A Rising Famous General

When they left the Bearman Imperial Court and returned to the battlefield with their cavalry, the battle had already ended.

The sheer number of corpses scattered across the ground showed that the battle had been remarkably successful. Leaving aside the ordinary Beastfolk, the most crucial factor was the annihilation of several thousand elite bear-men.

In the future, when they want to brag, the expeditionary force can openly announce to the outside world that they are also an elite force that has defeated the main force of the Bearmen.

Twenty thousand infantrymen clashed head-on with a thirty-thousand- Beastfolk orc army, including a Bearman Legion known as the first infantry on the continent. This achievement was enough to boast about for a lifetime.

The charge of four thousand cavalry against the Bearman Imperial Court was a classic battle worthy of being recorded in history. Two earth-shattering victories in one day were enough to secure a place in human history.

The military victory was secondary; the key was the political impact. This achievement was enough to offset the expeditionary force's crushing defeat at the Dachias Battle.

If this victory were to reach the country, Caesar III would probably secretly regret recalling his son too soon.

If it had been a little later, allowing the Crown Prince to remain in the position of commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force for a longer period, he could have reaped some of the military credit and salvaged some of his reputation.

Unfortunately, there is no going back in life. Who could have imagined that the expeditionary force, which had been severely weakened, would be able to turn the tide in such a predicament?

It goes without saying that Crown Prince Caesar, serving as a negative example, will face an even more tragic future.

From the outside perspective, the expeditionary force was still capable of fighting, and the defeat at the Dachias Battle was purely due to the commander's poor command.

At the very least, the nobles of the Alpha Kingdom will hold this view as a bargaining chip in the upcoming political games.

Even if Crown Prince Caesar inherits the throne in the future, he will hardly have much say in matters involving military affairs.

Hudson couldn't afford to worry about the collateral damage. Political and military victories could be assessed later; the immediate priority was to tally the losses and consider the aftermath.

Of the four thousand cavalrymen who set out on the expedition, only three thousand two hundred remained when they returned to the castle, a loss rate of nearly 20%.

This is one of the reasons why Hudson decisively ordered a withdrawal and did not continue to entangle in the Bearman Imperial Court.

Even on his way back, when he encountered exhausted bear-man infantry, he chose to let them go.

It wasn't that he was being soft-hearted; it was simply that the cavalry losses were too great, and if he fought another battle with the bear-men infantry, his cavalry force would be wiped out.

In the absence of reinforcements, a highly mobile cavalry force is undoubtedly extremely valuable.

If Hudson hadn't expanded his cavalry so much beforehand, he wouldn't have dared to plan this classic battle.

Once the cavalry is gone, the expeditionary force will have a tough time relying solely on infantry.

Compared to cavalry, infantry legions fared much better. Aside from the early clashes between elite units that resulted in significant losses, they consistently dealt a heavy blow to the weakened enemy in the later stages.

With only about 10% of the players missing, Hudson could accept the loss given their illustrious record.

The only regret is that despite their glorious victory, they didn't acquire much loot. The Beastfolk came out to fight, and they didn't carry many supplies with them.

There were quite a few good things in the Bearman Imperial Court, but unfortunately Hudson didn't dare let his soldiers rob them.

If they were to carry a large amount of spoils and lose the mobility of cavalry, it would be uncertain whether they could escape unscathed.

The team that initially went out to fish was the one that reaped the greatest rewards.

It took up more than three hundred carriages, and although a third of them were carrying the carcasses of worn-out horses, that was enough to make Hudson smile.

The spoils, filling more than two hundred carriages, consisted mostly of gold coins or gold products, with a total value of no less than two million gold coins.

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The remaining spoils were a mixed bag, including seven noble girls and five elven slaves.

It's obvious at a glance that this was a gift intended for a high-ranking figure in the Bearman Imperial Court, but now it's all gone to Hudson.

However, he didn't touch any of these beauties. They were all nobles; if he encountered a fellow nobleman's family incapacity, he would certainly rescue them and appease them properly.

At least in front of countless nobles, no one dared to kick him while he was down. Lord Hudson, who valued his reputation, would certainly not make a mistake in this matter.

Five elven slaves, needless to say. And they were all men— Lord Hudson certainly didn't have such a taste.

Deep down, he was speechless at the Moxi nobles' peculiar hobbies. They were really just wasting their time and energy on such frivolous pursuits.

After asking around among the nobles in the military, perhaps out of embarrassment in front of everyone, no one was willing to take over.

Hudson hadn't figured out what to do with the man. He could only lock him up and wait for the nobleman with the peculiar taste to come and claim him.

Of course, the probability of such a thing happening is low. Exceptional fetishes are not uncommon in aristocratic circles, but few dare to put them out in the open.

With so many spoils, Hudson certainly couldn't keep them all to himself.

All participating nobles will receive a share, and those who die in battle will receive an extra share.

Hudson never skimped on these vanity projects.

The expeditionary force headquarters also needs to set aside some operating funds. Although they have money to spend now, who can predict what the future holds?

War may stop ordinary people, but for war profiteers, chaos is the best opportunity.

Mercenaries from all over the world have been pouring into the Moxi Duchy recently. If it weren't for the siege of Dapes City, the number of people reporting there every day would probably be endless.

"Crisis" implies that there is "opportunity" only when there is "danger".

Without such an opportunity, commoners and nobles would always remain two different classes.

Chris IX's supreme mobilization order cleared the legal obstacles for commoners to become nobles.

In theory, if one takes a risk in war and achieves remarkable success, one can achieve a leap in one's life.

Whether or not they can overcome that obstacle depends on luck. Many noble families rose to prominence in this way.

Rise, fall, revival, fall...

As long as it doesn't perish, this is a cycle.

There are no families in this world that last forever. Even ancient noble families that claim to have a lineage spanning thousands or tens of thousands of years may only have a surname left by their ancestors.

Gold coins and gold products are easy to handle; their value is obvious, and they can be divided up directly.

The remaining pile of messy items can only be dealt with after they are sold off.

After all, this is a time of war, and the old price system has long since collapsed.

Various handicrafts that were once highly sought after are now worth less than bread.

Prices of any goods associated with war skyrocketed.

Elven slaves were unwanted, but the magical equipment among the spoils of war was snatched up by a group of nobles as soon as it appeared.

The final solution was very simple: put it up for auction—the highest bidder wins.

Everything that could be digested internally was digested. The remaining magical materials that required less effort, along with a bunch of strange and unrecognizable items, were all stored in the expeditionary force's warehouse.

As the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, Hudson naturally took the biggest slice of the pie, followed by Beldens, who was responsible for the fighting force.

The war banner of the Bearman Imperial Court alone cannot be simply measured in monetary terms.

The only problem is that the battle flag cannot be sent out now, or rather, Hudson is unwilling to hand it over cheaply.

The current Moxi Duchy is barely able to take care of itself and simply cannot afford such a high price.

Giving it to them would only boost morale; it would have no real practical significance. No matter how generous the promises, Hudson wouldn't be foolish enough to come all the way to the Moxi Duchy to guard their frontier.

Bringing it back to China is such a long journey, who knows what might happen?

If the Beastfolk manage to snatch it back halfway, then all our efforts will have been in vain.

Moreover, Hudson is unable to return home at the moment, and the Coslo Family has no connections in the court. Even if they manage to bring the items back, it will be difficult to obtain the due reward.

Rather than doing all the work for someone else, it's better to keep it and use it to decorate your home. Hang it in the living room, and everyone who sees it will have to show it respect.

When training troops, they can also show off their skills from time to time to dispel the fear of Beastfolk among ordinary soldiers.

Having experienced this great battle, Hudson clearly felt the transformation of his army. Not only did the participating troops become more confident, but the morale of the defending troops in the city also rose.

The days of Beastfolk wetting their pants at the mere mention of orcs are over.

Listening to his colleagues constantly boasting, the local nobleman who remained in Moxi felt a mixture of envy and jealousy.

Even just participating in a major battle of this magnitude to make up the numbers is something you can brag about for a lifetime.

Unfortunately, very few people dared to sign up before the fighting began. Of course, even if they had signed up, Hudson wouldn't have given them the chance to cause trouble on the battlefield.

It wasn't entirely impossible to have one's name appear on the war rolls. A generous gift to Lord Hudson was all it took to secure a place on the list.

The magnitude of military achievements was determined entirely by the value of the gifts received. In any case, the expeditionary force and the Moxi garrison were two separate systems, and they would not steal each other's resources.

After the internal issues were sorted out, a embellished report of victory was distributed to all directions in the name of the expeditionary force.

Thinking of this, Hudson couldn't help but complain: the country doesn't take the expeditionary force seriously, and even contacting the Royal Capital directly is fraught with difficulties.

Each time a message was sent, the Moxi people either sent Griffon Cavalry to deliver it, or they would send a messenger themselves on horseback for thousands of miles.

Communication difficulties are not entirely a problem; the biggest advantage is that Hudson has high enough authority that he doesn't need to ask for permission for everything.

Even if a major battle is initiated, there's no need to report to the kingdom. If a defeat is suffered, the news can even be completely suppressed.

As long as the expeditionary force is well controlled and the lost soldiers are replenished in time, the situation can be resolved.

For a nation that has been fighting the Beastfolk for a long time, being chased around by the Beastfolk is not a big deal at all.

As long as the position is not lost and the troop strength is not greatly reduced, it can all be considered a strategic retreat.

"What? Count Hudson has gone to attack the Bearman Imperial Court?"

Marshal Hodge asked incredulously.

Before the battle report was even sent out, the news had already spread. We had spoken with the neighbors beforehand, and everyone was closely watching the battlefield.

The specifics are unknown, but just by looking at the Beastfolk being chased and running around in all directions, everyone knows that Hudson has won a battle.

Such good news naturally required informing their leader. Originally, Marshal Hodge considered it a minor victory and didn't take it too seriously.

But the news that kept coming back made him increasingly alarmed. As someone who had seen a lot, Marshal Hodge was still able to keep his composure.

Now that news of the attack on the Bearman Imperial Court had spread, the old marshal was also stunned. He no longer cared about his image and directly asked the question that had been bothering him.

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal. We just received the news from our subordinates, and we couldn't believe it either. We even sent people to investigate the bear-man camp."

Judging from the situation at the scene, they had indeed just experienced a major battle, and the camp was severely damaged.

According to reports from the garrison troops in various regions, the armies of the other four imperial courts were also suddenly mobilized, all heading towards the location of the Bearman Imperial Court.

It can be preliminarily determined that the Bearman Imperial Court was under serious threat from external enemies, which forced it to seek help from the other four royal courts.

The only force capable of posing a threat to the Bearman Imperial Court in the vicinity is the Alpha Kingdom Expeditionary Force stationed at Flying Bear Fortress.

On the very day of the incident, the expeditionary force also mobilized a large number of troops, and the garrisons of several nearby castles also dispatched troops to provide support and coordination.

The initial plan was for everyone to make a show of attacking the Bearman Imperial Court with sheep, forcing the Beastfolk army to return to reinforce.

I don't know what happened in the middle, but in the end, the sheep attack turned into a strong attack.

Perhaps Count Hudson spotted an opportunity, or perhaps there was a compelling reason to attack, but the Alpha Kingdom's expeditionary force did indeed launch an attack on the Bearman Imperial Court.

Based on the intelligence gathered, the expeditionary force appears to have gained an advantage this time. We'll have to wait for Count Hudson's battle report for more details.

Harley replied seriously.

Everyone was being thoroughly humiliated by the Beastfolk, and they had to be extremely careful when venturing out of the city to cause any trouble.

It's unbelievable that someone would dare to provoke the Bearman Imperial Court and even benefit from it.

However, ideas are not important; the key is the facts. The expeditionary force actually did it, and did it brilliantly.

After calming down, Marshal Hodge's face suddenly turned rosy, and he said with a smile:

"This is a great thing. With the Count Hudson's move, the pressure on Dapes will be greatly reduced."

If the Bearman Imperial Court is indeed severely damaged, the pressure on our nearby castles will be greatly reduced in the short term, allowing us to expand our operational area again.

It was clear that he was genuinely happy. Seeing the situation becoming increasingly unfavorable for the Moxi Duchy, he, as marshal, was under immense pressure.

There has never been a lack of dissent within the duchy. The only reason he hasn't been ousted is because no more suitable candidate could be found.

Personal fame and fortune were one thing, but the main concern was the impending collapse of the duchy, which worried him the most.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. Once the Moxi Duchy collapses, all the nobles, large and small, who depend on it will slide into the mire.

"Report!"

"Marshal, an urgent battle report has arrived from Flying Bear Fortress, please..."

Before the visitor could finish speaking, Marshal Hodge snatched the battle report, opened the seal, and began to read it.

The parchment contained little information, yet it weighed a thousand pounds in his hands.

The further down you look, the more obvious the changes in Marshal Hodge's expression become, until finally his mouth forms a large "O".

"Harley, immediately send someone to forward the battle report to the Royal Capital."

To prevent any accidents, make several copies and send them out along different routes.

The Bearman Emperor Bearman Imperial Court visibly embarrassed as he faced reinforcements from the four great royal courts.

If our base is lost, we'll have to ask our allies for help. If word gets out, we'll be laughed at for the rest of our lives.

Judging from the ambiguous smiles on the faces of the group of people who came, they were all watching him make a fool of himself.

He knew people were laughing at him, but he had recruited these reinforcements himself. Their presence was a favor in itself.

Losing face is the Bearman Imperial Court's own problem, and it can't be blamed on their allies.

"Your Bear Emperor, is this Count Hudson really that powerful?"

Crown Prince Alex asked with concern.

Although the Behemoth Clan had also fought against Hudson, their unfortunate cavalry regiment was completely wiped out, and they did not send back any valuable information.

Due to strategic needs, the Behemoth Imperial Court never had time to retaliate, but the debt was still recorded.

Even Behemoth Tribe and the Bearmen have always disliked each other, they still acknowledge the strength of the Bearmen infantry.

Now that this old nemesis has suffered a great loss at Hudson's hands, Crown Prince Alex, who is eager for revenge, will naturally pay close attention to him.

"He is the most skilled strategist among the enemies we have encountered since the start of the war."

Not only was he a skilled military commander, but he was also a highly capable military leader. In particular, his elite expeditionary force, the First Army, was one of the most elite legions among the human race.

If we encounter him on the battlefield in the future, everyone must be extremely careful. We were careless this time and fell into his trap.

"I'll answer you with a forced smile, "Bearman Emperor replied.

We have to praise him; if we can't prove Hudson's prowess, then his bear-man race will seem utterly incompetent.

To avoid becoming useless, the only option is to make the enemy stronger.

At first, he felt a little awkward, but Bearman Emperor quickly adapted. Besides himself, two of the other four people present actually nodded in agreement.

In the blink of an eye, the Bearman Emperor understood what was going on.

Both the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe and the Behemoth Tribe suffered defeats at the hands of Hudson. Although the Bearman Emperor Clan suffered the heaviest losses, the other two clans also incurred considerable losses.

The enemy is holed up in Flying Bear Fortress and has tens of thousands of troops, so revenge can't be carried out anytime soon.

But if they let Hudson run rampant outside, they'd lose face. Bearman Emperor wanted to boast about Hudson's prowess, they were happy to oblige.

Since the enemy is so powerful, the minor defeats we suffered earlier seem quite reasonable.

No matter what, we're all in this together, and we all need to maintain some dignity.

Three of the Five Great Royal Families said it was powerful, so it would be hard for the remaining two families not to believe it even if they wanted to.

With the endorsement of the Orc Empire, a general was thus raised.