Rainbow Moon

In Dadir City, ever since he learned that more than half of the nobles in the county had gone to the Mountain Territory for training, Viscount Ciss's mentality completely collapsed.

At the provincial military conference, the governors of other counties attended, but the military officer represented the Laite County.

It would be one thing if he were just a representative. After all, Hudson was known for his fighting prowess in the Southeast Province, but the key point is that no one informed him of the entire process.

It's obvious that the local nobles don't want to involve him. They have no excuse to cause trouble, so it's perfectly reasonable for the Governor's Mansion to convene a military conference and have military officers participate.

As the county's military officer, Hudson's organization of military training for the fief lords was also in accordance with regulations.

However, other prefects were more powerful and had a strong voice in military affairs, often squeezing out the military officers' authority, or even directly usurping their power.

Just because others can do it doesn't mean the Ciss can. In Laite County, the strongest military force is the Mountain Territory.

Neither the two infantry regiments nor that cute bear were opponents he could contend with.

He couldn't even ask his hometown for help. The Felix Family had no shortage of troops or strong men, but none of that mattered to him, the illegitimate son.

Grand Duke Cavadia may have considerable influence, but he couldn't very well send his family's top experts to his illegitimate son. Especially now, with the Beastfolk potentially attacking at any moment, diverting forces away would only invite more criticism.

Unable to stop it through rules and procedures, and unable to suppress it through strength, Viscount Ciss could only watch helplessly as the Mountain Territory conducted large-scale military training.

It wasn't just Viscount Ciss who was troubled; all the Northern Nobles were deeply troubled by this.

The local nobles of the prefecture sent 50,000 able-bodied men at once. Even with just a little training, the military balance between the two sides would be disrupted.

In fact, with the rise of the Mountain Territory, the balance of military power in Laite County had long since been reversed.

The local nobles, who were initially at a disadvantage, overtook them. Left with no other choice, everyone worked tirelessly to train the serfs and prevent the gap from widening further.

Excluding Mountain Territory, the territories controlled by both sides are roughly the same size, but there is a significant difference in the number of able-bodied men they possess.

Ultimately, their hometown was still too far away. Despite everyone's efforts to increase the population, they still couldn't catch up with the local nobility.

"Your Excellency Viscount Ciss, please think of a solution! If this continues, we'll be driven out sooner or later!"

"Knight Justin said with concern."

As an extremely unlucky guy, he's been having a run of bad luck lately.

First, they suffered heavy losses in the locust plague, then they were caught robbing a caravan. Before they could recover, a slave rebellion broke out in their territory.

The devastated territory did not break him, but the attitude of his neighbors terrified him.

The serf soldiers haven't even been trained yet, and they're already mocking and ridiculing him. What will happen once they've been trained?

All I can say is that the debts from June need to be paid off quickly.

There is no hatred without a cause; all this mockery stems from previous conflicts.

When you're outmatched, you have to endure it; but once the balance of power shifts, you can't be so polite anymore!

The fact that they didn't come to cause trouble means that the local nobles weren't prepared and were also considering the bigger picture.

Once the serf soldiers are formed, will the local nobles still be able to maintain their restraint?

The answer to this question has already been found in everyone's mind.

"Don't rush, Knight Justin."

What we should be worried about now is not the minor conflicts with the nobles in the county, but rather taking a longer-term view.

The situation in Northern Frontier is tense, as you've probably all heard. It's almost certain—war is on the horizon.

Once fighting breaks out in the north, everyone will inevitably have to go to the front lines.

We've all fought against Beastfolk, and we all know how powerful they are.

In every full-scale war, my Alpha Kingdom has suffered heavy losses.

Don't be fooled by the joy these local nobles are having; they'll face the consequences in the future.

Even if the grudges are to be settled, that will have to wait until after the great war.

A large gap in strength now does not mean a large gap in strength in the future.

Compared to the native nobles who knew almost nothing about Beastfolk, our survival rate in the war was much higher.

Viscount Ciss tried his best to reassure him.

The imbalance of military power has become a reality. The fact that the local nobles didn't retaliate is because they were considering the bigger picture.

If they cause trouble, they're just asking for a beating. Even if they get beaten, it's pointless.

In order not to make his position as leader appear incompetent, Ciss had no choice but to ask everyone to take a longer-term view and shift their focus to the upcoming great battle.

War is the best way to turn the tide. Given the horrific casualty rates of past wars, even powerful forces can be overthrown, let alone a group of minor nobles.

Unfortunately, everyone present was intelligent, and these words of reassurance clearly failed to put their minds at ease.

While the local nobles would suffer heavy casualties on the battlefield, it did not mean they could escape unscathed.

In a war of this scale, survival depends on either strength or luck. For most people lacking strength, luck is paramount.

"Viscount Ciss, according to past practice, the kingdom mostly recruits troops based on region."

Given the current situation, the local nobles certainly won't act alongside us.

Even if all the nobles from both counties were combined, we probably couldn't muster a whole legion with just the people here.

Baron Keterai reminded him.

Despite the contradictions, we still need to work together in times like these.

The alliance of Northern Nobles sons must not collapse until, at the very least, the local nobles accept him.

Without anyone to stick together for warmth, a small lord reduced to a rootless duckweed will find it very difficult to survive on the battlefield.

The secret was out, and the matter was out in the open. Viscount Ciss, who had previously been very wary of this, now had no choice but to come out and face it.

Frankly, deep down he still felt some regret. If he had known that the situation in the Northern Frontier would deteriorate so quickly, he wouldn't have schemed to weaken his "allies" in order to seize dominance.

"Even if we can't assemble a full legion, we must. Military organization during wartime is not static."

Small legions can have only a few thousand men, while large legions can have tens of thousands. There are no strict requirements, but the most common unit size is ten thousand men.

The local nobles in the Southeast Province harbor deep-seated prejudices against us, which are unlikely to change in a short time. If we don't want to be cannon fodder on the battlefield, we must fight for as much autonomy as possible.

"That's what Viscount Ciss said firmly."

This was a decision he made after careful consideration. It was better to work alone than to be part of a group with others.

Although the power of the Northern Nobles has been weakened, they still have more than two thousand elite troops. With the addition of several thousand serf soldiers, they could form an independent army.

In terms of combat power, they may indeed be slightly inferior, but at least they can retain a certain degree of autonomy.

The battle lines between the Alpha Kingdom and the Orc Empire stretch for thousands of miles, making unified command extremely difficult. Given the circumstances, regional warfare is inevitable.

A war zone consists of anywhere from a few legions to dozens of legions.

On the battlefield, a legion commander is considered a mid-to-high-ranking officer. At the very least, they can hold a position at important military meetings and express their opinions.

This involves the power dynamics in the war, and the Ciss are determined to get the position of legion commander and will never make any concessions.

To achieve this, the full support of the Northern Nobles was indispensable. The gathering and training of the local nobles in the Mountain Territory certainly put pressure on him, but it also presented an opportunity for the Ciss to consolidate his base.

Beda City, a special convoy had just entered the city when it was warmly welcomed by the city's residents, including many noblemen.

This scene was nothing new to the group in the convoy. As the most famous singing girl group in mainland China, the undisputed leaders of the entertainment industry, and the pinnacle of the idol world, they had seen this far too many times.

In an era lacking entertainment, music and stage performances are the most popular forms of entertainment.

As an idol group that travels to various countries in mainland China, Rainbow Moon Songstress Group have gained countless fans since their debut.

The fact that they can travel freely on the mainland for a long time without being harassed by outsiders suggests that the Rainbow Moon Songstress Group is no ordinary group.

It is said that the founders were several of the continent's top experts. Some of the songstresses in the troupe also have ambiguous relationships with many of the continent's powerful nobles.

The scandalous news surrounding the divas has never stopped.

With so many important figures involved, the number of members of the singing girls' group who dared to provoke them naturally decreased.

Beautiful women are not everywhere, but there's no need to invite unnecessary trouble for yourself over a few women.

"Miss, it seems you're quite popular here. Many noble talents are calling your name outside."

Upon hearing the maid's words, Isabelle in the luxurious carriage rolled her eyes.

As one of the top members of the Rainbow Moon Songstress Group, Isabelle naturally has no shortage of fans, and similar scenes occur almost everywhere she goes.

"What's there to be excited about! In the end, we're not from the same world. No matter how obsessed they seem, they just want to have some fun."

Windsor, don't take these men's words seriously. Their talk of love is just empty words.

"Isabelle said dismissively."

However, the hint of resentment in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. The hierarchy on the Aslant Continent was too rigid; even the most popular songstress didn't hold a very high position.

Let alone marrying into a wealthy family, even a core member of a middle-class noble family would never marry a songstress.

It's not about discrimination based on birth; the key issue is that they have no value in "marriage alliances." They only possess some fame, which is worthless to the great nobles.

Impoverished nobles were willing to marry them, but very few succeeded.

Even if some couples do end up together, it's not because of love, but more because of self-interest. It's primarily about currying favor with powerful figures—the so-called "scapegoat."

Even a seasoned, popular singer would feel lost about her future. She couldn't marry into a wealthy family, and she wasn't content to be just a mistress.

This "unwilling heart" led Isabelle to secretly join a Mysterious Organization. Her trip to the Alpha Kingdom for the performance was to carry out the organization's orders.

Originally, she didn't want to take on this tricky task, but the people behind her offered her so much more.

Money is no object for Isabelle. As cash cows, these top-tier singers hold a very high status within Rainbow Moon.

Not only do they enjoy a high degree of freedom on a regular basis, but they also receive a share of the profits from each performance. The ticket revenue alone is a huge source of income.

Those willing to entertain clients privately can earn even more. Even if it's just for tea and conversation, there are always plenty of willing customers willing to foot the bill.

What truly captivated Isabelle was the precious cultivation resources provided by the organization behind her.

In the Aslant Continent, besides nobles, there is another special group with high status—the strong.

When a person is strong enough, the limitations imposed by their birth cease to exist.

Outsiders probably never dreamed that the delicate Miss Isabelle was actually a knight of considerable strength.

If this news gets out, her reputation will likely rise even higher, and she might even become the number one diva in mainland China.

However, none of this is Isabelle wants. What she wants most is to be able to control her own destiny, instead of being dependent on the songstress troupe as she is now.

For the weak, beauty is a cardinal sin. The saying "beauty is fleeting" best illustrates this. Without the protection of the Rainbow Moon, she would instantly become meat on someone else's chopping block.

If you're lucky, you might be taken in by a powerful figure and kept as a mistress; if you're unlucky, well, it's hard to predict what will happen.

The carriage moved slowly down the street, seemingly Isabelle to the shouts from the outside world, offering no response whatsoever.

The arrival of the Rainbow Moon Songstress Group provided the nobles of the Southeast Province with something to talk about over tea, but it did not affect their war preparations in the slightest.

His Majesty the King has declared that the province with the worst war preparedness will have its army lead the charge.

As a model student, Governor Pierce made a simple modification and immediately issued orders to the counties: whichever county was not proactive in its war preparations, its troops would be sent first.

No one dared to take this blatant threat lightly. Apart from a few fanatics who went out to watch the spectacle, most nobles continued to diligently train their armies.

It was all forced upon them, and the orders were passed down from level to level. Apart from Laite County, which organized training for everyone, almost every county had similar orders—whoever was not proactive in preparing for war would have their army sent to the battlefield first.

If you don't want to go, then don't join the county army. We don't need teammates who drag us down.

Switching sides is impossible; I've been rejected by the army in my own prefecture, and the major powers outside aren't going to take my trash either.

The Immortal Wood Romance

Although on the battlefield, the more troops the better, people would rather not have any teammates who are just a hindrance.

After a month of initial adjustment, Hudson's officer corps finally began to perform admirably. Judging from their formation and imposing presence alone, they were undoubtedly top-tier elites.

Especially since most of these people are knights, their individual combat strength is already quite strong, which further increases the value of the "elite" group.

As the head instructor, Hudson's feelings were quite complicated. Compared to the officers he had trained before, the performance of these guys in front of him was far superior.

Despite their aristocratic airs, under Beldens Stearns' supervision, they all completed all the training without fail.

It's not that no one has tried to do something reckless, it's just that the results have been tragic, and they're still lying in hospital beds groaning in pain.

Every day after training, everyone would be organized to visit the unfortunate guy in the hospital bed in the name of unity.

It wasn't that Hudson was ruthless and instructed Lord Bear to do something underhanded; it was simply that the guy was too cowardly.

He was daydreaming during training when Beldens glared at him, scaring him so much that he turned and ran away, accidentally falling headfirst into a cesspool and breaking his arms and legs.

As for why it was such a coincidence, it was definitely due to luck. After all, everyone saw him plunge into the latrine; it had nothing to do with Lord Bear.

For the sake of the injured soldier's long-term future, Hudson felt that there was absolutely no need to risk his life for such a non-vital injury.

After all, pastors are very busy. Unexpected events are always unavoidable during training.

It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. The unfortunate guy who had to withdraw from training due to injury can only lie in his hospital bed and wail.

Anyway, the knight has strong vitality. His bones were set and he was given a layer of magic potion. He just needs to recover slowly.

There are no protests. After each training session, Lord Bear would personally give a pretentious speech to inspire everyone.

The specific content of the speeches was too vulgar and violent, and not conducive to harmony, so I can't disclose it. Anyway, after each speech, everyone seemed to be injected with "chicken blood".

Looking at the neatly arranged officers, Hudson delivered a passionate speech. "The month-long assault training has now come to an end."

Except for a very few lagging individuals, everyone completed the basic training very well, but this is just the beginning.

Next, you will all go deep into your respective family's private army and pass on to them everything you have learned in the past month.

You'll all be watching how they train. If you can't learn it, it just proves you're too stupid and destined never to become a general.

Enough with the small talk. The next month will be the time to test your learning outcomes.

Those serfs did receive some training, but it was the serfs who trained them. You are nobles, even if you're trash, you're still better than a bunch of serfs, right?

You guys handle this from now on. We'll check the results in a month. The quality of the soldiers we train reflects your own level.

There are less than two months left until the autumn harvest. After inspecting the harvest, you will have to lead the soldiers back to complete the harvest.

The subsequent military training will be up to you to carry out on your own.

Don't waste this crucial month. If you discover problems now, you can still ask for help and learn. It won't be so easy to learn later.

Remember this: If you want to achieve great things on the battlefield, you have to work hard in peacetime!

..."