I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom

February 17, 1696.

The fortress of N'kosi had fallen. His warriors were dead, captured, or scattered into the jungle, and his so-called divine leadership had been shattered by cold steel and gunpowder. Yet, General Armand Roux knew that this was only the first step in a much larger conquest.

The morning after the battle, Roux gathered his officers and Chief Ibara in the ruined war hall of the fortress. The Elysean flag now hung where N'kosi's banners once stood. Maps of the surrounding regions were unrolled across a crude wooden table, detailing the known kingdoms, tribal coalitions, and uncharted lands that stretched across the northern half of the continent.

Roux traced his finger along the map, eyes narrowing as he spoke.

"This fortress was the heart of the rebellion, but the war is not over. There are other warlords, other kings, and chieftains who will either fight us or submit. I want them to do the latter, but if they resist, we will make them regret it."

Captain Étienne Giraud, his side still bandaged from the wound N'kosi had given him, smirked. "Then it's time we bring Elysean civilization to these lands properly."

Ibara studied the map, pointing to the western regions where the great rivers split into many fertile lands. "Many of the lesser chiefs will surrender if they see your strength. They feared N'kosi because he promised them unity, but now he is dead, and his dream has burned. They will follow the next power that offers stability."

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Roux nodded. "Then we march at once."

Thus, the conquest began.

March – The Fall of the Lower Warlords

The first to fall were the remnants of N'kosi's former allies—tribal warlords who had pledged their loyalty to him but lacked his strength. Their villages and strongholds were isolated, their forces scattered after the fall of the fortress.

Roux wasted no time.

Using the remaining 650 Elysean soldiers, bolstered by Ibara's warriors, he launched a systematic campaign against these holdouts. The strategy was swift and brutal—march, surround, and destroy.

Many villages, upon hearing of N'kosi's demise, surrendered immediately. Chiefs swore loyalty to the Elysean Empire, pledging their warriors in exchange for protection and trade. Those who refused to yield met a grim fate.

The Elysean army, armed with bolt-action rifles, artillery, and Gatling guns, annihilated any tribal warriors who dared take up arms against them. Battles that would have once lasted hours or days were over in minutes. A well-trained line of soldiers with rifles could wipe out entire warbands before they got within striking distance.

By the end of March, over twenty warlords had fallen, and their people were absorbed into the expanding Elysean territories.

May – The Kingdoms of the Great River

By late spring, the campaign had reached the Great River Kingdoms. These were not just small warbands or scattered villages—these were established city-states, rich with trade, agriculture, and armies of their own.

The largest of them was Tumbira, a fortified kingdom along the riverbanks. Its ruler, King Chisomo, had been watching the Elysean advance with growing alarm. He had no illusions about what was coming.

When Roux's forces reached the outskirts of Tumbira, King Chisomo sent emissaries, hoping to negotiate. But Roux had no interest in negotiations. He knew that if he let these kingdoms remain independent, they could one day unite against Elysea's rule.

The siege of Tumbira lasted five days.

Unlike the previous battles, Tumbira had walls—high stone battlements, reinforced gates, and trained warriors. But walls meant little against Elysean artillery. Howitzers pounded the defenses, sending chunks of stone and bodies flying. Gatling guns raked across the parapets, tearing apart archers before they could fire an arrow.

By the third day, a breach had been made. By the fifth day, Elysean troops stormed the city, cutting down any resistance they found. King Chisomo was dragged from his palace and brought before Roux.

The choice was simple: submission or execution.

Chisomo, seeing the bodies of his warriors littering the streets, chose submission. His remaining forces were absorbed into the Elysean ranks, and his kingdom was annexed.

With Tumbira's fall, the rest of the Great River Kingdoms capitulated without a fight. The remaining kings swore fealty to Elysea rather than face the same fate.

July – The Last Bastions of Resistance

By mid-year, the entire western half of the upper continent had fallen under Elysean control. The remaining regions to the east, however, still had strong resistance.

One of the last holdouts was the Ivory Confederation, a powerful alliance of trade cities and nomadic warrior clans. Unlike the previous enemies, these people knew of modern weapons—some had even obtained European muskets through trade with the Iberians.

Their leader, High Lord Mandala, had prepared for war long before the Elyseans arrived.

When Roux's forces approached the Confederation's largest city, they met an actual army—a force of over 8,000 warriors, many of them armed with muskets, cannons, and even cavalry.

It was the largest battle of the campaign.

On July 22nd, 1696, the Elysean army, now numbering 12,000 strong with native auxiliaries, met the Confederation on the open plains near Lake Mazuri.

Mandala's warriors charged with a ferocity unlike anything Roux had seen before. Cavalry swept in from the flanks, while musketeers unleashed volleys of fire. The battlefield was chaos—smoke, gunfire, and the screams of dying men filled the air.

By nightfall, the Confederation's forces were broken. Mandala was captured while attempting to flee, and his army was wiped out.

With the Confederation's collapse, the last major resistance in the northern half of the continent was gone.

By the end of 1696, the Elysean banner flew over every major city, kingdom, and tribal land north of the equator.

Some regions had fallen through sheer military might, others through diplomatic subjugation. The conquered territories were divided into provinces, each ruled by an Elysean-appointed governor, with native chieftains acting as local administrators.

Trade flourished under the new rule. Roads were built. Forts were established. Factories began appearing along the rivers, using native labor to fuel Elysea's growing wealth.

"The Emperor would be pleased with the result," General Roux muttered.