The Importance of Luck
At Flying Bear Fortress, Hudson's brow remained furrowed as he looked at the intelligence report in his hand.
I initially thought the Beastfolk were gathering their forces to take over the Terence Defense Line and then sweep through. After all, the line wasn't very well constructed.
Having spent time in Terence City, Hudson discovered more than one flaw. The seemingly tall and imposing city walls were poorly designed in many places.
Logically, a strategically important fortress should consider all kinds of unforeseen circumstances. Any defects discovered during construction should be corrected immediately; the finished product should not have design flaws.
If there are problems with the design, then the quality of the construction is questionable. It might not be a shoddy construction, but as for how sturdy it is, Hudson certainly doesn't believe it.
Given the precedent of the Augsburg defenses, it was entirely justifiable for the Beastfolk army to continue its relentless advance.
The push across the defensive line naturally included Flying Bear Fortress, where he was stationed. Hudson, quite alarmed by the unusual movements of the Beastfolk army, initiated a maximum mobilization.
As it turned out, he was completely overthinking things. The Five Great Imperial Courts 'Beastfolk simultaneous troop withdrawals weren't for this pitiful defensive line at all, but rather for a much larger strategic purpose.
Judging from the sheer size of the force alone, Hudson immediately realized that the Beastfolk army's target was Dapes City.
Although he had temporarily escaped disaster, Hudson was not happy at all.
If the Beastfolk army had simply pushed forward methodically, with Marshal Hodge in charge, the Terence Defense Line could have held out for at least two or three months.
With a well-prepared commander like him, it all depends on whether the Beastfolk are stubborn enough. If they aren't allowed to stay and become holdouts, a large-scale attack could delay the attack for a while longer.
With a few more months to prepare, reinforcements from the northern countries arrived, and the Moxi Duchy could fight another Dapes Defense War.
Victory or defeat is not important; the key is to buy time. As the leading human principality, if they fight with all their might, they should be able to hold out for several months.
Counting the days, it's early August now. By the time the Dapes Defense War ends, it won't be until next year. The strategic mission entrusted to them by the kingdom will then be complete.
With the Beastfolk army now on the move, the Dapes Defense War is about to begin ahead of schedule. The Terence Defense Line, painstakingly built by the Moxi people, has become nothing more than a decoration.
It's not that this dilapidated defensive line is useless, but rather that it's useless when the forces are insufficient. If the Moxi Duchy were stronger, the Beastfolk army splitting its forces would be the best opportunity to counterattack.
Especially since the Five Great Royal Families of the Beastfolk are still fighting their own battles instead of uniting, it's a golden opportunity to defeat them one by one.
Reality doesn't allow for so many hypotheticals. Even if the Beastfolk army openly displayed its weaknesses to everyone, the Moxi people don't currently possess that strength.
Theoretically speaking, by gathering domestic mobile forces and reinforcements from various directions, there is still a chance to encircle and annihilate one or two Beastfolk armies on the way.
If they could truly encircle and annihilate one or two Beastfolk armies, the Dapes Defense War would be over sooner than planned. The Beastfolk army wasn't stupid; they weren't going to knowingly charge into danger.
Unfortunately, it was all just theory. Commanding large-scale battles requires exceptional organizational skills.
Integrating his own army is difficult enough, let alone coordinating with neighboring countries' armies to fight together. Hudson doesn't know if anyone in the Moxi Duchy can do it, but he certainly can't.
If there were truly someone with extraordinary organizational skills, the Moxi people wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat on the battlefield.
Frankly speaking, Hudson didn't care much about how long the Moxi Duchy could hold out, but he had to complete the strategic tasks assigned to him by the kingdom as much as possible.
Without the Moxi Duchy, the western gateway to the Alpha Kingdom is wide open, and the Beastfolk army can march in at any time.
The nobles in the western provinces are currently busy repairing fortifications, and it will be difficult to build a solid defensive line in a short period of time.
With inadequate city defenses and no advantageous terrain, both sides had to rely on sheer strength.
Hudson had no idea what the odds were. He knew that once the Alpha Kingdom collapsed, the war would soon spread to the Southeast Province, and the Mountain Territory would not escape unscathed either.
The choice is simple: let the war reach your own territory, or stay in the Moxi Duchy and fight a defensive war for someone else.
"It's fate that we accepted the mission together to guard Flying Bear Fortress. We've spent some time together, so we're practically family now. I'll speak frankly."
The Beastfolk army has crossed the defense line and split into five routes to penetrate deep into the heart of the duchy, with their ultimate target likely being the Dapes City.
I don't know much about your country, so I can't make an accurate judgment on whether Dapes City can withstand the Beastfolk army's advance, or for how long.
This concerns our future, and we hope that both of you can provide the most accurate assessment possible based on the information you have.
Hudson said with a serious expression.
He was telling the truth; he had too little information and genuinely didn't know how long the Dapes Defense War could last.
Ultimately, this is a world of extraordinary forces, so in addition to considering the strength of ordinary armies, the influence of extraordinary powers must also be taken into account.
Perhaps these forces are not enough to turn the tide, but they can certainly slow down the advance of the Beastfolk army.
Dapes City is home to many old noble families, and these guys are not to be trifled with once they get angry.
However, it's hard to say how effective these trump cards will be.
The Beastfolk army had already suffered a loss at Bertley Fortress, so they would definitely be on guard. Trying to set up a second one would be a completely different level of difficulty.
"Your Excellency, Dapes's defenses are very well-developed, and the Duchy has also considered the risk of being besieged by Beastfolk and has made some preparations in advance."
Since the outbreak of the war, the city's defense forces have expanded rapidly, and their current total strength is between 15,000 and 20,000 men.
The Royal Guard protecting the King also expanded from the initial two thousand men to three thousand men.
The nobles' private armies could muster approximately ten thousand men. In addition, the mercenary organizations and merchant guilds in the city together numbered two to three thousand.
The mage corps that remained in the Royal Capital numbered about seven or eight hundred people. All the instructors of the Magic Academy, as well as some outstanding students, were members of the mage corps.
Their strength varies greatly, ranging from Beginner Mage to Great Sorcerer, and detailed information has always been kept strictly confidential, unknown to the outside world.
In addition, there are three newly formed legions near the Royal Capital that are undergoing military training.
If the King issues a conscription order, it is estimated that two more new legions can be formed.
The rest depends on how much time the Beastfolk give the duchy to prepare. The longer they drag it out, the stronger the defenses of Dapes City will become.
By merely analyzing the defensive strength of the Royal Capital without mentioning how long Dapes City could hold out, Rackel clearly possessed some political acumen.
Hudson can offer direct critiques because he doesn't operate within the Moxi Duchy. No matter how harsh his words, no one can do anything about it.
As a native nobleman, Viscount Racquel couldn't afford to speak carelessly. If it were to accidentally leak out and fall into the hands of his political enemies, it would be a significant weakness.
Viscount William, standing to the side, remained silent, only nodding in agreement.
The two men were remarkably aligned in their stance: to tell Hudson what they knew and let him, an outsider, make the judgment.
In an instant, Hudson gleaned the answer he sought from the two men's worried expressions.
The city defense army was already of average combat strength, and after its expansion, its combat strength became even worse.
The Royal Guard is an elite force, serving as the protector of the King. The requirements for joining are quite stringent; at the very least, one must be a knight to be eligible to apply.
Even after expansion, their combat strength is unlikely to decrease significantly. With the number of personnel already allocated, it's improbable that they'll blindly recruit.
The private armies of nobles should mostly be elite troops. Their role in guarding homes and property requires considerable skill; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to deter even the most audacious thieves.
The mercenary organization within the chamber of commerce is highly polarized in terms of strength, with both strong and weak members. One shouldn't have too many unrealistic expectations.
The only surprise was the mage corps. I originally thought most of the mages had gone to the front lines, but I didn't expect so many to remain.
But then Hudson remembered the Magic Academy. It was likely that most of the current magicians were at the academy.
After doing a quick calculation of the number of magicians in the Moxi Duchy, Hudson realized that he had been badly misled by the official data.
The Alpha Kingdom definitely has more magicians than just those on the surface. The exact number is unclear, but it's certainly no less than that of the Moxi Duchy.
The last newly formed legion was indeed quite large in number, but unfortunately their fighting ability was too pathetic.
With all forces combined, Hudson became increasingly pessimistic about the Moxi Duchy. There was no other reason than that the Royal Capital truly lacked elite troops!
Taking the initiative is out of the question. The disparity in strength between the two sides is too great; no one can say for sure how long they can hold out in Dapes City.
Hudson glanced at the two men and said with a slightly heavy heart, "I understand. Now, let's get down to business and train the army diligently!"
Time is running out. No matter how long the Royal Capital can hold out, we must prepare for a protracted war.
Even Royal Capital, the city still needs to be defended. And if one wanted to flee, now is definitely not the time.
Once you leave the protection of the city walls and encounter the main force of the Beastfolk army in the wild, you're just handing your life to the enemy.
Hudson didn't believe that the 40,000 to 50,000 troops cobbled together from the Flying Bear Fortress were enough to fight the Beastfolk army.
If a war were to break out, only the Wright County Legion he led would be of any use; the rest would only be able to fight when the tide was against them.
Let alone encountering a disadvantageous situation, even if the stalemate continues for a little longer, it could lead to collapse.
The situation was so dire; the only saving grace was his foresight. He had urged the Logistics Department officials to send the supplies over early on.
If things had dragged on until now, even if the bureaucrats were willing to send the supplies, it wouldn't have happened. Once Dapes City is besieged, everything will simply be left unresolved.
News of the Beastfolk army breaking through the Dapes City had already reached them long ago.
The distance between them was so short, Beastfolk army was at the city gates in just a few days.
Despite being mentally prepared, the day had finally arrived, and the high-ranking officials of the Moxi Duchy were still gripped by fear.
"Crown Prince Caesar has sent a message, preparing to unite the Duchy of Orton, the County of Ruilin, and ourselves, to ambush and annihilate the Behemoth Imperial Court's army en route, thus crippling the enemy."
If the plan succeeds, the balance of power will be reversed.
If the Beastfolk army refuses to retreat, we can slowly wear them down until they are defeated.
What do you think your chances of winning this battle are?
Chris IX asked uncertainly.
This plan sounds quite good. If they could truly annihilate the Behemoth Imperial Court's army, it would serve as a deterrent to other Beastfolk armies.
The Dapes City was lifted before it even began. Without the participation of the Behemoth Clan, the expeditionary forces of the other four tribes no longer had an absolute advantage.
With home advantage, they could drive them out by simply bringing reinforcements from the northern countries.
"Your Majesty, the key to this battle plan lies in whether we can defeat that Behemoth Cavalry."
The duchy's newly formed legions can at best only manage to engage ordinary Beastfolk armies; they would likely crumble at the first touch against the elite Behemoths. Ultimately, it depends on the strength of the three allies.
The Duchy of Orton and the County of Ruilin have enjoyed peace for many years, and the armies they send are likely to be of little use. The only hope lies with the expeditionary force of the Alpha Kingdom.
If they all possessed the strength of their First Army, carrying out an encirclement and annihilation plan would naturally be easy. Based on what we know, however, it seems unlikely.
The Alpha Kingdom only dispatched one elite legion; the rest were ordinary troops. Their combat strength should be slightly stronger than the duchy's general army, but not by much.
If the last five legions of the expeditionary force had half the fighting strength of the First Army, we would not have lost this war.
Overall, the allied forces have a numerical advantage and are stronger Behemoth Cavalry. If a battle were to break out, it would depend on the military command situation of both sides.
In this war, the Alpha Kingdom's expeditionary force will be the absolute main force, while our three kingdoms will only provide support. Since Crown Prince Caesar dared to propose this plan at this time, he must be quite confident.
Chancellor Herczeg analyzed it seriously.
On paper, the allied forces seem to have the upper hand. The only problem is a Behemoth Cavalry unit.
To annihilate them completely would require ten times the manpower. But now they don't need to be so thorough; defeating the Behemoth Cavalry is enough, making the task significantly easier.
"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, your estimate may be too optimistic."
The First Army of the Expeditionary Force was just an exception; even among the main legions of the Alpha Kingdom, their strength should be among the top.
In addition, they obtained a large amount of magical equipment from us, which further enhanced their combat power, giving them their current strength.
If the ordinary army of the Alpha Kingdom had half their fighting strength, the Alpha Kingdom would probably have engaged in a major battle with the Orc Empire as soon as the war began.
To put it optimistically, the five legions following the expeditionary force together were equivalent to two First Army.
Of course, I personally believe that the strength of their five legions is only equivalent to 1.5 times that of the First Army.
If commanded properly, it is indeed possible to defeat the understrength Behemoth Legion, but this requires a very high level of personal ability from the commander.
I'm sorry, but I don't believe Crown Prince Caesar possesses the military command capabilities. If he were willing to relinquish command and hand it over to an experienced general, perhaps the operational plan could be successfully completed.
Martins shrugged and said.
As Minister of Military Affairs, he clearly had more information. It was precisely because he knew more that he was not optimistic about this battle plan.
For no other reason than that coordinating joint operations between the four countries' armies is extremely difficult, almost an impossible task.
Sometimes allies can do more harm than good. If coordination goes wrong, being betrayed by your allies is almost inevitable.
It's nominally a joint operation by four countries, but it could easily turn into one or two countries fighting a bloody battle against the Behemoth army, while the other allies are just there to hold them back.
This dragging down the team isn't their intention. It's simply that their abilities don't allow them to be low-key, so they can only let their teammates down.
"It's unrealistic to ask Crown Prince Caesar to relinquish command. They are guest troops; we have no right to interfere."
Making such a request would completely offend people. Regardless, Crown Prince Caesar's proactive approach to the fight is commendable.
Before military command capabilities are verified, no one can say for sure.
Throughout history, there have been many famous generals who rose from humble backgrounds. Moreover, Crown Prince Caesar's performance was even better than these people's before they became famous.
Under the careful tutelage of the Alpha Kingdom family, Crown Prince Caesar's foundation in military theory is quite solid.
Even if someone's military talent isn't great, as long as their theoretical foundation is solid enough and they don't make any major mistakes on the battlefield, there shouldn't be a big problem.
Moreover, the Alpha Kingdom also assigned him a deputy commander with extensive military command experience.
As far as I know, Count Jose not only served in the Standing Army for many years, but also participated in the strategic planning of the Alpha Kingdom on several occasions. It was only due to his status that he was unable to lead troops in independent combat.
Renato said with a chuckle.
In an effort to poach talent, the Foreign Affairs Department did a lot of work, thoroughly investigating each and every noble from the Alpha Kingdom.
Renato knew all those who had ever performed remarkably well. Count Jose, with his impressive resume, naturally came into his view.
One after another, the ministers expressed their opinions, and their opinions were remarkably similar, showing almost unanimous support for Crown Prince Caesar's plan.
The attitudes of the courtiers also influenced King Chris IX.
"Sir Martins, do you have any other reasons to oppose this campaign?"
"Your Majesty, I think you've misunderstood. I only object to Crown Prince Caesar commanding the campaign; I don't oppose launching it."
From the perspective of the principality, as everyone has said, we now have to take a gamble.
If we succeed, we can reverse the decline that began during the war; if we fail, things won't be too bad!
My personal suggestion is that the Count Hudson, with his distinguished military achievements, should take over the military command of Crown Prince Caesar.
It wasn't just because of his outstanding record, but mainly because he was lucky.
A baron's second son has risen to his current position in just a few years without experiencing any setbacks along the way; he is practically the template for a legendary epic hero.
The principality needs good fortune. Entrusting the battle that will determine the fate of the nation to a general who is both lucky and has an outstanding track record is, I think, the best choice.
Coincidentally, Count Hudson is also a general of the Alpha Kingdom. His taking over military command of the expeditionary force should minimize internal resistance.