Orton's Sorrow

After two days of searching, the Beastfolk army was finally discovered in Dapes City.

Looking at the intelligence reports sent by his subordinates, Chancellor Herczeg was completely bewildered. As a civil official, having him preside over a military and political conference was like forcing a duck onto a shelf.

In such a critical situation, it's normal not to understand the strategic objectives of the Beastfolk army's actions.

If someone were to understand it, that would be a major problem. A strategic plan that even an amateur could see through is an open and obvious scheme, and even if you know it, there's no way to solve it.

"According to news from nobles along the way, the Beastfolk army is advancing southwest, without touching any of the noble castles along the way, and its advance is aimed directly at the Duchy of Orton."

For the sake of a small principality, risking having their retreat cut off, how can anyone not understand why they would venture deep into enemy territory alone?

Chancellor Herczeg was speechless.

The Beastfolk's motives are unclear, but the current situation is clearly not the worst. With the war reaching the Duchy of Orton, the Moxi Duchy's supply lines will be cut off, but the pressure of the war will also be greatly reduced.

The extent of the future impact is currently uncertain. However, in the short term, it provides a much-needed respite for the Moxi Duchy.

Nobles across the land are frantically expanding their armies and preparing for war. The longer the war drags on, the more thoroughly they can prepare. If they are attacked by Beastfolk army, they can hold out for a few more days.

"Could it be that the Beastfolk are playing a flanking maneuver, cutting off our connections with neighboring countries, and then attacking us from both sides?"

A similar strategy was used by the Beastfolk against the Alpha Kingdom during a great war 150 years ago.

Caught completely off guard, the Alpha Kingdom suffered heavy losses. Even its Royal Capital Canglan City, fell into the hands of the Beastfolk during the battle.

Renato couldn't help but speculate.

As the Foreign Minister, his job gave him a wealth of knowledge about the history of various countries. Seeing the Beastfolk army's actions, he couldn't help but want to immerse himself in their world.

"It's unlikely. Our current situation is different from that of the Alpha Kingdom back then. Dapes City is now exposed to the Beastfolk's military might, so there's no need for a flanking maneuver."

Perhaps the Beastfolk wanted to advance deep into the northern lands, unleashing endless carnage and luring other races into the war.

Or perhaps the Duchy of Orton something they are determined to obtain, and are willing to adjust their battle plans for this treasure.

Minister of Military Affairs Martins analyzed the situation carefully.

To drag others down with them, deliberately creating a commotion to prove to the outside world that humanity is on the verge of collapse is just standard practice.

There are countless examples of wars being waged for a single treasure, let alone the mere adjustment of the battle plan.

Both outcomes are possible, which only adds to the mystery. The truth will only be revealed after the Beastfolk take action.

The only consolation is that the Duchy of Orton, which suffered this misfortune, is relatively weak. Even if they were not notified in time, they would at most suffer some complaints, but they would not be able to do anything to them.

If I can't guess, I won't bother trying. It's a bit unfair to my allies, but there's nothing I can do about it.

Good news!

Just as the meeting ended, the commander of the Griffon Cavalry Regiment came over with an urgent battle report from the front lines and pulled everyone back.

As members of the principality's high command, this kind of thing has happened countless times since the outbreak of the war.

Leaving get off work on time is practically a luxury. It's common to be woken up in the middle of the night to handle emergencies.

Wealth and glory were tied to the fate of the duchy; no one had a way out.

"That's impossible!"

"I can't believe it," said Chancellor Herczeg, losing his composure.

Seeing good news is a good thing, but this particular report is far too exaggerated. He was also aware of the habit of exaggerating achievements at the front lines.

Overall, everyone was keeping things within limits. Usually, they would just slightly increase the battle merits, but this battle report looks like it's been multiplied by ten.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, Hodge has verified the contents of the battle report. There may be some embellishments in the report, but overall it is not significantly different from the original."

Besides the Projection Stone provided by the expeditionary force, our men also conducted reconnaissance of the battlefield. Even the battle flag of the Bearman Imperial Court fell into the hands of Count Hudson.

Kampers explained.

News that is too shocking will inevitably arouse suspicion. Even urgent reports of good news will inevitably be verified first.

After a brief moment of shock, Chancellor Herczeg quickly recovered. He had been dealing with so much lately that his mental fortitude had improved.

It defies common sense and cannot withstand solid evidence. Other things can be faked, but the battle flag of the Bearman Imperial Court can never be faked.

To be able to take the war flag from the Bearmen 'Bearman Imperial Court, a major victory is certainly at stake. Severely damaging an elite Bearmen legion and crippling two or three cannon fodder legions seems plausible.

While there was joy, sorrow was also inevitable. As the war progressed, the Moxi Duchy had produced very few capable fighters; the most capable were actually the reinforcements from their allies.

While Marshal Hodge was certainly reliable, his drive and ambition were truly lacking.

Despite the consideration, no one has considered changing the coach. Having a strong drive is a good thing, but it depends on the circumstances.

Given the current state of the Moxi Duchy, if a more ambitious leader were to be appointed, it's uncertain whether they could turn the tide, but the probability of losing everything is extremely high.

The idea of the weak defeating the strong is something to boast about in ordinary times. But if it's taken seriously and requires frontline commanders to accomplish it, then it becomes a human tragedy.

"Report the battle report to the Alpha Kingdom. The expeditionary force's victory this time is of great significance, and we must have in-depth discussions with them about the follow-up matters."

"I am somewhat embarrassed," said Chancellor Herczeg.

The recent crushing defeat has created a rift in relations between the two countries. However, due to pressure from the Beastfolk, both sides have tacitly chosen to ignore it.

Install the latest version.

The sudden turn of events, with the expeditionary force demonstrating strength far exceeding their expectations, has once again elevated the importance of the Alpha Kingdom to them.

This reversal will directly impact diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Deep down, Chancellor Herczeg had cursed Crown Prince Caesar's incompetence more than once.

If the expeditionary force had demonstrated this fighting prowess earlier, the outcome of the last major battle would have been reversed, and the situation in the Moxi Duchy would not have collapsed.

"Prime Minister, the issue of communicating with the Alpha Kingdom is easily resolved. Although we did not send troops to participate in this great war, everyone cooperated fully."

With this good news, all the previous unpleasantness can be overlooked. Even if there are setbacks, those are matters for the Alpha Kingdom to grapple with internally.

Now it's our turn to consider this.

The expeditionary force achieved a great victory, and the situation on the front lines has changed. The main force of the Beastfolk army has fled to the Duchy of Orton.

The opportunity to relieve the siege of Dapes has presented itself by drawing troops from the front lines.

As soon as Foreign Minister Renato finished speaking, everyone in the room's eyes lit up.

Everyone had been focused on the battle report, but this reminder made them realize instantly that the turning point of the war had arrived.

Being surrounded by the Beastfolk army for so long, it was impossible not to feel panicked. Being able to drive away the Beastfolk army outside was a great thing for everyone present.

Faced with the expectant gazes of his colleagues, Minister of Military Affairs Martins instantly felt immense pressure.

He wanted to relieve the siege of Dapes, too! But the problem was that he had to be able to do it. If he made a wrong move, it could lead to another major defeat.

Having thoroughly analyzed the reasons for the defeat at the Dachias Battle and learned from the experience, Martins had lost confidence in launching large-scale battles.

It had nothing to do with the size of the army; it was simply that the newly formed legions were utterly useless. They could barely manage to defend a city, let alone engage in open-field battles.

It would be far too difficult for the duchy to defeat the Beastfolk army with just its few main legions. Moreover, mobilizing troops would require the Beastfolk' cooperation.

The pressure from his colleagues was too great, making it impossible for him to refuse. Suddenly, as if struck by a sudden thought, Martins spoke up:

"To lift the siege of Dapes, our own strength alone is insufficient. Although the main force of the Beastfolk has left, it doesn't mean they won't return."

If we cannot achieve a swift victory and end the battle before the enemy's main force returns to reinforce, our people will be in danger.

Currently, the main legions of the duchy are almost completely suppressed by the Beastfolk, and the easiest to mobilize is the expeditionary force of the Alpha Kingdom.

To accomplish this plan, we'd better first consult with Count Hudson and seek his opinion.

If they can't withstand the pressure themselves, they can only shift the blame. Domestic generals are all influenced by these powerful figures, and it's difficult for them to withstand the pressure.

The expeditionary force was different. As foreign reinforcements, they had independent command authority. Although nominally under the command of the Moxi Duchy, they actually had very little control over the expeditionary force.

To Hudson, military orders issued by the Moxi Duchy were nothing more than documents that could be thrown into the trash at any time.

Seeking the other party's opinion constitutes genuine negotiation. If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, refusing to cooperate or going on strike is normal practice.

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone exchanged glances, but no one said anything more.

Regardless, there were 300,000 Beastfolk troops Dapes City. Even with only a partially-strength Behemoth Cavalry legion remaining to hold the line, no one dared to let their guard down.

Without an elite force to entangle the Behemoth Cavalry, there was virtually no chance of relieving the siege of Dapes.

Those within the family know their own situation. The duchy's Standing Army suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Augsburg, and now the strongest fighting forces are the private armies of the great nobles.

No one was confident about taking their own private army to fight the Behemoth Cavalry head-on. It was best to find a willing scapegoat to take on such a risky and arduous task.

Looking across the entire battlefield, the Alpha Kingdom's expeditionary force is now the most suitable option.

There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Without sufficient incentives, it's clearly impossible to get people to risk their lives for you.

Despite the expeditionary force's proactive approach and seemingly resolute stance on combating the Beastfolk, it's clear that the expeditionary force is taking a proactive stance.

In reality, political factors were also involved. Hudson took over the position of commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, and also took over the mess left by Crown Prince Caesar.

Even if he doesn't have to take responsibility for the initial issues, he still has to be responsible for handling the aftermath.

The best way to make up for a previous crushing defeat is to cover it up with a victory. As long as you win on the battlefield, the historical problems left over from the previous defeat can be covered up.

The great war was brought about by three common factors: political factors, the needs of military training, and the opportunity presented to them.

The mess has been cleaned up, and the expeditionary force's reputation has been established. If we want them to fight the main Beastfolk force to the death again, we'll have to negotiate terms.

In the Duchy of Orton, Oden XIX, waking from a deep sleep, was forced to begin his day's work before he could even stretch.

Perhaps most monarchs live like this, but for a lazy monarch, this kind of life is just too difficult.

There was no other way; since the defeat at the Dachias Battle, the Duchy of Orton had also been pushed to the brink.

The Moxi Duchy was teetering on the brink of collapse, and their closest neighbor had no choice but to prepare for the worst.

Having just received a report of victory from the Moxi Duchy, Oden XIX was in a good mood, seeing that his allies had won a battle.

But when he saw the document below the report of victory, his face quickly turned green with anger.

Alpha Kingdom's expeditionary force turned the tide against all odds, but the Beastfolk army was about to reach his doorstep.

Sending this notification at this point is practically deliberately sabotaging our allies!

As for the explanation given by the Moxi Duchy, that they had just discovered the movement trajectory of the Beastfolk army, Oden XIX did not believe it at all.

Nearly 100,000 Beastfolk, mostly the main force of the Orc Empire, were mobilized at this level. How could the local power, the Moxi Duchy, claim that it had not noticed?

Complaining won't help; the enemy is about to attack. Even if you verbally abuse the Moxi people to death, it won't solve the problem.

"Prime Minister, how are our preparations going? Are we able to withstand the Beastfolk army's invasion?"

Upon hearing the King's question, the prime minister Jacob also looked helpless.

So many great powers are no match for the Beastfolk, yet they're making a small principality take the lead? Isn't that deliberately making things difficult for them?

Unfortunately, this time the Beastfolk army came on its own, leaving them no choice but to accept it.

"Your Majesty, we have mobilized 200,000 troops, of which 150,000 have been deployed at the border with the Moxi people."

In addition, 50,000 troops are being mobilized and are expected to be assembled next month.

"We've always maintained good relations with the Moxi people and haven't built any fortifications along the border. We're currently busy with temporary construction, so..."

From Jacob Jacob's stammering words, Oden XIX sensed despair.

The army was only mobilized and had no time to complete training; the defense line was not yet completed, and the enemy was about to reach their doorstep.

Under this double blow, what can the Duchy of Orton use to withstand the Beastfolk's onslaught?

The discussions within the palace continued, while battle cries echoed from the border. Perhaps overconfident in their allies, the defending troops hadn't considered the possibility of being ambushed by the enemy.

By the time the enemy was spotted, the battle had already begun. Countless Orton soldiers, busy building fortifications, had barely looked up when they saw the Beastfolk's blades.

"Withstand!"

"Fool, grab your weapon and fight the enemy!"

"No refunds allowed!"

The officers, slow to realize what was happening, shouted enthusiastically.

Unfortunately, the serfs who had just put down their hoes had never encountered such a scene before. Many of them were dumbfounded when they saw the carnage.

Some of the more timid ones were so frightened that they wet themselves and didn't even know to pick up a weapon to resist.

Even worse, some, based on their past experience dealing with noble lords, foolishly knelt down and begged for mercy from the Beastfolk, only to be met with an inevitable fatal blow.

It's unclear who started it, but the first deserter appeared, followed by the second, the third... until the nth deserter appeared, and the battlefield had completely descended into chaos.

Unwilling to accept defeat, the noble officers, along with their personal guards, joined the battle, briefly delaying the Beastfolk army's advance.

Unfortunately, such warriors were too few and far between, and their leadership only influenced a portion of the soldiers; the majority of the serf soldiers chose to desert.

When a great defeat occurs, the power of an individual is insignificant.

82Chinese. com