He was already sixty years old, a hero in twilight, unable to hold on much longer.
It wasn’t just because of this; within the law of cause and effect recommended by Catus, the number one human form simply couldn’t become the adopted heir of a grand Protector of the Realm.
Aetius’s schemes over the years were not limited to this. He also incited the Huns to attack the affluent Eastern Empire, diverting disaster eastward, providing the Western Empire with breathing time. For fifteen whole years, Attila - God’s Whip - did not threaten the Western Empire.
If it weren’t for the Hunnic Empire needing to rely on war plunder to maintain its operation, the Eastern Empire would have already been robbed, and God’s Whip - Attila might not have attacked the Western Empire.
The reason for this Hunnic westward campaign is actually quite absurd.
Because it involves a court secret.
Valentinian III had a sister named Hloria, who once had an affair with a guard captain and became pregnant. When the affair was exposed, it created a scandal, so she was sent to a convent in Constantinople for soft imprisonment. Over more than ten years, Hloria’s resentment grew deeper, so she wrote to Attila for help, claiming she was willing to offer herself and even gift the entire Western Empire as a dowry.
This is truly absurd to the extreme.
Attila was overjoyed upon hearing this, immediately agreed, and sent people to the Western Empire with Hloria’s ring, claiming that they had secretly agreed on a marriage contract and demanding to marry the princess while asking for half of the Western Empire’s territory as a dowry.
How could this be agreed upon?
Thus, this matter became the excuse for the Hunnic Empire’s invasion war.
Novels need to follow logic, but reality does not.
Also because of this, Emperor Valentinian III’s image plummeted in the eyes of the people, eager to regain any bit of imperial prestige, even clinging desperately to small opportunities like those presented to Duncan.
Anya’s plans could succeed, external factors were equally indispensable.
Many commanders had already begun discussing the specific tactical layout; the Hunnic army had already gathered in the Sharon plain area. They would need to improvise at that time, but a plan must be prepared now, including the specific troop arrangement, which needs to have a pre-plan months in advance.
Duncan stood in the back without saying a word, but in his mind, he was pondering a very important matter.
That is, how should he fight in this battle?
He also needed a pre-plan.
"According to historical trajectory, this war ended in a fortunate yet dangerous victory for the imperial coalition, but since I have joined the battle, the empire’s strength has strengthened, and the chances of winning are greater."
"So under the circumstance where the empire wins, what situation would I face?"
"Or rather, how should I deal with God’s Whip - Attila?!"
Duncan’s purpose is quite straightforward.
He is here to gain battle merits and prestige, solidify the position of Governor of the Province of Britannia. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝗻𝗼𝘷𝗲𝗹•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
"The first pre-plan."
"The war goes smoothly, the imperial army wins a major victory, I lead elite cavalry directly to face, and behead God’s Whip - Alati!"
"This is undoubtedly the best situation."
"In one fell swoop, I can gain immense legendary level and can directly rewrite history, becoming a significant legendary figure throughout Europe."
"But with Attila dead, there would be no one to suppress and restrain the Germanic Barbarian Race."
"The empire’s territories would likely be impacted severely."
"But it has nothing to do with me, my foundational support is on Great Britain, beheading God’s Whip is a huge gain for me, and the mess naturally has to be cleaned up by the empire."
Aetius always believed the Barbarian Race posed a bigger threat than the Huns because nomadic tribes couldn’t last long.
"The second pre-plan."
"In such super large-scale battles, my personal martial prowess can’t change much."
"The Hunnic forces are still very strong."
"God’s Whip - Attila’s side surely has the most elite personal guards, probably many Hunnic Heroic Eagle Shooters; finding a chance on the battlefield to quickly kill him is extremely difficult."
Duncan would find the opportunity to behead God’s Whip, but he wouldn’t act recklessly, nor would he directly charge into the personal guard of the Hunnic royal court.
That would be seeking death!
Only when the enemy shows an opening would he rush God’s Whip - Attila’s personal guards, if no chance arises, he would just utilize his freedom on the battlefield.
"If there is no chance."
"Then follow the historical trajectory as much as possible, await the Western Goths’ elite cavalry to rampage, collapsing the Hunnic army."
"Surround them by the Marne River." (The wealth looted by the Huns throughout Gaul piled up there, forming a car city.)
"This would basically follow the trajectory of the originally planned historical war."
"After the winner is decided, Protector of the Realm - Aetius withdrew the encirclement allowing God’s Whip - Attila."
Here is the most critical point.
Duncan’s martial prowess is remarkable, but beheading the Hunnic Empire’s Emperor, the legend of God’s Whip - Attila, is still extremely difficult, it can be said that he is also risking his life in trying!
The chance is minimal.
And according to historical trajectory, after the Huns’ defeat, God’s Whip - Attila would be trapped in the car city, and eventually Protector of the Realm - Aetius withdrew the siege allowing him to escape, letting this historically significant decisive battle come to an end rather hastily, ultimately ending inconclusively.
Duncan can’t accept this result either.
Even later Aetius was killed by the Emperor, and letting God’s Whip go was definitely one of the reasons.
"Be Yuan Shao? Or be Cao Cao?"
History holds no surprises.
If Duncan doesn’t fight desperately in attempts to behead God’s Whip, Sharon’s battle result will likely not change significantly. And if there’s no opportunity to behead God’s Whip, then history’s boomerang might appear.