Chapter Six: Awakening of National Consciousness?

Although Amaska’s intention in distributing power among the nation’s intellectuals and wealthy seemed to be a strategy to consolidate authority and resist foreign enemies, this so-called “proclamation” nonetheless stirred the ranks of the uprising’s cadres to their core. Even a low-ranking officer like themselves now had the chance to enter the National Assembly—the very heart of power. Was this not the very reason they fought to claim the land? How could they not be motivated?

With the powerful propaganda machinery of the Germanic organization, the “proclamation” quickly spread throughout the entire country. Even those self-proclaimed minor nobles took a keen interest in the Germanic National Assembly. For a time, the various local warlords shifted from hostility to neutrality toward the Germanic faction, as if waiting to strike a bargain.

Of course, the “proclamation” was only aimed at the literate elite; as for the masses at the bottom—those who could barely fill their stomachs and couldn’t recognize a single character—talking to them about human rights, law, or civic duty was pointless. Such concepts were as foreign as the stars—could you eat them?

When it came to persuading the common folk—no, propagandizing them—the message was simple and direct:

“Fellow villagers, the corrupt officials and emperors of the Madrid Empire have fallen! Never again will you be oppressed; this is the fruit of our collective resistance. Follow us, and there will be equal land for all, equal taxes, shared food and fortune. Whatever troubles you face, our government will resolve them!

Look at how good life is now—shouldn’t we all work together to protect this hard-won happiness?

What are you waiting for? Enlist now! Protect your way of life, and you will be building a paradise for your children and grandchildren, ensuring they never go hungry or cold again!

Foreign enemies have invaded, and those nobles who once lorded over you are still causing harm. We must unite to overthrow them, redistribute their wealth and land, and resist the invaders together. If we lose, all our newfound happiness will be gone! We do not fight for an emperor, but for ourselves, for our homes, and for our descendants!”

Through relentless indoctrination, these simple farmers finally understood: the state now existed to serve them. Indeed, they saw with their own eyes the redistribution of land once owned by deposed officials and landlords—tangible benefits right before them!

Not bad at all—this Germanic nation seemed reliable. Enlisting truly meant fighting for their own livelihoods and those of their children!

It was that simple. Talking to commoners about lofty ideals of national destiny was nonsense; but give them tangible benefits, then tell them those benefits could only be protected by unity, and of course they would enthusiastically join the army to fend off anyone threatening their hard-won share.

Amaska’s propagandists were highly pragmatic. After the Madrid Empire’s fall, they used confiscated fertile lands to win over the masses. These common folk volunteered for the army out of a genuine desire to protect their own bowls of rice.

After all, those who have often gone hungry are the ones most willing to risk their lives. Only those who know the pain of an empty stomach truly cherish the grain in their hands. If anyone tries to take it from them, and they have the means and leadership to resist, why wouldn’t they fight to the death? Anything is better than starving, and even if they die, their children might live full lives.

In just a few days, Amaska, flying the banner of the Germanic nation, assembled an army over two hundred thousand strong!

Of course, their weapons were extremely primitive—mostly matchlock guns and spears. Spears were quick and easy to produce, and the matchlocks were surplus, obsolete weapons discarded by the Madrid Empire. Amaska, having seized the imperial capital, made good use of these discarded arms to equip his two hundred thousand troops.

Beyond basic weapons and ammunition, they had nothing—no uniforms, nothing else. Most of the army, composed of peasants, looked more like a band of beggars. Yet the confidence in their eyes, fighting for their descendants, made it clear this was an army willing to risk everything.

Naturally, Amaska’s forces weren’t composed solely of peasant rebels. He also reorganized a core force of fifty thousand, mostly from the former New Army. With land distributed to them, they became staunch supporters of the Germanic cause, and Amaska, with characteristic bravado, named this comparatively elite force the Germanic Guard—a rather unimaginative title.

In less than a month, Amaska mustered two hundred and fifty thousand troops from the entire Iberian Peninsula. Had there been more weapons, the army could have grown even larger.

While Amaska was organizing his national army and the warlords were busy expanding their forces, the British Imperial Army and the Frankian Imperial Army occupied the border province of Bodi—the largest province of the former Madrid Empire. The allied forces swept through Bodi with overwhelming force, and now the entire Iberian Peninsula lay open to their advance, vastly expanding their strategic reach. It was only natural, then, that Britain and Frankia divided their armies: upon hearing of Madrid’s collapse, neither commander believed any force remaining on the peninsula could halt their advance—certainly not a bunch of peasants who had only just set aside their hoes. Marshals Gertdor and Max could only scoff at the prospect.

After reinforcing their numbers to eighty thousand, the Frankian Imperial Army marched straight for Seville, the imperial capital district, while Britain’s eighty thousand moved south. The two nations seemed intent on long-term occupation, but refrained from massacres in Bodi. They merely requisitioned some food and supplies, set up a basic occupation administration, then split—one south, one east—leaving Bodi behind.

Amaska, ever shrewd, relocated all Germanic forces from the border to the capital region and, using Seville as a base, issued a final ultimatum to the local noble warlords.

Those warlords and nobles, who had hoped to sell themselves for a high price, were furious. Were it not for the looming threat of the British and Frankian armies, they would have gladly formed a coalition to crush the arrogant Amaska.

Unfortunately, the warlords in the north and south were preoccupied with self-preservation, and the east had long since been infiltrated by Amaska. He didn’t even bother issuing ultimatums to the eastern nobles; instead, he simply coordinated with his agents to wipe out the entire lot in one swift stroke.

The spoils, naturally, were distributed among the peasant-soldiers who had fought for them. The example proved powerful—morale among the two hundred thousand-strong peasant army, united by their determination to protect their livelihoods, soared higher still. Now, their rage burned against the remnants of feudal tyranny.

With the aim of training his forces, Amaska assembled his two hundred and fifty thousand strong army and advanced in a sweeping campaign against those noble warlords untouched by the Allied invasion.

Before the war to repel foreign invaders had even begun on the Iberian Peninsula, civil war had already erupted among its own people.