Ambition
Upon entering the study, Hudson was not greeted with accusations, but rather with a huge map.
Perhaps it was because Viscount Oran was well-mannered, or perhaps he didn't take the daytime affair seriously, but he pulled Hudson directly to the map.
From the small print, it was clear that this was a map of the Fengyun Province, and Hudson immediately understood what was going on.
As unlucky Bear Kid, the group of willful nobles from the Fengyun Province have really stepped on a landmine this time.
In order to complete their garrison duties, it is said that all the nobles of Fengyun Province have conducted a second round of conscription within their territories.
The number of able-bodied men who have been involved in this war is probably no less than two hundred thousand. Even so, it was only with the reinforcements from the kingdom that the defenses were barely held.
They were utterly defeated in their very first round of combat. Without a doubt, the nobles of Fengyun Province have suffered a terrible loss this time.
Without a miracle, many noble families would inevitably decline or even perish.
As longtime neighbors, it's only right that I offer my concern and comfort; there's absolutely no other intention behind it.
"The situation is difficult!"
Anything can happen on the front lines.
Hudson, are you ready to meet the challenge?
Looking at Viscount Oran, who was speaking with feeling, Hudson really wanted to reply with—No!
The preparations have progressed to this point and seem to be showing initial results, but everyone knows that this is still far from enough.
The all-out war launched by the Beastfolk is never a one-off event. The Alpha Kingdom has reinforcements, and so does the Orc Empire.
As is customary, the Beastfolk will not stop until they have decimated the population of all the tribes in the country.
If a race were to disappear from the Orc Empire due to war, don't be surprised; it's just standard practice.
Perhaps in a few years, the extinct races will reappear. In the orcish Orc Empire interspecies interbreeding is rampant, while new races aren't born every day, some are added every month.
These races usually come and go in a hurry. Most rare races arrive in this world in a daze and leave in a daze.
Wars at this level are contests of overall strength between the two sides, and cannot be changed by the efforts of one or two nobles.
No matter how well prepared they are, they are just an insignificant member on the battlefield, at most having an impact on local conflicts.
You may be unsure inside, but you must project absolute confidence outwardly. Every outstanding nobleman is a master of rhetoric.
"Everything is proceeding according to plan. If no unforeseen circumstances arise, I will lead at least 20,000 elite soldiers into battle when the time comes!"
His confident voice made it sound as if he already had 20,000 elite troops ready to go to war at any time.
In reality, even if you count all the private armies of the entire Coslo Family, plus the private armies of all the nobles in the county, you still couldn't muster 10,000 elite troops.
"Twenty thousand elite troops is not a small number, but if we want to survive this war and gain something, it may still be a bit insufficient."
According to information from the front lines, the total number of casualties among the noble private armies of Fengyun Province has exceeded 70,000, with 30,000 killed in action, including more than 1,000 noble sons.
Rumors circulated that the Fengyun Province alone accounted for half of the casualties on the front lines, and that was no exaggeration. It's said that many of the army's chaplains were exhausted from treating the wounded.
If they hadn't been left with no way out and no option to surrender, they probably would have collapsed long ago.
This is the consequence of inadequate preparation! If they had been more diligent in their training, this situation wouldn't have occurred.
The poor Liufeng Family has run into an arrogant and conceited patriarch; they're probably doomed this time!
The nobles of Fengyun Province have also been severely harmed by this guy. So many nobles have died, and this debt will surely be settled with them after the war.
The Liufeng Family, with its lineage spanning thousands of years, may be utterly defeated this time, and could even face the complete extinction of its heritage.
Intelligence was Hudson's weakness, and even if he wanted to send people to the front lines, he couldn't get ahead in a short time.
For ordinary officers of noble rank, they were nothing but cannon fodder. Forget about getting intelligence back from the front lines in time; they were lucky if they didn't die on the battlefield.
The fact that they were able to obtain detailed casualty reports clearly indicates that the Hollisir Family planted on the front lines hold high positions in the military, and may even be in core positions within the command headquarters.
Viscount Oran is now using the Liufeng Family as a pretext. He might feel a sense of shared sorrow for the fallen, but he's unlikely to be doing it out of kindness.
A glance at the map reveals that the Fengyun Province lies west of Qiaomu County. It's only right to offer assistance when a good neighbor is in trouble.
After all, such an opportunity is rare. It wasn't just the Liufeng Family that suffered; all the nobles in Fengyun Province were caught in the crossfire and would inevitably fall into a period of weakness after the war.
With the Dalton Family dominating the Southeast Province, leaving no room for the Hollisir Family to advance further, it's understandable that they would turn their attention to their doomed neighbors.
As one of the more powerful middle-class noble families, the Hollisir Family has a fairly high probability of succeeding in taking control of Fengyun Province, provided they do not suffer too many losses in the war.
Hudson didn't need to worry about the specifics of how it would proceed. After all, his ancestors were high-ranking nobles, and he didn't believe that Viscount Oran was unaware of the rules of the upper-class political game.
Hudson had little interest in the Hollisir Family's schemes. No matter how things changed in Fengyun Province, it wouldn't be his turn to get a share.
Even ignoring the geographical difficulties, the Coslo Family lacked the capacity to expand throughout the Fengyun Province. Of course, planning to seize one or two Knight's Territory was still a possibility.
But this is meaningless; in peacetime, every piece of territory is precious. It's different during wartime, when unclaimed territories are created almost every day.
Aside from sighing in amazement, Hudson was filled with nothing but admiration. He'd seen people squander money, but never anyone squandered it like this.
Before this battle, the head of the Liufeng Family had a considerable reputation in the kingdom.
As one of the few feudal noble families to be granted the title of duke, the Liufeng Family has always been a pillar of the kingdom.
"Your Excellency Viscount Oran, has something unexpected happened at the front? Under normal circumstances, the losses of noble officers on the defending side should not be this great!"
Hudson asked, puzzled.
He thought the current Duke Liufeng was a "talented person" after losing tens of thousands of soldiers so quickly. Even if a pig were in command, the defending side might not have suffered such heavy casualties.
Not only did the soldiers suffer heavy losses, but even thousands of noble officers were killed in action. This was no longer just a matter of "talented people"; it was clearly a "genius of unparalleled talent."
"Snort!"
"Besides launching a reckless attack and getting caught and soundly beaten by the elite Beastfolk forces, can you think of any other way to lose so many troops in such a short time?"
Viscount Oran said with a look of disdain.
The kingdom does not encourage taking the initiative. Taking the initiative is not forbidden, but the prerequisite is that you must win, or at the very least, you must achieve a draw.
Duke Liufeng is clearly a negative example. For some inexplicable reason, he actually led his troops out of the city to engage in open-field warfare with the Beastfolk.
Fortunately, the Liufeng Family was powerful enough that, despite their defeat, they managed to hold the line with a group of provincial nobles.
Otherwise, without waiting for a post-war reckoning among the nobles, the kingdom will now hold him accountable for his unauthorized attack.
"Your Excellency, didn't the nobles of Fengyun Province try to dissuade him? Did they just watch Duke Liufeng make a foolish decision?"
Hudson asked, puzzled.
Logically speaking, everyone should be very resistant to such an order to voluntarily commit suicide.
If this happened in the Southeast Province, and the Governor dared to issue such a suicide order, he would probably only be able to lead his own trusted confidants into the attack, while the remaining nobles would completely ignore him.
Administrative leadership could not change the fact that the feudal nobles were independent lords. Even a provincial Governor had very limited control over the nobles.
Obeying orders is based on rules and must not harm everyone's core interests.
The military order to "send people to their deaths" was clearly beyond what everyone could bear, and thus constituted "irregular orders."
Even King's "chaotic decree" might be overturned when it reaches the lower levels, let alone a Governor's "chaotic decree".
"The situation in Fengyun Province is different from that in our Southeast Province."
In recent years, the Liufeng Family has expanded rapidly, occupying more than 40% of the province's land. Most of the prefects are from the Liufeng Family, making them virtually the only dominant family in the province.
Before this battle, Duke Liufeng's performance was quite good. In terms of personal prestige, he far surpassed our Count Pierce.
The prefects in various regions were mostly his confidants, and their word was practically law in Fengyun Province. Even if others discovered problems, they dared not confront him directly.
Duke Liufeng wasn't just acting recklessly; he dared to take the initiative.
While the overall quality of the army in Fengyun Province was poor, there were still quite a few elite soldiers among them. Under normal circumstances, they shouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat when encountering the Beastfolk army.
Unfortunately, they were very unlucky. Just after defeating an army of Ratmen, they encountered a Behemoth Legion.
Even with a numerical advantage, they couldn't bridge the gap in strength. Facing the Behemoth Legion over ten thousand, the Noble Allied Forces of Fengyun Province quickly suffered heavy losses.
Hudson, I know you have good military skills, but you must always remember the bloody lesson learned from the Liufeng Family.
Unless absolutely necessary, do not engage the Behemoth Legion in direct combat. Even the kingdom's most elite troops would need to amass several times the strength of the Behemoth Legion before daring to fight them.
Fortunately Behemoth Clan were few in number, so the chances of encountering their main force were slim; otherwise, this war simply wouldn't have been able to continue.
Seeing the still-frightened Viscount Oran, Hudson instantly felt relieved. It's good to know respect; what's truly worrisome is someone who clearly isn't capable but insists on thinking they're superior.
The kingdom forbids unauthorized attacks, perhaps a consequence of these self-important nobles. One Duke Liufeng has already ruined the Fengyun Province; if there were more, the Alpha Kingdom would be utterly doomed.
"Your Excellency, given the heavy losses suffered by Fengyun Province, the achievements must have been considerable as well, right?"
Hudson asked tentatively.
Despite not holding out much hope, he still hoped for a miracle. If he could severely cripple the Behemoth Legion, the loss would be worthwhile for the entire kingdom.
"Stop fantasizing! The Behemoth Legion's casualties are less than four figures, and the number of those killed is even smaller."
If several thousand Behemoths could be killed, then this battle would be a glorious and moving victory for the human race in its counterattack against the Beastfolk invasion.
"If we can annihilate a Behemoth Legion of ten thousand, even if Duke Liufeng loses the entire army of Fengyun Province, the kingdom will bail him out!"
Upon hearing Viscount Oran's words, Hudson rolled his eyes. Annihilating a Behemoth army of ten thousand was simply a pipe dream.
In the past few centuries, there have only been two instances where the Behemoth Legion was completely annihilated, and both times it was only after reinforcements from various continental countries arrived.
The price paid can only be summed up in two words in history books: tragic!
If Duke Liufeng could have done that, he would be a hero revered by millions of humans, instead of the negative example he is now.
Let alone those soldiers who were rushed into battle without completing their training, even if it were the kingdom's Standing Army, it would be difficult to defeat a Behemoth Legion without ten times the strength.
To win a decisive battle, unless Behemoth foolishly charges into a trap, can't they at least run away if they can't win?
Unlike humans, Behemoths are twins, one being a "human" and the other a "beast".
The war beast and the Behemoth are like brothers, having grown up together since childhood, and their teamwork is seamless.
In terms of speed, they surpass most human cavalry. Only a small number of top-quality horses can rival their speed.
Speed and combat prowess are the reasons why the Behemoth Clan, with their small population, have risen to the top of the Five Great Royal Families.
In fact, the Five Great Royal Families of the Orc Empire are not constant. If one family declines, it is possible for it to be replaced by the other families.
The Five Great Royal Families launched continuous invasions to the south, both to eliminate excess population within the country and to take the opportunity to weaken the powerful races within the country.
It was only through repeated wars that the dominant position of the Five Great Royal Families was established.
Apart from the Five Great Royal Families, the population of other powerful races has remained at a low level and is difficult to increase.
"Your Excellency, the nobles of Fengyun Province have already suffered a great loss of strength, and it is estimated that their strength will be further weakened after they complete their garrison mission."
Moreover, there will be second and third conscriptions later. They will probably be exhausted before the war ends.
Duke Liufeng has made another grave mistake. After the war, he will inevitably become estranged from the nobles in the province, and a major reshuffle in Fengyun Province is inevitable.
Such a once-in-a-century opportunity, I wonder if the Hollisir Family has any thoughts on it?
Hudson asked bluntly.
After talking about the map for so long, Hudson didn't believe that his father-in-law was just discussing the battlefield situation with him.
Even if we were to have a real discussion, it would be after he had launched into a tirade against me, and then we would slowly begin to discuss things.
They even let go of the chance to find fault with him, which clearly meant they had something important to discuss, so that Viscount Oran couldn't bother to pursue his little matter.
The conversation revolved around the Liufeng Family, clearly indicating that the Hollisir Family, seeing the difficulties in the Southeast Province, wanted to find an opportunity in the Fengyun Province to return to the ranks of the great nobles.
"The trouble Duke Liufeng has caused this time is too great. The Fengyun Province will inevitably fall into chaos after the war. I am keeping a close eye on things in order to prevent the chaos from spreading to the Southeast Province."
However, if the situation in the post-war Fengyun Province remains unstable, the Hollisir Family is still willing to share the kingdom's burdens.
Viscount Oran spoke with an air of concern for the country and its people.
Seeing this, Hudson felt he had learned something new. He clearly wanted to take advantage of the situation to expand, but insisted on claiming it was to share the kingdom's burdens.
It seems that to thrive in aristocratic circles, one must cultivate a thick skin. A ruthless heart beneath a rosy exterior is the proper approach.
As an ally, Hudson would certainly support the Hollisir Family's desire for expansion, provided it did not harm his own interests.
If the Hollisir Family were to return to the ranks of the great nobility, it would be a good thing for Hudson; the only ones who would suffer would be the Dalton Family.
However, judging from Viscount Oran's style, it's unlikely that he would clash with the Dalton Family at the crucial juncture of wanting to take control of Fengyun Province. In fact, the two families might even be making deals in secret.
As a result, the nobles of the Southeast Province need to be careful. Without the protection of a second-largest family in the province, the original political balance is bound to be broken.
Faced with the powerful Dalton Family, the remaining middle-class nobles may not be able to form an alliance to continue resisting them.
A situation where one entity dominates is definitely not a good thing for the Mountain Territory, which is accumulating strength.
Just as he was lost in thought, Hudson suddenly realized something. The private armies of the nobles in the Southeast Province hadn't even gone to the battlefield yet; who knew what would happen there?
If you're unlucky and end up like those in Fengyun Province, getting crippled by the Beastfolk before you can even defend yourself, then there's no point in thinking about anything else.
It's better if everyone gets damaged together; that way, we can all be pulled to the horizon and balance can still be maintained. We can even join forces to keep out outsiders from prying eyes.
The real trouble would be if only a few companies suffered heavy losses while the others did not.
In the short term, people might be reluctant to turn against their own people out of consideration for their allies.
Over time, feelings fade, and driven by self-interest, conflict is inevitable.
With everything uncertain, Hudson was actually quite carefree. Compared to other nobles, the Mountain Territory didn't have as many benefits to lose.
The core interests lie in the mining area and the reclaimed wasteland. It won't be easy for others to come and take them away.
As long as he lives, with Beldens in charge, preserving the business empire will not be a problem at all.
If the foundation is not lost, restoring military strength is simple. As long as the soldiers are not wiped out in entire units, recovery will only take a year or two.
"Your Excellency, you are truly a role model for us all. Your concern for the country and its people is something we should all learn from. If needed, the Coslo Family can also lend a hand!"
Hudson immediately wrote a blank check. Whether he would honor it, and to what extent he would provide support, depended on how the situation developed.
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