Hyper-Dimensional Player

Torismund affirmed: "Maximus has not fully grasped the army yet."

"If he acts now, there's a great chance."

"But if time drags on for too long, the Imperial Senate might slowly gain control over the army."

Time is the answer.

If Duncan continuously refrains from attacking, it's possible that the army might undergo a major change by the Senate.

Half a month's time quickly passed.

A messenger hurriedly headed to Toulouse, and soon a report was delivered to Torismund.

"Your Majesty."

"Rebellion has broken out in places like Capua in Italy. It's said that the Imperial Legion stationed there killed the Senate's aristocrats and directly occupied Capua city."

"They freed the slaves, and it's said the rebels number in the thousands."

As the messenger finished speaking, Torismund excitedly stood up.

He said solemnly, "What are the movements of the British Legion?"

The messenger replied: "The legion from Britain has already set out for Italy, presumably to join forces with the uprising rebels and launch a front and rear attack on Rome and Ravenna."

Torismund immediately got up and said, "The map."

"Bring the map here."

He quickly drew a path on the map, showing the British Legion advancing from Burgundy through Gaul towards the Italian Peninsula, while the rebels near Capua only needed to hold on to tie up a significant portion of the Western Empire's forces.

Heaven helps me!

Torismund excitedly stood up and said, "Immediately summon the army from the Iberian Peninsula."

"The opportunity to seize the Frankish Island is here."

Last time, during the dismemberment of the Frankish tribe, Torismund snatched a lucrative piece from Duncan's hands, occupying the area around Orléans. If they capture the Frankish Island this time, near Paris, they could seize Normandy, and simultaneously attack Calais, Champagne, Gordon, etc., nearly splitting the enemy in two.

If they win this battle.

They can block the Calais Strait and force the British Legion back onto the island, making all of Western Europe the domain of the Western Gothic Kingdom.

Torismund at this moment felt himself shaping a powerful empire, an illusion.

If he annexed the Gaul Province, he would have gained most of the Western Empire's territory, far exceeding the historical Gaul Empire.

In a day's time, dozens of riders scattered in all directions.

The entire Iberian Peninsula sprang into action, except for the troops stationed near the Cape of Good Hope to guard against Vandals, all major legions were assembled near Toulouse, and Torismund, a reckless figure, knowing Duncan was a tough opponent, nearly called upon the nation's efforts to gather an army of sixty thousand, claiming a total assault of one hundred fifty thousand on Gaul.

This was undoubtedly a national war.

Just like Duncan's assessment of him, someone who could charge into a Hun camp would certainly not miss this opportunity and had the courage to go all out.

Meanwhile.

Secret legions were also assembling in Kent on Great Britain. They landed via the Calais Strait; most were not major legions, including Welsh, Scots, Irish, amongst others, as well as Barbarian foreign legions from Germanic tribes, totaling over twenty thousand, which was the mobilization limit for all of Great Britain.

The total population of Britannia was only around one to two million, with one-time mobilization of forty to fifty thousand troops and around a hundred thousand civilian workers, almost exhausting Duncan's national treasury.

If this battle was lost, the whole of Great Britain would be severely damaged.

Dimension Space.

In Duncan's projection panel, the Britain Kingdom appeared with a blazing flame mark.

—"Total War Mobilization (National State): The Britain Kingdom has entered a total war mobilization state, with a substantial increase in manpower, reserves significantly increasing, militias directly transforming into local legions, etc."

This battle directly determines the dominance of Europe.

Duncan had already sent the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth legions to the Italian border, taking a considerable risk in opening a two-front battle, aiming to create the illusion of fully eradicating the Pseudo Emperor, leaving only three to four thousand elite troops in his hands.

Aside from this, there were the Pict Barbarian legions from the British Province, Welsh Highland regiments, Irish Gael regiments, etc., regarded as Celtic Barbarian forces with little discipline, along with local militia reserves and Barbarian foreign legions, all second and third line regiments continuously gathering around the French Island.

Without the main legions attacking Italy, it would be impossible to lure in Torismund.

But second and third line troops were almost incapable of defeating the Western Gothic Kingdom's mighty army, so Duncan's comeback trump card had another source.

—Frankish Dragon Cavalry (Powerful Charge) (Dragon Banner) (One-Star Silver Gray).

—Lager Knight (Powerful Charge) (Dragon Banner) (Two-Star Silver Gray). [Note: Predecessor of Round Table Knight.]

—Sarmatian Elite Cavalry (Powerful Charge) (Dragon Banner) (One-Star).

—Frankish Axe Infantry (Heavy Infantry) (One-Star Silver Gray).

After the Britanian Imperial Legion and other main forces had been dispatched to Italy, Duncan's trump card was the reorganized and recruited Frankish elite, after Molov died too effortlessly, most of the Frankish troops surrendered.

Duncan now operated on multiple fronts.

Led by Severus and others, the elite legions advanced towards Italy. If the Western Gothic Kingdom did not attack, they would eliminate the Pseudo Emperor and destroy the Senate. If the enemy attacked, they would feign a siege, ready to retreat and seize Transalpine Gaul, cutting off the enemy's retreat, creating an encirclement.

Meanwhile, he discreetly remained and personally commanded Lager Knights and Frankish Dragon Cavalry, looking for opportunities to flank the enemy, sever logistical supplies, along with the second and third line troops arriving from Great Britain, allowing them some strength against the Western Gothic army.

The Western Gothic Kingdom could not possibly have sixty thousand regular troops.

Militia against militia.

This battle hinges on command ability and the individual capability of the generals. Duncan's army appears slightly weaker, but with his presence, they gain an advantage in active offensive.

As long as the 'Invincible' status is retained, Duncan could utilize militia morale like regular troops.

Both sides were playing a game of time. If Torismund did not attack with full force, once the British main legions secured the Italian Peninsula, they could immediately return for reinforcements, granting Duncan the 'Eliminate Pseudo Emperor' status, possibly concentrating the entire Western Roman Empire's military power to annihilate them.

With Duncan's astonishing prestige, the newly surrendered imperial legions could instantly be deployed to the battlefield.

If the Western Gothic Kingdom's offensive was fierce, the elite cavalry would drive deep in, and the British main legions would encircle but not attack, not even entering the Italian Peninsula.

Duncan would attempt to entice the enemy deeper, adapting to changes in the war situation.

The crux of the entire Gaul battlefield was whether Paris could be defended. Skilled defending veterans must be employed; only the original Imperial Legion commanders under Duncan excelled at holding fortifications.

As long as Paris held out for a week, Duncan could find an opportunity to reverse the situation. If it held for more than half a month, Duncan had confidence to create a siege and completely annihilate the enemy's main forces.

By then, the British main legions would have returned, reversing the situation and cutting off the retreat.

Under the night sky.

As the Western Gothic Kingdom's troops gathered in places like Orléans, a cavalry unit of over two thousand, constituting the strongest elite cavalry legion in European history, also formed.

Duncan's method of reorganization was simple and brutal. He concentrated all cavalry units, including British Cavalry, Sarmatian Riders, Lager Knights, Frankish Dragon Cavalry, etc., with at least one star marked unit.

Each individual among them could be considered a seasoned veteran.

Such a cavalry legion, daring to charge against ten thousand!

.........

(PS: Tomorrow's a ten-thousand-word long chapter, aiming to finish in one breath. Please support the monthly votes.)