Status
The biggest challenge for "Bull Cavalry" lies in the cost.
In the agricultural era, cattle were an important means of production. For most of the time, the value of a cattle exceeded that of a human.
To fund the reclamation efforts, Hudson began to vigorously develop cattle breeding from the moment he took control of the Mountain Territory. He subsequently purchased hundreds of breeding cattle from outside the region.
Now, the Mountain Territory has grown to have over a thousand cattle herds, but calves make up a large proportion of them.
Considering the needs of the territory's development, they cannot all be taken away. Besides, ordinary oxen are not suitable for the battlefield.
Only those mutant cattle descendants with improved physical strength, endurance, and explosive power truly meet the requirements.
The time was ultimately too short; the mutant cattle offspring were all still in their growth stage, and apart from that breeding bull, the rest were all minors.
Even if we lower the standard and include all animals over one and a half years old, it would only amount to a mere two hundred or so. This small number is clearly insufficient to meet the demand.
As the core platform of an army, Heavy Infantry may seem inconspicuous, but it is the most important branch of the military in large-scale field battles.
According to the plan, Hudson intended to equip his forces with one-fifteenth of his total strength, namely, one thousand Heavy Infantry.
As for the Heavy Infantry in the private armies of other nobles, that's their business; his reach isn't that far.
Noble lords had an obligation to serve in the military, but they had a high degree of autonomy in the allocation of their troops. Hudson had neither the right nor the need to interfere.
When it comes to matters of life and death, noble lords never take them lightly. Even if the equipment is not ideal, it won't be too outrageously bad.
The main purpose of producing so Heavy Infantry, besides increasing field combat capabilities, is to make them more durable and have a higher survival rate.
Protected by armor and shields, they could withstand most enemy attacks. Often, in a battle, the casualty rate of Heavy Infantry was less than one-tenth that of other soldiers.
Elite troops are hard to cultivate, and the losses would be too great for Hudson to bear. Although he was prepared to make a "strategic retreat" on his own at any time, that was only in the event of a hopeless situation.
If victory is within reach, no one would choose to flee in panic. To win battles, increasing the strength of the troops is undoubtedly a key factor.
Apart from being slightly more expensive and slightly slower in movement, Heavy Infantry has almost no obvious weaknesses.
If there aren't enough cows, then other livestock will have to be used to make up the difference.
"Nag Horse Cavalry," "Mule Cavalry," and "Donkey Cavalry" can all be arranged.
They weren't expecting to fight the Beastfolk cavalry head-on anyway. They were merely carrying Heavy Infantry forward to conserve the soldiers' energy and increase their marching speed.
Of course, if you're bullying some lowly Beastfolk with a combat strength of only five, you can use them as cavalry.
The biggest problem with this hodgepodge of mounts is still logistics.
Comparatively speaking, cattle are the easiest to raise. A bundle of hay and some feed are all you need.
Mules, donkeys, and nags are not difficult to raise. The real concern is with warhorses.
Hay is for eating in peacetime; in wartime, grain is essential.
For a balanced diet, legumes, bran, and grains are all necessary, and sometimes eggs are also required.
Their food rations rivaled those of noblemen, far exceeding those of ordinary soldiers.
The more livestock you have, the greater the logistical pressure. Fortunately, this kind of war doesn't require you to bring your own rations, otherwise Hudson might have collapsed on the spot.
With Heavy Infantry in place, archers were naturally indispensable. Against Beastfolk army lacking armor protection, archers could often play an unexpected and effective role.
Five hundred archers—that's most of Hudson's resources. They're equipped with powerful bows from the Kingdom of Alpha, with a maximum range of three hundred meters.
The bow is 1.5 meters long, made of high-quality wood, and the bowstring is made of hemp fiber.
The biggest difference between these Strong Bow and ordinary arrows is that, after they are made, they need to be soaked in a special magical reagent for three days.
The enhanced bow and arrow are naturally exceptionally powerful. An Arrow Feathers shot by a skilled archer can easily penetrate leather armor, cloth armor, and even some iron armor.
Not only are they effective against regular soldiers, but these Strong Bow can also play a significant role when facing elite Beastfolk.
After all, Heavy Infantry were always a minority. The human side didn't have many of them, Beastfolk army had even fewer.
Limited by its productivity level, the Orc Empire's iron production has always been low, and it is far inferior to the Humans in terms of weaponry.
The army consisted of 5,000 men, with cavalry, Heavy Infantry, and archers making up two-fifths of the force. The remaining troop types had to be reduced.
Fortunately, there were still 10,000 troops under my command; otherwise, such an unreasonable troop deployment would have given the Beastfolk a real fright on the battlefield.
Before he could even scare the Beastfolk, Hudson himself was startled.
According to the plan, the 5,000-strong army was equipped with 1,000 warhorses and more than 2,000 livestock.
There is no doubt that this ratio is extremely abnormal.
Cutting back is a must; sending so many animals into battle is a logistical nightmare.
Cost is also a significant factor. The sudden removal of so many livestock would severely damage the land reclamation efforts in the Mountain Territory.
The Heavy Infantry should be the first to be affected, as having one animal per person is far too extravagant. They must be replaced with oxcarts, horse-drawn carts, or mule carts to reduce the number of animals.
During normal times, when marching, the armor was placed on the carts, and the soldiers could walk.
Only when entering dangerous areas where encounters with Beastfolk armies could occur at any moment should one don armor and proceed by vehicle.
During the two thousand li journey, the real danger zone was only about a hundred or two hundred li at the front line, so the Heavy Infantry did not need to use transportation for long.
If you need to increase the carrying capacity of livestock in a short time, you can rely on magical potions. Although it's a bit extravagant, it's still better than traveling with a large number of animals.
The livestock requirement for Heavy Infantry was reduced, and cavalrymen who used to ride two horses each were now required to ride only one. They would mount their horses during battles, but in peacetime they would travel on foot like the infantry.
(Note: A cavalryman rides two horses, one warhorse and one cavalryman.)
For a general who is not planning to take the initiative, sacrificing mobility slightly in exchange for reduced logistical pressure is entirely worthwhile.
The rest cannot be reduced. The mobility of scouts, signalmen, and officers must be guaranteed.
The number of warhorses remained unchanged at one thousand, but the number of other livestock was cut in half.
There's no need for menial laborers anymore. The kingdom has set a limit on the number of soldiers, and even warhorses can't be substituted, let alone menial laborers.
Soldiers these days aren't so pampered; even elite soldiers can do odd jobs.
With logistical support provided, auxiliary troops are not an essential military unit. Laborers and miscellaneous servants can be provided by the Moxi Duchy upon arrival at the destination.
I reckon they'd be happy to. More soldiers are always better than more cannon fodder.
As for weapons and equipment, apart from everyday household items, there's no need to worry too much about the rest.
If the Moxi Duchy cannot guarantee even the most basic logistical support, Lord Hudson would dare to lead his troops in retreat.
We're not afraid to take this kind of case all the way to the Human Alliance.
Looking into the distance, Hudson slowly said, "Tom, send a message to the nobles in the county."
"Have them produce enough dried meat to feed the soldiers for three days as a necessary reserve."
Some things cannot be entirely entrusted to allies. In case you get scammed, you need to have contingency plans.
Three days' worth of food reserves wouldn't affect the course of the battle. But when fleeing, these dried meats could be lifesavers.
At the Emerald Palace, looking at the numbers of reinforcements reported from various places, Caesar III's expression improved considerably.
Although the number of soldiers only met the minimum requirements, the livestock accompanying the army could be added when making public announcements.
The 90,000 soldiers directly became 120,000. If we add the laborers mobilized by various counties along the way to ensure the army's logistics, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it an army of 200,000.
As for the fact that the laborers don't need to follow the army into the Moxi Duchy, that's a minor issue. It's just political propaganda; there's no need to take it too seriously.
What the Moxi Duchy needs now is confidence, as do the neighboring small states, and Caesar III is providing them with is precisely that confidence.
There is absolutely no comparison between "90,000 reinforcements" and "200,000 reinforcements".
"Laite County, what's the deal with this list of required supplies?"
Why are so many items specifically labeled as "beast milk," "honey," "sugar," "monster meat," "eggs," and "refined salt" on the logistical supplies list?
"I asked angrily, "Caesar III asked.
During wartime, everything should be kept simple. People are there to fight, not to enjoy themselves.
These "luxury foods" marked by Hudson could only be supplied in small quantities even to high-ranking noble officers, which was clearly going against the grain.
"Your Majesty, the Southeast Province has even issued a special document explaining the situation in Laite County."
The military headquarters confirmed the situation and found no problems. These extra supplies were not intended for the aristocratic officers.
Lord Hudson, the Lord Commander of Laite County, owns a fully grown Earth Bear, and these extra supplies are for that bear's rations.
Duke Affierro replied calmly.
In the Aslant Continent, it's perfectly normal for magical beasts to be treated better than humans. Especially high-ranking adult magical beasts capable of human speech are treated like precious treasures.
The kingdom can ask its nobles to be frugal and reduce expenses, but it cannot lower the food standards for monsters.
As for whether there were any additional supplies on the list, nobody knows.
In any case, the Earth Bear's reputation is so great that it deserves its own recipe.
As an omnivorous creature, it's understandable that its diet is "a little bit" wide and its appetite is "a little bit" big.
Once outside the Alpha Kingdom, the logistical issues fall to the Moxi Duchy.
Regardless of whether these extra supplies end up in the bellies of bears or in the stomachs of soldiers on the front lines, the Alpha Kingdom will not suffer any loss.
The military and Logistics Department simply turned a blind eye and tacitly approved of the list.
"In that case, let's hand it over to the Moxi Duchy!"
Tell Chris IX that I even sent the Earth Bear to support them.
With promotional materials delivered to his doorstep, Caesar III decided to take full advantage of the opportunity and claimed the credit for himself without hesitation.
The arrival of "two hundred thousand reinforcements," including the formidable weapon of war, the Earth Bear, is enough to prove that the Alpha Kingdom is doing everything in its power to support its allies.
The political benefits are far greater than any amount of material gain.
Even though the bear's daily rations amounted to thousands of pounds, far exceeding the appetite of an average Earth Bear, Caesar III pretended not to see anything.
In the Warhammer Kingdom, Joseph II and his courtiers waited quietly in Marshal Borg's residence.
In order not to disturb the old marshal's rest, he specifically instructed his servants not to go and disturb him, demonstrating his utmost respect for the virtuous and talented.
Whether the servants of the Marshal's Office acted in accordance with the King's will is not important.
Politics has always been more symbolic than practical.
Joseph II waited from morning until noon, and as lunchtime approached, Marshal Borg still hadn't appeared, but he wasn't annoyed.
They just sent a great hero home on trumped-up charges, and now they suddenly need him again and want to ask him to come out of retirement. How can they not let him vent his resentment?
Deep down, Joseph II was secretly relieved. Fortunately, Marshal Borg hadn't rushed back to his fiefdom; otherwise, he would have had to travel hundreds of miles to fetch someone.
The situation at the front is critical; the Beastfolk army has launched a probing attack from the Moxi Duchy towards the Warhammer Kingdom.
Joseph II was truly uneasy unless he could lure Marshal Borg to the front lines.
As a King, suffering a little grievance for the sake of the greater good is nothing.
The current show of respect and humility is not only for Marshal Borg, but also for the generals in the army.
He demonstrated through his actions that he, Joseph II, was not a stubborn and self-willed ruler.
Even political enemies, if they have talent, will be given important positions.
How long this situation can last depends on when the war ends.
"Your Majesty, you want..."
Before Chancellor Gaiyin could finish speaking, Joseph II interrupted, "No need to rush, let the old marshal wake up first."
If you're impatient, you can go back and rest. I can stay here by myself; it won't be a problem!
Political posturing must be carried through to the end.
If we give up halfway now, all our efforts will have been in vain.
At worst, we can just stay here and wait. We can't really let the King go hungry and wait here forever.
What's going on?
Why didn't His Majesty wake me when he came?
The distant reprimands brought a sigh of relief to everyone. The protagonist had finally arrived; otherwise, if things had continued like this, who knew how things would have ended?
"Your Majesty, please atone for your sins!"
It's all my fault for not managing my subordinates properly, that's why you've been waiting!
This person is getting old and is no longer useful.
My health is not what it used to be, and I actually slept until now, it's really a sin..."
After hearing Marshal Borg's explanation, everyone rolled their eyes.
For ordinary people, eighty years old is indeed a time of physical decline and old age, but for an Earth Knight, it is only the middle of life.
I'm afraid that even after everyone present has been buried, this old marshal will still be alive and kicking.
If he were truly too old to lift a sword, Joseph II would not have come to ask him to return to service.
But Marshal Borg insisted on relying on his seniority, and no one could really say anything. Generally speaking, it was indeed time for him to retire at his age.
By this age, successors have long been groomed. Fame and fortune have become things of the past; in the years to come, people are more willing to pursue the legendary Holy Domain.
Even without the previous failures in political struggles, Marshal Borg's retirement was a recent event, occurring only in the last few years.
If someone keeps clinging to their position, not only will outsiders have objections, but even their own juniors might harbor resentment.
"You flatter me, old marshal. You are in excellent health!"
To be honest, I've come here to apologize. Previously..."
Before Joseph II could speak, Marshal Borg interrupted, "Your Majesty, let bygones be bygones."
I've seen all sorts of storms in my life. I've never taken trivial matters to heart.
The situation is dire; Your Majesty should prioritize national affairs and need not waste your energy on an old man like me.
It's clear that Marshal Borg wasn't actually lacking in political acumen.
I know very well what I can do and what I can't do.
For example, right now, you can put on airs and act however you like, but you can't let the King publicly admit his mistake.
"Marshal, there's no need to worry. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Since I misunderstood you because I listened to slander, I should apologize."
The kingdom is currently in dire straits, with countless people under the threat of the Beastfolk's armies. A single misstep could lead to the tragedy of national ruin and the destruction of their homes.
For the sake of the more than 20 million people of the Warhammer Kingdom, we implore the Marshal to set aside past grievances and return to power to turn the tide!
As he spoke, Joseph II bowed to Marshal Borg, giving him no chance to refuse.
Frankly speaking, it was rather petty for King to act this way, but the situation did not allow Joseph II to delay.
Everyone knows the front line is a mess, and no matter who goes up there, they can't reverse the gap in strength between the two sides.
The only difference is the manner in which they were defeated.
For Marshal Borg, who had achieved great success and retired, there was absolutely no need for him to get involved in this mess.
His status and position had long reached the pinnacle of a subject's power; even if he won, he couldn't be promoted further. Instead, it would only arouse more of the King's suspicion.
If they lose, it will be even worse. The damage to their reputation before and after death is secondary; they might even lose their lives on the battlefield.
If Joseph were in Joseph's shoes, he would definitely refuse a high-risk, no-return deal.
Without resorting to moral blackmail, he really didn't know how to persuade Marshal Borg to go to the battlefield.
"Your Majesty, the Warhammer Kingdom has always been full of talented people. Now that the nation is in peril, it is the perfect time for these young talents to emerge."
"This is the era of young people, why make an old man like me stand in the way?"
Marshal Borg struggled to speak.
As a former military commander, his understanding of the military strength of the Warhammer Kingdom was even deeper than that of Joseph II.
Given the military strength of the Warhammer Kingdom, if they become the primary target of the Beastfolk, their performance will not be much better than that of the Moxi Duchy.
The gap in hard power cannot be bridged by individual effort. Even if he personally commanded the entire nation's army, he could only delay the defeat.
No general likes a war in which there is no hope of victory.
Having finally managed to extricate himself from politics unscathed, he had no intention of getting himself back into it.
"Marshal, the kingdom certainly has many talented young people, but they still need time to mature."
In this difficult time, only you can protect them and turn the tide...