The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 618: The Six Kings’ Accord

Half a month before the Midsummer Festival, the two warring sides sign an armistice agreement in the observation tower.Under the witness of many parties, both sides agree not to start another war within ten years.

Ogiro will retreat one hundred kilometers and use that line as the border.

During the retreat, Ogiro may not deliberately destroy facilities, nor may it drive away or capture civilians.

As the victor of the battle, Lumir must release the Ogiro commercial and administrative personnel detained because of the fighting.

At the same time, Lumir must return all property belonging to those detained personnel.

Prisoners from both sides will be exchanged at the wounded soldiers' camp under Peace Haven's supervision.

Neither side may hide prisoners, and neither side may kill or harm prisoners in advance.

As a guarantee, both sides will each place two million gold coins with Peace Haven as a security deposit.

Afterward, Peace Haven will send people to investigate. If either side commits such acts, its security deposit will be handed over to the injured side.

The security deposits will remain in Peace Haven for one year. During the investigation period, both sides may also file reports.

If neither side raises objections, Peace Haven will return the deposits after one year and collect only a small investigation fee.

The armistice agreement is personally drafted by the two legion commanders of the Western Federation, and they sign their own crests on it.

They sign personal crests, as well as office crests representing their posts in the Western Regions.

There are seven copies of the document in total, and each of the seven factions holds one copy.

When Henwell signs his crest on the final accord, everyone raises the copy in their hands.

This accord later becomes known as the Six Kings' Accord.

The Western Federation is not included among these six kings. The six are only the princes of five countries, plus Henwell.

And starting from this moment, every faction, from top to bottom, tacitly accepts Henwell's royal status.

Prince Obilian hands the area within one kilometer of the observation tower over to Peace Haven for management.

The distance from this place to Ika, Ogiro, and Peace Haven's southern region is roughly the same, making it the nearest central point.

Henwell has no intention of occupying this place. He only proposes that they leave this meaningful site intact.

In the future, if the parties have any conflicts, they can also come here to discuss and mediate.

No one objects. After all, for quite a long time to come, everyone needs to recover and rebuild.

Whether it is the two heavily damaged warring sides, or Peace Haven and Ika, which have swallowed many benefits, all of them need time to digest the land and population they now hold.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Henwell begins promoting his fortresses right in front of the two sides that have just signed the armistice.

He successfully obtains quite a few orders. Both sides must build large numbers of defensive fortresses near the new border line.

On the entire continent, only Peace Haven can build the strongest fortresses in the shortest time and at the lowest cost.

Henwell is doing this partly to solve Peace Haven's fiscal crisis and partly to drain both sides' reserves one more time.

After all, both Lumir and Ogiro have portions of their territory occupied by Peace Haven.

To ease the possible pressure on those three enclaves, Henwell must make sure that neither side has the ability to trouble him in the short term.

War is already a game that burns money, and the two sides have burned a terrifying amount of money through several battles.

The two defensive lines Henwell promotes require each side to pay nearly ten million gold coins.

Although the fortress defense projects will take three years, that alone is enough to make it difficult for either side to trouble him during these three years.

Three days before the Midsummer Festival, Henwell returns to Peace Haven proper.

On the wall of the new city, he announces that the war is over, and Peace Haven welcomes peace once again.

This good news makes this Midsummer Festival even more festive.

Henwell, however, has no festive mood inside Blood Hill Manor.

Looking at the massive deficit data gathered before him, Henwell feels waves of pain throb through his head.

By the time he finishes the medal ceremony, arrangements for disabled soldiers to retire, and visits to the families of fallen soldiers, two months have already passed.

This day is Henwell's thirtieth birthday. Many high officials of Peace Haven gather at Blood Hill Manor to offer him their blessings.

When the banquet nears its end, Henwell taps his cup. The servants and maids immediately begin clearing the table.

Then they bring up many fruits, tea, and wine.

Everyone immediately perks up. They know Henwell is about to announce something important.

Before speaking, Henwell pours himself a cup of wine. "This cup is to all of you."

"Without your bloody fighting and resistance on the front line, and without the rear's tireless logistical arrangements, Peace Haven would not have survived."

As soon as he finishes, everyone stands in unison and returns the toast.

After Henwell sets down his cup, the maids and servants leave the hall and close the doors.

Henwell looks around at everyone. A moment later, he says loudly, "Now. Orders."

Everyone immediately stands at attention and looks at Henwell.

"Order. Ayla is relieved of command of the First Legion. Angeli, former commander of the First Warband, will serve as legion commander."

"Kivel is relieved of command of the Third Legion. Atley, commander of the Fifth Warband, will take over as legion commander."

"Agnico is relieved of command of the Fourth Legion. Basilio, commander of the Seventh Warband, will take over as legion commander."

"Dominic is relieved of command of the First Garrison Legion. Terrence, former commander of the First Garrison Warband, will take over as legion commander."

"Augusta is relieved of command of the First Mixed Legion. Thomas, former commander of the First Mixed Warband, will serve as legion commander..."

A string of appointments and removals leaves everyone wide-eyed, unsure what Henwell is trying to do.

Then Henwell looks at the several relieved legion commanders and sees only confusion in their eyes, not dissatisfaction.

This satisfies Henwell.

So, a moment later, Henwell continues, "Order. Peace Haven will establish the military district system."

"The Central Military District will command the First and Second Garrison Legions, with Dominic, former commander of the First Garrison Legion, serving as military district commander-in-chief."

"The Northern Military District will command the First and Second Mixed Legions, with Agnico, former commander of the Fourth Legion, serving as commander-in-chief."

"The Western Military District will command the First and Second Legions, with Ayla, former commander of the First Legion, serving as commander-in-chief of the Western Military District."

"The Eastern Military District will command the Third and Fourth Legions, with Kivel, former commander of the Third Legion, serving as military district commander."

"The Southern Military District will command the Fifth and Sixth Legions, with Sera, former caravan security supervisor, serving as military district commander..."

At this point, everyone immediately understands that Henwell is establishing a more complete military system.

The generals who have just been relieved of command and then promoted to military district commander-in-chief cannot hold back their smiles.

But their hearts also give a hard jump. They already understand Henwell's deeper meaning.

Such a major military appointment and removal action should, by rights, have been discussed with the General Staff and several legion commanders, yet Henwell has made the decision alone.

So many people already understand what Henwell means.

It is a surprise, and also a warning.

Peace Haven's uncrowned king is declaring his authority, and he is also warning those beneath him.