Chapter 164: Chapter 75: The Emperor’s Patron! Duncan
"If you are willing, I can adopt you and appoint you as the Governor of Cavalry for the Gaul Province."
The intent finally became clear.
Aetius said so much, but his real purpose was to win over Duncan. He was the Governor of the British Province appointed by Emperor Valentinian III of the empire. If he acknowledged Aetius as his adoptive father, it would mean aligning with him and distancing himself from Valentinian III.
The stakes offered by Aetius were exceedingly generous. According to Rome’s tradition of adopting heirs, this was a plan to groom Duncan as a successor, to directly inherit his political and military legacy entirely.
After all, his rise to power began as the Governor of Cavalry for the Gaul Province.
Gaul is not some remote corner like Great Britain; the Gaul Province is a major administrative region. It used to be divided into Inner Gaul, Outer Gaul, Belgica Gaul, and also included Upper and Lower Germania. It was almost like appointing you as the second-in-command of the future armed forces of France.
Even a biological son wouldn’t receive such treatment!
This was directly grooming a successor, essentially announcing to everyone that Duncan was the future military and political heir.
Duncan’s military command capability truly amazed Aetius!
Of all the famous generals he had met, Attila was once the strongest. He commanded the Hunnic cavalry like the ’wind’—swift, agile, coming and going like a breeze, their military presence roaring forth like a storm, unstoppable. The second was Theodoric I, King of the Western Goths, who died in battle. He led his cavalry like a ’mountain’—when the heavy cavalry moved, it was as if the earth shook, crushing everything in their path. The force of their army was so formidable even the Hunnic cavalry dared not confront them head-on.
Duncan gave him the impression of ’surging waves,’ one wave after another crashing over everything on the battlefield, finding the enemy’s weak spots, and then overwhelming the enemy ahead.
This young man practically seems like a natural ’god of war’!
He can not only break through the enemy lines, shatter large armies in front, but also divide and encircle, expanding tactical victories as if waves crashing on everything, engulfing the enemy amidst surging tides. Astonishingly, the more he fights, the greater his advantage until he forms a force that sweeps everything before it on the battlefield.
This is not just talent anymore; this is a god-given battlefield deity!
It probably won’t be long before he becomes the most distinguished battlefield general of the age.
Such talent, of course, Aetius hoped to cultivate as his successor.
Aetius offered the best stakes he could, expectantly looking at Duncan in front of him, but soon his mood sank.
Because Duncan was unmoved, he simply said calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I still wish to become the Governor of the British Province."
What he wants, he will go to the battlefield to obtain himself.
The empire is already beyond saving, and inheriting Aetius’s legacy would also mean inheriting this mess. It’s utterly rotten to the core; it’s better to tear down and build a new empire.
Moreover, he had no intention of recognizing an adoptive father. Even though Aetius was the last great general, he had no interest in being an adopted son.
The saying remained true.
A true man earns his own world on horseback! To gain a nation, it must be rightful! Only then can it last long!
If Duncan inherited the empire’s mess, he would have to act as a patcher, dealing with Barbarian Race invasions externally while internally cleaning up the corrupt imperial officials. It would be better to start anew and sweep them all into the dustbin of history together.
Furthermore, Duncan had the backing of Polytheism in secret. Entering the empire’s ruling class would mean facing religious issues.
Aetius’s legacy, to him, was just that.
At this time, Duncan’s attitude had made everything clear. However, Aetius didn’t think too deeply, instead feeling that Duncan might support Emperor Valentinian III a bit more.
Young people are concerned about their reputation.
It’s impossible to have just been appointed as Governor of the British Province by Emperor Valentinian III and then immediately switch loyalties to recognize Aetius as a foster father.
In fact, he didn’t even know that the Governor of the British Province was a title Valentinian III offered to Duncan with enthusiasm, not even aware of the surprise Duncan gave him.
This practically means he could restore not only his reputation but also Valentinian III’s influence, contesting a bit of power with Aetius.
The news hadn’t reached Rome yet, but once Valentinian III knows, soon there will be palace envoys coming to win him over.
He had already made his bet!
This time, it’s a guaranteed win.
Moreover, he had invested; if manpower was needed, he provided manpower. If materials were short, he sent some equipment and materials, though not much, as Valentinian III had a taste for extravagance and his finances were a bit tight.
Let’s put it this way.
After this battle, Duncan will be Valentinian III’s biggest asset. With Duncan’s presence, Valentinian III can speak much more confidently in the imperial court!
Duncan is also a true Roman hero!
He ventured alone to the British Province, defeated the Saxons, slew the King of Kent and his brother, saving the long-oppressed Britons, and restored the empire’s prestige and influence on Great Britain.
God’s Whip—Attila invaded Gaul.
In the empire’s darkest hour, Governor Duncan of the British Province stepped up, leading his army across the sea to aid the imperial alliance, decisively defeating God’s Whip, who was said to be invincible, with remarkable war achievements.
He alone supported the collapsing structure, mended the cracks in the sky, saving the empire from crisis!
To put it bluntly.
While Duncan’s power currently doesn’t match Aetius’s, in terms of fame and status, he could easily stand as an equal soon.
This is the legendary prestige of God’s Whip!
Whoever defeats him is an entire European hero, someone significant in history.
Duncan is entirely qualified to stand up and speak loudly to Aetius, because he too is a local warlord, one who rose on his own, carving out a path with sheer strength!
Even in the imperial court, he sits among the most crucial of seats.
The two were destined to part ways unhappily.
Aetius didn’t want to kill Attila; Duncan wanted to eliminate the threat permanently. Both factions had supporters. At this time, the imperial forces had no ability to attack the entrenched positions, and if Aetius’s forces didn’t exert themselves, even the siege couldn’t be sustained. The main forces of the Huns could break through at any moment.
But that’s what Duncan wanted.
He was waiting for Attila to break through because he had already secretly contacted others, learning from Aetius to borrow troops, seeking the support of some individuals.
Duncan now regarded Aetius as a model to learn from!
Don’t forget.
Just a few days ago, he saved the Gothic Prince Torismund, who, blinded by fury, had charged to the front of the Hunnic camp. It was Duncan who rescued him at the critical moment. Moreover, he knew Molov, leader of the Franks, whom he had mentioned earlier. The Franks were divided into two groups, and under God’s Whip’s command, there were some Frankish vassal armies.
Molov dreamed of unifying the Franks!
He absolutely hoped for Attila’s death, because only with God’s Whip dead could he unify the Frankish nation.
This battle.
Molov was cunning; there weren’t even many Frankish Holy Knights seen on the battlefield.
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