Way of Overlord-Chapter 439: The Rise of Khagai

Dama also created a few policies.

He had relocated tailors, blacksmiths and skilled artisans from Lushar and Kyara to Esbizuk lands to produce weapons armor and other necessities to empower his armies

He uses these newfound strength to attack more settlements in the mountain and force them to follow and obey him.

And the mountain people like the Steppe people also respected strength

This allows Dama to replenish his fallen soldiers and also brought out the fierce and brutal mountain men to the land of the Steppe

Dama then stipulate that each region must provide specific quotes of livestock, resources and warrior

Zuldar and Askhadar region is the only one that has some exemptions that is not afforded to the other khanates.

And Dama also rewards his men with lands. Watchtowers are built along the borders and trade routes to monitor movement

Conquered warriors are forcibly conscripted into the Esbizuk army as horse archers, scouts, and foot soldiers.

Elite warriors from each of the region are sent to serve as guards in Dama stronghold and some of the region small chief had to send their sons and daughter to Esbizuk khanate as guest

Which is just a nicer way to say hostages

Dama impose stick military and economic control, dividing the conquered territories into manageable regions based on geography, culture and resources.

There is cruelty in his method but also pragmatism, using fear and forced loyalty to consolidate his power.

If he succeed in consolidating his power, this fear would turn into awe and forced loyalty would become true loyalty

That is what is happening in the East.

The Khan of the East, Tsendeama Son of Uda!

[Candidate for the Great Khan: Tsendeama of Uda]

.....

In the east, Esbizuk tribe is consolidating their powers and Dama is making a name for himself, and his ambition is now known to all.

A counterbalance to Aeryon

In the west, there is also many chaos that is brewing

Unlike in the east where one tribe started to dominate without any obstacle, in the west, almost all of the western tribe is at war with each other starting from the battle between Chagai tribe and Haltur tribe that drag all of the tribes in the west to fight each other for interest and safety of their tribe.

Out of all the conflict that has happened this year in the Southern Great Steppe none was so fierce and so important than the war in the west.

First, it was the Chagai tribe representing the Cha Ner Ul alliance to attack Haltur tribe.

Chagai tribe even sent an envoy to Aeryon to get his promise that he would not attack Chagai rear when the Chagai attack Haltur tribe.

Aeryon nodded to this promise and Chagai tribe went attacking the Haltur tribe with the force of more than ten thousand horsemen converging on the land of Haltur tribe.

This is the trigger that started a war that dragged almost all of the tribe in the west

The Gir, Ino and Burka tribe gathered together to help Haltur. These three tribes have no choice but to send armies to help Haltur regardless of past enmity because once Chagai wins it means they are next

Now that Gir, Ino and Burka tribe send their men, Ultar and Nergui tribe from the Cha Ner Ul Alliance enter the war adding more men to the frontline.

A battle involving an alliance of three large tribes against four small tribes that banded together.

Some people hope that the three tribes could resists but to the eyes of many people in the world, the conclusion of this battle has already been written

But then a variable appears.

The unmoving Bolghar tribe suddenly make a move.

Bolghar tribe also enters the battle and attacking the Burka tribe.

This is the precursor to the battle between the Khagai and the Bolghar tribe. Bolghar tribe is the largest tribe in the west.

When Bolghar tribe attacked Burka tribe, that is when Valgrun this old wolf began showing his fang and shock the western region

Besieging Bolghar to save Burka tribe!

It force Bolghar to return and make Valgrun the chief of the Khagai tribe to once again appears in the stage.

They were pretty quiet after their victory in Nurshira. But once they make a move, it shocks the Steppe.

And then before everyone could take stock of all the conflict in the west, everyone was shocked to see that the west totally become a mess now.

Wherever they look there is conflict and battle between the tribes

There is the Cha Ner Ul Alliance besieging the four small tribes. Whoever wins would control the central region of the west.

There is Khagai and Bolghar tribe fighting for dominance of power in the westernmost side of the Southern Great Steppe.

The one who wins would gain advantage and probably could even create a separate regime in the west.

With its weird terrain, the area of the westernmost side of the Southern Great Steppe is easy to defend, hard to attack.

The battle between Khagai and Bolghar tribe begins and Zlata and Duhai tribe, the tribe under Brolgadhr banner render aid to the Khagai.

Nobody bats an eye to this because Aeryon has been known to be close to the chief of Khagai since their meeting in Nurshira.

Aeryon himself is known for keeping his words.

He said he would not attack Chagai and he would not attack it.

He said he would aid Khagai and he would aid it. But the battle between tribes and chief are not the only highlight of this war in the west

With the battle between each tribe, new heroes and new people rises into fame

there is the battle between Ota and the Thirteen Shields of Bolghar.

Ota challenge thirteen of them and defeated them all, breaking the morale of the Bolghar

Then there is the battle between Ota and Yurmuk making Ota name to be known all over the west and all over the Southern Great Steppe.

And this battle finally culminated in the Flooding of Bolghar Hills that shocked everyone.

The battle that everyone think would become a stalemate suddenly ended in such a way

Bolghar tribe main force and the bulk of their warriors were all wiped out in one battle making Khagai the sole winner and easily taking all of the small tribes and clans that Bolghar tribe had under their banner

Bolghar tribe lost a lot of men in that battle and as such Khagai tribe did not gain much in terms of recruiting new and experienced warriors but the Khagai tribe did get an advantage in that there is lack of rebellion.

Valgrun himself is a leader that does not use force and threat like Dama instead his method aligns more with Aeryon

After a week of reorganizing the army and moving the new settlements of Khagai to the center of the area, Valgrun announce his policy to his men.

He allow any surviving Bolghar elders to retain minor administrative roles under Khagai appointed overseers.

With this method, Valgrun preserve the local knowledge, reduces resentment, and ensures smooth governance.

Integrating the authority of the chief and the conquering tribe while the Khagai tribe can focus on the big picture.

Some of the elders of the Khagai tribe did not understand the rationale of this. There is no need for the conquered to take part in the administration but Valgrun simply said

"The herds will not follow an unfamiliar shepherd unless the new sheepherder kill one to warn the other. I do not want to kill many. Let the Bolghar shepherd guide their sheep, but let them walk on the paths we set"

The Elder hearing this finally acquiesced and the Bolghar people hearing this become at ease and their resistance lessened.

Valgrun then relocate skilled Khagai craftsmen and advisors, into the new settlement that is about to be build.

This new settlements is the settlement of the Khagai tribe that would probably become a focal point for all the smalls settlements on the region of Khagai and Bolghar

Valgrun also consult the wise men from Zhou whether the flooded areas could be repurposed and rebuild as canals for irrigation, turning a destructive force that he had used to induce farming.

Valgrun had many refugees from Zhou. Some of them are craftsman and artisans and Valgrun accepted them and absorb their knowledge.

As for his sudden interest in agriculture, there is a reason for that

There is some seeds that Valgrun had received from Aeryon that is said to be able to grow some unusual plants that have great yield

Valgrun then absorb the surviving Bolghar warriors into Khagai ranks, forming a mixed army under Khagai command , rewarding loyalty with position of honour and rewards of land and resources.

A horse may come from any herd, but under one rider, it charges as one. And Valgrun also exempt the Bolghar land for tribute for two years.

Instead, he wanted to invest in the land to build town, field, herds and stable.

There will also be reward for the settlement that meet quotas with protection and trade access.

A herd grows only if you let it graze.

And only when the herd is fat will Khagai trim that fat. Khagai did not want the herd to starve

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