Chapter 192: Opportunity Will Present Itself!

"Although His Majesty bestowed generous gifts and titles upon those Dwarven Mountain Holds just a few months ago to secure trade agreements, but if we have to reached the crucial juncture of war with the empire, do you honestly believe they will obediently follow the orders of our empire without considering their own interests first?They will seize this opportunity to benefit themselves without hesitation.

The same applies to the Elven Kingdoms who have maintained neutrality for centuries what are the odds that they will not pass up chances to expand their influence while we are distracted with The Khans."

Alex continued his strategic analysis while gesturing at the improvised world map with practiced movements.

Without even needing careful consideration, the Emperor immediately shook his head after brief reflection on the geopolitical realities of their borders.

When matters involve their own survival interests and territorial concerns, those foreign races and kingdoms are extremely unlikely to remain obedient or loyal once opportunity presents itself clearly.

Alex nodded along while continuing to eat casually as if discussing simple matters.

"Exactly that’s my point. If those Dwarven clans who value gold above all else behave this unpredictably, then those Orcish warbands who already harbor ulterior motives and deep seated resentments against human expansion will certainly refuse to sit idle watching our empire extend northward into the Khans territories.

The Elven Kingdoms may even form defensive pacts with the barbarians despite their historical animosity with their ancestors, simply to check our power and maintain regional balance."

"And Once that situation develops and alliances shift, our empire will find itself trapped in a nightmare scenario that no general wants to face.

Enemies will surround us from all four directions simultaneously with coordinated attacks.

We would become trapped in an endless quagmire of war on multiple fronts.

The conflict could easily escalate into a prolonged campaign that drains the entire nation’s resources, strength, and treasury completely dry bit by bit till it was left with nothing but dreds."

"I genuinely believe His Majesty understands these strategic realities perfectly well, which is why he has not taken any rash action yet despite political pressure of the ministers.

I believe he will not commit to such campaigns in the future if those ministers have any sense at all."

After hearing this comprehensive analysis that accounted for multiple variables, the Emperor fell into profound contemplation.

This strategic principle behind is actually not particularly difficult to grasp for someone with military training like him, he thought to himself while reviewing the logic.

Even if I were to summon my court officials and military advisors to discuss this matter thoroughly, many of them would eventually comprehend the dangerous implications involved.

However, the Emperor harbored such deep seated resentment and hatred toward the barbarian Khan for years of border raids.

His burning desire for victory and revenge had clouded his strategic judgment temporarily that day when the Lesser Khan’s envoys arrived.

If not for that emotional blindness, he would not have issued such a rash preliminary order that very day.

After being reminded so clearly by Alex’s logical analysis and careful reasoning, he instantly regained his composure and rational thinking about the true costs that he have to pay in the war with the Khan’s, it was not simply worth it.

But understanding the situation is one thing. He still could not easily accept that such a seemingly perfect opportunity must slip through his hands just like that.

The Emperor took a long sip of wine while feeling deeply frustrated by circumstances beyond his control.

He said with genuine disappointment evident in his voice, "What an absolute predicament we are faceing! Such a magnificent opportunity for revenge for all the deaths of our ancestors has slipped through our fingers completely due to bad time and climate."

Alex patted the Emperor reassuringly on the shoulder in a friendly manner, trying to comfort him.

This casual friendly gesture made His Majesty shudder violently with surprise at the unexpected contact.

It has been an extremely long time since anyone dared to pat him on the shoulder in such a familiar casual manner, the Emperor realized with sudden shock.

The last time someone treated him with such comfortable informality was during his youth when he was still a prince fighting and competing for the throne with his ambitious brothers.

Since ascending to the imperial throne and assuming absolute power over the realm, there had never been such intimate friendly gestures directed toward his person.

Now, after being patted on the shoulder so casually by this remarkable man who saw only a merchant, the Emperor actually felt genuinely pleased and warmed by the simple gesture.

But Imperial families are forever destined to maintain their dignity and proper distance from others, he was taught from the day of his birth.

He thought as he reflected with sadness clearly evident on his face.

No matter how good our relationships might be with ministers or generals who serve loyally, we must always adhere to the rigid proper etiquette between ruler and subject.

We can never interact as freely and naturally as ordinary common people do with their friends and family without layers of formality.

Therefore, the Emperor sometimes felt crushing loneliness despite being surrounded constantly by thousands of servants and officials.

Many troubling thoughts and concerns could only be kept locked deep inside his heart with no one to confide in honestly and openly like today.

This isolation made him occasionally deeply envious of the genuine warmth and the intimacy found in ordinary people’s homes and friendships.

Therefore, Alex’s casual friendly gesture filled him with unexpected warmth and comfort that he had not felt in years.

Alex remained completely unaware of the Emperor’s complex emotional reactions to such a simple action.

He patted Mr. Shah’s shoulder again with out any care and continued speaking encouragingly.

"In my opinion, the situation is not nearly as unfortunate as you believe it to be.

This particular opportunity may have passed for now due to circumstances, but there will definitely be other excellent chances arising in the future.

You can believe me on this."

"Since the Lesser Khan dared to secretly send envoys to contact our empire for military assistance against his rival, this action was essentially tolling his own death knell and sealing his eventual fate.

Once the news of the Lesser Khan’s alliance with us would reach the Greater Khan’s ears than day will be day when the Countdown of end of the both of them will began.

If his situation was not already critically desperate and truly on the verge of total collapse, he would never have allied with us humans against his fellow barbarian.

Such alliances go against their tribal codes.

I genuinely think the Lesser Khan’s regime might collapse completely in less than two years maximum given the current trajectory."

Upon hearing this bold prediction with such specific timing, the Emperor immediately focused all his attention intensely on Alex.

He pushed aside all other wandering thoughts from his mind completely.

He asked with burning curiosity that he could not hide, "What exactly do you mean by making such a specific prediction? On what basis do you calculate two years?"

"The Lesser Khan sent those envoys seeking military assistance primarily because the severe drought plaguing the northern territories has caused catastrophic deaths among countless cattle and sheep herds that are their wealth.

Meanwhile, the Greater Khan is desperately demanding enormous tribute payments and resources from him to maintain his own struggling regime and military forces.

This creates an impossible situation for the Lesser Khan who has lost most of his herds."

Alex adjusted the spoons again to illustrate the power dynamic.

"This time around, the Lesser Khan completely failed to obtain any reinforcements or military support from our empire due to the drought conditions.

He will probably have absolutely no choice except to continue obediently paying those crushing tribute demands to the Greater Khan or face immediate invasion.

Do you honestly think the Lesser Khan can swallow such repeated humiliation and exploitation indefinitely without breaking?"

"The Greater Khan will definitely become increasingly greedy and demanding as time passes and his own desperation from the drought will only grow worse.

Sooner or later within the next two years, the Lesser Khan will reach his breaking point and refuse to submit any longer. When that inevitable day finally arrives and he rebels out of desperation, will the golden opportunity not present itself perfectly for our intervention?"

Alex smiled confidently at his analysis.

"Therefore, if military action proves impossible this year due to our own drought problems, there is always next year to consider when conditions improve for us.

Within two or three years maximum, I am absolutely certain the Lesser Khan will not be able to continue his current precarious situation much longer.

He will either be destroyed by the Greater Khan, or he will rebel and seek our help again when we are better prepared. Either way, opportunities will emerge for a patient empire."