The Approaching Footsteps of War

The surging Lancang River crashes against its banks, its waves crashing violently, as if it were about to transform into Demons and devour everything in the world.

Standing on the tide-watching platform, facing the howling river wind, Caesar III completely let go of his inhibitions.

Even King experience pressure. Especially for King like him who lives next to Beastfolk, the pressure he faces every day far exceeds that of his peers.

The fact that none of the previous twelve King of the Alpha Kingdom lived long lives speaks volumes.

Relatively speaking, Caesar III was quite long-lived. Thanks to the Behemoth Emperor's advanced age, the Orc Empire was never able to launch a full-scale invasion southward during his more than thirty years King.

Unfortunately, there is a tradition in the Alpha Kingdom: King's life is incomplete if he has not experienced a full-scale Beastfolk invasion.

All twelve emperors before him had fought bloody battles against the Orc Empire. Although Caesar III had also led troops against the Orc Empire, the last invasion was only by two of the five major Beastfolk Five Great Royal Families.

The Alpha Kingdom was putting in its utmost effort, but the Orc Empire was practically playing around. Their so-called southward raids were actually just draining their own surplus population.

Simply calculating the exchange ratio between the two sides, Alpha Kingdom even achieved a score of one to two, which is a huge victory for the enemy according to the data.

However, most of the Beastfolk that were wiped out were just low-class races such as Pigmen, Ratmen, Goblins, kobolds, etc., who were just there to make up the numbers.

Once a race with even a little bit of fighting power appears on the battlefield, the casualty ratio between the two sides will be reversed instantly.

Impressive statistics are mainly used to embellish achievements and boost morale.

With the situation in the Northern Frontier becoming increasingly tense, King Caesar III is also under immense pressure.

Although they were willing to deal with those unruly fellows in the north, the prerequisite was that the security of the Northern Frontier must be guaranteed.

Compared to the bigger picture, past grievances are insignificant. If the situation truly collapses, no one in the same boat will benefit.

The threat from the Beastfolk was troublesome enough, but the situation on the continent was also unstable.

Not only are there constant conflicts between humans and other races, but even within the human race itself, the air is thick with the smell of gunpowder. If it weren't for the fact that the leaders of all sides sensed the signs of a conspiracy and forcibly suppressed the conflict to prevent it from escalating, it would probably be in complete chaos by now.

No one can say for sure how long this strong suppression can last.

Ultimately, it boils down to an existing conflict of interest, which has now been brought out into the open.

Without major conflicts of interest among various parties, even if a behind-the-scenes manipulator were highly skilled at sowing discord, it would be impossible to provoke so many disputes so quickly.

Practice makes perfect, and based on past experience, Caesar III naturally concluded that the Beastfolk were about to invade the south.

"Have you delivered that special gift to them?"

"I asked with concern, "Caesar III inquired.

These were the same guys who caused the Alpha Kingdom to suffer from a locust plague last year, so now that they have the chance, they naturally want to get revenge.

As for the consequences, Caesar III was already prepared. Since war was unavoidable, he might as well seize the initiative.

What worries him is the situation on the mainland. The chaos on the mainland has tied up the attention of many human nations, and the level of support that these nations provide to the Alpha Kingdom is likely to be affected.

"It has been delivered secretly. For safety reasons, we have also erased the Bug King's memory."

Even if we are discovered, there will be no evidence that it was us.

However, many things don't require evidence. The kingdom only discovered the locust plague last year, so we could still be suspected.

The Duke Newfoundland solemnly reminded him.

Following a monarch who is too capable is not necessarily a good thing. He was very clear about Caesar III's ambitions.

In his youth, he considered it his mission every day to defeat the Orc Empire and reclaim lost territory.

As people get older, they mature and rationality gradually takes over, which leads to a change in attitude.

But emperors are creatures whose appearances can never be judged by their appearances alone. The Duke Newfoundland's intuition told him that his King's hostility toward the Orc Empire was resurfacing.

It's highly likely they want to take advantage of the internal turmoil within the Orc Empire to launch a raid.

The Behemoth Imperial Court was thrown into turmoil after Alex became crown prince. Opposition to this lustful crown prince grew stronger day by day, only suppressed by the old Behemoth Emperor.

No one knows how long this repression can last. Perhaps all it takes is a spark to ignite a coup.

As the head of the Five Great Imperial Courts of the Orc Empire, if the Behemoth Imperial Court were to encounter problems, it would undoubtedly be the best opportunity to strike.

By enlisting the help of the other two nations to kick them while they're down, and with the support of the various human nations, theoretically, their chances of winning aren't low.

After all, Caesar III was already old. If he missed this opportunity, he might never encounter a better chance to act in his lifetime.

"It's inevitable that we'll be suspected. It's just that the truth is mixed up with the falsehoods, so it's difficult for the enemy to determine who did it in the short term."

After all, those two families have enemies all over the continent. It's plausible that someone would impersonate us to sabotage things and deliberately stir up trouble.

Those old folks are the most suspicious; let them guess for a while! Whether they find out or not, the end result will be the same.

That fool Pope Pius VII has now thoroughly offended the Frankish Kingdom. This won't end so easily; further conflict is inevitable.

As for the Orc Empire to the north, isn't it already confirmed that they are preparing to invade the south? Since war is inevitable anyway, adding another reason for war won't hurt.

"Pass down the order: the next round of noble Investiture Ceremony will be held at the end of the year!"

"I have a plan, "Caesar III said confidently.

Confidence stems from strength; compared to the last great war, the Alpha Kingdom's overall national strength has increased significantly.

In recent years, all major powers in the country have been secretly expanding their military. In particular, the growing military strength of the Southern Aristocrats is narrowing the gap with that of the Northern Aristocrats.

In the short term, this seems like a good thing, more conducive to the internal balance of the kingdom. But Caesar III was not a short-sighted ruler.

Compared to the Northern Aristocrats who are under the threat of Beastfolk armies, the Southern Aristocrats, who are not threatened by external enemies, would be a real problem if they grew too powerful.

Mergers and consolidations within the nobility have never ceased. While the number of noble lords in the kingdom may seem to remain relatively stable, the number of nobles holding multiple positions increases year after year.

Especially those nobles, they would stir up trouble every three to five years, and incidentally annex one or two territories.

The movements were not large, each time involving only one or two Knight's Territory; taking over a baronial territory was considered a major event.

All of these actions were subtle and calculated, clearly a game of using others to do one's dirty work, yet they kept themselves completely hidden. Each merger was planned years, even decades, in advance.

The embellishment was so effective that the lower-ranking nobles barely noticed it. If the timeframe hadn't been extended, Caesar III would have almost overlooked it altogether.

In the last century, the territory of many prominent families in China has increased by more than one-tenth.

If this situation doesn't change, the balance will inevitably be broken. Those powerful, unruly individuals in the north are already a cause for concern; Caesar III doesn't want any more to emerge.

It can be said that the increasingly acute internal contradictions are one of the reasons why the Alpha Kingdom had to start a war.

Similar things happened in the Orc Empire. However, compared to the "rules" of internal struggles in the Alpha Kingdom, the Orc Empire was much more brutal.

If we can't reach an agreement, we'll fight.

The internal struggles between various tribes were no less brutal than wars fought against external forces. Sometimes, defeat in these struggles could even lead to genocide.

Both sides have reasons to provoke war, and it can be said that war is already on its way; it's just a matter of when the final word will be uttered.

Caesar III could see these problems. The major powers within the country could also analyze them; anyone in power who wasn't foolish would know that war was inevitable.

Small Bookstore

Holding a noble Investiture Ceremony ahead of schedule is undoubtedly a clear political signal. Almost every time the kingdom Investiture of Nobles ahead of schedule, war breaks out one or two years later.

When chance encounters become frequent, they eventually become inevitable. So much so that now, the early bestowal of Investiture of Nobles has become a weathervane for informing everyone to prepare for war.

Hudson, who had just completed the resettlement of the Mountain Territory, was bewildered by the summons from the kingdom.

In theory, "early investiture" is definitely a good thing for the nobleman himself.

Only after being personally conferred a title by the King can a noble title be considered truly legitimate and grant the holder a seat in the Noble Council.

Unlike now, although they had noble titles, they were actually "quasi-nobles." In case of unforeseen circumstances, they could be stripped of their status.

If Hudson didn't know the history of the Alpha Kingdom, he might have been as foolishly happy as a bunch of minor nobles.

Unfortunately, he knew too much.

Based on what he had heard from a group of "friends" beforehand, his rational mind told him that big trouble was coming.

The Mountain Territory, still in its development stage, was not yet prepared for war, especially a full-scale war against the Orc Empire.

Based on past experience, in wars of this magnitude, there is always a decline in the power of the major nobles, and even more reshuffling of the middle and minor nobles.

Some died on the battlefield, their bodies wrapped in horsehide; some distinguished themselves in battle and rose to great heights; some, their spirits shattered, deserted and were stripped of everything...

In short, this is an era of great reshuffling. The battlefield is filled with all hope, but also with endless despair.

In every war that breaks out, the Alpha Kingdom suffers heavy losses. Countless powerful families fall in the war, and new forces rise in their place.

To be precise, it should be considered a further step forward for established powers. Those capable of replacing a major power must possess substantial accumulated resources and strength.

This was determined by the social context. Apart from the kingdom's Standing Army, the main force participating in the war consisted of the private armies of nobles.

If you want to lead your troops into battle and achieve great feats, how can you do it without some strength?

Even in the realm of social mobility, no one has ever risen from commoner to high nobility overnight. Even if the King were willing to bestow a title, he would still have to consider the actual circumstances.

On the battlefield, individual abilities are ultimately limited. The main force in the struggle is still the army, and even the top experts on the continent are inconspicuous in the vast sea of people.

Hudson glanced at the Northern Frontier and sighed helplessly. He had originally thought that the Mountain Territory had developed quite well, and that as long as he devoted himself to farming for a few decades, he would be able to create a great empire of his own.

Unfortunately, plans change faster than expected. Before the Mountain Territory could be developed, war was already approaching.

Looking at the entire continent, the Mountain Territory is still too weak. Even compared to the mid-level nobles within the kingdom, the Mountain Territory is relatively weak.

Those with only a dozen or so knights and a few thousand miscellaneous soldiers, who were at the bottom of the middle nobility, are not included.

When faced with that kind of person, even some powerful minor nobles can slam their fists on the table and glare at them. Aside from having a nice-sounding title, they actually have almost no say in anything.

True middle-class nobles not only possessed vast fiefdoms and estates, but also their own elite armies. The best among them even had the ability to rival the great nobles.

Without a doubt, the Mountain Territory has not yet reached its full potential. Although the Coslo Family's strength on paper is not weak after adding other branches, it is ultimately just an empty shell.

It's fine to brag about it in normal times, but if you take it seriously, you'll be a fool.

Without the slightest hesitation, Hudson immediately intensified the training of his family's children. Regardless of whether they were related or not, at this point, he made no exceptions.

In the short term, it's unrealistic to expect to improve the territory's overall strength. The only thing we can do is to improve our military strength first.

As for other shortcomings, let's put them aside for now and find ways to make up for them gradually after the situation stabilizes.

"Tom, inform Master Liha to increase the mine's production capacity, especially the production capacity of weapons and equipment."

From now on, the weapons produced in the territory must not only be produced in large quantities, but also of higher quality.

Let them figure out the specifics themselves. In short, the mine's military production capacity must double within six months.

Hudson said without a doubt.

For arms dealers, any major war is an opportunity.

Hudson originally didn't want to profit from the war, but the opportunity had been presented to him, and it would be unreasonable to refuse.

From another perspective, increasing military production capacity is also a contribution to fighting the Beastfolk and to the great cause of protecting humanity.

From the human perspective, their righteousness is absolute. As for the Beastfolk, Hudson, with his righteous stance, wouldn't consider the enemy's interests.

"Yes, sir!"

Tom answered immediately.

Although I don't know what happened, I should just carry out the orders given by my master.

Of all the Knight Squire came out with him, the most important reason he was able to stay by Hudson's side was that he was perceptive.

Although they lack certain abilities and cannot stand on their own, their execution is never compromised.

He had only one thought for all of Hudson's orders—to carry them out. As for why they should be carried out, that was not his concern.

"Sir, has something happened?"

As the head of weapons sales, Nick was well aware that the Mountain Territory's military production capacity had long been in a state of overcapacity.

As the situation eased, the scrap weapons from the Mountain Territory became increasingly difficult to sell. Many craftsmen who made weapons had to take on the additional task of making agricultural tools and other daily necessities.

Now that military production capacity has suddenly doubled, he wouldn't be able to sell the extra weapons unless something unexpected happens.

"The Beastfolk to the north are getting restless. They might attack any day now, so I'm just preparing for the worst."

Hudson said calmly.

There's no need to keep this kind of information secret. Even if his men have spies planted by other forces, they couldn't possibly be from the Orc Empire.

Before this, he was just an insignificant minor nobleman. At most, he was somewhat well-known in the Southeast Province, but his name didn't even reach the Orc Empire.

Other factions may have various motives, but when it comes to fighting the Beastfolk invasion, everyone is still on the same side.

Even if they were to cause trouble, it would be at the end of the war, and only after the human race had won a great victory.

For a considerable period to come, the major powers will have to join forces to resist the Beastfolk invasion. Intrigue and backstabbing may be inevitable, but the intensity of the conflict will certainly decrease.