Esereti Coastal Conquest

The 5th Yellow Jade Emperor ascended the throne in Imperial Year 736 to a settled Dwarven rebellion, relocation and exile of The Fae races from Imperial Lands, and the Golam Provinces Territory crusade against the evil Elder Gods. The Southern Esereti Black Dragon Kingdom had mostly submitted to Imperial Rule and Imperial territory extended north into the former Torga protectorate and the Metal Dragon kingdoms of the south central Esereti territory. The White Dragon Kingdom of the northern coast faced the Imperial Olian territories northward and hostile Red Dragon kingdom to the East with increasingly anxious and segmented Blue dragon principalities on their immediate east and the Black Dragon/ Torga Imperial territory to the south.
The coastal conquest involved few actual battles as the Emperor offered protection to the fragmented Blue Dragon principalities in the south, while encouraging Red Expansion in the north. The White Dragons were caught with three sides of Torga Imperials and a fourth with Red Dragons seeking dominion and consuming northern Blue Dragon holdings.

The Conflict

Prelude

The Yellow Jade emperor Eedo offered terms to any White Dragon house that accepted Imperial protection: autonomy under Torga rule with no special taxes but only legion recruitment obligation. This or face the Torga fleet off the coast and armies north and south and the Red's to the east. Those that refused in the east could face fleeing Blues and invading Reds. The emperor had already offered support and protection to Blues that accepted Imperial overlordship while at the same time offering no resistance to the Red Dragons and in fact partitioning the Blue Lands with the Reds.

Deployment

Within just hours of rejection of the Emperor's demand for peaceful transition by the White Dragon High House of Lotus, a show of force was launched. In the west the point was made with just two battles, at the northern port city of Retha and the southern coastal city of Rauno'an. The Whites had likely expected the reply to take days or weeks to produce a response but Imperial Forces had been magically hidden off the coast. Portals had allowed rapid communication and coordination. Because of this, both attacks were launched within hours of each other, and hours after the rejection of terms. Imperial forces attacked by land and sea with Legion Mage support. The White Dragon Navies were caught mostly by surprise with only a few ships out and no harbor blockades or chains. Fire blasts, water elemental and winds sundered the weak White Dragon lines while raiders swept past to land at the ports. Again, the magical assault decimated the unprepared defenders as the raiding ships hit the harbors. Outside the cities, Imperial forces brought legions to each side via portals. The sudden appearance caused confusion and stetching White Dragon house forces. The cities fell quickly.

Aftermath

Unlike the favorable terms of those who capitulated, heavy taxes and ransoms were imposed, while the Imperial forces took heirs of House Iris and House Clematis to Kuan as fosters and assurances. The cities were largely sacked with many killed in the streets by the Legion forces, which added to stories that brought fear to the populations of the commons of the White Dragon lands. At least one house (Marigold) was overthrown by commoners (and probably lesser members of the house) that then offered themselves to Torga protection. Lotus House attempted to hold the line, but Hyacinth, Marigold and Lily, Iris and Clematis were defeated or took favored subject terms. Lotus accepted Imperial subjugation  in the autumn of 738 and the White Dragon Kingdom became Imperial territory.

Historical Significance

Legacy

While technically this was a victory delivered by the Southern and Northern Dominars and the Lord Commander of the Armies, Eedo the 5th Yellow Jade Emperor, was attributed as the mastermind of the political and military strategy. The general of the northern attack, Zhala Sago, became the new Eastern Dominar. Zhidi Pyho, the southern general became the new northern governor of the White Dragon kingdom lands.
Start Date
Imperial 737
Ending Date
Imperial 738

Cover image: https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/ by mutterwolf

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