Chapter Seven
More than three years had passed, and the world of Terria found itself in an era of immense transformation. The Great Hania Empire, under the rule of Nicholas Liao Cheng, had continued its expansion, establishing dominance over vast territories and reshaping the balance of power on the supercontinent. As the empire progressed, the geopolitical landscape became increasingly chaotic, with numerous wars, alliances, and conflicts erupting across the known world.
On the 34th of August, 4 IE, in the mountainous domain of the Greater Vostok Empire, Emperor Vasily III and his family gathered in their luxurious residence for breakfast. Their influence was unmatched, known as the greatest collectors of history, relics, and knowledge. Vostok had a long tradition of endurance, surviving in rocky terrains and constructing breathtaking settlements across the mountains. Their mountaineer army was among the finest, while their navy boasted over 19,000 ships, many of which were small ships purchased from the Great Hania Empire. Vasily III, though deeply intrigued by Hania's rapid progress, remained cautious, understanding that his empire had to adapt to survive.
The Great Hania Empire had expanded exponentially, incorporating Nursado, Taoke, Tschonn, Dzhungkar, Leung, Sakvell, Bullom, Kloncem, Ranpok, Malayara, and Sectau as autonomous regions or provinces. This integration was achieved through diplomacy, economic investments, and, in some cases, strategic interventions. The empire's stability was unmatchedâcrime rates were at an all-time low, corruption was nearly eradicated, and resistance movements had almost disappeared. Only a few isolated insurgencies remained in the autonomous regions. The empire's efforts to improve infrastructure, economy, and public welfare turned these regions into flourishing centers of civilization.
However, the world outside Hania was in turmoil.
The Tamberlane Kingdom, a neighbor of Hania, waged a holy war against the Kaukaz Empire and the Archemeides Empire in an attempt to create a religious state. Their justification was rooted in a belief that Nicholas was a divine prophet, the son of the Creator, destined to lead them into an era of righteousness. Recognizing the dangers of such radical movements, the Great Hania Empire swiftly intervened. Within days, Tamberlane surrendered willingly, and both Kaukaz and Archemeides followed suit, joining Hania as autonomous regions.
The empire's reach extended further, and for the next four years, its presence grew ever stronger.
In the Satam Empire, ruled by the enigmatic Prince of Hell, Yaon, uncertainty loomed. His long-term plans to disrupt Hania had yielded no results, his secret projects had failed, and his empire now faced a devastating war against the Holy Argusten Empire and the Zescoshuchetts Kingdom. These conflicts arose from deep-rooted religious disputes and Argusten's expansionist ambitions.
Meanwhile, the Zescoshuchetts Kingdom, comprised of the twin nations of Zesco and Shuchett, struggled to defend its sovereignty. Unlike their adversaries, they fought purely for survival rather than conquest.
Yaon, known for his cunning and patience, began to question his approach. The rise of Nicholas Liao Cheng troubled him deeply. Was Nicholas the true successor to Satan, or was he something even greater? Doubts gnawed at his mind as he contemplated his next move.
The Holy Argusten Empire was an entirely different kind of threat. The Supreme Regent, Hasbendicta the Awesome, was a madman who had proclaimed himself a god. His regime, fueled by extreme propaganda, manipulated its citizens into absolute obedience, much like the totalitarian states of Earth's past. His goal was to reclaim lost territories and complete his vision of an eternal empire.
The Argusten war machine was relentless. With its vassal state, the Falaok Kingdom, it conducted brutal military campaigns, enslaving populations and enforcing harsh rule. Their adversaries, the Zescoshuchetts Kingdom, and neighboring factions struggled to resist.
The Greater Pardovenese Empire closely monitored Hania's progress. Their technological advancements had reached the level of the 1930s, while the Great Hania Empire had already surpassed the 1950s. Recognizing the growing gap, Pardovenese poured vast resources into its industrial and military sectors, determined to keep pace in the arms race.
However, Nicholas had a different strategy. Rather than engaging directly, he supplied weapons and resources to various nations, ensuring they exhausted themselves in conflict before he made his next move. This approach not only prolonged the chaos but also positioned Hania as the dominant force once the dust settled.
Another brewing storm emerged in the Bouria Empire, where King Karhansev XII sought to wage war against multiple nations, including the Marchemo Kingdom, Eldenere Kingdom, Holy Carvos Kingdom, and Messoria Kingdom. His army of 200,000 soldiers, armed with smuggled pre-WWI weaponry, prepared for an all-out invasion.
Elsewhere, the Arvalon Kingdom invaded the Kingdom of Aireland, while the Adigalitia Kingdom and Gaelisia Kingdom launched military campaigns against the Kingdom of Cauglican. Tensions escalated as Cauglican's display of naval power, with a fleet of over 30,000 ironclad ships, provoked its enemies into open war.
The Rabbal Kingdom, also antagonized by Cauglican, sought protection under the banner of the Great Hania Empire, officially joining as a region.
In the north, the Satam Empire had silently infiltrated the Greater Vostok Empire. Unbeknownst to Vasily III, demonic forces had begun spreading their influence within his territories. Meanwhile, the Pavun Kingdom, situated between Vostok, Germania, Ruskovia, and Fimnorke, prepared for an impending war, recognizing the danger posed by the spreading conflict.
King Josvanja IV of Pavun sent an urgent message to the Great Hania Empire, requesting military support. In response, Nicholas dispatched:
· 30 warplanes to establish air superiority
· 10,000 expeditionary soldiers
· 2,000 artillery units
· 500 light tanks
In exchange, Pavun agreed to become an official region of the Great Hania Empire.
The Confederate Kingdoms of Shoalark faced internal turmoil, including racial tensions, fraudulent elections, and war tensions with the Nbemde Empire and Maderica Empire. To the south, the Bortus Empire faced threats from Nbemde, which had used the Yamoede Kingdom as a staging ground for an invasion.
Nbemde had also manipulated the Aksov Empire and Calliopia Kingdom to wage war against Pardovenese. However, both Aksov and Calliopia turned against Nbemde instead, creating yet another chaotic conflict.
Observing the widespread wars, Nicholas knew it was time to make his move. With Hania's industrial might at its peak, he began supplying arms and resources to various factions, ensuring they would weaken themselves through prolonged warfare.
This slow but calculated approach allowed him to dominate the global arms race while maintaining Hania's position as the ultimate superpower.
As the world descended into chaos, Nicholas sat on his throne, contemplating the future. He understood that each decision carried heavy consequences, but he also knew that the Great Hania Empire was destined for something far greater.
The era of chaos had only begun, and Nicholas Liao Cheng was prepared for whatever came next.
(CHAPTER SEVEN END)