#43 – Revolution without Reason
The Yugrile war.
Originally, it was a conflict between the Lidia Kingdom and the Yugrile Kingdom over rights for the purple and silver routes.
The two kingdoms had both been on friendly terms, while also posing the biggest threat to each other.
These two countries had once been one. But there was a quarrel over the royal succession, and they split into two. Sometimes they would fight, sometimes they would have a peace treaty. This seemed to repeat over and over.
However, things changed when the purple and silver route was opened.
At the time, the Yugrile kingdom had the overwhelming advantage when it came to the military.
And with this might, they decided to take the lands that included the ports. After all, had it not been theirs originally?
And so Lidia was forced to yield or fight.
But it seemed like they had no way to defend themselves.
The route had been a near miraculous discovery. And that had been a sign of good news for them.
In other words, they were not prepared for war.
And that was when the empire got involved.
In exchange for foreign trade rights, they would form a military alliance with them. Well, it was more complicated than that. But that was the gist of it.
Surprisingly, the alliance was accepted.
At that time, the empire was already the greatest power on the continent. And so the other countries were worried, and were in the process of forming their own alliance against the empire.
Lidia had been one of them. But as they had now sided with the empire, that meant being subjected to their rule.
The other countries were furious. Especially Yugril.
They quickly allied with the other countries and created a net to surround the empire and invade Lidia…
However, a great cold wave then swept over the continent.
It was called the Winter of Death, and it affected food production. To make matters worse, the Izanif kingdom fell after a revolution. And the plan for a pincer attack had to be abandoned.
Ironically, the empire suffered the least from this terrible winter. Some said that the empire had predicted that it would come, and so they had been prepared. It was the order of the previous emperor, who had already died.
And so it was the winter that ended up helping with the empire’s expansion.
“The emperor then—the Red Emperor, started the reverse invasion. That was the first Yugril war… However, it did not go as the empire planned.”
Even though they were not as affected by the great winter, their economy still took a hit. And if left untreated, small wounds can fester. Until they lead to death.
Given the timing, they should not have been invading another country. They should have looked inwards.
The costs of expanding their borders increased…Noble factions fought each other, and the corruption of government officials became rampant.
Like some kind of joke, the empire was heading in a straight line towards their own destruction.
Yugrile must have seen it as well. They focused on delayed tactics and guerilla fighting. Targeting supplies as much as possible.
In the end, the war ended with the empire’s defeat.
The economic blockade of the Secilia kingdom was one reason for the defeat.
As they were the farthest to the south, they had also been spared much of the damage from winter. And so they reneged on their trade agreement and exerted pressure on the Empire.
Of course, as they were leading the surrounding net against the empire, it was clear that they had always meant to break the agreement.
“The problem started after that.”
Yugrile was drunk with victory.
It was historical. Though, in reality, it was more of a ceasefire. Still, it tasted better than any wine.
And so they ended up making the same mistake as the Empire.
The entire continent was being swept by an economic crisis at that time. Yugrile was no different. The common people were starving.
And yet their food was taken away for the war effort. Or so the nobles said as they continued to live in luxury in the capital.
And then a certain thought began to flow in.
The idea of freedom and revolution.
In the end, a large-scale rebellion erupted in the kingdom.
Not only the common people, but even the military joined them, and the royal castle was soaked with blood.
It was the end of the royal rule, and the beginning of the Yugril Republic.
“However, nothing in this world works as well as you want it to.”
“…Yes.”
After defeating a dictator, is a happy end what awaits everyone?
No.
After the dictator is defeated, you can be expected to be ruled by another dictator.
And it was much more cruel and violent than the previous revolution. A revolution without reason. A feast of blood and beasts.
The revolutionary government put the nobles and royallists on trial, as well as many who had wealth, and had then executed one after another.
While this was based on their ideology, it was also to satisfy the discontent people.
But some scholars and the intellectual class began to see how twisted it was, and raised their voices in objections. However, the revolutionary government then executed them as traitors.
Day after day, the city was filled with smoke from burning bodies, as the rivers ran red with blood.
There is nothing weaker than a ruler who had made an enemy of the people. The nobles had realized this too late. And those who had seen it coming had already fled the country.
One such family…was Aize’s.
Luckily for the revolutionary government, the Empire and Lidia just sad and watched the chaos.
A new emperor had ascended the throne. And they were in the process of rebuilding.
After years of civil war, the Yugrile Republic was struggling in poverty.
And so in order to distract the people from their discontent, they found their next target. The Empire.
They were struggling because the Empire had taken their wealth.
And so it was their turn to take it back.
It was madness. As if they no longer had the ability to make proper decisions. But perhaps that had always been the case.
And so they broke the cease-fire treaty and invaded the Empire.
The attack had all the brutality of bandits as they ravaged the lands.
That was the start of the second Yugrile War.
The Empire’s wrath was great, and they destroyed the Republic army in less than a week. And then came the counter attack.
I did not think war was completely evil. It is the last resort of political disputes.
However, the situation then was too horrible. When people turn into beasts, the only thing left is hatred.
This was the reason that imperials still held a grudge against the Yugrile people. They had pride as soldiers, and could not forgive the enemy for killing noncombatants, including women and children.
“…But back to the present. The Arviness liberation army is a network of soldiers that fled the country after the rebellion. Their goal was to defeat the revolutionary government and restore the royal family. Of course, they failed in their goal.”
“Because the Empire destroyed them?”
The old man nodded.