Four-Armed Divine Emperor

To Sky City, "Rome" is like a "black hole". They are indeed enemies, but their actions are unpredictable to them. At the same time, because of the incident with Celine, they have shown their extremely powerful hidden strength, which is enough to pose a threat to even the strongest wizards. This makes the wizards unable to figure out the details of "Rome" and the people behind him, so they did not choose to launch an attack rashly when they have the home advantage.

Since the other party dared to come and made such a fuss, they must have come well prepared and were fully confident.

Of course, this is indeed the case.

The White Tower had no idea what Rome's confidence was or what cards it had, so the mages chose to be safe. If they really wanted to attack the Sky City directly, who would be the first to take the lead?

Given the strength and stealth shown by the enemy, the first ones to be eliminated will definitely suffer a head-on blow from the enemy.

This is also a complicated job. A strong enemy is not scary, but the unknown and not knowing how strong the enemy is makes people hesitant.

No one wants to be cannon fodder, that's obvious.

For the mages, it is obvious that at the moment, they lack the need to actively "sacrifice". Since the enemy chooses to use chess pieces as a test, they, who are fighting at home, obviously have a huge advantage in this regard compared to the exiles.

The entire Neyr world, from the Tartarus continent to the Sahara and then to the Eastern world, has almost endless manpower available for them to use and control.

Over thousands of years, the White Tower Order's influence on the mortal world has become pervasive.

It can be said that if Rome did not have the support of "foreign forces" behind it, Sky City would only need an edict to label Rome as a rebel against the White Tower order, and then the power of the final winner who was "hard-earned" from the collapse of the Alan Empire and the disputes among the heroes would immediately collapse.

Local governors, warlords, and even simple "law-abiding people" whose ambitions are slightly suppressed will rise up and serve as the vanguard of the White Tower, tearing the empire into pieces - and to some extent, this is actually beneficial to the Zoroastrians as a whole.

They kill the "rebels" as soon as possible, preferably before the White Tower takes action personally, or before the surrounding separatist and hostile forces destroy the interests of the Zoroastrians under the banner of maintaining the order of the White Tower. The new victor can then offer submissive allegiance to the White Tower, which can minimize the group's losses.

So it was unprecedented, probably the first time in nearly a thousand years.

An imperial decree was issued from the Sky City and spread at an extremely fast speed to all the lands under the influence of the White Tower Order—the entire world of Il.

"The Fire Worshipers—the Roman state—violate the laws of the Nine Rings, disregard the prohibitions on magic, and conduct forbidden research... In the name of the White Tower of the Nine Rings, which is inspired, taught, and blessed by the saints, we declare them public enemies! All good people who abide by the order of the White Tower and the laws of the Nine Rings must fight against them!"

As soon as the news came out, the whole world was shocked.

Even the Eastern countries that had not been involved in affairs outside the continent for a long time woke up from their half-sleep and cast their astonished eyes on the other side of the ocean, where things were happening that could reshape the entire world pattern.

For the continent of Tartarus, the things they can do besides being shocked are much simpler.

send troops!

The Great Holy War targets Rome!

If there is anyone in the mortal world who is most affected and controlled by supernatural powers, it is not the lower-class civilians who are considered powerless. They are not "directly" controlled by the White Tower.

But the ruling class.

Elite classes such as nobles, wealthy businessmen, and priests (the White Tower allows the existence of belief in gods and regards it as part of cultural tradition, so "priests" are similar to mortal scholars).

The White Tower controls these people, and these people control the majority.

In the past, apart from upholding the laws of the White Tower, that is, mortals were not allowed to preach the law privately, the White Tower did not interfere much with the secular world. Whether you were dissolute and immoral or warmongering, it was your own "wealth" that was lost and your own head that was extinguished, and the White Tower would not care.

But once the White Tower has a decree, this dormant "will" awakens and begins to act, and ordinary people are not allowed to disobey it.

The warlords of the Golden Dynasty were the first to respond.

Because after the Wisdom Palace Sky City left Ctesiphon and took off, it flew directly to the southwest, passed through the desert land south of Canaan and the Fertile Crescent, and arrived above Fayum, the capital of the ancient Golden Dynasty. It was adjacent to the other two Sky Cities, "Blue" and "Gold", one in the north, one in the south, and one in the west. If it encountered an attack, it would be easy to escape.

Chapter 415

They support each other.

The warlords of the Golden Dynasty reached an alliance agreement. Before that, they had already decided on a temporary winner. The great warlord Satkara, who claimed to be the orthodox descendant of the ancient dynasty, announced the restoration of the ancient Golden Dynasty as the Tenth Dynasty. However, his victory was only temporary. He soon failed in a war to conquer rebellious warlords and lost 30,000 elite troops. He withdrew his troops back to the capital - Ashtaniya, also known as the City of Conquest, named after the former Emperor Ashtan [Conqueror].

However, his successor colluded with the concubines in the palace to launch a coup in an attempt to seize power. Although the conspiracy was thwarted by Satkara, he personally executed a group of his concubines, relatives connected with them, and his successors in a rage. The political and military turmoil and failures of the Ten Dynasties plunged the Golden Dynasty, which had finally seen the dawn of unification, into turmoil again.

At present, this "restorer" Satkara can still only be regarded as a "warlord", but he is the most powerful one. His territory only occupies about two-fifths of the Golden Dynasty, and the rest of the place is still occupied by ambitious governors and warlords.

If we were to ask who fears the new empire rising in the East the most, it would obviously be the Golden Descendants who have been conquered and occupied by the Zoroastrians in the past few hundred years.

They were among those who had previously fanned the flames of the turmoil, and they were very enthusiastic, because even the short-sighted warlords knew clearly:

Once the new fire-worshipper in the East (Rome) rose, the first contradiction of expansion could not be found anywhere else except the Golden Dynasty, which was so close at hand.

And now something even more terrifying has happened: the rumors about those exiles of the Old Ones seem to have come true! The rise of Rome and the fall of Alan are truly the work of the remnants of the Old Ones!

It couldn't be more terrifying for them.

If that's the case, wouldn't it be even easier for the Zoroastrians, who have clung to their former power, to conquer and enslave them?!

Therefore, before the White Tower's edict was issued, the warlords who had already sensed something was wrong had already united to issue a ceasefire agreement to Satkara, demanding that the other party put the "overall situation first." The latter also rationally agreed to this choice under the persuasion of the mage advisors. If they disagreed, it would mean they were not giving face to the White Tower. By then, the mages under his command would simply "vote with their feet" and run to other people, and his new dynasty would be finished immediately!

Then the warlords reached an agreement, agreeing not to attack each other until the affairs in the East were resolved, and to follow the call of the White Tower and serve the Nine Rings.

After the public enemy decree was issued, they were the first to respond, declaring that the Golden Descendants were absolutely loyal to the Nine Rings Law and the Order of the White Tower, and would defend the peace of Neir with their own blood and the blood of their enemies.

At the instruction of Sky City, they formed an expeditionary force of 100,000 and marched eastward. They were the second mortal force to take action in this holy war and the second chess piece put forward by the mages.

As for the first one?

Of course, they were the Canaanites who were already clamoring for independence.

Before the White Tower's edict was sent out to all directions, they also received instructions from the Sky City. So once the edict was issued, they immediately announced:

"independent!"

"Protect the law, defend justice, eliminate rebellion and violence, and follow the law!"

Then came the Seven Shields of Antolia, the Indian states, the Aegean city-states, and the people of Montenegro...

Worldwide.

A large encirclement and hostile front against the "Romans" has been established, and people are constantly joining it.

Chapter 83: "To the East!"

In the land of Canaan, smoke of war spread everywhere. A total of 46 mountaintops, large and small, raised the banner of rebellion. Not only did they receive support from the Seven Shields Alliance of Antolia in the north, but they also coordinated the offensive of the Crusade Army of the Golden Dynasty in the southwest, seizing the Palestine region. At the same time, they marched eastward along the Assyrian River and seized Sargon Menga, an important city between the Kursa Mountains in the north and the desert in the south. Within a few months, the entire western territory of the Roman Republic could be declared lost, and the outlet to the Titan Sea and the Aegean Sea was completely lost.

The separation of a territory with a population of tens of millions and the declaration of a change of ownership would be a serious blow to any normal country, and it might even be one of the direct causes of the ultimate outcome of "national destruction" or "change of dynasty".

The Bedouin and Aserai tribes in the southern desert also severed their tributary relationship with the "Zoralea" and began to form a coalition army to march north to participate in the encirclement and suppression war against Rome. These ancient desert tribes had been connected with the Golden Dynasty, the Palace of Wisdom, and the bloodline of the Indian King in the east. They served those ancient gods as loyal servants and married into their bloodlines. Therefore, they have always regarded themselves as "descendants of the saints" internally. Of course, after the War of the Ancients, there was undoubtedly only one group that could be called "descendants of the saints", and that was the direct descendants of the white-robed sages in the Nine-Ring White Tower.

The desert tribes, however, had rebelled in time, and although they had close ties with the old times, they had not been subjected to much liquidation. Their rights in their hometown were still retained, and they could live as nomads in the desert, or send people to serve the Zoroastrian Empire and the Golden Dynasty, and fight as mercenaries abroad, and also give back to their hometown appropriately. Now, when the White Tower called out, these poor and crazy desert people seemed to see an opportunity to completely wash off the stigma of their old masters and pledge allegiance to the rulers. Of course, it is more likely that they simply wanted a reasonable, legitimate reason and a higher degree of certainty to grab a fortune in the rich and prosperous Babylonia.

There were also many places in the Roman state.

Chapter 416

A rebellion broke out, and some forces under the banner of restoring the Azad royal family or "respecting the law and protecting the truth" launched an uprising to support the surrounding anti-Roman (old) coalition to overthrow the existing regime, which had already committed the indelible crime of "colluding with the remnants of the old times and the witch king's tyranny."

......

The sky is filled with boiling water.

Loud.

Even the Tsardom of Uslif in the west of the continent negotiated a ceasefire with the United Principalities of the North Sea in the west after the White Tower's edict was issued. This was the eleventh war that broke out between them. After shaking hands and making peace, both sides announced that they would join the coalition and send legions to the east to participate in the "Great Holy War" called by the White Tower.

The ancient legions of the Kronos Empire and the crowned knights and volunteers of the Apennines were already on board.

The Apennine region, which has enjoyed prosperity for hundreds of years, has always been one of the most prosperous and wealthy regions in the entire Tartarus continent because of its unique geographical advantages and the high level of "mages per capita". The conflicts between city-states are not fierce, which makes many young and energetic young people feel anxious because they can't find things to do, have no fun and excitement, no glory and victory. Therefore, the Apennine region has always been the most productive for mercenaries, adventurers, explorers and other professions that travel around.

After the White Tower's decree was conveyed, many people could not wait to pack their equipment and board ships to the East at their own expense. In order to show their respect for the wizard, the shipping giants lowered the price of the tickets to a very low price, and added new voyages to the East every day.

The passionate sons and daughters of the Apennines believe that they will achieve glory and achievements in the East that will be enough to boast about their achievements and be passed down to future generations. They will practice the great mission of "protecting hair and defending morality" with their own actions.

Basically, half a month after the Roman legions blockaded Ctesiphon and forced the Palace of Wisdom to retreat to the Sky City, the White Tower issued a "punitive edict" in the afternoon of the same day, declaring the "Roman Republic" as the public enemy of the world.

On the territory of the former Alan Empire inherited by the New Roman Republic, more than 300,000 enemy soldiers appeared "instantly".

And this number is expected to continue to expand.

Whether it was the nearby Antolia, the Southern Desert, and Indi, which were vassal or quasi-vassal forces suppressed by the Zoroastrians throughout history, or Bactria, Canaan, and the Golden Dynasty, which had long been conquered by the Zoroastrians and had always been seeking independence, they all hoped to take this opportunity to resolve the threat from the behemoth around them once and for all, even if it meant paying a huge price.

For places farther away, such as the Aegean city-states, the Cronus Empire, and the Apennines, there was nothing wrong with allowing the "surplus" population in the country to go to the East to seek wealth and glory. Whether they died in the East or won in the East, it was not a big loss in the end.

What's more, there is the White Pagoda Edict, which is the most important political correctness and righteousness, hanging above our heads.

No one would comment on Sky City's tough stance, not even hesitating.

Don’t these secular rulers and elites know that the White Tower is using them as scouts and cannon fodder to test the forces behind the secretly controlled "Roman Republic" in the East—the remnants of the old times?

Of course you can see it!

Otherwise, based on the past few invasions by the Old Ones, the White Tower would have taken direct action. You opened a space channel and ran in, right? I would have moved the Sky City over to block the door.

This time, the White Tower did something rare. For the first time, it did not take action itself. Instead, it issued an order to the mortal countries that might really only be used as cannon fodder in the war between the extraordinary people to send troops to the expedition... Obviously, to put it in a positive way, this was to use them to test the waters and throw a stone to test the water - in the eyes of the extraordinary people, the mortal world was indeed just a stone that could be thrown.

If you think about it deeply, that is...

The White Tower has no confidence in defeating the "Romans"!

At least they have not figured out the opponent's confidence, and they feel a huge risk, so they will not take action directly, but let the mortal army go to the front. It is the same as the way of war in secular wars. Before the formal war between mages, there must be a fight and test between mortals. Tens of thousands of troops fight with all their might, and hundreds of thousands of people die one after another. The result of the battle may simply allow the mages to gain an advantage of "striking back" and consuming some of the enemy's magic power.

But...how about that?

After all, it is not them who go directly to the battlefield!

Kings, nobles, city-state elders... they would not lead their troops directly to the Eastern battlefield to fight against the Romans whose strength was still unknown.

Just as the mages do not care how many mortals on earth are killed because of their orders, they also do not care how many soldiers under them are killed.

Chapter 84: Unimpeded

Glory, merit, wealth, land...

The White Tower has made it clear that because of the "Romans'" disobedience, they have decided to temporarily deprive the Zoroastrian Empire of its existence after this war. In other words, the White Tower only needs to win, and the mortal world can get all the spoils.

This made both noble princes and low-ranking soldiers happy, especially for the lower-ranking people, as such promises and benefits would always be easier to arouse their fighting enthusiasm than simple slogans.

The Seven Shields Alliance, the Independent Canaan, and the Golden Dynasty took the lead in forming the Eastern Holy War - the "Guardian Alliance". They wholeheartedly welcome the guardian warriors from the West to join the crusade.

Chapter 417

The rebellious and brutal Romans came into being.

They spent a lot of money to recruit new soldiers, and they wanted to arm every man and woman in the territory as a "soldier" to join the legion.

Take Canaan as an example. In just a few months, they expanded their army from tens of thousands to nearly 200,000, and this number is still increasing. After declaring independence, many fortresses and arsenals left by the former Alan Empire were seized by them. It was relying on these legacies, plus its status as the western territory of the empire, with a long coastline and the wealth brought by trade, that the Canaanites were able to expand their army so rapidly.

The warlords of the Golden Dynasty expanded their armies at a slightly slower pace. They fought wars year after year, suffered population losses, and their local governance system was always in a state of disrepair.

But even so, after the dynasty's warlords responded to the call and announced the Eastern Expedition, the number of troops under their command more than doubled. Of course, those "new recruits" could not be called qualified soldiers at all. At best, they could only be said to be peasants who took up arms.

In the combat of professional armies, the only role they can play is probably filling trenches, digging fortifications...that is, serving as cannon fodder.

Normally, conscripting them to the battlefield would be of little use, and would instead severely damage the territory's productivity. This was rarely the case during the warlord conflicts of the Golden Dynasty; after all, the people were not fools. If a warlord were so reckless as to conscript men to serve as cannon fodder, the people would not hesitate to vote with their feet, launching an uprising and joining the opposing forces, seeking a ruler who would at least not drag them into battle to die.

But the situation is different this time. With the White Tower as the master above all else, the orders of the Sky City are the greatest laws, justice, and truth in the world.

The first person to expand the army had an involutionary effect on the others. In order to defend the Nine Rings Law and follow the righteous path established by the sages, XX spared no expense in expanding the army, which clearly shows his loyalty to the White Tower!

What about everyone else?

You can't just not show any expression at all.

Naturally, we must also appear to be actively "responding to the call."

And they didn't really pay out of their own pockets.

No matter how high and mighty the mages are, they still know that if you want a horse to run, you have to give it more grass to eat.

The richest class in the world is not the kings and nobles, nor the business oligarchs and wealthy businessmen of the city-states, but the mages.

Just a little bit of money leaking out from between the fingers of Sky City is enough to make ordinary people ecstatic. After all, it is the accumulation of dozens of generations - what's more, they don't have to spend any real money.

Theoretically speaking, all secular forces in the world are vassals of the Nine-Ring White Tower. Once the decree is issued, the "White Tower Camp" is established, and everyone enters a wartime state, and mutual support is naturally indispensable.

Food and weapons from the Kronos Empire, the wealth of the Apennine Peninsula, mercenaries, and high-quality soldiers from Montenegro and the Stone Land...all flowed to the East in an endless stream.

If it weren't for the support from their "allies" and "Big Brother" behind the scenes, the three Eastern Alliances would not have been able to expand their military forces so quickly.

The White Tower is still very generous in this regard, because no matter how much is spent, it will eventually flow back to the Sky City.

The Sky City messenger promised the Guardian Alliance:

As long as the troops enter Roman territory, all expenses will be borne by the White Tower. The specific figures may be settled after the war, but funds can be allocated now, based on the size of the troops...

In that case, the more the better.

Many still held the view that the Romans were difficult to deal with, believing that at least the first wave of attacking troops would undoubtedly encounter a stubborn enemy defense. In order to preserve their own elite troops, they would increase the number of troops, and then a large number of cannon fodder would be killed. As long as the numbers and proportions were "acceptable", Sky City would be able to cope, and the elite forces of the professional army would not suffer too many losses...

As for conscripts?