Logistics Line

There are advantages and disadvantages, and there are losses as well as gains.

As the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, returning home early was impossible, but Hudson's influence increased significantly.

He is no longer just a frontline commander; he also represents the Alpha Kingdom. His words and actions carry far more weight than before.

The most direct impact was that the routed soldiers who were brought together became more and more obedient, especially the officers and soldiers of the Alpha Kingdom's expeditionary force, who behaved particularly well.

Unlike previous cases of overstepping authority, Hudson is now their legitimate commander and can pursue their "desertion" at any time.

"To atone for one's crimes through meritorious service" is no longer a joke, but has become a reality.

There's no need for any deliberate targeting; simply reporting the facts will suffice to strip them of their titles and bring them to justice.

No amount of networking or lobbying could help; the blame for the defeat in the major battle was now entirely placed on Crown Prince Caesar. The King was worried about how to lessen the responsibility for his son.

If they dared to show their faces, Caesar III would not hesitate to attribute the defeat to the fact that some noble officers were cowardly and deserted, causing the army to collapse.

The reason they aren't shifting blame now is because the situation on the front lines is unclear domestically. Otherwise, these surviving noble officers would most likely be taking the blame for the Crown Prince.

Of course, this is not entirely unjust.

When the great collapse broke out, they were the ones who led the escape and failed to fulfill their responsibilities.

However, Hudson could understand this. We're all just ordinary people, and it's normal that we can't face life and death with equanimity.

Defeat in field battles is a common occurrence.

If it weren't for the Hudson, these guys would have been destined for permanent homelessness. They'd just drift along, never going back to their hometowns.

With something in their hands, these nobles put in an extra lot of effort during training.

Only a few surviving legion commanders remained out of sorts. The fact that the lower-ranking nobles were unaware of the gravity of the situation didn't mean they were oblivious.

The idea of "making amends for one's crimes" does exist, but the merit required is far more than a fraction of the offense; it must be at least several times greater than the transgression.

In particular, this group of people was also involved with the Crown Prince, and were passively drawn into the kingdom's power struggles.

Unless a powerful figure protects them, a little bit of merit is simply not enough to fill the hole.

All of this, of course, did not escape Hudson's notice. These guys were unfit to be legion commanders, but demoting them by one rank would still make them quite useful.

Putting everything else aside, the private army these guys command is quite formidable in combat.

Even in the face of a major defeat, they were able to gather hundreds of people to flee together, which already made them a formidable force.

Fighting in a foreign land, every bit of strength is precious. Regardless of these people's morals, they're unlikely to defect to the Beastfolk anyway.

If placed in the right location, it will surely be effective.

"Viscount Andres, Viscount Goodson, Viscount Robles, are you currently dissatisfied with my removal of you from your positions as legion commanders?"

Or perhaps you think I'm deceiving you, and that the idea of redeeming myself through good deeds is just a joke?

How can my reputation be so worthless that I'd risk it all just to deceive a few defeated soldiers like you?

Hudson wasn't good at manipulating people's minds, but that didn't matter; he was good at bluffing.

In this era where reputation matters so much, no one dares to disregard their own. It's certainly not worth risking one's reputation for a few defeated generals.

"Your Excellency, we have never doubted your sincerity. However, this matter is of great importance. The kingdom may let the lower ranks off, but we will certainly be held accountable."

As he spoke, Viscount Andres looked at Hudson with a resentful gaze.

It was as if they were saying, "If you hadn't sent someone to look for us, we would have run away long ago."

Those who disappear on the battlefield are generally assumed to have died in battle.

The dead are not held responsible, their sons can inherit the title, and the family can continue to live as nobles.

Unfortunately, they were found by Hudson's cavalry during their escape.

If their survival is exposed, and they try to escape again, they will be wanted by the Human Alliance, and there will be no place for them to hide on the entire continent.

Left with no other choice, they had to follow the cavalry's directions and report to Flying Bear Fortress.

"Viscount Andres, you're being too absolute."

Everyone knows what the Dachias Battle was like. From the moment the war began, the outcome was destined to be defeat.

Placing your army in the open to fight the Beastfolk is risky. Even if you successfully defeat the Behemoth army, the armies of the other four royal courts will quickly pounce on you.

Faced with absolute power, it cannot be reversed by personal will, so there's no need to take it to heart.

As for the kingdom, it's not as bad as you think. If you're convicted of a serious crime, Crown Prince Caesar can get away with it.

One great Caesar III is enough; nobody wants to see another great Caesar IV. Now everyone hopes Caesar IV will be mediocre.

What this means, I think all three of you understand.

The battlefield is a magical place; it can plunge people into the abyss or elevate them to great heights.

How will you know you can't do it if you don't try?

Rather than giving up and waiting to be held accountable, you might as well give it your all. Even if the worst-case scenario is that you gain nothing, you can choose to die on the battlefield!

Hudson tried to persuade him.

Whether these people can redeem themselves through meritorious service is not important; the key is that Hudson needs them to risk their lives right now.

The post-war period is a post-war matter. First, we must ensure that we survive until the end of the war before we are qualified to consider post-war issues.

"Crown Prince Highness, it's time for us to leave."

Count Jose tried to persuade him.

Since his defeat and subsequent escape, Crown Prince Caesar has become a completely different person.

At first, he was furious, then he cried bitterly, and finally he became silent.

The young man, fresh out of school, had enjoyed a smooth and successful life for over a decade, constantly instilled with the belief that he was the best. The sudden and brutal beating he suffered had a tremendous impact on Crown Prince Caesar.

However, this is also an essential part of every monarch's life journey.

Only after experiencing great ups and downs and emerging from the trough can one have the opportunity to become a qualified monarch.

Even without setbacks, parents often deliberately set difficult problems for them to temper their minds.

Compared to others, the only difference is that Crown Prince Caesar fell into a deeper pit, and it was more difficult for him to climb out.

"Where do we go now?"

Crown Prince Caesar asked coldly.

Out of shame, he now avoids seeing any acquaintances. He always feels that people are only polite on the surface, but secretly mocking him.

Although no one mentioned the defeat in the battle to him, Caesar, who had received a royal education, still sensed something was amiss.

"Orders have arrived from home; His Majesty commands you to return immediately. The position of Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force will be taken over by Commander Hudson."

Count Jose spoke the truth.

These things would come to the attention of Crown Prince Caesar sooner or later. Having already been forcibly ordered back home, it was impossible for him to continue commanding the expeditionary force.

When they came out, there were six legions, but now only one remains. We can't let it be harmed again.

"I understand. As expected of him. He's always so ruthless towards losers, not even giving his own son a second chance."

Upon hearing Crown Prince Caesar's complaints, Count Jose wished he could plug his ears. The Crown Prince's complaints about the King were fine, but he, as a retainer, shouldn't have heard them.

Deep down, his resentment towards Crown Prince Caesar was growing stronger.

"A second chance" sounds simple, but the problem is that the cost is too high.

The Dachias Battle cost the kingdom five legions; if it happened again, the kingdom's nobles would be in an uproar.

Recalling Crown Prince Caesar now, halting his training program early, and cutting losses in time is the best option.

Unfortunately, what seems perfectly natural to ordinary people is clearly not so easy for the young Crown Prince to accept.

Ultimately, we haven't experienced enough and haven't realized the cruelty of the world.

"Your Highness, His Majesty also has his reasons. This incident has caused a great deal of controversy within the country."

Especially now that the situation in the Moxi Duchy has deteriorated and it could collapse at any moment, many people are blaming the defeat in this battle.

Count Jose explained, forcing himself to be brave.

"Your Excellency, there is no need for explanation; I understand all of this."

"If I leave later, will the blame for the collapse of the Moxi Duchy be placed on me, or are they already planning to pin this crime on me?"

Crown Prince Caesar said with a cold laugh.

Having been exposed to politics for so many years, he was extremely familiar with it.

Shifting blame and exaggerating responsibility are just the most basic tactics.

If the situation weren't so tense right now, with everyone busy dealing with the Beastfolk and having no time to start infighting, things would never have ended like this.

Just because the powerful nobles in the country haven't caused any trouble now doesn't mean the matter is over. After the war ends, there will inevitably be people who will bring up old grievances.

Power struggles leave no room for sentimentality, and the powerful nobles, as local lords, naturally did not want the monarch's power to expand indefinitely.

Faced with the powerful Caesar III, they were powerless. Their only recourse was to target the vulnerable Crown Prince, hoping to use him as leverage in negotiations with the King.

Knowing is not the same as understanding; not everyone can face the storm head-on.

Crown Prince Caesar deeply despised this kind of political struggle and wanted to make a name for himself through his own abilities. Unfortunately, his efforts were ultimately in vain.

Peaceful times are always short-lived. The Dapes Defense War broke out, and the situation in the Moxi Duchy reached its most critical moment.

Wave after wave of attacks kept the city's defenders constantly on the move. The Human Alliance, on which they had placed high hopes, had indeed agreed to send troops, but with dozens of countries involved, no one could say for sure when reinforcements would arrive.

The only certainty is that it's too late this year. Even the countries that had already sent troops back found excuses to withdraw after the Dachias Battle.

As for air support from the alliance, that's something we can only dream of for now. The envoys are still on their way, so we certainly can't count on them in the short term.

At the Terence front command post, Marshal Hodge was looking at the military orders in his hand with a troubled expression.

On the third day of the defense of the Royal Capital, he received three similar military orders—to cut off the Beastfolk army's logistics.

Taking the initiative to cut off the Beastfolk army's logistics was strategically sound. However, the situation changed when it came to execution.

The garrison had barely left the city when the Beastfolk army followed. After a tentative exchange, they could only retreat dejectedly back into the city.

It wasn't that there weren't daring officers who risked attacking the Beastfolk's logistics, but the results were somewhat disheartening.

They didn't manage to plunder much grain, and on their way back, they were instead blocked by a Beastfolk army that had rushed over after hearing the news.

After a fierce battle, they finally managed to escape back to the fortress after expending tremendous effort.

Fortunately, the commander was shrewd enough not to covet the spoils of war, but instead set fire to the grain wagons.

"Marshal, judging from the current situation, the Beastfolk' remaining forces here are still able to suppress us."

It is virtually impossible to completely cut off the Beastfolk army's logistics right under their noses.

We can only selectively carry out the orders from the Royal Capital. Perhaps we should simply let the local garrisons act freely, launching proactive attacks every few days to cause as much trouble as possible for the Beastfolk.

Harley couldn't help but offer his suggestion.

Frankly, he was well aware of how unreliable his suggestions were, but unfortunately, the military orders from home were even more unreliable.

Disrupting the Beastfolk army's supply lines is something we can manage with a little effort. But to completely cut off their supply lines? Do they really think the Beastfolk army outside the city is a bunch of dead men?

"Um!"

"Just send a message to the generals below. Go and personally go to the Alpha Kingdom's expeditionary force."

The Count Hudson has recently rallied a considerable number of defeated soldiers, and it is said that he has restored half of the six major corps of the expeditionary force.

It must have been quite a challenge for him. He managed to rally the troops even in a situation like this. It's a pity Crown Prince Caesar didn't know how to use people effectively; otherwise, things wouldn't have ended so poorly.

Of all the garrison troops, Count Hudson currently has the largest force. They will be indispensable for any raid on the Beastfolk army's logistics.

"That's what Marshal Hodge said with emotion."

When it comes to the ability to build up an army, he genuinely admired Hudson. While most soldiers dwindled in number as the fighting progressed, this man's army only grew stronger.

After securing the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, Hudson immediately legalized the troops he had secretly expanded, adopting the banners of the Second and Third Army.

It's too early to tell how effective these legions of defeated soldiers and laborers are. In any case, their numbers are expanding at a visible rate.

With the three legions combined, the expeditionary force now has a total strength of 43,000 men, almost half of its peak strength.

If we add the Newly Formed 23rd Legion of the Moxi Duchy and the Flying Bear Fortress City Defense Legion, we can mobilize even more troops.

At Flying Bear Fortress, Hudson was busy training his army. He was paying particular attention to the two newly formed legions.

Unlike the past practice of training aristocratic officers first and then organizing soldiers for training, this time, in order to save time, officers and soldiers were trained together directly.

Aristocratic dignity is not something a group of people who are "repenting" are entitled to.

This sense of being "inferior" was deliberately created by Hudson to provoke these guys' egos.

"Shame can only be washed away with blood. It is either the enemy's or one's own."

If you want to regain respect, you have to go back to the battlefield.

..."

Hudson went to great lengths to instill these ideas in these guys, over and over again, in an effort to boost morale.

"Your Excellency, Adjutant Harley from the front-line command has arrived."

The chief of guard's words reminded Hudson of the official document he had thrown into the trash can a few days earlier.

"Please ask him to come over!"