Awesome! I let it become difficult by ignoring what was going on in the far east while I built up my dynasty in the west. Started in Gotland, did a Varangian Adventure into Novgorod, and stumbled around long enough to build up enough surrounding domain to have the Empire of Garðaríki (Nordic Russia). Expanded as far east to the Volga River where I have permanent divisions posted along the river. My men-at-arms elite unit hunts down any of the zombies that make it across the Black Sea and enter my vassals' domains.

Western powers, the Christian faithful, are oblivious to what's happening in the east. The Byzantine Empire is just now experiencing the "Feasting" along their borders. The divided Islamic Dynasties are banding together to fend off the undead hordes along the coasts. Anything further east is lost; the last nation with a fighting chance in the east was Mongolia and they put up a fight for over half a century. Had it not been for those steppe warriors, I couldn't have erected my "dam" along the Volga.

There is never any peace. I can no longer wage wars of conquest because I have to keep my armies raised. I'm kept in an eternal watch over my river and a wary eye across the Black Sea witnessing the southern nations gradually crumble with the west unawares.