Good News
The chilling atmosphere of war permeated the entire world. The banners that once fluttered in the wind were now tattered and torn, seemingly about to fall at any moment.
On the city wall, corpses lay scattered on the ground. The wounded bled profusely, yet no one stepped forward to clear them away. The thick stench of blood mingled with the smell of sweat, filling the air with a pungent and unpleasant odor.
The flames of war eventually reached Oster City. With no way out, the nobles of the Duchy of Orton unleashed their greatest potential in this life-or-death situation.
The loud screams and cries were heart-wrenching. Led by the city's nobles, the blood-soaked Orton soldiers let out a desperate cry.
These shouts were contagious and inspiring, dispelling many inexplicable fears in people's hearts.
Arrows flew wildly through the air, a rain of arrows trailing long whistles, tearing through the clear sky like locusts, and striking the Beastfolk soldiers attacking the city.
Catapults, Magic Crystal Cannon, and all sorts of crossbow bolts flew everywhere in an instant.
The powerful figures from both sides were now engaged in a fierce battle. Battle Qi flew everywhere, and magic danced wildly. The scene was terrifying; a single glance was enough to send chills down one's spine.
The piercing screams, the frenzied slaughter, and the blazing flames fueled the rage of both armies, making the war even more intense.
The Battle of Oster City seemed to be the most difficult battle the Beastfolk army had faced since entering the Duchy of Orton. The setting sun, like blood, cast its last rays upon the city walls.
"Pass down the order: halt the siege!"
Duke Daniel said coldly.
The battle had only been going on for a day, Beastfolk army had already suffered four-figure losses. These were not the cannon fodder troops from before, but the elite of the Orc Empire.
The best time to attack had passed, and the nobles in the city had recovered from their panic. Continuing the assault, even if they captured Oster City, would be a losing proposition.
"Your Grace, we finally made it to the top of the city walls, why are you suddenly ordering a halt to the attack?"
Glaring at the furious newcomer, Duke Daniel replied arrogantly, "Count Pulvi, are you questioning me?"
Don't forget, I am now the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces. I have no obligation to explain myself when issuing orders. All you need to do is obey.
This is the first and last time!
The cold voice instantly extinguished Pulvy's rage. After calming down, cold sweat broke out on his back.
The nickname "The Cold-Faced Duke" wasn't just due to his cold-hearted nature. It also came with ruthless killing.
They are decisive not only in killing enemies, but also in killing their own people.
Seeing the awkward situation, Bartel, the Eaglemen commander who had come with him, spoke up to persuade him, "Your Grace, Count Pulvi was just acting impulsively."
After all, the Bearman Legion suffered considerable losses in their attempt to storm the city walls, so it's understandable that they'd be upset if they suddenly stopped fighting.
It was clear that he was also somewhat dissatisfied with Duke Daniel's orders. However, he was more reserved and didn't immediately raise any questions.
"Since you want to know, then I'll tell you. I suppose you haven't forgotten the old stories of Bertley Fortress!"
Since the start of the siege, their Magic Crystal Cannon have never stopped firing, and they've been throwing out magic scrolls for free, completely disregarding the cost of the war.
The nobles of Orton in the city have been driven to desperation by us. Their decision not to flee indicates they are prepared to fight us to the death.
Don't let your pitiful perceptions blind you. Humanity is still the dominant race on the continent. Although it is fragmented, its rich heritage and traditions should not be underestimated.
We don't have enough cannon fodder troops available right now. If we use our elite legions to fight them at a loss, even if we manage to capture the city in front of us, we won't be able to carry out our subsequent plans.
The Duchy of Orton was never our target. The main reason we launched this siege was their army's poor performance, which made us think we could take it in one battle.
The previous battles have proven that our judgment was wrong. The enemy's determination to resist is much stronger than we expected.
Since it's a mistake, it needs to be corrected now; we can't keep going down the wrong path.
Duke Daniel explained with an almost sarcastic tone.
Is it just arrogance?
No, he did it on purpose.
The allied forces were already rife with infighting, and if the commander-in-chief wasn't tough enough, the war wouldn't be fought.
To lead the troops well, it is necessary to give the generals of the other three races a good talking-to and establish the authority of the commander-in-chief.
Since everyone has troops at their disposal, a direct assault to establish authority is definitely not an option. Therefore, the only recourse is to exert psychological pressure and solidify his position as commander.
From the very beginning, Duke Daniel instilled in them the idea that they were incompetent and that in battle they had to obey the commander's orders.
The current explanation is more like an intellectual crushing defeat. It uses a real-life example to tell the three people: You're all too stupid; you can't even see such an obvious problem.
Going forward, regarding military command matters, simply follow the commander-in-chief's orders; stop overthinking and acting presumptuously.
Abandoning Oster City, the Beastfolk army did not linger in the Duchy of Orton, but headed straight for the Warhammer Kingdom.
Waksaas, as one of the important northern provinces of the Alpha Kingdom, has always been a key target for Beastfolk attacks.
This great war was no exception; from the very beginning, this place received special attention from the Beastfolk army.
The situation only eased slightly after the Beastfolk split their forces to attack the Moxi Duchy.
This easing is relative; the Alpha Kingdom still draws the majority of the Orc Empire's forces and bears the greatest pressure of war.
In the ongoing war, most of the province of Waksaas fell into the hands of the Beastfolk. The few remaining fortresses were also teetering on the brink of collapse under the Beastfolk onslaught.
"Has it come to this again?"
Duke Arrendo muttered to himself.
In every major Beastfolk invasion, the Alpha Kingdom has inevitably adopted a "trading space for time" strategy, continuously utilizing castles and fortresses along the way to slow down the Beastfolk army's advance.
Compared to previous wars, this one is better. With two more unfortunate figures sharing the burden, the military pressure on the province of Waksaas has been significantly reduced.
In the past, Waksaas would fall within three to five months after the outbreak of a major war; this time, the war has lasted for nearly ten months, and Waksaas Province is still holding on, which is already a record.
Even the strongest city defenses will eventually be worn down. After days of fierce fighting, the fortresses and strongholds at the front lines were almost completely destroyed by the war.
Having just arranged a troop rotation, Duke Arrendo has decided to retreat to his prepared stronghold, fulfill his lordly duties, and become a holdout.
They were forced into it. The vast difference in strength meant the defenders had no choice but to rely on castles and fortresses for defense.
Taking the initiative to seek a decisive opportunity is a low-probability event; most of the time they are on the defensive.
Given their disadvantageous position, in order to survive, they naturally cannot place their stronghold in a strategically vital location.
Running away voluntarily is out of the question; the kingdom does not allow desertion. Even the five powerful dukes of the North must abide by the rules.
Even if a strategic retreat is desired, it must be done after the city has fallen. By this point in the war, the defending troops at the front have already suffered heavy losses.
In every major war, the noble lords of the Northern Frontier region suffered heavy losses; this was an outcome destined from the very beginning of the war.
The strength accumulated over decades has been gradually worn away in battle after battle.
This is the destiny of generations of lords in the Northern Frontier.
In the darkness, inside a dilapidated house hidden in a corner of the city, more than ten young men were gathered.
Such a bizarre meeting would surely be mistaken for Heretical Cult if someone encountered it.
Indeed, this is the case. Since its inception, the July Association has been operating under the guise of Heretical Cult, surviving in the shadows.
Compared to Heretical Cult, the July Association never performs Blood Sacrifice or promotes the belief in Evil God. However, the ideology they spread is considered more terrifying than that of Heretical Cult by the rulers.
"Lord Longxi!"
"Lord Longxi!"
Everyone stood up and greeted the newcomer. It was clear that this was out of genuine respect.
After smiling and responding to everyone's questions, Longxi went to sit down in his designated spot.
"Now that everyone is here, let's start today's meeting ahead of schedule."
You are all aware of the situation inside the city. Half of the outer city wall has already collapsed, and even though the defenders managed to close the breach in time, the deterioration of the situation was still inevitable.
According to the intelligence we've gathered, our Duke Arrendo has prepared to break out. His destination, of course, is their family's stronghold.
Our chance for revenge has arrived. Since this guy is no longer responsible for protecting Waksaas, we don't need to be polite to him.
"Let's use his head to pay tribute to our fallen ancestors. And incidentally, let's cleanse the human race of its own filth."
Longxi's words caught everyone's attention. The July Association was originally composed of impoverished nobles, and they had a deep-seated hatred for the five dukes of the Northern Frontier.
It can be said that the blood and flesh of the various minor nobles in the Northland were what forged the glory of the five great noble families of the Northern Frontier.
Hatred is hatred, but some fundamental principles cannot be violated.
Normally, trading with Beastfolk is a minor matter, but getting involved with Beastfolk again at a time like this would be considered treason against humanity.
Once labeled this way, there's no turning back. Everyone risked joining the July Association for revenge; they never intended to betray humanity.
"Lord Longxi, that old tortoise Aarondo is very timid. He's always had plenty of skilled guards around him, and even if he flees in panic, he'll probably still have a considerable number of protectors."
"Our forces alone are probably insufficient to ambush him on the way. We'd need to use a borrowed knife to kill him, to get the Beastfolk to do it for us."
"I can't help but suggest it," the eagle-eyed man suggested.
Having spent a long time in the Northern Frontier border region, he had a lot of dealings with Beastfolk and naturally had many connections there.
The two sides have temporarily severed contact only because of the war. They can re-establish contact if they wish.
"Hawkeye, I know you're eager for revenge. But it's best not to be too hasty in these matters."
Secrets can't stay hidden forever. We can secretly leak Aarondo's whereabouts, but we absolutely cannot contact the Beastfolk directly.
"My brothers have had a tough time. We've finally gotten this opportunity, and everyone is preparing to rebuild the family's glory. We can't take risks at this time."
Longxi shook his head and said.
The Hawkeye man wasn't disappointed by the rejection of his proposal. The July Association's ability to grow and expand in secret was precisely due to this caution.
Some things can be done, but absolutely cannot be said outright. In his view, revealing Aarondo's whereabouts was not much different from directly colluding with the Beastfolk.
However, in politics, these are indeed two completely different situations. The former can be concealed by creating a smokescreen, while the latter July Association is leaked.
After all, they were all from the North. While they harbored deep-seated hatred for the five great clans, their blood feud with the Beastfolk was no less intense.
If they were to truly collude with the Beastfolk, the July Association Society would fall apart. This is different from their previous business dealings with the Orc Empire.
The reason they colluded with Beastfolk nobles was to facilitate the slave trade. Even though slave traders had a bad reputation, people could comfort themselves by thinking they were fighting against Beastfolk and avenging their ancestors.
Similar incidents are also unfolding in different parts of Northern Frontier, only the targets of these incidents differ.
Not only is the July Association, lurking in the shadows, seeking revenge against the five great families, but their enemies are also among the various reinforcements they are receiving.
Many of the Northern Nobles who fled to the south have experienced a resurgence after so many years of development.
It's not a big deal if one or two families have a feud, but when the number of enemies increases, even a great nobleman can't handle it.
Various underhanded maneuvers, like hidden currents underground, relentlessly attacked the Five Great Families.
At Flying Bear Fortress, Lord Hudson, busy training his army, was in a very good mood.
Just now, he received an official reply from the kingdom: 50,000 new recruits will be gradually added to the expeditionary force.
To strengthen ties between the two sides, the kingdom even dispatched a five-man griffin squad to accompany the expeditionary force.
The kingdom's decision shows that the expeditionary force has gradually risen from a dispensable ragtag army to an important armed force of the kingdom.
During wartime, an army's status is earned through its own battles. The more illustrious its achievements and the more elite its troops, the greater the resources it receives.
This is a positive cycle. Once the 50,000 reinforcements arrive, the six reinforced legions of the expeditionary force will be at full strength, or even exceed it.
If Hudson could train this army of 100,000, he would have enough influence in the chaos to come.
Even though most of them were soldiers from the kingdom, as long as they accepted his command, a bond of kinship would be formed between them.
The network of relationships gained through shared life-and-death experiences on the battlefield is more solid than anything cultivated over twenty years in ordinary times.
If managed well, this can become a natural political faction.
After winning several more battles, everyone becomes a hero of the kingdom, and some nobles will eventually achieve upward social mobility.
The biggest beneficiary of the growing power of factions was naturally their leader, Hudson. If he were to enter the central government, he would most likely be able to secure a position of real power.
Good news always comes in quick succession. Not only did reinforcements from home arrive, but the Moxi people also gave a definite answer: they agreed to the proposal to increase the weapons and equipment of the expeditionary force.
It's clear their war bonds sold very well. Otherwise, Hudson's plan to form a cavalry corps within the expeditionary force would never have been approved.
A guest army is still a guest army. Even though we're fighting together now, we'll go our separate ways once the war is over.
People risked their lives to come and help fight the war; we can't just ask for the weapons and equipment we gave them back, can we?
If such an unethical act sets a bad precedent, who will be willing to help you in the future?
Of course, the Moxi people's sudden generosity likely includes a reward for their previous actions.
In the aristocratic world, equivalent exchange is the norm. Hudson's plan was reliable and had achieved initial success, so naturally, he deserved a corresponding reward.
The only regret is that all the promises are just promises for now. It will take quite some time before they can be concretely fulfilled and implemented.
My updates have been slow lately, and I'm really worried. Being stuck at home every Haiyue, I don't know where my inspiration has gone. I miss the days spent with sunshine and flowing streams.