Way of Overlord

He probably thought he would die in peace and his tribe would at least be safe. But then the wind came. But it came too late for him

As for the past....since he is not sure....then he would not fight. If at that time, he was truly sure that he could win, then he would not mind taking a gamble. But if he is not sure, he could not bear to gamble the life of his people

As for how he dares to fight him...it is precisely because he could win. And if he wins, he protect his people and the west.

Of course, this is all Aeryon conjecture. He is not a worm in Chadha belly, he could not know his thoughts and desire. This is what he believed Chadha character is.

Some of the things he had learned about Chadha pointed that this might very well be likely.

However, one thing is very clear and obvious and is not Aeryon conjecture.

He is a man with a vision and man who sees ten step ahead.

How did Aeryon come to this conclusions? It is none other than the fact that Chayun told Aeryon Chadha plan before his death

Hearing this how could Aeryon not admired such person?

when he knew his time is up, he set up a few schemes.

If it’s a scheme that is ineffective, Aeryon would not feel such fear. But this man, even before his death, his mind is clearer than anyone else.

All of Chadha scheme that he had written and conveyed to Chayun... if even half of those schemes were activated, could have mired Aeryon in the west for years.

And that is not something he wanted. Even if he manage to take the west after all of these resistance, it would be a west that has been in chaos and in need of a rebuilding.

The more it is like this, the more uncertain matters could pop out and rear its ugly head.

If he is fighting in the west for too long, then what would happen to the stance of those western border tribes?

What will Khagai do?

What will Western Zhou do?

And what about those Yan dynasty south of the border would do?

The more he is stuck in the west, the more these enemies and rivals could do something. And humans are always good at surprising another human when they are in the edge of desperation

It is like forcing the brain to create a solution to their problem. And if that is the case, then Aeryon does not want to get surprised later.

He had to agree to Chayun arrangement if he did not want to get stuck in the west. While the deal between him and Chayun give many benefit to Chagai tribe, to say that Aeryon did not get anything would be disingenuous.

Aeryon got what he wanted. As long as he could order the tens of thousands of warriors of the west, whether those warriors were under his direct control or not is not important at this moment

When one is in the process of unifying the world, the initial start would always be bumpy and one would have to be magnanimous with the subordinate, giving them the freedom to do what they want so they could fight for him

All of those royal method like control and balance should be applied when the world is at peace, the unifying is complete and order has risen

For now, he did not mind if the three tribes hold autonomy.

He would find a way to win the hearts of those powerful warriors from the west.

What he wanted was the legitimacy and acknowledgments of these tribes.

Slowly but surely, they would someday gravitate toward his rule.

And then whether he wanted to annex these three tribes or assimilate them or even let them continue as they are, all depends on his prerogative.

"If I wanted to truly control the west and defeated them like I defeated the others....I should have overestimated Chadha ability. Even after overestimating him, I did not overestimate him enough" Aeryon mutters to himself.

Now that the matter of the west is complete Aeryon could not help but reflect on himself.

It is not that he underestimated Chadha. It is that he underestimated the ancient people ability.

Aeryon forget that the ancient sometime is even smarter than he is.

Aeryon himself only have a hodgepodge of knowledge about ruling and leading an army.

"these two old men both give me a surprise"

Garron and Chadha, these two old men shows to him the kind of method they could show the world.

One is cunning ad hide knife inside a sleeve, the other one could smile and open up about their scheme and you still be helpless.

"Chayun is different from his father. But it also a strength"

Chayun is stable. This is not a criticism.

But an affirmation of his strength.

Maybe even Chayun himself did not recognize it. This stability is important when leading an army or ruling a tribe.

Those who are not stable would be influenced by event around them.

But those who are stable could sometime see hope when there is despair and could find that one road that is not closed in time when everyone though the road had all been blocked.

Aeryon sighed.

And then he shakes his head

"This battle taught me many things. And if that is the one thing, I take it from it...it is worth it"

In a way, he learns some of the western border tribe of doing things. He learns to compromise and he learns there is many heroes worth his attention

Aeryon shakes all of these thought out of his head and then walk out of his tent. The guards follows him. He walk toward the gathering and when he walk toward them everyone notice. Those people who was dancing and singing, drinking and jumping around all notice him

Aeryon look at them and they all kneel one of their feet to the ground and put their hand on their chest.

"Khan!"

Aeryon only smiles and shakes his head

"Today is a time to celebrate. Do not mind me and enjoy today victory"

the warriors look at each other and the other nodded.

They continue talking and continue speaking but even Aeryon could tell that they were more subdued. Aeryon does not blame them

Even he understood.

No people could remain unperturbed and act like they are used to. Almost all people are not immune to this.

When you are being observed, your demeanours changes.

In a way, it is like the Pygmalion effect.

And he as their superiors, their lord and their Khan, even though he told them to act as they normally do, because he was there, how could they really act naturally.

Aeryon did not mind these. He would not expect perfection when even he could not achieve it.

Aeryon however called a few generals to follow him.

Those who were called quickly come to him and follow him to another tent.

Before they were enjoying the victory with their soldier.

And Aeryon himself had enjoy the victory with the soldiers.

And now, it is time to deepen the relationship between these generals and him

In the tent Aeryon sit at the host table, sitting cross legged and a short table in front of him with a plate full of meat and warm water on a bowl.

He looks around him, surveying his general.

And he could not help but smile and utter the words

"Inside this tents are the great heroes of the Steppe!" he mutters and everyone in the tent laugh and nodded

Aeryon also laughed

No one could understand this feeling unless they sit on this tent, in his position and feeling like he is.

More addicting than woman or drug. This is power.

Inside this tent are people who could decide where storm would rage and decide the movements of tens of thousands of people.

And he control these people.

One order and hundreds of thousands of horses would move, and hundreds of banners would flutter in the plains of the Steppe

There is Belarion, Burchu, Mukhulai, Xiwanu, Cahya, Chulun, Kashoger, Murong Long and Tuoba He and many others.

All of these are either people who have great power and influence in the army or people who have distinguished themselves in battle and people who Aeryon trusted.

Aeryon look at all of them and waited until all of the food is being distributed and the water is there

There is Ayrag being hold by the servants and ready to serve. But it is customary to drink some warm water before drinking Ayrag or other wines.

This is not so much as custom as it is something that Arion had done. Ayrag is different from normal wine.

The herbs that is fermented alongside it made it not only intoxicating and strong, it also warms the body and at the same time burns the illness.

This is the Ashana words.

Aeryon does not know whether such claims is true of not.

He believes he is not someone who could tolerate alcohol.

His memory as James...is quite patchy.

..