The Cautious Marshal
Peaceful days are always short-lived, and news of the Duchy of Orton being ravaged by Beastfolk soon reached them.
Hudson was speechless, unable to offer any real resistance as the Beastfolk army breached their defenses.
Perhaps this is the price of "weapons stored away and horses grazing freely." A comfortable and peaceful environment always makes people lower their guard.
If a national mobilization had been carried out earlier, instead of entrusting their security to the Moxi Duchy, it would have been a different story.
The upheaval in the Duchy of Orton also affected the expeditionary force. With the destruction of their country and the imminent loss of their homes, the Orton soldiers in the expeditionary force were filled with fear and trepidation.
No matter how panicked we are, it's useless; distant water can't quench immediate thirst. Besides, facing the main Beastfolk army, even if we send the expeditionary force, they'll still be hammered.
Originally intending to appease the troops, Hudson ultimately chose to let things drift for the time being. This was also a silent test.
A capable officer will handle the morale issues of his troops on his own, instead of just bringing problems to his command.
In a sense, the tragedy of the Duchy of Orton was also an opportunity for Hudson.
In a world where knowledge is highly monopolized, talent is almost entirely concentrated within the ruling class, and only when a country is destroyed or a family is ruined will there be an overflow of talent.
In the past, poaching people from other countries seemed unlikely, but the possibility of winning over the homeless nobles of Auden in the expeditionary force has emerged.
Now we'll see how the situation develops. With the Moxi Duchy and the Warhammer Kingdom blocking their way, the Duchy of Orton's territory is no longer considered the front line. Its security issues are far less serious than those on the front lines.
This situation was completely unexpected. Under normal circumstances, the situation in the Moxi Duchy should not have deteriorated so quickly.
In theory, as long as a relatively solid defense line is built, the safety of the Duchy of Orton can be guaranteed.
This security, however, was not a good thing for the Auton nobles. It meant that their lands possessed a value that was worth coveting.
The Human Alliance helped reclaim lost territory, but that came at a price.
If we're lucky, we might be able to preserve the country's name, and everyone will just open some branch accounts to get a share of the pie; if we're unlucky, we might be dismantled and divided up by everyone.
In either case, it's like cutting into the flesh of Orton's native nobles. There will always be a group of unfortunate nobles who will lose their family fortunes as a result.
The fact that they were sent to reinforce the Moxi Duchy means they weren't doing very well in the Duchy of Orton to begin with. If they encounter such a tragic situation, they will most likely become one of the first victims.
Realizing this, Hudson had already begun to observe the reactions of the Orton nobles, preparing to select capable individuals from among them.
It's speechless to think about it. After several years, they still don't have a decent team of talented people.
When faced with a problem, Hudson always made the decisions on his own. It was very difficult for him to consult with others.
Hudson put in a lot of effort to recruit talent, but the final result was very touching.
Aside from recruiting some basic-level talent, there wasn't a single truly outstanding individual.
Even among the fallen nobles, their first choice to pledge allegiance was the King, and only secondarily to the powerful nobles within the country.
By the time it's Hudson's turn, he's already been screened countless times. It's normal not to meet him; if he did, there would be a problem.
Emerald Palace
"Your Majesty, news has come from the front lines that Duke Arrendo was ambushed and killed by a skilled Beastfolk while he was out."
At almost the same time, the Duke Pias, Duke Agalon, Duke Dias, and Duke Cavadia were also attacked.
Currently, all four companies are strictly controlling the information, and the specific situation is still unknown.
Even Marshal Campbell, who was in the military camp, was assassinated. Fortunately, the old marshal was quite capable and the enemy did not succeed.
In addition, several frontline generals were assassinated by the enemy, with as many as seven people dying.
The assassins came from all walks of life: humans, orcs, Beastfolk, dwarves, demons, Undead ...
Upon hearing Duke Affierro's report, Caesar III's face instantly turned ashen.
One person being assassinated might be an accident, but so many people being assassinated at the same time is definitely not a coincidence.
Putting everything else aside, just tracking the movements of so many people is no easy task.
Unless there is collusion between insiders and outsiders, it is impossible to complete.
"Who is the mastermind? And how did these assassins infiltrate?"
"Caesar III filled with murderous intent."
Those who were assassinated were all important figures, and their security detail was certainly not weak. The assassination was carried out by family members, making it highly unlikely they were bribed by outsiders.
Apart from the somewhat plausible attack on Beastfolk Duke Arrendo by a skilled orc, the rest of the assassination cases are shrouded in mystery.
"Based on the current situation, the Beastfolk are the most suspicious. However, given the hatred between humans and Beastfolk, they definitely do not have the ability to plant so many spies."
Moreover, the identities of assassins are diverse, and the Orc Empire probably doesn't have the ability to control so many people at the same time.
What's most worrying is that these assassins, apart from the Undead who appeared suddenly, were all slaves or servants who had infiltrated long ago.
Duke Affierro explained, forcing himself to be brave.
Although the incident occurred within the military, it doesn't mean the Military Affairs Department can understand the situation. High-ranking nobles all have their own private armies, and their personal safety is the responsibility of their private forces.
The information obtained by the Military Affairs Department was all their own answer; only the parties involved knew the specific details of the assassination.
Especially those five local bullies, apart from Duke Arrendo who is confirmed dead, the fate of the other four is unknown.
The investigation into the murderer is not something the Military Affairs Department can decide on its own. Without the cooperation of these powerful nobles, it simply cannot proceed.
It's not that everyone is deliberately resisting the investigation; the main issue is that before the matter is clarified, there is a lack of basic trust among all parties.
At this point, they probably saw everyone as the murderer.
Even if the crisis of trust is resolved, it will be difficult for the Military Affairs Department to fully intervene. There's no way around it; everyone has a lot of dark history to draw.
It's fine if it doesn't come out, but once it's exposed, it will be a major political incident.
Even if there was no time for internal strife during wartime, these dark histories became targets for political enemies after the war.
Against this backdrop, the Five Great Families of the Northern Frontier naturally preferred to investigate on their own rather than have the Military Affairs Department intervene.
"Snort!"
After giving a cold shout, Caesar III said irritably, "I don't want to hear any more explanations. The mastermind behind this must be found as soon as possible."
Tell those guys in the Northern Frontier that either they find the murderer themselves, or they fully cooperate with the kingdom's investigation.
There are also issues at the front lines; the Military Affairs Department must take them seriously. With so many unexpected changes occurring at once, the Beastfolk certainly won't let this opportunity slip by.
If given the chance, Caesar III wouldn't mind bringing the Five Great Families of the Northern Frontier to their knees, but definitely not now.
No matter how detestable the Five Great Families of the Northern Frontier may be, their military strength is undeniable. They played a crucial role in resisting the invasion of the Beastfolk army.
Without these entities acting as a buffer, the flames of war would soon reach the heart of the Alpha Kingdom, resulting in astronomical losses.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Archers, fire!"
"Hold on! Hold on, everyone!"
The flames of war eventually reached the territory of the Warhammer Kingdom. Faced with the overwhelming Beastfolk army, the defending forces performed far better than the Ordons.
Although the defensive line was not yet complete, at least many traps were dug for Beastfolk cavalry, and multiple wooden fences were erected.
Their defenses couldn't compare to castles or fortresses, but they were better than nothing. One makeshift defensive line after another failed to stop the Beastfolk army's advance, but they did slow their progress.
One legion was wiped out, and another legion took its place, but unfortunately, they all met the same fate in the end.
The Warhammer Kingdom is under immense pressure as casualty figures continue to rise.
"Marshal, you've seen the casualty figures at the front. If things continue like this, I'm afraid our troops deployed on the southern front will be wiped out very soon!"
Joseph II said coldly.
It's clear that his dissatisfaction with Marshal Borg has reached a breaking point.
Royal Capital pragmatic; if the pillars of a kingdom cannot turn the tide, then they are no longer pillars.
Past achievements are utterly insignificant in the face of reality. If there were better options, he would have replaced him long ago.
Marshal Borg, as one of the parties involved, was also furious. If it was due to his strategic errors, then taking responsibility would be one thing.
The problem is that his strategy wasn't wrong. If the defenses along the Moxi Duchy's front line hadn't been strengthened, the enemy would have already invaded, and there would have been no need for such a long and circuitous detour.
Even the threat from the south was raised long ago, but the problem is that the kingdom's strength is limited and it is not capable of taking care of so many places at the same time.
Limited resources, if distributed across an infinite number of defense zones, will inevitably lead to vulnerabilities regardless of the deployment method.
Even if we manage to hold off the Duchy of Orton along the front line, the enemy can simply detour a few hundred miles. If our allies are uncooperative, allowing the enemy to sweep across the land, what can we do?
Without sufficient fortifications, only some rudimentary facilities, it was no wonder that the Beastfolk troops did not collapse at the first contact; it was the result of everyone fighting desperately.
"Your Majesty, what are your plans?"
Marshal Borg said expressionlessly.
They are all people with tempers. As a veteran minister of the kingdom, he would not take the blame for nothing.
If the problem can't be solved, that's a problem with the kingdom's strength. The current chaotic situation wasn't caused by his reckless command, so there's absolutely no need to feel guilty.
"The Beastfolk army coming from the south has a total strength of no more than 100,000, of which 30,000 are ordinary Wolf Riders, and only 70,000 are true elites."
Despite the Beastfolk army's seemingly invincible advance, their losses have been considerable. Their current total strength is at most around 90,000.
"Concentrate the troops from the southern and central provinces of the kingdom, engage them slowly and maneuvering, and wait for an opportunity to engage in a decisive battle!"
Joseph II said calmly.
This strategic plan was the result of much brainstorming by his think tank.
Theoretically, with the full mobilization of the southern and central provinces of the Warhammer Kingdom, it is possible to organize an army of six or seven hundred thousand.
With a troop advantage several times that of the enemy, they are fully capable of fighting. They don't expect a quick victory; as long as they can delay the Beastfolk army for a while, it will be like a fish in a barrel.
"Your Majesty, you are too optimistic."
The nobles in the southern provinces never imagined that one day the enemy would attack from behind, and their preparations were severely inadequate.
The conscription order has been issued for so long, and the mobilization in various provinces has not been completed. I'm afraid the Beastfolk will attack before the army can be assembled.
Even if we manage to gather a large army, we still won't be able to stop the Beastfolk.
As a lone force, they were only there to cause trouble and would never actually engage in a decisive battle with us.
If you tear open even a small gap, the enemy will rush in from south to north. The enemy is mostly cavalry; ordinary troops simply can't keep up with them.
In a simple cavalry duel, the kingdom's numerical advantage is not so obvious.
Concentrating forces on a decisive battle against the enemy will only hasten the defeat. It would be better to have nobles in various regions rely on their castles and fortresses to continuously harass the Beastfolk army.
If necessary, we can also withdraw our forces and retreat to the western part of the kingdom. Since the enemy wants the Warhammer Great Plains, let's give it to them first.
As long as the kingdom remains strong, we can reclaim the territory we have lost.
"Marshal Borg said solemnly."
If possible, he wouldn't want to give up the Warhammer Great Plains. But there was no way around it; the true strength of the Warhammer Kingdom wasn't as great as it seemed.
He was confident he could defeat a lone Beastfolk army that had ventured deep into enemy territory. The problem lay in the military pressure they would face, as well as the northern and eastern fronts.
With the kingdom's main force tied down, how can a ragtag bunch possibly fight the Beastfolk?
Abandoning the Warhammer Great Plains and retreating to the western mountains of the kingdom was a difficult decision, but it was the best option to resolve the strategic disadvantage.
"Your Excellency Marshal, do you know how much the kingdom will have to pay to abandon the Warhammer Great Plains?"
Nearly 70% of the kingdom's population lives on the Warhammer Great Plains. There's simply no way to evacuate them in the short term; if we retreat, these people will be exposed to the Beastfolk's slaughter.
"Your territory is in the west, so it doesn't affect you much, but what about the nobles on the Warhammer Great Plains?"
Faced with Chancellor Guy's furious questioning, Marshal Borg sighed and replied solemnly:
"I'm not blind, of course I know what the Warhammer Great Plains mean to the Kingdom. But the problem now is that the Beastfolk have their eyes on us this time."
Among the three northern kingdoms, the Moxi Duchy is flat and indefensible, making it unsuitable for long-term residence.
The Alpha Kingdom is incredibly powerful; they simply can't take it all in a short time.
The only place left for the Orc Empire is the Kingdom.
They might not be able to hold onto the Warhammer Great Plains even if they captured them, but the western mountains are different. As long as they take them, they might be able to digest them.
If the kingdom concentrates its strength to defend itself, it can use the terrain to its advantage to block the Beastfolk's advance.
If we fight the Beastfolk first, and then try to hold onto the western part of the kingdom after being defeated, it won't be so easy!
Marshal Borg has never suffered a major defeat since he began his career. Even if he suffers a small loss in the early stages, he is able to make up for it later, thanks to his cautiousness.
This time, however, the situation is clearly different from before. Abandoning the Warhammer Great Plains has crossed the line for many.
Even knowing it was the option with the highest probability of winning, everyone had reasons to refuse. The loss to the kingdom was secondary; the key issue was that everyone's family's foundation was in the Warhammer Great Plains.
Once the plains fall, even if it's only for a short period, the price everyone will have to pay will be devastating.
Most importantly, having made sacrifices and become rootless, they will lack sufficient confidence when dividing the spoils of war after the war.
"Your Excellency Marshal, the plan to retreat to the western part of the kingdom is temporarily shelved; the situation has not yet reached that point."
Right now, let's think about how to stop the Beastfolk army!
According to your previous plan, this strategy of gradually resisting and slowing down the Beastfolk army's advance is now clearly out of step.
The kingdom needs to adopt a more proactive strategy and tactics, rather than simply retreating.
"Hasn't the Human Alliance already declared war? When will the reinforcements from other countries arrive?"
Joseph II decisively rejected the idea.
Like many great noble families, the royal family's roots lie on the Warhammer Great Plains. Although there are royal territories in the west, they comprise less than one-fifth of the total royal domain.
If the royal family abandons its homeland and moves the capital to the west, it will lose its advantage over the domestic nobles, and may even end up having less say than the powerful nobles in the west.
Even if the lost territories are recovered after the war, it will be a major political reshuffle. The western nobles, who have gained the upper hand, will inevitably take the opportunity to expand their power eastward.
When it comes to the core interests of the royal family, there is naturally no possibility of compromise. Even knowing that the decisive battle against the Beastfolk was fraught with risks, Joseph II had no choice.
His refusal to directly accuse Marshal Borg of plotting against him was his final act of respect for the marshal.
"Your Majesty, the Human Alliance's actions this time were even faster than expected."
Parliament has approved the first batch of military aid plans, including one hundred Magic Crystal Cannon, three thousand Magic Crossbow, fifty thousand suits of armor, thirty thousand warhorses, and twenty million pounds of rye...
However, the first to receive aid were the Moxi people, and one family took 60% of the quota.
Of the remaining resource allocation, the Alpha Kingdom received 30%, and the final 10% had to be divided among the Ortons before the Kingdom received its share.
Foreign Minister Cassidy said indignantly.
Although these aid supplies are not free and will still need to be paid for at cost in the future, it is extremely rare to obtain strategic materials at a reasonable price during wartime.
It's understandable that they couldn't compete with the Alpha Kingdom; the strength of the two sides is what it is, and their influence within the alliance is inherently different.
Moreover, the Alpha Kingdom has tied down most of the Beastfolk army and borne the heaviest military pressure, so it's understandable that they would take an extra share.
Cassidy was furious about losing to the Moxi Duchy. The moment the Human Alliance meeting made its decision, the representative of the Warhammer Kingdom lodged a protest.
Unfortunately, the protest was accepted by parliament, but the final result remained unchanged.
The answer is: the Moxi Duchy needs help more.
After all that talk, some representatives directly accused them of inaction during the war and of failing to play their due role.
Cassidy was powerless to change this issue. The kingdom's strategic problems were beyond the control of a mere Foreign Minister.
"Why?
Do you think my Warhammer Kingdom is easy to bully?
What are the Foreign Affairs Department doing? Why do they tolerate the Kingdom being treated unfairly?
Faced with the King's questioning, Cassidy secretly groaned in despair.
Regardless of whether it was an action or not, the aid plan was approved by parliament immediately after it was proposed.
Even if you want to do public relations, you need time.