CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 163: WHEELS LAID FLAT! THE PSEUDO EMPEROR MUST DIE! (9,000 WORDS)

Duncan opened his eyes upon hearing the words, his breathing slightly rapid, feeling as if his body was being lifted, floating on the water’s surface. He felt a sensation akin to creamy white jade spreading through his limbs, as though thousands of ants were crawling over him. The water waves licked like lambs on blue salt, such comfort easily addictive, reinforcing his resolve to suppress the Aphrodite cult.

This cult excessively pursues sensory pleasure.

Duncan gently stroked Anya’s charming face and said slowly, "I will find a way."

In fact, Duncan was also somewhat doubtful about his fertility.

He possessed the bloodline of both the Giant Dragon and the Giants, both mythical bloodlines that struggled to produce descendants. If all his efforts proved futile, he would have to resort to unconventional means to seek offspring.

For now, he could only try as much as possible, and if it didn’t work, he would have to find a way through supernatural power.

.........

With the war in the Gaul Province coming to an end,

the entire European situation underwent significant changes. First, the East Goths rebelled, defeated the Huns, and reclaimed their former land, showing signs of restoration. If history followed its original path, the East Goths would completely destroy the empire twenty years later, deposing later emperors.

But in reality, after the death of Valentinian III, the empire was already a mere shell.

The Hunnic Empire is now fragmented, with many people conquered by God’s Whip attempting to rebel, and the flames of war have spread to the Eurasian steppe. This gave Duncan an opportunity to recover lost territory, significantly reducing the difficulty of reclaiming the Pannonia province.

The Eastern Roman Empire seems to have changed emperors recently, and their attitude is unclear. After the Balkans were pillaged, the Eastern Empire was greatly weakened, with only the areas around Greece remaining somewhat prosperous.

However, the situation in Italy took Duncan by surprise.

Because history had deviated significantly, the Vandals seemed to be showing signs of allying with the Pseudo Emperor Maximus.

What kind of joke is this?

In the original history, it was Empress Lysiniya who provoked the Vandals’ desire for invasion, but now the situation was that the Pseudo Emperor Maximus wanted to ally with the Vandals for assistance.

He’s gone mad, daring to summon nomadic tribes.

"Maximus secretly informed the Vandal leader,"

"the imperial princess Eudoxia’s betrothal with their prince might not be fulfilled."

Quintus brought first-hand news, the Roman court was like a sieve, and he glanced cautiously at Duncan and said, "The Vandals were enraged upon hearing this."

"They have always been covetous of the Italian peninsula and the Mediterranean."

"Now with an excuse, they will certainly intervene."

"I’m afraid it won’t be long before a Vandal envoy arrives, possibly demanding Princess Eudoxia from you."

Valentinian III really left a mess everywhere.

He arranged a marriage alliance with Aetius, and now with the Vandals as well, leaving one speechless.

Duncan pondered for a moment and resolutely said, "Demand Princess Eudoxia?"

"Don’t even think about it!"

It wasn’t that Duncan saw the two princesses as his own prizes, but he absolutely could not allow the Vandals to marry into the imperial family from any angle.

Although the Vandals had taken North African Carthage, their rule was not secure. Marrying a princess would grant them a semblance of legitimizing the marriage.

Duncan could not allow them to establish a stronghold.

Valentinian III’s only political legacy was Empress Lysiniya and the two princesses, the continuation of their bloodline was a political legacy, unquestionably not open to others to covet. Duncan would not give any foreign tribe such a chance, to prevent future claims from barbarian leaders asserting their imperial lineage.

No matter how inept Valentinian III might have been, he ruled for nearly twenty to thirty years, and letting his bloodline spread would be troublesome.

The royal bloodline from prior dynasties was always a sensitive issue for any emperor.

Upon hearing this, Quintus respectfully lowered his head and said, "If the Vandals send an envoy to Gaul demanding we fulfill the marriage alliance."

"How should we respond?"

Duncan said indifferently, "Send them back."

"The marriage alliance is void."

If it comes to it, it will be resolved on the battlefield, this marriage alliance cannot be fulfilled.

Quintus cautiously pointed out, "After seizing Carthage, the Vandals have a powerful fleet, they might ravage the Mediterranean region in anger if we refuse."

"If we refuse, they might ally with Maximus."

A fleet?

Duncan pondered for a moment, "I have my own arrangements."

Although Britain doesn’t yet possess the maritime power it will in the future, under my command, there are Britons and the affiliating Saxons, and if it comes to naval battles, there’s nothing to fear.

The Vandals are nomadic peoples, Duncan does not believe their fleet could amount to much.

Quintus soon bent low and retreated.

Now Duncan understood why emperors liked using treacherous ministers, because they were clever and could accomplish much, even take the blame. As long as they were well-controlled, they were more useful than others. However, Quintus could never ascend to a high position, as he had the political stain of murdering Aetius. As long as this remained, he would forever be vulnerable.

At this point, Duncan had already exonerated Aetius.

He publicly affirmed Aetius’s achievements, intending to clear his name and win the support of the imperial army, reducing resistance when invading the Italian peninsula.

A week quickly passed.