How Did the Pioneering War Turn into a Defensive War?

Claude and Bain both cried out in shock, because what was written on it was simply too astonishing.

'The Third Army was ambushed and intercepted by several thousand elite armored Centaurs while en route to Tiar for rest and reorganization. It lost all its baggage and supplies, suffered a complete rout, and only several hundred cavalrymen escaped. The Legion Commander's whereabouts are unknown, and it is unclear whether he is alive or dead.

The Eighth Army and Ninth Army have now joined the battlefield to resist the Half-Orcs' counterattack. The Twenty-Third Army remains stationed in eastern Danustica, protecting the southeastern regions of the Empire.'

For this news to reach Henry's hands, it meant that a week had already passed since the incident.

"Master, the Third Army suffered terribly. I remember that it was ambushed by the Half-Orcs back in summer. This time, it was completely crushed. Sigh."

Bain felt sorrow for the soldiers of the Third Army. They had not died on the battlefield, but on the road to being relieved.

Henry slowly opened his eyes, shut the window, lit a candle, and sat in his chair sipping warm Black Tea.

After waiting so long, he had finally received news of the Imperial Legion's defeat—and it was the loss of an entire formation. Henry was quite satisfied.

Don't misunderstand. It wasn't that he remained Immovable as a Mountain when friendly forces were in trouble, nor was he planning to become a traitor. It was simply because arrogant troops were bound to lose!

The Empire's victories had come too easily, and the campaigns had gone too smoothly. Just look at those nobles and officers—their noses were all practically pointed at the sky.

More than eighty thousand people had died in the two campaigns! What kind of casualties were those? Those two "glorious" victories had been piled up with the lives of serfs!

Henry had never flaunted his so-called title of "Star of the Zhi Luo Campaign," because he knew that the legion's victory had been won by tens of thousands of serfs serving as cannon fodder at the front!

The casualty figures looked good only because serfs and auxiliary soldiers were not included in the statistics.

The Empire needed a defeat that would wake everyone up. The Empire was strong, but it was not overwhelmingly stronger than the Half-Orcs.

Now that the Four Legions had gathered on the battlefield, Henry could finally make his move.

Tommy, who had been inventorying jewelry and luxury goods in the Warehouse, also hurried over. After learning what had happened, his face turned solemn as well.

"Tommy, send someone to notify Earl John. Prepare food and supplies. I will lead the army into battle."

"At once, Master."

"Bain, have Philip go to the taverns and tell those desperate fools that anyone who wants to go to the battlefield can come with us. But military provisions are not guaranteed. I am not hiring mercenaries.

You and Claude, gather eight hundred serfs to serve as logistical transport personnel."

"At once, Master."

The noble bearing around Henry had grown increasingly pronounced, and the people around him had become more respectful as well.

Fortunately, Henry was not an arrogant man. Otherwise, these members of his family retinue would have become nothing more than tools who nodded at everything.

"Ailiya, go make preparations as well. We will set out in a few days. Leave two maids behind to clean the castle. Tell Oriana to bring more seasonings and cooking utensils."

"Yes, Master."

Everyone left, leaving only the sound of Henry's breathing and the steadily burning firewood in the study.

"Dean, will you fly into a rage? You, who sit so high above and cannot be questioned—tens of thousands of elite men, before and after... Tens of thousands of families losing sons, husbands, fathers. What will you do?"

Henry toyed with his noble medal and sank into thought.

The news that Henry was about to lead an army into battle instantly swept through West Lyme, setting the thousand or so outsiders in the taverns ablaze with excitement.

You are finally joining the war! We've waited so long that we're almost out of money!

These were already the Downfallen Nobles with relatively substantial family resources. The truly penniless Exiled Nobles and Downfallen Nobles had already begun working for Henry, or buying a plot of land and simply giving up on ambition.

Some nobles were even so poor that they became Henry's Tenant Farmers! They could only rent a piece of land to survive.

Three days later, the troops were fully prepared to depart. The previous evening, the eight-hundred-man force led by John's second son had also arrived safely, along with an enormous quantity of military supplies.

"Move out!"

This time, Henry left behind two New Recruit Squads to protect West Lyme. They only needed to defend the place, and John would send people to help with the defense.

Amid the freezing snow and ice, Henry led his massive force of more than four thousand men forward with difficulty toward Autongard.

Although the first snowfall would soon melt, the muddy, damp ground would still slow the march.

The howling wind whipped snow through the sky, making it nearly impossible to keep one's eyes open. The soldiers wore thick cotton clothing, their breath forming streams of white mist in the frigid air.

Winter was the Half-Orcs' "spring." Their thick fur allowed them to endure the cold better, giving them a slight advantage.

Henry walked at the front of the column. Looking at his elite troops and John's second son's force, which also had decent bearing, he nodded to himself.

As for the Downfallen Nobles and mercenary bands treating this like an outing... Henry did not even want to look at them. A bunch of fools heading off to die—did they really think the Half-Orcs were worthless?

The other troops were equally high-spirited. In their eyes, they were going off to make money and earn fame.

Those arrogant westerners had no idea how terrifying the Half-Orcs were.

Nothing unexpected happened along the way. When Henry's force reached Autongard, however, he discovered that the place was under martial law. His troops were intercepted from afar by patrolling cavalry.

Only after a series of complicated identity checks and reports were they permitted to approach and set up camp.

"How many nobles have arrived? Why are there so many troops camped out in the wilderness?"

"Knight, I don't know either. I'm only a soldier."

Henry did not make things difficult for him and led his army away to camp.

Judging solely by the banners, there were at least several hundred nobles' forces present, and their numbers were considerable. Unlike last time, this was not merely a gathering of battered remnants seeking revenge.

Henry directly drove away the Downfallen Nobles and mercenaries. If they dared come anywhere near him again, he would not be polite.

"Mais, just keep the army stationed here. Don't go to anyone else's camp without permission. I'm going to ask around for the latest news."

"I understand, Knight Henry."

Mais Hoyland, John's second son, obeyed Henry almost unquestioningly and even idolized him somewhat.

"God, Henry, you actually brought such a huge army this time? That's unbelievable."

Just as Henry was about to enter the city, he suddenly heard someone call his name. Turning around, he found Fas.

"That's right. I didn't want a lack of manpower to affect our gains like last time... Where's Boman?"

Fas pulled his thick fur coat tighter around himself, the tip of his nose red as he said, "That kid Boman's wife gave birth. I heard she got pregnant at the start of the year—a boy and a girl. He's with his wife and children in his fief, so he probably doesn't plan to come."

"That's fine. Family is important. What's the situation now? Why is there martial law?"

Fas frowned and said uncertainly, "It seems... we're going to be fighting a defensive battle now."