After finishing the briefing on Iberia, Wigg shifted the topic to the recently bustling Western diterranean.
With the assistance of the Frankish remnants, the Eastern Roman Empire was making smooth progress in Sicily, far exceeding Wigg's expectations. He decided to adopt a defensive stance, ordering Hadvard to focus on coastal patrols and avoid provoking the currently formidable Eastern Roman navy.
"If we drag this out for a while, the Abbasid Empire will eventually intervene. There is no need for us to get involved."
Next on the agenda was Northern Italy.
The reports from the four Dukes were largely identical. Since the latter half of the year, the Frankish remnants had reduced their frequency of attacks. Instead, they redirected their main efforts toward constructing defensive fortifications, attempting to use a cluster of fortresses to block the Vikings' overland advance.
Southern Italy possessed a massive amount of high-quality volcanic ash, which effectively boosted the construction efficiency of the Franks. Drawing upon residual records from the Roman era, they had already completed fifteen stone fortresses.
The Crown Prince looked thoughtful. "Constructing fortresses serves to strengthen their defenses, but at the sa ti, it is ant to exhaust the energy of the Refugees, preventing them from disrupting the order in Italy. I suspect that even more fortresses will be completed by 871."
Wigg was unconcerned by this developnt. "Delaying the conflict is more advantageous for us. Once our national strength recovers, I will have plenty of ways to deal with them."
Then ca Moravia in Central Europe. The region was undergoing massive conversions of faith, leaving the situation incredibly volatile. Agents from the intelligence network had successfully infiltrated the large and dium-sized settlents of Moravia, attempting to contact the temple Shamans and several Nobles whose interests had been compromised.
To prepare for potential war in this direction, Wigg decided to deploy the understrength Third and Fourth Field Divisions, along with two Garrison Regints and fifteen hundred cavalryn.
After the onset of spring, these troops would gradually march toward Magdeburg on the upper reaches of the Elbe River, standing ready to intervene in the Moravian situation at a mont's notice.
With the prosperity of the commodity economy in Britain, the civilian demand for currency had surged drastically. Wigg needed to mine enough gold and silver to mint into coins and inject into the market, maintaining an adequate money supply.
In his mory, the Bohemia region under Moravia's jurisdiction was rich in mineral resources. For instance, Kutná Hora would beco the most productive silver mine within the Holy Roman Empire during the thirteenth century.
Finally, there was Rurik in Eastern Europe. The man was still busy with the Black Sea and Baltic Sea Trade route. Wigg only ntioned him briefly; the disparity in power between the two sides was now too vast to warrant dedicating much energy to him.
At noon, the eting adjourned. The ministers walked out of the venue feeling deeply relieved, rejoicing that they had survived the end-of-year rush. From this mont until the beginning of spring, there would be fewer regional affairs to manage, making it a rare and relaxing ti of the year.
Wigg shared the exact sa sentint. Ever since he departed for West Francia in 867, he had been constantly campaigning abroad and had not enjoyed a winter break in a very long ti.
For the most part, he chose to hole up in his office to read and sleep, or to go fishing along the banks of the River Thas. Occasionally, he would ride a Cart through the streets to observe the capital he had spent years developing.
Following the end of the war, the handicraft industry in Britain entered a period of prosperity. People from all over poured into Londinium, causing the resident population to swell to thirty-eight thousand.
The current urban area could accommodate roughly fifty thousand residents. The Cabinet had submitted a Reform Plan, projecting the construction of new city walls within two years to make room for more housing.
Looking through the window of his Cart, Wigg watched the storefronts flash by, along with the towering arena and opera house in the distance. He suddenly felt that this kind of peaceful life was quite nice.
Two months later, on the Baltic Sea. Under a leaden gray sky, chilling winds howled. Seawater repeatedly battered the hull of a Three-Masted Sailing Ship. The captain manned the Ship's Wheel, slowly navigating toward the coast of Porania.
In the distance, a settlent gradually ca into focus. Rough log Wooden Palisades encircled three hundred low-slung houses. Upon learning of a rchant Ship's arrival, a large number of residents surged onto the docks, eagerly anticipating the various goods the vessel would sell.
It did not take long for the sailing ship to dock against a crude Wooden Pier. However, the people who disembarked were not rchants and clerks, but rather a naval Military Officer wearing a tricorn hat and a black double-breasted uniform, followed by a squad of Marines.
Further behind him, a man draped in a black robe and leaning on an Oak walking stick appeared before the residents. He gazed at the crowd amiably. "Do not panic, my children. I am the Raven Speaker, the Chief Great Shaman of the Empire. I have matters to discuss with your Chieftain."
Thirty years had passed. Having held a high position for so long, the Raven Speaker had gradually cultivated an indescribable aura of authority. The residents did not dare to look directly at his face, lowering their heads and clearing a path for him.
Northern European Polytheism and Slavic Polytheism shared many similarities. In recent years, the Teyneburg Order had found ways to integrate their doctrines, dispatching Shamans skilled in dicine to operate in the region. The results had been remarkably smooth.
For this trip to Porania, the Raven Speaker's mission was to persuade the local West Slavic Chieftains to accept the Empire's rule.
The Lord's longhouse sat in the center of the settlent. Overall, it appeared low and broad, much like a giant beast crouching on the ground. The roof was constructed from thick, overlapping Wooden Planks, currently emitting a few wisps of faint blue smoke. The walls, built from stacked logs, had weathered many storms and possessed a deep, dark brown hue.
The Marines pushed open the heavy wooden doors, and a wave of stagnant heat engulfed the Raven Speaker. He stood still for a mont, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim environnt inside.
Then, the Raven Speaker bypassed the rectangular fire pit in the room and walked straight toward the Chieftain seated at the head. Daunted by the man's imposing presence, the guards on either side made no move to stop him.
"I am the Raven Speaker."
Upon learning the visitor's identity, the Chieftain respectfully left his seat and imdiately promised to join the Empire. His Tribe occupied an excellent port, reselling goods from Britain to the inland territories, and then selling inland Amber and Furs back to British rchant Ships. Since he profited imnsely from this Trade, he was naturally inclined to compromise.
In late March, one hundred and sixty Tribal Chieftains of Porania convened in a woodland clearing.
The Viking Empire was currently at the height of its power. Scandinavia to the north and Francia to the south had all been incorporated into its territory. As the Chieftains discussed the matter among themselves, they simply could not imagine any possibility of successful resistance.
The eting lasted little more than ten minutes. They unanimously agreed to join, on the condition that the royal family acknowledge the hereditary power of the Tribal Chieftains.
"Of course," the Raven Speaker nodded amiably.
Before his departure, the Emperor had shared his perspective on Porania: the region was covered in swamps and forests, making it extrely difficult to develop. The soil consisted primarily of clay and gravel; it was infertile and entirely unsuitable for farming.
The Cabinet's administrative efficiency was limited, rendering it ill-suited for the direct managent of this land. All the Emperor required was the labor force of the various Tribes.
These two hundred thousand West Slavs had embraced the preachings of the Teyneburg Order, and their Loyalty surpassed that of the Franks. During tis of peace, the Cabinet could recruit immigrants to settle in the directly administered Counties. During tis of war, the War Departnt could form at least five Garrison Regints from them, compensating for the Empire's manpower shortages.
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