An Epic Victory
Exposing one's back to the enemy is extremely dangerous. The Wolf Riders, eager to break out, have now made this mistake.
After catching up, Hudson did not rush to lead his men into an attack, but instead decisively chose to rain down arrows.
The Wolf Riders, their backs exposed, became easy targets, and screams erupted in an instant.
With Moxie infantry blocking their way from the front and Hudson cavalry pursuing from behind, the already demoralized Wolf Riders suffered even greater losses.
Realizing the dire situation, the old man no longer cared about the army and coldly ordered, "Disperse and break through!"
As he spoke, his war wolf mount darted off, disappearing into the army in the blink of an eye.
The already chaotic Wolf Riders became even more disorganized. Many soldiers, disregarding everything else, charged out in any direction they could find.
In life-or-death situations, people always unleash their greatest potential. The sudden burst of Wolf Riders startled even Hudson.
However, seeing that these guys were desperately trying to break through, Hudson's worries vanished instantly. Even cornered beasts fight back; they're nothing to worry about.
If several thousand cavalrymen put up a stubborn resistance, it won't be easy to take them down in a short time. But once they are routed and flee, the situation will be very different.
The Wolf Riders were fleeing, but the orc Beastfolk were in an even worse situation, being chased all over the world by the Laite County Legion.
The only downside was that the Heavy Infantry were too slow to carry out pursuit missions. However, they weren't idle; they were slowly approaching the cavalry battlefield.
If the Wolf Riders don't break out in a dispersed manner, they will soon experience the wonderful feeling of being squeezed by Heavy Infantry.
The operation lasted for two hours before Hudson ordered a halt to the pursuit.
Apart from a few wolf riders who managed to break through, most perished in the final encirclement.
The only regret was that the battlefield was too chaotic, and the Beastfolk army commander slipped away without warning.
There's nothing that can be done about it; in a chaotic battle, it's very difficult for a strong person to be left behind if they want to escape.
Even if they discovered it, Hudson would never allow Beldens to pursue it.
What if there are still powerful Beastfolk lurking in the shadows, and they manage to deliver a fatal blow after Beldens leaves? Wouldn't that be a tragedy?
Without time to tally the spoils of war, Hudson hurriedly organized the priests to rescue the wounded.
So be it, surviving on the battlefield is more important than anything else. Only those who survive need to worry about the future.
Looking at the second-generation rich kids groaning all over the ground, Hudson realized that these guys were actually quite manageable. They were unreliable in normal times, but they could really step up when it mattered.
There's no point in trying to calm the troops; the victors just need to celebrate.
With the priest present, the lightly wounded will soon be bouncing around again, and the seriously wounded will soon be dead; we can just count the dead.
This is the privilege of "elite troops". If it were an ordinary ragtag army, the priest would not have time to treat the lower-ranking soldiers.
It's not a matter of cold-heartedness; the main problem is that there are simply not enough pastors to go around.
Especially the high-ranking priests; there were only two in the entire Laite County Legion, and the kingdom only assigned them after their elite status was established.
The Moxi people Legion, comprised of second-generation members, had only one high-ranking priest accompanying them.
Ordinary cannon fodder units simply don't get to be assigned such high-end talent.
Differential treatment is comprehensive.
Not only in terms of medical resources, but also in terms of logistical support, the elite legions and ordinary legions are worlds apart.
The bread of the elite legion contained no sawdust or sand, only some vegetables.
While meat wasn't an absolute must-have, meat was available every day.
Every ten days, they could also receive a small piece of cane sugar. Where conditions allowed, they could also receive some eggs as a supplement.
These are benefits that can't be dreamed of by cannon fodder legions.
It was precisely because of the numerous benefits that Hudson put on such a stellar performance along the way.
With the battle over, the exhausted army could not continue their march. After cleaning up the battlefield, they chose a nearby location to set up camp.
As night fell, a torrential downpour suddenly descended from the sky, washing away the bloodshed of the battlefield.
Only the half-burnt corpses, standing in the rain, spoke of the cruelty of war.
Inside a luxurious tent, Hudson and a group of officers were busy tallying up the battle results and casualties.
The Laite County Legion suffered few casualties during the daytime fighting.
In the early stages of the battle against Beastfolk infantry, the Heavy Infantry were at the front, their thick armor blocking most of the enemy's attacks.
In cavalry battles, Hudson once again unleashed his full potential, turning the tide into a one-sided massacre.
The total number of dead on both sides was only a few hundred, while the number of wounded was slightly higher, exceeding four figures. However, thanks to the treatment provided by the priests, they have now almost fully recovered.
After that, they just need to replenish their nutrition and rest for a few days to regain their fighting strength.
On the contrary, the Moxi Legion suffered more heavy losses. Although they were beating a drowning dog, they still paid a considerable price when facing a cornered enemy.
Hudson didn't inquire about the specific casualty figures. He didn't care if the soldiers weren't his own; he felt no pity for them dying.
Compared to the glorious record, these casualties are completely insignificant.
More than 10,000 Beastfolk corpses were found on the battlefield alone.
Hudson didn't care whether the mangled corpses were counted twice.
The scene of blood and gore is difficult to discern unless observed up close.
Given the Terran race's continuous defeats on the battlefield, any victory is worthy of praise.
Politicians around the world are now eager to exaggerate their achievements tenfold, so who would bother to delve into these details?
After the battle, it's all set off in a fire, leaving no evidence other than a fleeting record on the Projection Stone.
There are no prisoners.
Racial wars are brutal; it's either you die or I die.
Any act of leniency will have disastrous consequences.
Gaining tens of thousands is nothing.
Beastfolk cannon fodder is worthless; elites fighting cannon fodder is a result that everyone will take for granted.
What truly deserves special mention are the more than four hundred corpses of the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe on the battlefield.
These are the Five Great Royal Families of the Beastfolk. After some artistic manipulation of the data, the record of merits changed to two thousand Beastfolk royal family members captured.
It wasn't that Hudson was exaggerating his military achievements; it was purely a matter of social etiquette.
The nobles of the Laite County Legion need military merits, and so do the second-generation members of the Moxey Legion.
Even if these battle achievements don't yield much substantial reward after being divided up, they're still good for bragging!
No matter how many Beastfolk cannon fodder you kill, nothing beats the power to slay Beastfolk royalty.
If there isn't enough cake to go around, then we'll have to figure out how to make a bigger cake.
With these corpses scattered all over the ground as evidence, it's far more convincing than mere boasting.
As for the problem of insufficient numbers of Beastfolk royals, there is no rule that a corpse can only appear once on the Projection Stone.
Turn over, turn to the side, add another cut... all of these can be recorded again.
As long as it looks roughly the same and can be used for promotion, that's enough.
This kind of "minor" data modification is beneficial to both soldiers on the front lines and politicians and bureaucrats in the rear.
"These are the final battle results. In the daytime battle, we defeated Beastfolk army of 30,000 and took the heads of 11,367 Beastfolk."
Six thousand Beastfolk Wolf Riders were killed, including two thousand one hundred and twenty-four from the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe Clan. Beastfolk officers were also killed...
The seized items included 800 broadswords, 500 warhammers, and 100 shields.
The detailed battle reports are all on parchment; take a look!
If there are no problems, then let's all submit a joint report.
Hudson said expressionlessly.
He was still slightly troubled by the false report of his military achievements.
Hudson originally hated people who were deceitful, but he had no choice but to become the kind of person he hated most in the end.
If nothing unexpected happens, this battle report will be further embellished and expanded after it is sent up.
Some names that weren't on the list of accolades will be added, and some will even be listed before Hudson.
There's no right or wrong; it's all because of practical needs.
The Moxi Duchy needs a morale-boosting victory, and the expeditionary force also needs a resounding triumph to kick off the campaign.
The results tallied by everyone, although ultimately halved by Hudson, were still enough to satisfy everyone.
After all, even boasting needs to consider the actual situation. If you go too far, your boasting turns into folly.
Capturing two thousand Beastfolk royals is acceptable to outsiders, but any more would easily expose the deception.
Seeing everyone beaming with joy, Hudson suddenly changed his tone, his expression turning serious as he said:
"Although we don't know what happened at the front, it's definitely not normal that we didn't receive any news about tens of thousands of Beastfolk appearing here."
We are a guest army and not very familiar with the terrain at the front. Where could such a large force have advanced without being detected by the defenders?
As if faced with a soul-searching question, the group of second-generation scions, who had been full of excitement, suddenly turned pale.
It's not just a problem, it's a major problem.
"It must be some bastards at the front who neglected their duties. With so many Beastfolk troops crossing the border, the garrison couldn't possibly be unaware!"
"Rackel said angrily."
They were lucky this time, as they were deployed with the Laite County Legion to reinforce the front lines. If they had acted alone, let alone gain any merit, their very survival would have been uncertain.
Hudson stopped short of interfering in the internal affairs of the Moxi Duchy.
Whether or not to pursue accountability is a matter for the Moxi people themselves. If it weren't for the common enemy, he wouldn't even bother to bring it up.
In the dead of night, Dapes was under curfew. Apart from a few scattered patrols, it was difficult to see anyone on the streets.
A sudden battle report from the front lines shattered the tranquility of the city.
Good news!
Good news!
The rough voice carried throughout the palace, waking Chris IX from his sleep.
Chris IX was not annoyed at all for having his sweet dream disturbed; instead, he wore a smile.
"Good news," this is such a rare thing.
Since the fall of Augsburg, he has been surrounded by all sorts of bad news.
They couldn't even sleep peacefully, fearing that the Beastfolk would attack as soon as they woke up.
Upon hearing the news, the princes and ministers hurriedly got out of bed and rushed to the palace as quickly as possible.
According to the custom of the Moxi Duchy, such a high-profile announcement must mean that a major victory has been achieved at the front.
Minor victories, like those involving the beheading of a thousand or eight hundred, can be reported directly to the Military Affairs Department. The report can be formally submitted the following day during working hours; there's no need for such a grand display.
Siluke
"The New 23rd Legion and the Laite County Legion of the Alpha Kingdom jointly reported that they encountered a 30,000- Beastfolk army during the day and achieved considerable success."
I have already seen the battle footage recorded on the Projection Stone.
As expected of the elite of the Alpha Kingdom, their combat power is indeed formidable.
With equal numbers of troops, a single frontal charge severely damaged a Beastfolk Wolf Riders.
A thousand cavalrymen chasing after thousands of Beastfolk Wolf Riders —the scene was exhilarating.
Of course, our Newly Formed 23rd Legion also performed well.
By directly blocking the enemy's Wolf Riders breakout, we achieved the most glorious victory since the start of the battle!
Judging from Chris IX's beaming smile, everyone knew he had made a significant gain. However, after hearing his explanation, everyone was completely bewildered.
Laite County Legion is capable, they can accept it. It would be problematic if elite troops couldn't fight.
But how could they not know what kind of people the Newly Formed 23rd Legion was?
The term "second-generation gilded concentration camp" was used from the beginning to define this unit as: to go to the battlefield for a short while and then be quickly transferred back for rest.
Not only did he lack confidence in the soldiers of the Newly Formed 23rd Legion, but he also knew his own juniors too well—they were simply not cut out to lead troops.
If it weren't for the duchy's conscription system, they wouldn't have sent these unreliable guys to the battlefield.
Let's see what the King is telling them now.
The Newly Formed 23rd Legion performed well, which really baffled many parents.
Chancellor Herczeg was the most bewildered, as he was fully aware of his son's abilities.
He was an expert in all sorts of vices, from eating and drinking to gambling and whoring. But when it came to military strategy, he was a complete idiot.
"Your Majesty, the Newly Formed 23rd Legion and the Laite County Legion are on their way to the front lines. How could they possibly encounter an army of 30,000 Beastfolk?"
Even if the Beastfolk were incredibly audacious enough to venture deep into enemy territory, bypassing the frontline fortresses, our garrison couldn't possibly be completely unaware!
Chancellor Herczeg asked, forcing himself to remain silent.
When it comes to one's own children, one can't stand idly by.
Before the news spreads, there's still room for maneuver, even if problems arise.
If the news of victory were to be released and it were discovered that the victory was fabricated, then we would be in deep trouble.
Based on his understanding of those privileged kids, it wasn't impossible for them to casually kill a few Beastfolk and declare it a great victory.
"Don't worry, Prime Minister!"
The spectacular battle recorded on the Projection Stone, and the Beastfolk corpses scattered all over the ground, cannot be faked.
At most, the number of enemies killed might be slightly inflated.
I personally reviewed the records on the Projection Stone; even if there are slight discrepancies in the number of enemy casualties, the error wouldn't be too significant.
At this point, Chris IX's smile gradually froze.
If the good news is true, then it means there's a problem at the front.
Tens of thousands of Beastfolk troops appeared in the heart of the kingdom, and the border guards did not report it, which is a major incident.
This time, we were lucky; reinforcements from the Alpha Kingdom stepped in and wiped out this isolated army that had penetrated too far.
Otherwise, a force of tens of thousands of Beastfolk could easily wreak Earth Flip Heaven Overturn on the heart of the Moxi Duchy.
"Pass down the order to have the front lines thoroughly investigate the infiltration of the Beastfolk army."
This matter must be explained.
Whoever is identified must be dealt with seriously.
I don't want something like this to happen again.
Regarding the assessment of the combat merits of the Newly Formed 23rd Legion and the Laite County Legion, the Military Affairs Department should consult with Prince Caesar as soon as possible and produce a result in the shortest possible time.
The duchy needs a resounding victory!