Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire

The golden light of the afternoon had long since dimmed by the time Julius returned to his private quarters.

The great fanfare had died behind the high walls and echoing domes of the Eternal City, replaced now with only the faint, rhythmic murmurs of watchmen on the battlements and the crackle of torchlight in the halls.

Inside, the Emperor's chambers were quiet.

Not grand — not compared to the opulence the city might expect of its sovereign — but purposeful.

The walls were lined with maps, scrolls, and diagrams.

A vast window overlooked the northern plains, while a wide desk of dark oak stood at the room's heart, scattered with parchment, ink, and the scent of fresh wax, probably that was delivered this very day.

Julius entered alone.

Serena had retired to her adjoining suite with the promise of rest, though he suspected she would still be reviewing her own intelligence reports long into the night.

That was the way of rulers, after all — sleep was never real rest.

Just a pause between duties.

Removing his purple-trimmed mantle, Julius draped it across the back of a low chair before settling into the seat at his desk.

He cracked his knuckles, leaned over the parchment, and summoned the System Interface with a practiced blink.

Getting himself into he zone he began to look over the maps even if the fog of war had not dropped on Germania or Francia, he had played the game enough to practically remember the landscapes, setting his mind to the task of preparing for his nations its newest campaign — not with swords and shields, but with ink and strategy.

Julius took up his quill and began to write upon the parchment before him.

Known Structure of Francian Military

Heavy Cavalry (Chevaliers): Elite knights, armoured in full plate or chain, mounted atop barded warhorses. Strong charge impact, but slow turning speed and poor cohesion in rough terrain.

Light Cavalry (Coureurs): Used for flanking and harassment. Fast but lightly armoured.

Infantry

Halberdiers / Men-at-Arms: Heavily armoured footmen, trained for prolonged melee combat.

Pikemen: Designed to counter cavalry, often used to protect archer lines.

Crossbowmen: Moderate range, devastating at close-to-mid ranges. Vulnerable while reloading.

Longbowmen (Elite Francian Archers): Capable of firing over distance and arcs. Weak to cavalry charges.

Siege Equipment: Trebuchets, battering rams.

Command Doctrine: Feudal hierarchy. Nobles lead contingents based on allegiance. Chain of command is fractured. High morale in knight-led units, but poor coordination across wider army as a whole.

His selection of their army was based of the game, Francia was a choice that fielded some of this worlds strongest cavalry, however that came at a cost, main in that the numbers of these cavalry were limited, while the main core of their army would be levy forces and could easily be brushed aside by the professional legions.

Having finished writing down the enemy overview even before factoring in the reports from his spies in the field.

Romanus Imperial Counter-Strategies (Legion-Centric):

Julius narrowed his eyes as he moved to the next scroll and began to write with rapid strokes as he scrawled down tactics the legions as they are now would be best to choose when facing up against such an opponent.

1. Against Heavy Cavalry:

Establish tiered spear phalanxes supported by shield walls.

Deploy Velites (light infantry skirmishers) with caltrops and firebombs.

Utilize Iron Cavalry (Romanus Cataphracts) to engage only after Francian charge loses momentum. Striking from the flanks.

2. Against Francian Infantry Blocks:

Engage with Legionnaire Cohorts in staggered waves.

Outmaneuver with Auxilia Light Troops to force infantry to break formation.

Use siege-trained engineers to lay field traps in advance of battles when possible (spike pits, flame trenches).

3. Against Crossbowmen/Longbowmen:

Equip frontline cohorts with tower shields and testudo formations.

Advance under the cover of mobile mantlets and pavise walls.

Deploy cavalry units behind natural cover or via night flanks to sweep archers once engagement begins.

4. Against Siege Engines:

Do not let them reach walls.

Use long-range scorpians and incendiary bolts from defended high ground.

Launch night raids by Praetorian detachments to destroy siege camps before setup completes.

He paused, rolling his neck.

The Francian army was larger on paper.

Wealthier in nobles.

But weaker in unity.

They fought for crowns and banners with a nation that overall did not hold much cohesion as a singular nation.

His legions on the other hand fought for Rome, and himself.

That difference would win them the war since their reason for fighting was clear.

Julius leaned back, eyes flitting toward the open scroll beside him.

A personal reproduced copy of the Francian Campaign of 4123 by imperial recoking or 823 from the new post-imperial calendar, detailing the failed invasion of the southern Visigoth lands back when their Empire was still a Kingdom, and their reigning King was focused more on the peaceful growth on his lands as opposed to conquest — the francian knights had been split across rivers and bogs, slaughtered in fragmented waves, and after the fall of the knights the invading army lost practically all of their commanders who rode together in one elite unite as opposed to leading their army from behind or like Julius commanding from the frontlines.

"History always repeats itself,"

he muttered.

"But thankfully we don't have to be the ones who will be repeating it."

He then drew a rough map of the western provinces, marking likely incursion routes from Germanian territory, on the off chance that they fall faster than the Romanus forces can muster for war, or the more likely invasion routes the Francians will take to conquer The German Confederations territory while cutting off their own army still engaged in the fields of war against the Achae's, which was difficult trying to estimate the travel time based on their slower-moving army and the pace at which they could possibly force their own citizens to perofrm.

Then he penned one final note:

Objectives of Campaign:

Recover Empress Yuri.

Dismantle Francian nobility as a regional military power.

Liberate any subjugated allies under Francian control (including Germanic factions).

Secure Francian ports for future naval expansion.

~

As he penned his final entry.

A small smile formed on Julius's lips.

He capped the inkwell.

This was how his wars began.

Quietly.

Rationally.

With pen strokes sharp as any gladius.

He rose from the desk, crossing the room to the wide window that overlooked the Forum below, where the final flickers of sunlight glinted off rooftops and temple domes.

Down in the distance, torchbearers lit the path for the Grand Barracks, where the First Legion was already beginning midnight drills.

"Soon,"

he whispered to the dark.

Then turned away disrobing before entering his bed he'd been long absent from, and falling to slumber with the upcoming war council meeting fast approaching.