Chapter 7: Development of the land
I wake up in the middle of the night. I realize that I'm inside a cottage; my mind's still in dazzle after the dream I just had about the meeting with my master. Suddenly, a ton of information appears in my head, making my head so hurt that I feel like it is going to explode. Memories of the Demon Lord of Tokyo flooded into my life, letting me know about all of my teacher's past, his struggles, his knowledge, and what he had to get through.
I look around and do not notice the figure of the old man who has been accompanying me for more than a year. So that dream is true? I will have to walk alone in my life now, without the troublesome old man who's been always forcing me to exercise until every cell of my body told me to stop.
My heart aches as I have to face the fact that I'm not going to see that old man ever again. I want to cry out loud but I know this is not the time, there are still many important matters to do. Grinning my hands, I bite my lips so that I do not make any unnecessary sounds. I am Akira Takahiro, heir to the great Akira Clan, I cannot be weak in moments like this.
Outside the college, I hear two people talking.
- '' 80 of our men are killed. And the bandits' equipment is too good for mere looters. Akira Yuu must be the one behind all of this. ''
- '' I heard that the Daimyo has marched to Snowflake but that old fox just handover some foreigners and got away with it. The Western Ice Fort was attacked and razed by the Grasslanders as well, the Shogunate does not really care about the safety of us Icelanders. ''
- '' 10 % of our crops are delivered to the capital a year while we are still starving ourselves. ''
Hearing those words, I start to know more about the condition that my people are in. I pretend to go back to sleep so as not to distract the soldiers and start thinking about how I can start to tackle the problems concerning my people.
The next day, 500 soldiers are sent to the village where my wounds are being tended to ensure my safety. Tatsuya's wounds are much heavier than mine; he can't still stand up while I can start to move around freely. After a month of resting, from the knowledge I've gained from my teacher's memories, I have found some potential ways that can increase my family's wealth and power.
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Castle of Nightingale, Neverwinter,
Akira Takahiro is sitting in front of his father, who is looking at him with serious eyes. We can see the uneasiness on the faces of the Samurais in the room. The Daimyo asks his son:
- Do you know what you're asking for, Takahiro? Are you really serious about this?
- Yes, father. " Takahiro raises his head and looks at his father with flaming eyes, showing that his willingness for this matter is very serious. '' I want you to name me as Lord of Western Ice Fort and support me with supplies, equipment and manpower to rejuvenate the place.''
The fist of the Tiger of Iceland hit the table, breaking it as the Daimyo of Iceland speaks in anger:
- Western Ice Fort is a ruin after the attack of the Grasslanders. Our people are starving, I will not waste our fortune on restoring it. Although, you are too young and inexperienced in governing. I do not want to see the head of my son hung on the horse of a Grasslander Moon Raider.
- Every Akira child is sent to govern forts, towns or cities when they reach the age of 10. That's our family tradition, father.
- There is a fishery village without a village chief. I will send you there to learn about governing.
Not responding to his father, Takahiro clabs his hands. From outside the room, some servants go in and bring some scrolls of paper to the Samurais and the Daimyo. Seeing the paper scrolls, Akira Kenji opens his eyes in shock as he sees the quality of the paper. At this time, the Arcadians' technology is still not developed enough to make their own paper; thus, they often have to trade paper for a very high price with Eastania.
-''I have obtained the method to produce paper from an Eastanian trader. '' Akira Takahiro speaks: ''If we can build up paper workshops in Iceland, we will not only have enough coins to trade food for our people, but also enough coins to improve our infrastructures and army.''
Pausing for a moment to see the reaction of his father, Takahiro continues speaking:
- " Western Ice Fort is a strategic location to prevent Grasslander raid deep into our territory. As the heir to the Akira Clan, it's my duty to protect my people from those barbarians. ''
Although he is young, Takahiro's voices are deep and passionate. If a normal 9-year-old child speaks like this, everyone in the room will laugh at him. However, these is something that make everyone in the room know that they need to respect this child. Akira Kenji takes a deep breath and looks deep into the eyes of his son; his son reminds him of himself a dozens of years ago when he volunteered to join the army of Iceland as a scout and eventually practice his skills to the degree that he earns the title the Tiger of Iceland.
- " You have grown a lot in my absence.'' Kenji whispers at a volume that only himself can hear. Then the Daimyo stands up and walks to his son side: " I will give you 50 Samurais and 1000 Ashigarus. Do not disappoint me.''
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The Western Ice Fort has fallen, this news spread through Iceland like a disease, making every Icelander nervous about the idea that the raiders from Grassland could appear on their doorsteps at any moment.
In the ruins of the Fort, there are a few hundred of Grasslanders camping. To the Grasslanders whose war tactics focus on horse archery and skirmishing, walled forts are very difficult to attack. However, at the moment the Western Ice Fort was attacked, the armies of Iceland were too focus on fighting a Beastmen army to the north. The garrisons of the fortress fought well and hard; however, without reinforcements, their supplies eventually ran out. The last day before they run out of supplies, the Grasslanders send an envoy, demand the surrender of the Icelanders.
The garrison's commander responds their offer by hanging the envoy on the gates of the city, orders the soldiers having their last meals. He goes from soldier to soldier, encouraging them to fight. Then, the honorable Samurai mounts his horse and shout to his men:
- As you know, we have run out of food. I'm not surrendering this fort to the Grasslanders. I will give you an order and this would be my last order: '' Follow the Bushido Code ''
At that day, 2000 Grasslanders surrounding the fort notice that the fort has been set on fire. The gates of the fort are opened and 300 last standing Icelanders charged out of the gates, with their banners raise high in the air.
Now, high on a hill not far from the abandoned fort, Takahiro and his force are watching the Grasslanders' camp from a far.
- '' They just have a few hundred men, my lord. There are no sight of their main army'' a scout reports to Takahiro. The young boy on his horse looks aside at Minoru Tatsuya, the youngest Samurai in the history of Iceland.
- " Lord Minoru, I believe you are the most suitable candidate to lead the vanguard. Show them the wrath of Icelanders on our behalf. ''
- '' Ask you command, my lord '' Minoru Tatsuya responds. In his eyes we can see the anger and hatreds toward the barbarians who massacred his own countrymen.
- '' SOLDIERS OF ICELAND! '' The young Samurai shouts. " RAMPAGE''
The roar cry of the soldiers trembles the earth as they advance toward the Grasslanders' camp location. The Grasslanders are alerted about the incoming of the Icelanders and mount their horses. However, before they could form any effective formation, the mounted Samurais led by Minoru Tatsuya has reached the camp. The poor Grasslanders who are used to raiding, encircling minor settlements and fight weaker foes cannot withstand the might of the Akira Clan's Samurais, who trains themselves every day and even fight against northern monsters to protect the realm of men.
Swords are broken, shields are shattered, and lances are cracked. The Grasslanders fall after one another. Some just wake up from their sleeps before trembled upon by the horses of the Samurais or ironically, the horses of their own kinds when trying to flee. Just last night, they are still feasting over the victory of their kinsmen over this fort, the fort that's preventing them from going deeper into the land of the Arcadians for decades from the moment it was built.
It was hardly called a struggle where it's just a one-sided massacred. At the end of the day, the white lotus banner is raised high in the middle of the ruin, stating that this land is now back again in the Akira Clan's control.
Taking back the fort is just the first step; now, the most important thing to consider is how to keep it if an army of Grasslanders march against them again, when this time, there are no walls to protect the Arcadians from the infamous horse archers that frighten everyone in the Peninsula.