The Southern Punjuki Campaign
The Southern Punjuki Campaign which begin in 4281 BPC and continued until 4274 BPC, completed the Old Pale Empire's conquest of the continent giving Emperor Leonard I effective control over the entire landmass.
By the end of the Northern Punjuki Campaign in 4478 BPC the Empire had established a stable southern frontier along the Hokall River and had gained control of the border towns of Greyforest and Wastbar. To the immediate south, the Central Punjuki Mountains hindered further expansion along the spine of the continent. They were sparsely populated and offered no obvious economic advantages. On their western and eastern flanks, flatter corridors offered easier routes forward, but there were no significant settlements north of Ibulkuth and the land was a mixture of scrub, marsh and tangled woods, perhaps suitable for future agricultural development but confering no immediate benefit to a conquering army. There was little incentive to extend the borders of the Empire and they remained unchanged for almost two hundred years.
The Conflict
Prelude
In 4281 BPC Emperor Leonard I determined that rather than co-operating with the southern Punjuki city states that had established a stable and peaceful relationship with their powerful northern neighbour, the pride of the Old Pale Empire demanded that they should be subjected to the full rigours of Imperial rule. He was reported to be paticularly concerned about a developing alliance between the cities of Stalport, Millmarket and Vigilmell who were building the beginning of an economic and political union powerful enough to resist the terms of trade the Empire would have liked to impose. Their nascent military forces policed a wide region in the east and south of the continent and they were drawing other local towns, such as Dyne and Thanning into their power structure. Before this could become a powerful problematic state, the Emperor's plan was to absorb all the remaining free areas of the continent into the Empire.
Deployment
The campaign began with a long planned expedition to establish a flanking bridgehead behind the lines of the enemy cities. On the first day of Kerax 4281 BPC a fleet of twenty four ships departed from Bress on the morning tide, carrying marines, engineers and a host of logistical support to a destination on the far southern coast of the continent which had been mapped out in advance. This is considered to be the technical beginning of hostilities, since it was an overt military operation, although there was no actual fighting at this stage. The natural harbour the generals had chosen, was christened Weryth, a rapidly growing encampment which declared itself a town at the beginning of 4280 BPC. The area had been sparsely populated but was ripe for development, being rich in local resources. Men and materials poured into Weryth throughout 4281 and 4280 and by the end of 4280 the Empire had a secure, fortified base in the far south where they could billet a sizeable force.
On 15th Kerax 4279 BPC, the 5th brigade of the 3rd army marched south from their barracks at Greyforest. Two days later, the 7th brigade crossed the river Hokell, the two forces advancing south to the east and west of the Central Punjuki Mountains, respectively. This was the start of a more active phase of the campaign. Troops moving north from Weryth formed a third prong of the attack.
The Engagement
The first open engagement was on 2nd Tuzlle 4279 BPC, when the 5th brigade overran the small town of Ibulkuth. Scouts reported that most of the civilian population had already abandoned their homes and fled further south but a determined band of resolute soldiers occupied key defensive positions and sought to resist the advancing Empire force. Since the bridges had been burnt, the attackers found it necessary to wade waist deep in the murky marsh water before they could reach the outer ring of buildings.
Ultimately, though, the town was conquered with relatively few loses and became a staging area for the onward push south.
Whilst the 5th brigade consolidated its position at Ibulkuth, the 7th brigade on the opposite side of the mountains made fast progress over the coastal plain of the Bay of Hokell, reaching the key estuary town of Frol on 17th Tuzlle and accepting the surrender of the town on 3rd Pruth.
By the end of the summer, the 7th brigade had secured Pebblefall and Skrand so that the entire Froll Bay area was firmly under Empire control. The 3rd brigade had also made progress although they encountered stiffer resistance in the east, but by the end of Chiroth 4278 BPC they had captured Dyne and over the next river, lay the heartland of the region that had given their Emperor so much concern.
Meanwhile forces pressing north from Weryth had conquered Oakport and Thanning and awaited orders to proceed further.
This far south the influence of the seasons was more pronounced than in tropical northern Punjuki. Fighting ceased in the southern hemisphere winter between Findil and Doloph of 4278, resuming again as the weather improved at the tail end of the calendar year.
The decisive battles were fought at the end of 4278 BPC and the beginning of 4277 BPC. By now the city states were fully alerted to the malign intentions of the Empire and they put up a stiff resistance. But before the end of 4277 BPC, Stalport, Millmarket and Vigilmell had all surrendered.
The campaign did not end, however, until Pun Island had been conquered. There was resistance here until as late as 4274 BPC with a defiant local population using guerilla tactics against the relatively weak imperial units from the 6th brigade (who had been assigned to "mop up") with great effect.
Southern Punjuki Campaign 02 by DMFW with Midjourney
Southern Punjuki Campaign 03 by DMFW with Midjourney
Outcome
The Old Pale Empire secured control of all the remaining independent Punjuki cities in the south of the continent, completing the conquest they had begun two hundred years earlier.
Historical Significance
Legacy
The Southern Punjuki Campaign was the first theatre of war where the white draught was used by the soldiers and sailors of the Old Pale Empire. In later years, this "medicinal" drink would come to be used by many others both in military and other contexts where supplies of food are hard to obtain.
Conflict Type
Military Campaign
Start Date
1st Doloph, 4281 BPC
Ending Date
10th Tuzlle, 4274 BPC
Location
Emperor Leonard I by DMFW with Night Cafe
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