In my palace hall, I sat on the throne discussing with Vizier Kaljar the upcoming war against the Lorope Empire.

The four guards at every corner of the hall looked tense. They realized that we entered a new war, against the same foes that did best us fifteen years ago. It is a natural behavior, I do not blame them.

"Imagine how large our army would be if we adopted military conscription," said Vizier Kaljar. "Our current population in the Kingdom is at about 5 million. If we use at least a tenth of this population, we will gain an extra 500,000 soldiers. It is ten times larger than the current size of our 5 legions, and five times larger the size of the current Lorope Empire army."

"It is an attractive number Kaljar," I replied. "But conscription is not attractive for the people. We are forcing them to die protecting us."

"It is their duty, Your Majesty," Kaljar replied.

A duty... Since the country is providing its people with safety and many rights, then it is equally fair for the country to ask its people, or to force them to defend it.

"Kaljar, I had just become a king yesterday," I said. "It won't be very appealing."

"I agree," Kaljar replied. "But the urgency of the war and the size of Lorope's army requires it."

"Conscription also requires tons of gold coins and manpower for training," I said. "That would put a strain on the war expenses that we have just secured from Vin Chaldoon's money. Even If we managed to deploy 500,000 extra soldiers from the conscription, how can we maintain them? We cannot pay them 5,000,000 gold coins each year."

A single soldier requires about 10 gold coins each year for arms, equipment, and salary. Multiplying that by 500,000 men we can deploy from conscription will equal 5,000,000 gold coins.

The money that we can spend for the war, from the treasury and Vin Chaldoon's capital, totals 2,500,000 gold coins. We do not have enough money for the conscription.

Kaljar looked at the floor thoughtfully. "If money is the only problem then how about we increase our taxes? It is common for nations to deploy a war tax whenever it gets enters a war. Surely, the public would understand it. In fact, even during the Third-Year-War, the public was taxed an extra 10% on all their purchases."

"If we do raise taxes along with starting conscription," I said. "The public will be scared, poor, and afraid of losing their lives. Together, these elements could destabilize the country."

"Your Majesty, if we win this war all these constraints will be justified," said Kaljar.

"Very unlikely," I replied. "In any case, Lorope will also think of starting military conscription the moment we start it. Otherwise, they will not be able to counter us."

"I see," said Kaljar, who seemed to show signs of defeat. "So your suggestion is to close the idea of military conscription?"

"Not fully, let us re-discuss conscription after a year from now," I said. "We will have a more clear image of whether we should use it or ignore it."

The clouds outside the palace covered the sky and dimmed the palace hall.

"Very well," Kaljar said. "What do you suggest for intercepting this half legion lead by Lustratous Your Majesty?"

Did I mishear him? Lustratous is commanding the half legion?

"Did you just say that the half legion is lead by Emperor Lustratous?" I asked.

"Indeed Your Majesty," replied Kaljar. "I am inquiring about your--"

"IS HE MAD?" I shouted.

An Emperor leaving his Empire is not a trifling matter. In fact, during the whole Third-Year-War Lustratous never left his capital. But why now? With such a fragile half of a legion all of a sudden... What is happening?

"Oh, didn't I tell you about it? Kaljar asked. "Lustratous is leading this half legion as we speak. He kept his trusty Vice Emperor Karban in the capital to take care of the Empire."

Karban and Lustratous have a strong bonding. Lustratous was never the man who could trust anyone. Yet, Karban managed to gain Lustratous confidence during the Third-Year-War as the general-in-command of the army back then.

There were many occasions at the war where Karban could use his army to start a mutiny and side with us the Djinns. We were winning in every clash, so it was a beautiful opportunity for Karban. Yet he kept on following Lustratous orders till they won the war with Salamander.

If I were in Lustratous shoes, I would definitely trust this guy more than anyone else in my nation. He is irreplaceable.

"It is still unclear," I said. "Why on Earth would Lustratous put himself in such a risky situation?"

"Lustratous wants to prove himself," Kaljar said. "The Lorope public believes that Lustratous is a weakling without Salamander's blessing. And that Karban outsmarts so Lustratous and relies on him in every decision. Lustratous wants to prove that he can beat us with a small army first, and without Salamander second."

I laughed.

"We shall see. We shall see," I replied with a grin. "So, I assume that Lustratous half army will need three days to enter our kingdom?"

"Yes," Kaljar replied. "Since our Eastern and Western borders with Lorope is blocked by mountains, Lustratous will have to march to our lands southward. He will face a few villages until he gets blocked by the large Castle of Remna."

Our Kingdom is blessed with natural fortifications. At our Northeast and Northwest borders, the tall mountains make it almost impossible for anyone to pass through them. This leaves only the North as the only passage for any traveler or army to go through.

This northern area is protected by what we call the Castle of Remna. It is vast, as large as a city, and with thick walls that siege weapons pale against it.

"Lustratous half legion will arrive at the Castle of Remna a few days earlier than our first legion," I said. "We need a plan for this difference."

"No one can enter the kingdom unless they pass through the Castle of Remna," said Kaljar. "Thus, I suggest deploying the few hundred troops we have ready at hand to guard the Castle until the first legion arrives."

"So be on the defensive for a few days until the first legion arrives?" I asked.

"Right, this is the safest approach Your Majesty," Kaljar replied.

At the north of the Castle of Remna are a few villages that opposing armies do not usually bother fighting against. The focus of the opposing armies is on the Castle of Remna. Once they secure the Castle, the whole kingdom will be open for invasion.

"So the key location in this war is the Castle of Remna huh?" I said. "It will be very sensitive... Kaljar, you will be leading the first legion once it arrives at the war scene next week."

"It would be my pleasure Your Majesty," Kaljar replied.

It uncommon to deploy the Viziers of War to lead the legions. It is risky and losing them brings chaos. But since the opposing half legion is small in number, and that securing the Castle of Remna is critical I do not see the harm.

"Fair enough," I said. "Let us end our talk with this note. Anything besides that?"

"Nothing... besides a minor point," Kaljar replied. "You remember yesterday I discussed with you if you would be willing to meet up with my daughter... Are you still willing to meet her with the war approaching us?"

The recent church incident made me forget all about it. Yesterday Kaljar did open up the topic of me marrying his daughter, and I agreed to meet her after a week.

Now that he will be commanding a legion it is obvious that he will think about his children. Once you enter a war your life becomes cheap, you never know when you will be thrown in the garbage.

"It is not worth delaying my meeting with her for a war," I replied. "So yes I will meet her, after six days as promised."