"What did you say?"

The news was so shocking that Johannes IV's eyes widened and he couldn't help but stand up. As for the other princes and nobles, they all had shocked expressions on their faces.

Faced with the majestic aura emanating from Johannes IV, the herald was so frightened that he didn't dare to come out, and he held back for a long time before stumbling and repeating it.

Seeing that the herald was frightened like this, Matthias, as the prime minister, patted him on the shoulder and gave him encouragement.

"How many Sudanese are coming, when did you know, and whether Motema has been lost."

Faced with a series of questions from Johannes IV, the herald stumbled to explain what he knew.

And as he recounted, everyone learned that the Sudanese who attacked this time were as high as 80,000. Seven days earlier, they had suddenly appeared in Motma, and the Motma defenders had sent someone to inform Governor Yugudis, who had sent him and more than a dozen comrades to report the news.

With the report of the messenger who sent the message, no one spoke in the hall for a while, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

However, this situation did not wait long, because Motema was 120 kilometers west of Tanna Lake, and the Sultans must have been aiming for it. It is one of the three granaries of Abyssinia, and the largest. Naturally, such a place cannot be taken away by the Sudanese.

"We cannot ignore the threat of the Sudanese, and we must drive out the Sudanese, otherwise our homeland will be taken by the infidels."

The first to come forward was the Duke of Bahirdar, whose domain was on the western shore of Lake Tanner. Although it has only one territory of less than 5,000 square kilometers on the west bank, its richness has placed the Duke of Bahirdar in the middle of the ranks.

He was also one of the first to fall to Johannes IV, and he can also be regarded as an old qualification. However, seeing that the Sultan might threaten the territory, the Duke of Bahirdar immediately jumped to his feet and stood up.

As the Duke of Bahirdar spoke, several princes with nearby territories immediately followed.

"Yes, the Sudanese know what they threaten us, and we can't sit idly by."

"Yes, these Sudanese are bandits. As long as they walk, nothing will be left, property, livestock, and population will be like locusts. ”

The echoing sound of one after another disturbed the peace in the hall. However, these princes who opened their mouths were basically weaker, and the most powerful one was the Duke of Bahirdar.

Johannes IV watched their performance coldly, and in the face of the cold emperor's gaze, the princes and nobles who were shouting like sparrows gradually felt that the atmosphere was not right, and they no longer spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are in a very bad situation. There are Italians to the north and Sudanes to the west, but we Abyssinians are not afraid of our enemies. This time, we need to work together to ensure our independence. ”

Well, Johannes IV could not sit still either. With the invasion of the Sudanese, the tide of war became extremely disadvantageous to him. He must send troops and prioritize one enemy to save the day.

Of course, it is very important to choose an opponent, if you don't choose well, you will lose the whole game. In fact, there are not many options for him, either the Sudanese or the Italians first, and it is easy to choose one of the two.

In fact, no matter which one he played, Johannes IV knew how bad the situation he faced this time was.

However, considering where he is at the moment, and how prepared he is, he actually has only one choice, and that is the Italian.

Thinking of this, Johannes IV regretted a little, he should have dealt a heavy blow to those Italians in Marat, and blamed himself for being too hesitant to let the Italians occupy Marat.

But now if you want to deal with the Italians, you have to use some strategy, and he is no match for the Italians. The old proverb teaches that in the face of a brute bull, do not wrestle with it.

Johannes IV carefully sketched out the plan in his mind, trying to figure out how to make himself win.

Faced with a sudden contemplation of Johannes IV, no one else spoke.

It seemed like a long time before Johannes IV finally made a move.

I saw him stand up and speak to his son-in-law.

"Menelik."

"Here."

"You lead your own troops to besiege Marat, and I have Aliya lead 20,000 men to cooperate with you."

Johannes entrusted his son-in-law with the most important task, as Menelik's troops were the most powerful besides him. And in order to convince the Italians that the main force of his own army was besieging Marat, he also had his son assist with 20,000 men.

"Yes."

In the face of the task given by Emperor Johannes, the lord of Shoa did not talk nonsense and responded in one bite.

Menelik was so happy that Johannes IV did not say anything, but stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.

"Your task is very important, you need to convince the Italians in Marat that they are coming up with our big army."

Although Johannes seemed to be a little talkative, Menelik replied very seriously given the importance of his task.

"Okay, I'll launch a ferocious offensive and make the enemy panic and call for help."

After receiving a satisfactory reply from his son-in-law, Johannes spoke openly to the remaining kings. "The others follow me and let the Italians know how good we are."

That's right, Johannes' plan was very simple, it was to encircle the point and send reinforcements. It's simple, but it's very practical. And the terrain of the ravines around the Mara is also suitable for hiding large troops.

If it's so good for reinforcements, why shouldn't Johannes use it.

With Johannes giving the order, the princes and nobles present immediately got up and left, it takes time to organize the army, and it takes time to carry grain and grass and survey the water source in advance.

Menelik II was about to leave as the others left, but he was stopped immediately.

"His Royal Highness Menelik, His Majesty the Emperor has a request for His Highness."

Menelik stopped and followed the visitor to a small garden. Here he saw his father-in-law, but his face was more sad than before.

"Menelik, you're here."

"Yes."

It wasn't until Menelik walked up to him that Johannes spoke, though he didn't say why he had been invited.

"This is the courtyard that I ordered to be built when I was appointed governor by His Majesty. It's been more than 20 years, but I didn't expect that after the death of His Majesty, I would inherit his throne. ”

Menelik, of course, knew who His Majesty Johannes IV was talking about, it was the former Emperor Tewodros II, who was the very capable emperor who united Abyssinia, which had been divided for a long time.

"At that time, I was imprisoned in the palace by His Majesty, but it is a pity that His Majesty died at the hands of the British."

Menelik also lived through that era, but as a prisoner. After the death of his father, Haile Malakot, in order to prevent the resurgence of the Shoa separatist forces, he, the young master of Shoa, was imprisoned as a hostage.

Faced with Menelik's words, Johannes IV looked at the view of the garden and said. "Yes, Your Majesty is too rigid to do anything to bow his head, even in a desperate situation, he is still unwilling to let go. But at that time, I did things that I was sorry for Your Majesty for the sake of power, but I didn't expect that as I got older, my temper became more and more like Your Majesty. ”

What Johannes IV said was that he had been promoted by Tewodros II all the way to Governor of Tigray, but he himself betrayed him when the British called.

At this, Johannes IV turned his head to Stare Menelik, "I want you to promise me one thing. ”

Faced with the words of Johannes IV, Menelik said calmly. "Please say, if I can do it, I can do it, if I can't do it, then I can't do it."

"You can."

Johannes IV looked at Menelik and continued. "If you succeed to the throne, find a way to keep Alia and let him live happily in Tigray."

"This is no problem, after all, I am my son-in-law, and I can't let my daughter be widowed no matter what I say."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

This was the end of the conversation between the two, although neither of them said it explicitly, but both knew that it was Johannes IV who was making some preparations just in case of an accident.

Menelik agreed to the emperor's request, admitting that he would not touch his territory after his death, at least to keep Tigray for his son-in-law, Duke Alia Selassie.

I'm in a good mood