Great Plan

When the state apparatus is in operation, the propaganda effect is excellent.

Especially since it involved a group of second-generation descendants, their own descendants had a chance to shine, so how could a group of princes and nobles not contribute their share?

The copied Projection Stone quickly spread throughout Dapes City. Countless people celebrated the victory; the joy of winning the great battle dispelled the oppressive atmosphere that permeated the air.

Because the battle took place at Moonset Bay, this unexpected encounter earned it the resounding title of "Great Victory at Moonfall Bay".

To boost morale, the official government of the Moxi Duchy even declared that this was a turning point in the war between humans and Beastfolk.

To call it a "turning point battle" makes Hudson's battle report seem rather petty.

Images are needed as evidence. While the number of decapitations hasn't increased much, the number of Beastfolk armies encountered has ballooned to 100,000.

The defeat of an army of 100,000 Beastfolk and the killing of more than 10,000 heads instantly made the "great victory" carry a different weight.

Any battle that defeats an enemy army of 100,000 will be recorded in history.

The Moxi Duchy needs this victory, the second-generation family needs this victory, and Prince Caesar needs this victory as well.

Blow, blow as hard as you can.

With the combined efforts of all parties, an ordinary skirmish was quickly transformed into an "epic victory."

Hudson, who was originally only somewhat famous, became a star overnight and is now a rising "star player".

Unaware that he had become famous unwittingly, Hudson was currently looking out at the pouring rain with a troubled expression.

Since the start of the battle, it had been raining continuously for three days. Even when the weather occasionally cleared, the muddy roads were unsuitable for the army to advance.

Watching the soldiers dig pits in the rain to dispose of the bodies, Hudson felt utterly helpless. What should have been a simple fire now required burying the dead.

Corpses soaked in rain decompose at an unusually fast rate.

To avoid an epidemic, the most primitive methods had to be used.

I originally wanted Beldens to help dig the hole, but I couldn't stand the resentful look in Lord Bear's eyes, so I had to give up in the end.

The main reason this battle was won so easily was the information asymmetry between the two sides.

If the Beastfolk had known about the Earth Bear's existence beforehand, they wouldn't have foolishly split their forces, and the battle would have been much longer.

The news can be kept secret for as long as possible, and every person who gets killed can be killed.

Given the relationship between the Five Great Royal Families of the Beastfolk, if something like this happened, everyone would just keep it tightly under wraps.

Perhaps some of the fleeing Beastfolk realized something was wrong, but the probability of them directly associating it with the Earth Bear is still not high.

Unless betrayed by a human traitor, the existence of Beldens will not spread among the Beastfolk in the short term.

Thinking about the eagle-man scouts that kept appearing overhead, Hudson thought it best for Beldens to show himself less often.

Working hard in the rain is tiring, but it has both advantages and disadvantages.

These past few days, Lord Hudson has had an ample supply of meat. The Beastfolk corpses need to be disposed of, but that doesn't prevent everyone from eating the carcasses of their war beasts.

For several days, the camp was filled with smoke in order to preserve the meat that had been delivered to their door.

The unprofessional smoking method caused various smells to permeate the camp, forcing Hudson to use magic to block the smells from entering his own tent.

These are minor issues. For soldiers living at the bottom of society, as long as they can eat meat, a little bit of flavor is nothing.

The continuous heavy rains had delayed the march, leaving only one day until the final deadline. Hudson remained completely unperturbed by this minor issue.

If it weren't for this encounter, there would have been no choice but to rush to the front lines even in the rain.

Military orders are absolute; even in cross-border operations, the basic rules of the game must be followed.

Things are different now; a simple phrase like "dealing with the battlefield" is enough.

The lengthy process of disposing of the bodies also testifies to the remarkable success of this battle.

Hudson didn't forget to have someone take photos of the scene of people busily handling the corpses. These were excellent propaganda materials to prove that he was a responsible nobleman.

If these corpses are not properly disposed of, and a plague breaks out, the consequences will be severe.

The fragile Moxi Duchy cannot afford any further turmoil, let alone a terrible plague.

In a camp adorned with banners bearing wolf heads, an old man knelt on the ground, his figure trembling, head bowed, awaiting his final judgment.

"Claudine, you've followed me for so many years and have made great contributions to the Royal Court."

"But you've been able to complete your tasks with utmost care and caution for so many years, why would you make such a mistake in your later years?"

Upon hearing the words of the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor, Claudine trembled even more.

Beastfolk don't believe in tears; all losers must pay the price for their failures.

This time, leading a large army into the heart of the Moxi Duchy, not only did he fail to complete the mission entrusted to him by the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor, but he also suffered a complete annihilation.

Having committed such a heinous crime, it would be unacceptable not to provide a proper explanation.

"Your Majesty, this complete failure was an accident. No one expected that the Alpha Kingdom would send its most elite troops."

It's all those damned Eaglemen's fault; they didn't deliver the intelligence on time, and we accidentally ran into the enemy.

Despite the bravery of our soldiers, they were unable to withstand the overwhelming strength of the enemy.

But Your Majesty can rest assured, we have not disgraced the royal family. Everyone acted very bravely on the battlefield.

"If it weren't for the need to send the message back, I would have fought to the death and chosen to wash away the truth with my blood..."

Claudine struggled to speak.

To lessen his punishment, he went to great lengths. On one hand, he exaggerated the strength of the Laite County Legion, and on the other hand, he shifted the blame to the Eaglemen.

But these are far from enough. Excuses are just excuses; the Wolf King's approval is essential.

After giving the old man a cold look, the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor, who was sitting above, stepped down and said in an icy tone, "Alright, I already know everything."

Don't say I'm heartless for not giving you a chance. After causing such a huge mess, I have to give everyone an explanation.

Otherwise, if everyone starts to follow suit, wouldn't my Silvermoon Wolf Tribe decline?

Just as you said, humiliation can only be washed away with blood. Rest for a few days, then report to the Penal Battalion!

Upon hearing the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor's words, Claudine was completely stunned. Washing away shame with blood—that was just talk.

If he truly wanted to fight to the death, he wouldn't have come back. He would have stayed behind to fight the human army to the death, ultimately dying on the battlefield alongside his soldiers.

Beastfolk value courage and there is no shame in dying on the battlefield. Those who shed their blood on the battlefield are all warriors, and no one will dwell on the mistakes of the dead.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Claudine answered in a trembling voice.

There's a saying that's been passed down among the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe: Once you enter the "Penal Battalion," your life or death is out of your control.

Since the goal was to atone for their sins with blood, they naturally had to undertake the most arduous and dangerous tasks. As a result, the casualty rate of the "Penal Battalion" soldiers remained consistently high.

Heavy losses were common. If the battle became difficult, it was not uncommon for Penal Battalion to be destroyed and disorganized.

No matter how dangerous the Penal Battalion is, it's still better than being directly held responsible for the defeat. If you're lucky enough to survive ten major battles, you might be able to make it out.

He had no time to concern himself with his subordinates' complex thoughts. The Silver Moon Wolf Emperor felt he had done enough by showing leniency and not immediately beheading Claudine.

The Silvermoon Wolf Tribe could afford to lose 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers; the problem was that their initial plan had failed.

As agreed, the Five Great Royal Families jointly dispatched troops to cross the enemy's defenses, detour around to the rear, and launch a strong attack on the capital of the Moxi Duchy.

The plan is excellent, but the risks are also enormous. No one is willing to risk their key players on such a high-risk undertaking.

Claudine's team is the best example. Because they met the wrong people at the wrong time, they suffered a near-total annihilation.

The group that set out together was not just this one. However, the operation had only just begun when they lost one-fifth of the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe's strength, forcing them to retreat passively.

To force the enemy's main force out of the fortress for a decisive battle, they first need to be able to besiege Dapes City.

It would be a tragedy if we ended up with a complete defeat before even reaching Dapes City.

Even cannon fodder troops are an important force on the battlefield. If they lose tens of thousands at once, even the Five Great Imperial Courts will feel the pinch.

Now it's not just about attrition for the sake of attrition; more importantly, it's about realizing their strategic plan to weaken humanity and strengthen themselves.

They had fought a bitter battle with the Alpha Kingdom for several months, killing tens of thousands of defenders, while suffering only about 100,000 casualties themselves.

To sacrifice an army of 100,000 for a plan whose success or failure is uncertain is a waste of resources, no matter how substantial one's wealth may be.

The sudden encounter Beastfolk the Five Great Royal Families somewhat off guard. Their assessments of the human race's strength unexpectedly diverged once again.

If the Alpha Kingdom was able to spare a main force to support its allies during a fierce battle, then who can guarantee that the Moxi Duchy doesn't have a main force left to guard the Royal Capital?

Not many are needed; just one main legion plus a bunch of miscellaneous soldiers are enough to keep their large army out.

With two main legions and three or four ordinary legions, a counterattack could be organized. There would be no need to draw troops from the front lines to reinforce them; they could be driven out.

As the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe was responsible for the plan's failure, they were immediately thrust into the spotlight, with various criticisms following one after another.

Deep down, the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor was also secretly considering whether to send out his elite troops on a risky mission.

Thanks to the sudden downpour, the army's retreat was concealed, and their strategic plan was not truly exposed.

The unit lost by the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe could at most be considered as being sent to cause trouble. After all, a mere 20,000 Beastfolk troops were not qualified to attack the Dapes City.

If the adventure plan succeeds, all previous failures will be irrelevant. Not only will all the criticism disappear without a trace, but you'll also gain a huge amount of reputation.

However, if the plan fails, the consequences will be severe. While the elite of the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe are not as rare as those of the Behemoths, they are not far outnumbered either.

If you were to be caught off guard by the enemy and lose tens of thousands of men at once, you would feel the pain just as much.

No one knows what the future holds. If one suffers heavy losses in this adventure, and then is unfortunately dealt a severe blow, there will be no good days ahead.

The Orc Empire has never been peaceful. If too many of its main forces are lost on the battlefield, the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe's influence among the Five Great Imperial Courts will inevitably decline significantly.

If you're unlucky, you might even be dethroned from the royal throne and lose the power to control your own destiny.

If we could persuade the other Four Great Royal Clans to mobilize their elite forces to jointly carry out this adventure plan, that would be perfect.

The Silver Moon Wolf Emperor vaguely sensed that he was capable again.

Taking risks is not scary, nor is suffering heavy losses. What is scary is that their family suffers losses while others do not.

When one side gains and the other loses, the balance is broken, and that's when disaster begins.

After the initial hype surrounding Dapes City, a new challenge has emerged for everyone.

The "epic victory" has been touted, but the distribution of rewards has become a major issue. This is especially true given that it involves joint operations between two countries, which adds even more considerations.

At that moment, Chris IX suddenly understood why so many epic heroes in history received treatment that was severely disproportionate to their achievements.

Perhaps it wasn't just out of jealousy that they deliberately downplayed their rewards, but rather because a large part of their illustrious achievements were fabricated.

This is not just wild speculation. Comparing what is recorded in historical books with what we are experiencing now, there are too many similarities.

The thought of the villainous nobles who had been criticized for countless years made Chris IX shudder. He didn't want to jeopardize his reputation, both before and after his death, for a single political campaign.

"Prime Minister, what suggestions do you have regarding the rewards and honors bestowed upon these meritorious officials?"

King who can't shift blame is definitely not a good King.

Unable to break the rules by bestowing rewards beyond actual combat achievements, yet also unwilling to be criticized by future generations for mistreating meritorious officials, Chris IX naturally had to shift the blame.

"Your Majesty, my second son is also on the list of meritorious officials. I need to avoid any appearance of impropriety when it comes to bestowing rewards upon him."

"Chancellor Herczeg said with a smile."

"To avoid suspicion"—this reason is simply too perfect. Anyone who hears it can only praise the prime minister for his noble character.

Before Chris IX could speak, a group of nobles stepped forward to say that their children were on the list of meritorious officials and that they needed to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Upon seeing this, Chris IX, who had been looking worried, suddenly had a bright idea in his mind.

Normally, lowering the rewards for meritorious officials would certainly cause controversy among the people.

However, when it comes to the descendants of princes and nobles, and their parents and elders step in to suppress them, the situation becomes different.

"Enough said. The matter of rewarding meritorious officials must be resolved today."

"I'm leaving this matter to you. As long as you all act fairly and impartially, I believe no one will object."