CHAPTER 332: CHAPTER 165: ASCENDING THE THRONE AS AUGUSTUS (UNIFICATION)

A few months ago, the empire was still in ruins, with even the Italian Peninsula hanging by a thread.

But from the moment Duncan led his army into Italy, good news has been arriving daily without pause.

Three months ago, the Western Goth Kingdom admitted defeat, ceding the occupied Gaul Province, and even abandoned its capital Toulouse, relocating it directly to the Iberian Peninsula. They also paid a substantial war indemnity and committed to a large annual tribute. The Western Goth Kingdom is now severely weakened, barely surviving.

Not long after.

The pseudo-emperor Maximus was killed, and the Imperial Senate faced a major purge. Although Duncan, the Governor of Britain, did not ascend the throne, he abolished the Senate in the name of the imperial center and restructured a new Cabinet Council system, allowing the Roman populace to become lower-level officials, regardless of nobility.

This move, despite discontent in the Eastern Empire, did not provoke any objections due to Duncan’s powerful military forces.

Yet some noble senators resisted desperately, even conspiring to instigate a rebellion.

Severus unleashed a river of blood.

Before long, new battle reports arrived from the front lines: the British Legion had reached the borders of the Pannonia Province, reclaiming yet another imperial province.

About a month later, good news came from Carthage; almost the entire North African region had been recovered, the Vandals were exterminated, over eighty thousand were massacred, nearly all adult males were killed.

This event not only terrified the senators of the imperial Senate, but even envoys from the Eastern Empire scurried back in fear.

The extermination of the Vandals struck fear in many, reducing much resistance to the empire’s reforms.

When Duncan led his great army back to Italy, the entire Italian Peninsula was thoroughly purged. The newly restructured imperial center issued its first decree: all territories of the empire, from the British Province to Gaul Province, from North African Carthage to Rome in Italy, would be exempt from taxes for one year.

The Senate was completely wiped out.

Yet the entire populace of the empire enjoyed the benefits; after years of ceaseless warfare, everyone could finally catch their breath, with a tax exemption equating to distributing money back to the lowest tiers of people.

The Roman people were ecstatic!

When Duncan led his army into the wide Four Directions Avenue within Rome, crowds along the way continuously scattered petals, and some even shouted the names ’Augustus’ and ’Caesar.’

Vast crowds knelt down, without any need for military endorsement, the Romans themselves embraced and hailed the great Duncan to ascend as emperor!

"Your Majesty the Emperor!"

"Augustus!"

The waves of ecstatic cheers made Anya’s face flush with excitement. Her delicate body trembled gently, needing to lean partially on Duncan to stand steadily. Even the ever-composed Crow Queen, Triss, was visibly stirred as she looked towards the Pantheon and then at the man beside her, her eyes filled with infatuation.

This was already a miracle.

In just two short years, this man had reforged the empire and was hailed by the Roman populace as emperor, even suppressing Monotheism and forcibly stabilizing a certain religious balance.

Though future conflicts might arise, they would likely not be as severe.

Duncan gazed at the cheering crowds around him, holding one of Triss’ hands and one of Anya’s, lifting their hands high to share in the glory belonging to the emperor of the empire.

In an instant!

The resounding cheers rang through the heavens, causing all of Rome to erupt.

Thump thump thump.

The sound of war drums began to play. Behind the slightly calmed Roman populace, elite cavalry units started entering the city. They wouldn’t directly garrison within the city but rather make a round, exiting through the Triumphal Arch as a means of conducting a military parade to inspire the hearts and morale of the imperial populace.

Leading the procession was Duncan’s personal guard. They were clad in heavy armor, with some not even having cleaned the bloodstains off their armor. The dried blood seeped into their undershirts, and some guards’ armor bore marks of sword cuts.

A sense of fierce killing intent gradually silenced the entire city of Rome.

Duncan, at this time, stood on a high platform before the Triumphal Arch, surrounded by people. To his right was Crow Queen Triss, to his left was Anya, with Empress Lysiniya and the two princesses slightly behind. At some point, even Igraine had excitedly stood in the crowd.

Clang!

The sound of weapons being pulled from their sheaths echoed.

Hundreds of Duncan’s personal guards drew long swords from their waists, some with chipped blades, and raised their weapons uniformly. Turning to face the direction of the imperial emperor, they held their swords upright in front as the figures of veteran warriors passed through the towering, majestic Triumphal Arch.

Without anyone needing to crown him emperor, as long as Duncan stood there, he was the emperor of the empire. These veteran warriors who followed him in battles across the lands would crush any enemies attempting to thwart their great emperor.

The nearby Roman populace momentarily struggled to breathe; despite only a few hundred in the cavalry unit, they felt an overwhelming atmosphere of slaughter as if birthed from a Corpse Mountain and Blood Sea.

At the back of the formation, there were some different personal guards.

They also bore fierce expressions, raising onto their warhorses with the help of comrades and cavalry, girding the masses’ attention as they passed through the Triumphal Arch. Some had lost arms, others fingers, some limped with injured thighs, some had blood-stained bandages wrapped around their bellies.