User blog comment:AveryWood/Reasons Why Going With the Empire is Better/@comment-1786741-20120817053847/@comment-80.216.219.47-20120818165959

First off, the empire had every choice including digging in but they choose (WG-C) giving away part of imperial land (Hammerfell) there by ensuring loss of the people (Redguards) living there's loyalty for all forseeable time, and also weakening themselves pointlessly in any coming conflict.

But what did the empire get in keeping Skyrim?

A civil war, which could have easily been avoided.