Hudson Mustered Troops... Training Officers First

Alpha Kingdom wasn't the only one entering combat readiness mode. Upon receiving news of unusual activity from the Orc Empire, Warhammer Kingdom and the Moxi Duchy also raised their combat readiness levels.

To the Beastfolk, all three kingdoms were human nations, so seizing any of them would be the same. If war broke out in the north, none of the three would be left behind.

Even if there was no prior enmity, the repeated attacks by the Beastfolk gradually built up hatred, making them regard the Beastfolk as their mortal enemies.

The only difference is that the Warhammer Kingdom and the Moxi Duchy have only experienced small-scale invasions and have not yet experienced the terror of a full-scale Beastfolk invasion.

In past all-out wars, the Alpha Kingdom was always at the forefront, and by the time the flames of war reached their doorstep, it was already a matter of the later stages.

In the mid-to-late stages, the various human nations had mostly caught on. Reinforcements from all corners of the land arrived to help, and while the fighting wasn't entirely smooth sailing, it wasn't a one-sided rout.

Lacking experience in dealing with such situations, they could only learn from their neighbors. Seeing the Alpha Kingdom mobilize its entire nation, both countries were quite alarmed.

"Are the Beastfolk really going to launch a full-scale invasion?"

Chris IX asked with a gloomy expression.

Even among the "gatekeepers," there are differences in strength. If the Alpha Kingdom, which has long fought against the Beastfolk, is the strongest among the three kingdoms, then the Moxi Duchy, nestled in the cracks, is the weakest.

Even though the Moxi Duchy once had the reputation of being the "Number One Duchy on the Continent" and its military strength was stronger than some weaker kingdoms, it was still no match for the Orc Empire.

They were already exhausted from dealing with small-scale raids, so it would be hard for Chris IX to accept the sudden news that the Orc Empire was about to launch a full-scale invasion without some time to process it.

"Your Majesty, the Beastfolk are about to launch a full-scale invasion. This is news from the Alpha Kingdom."

They fought the Beastfolk for hundreds of years and have a deep understanding of the Orc Empire, so this judgment should not be wrong.

Moreover, according to the intelligence we received from the Orc Empire, all five Beastfolk Five Great Imperial Courts are preparing for war.

Even if it's not a total war, this war is far more severe than any previous one. It's always wise to prepare for the worst in advance, so as not to be caught off guard.

Chancellor Herczeg replied with a serious expression.

The Beastfolk launched a full-scale invasion, and although the three unlucky ones were all beaten up, the most dangerous country was the Moxi Duchy.

As the weakest of the three kingdoms, it could very well become the breakthrough point for the Beastfolk army's southward invasion.

Although the borders were lined with fortresses, Hercheg was still completely unsure whether the Moxi Duchy could withstand the Beastfolk's advance.

As fellow "bad brothers," the Alpha Kingdom and the Warhammer Kingdom are definitely not reliable options. Based on past conflict experience, the Beastfolk will focus their attacks on one side without neglecting the other two.

Fortunately, the Orc Empire's military strength was superior to that of the three kingdoms, so even if they attacked all three at once, they wouldn't face much pressure.

"Then let's prepare for war with all our might! The Alpha Kingdom didn't even spare the pitiful fighting power of its serfs, so we must keep up."

Chris IX said through gritted teeth.

We cannot afford to slack off. As the weakest of the three kingdoms, the Moxi Duchy is likely to suffer the most severe blows.

If they fail to withstand the Beastfolk army's onslaught, the destruction of their kingdom and homeland will be imminent. Even if Chris IX could escape into exile, the loss of his nation would be extremely difficult to regain.

There was no way around it; the Beastfolk army was simply too ruthless. While their passage didn't leave the land completely barren, it was inevitable that nine out of ten houses would be deserted.

Without its own people, the restoration of the nation is a joke. When it comes to the struggle for racial living space, hoping the other side will show leniency is pure wishful thinking.

In the Emerald Palace, the chariots of war began to turn, while Caesar III found himself with nothing to do.

Everything was geared towards the war effort, and trivial matters disappeared from his sight. The conflicted nobles also ceased their antics.

Even if it's a matter of life and death, we'll put that hatred aside for now. Everyone has only one goal: to concentrate our efforts and get through this life-or-death ordeal.

As for the issue of hatred, we'll have to see if the enemy can survive the upcoming war.

Based on past experience, the probability of the enemy dying on the battlefield is far higher than the success rate of killing the enemy themselves.

With things suddenly much less to do, Caesar III felt a sense of relief, but also a slight unease. Of course, more than anything, he felt uncertain.

He talked a big game, vowing revenge against the Beastfolk and to reclaim his lost territory. But inside, he was terrified.

If the Orc Empire hadn't shown signs of trouble first, confirming that war was inevitable, he wouldn't have wanted to start a war with the Beastfolk at this time.

"Your Majesty, signs of locust plagues have appeared simultaneously in the Orc Empire and the Quekning Peninsula. It's only a matter of time before a large-scale outbreak occurs. Our first step in the plan has succeeded."

"The Duke Newfoundland said in a deep voice."

Reason told him that this was playing with fire. Attacking two major forces simultaneously was like licking blood from a knife's edge; the slightest misstep could lead to a major disaster.

What's even more cruel is that regardless of whether the Alpha Kingdom intervenes or not, the fact that they are hostile to each other cannot be avoided.

"Relax, my prime minister. Things aren't so bad. The Church has just thoroughly offended the Frankish Kingdom."

This time, no one is there to mediate for them. The trouble that the number one kingdom on the continent can create for them is not so easy to resolve.

As for the Orc Empire, they're already preparing to invade, so what's there to hesitate about?

Even if it means starting a war now, it would be worthwhile as long as it weakens their war potential.

"I am speaking, "Caesar III said, feigning composure.

He was panicking inside, but he had to appear calm enough to reassure his subordinates.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Duke Newfoundland has said similar things to his subordinates.

Everyone knows this is just reassuring talk, but people are still willing to listen. When people feel insecure, they need validation the most.

Even if this kind of recognition has no real meaning, it can still provide spiritual comfort.

Caesar III, a master of political maneuvering, would certainly not disappoint his subordinates in this regard. If even the leader lacks confidence, wouldn't his followers be even more anxious and fearful?

This large-scale war, which involves the survival of a race, is something that not only the Alpha Kingdom needs to take seriously, but the Orc Empire also needs to be extremely careful about.

The Beastfolk are only fighting against three border kingdoms of the human race, which is nothing to them, but the human race has dozens of kingdoms.

How do I fight?

When to fight?

How far will the fighting go?

These are all things to be learned; if you're not careful, you might anger the entire human race.

A ruthless continental overlord, if willing to pay any price, is capable of destroying an Orc Empire.

Therefore, each Beastfolk invasion primarily involved looting. They showed considerable restraint in seizing territory.

Of course, this restraint is passive. In the later stages of almost every major war, the war almost always ended with the human alliance reclaiming lost territory. As long as the occupied land is not relinquished, the war will not end.

The last great war was an exception, an exception made possible by the fact that the human race was engaged in wars on all sides. The Orc Empire, which benefited from this, also paid a heavy price: abandoning its allies and prematurely making peace with the human race.

Such betrayals and alliances are very common among races. If all the other races were truly united, humanity's position as the continent's hegemon would have been dethroned long ago.

This impending invasion of the south may seem like a chance event, but in reality, it has involved countless political maneuverings.

Only after weighing the pros and cons multiple times and deciding that war was more advantageous to them did the Beastfolk Royal Court make the decision to launch a war.

"Your Majesty, the delegations sent by the Moxi Duchy and the Warhammer Kingdom have departed and are expected to arrive in the Royal Capital in half a month."

Their visit this time is most likely to discuss joint operations. This matter involves many aspects, and we need your personal guidance to formulate a plan.

Count Francis reminded him.

As the Foreign Minister of the Alpha Kingdom, he was usually bored out of his mind, except during wartime when he was extremely busy.

Compared to previous Foreign Minister, Count Francis's task is even more demanding, as he now has two more allies to coordinate.

The three kingdoms are now "brothers" in the same trench; if one falls, the other two will be in even greater danger.

When it comes to the battlefield, everyone should look out for each other if possible.

Otherwise, the Beastfolk army could break through any country and launch an attack from the rear, thus avoiding the dense fortresses and strongholds on the front line.

"Let the Military Affairs Department coordinate with them, and cooperate where possible, but everything must prioritize the safety of the kingdom."

Furthermore, the border provinces should be on high alert, and a defensive line should be secretly constructed, using noble castles as hubs. This is to buy the kingdom enough time should unforeseen circumstances arise.

Prime Minister, you are responsible for leading the Military Affairs Department, the Department of Political Affairs, and the Noble Council to jointly establish an inspection team to supervise the war preparedness of each province.

Tell them which province has the slowest war preparedness and the worst-trained army, and let the army of that province lead the charge!

"Caesar III said viciously."

While feudal nobles certainly had a high degree of autonomy, it didn't mean the King was powerless against them. Especially during times of war, it was easy for the king to make things difficult for them.

We're all forced into this situation; a major battle is imminent. If we don't work hard now, we won't have the chance later, even if we want to.

While having two more unfortunate allies to share the burden also increases the number of uncontrollable factors. If the two allies can't hold on, the Alpha Kingdom's already shortened battle lines will be stretched again.

Fortunately, in those days nobles were responsible for defending their lands, and there was no fear that the lords of the border provinces would not work hard; otherwise, it would be difficult to even put together a temporary defensive line.

In Laite County, ever since Hudson took over the training of the troops of his "allies," the scene has instantly become grand.

Even excluding the Northern Nobles, 50,000 able-bodied men suddenly appeared in Laite County, a number that truly startled Hudson when he first heard it.

He quickly calmed down, realizing it was all the work of his former colleagues in the Fifth Army. Not only did they send young men from the Laite County territory, but they also brought young men from their old hometown.

That's the power of a halo effect. Although Hudson's reputation was built up by them, everyone genuinely acknowledged his luck and his ability to train Hudson.

Since the troops would have to bring their own rations and train anyway, it was natural to find someone capable to help with the training. The more elite the soldiers were trained, the higher their survival rate would be on the battlefield.

The "50,000 able-bodied men" figure is defined solely by age. Naturally, not all of them could be suitable for military service, so a screening process was necessary.

Although the kingdom was prepared to mobilize the entire nation for war, it was impossible for all able-bodied men to go to the battlefield. Most of them were intended to serve as reserves for emergencies.

According to Hudson's estimate, the kingdom's conscription order would at most draw seven to ten thousand men from this group, and most likely they wouldn't be sent to the front lines all at once.

Besides these people, various branches of the Coslo Family from within the province also brought their able-bodied men to observe and train. Some family friends and relatives who were preparing to form teams also brought their people to join in the fun.

There are even more people who want to use connections to get in and freeload off the military training.

Faced with the ever-growing crowd, Hudson was so frightened that he immediately called a halt.

Their capabilities are truly limited; even sending out a whole regiment as instructors wouldn't be enough. Any more, and there's simply nothing they can do.

For those geniuses who recruit hundreds of thousands of new soldiers at once and train them into an army, Hudson is just a stepping stone.

Even with a solid foundation, if you throw hundreds of thousands of able-bodied men in front of him now, they'll still be completely dumbfounded.

Fortunately, most of the serf soldiers only needed a token effort and a basic understanding. He only needed to select 10,000 to 20,000 of them for intensive training as the army for future campaigns.

Fortunately, the non-arable land in the Mountain Territory was also vast enough that a military camp could be set up on each hilltop, thus dispersing the people and preventing the area from feeling crowded.

As for building roads and leveling the land, it wasn't because Lord Hudson wanted to take advantage of the situation; it was purely for training purposes.

Aside from the Mountain Territory, who would be willing to give up such a large area of land as a training ground for young men?

Without roads, the grain can't be transported in. The terrain is uneven, making training inconvenient!

As for the weapons in the hands of the able-bodied men, they were not sold by Hudson, but rather they were copied by the serfs of the Mountain Territory who all had one.

Unlike in the past when they only sold inferior weapons, this time Hudson mixed in a lot of qualified ones at a ratio of five to one.

The only drawback is that there is still a shortage of supplies. Only the most valued "future elites" received iron weapons, while the rest could only make do with wooden sticks.

Large-scale military purchases are also a heavy burden for the minor nobles.

If it weren't for Hudson's generous offer that his own people could buy on credit or in kind, most nobles would likely have been forced to give up due to their limited funds.

"Halt!"

"Stand still, all of you. Now that you're here, be prepared for some tough times."

Don't worry about losing face. We all undergo the same training, and no one will laugh at you.

You are all nobles, so you should act like nobles. If you are not even as good as serfs, aren't you ashamed if word gets out?

From now on, everyone needs to be focused and study diligently for the next month.

A month from now, you will have to go back and train the serfs. They are also being trained, and if you can't even learn as well as the serfs, you might as well just slit your own throats.

It's not too late to quit now, but once training starts, it will be too late to regret it.

Let me introduce you first. This gentleman on my shoulder is the great Earth Bear, Mr. Beldens. He will be in charge of supervising your training from now on.

Mr. Beldens has a rather volatile temper, so you'd better not provoke him. Although there are chaplains in the camp, I can't guarantee the effectiveness of any treatment..."

Hudson said in a very serious tone.

Train the officers before training the soldiers.

If you're going to lead everyone into battle, you can't do it without teaching them real skills. If your subordinates are all useless, they could easily ruin your life as their leader.

There's no need to worry about them being stolen; these basic training methods can at most train junior officers.

The nobles were able to learn in a short time because they had a cultural background and possessed more knowledge than ordinary people.

Hudson had personally experienced the training of impoverished serf officers. It took a full two years to barely meet his requirements.

To save face for everyone, Hudson even set up a special aristocratic training camp, which was attended entirely by children of noble families.

The elderly nobleman, too ashamed to accept the training himself, pushed his sons forward instead.

"Quit" was just a joke.

Opportunities to learn military knowledge are rare. If anyone dares to quit halfway, Hudson won't even need to do anything; his father will teach them a lesson.

As for Beldens' supervision, it was purely intimidating. Even if the Young Bear were willing to work for free, Hudson was afraid of problems arising.

The reckless and ruthless Lord Bear, once he starts fighting, even Hudson himself is afraid.

If Lord Bear accidentally kills a few people with one slap, Hudson won't be able to explain himself.

But Lord Bear's hoarse, grinning, and eager expression was really...