A weary historian dies and finds himself in a different world awakened in a life as the notorious young Duke of a southern state. His nation is weakened, his army underfed, and his neighbors revolve around his lands menacingly. No one believes his land is going to hold out until winter.

But this newfound duke is no naive simpleton his enemies recollect. He carries with him the experience of centuries of war and empire, of starting and ending monarchies. From Caesar to Napoleon, from the Mongols to world wars, he has learned from each of them—and his strategy is to make history his very own arms.

He organizes his smashed levies into well-trained formations, rebuilds his castles, and turns his villages into supply centers. Where others see defeat, he senses opportunity. As he triumphs, rumors spread: of a pennant red as winter snow that shall not go to ground, of a bloody duke who writes his name in gore and flame.

Is he a savior who's constructing a new empire, or a tyrant who's going to bring the world to endless war?

The sound of flaming arrows hitting tents echoed throughout the night, one that sparked chaos and disobedience in Rhyne's ranks as the soldiers struggled to organize.


A commander yelled out, struggling to control his men. They were strong and trained, but with weeks of stagnation and camping, they had grown weak and cowardly.


He was silenced immediately as an arrow pierced through the back of his head, the arrowhead coming out of his mouth as he fell limp on the grassy floor.


A soldier yelled out, alerting the others. Most had already left the encampment, and the accuracy of the arrow fire alone signalled to them that they were outmatched.


The vice commander of the encampment yelled out, decapitating his fellow men as he forced cooperation.


"Listen to me! Or I'll have you all killed!"


Chapter 42 - In the Dead of Night (2)