexplored territory of Africa was inhabited by savages similar to those that raided Langobards territory. Many believed that these humanoids, being cut off from everyone else, never developed into more advanced beings. As backward animals, killing these creatures wasn't seen as a crime as long as one didn't kill them for pleasure or, as cruel as it may seem, for food (records showed that Aksum royalties have indeed fed on the savages). The two assumptions mentioned above resulted in the idea that expeditions sent into Africa would be a waste of time and resources. No nation, not even the Romans, would spend resources exploring a small territory when they have other interests closer to home. In addition, the process of pacifying savages was, in the minds of leaders of civilized nations, nearly impossible unless one considered complete massacre of the creatures. Even though killing savages were permitted, the massacre of any living creatures for little to no gains was frowned upon. With these assumptions, the Romans, with their foothold in northern Africa for centuries, never did explore Africa territory to their south. The opportunity fell to the Langobards who were definitely late in acquiring African territory.

For the Langobards, the image of the savages were not that different from the Misguided Druids which only lived in children stories. The savages were seen as once humans but they lost their path becoming animals in the process. According to the Langobards governor of the Sudan region, the savages were described as:

One may easily mistaken them for humans if it weren't for their stench. Soldiers claimed that they could always smell a savage before they could see one. It's clear that these creatures don't have any idea of cleanliness but I guess we shouldn't expect too much from animals. Still, they resemble us in many ways. For example, they know how to craft weapons. While crude, their weapons resemble spears and could still take lives if used effectively. There has been reports that the savages sometimes work in group with could be understood as teamwork. They also put fur over themselves that serve as clothes. In many ways, we have reason to believe that our ancestors were like them once. We have definitely come a long way and, while we try to offer a hand to bring them into the light, they often refused. These creatures made grunting sounds that no one could understand, not that they ever try to communicate with us. They seem to prefer sticking a spear through us rather than being civilized beings. Our soldiers have, on more than one occasion, been forced to use force against these creatures. Luckily, these creatures understood death and they now stay away from our soldiers. However, they return the moment our forces withdraw. It deeply hurts me to give orders for the expedition but we are left no other choice. These savages must be vanquished so order can be restored. While we're eliminating the savages, we might actually have a chance to finally explore the rest of Africa to complete our map in the region. The expeditions should conclude in a year or two.

The Langobards governor mentioned above was Saho. He was of the Egyptian descendent whose parents fled into Langobards territory when Rome attacked Egypt. Settling in the Middle East, Saho met with many travelers from other parts of Langobards. He served as a guide in the region for many years and made many friends while learning many languages, though he was only fluent in a few. Saho played a major role in serving as the translator between the Langobards officials and the local ruling class. His contributions were recognized and, as a way of thanking him, Saho was offered a chance to be governor of the Sudan region. The region didn't boast a large population or tax base making the position less prestigious than it sounded. Still, Saho accepted the offer and managed to bridge the two sides, Langobards and Aksum population, in the early stages of his term. Many historians did agree that Saho have tried a diplomatic route with the savages but it went nowhere while the raids were hurting the region. Reluctantly, Saho gave the orders of repelling the savages. By striking at the villages of these savages, the savages would be forced to migrate further outwards. Little did Saho know, his decision would have even greater consequence for the centuries to come. At the time, he set up five expeditionary forces, each with five thousand men, to explore the regions surrounding Langobards' African territory. Three expeditions were to take place in the west while the remaining two focused on the southeastern direction. Saho's orders for the expeditionary forces were: burn down savage villages, send the savages packing without bloodshed if possible and map out the new regions for possible future colonization. The governor actually had the foresight to see further colonial expansion into the region despite thinking hardly any land was left. Many would see Saho as the prime contributor of Langobards expansion into Africa.

 

[blklizard]

Colonialism of Africa

Chapter 230

The expeditionary forces first combed along the borders for nearby villages. Any villages that were spotted were burned down immediately. The savages, upon seeing the large forces, fled for their lives allowing the Langobards to avoid bloodshed. The progress of eliminating the villages went smoothly for the first month or so. The expeditionary forces only had to stop for rest and shade before they continue exploring the region. The mapmakers that came along with the expedition made note of possible colony locations for future expansion while hoping to reach the coasts to complete the borders of the landmass they were on. Everything went well until one of the expeditionary forces was approached by savages. The expeditionary leader described them as:

We were continuing our expedition when savages unexpectedly approached us in the distance. It wasn't a friendly visit either. They were armed with spears that were more advanced than those wielded by the savages we expelled from the region so far. They also wore something resembling armor. The fact that they marched in some sort of formation makes it obvious that this is an army. An army of savages wasn't what we expected in these parts. We didn't know if they were a professional army or not but, considering we were vastly outnumbered at least three to one, we decided that an engagement here would be foolhardy. This discovery was quite major as we never expected the savages to be capable of these feats. To have an army with proper weapons and armor was more than what we expected of them. Fearing that they might be coming for us, I thought it was best we withdrew back into friendly territory and report our findings to the governor. What I've seen that day continue to amaze us to this day. Have we been wrong? Are there more advanced civilizations in Africa? So many questions have risen from my expedition alone. I wonder if the other expeditions also yielded anything interesting.

The expeditionary leader mentioned above wasn't alone in his discoveries. Two other expeditionary forces would later encounter armies of savages forcing them to withdraw as well. The governor was immediately notified of the knowledge and the concept of Africa by the Langobards changed that day. The governor, following the first report, was skeptic about the army blaming on possible mirages that were created by the heat. However, the two subsequent reports, with the expeditions in more temperate climates, seemed to rebuke that. The governor suddenly found himself in a predicament. The reports seemed to contradict the assumption that rest of Africa was inhabited by savages only. The capability of forming large fighting force proved that there were advanced beings in Africa. The idea that advanced civilizations may exist in Africa was groundbreaking. This also seemed to refute the assumption that Africa is only a small landmass since civilization required room to expand and, yet, there has been no contact yet. Saho spent the next few sleepless nights working with his advisers as they wrote up new exploration plans. The five expeditionary forces would become only two expeditionary forces to bolster the strength of one expeditionary force so its survivability would be higher. In addition, Saho added several diplomats amongst them, mostly of those that were born in Sudan. The governor no longer viewed the expeditions as eradication/expelling missions but, instead, diplomatic missions. He didn't know what they would find in the heart of Africa but he hoped his two expeditionary force, with twelve thousand five hundred men each, could uncover the mystery of Africa. Meanwhile, he sent his findings and some hypothesis back to the Langobards government in Trier where he hoped the government might consider taking actions too.

The two expeditionary forces would head in two different locations. The Pepi Expeditionary Force, under Explorer Pepi, headed in the southwest direction while the Amon Expeditionary Force, led by explorer Amon, headed in the southeast direction. The two expeditionary forces would head in the direction the savage armies were spotted so they could find the origins of the armies. If combat was necessary, the two expeditionary forces were given permission to engage. Both Pepi and Amon were born in the Sudan region with ancestors that lived in former Egypt. They lived in Aksum when the Langobards attacked the nation. Because the people in the region were spared from harm, the locals learned to accept their new overlord. When the expeditionary forces were formed, Pepi and Amon, like many other youths in the region, eagerly volunteered to join for the promise of adventure. Life in Sudan was quite a boring one with youths dreaming of exploring the world. While it wasn't possible for them to visit other parts of the Langobards empire due to lack of infrastructure, the idea of exploring Africa seemed the next best thing. Pepi and Amon proved to be resourceful on more than one occasions seeing them rising in rank quickly in a month. When the governor turned the five expeditionary forces into two, the two youths were nominated to be the leaders. The other five leaders had, more or less, enough adventure to last a lifetime seeing them wanting to go back home in the Middle East. The two youths were honored by the nomination but they also knew the burden of their new position. Because they were from Sudan, they were representatives of their people which meant failure could create a divide between their people and the Langobards. Thus, they were determined to make their expeditions a success by being cautious and listen to suggestions of their officers.

 

[blklizard]

Colonialism of Africa

Chapter 231

The Pepi Expeditionary Force was the first to encounter success on its mission. The expeditionary force arrived outside a village that was much further inland compared to the burnt down savage villages. Pepi, along with a few guards, approached the village as they attempted to use diplomacy first. The villagers, upon seeing such a massive army outside their village, all hid inside their huts despite the homes offering little to no protection. Pepi and his guards explored the entire village unable to find anyone to communicate with. Just as they were about to leave, the door to the largest hut opened with a young girl walking out. While Pepi and his guards couldn't understand the girl, they could see from her hand gestures that she wanted them to enter. The guards tried to talk Pepi out of agreeing but the expedition leader made up his mind. He entered with his guards following close behind him as they ventured into the large hut. It took a brief while for their eyes to adjust to the relative darkness in the room. Then, they found themselves in a spacious room with simple furniture. Inside, there was an old man sitting on a mat drinking some beverage. The old man gestured them to join him while giving orders to the little girl. The little girl went over to a small fireplace where a pot was resting above it. She carefully grabbed bowls and filled them up before handing them to Pepi and his guards. The guards were hesitant to drink it but Pepi took a deep gulp. The old man laughed and tried to talk to Pepi. Short while later, the old man, after trying different tongues, spoke in the Egyptian language which Pepi replied seeing the two of them deep in conversation. The guards watched curiously at their expedition leader and an old man talk as if they were old friends. The conversation lasted for several hours before Pepi remembered that his guards were with him and, unlike him, they knew none of the Egyptian language.

Pepi, once he realized it was dark out, told the old man that he should rest so they could continue their conversation the following day. The old man nodded his head before asking the little girl to show the guests out the village. The little girl led Pepi and his guards to the village entrance where Pepi's men were waiting. As they exited the village, some of the more curious villagers poked their heads out to get a glance of the strangers. When Pepi or any of his guards turned to look, the villagers closed their doors not wanting to be seen. Seeing their leader returning safe and sound, the men were relieved as they greeted Pepi. A camp has already been set up outside the village when Pepi's men noticed it was getting dark. The officers within the expeditionary force were debating whether to lead some soldiers into the village to rescue their leader from the savages. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed as they waited until Pepi left the village along with all his guards. Pepi organized a meeting as soon as he returned to the camp. All the officers were to attend the meeting while everyone else could gather around the tent to listen on the grounds that they can remain quiet during the entire meeting. Everyone in the expeditionary force was eager to learn what Pepi has discovered seeing the tent completely surrounded moments after all the officers gathered inside. Pepi stood up before his officers as he began recounting what the old man told him. The old man explained that the expeditionary force was at the outskirts of an ancient African Empire. The exact name of the empire lacked a direct translation to the Egyptian language but the old man felt the best name for the empire should be Ganian Empire. The old man also told him briefly about the history of the region which helped shed light about what the expeditionary forces were facing in the region.

There were many villages scattered across our homeland. The land was fertile and everyone had food to eat. We lived isolated lives content with what we had. One day, a great storm shattered the peace by destroying our home bit by bit. Most of our former home became a land of sand. We could no longer grow food or find water in our old home forcing us to move elsewhere. We soon found new land which encompass the land you sit on right this moment. There was a slight problem however. There were already natives that lived here and they weren't welcomed to the idea of newcomers. They waged war against us hoping to drive us out. Sandwiched between the land of sand and angry natives, we chose to fight back. We fought and, for years, neither side could win. They outnumber us greatly while we were better armed. In the end, we were victorious. We drove them out of their homes so we can claim it our own. We felt no remorse driving away the natives. They were backward beings that only knew of violence and nothing else. We would have been happy to share the land with them but they were too selfish to accomplish such deeds. Once we showed them what we were capable of, they feared us and stayed away from our people. Our leaders created the Ganian Empire from that point on. Empire isn't an accurate terms because all the villages had its own autonomy. Unless we were attacked, the villages generally don't interact unless it involved trade. We were once again content with our lives until we learned of an enemy along the outskirts of our empire. Apparently, large forces were spotted burning down the villages of the natives we drove out long ago. Our great king was worried the threat would enter his territory so he sent several armies to fight the invaders. Last I've heard, the threat was repelled and peace has been returned to the region.

 

[blklizard]

Colonialism of Africa

Chapter 232

While Pepi was learning about the Ganian Empire from the old man, Amon's expedition encountered no such luck. When they marched past the villages they burnt down a month ago, they have yet to encounter any savages or humans. The swampy terrain was a first for many of those in the expeditionary force so progress was especially slow with nearly everyone sightseeing. Luckily, there were a few guides that were familiar to swampy terrain that ensured the safety of everyone. There were many alligators in the region that would gladly feed on any humans that foolish enter the water. The guides, having been exposed to swamps all their lives, cleverly led the expeditionary force around Alligator habitat allowing them to exit the swamp unscathed. The expeditionary force then entered mountainous terrain which further slowed down the progress. In the mountains, Amon and his men finally made contact with humans. These humans were different from the savages that raided Langobards territory in that they didn't use violence to solve their problems first. The elder of the village actually approached Amon showing kindness. He invited Amon and his officers into his hut where they could stay warm. Luckily for Amon, the elder spoke a language similar to the nomad guides he brought with him so there wasn't a language barrier between them. When Amon asked the elder where they were at, the elder replied that this was part of the Zolekan Empire. However, the elder was puzzled when Amon asked who was the emperor. The elder revealed that Zolekan was called an empire simply due to the large land area it encompassed. Every village maintained contact so, in a way, they were interconnected. Each village was governed by its own elder. The elder asked Amon whether one man ruled over the Langobards Empire to which the young man answered yes. The elder was taken aback by this discovery but he kept his opinions to himself.

After discussing for many hours, Amon learned much about the Zolekan Empire. This empire stretched to cover all of the southeastern border of Langobards' African possessions. The people within this empire were actually quite peaceful and chose to avoid conflict if possible. The empire relied heavily on trade to maintain the many roads and other infrastructure. The elder expressed interest when Amon suggested the empire being integrated into the Langobards while the locals retain their autonomy. The elder stated that the empire, while large and relatively wealthy, didn't have its own standing army. Its people were worried that an army invited conflict which they tried to avoid at all cost. If anyone attacked the empire, the people would buy them off with gold or other goods. At times, payments were given to neighboring empires so that the Zolekan Empire could be protected from harm. The Ganian Empire to the west was one such example. For a steady tribute every month. Ganian armies patrolled the borders of Zolekan Empire to repel any enemy forces. The elder was certain that the army Langobards expeditionary force encountered earlier were probably Ganian forces. The last request by Amon was to ask the elder to help him map out the region. The mountainous terrain seemed dangerous and any safer routes would be appreciated. The elder called upon a few youths in the village who were very eager to give a hand to the stranger. Before Amon left, he asked what the elder wanted the most. The elder hesitated before answering that his people needed food. Apparently, the constant tribute to the Ganians has made many villages poor which led to much poverty. Many within the expeditionary force offered their food to the villagers for their kindness. As for Amon, he eagerly wished to return to the governor to report his findings.

As Amon's expeditionary force began its journey home, Pepi finished his discussion with the old man in the village. It took awhile but he eventually got the trust of the old man. The old man, on the day before Pepi was supposed to leave, finally confessed that life in the Ganian Empire wasn't as wonderful as he said it was. While the villages enjoyed autonomy, there were different factions within the empire that fought for control. The strong factions demanded payments from villages in exchange for their protection. Refusing to pay meant one suffered the wrath of the factions. The old man said that those within the factions were no different from the savages that the Langobards expelled along their borders. These people were ruthless and would do anything to acquire a bit more wealth. To Pepi's shock, the old man actually knelt down before him bowing his head. He begged Pepi to save his people from the ruthless factions that ruled over the Ganian Empire. Pepi was touched by the old man and promised to return so he could liberate the village. On the next day, Pepi left with the map of the Ganian Empire. Before he set out, the little girl that stayed with the old man came and gave him a folded up cloth. She told Pepi that he will know when to open it. Pepi said his goodbyes and began his journey home. Several hours later, several of Pepi's men spotted smoke in the direction of the village. The expeditionary force rushed towards the village but they were too late. All the huts were burned down with no survivors. Pepi took out the cloth given to him by the little girl. At the top of the cloth, it revealed the words "Please Save My People!" Below the words was a map of the factions that controlled the Ganian Empire. Pepi carefully folded the cloth up knowing that he would need it the next time he returne.