Hyper-Dimensional Player

Toulouse.

In the 4th century AD, the Western Goths were attacked by the Huns, driven across the Danube River, and entered the territory of the Roman Empire.

Around 410 AD, the Western Goths marched south under the leadership of Alaric, entered Italy, and besieged the city of Rome. With the cooperation of the slaves inside the city, the gates were opened, and they looted and left. Afterwards, they established a kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula within the territory of the Western Roman Empire, eventually establishing their capital in Toulouse.

Although they occupied large territories of the Western Roman Empire, the Western Gothic Kingdom was still a nominal ally of the Western Empire.

Because Theodoric I participated in the Battle of Chalons as an ally of the Empire, this fallen emperor was very brave. He conquered the territory of Spain, drove the Vandals and Alans to North Africa, and suppressed the Suebi to the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula.

Torismund is the successor of Theodoric I, so he is also naturally an ally of the Western Empire. As long as he acknowledges it, Maximus will have a certain legitimacy.

In recent years, the main disputes between the Western Gothic Kingdom and the Empire have been over the territories outside the Gaul region.

The approximate location is the border between Italy and France, and Switzerland is now predominantly Alamanni. These territorial disputes are unclear, and ultimately, it depends on who has the greater strength.

The Western Goths have also built a palace in Toulouse.

In the grand hall.

Torismund received the envoy from Italy with enthusiasm and assured Emperor Maximus of the Empire that their alliance remained effective.

"Your Majesty."

After sending off the envoy, a Western Gothic general said in a deep voice, "Do we really have to ally with the Pseudo Emperor to deal with the Governor of Britain?"

Normally, after the Battle of Chalons, this alliance was already nominally dead.

Torismund's eyes narrowed slightly, gazing at the distant military camp, and he said slowly, "Of course."

"Britannia is rising too quickly."

"If we do not curb their development, in no time they will become our great enemy."

"Moreover."

"I have once met the Governor of Britain, Duncan. He is a very difficult opponent!"

Torismund remembered God's Whip, Attila, commanding the Huns to launch a whirlwind, and even the elite cavalry of the Western Goths struggled, but there was one exception, and that was the Governor of Britain, Duncan. The waves created by his cavalry surged one after another, shattering the formation of the Huns.

Using future game terms, Duncan was one of the most commanding leaders that Torismund had ever seen!

On the local battlefield, he almost possessed a suppressive strength, able to easily exploit any loophole. This grasp of the timing of the battle was simply unprecedented and unseen.

An official nearby whispered, "But the Western Roman national strength is weak and cannot possibly help us at all."

"With Aetius dead, their army is even more feeble."

"Ultimately, we still face the Governor of Britain alone."

Thinking of Aetius, a smile involuntarily appeared on King Torismund's face. When he heard the news of Aetius's death, it felt as if even the heavens were helping him. Similar to when the Golden Kingdom heard of Yue Fei's execution by the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, Aetius was still loyal to the Empire. No matter how many faults he had, his decades of guarding the borders could not be erased.

Without Aetius, the Western Empire would have long been finished.

The Germanic Barbarian Races had feared the Empire's commanders for decades, yet they died in such an absurd and laughable manner.

Currently, the only force capable of stopping the Western Gothic Kingdom's dominance over Western Europe is the Governor of Britain, Duncan. As long as Duncan can be defeated, obliterating the Western Empire would merely be incidental.

"Of course, I know." Torismund said in a deep voice, "But with the Western Empire as a nominal ally."

"We can weaken Duncan's strength."

"Moreover, Maximus is willing to use the Gaul region as an exchange, which is very important to us."

This is the core territory and the excuse for declaring war.

Using future terms, even if the Three Eastern Provinces are lost and completely fall, it would never be acknowledged as belonging to Japan. This is the traditional legitimacy of law; after the war, there will always be a continued struggle, and this national concept will make the north and south fight together to reclaim lost territory.

The Gaul Administrative Region is equivalent to what would later be France. Half of France's core territory compared to the Three Eastern Provinces should not be excessive, as their importance is about the same.

Such a treaty would not be signed by a normal emperor, but Maximus dares to sign it.

Territory can be lost, but the strong claim cannot. What if it can be taken back in the future?

Maximus signing this treaty is no less than the later cession of the Three Eastern Provinces after defeat. The Roman people were already on the verge of going mad.

Torismund said slowly, "Compared to us, the Governor of Britain, Duncan, cares more about the Italian situation. By then, they will definitely attack the Italian Peninsula."

"At that time, it will be our opportunity."

Maximus wants to use the strength of the Western Gothic Kingdom, but Torismund is also eager for Maximus to attract the focus.

After all, it is the imperial throne of the Western Roman Empire.

Torismund does not believe Duncan will not be tempted. When the situation changes, he will lead his army to attack the Franks directly, cutting off the retreat. Even if Duncan occupies Italy, he will be completely disconnected from the British Province.

Only by splitting the enemy into two can Torismund have the confidence to defeat Duncan.

At this time, a general beside him asked puzzledly, "Will the Governor of Britain really ignore the Gaul region and attack Italy directly?"