The Little General Staff

Hudson was speechless as he read the intelligence sent by the Moxi people. He could only say that the Warhammer Kingdom was incredibly bold, daring to wage a large-scale war at this time.

If they really want to pull off something big, they might as well join forces with the Moxi people team and take back the Augsburg defense first.

Once this breach is closed, it will only be a matter of time before the Beastfolk army that has entered the Warhammer Kingdom is annihilated, and they will not even be able to break out and leave.

Even if they could defeat the Beastfolk army in Warhammer Great Plains of Warhammer, they wouldn't be able to annihilate them.

If you can't beat them, can't you at least outrun them?

The Beastfolk expeditionary force was mostly composed of cavalry; for infantry to chase cavalry was a joke.

Despite his doubts, Hudson remained silent. War, after all, is always full of endless possibilities.

Although based on the available information, the chances of victory for the Warhammer Kingdom's campaign are not high, there are always exceptions.

If the Warhammer Kingdom's army includes a dozen or twenty elite legions, plus a bunch of underlings, employing a numbers game to overwhelm the Beastfolk expeditionary force, that would be a viable strategy.

However, this is ultimately a low-probability event. The main forces of the Warhammer Kingdom were mostly tied down at the front lines. If there were still so many main forces in the rear, they wouldn't be at the bottom of the ten human kingdoms.

It's no wonder the Moxi people are nervous. As long-time neighbors, and neighbors with relatively similar strength, the two countries have had their share of clashes over the years, and are all too familiar with each other's capabilities.

What they can't handle themselves, they can get done by just a tiny bit of the Warhammer Kingdom.

Hudson couldn't answer that question. In military matters, victory or defeat often hinges on just a tiny difference in skill.

"Marshal, are you prepared for such a large-scale war so soon?"

Hudson asked with concern.

He doesn't object to the Moxi people wanting to lift the siege of Dapes, provided that the Moxi people can hold off the Behemoth Legion.

After such a long time, the Behemoth Legion, which had suffered considerable losses, has been replenished. Even if its combat strength has not recovered to its peak, it is still at least nine-tenths of its former strength.

Facing a full-strength Behemoth Cavalry regiment, anyone who encounters them head-on will feel their scalp tingle.

There are forces capable of confronting them head-on; Knight Order composed entirely of cultivators can rival the Behemoth Cavalry.

Unfortunately, the number of Knight Order was far too small.

Even with tens of thousands of troops in his expeditionary force, Hudson never considered forming Knight Order.

It's not that they can't form one, but the main problem is that forcibly forming a Knight Order would drain the core strength of the other legions.

Nobles who possess Knight Order are not necessarily the most militarily powerful, but they are certainly the wealthiest.

From a purely cost-effectiveness perspective, the expenses of a thousand-man Knight Order exceed those of an ordinary ten-thousand-man legion.

With the same budget, at least three or four cavalry regiments of a thousand men could be formed. If the selection criteria were raised further, the final cost would be even greater.

The fact that such an expensive military unit still attracts so many people suggests that it must have its own unique appeal.

Superior combat power, high mobility, and long-range attack capabilities... these are all advantages of the Knight Order.

As the premier duchy on the continent, the Moxi people naturally possessed their own Knight Order. Unfortunately, several of these Knight Order suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Augsburg.

This is the official statement; the specific details have been kept strictly confidential by the various noble families. Whether they truly suffered a severe blow or were merely preserving their strength, Hudson himself was unsure.

Moreover, even among Knight Order, there are differences in strength. Some Knight Order are composed entirely of knights, while Knight Order also include warriors.

Putting aside professions, Knight Order composed of Beginner Knight is certainly no match for Knight Order composed of Intermediate Knight.

The difference in combat power could be several times greater, and cannot be generalized.

Hudson had no idea of the strength of the Moxi people Knight Order, but he had personally experienced the fighting prowess of the Behemoth Cavalry.

The last time they concentrated their elite forces to encircle and annihilate a half-strength Behemoth Cavalry regiment, they suffered considerable losses.

Asking him to face a full-strength Behemoth Cavalry legion is simply too much to ask.

The expeditionary force might be able to hold off the Behemoth Cavalry charge if they formed a large formation, but defeating Behemoth Cavalry was out of the question, and they couldn't even hold them off.

"Your Excellency, the first batch of supplies from the Human Alliance is on its way."

However, the Foreign Affairs Department coordinated with several neighboring countries, and they will first borrow some of our strategic materials, which will then be repaid by subsequent materials transported by the Alliance.

These supplies have already entered my country, but for safety reasons, they are currently being transported in small batches multiple times.

For the sake of the friendship between our two countries, the expeditionary force will be one of the first troops to receive reinforcements.

Considering the casualties of the expeditionary force, we can provide a new recruit corps as a supplement.

Hudson didn't take Hodge's words to heart. The talk of "friendship" was pure nonsense; if the expeditionary force hadn't been so distinguished, they wouldn't have received such treatment.

The Duchy of Orton and the County of Ruilin, which had also sent expeditionary forces, were simply wiped out after their expeditions were destroyed. Even if some remnants remained, the Moxi people did not help them restore their former order.

Ultimately, it all comes down to interests.

The Alpha Kingdom's expeditionary force, led by Hudson, is highly capable and holds significant strategic importance for the Moxi Duchy. Even though it's not their own army, they are treated with the same utmost respect for the sake of national security.

The expeditionary forces of the Duchy of Orton and the County of Ruilin, which lacked combat capabilities, were of no real significance to the Moxi people, and their national strength was not strong enough, so they were naturally ignored.

At most, they might offer a few words of praise in diplomatic settings, but deep down they might secretly despise the two countries for their incompetence.

"Your Excellency Marshal, if we can obtain the Alliance's assistance, the chances of success in this operation will increase by three points."

"I just wonder how many elite troops your country can deploy this time, besides the garrison in Dapes?"

Hudson asked rationally.

He was indeed very satisfied with the sugar coating, but he still had to check first to see if there were any shells inside.

It's not worth worrying about ordinary troops; if the Moxi people wanted to, they could easily muster hundreds of thousands.

But this kind of army is purely for show; it would be in trouble even against Beastfolk fodder legion. Don't underestimate the Beastfolk just because they have low moral standards; once they have that bloodthirsty beastly nature, they are far superior to ordinary serfs.

Based on past experience, the combat strength of an ordinary Beastfolk army is roughly equivalent to that of a newly formed legion of Moxi people have been trained for more than six months.

It mainly depends on the race. Some powerful races can even surpass the combat power of some elite legions.

However, apart from the Five Great Royal Families, the other powerful races in the Orc Empire have been severely weakened. Some have already been wiped out, while others are on the verge of extinction.

From this perspective, the decline of the Beastfolk hegemony was not only due to the rise of humans, but also to the internal strife among the Beastfolk.

If Beastfolk Five Great Royal Families hadn't suppressed the development of the powerful races below them, perhaps they could now field elite troops, adding a zero to their ranks.

That makes sense, but when it comes to their own interests, not everyone can let go of those interests.

To maintain the dominant position of the ruling group and suppress the rise of other races is simply an instinct.

"Three super-strength elite infantry legions, two cavalry legions, plus five Knight Order, and fifteen newly formed legions."

Including the expeditionary force and the garrison in the city, we have a significant advantage.

"I can say that confidently," said Marshal Hodge.

Upon hearing this data, Hudson's expression softened considerably.

Even with a large number of troops tied up on the front line, Terence was still able to organize such a large army, indicating that the resources of the Moxi Duchy were even more substantial than he had anticipated.

What he didn't know was that these forces were the last remaining strength of the Moxi people in preparation for moving the capital and continuing their resistance after the fall of Dapes.

The sudden change in the situation gave the Moxi people hope, which led them to change their original plans and prepare to lift the siege of Dapes first.

After a moment of contemplation, Hudson slowly said, "Your Excellency Marshal, if your country can gather so many elite troops, it will not be difficult to lift the siege of Dapes."

The problem now is that the Beastfolk are behaving very strangely. Knowing that the main force besieging Dapes City is insufficient, they have not sent any reinforcements.

It was as if they were playing a grand game, waiting for us to take the bait, with the army besieging Dapes serving as the lure.

I'm not entirely clear on the changes in the situation at the front, but the opposing Bearman Imperial Court has indeed reinforced its troops.

Two legions of bear-men infantry, plus a mysterious Elephant Cavalry. These were not ordinary war elephants, but elephants with the blood of magical beasts.

Our exact combat strength is unknown, but if it is half the combat strength of the Demon Elephant Legion, our cavalry will have no choice but to take a detour!

The number of Beastfolk regular legions has increased even more; we don't know the exact unit numbers and strengths, but it's at least 100,000.

Hudson said with a solemn expression.

The Bearman Imperial Court buildup was all his fault. Having suffered a major loss, the Bearman Emperor was now extremely wary.

One main force could no longer provide him with a sense of security, so he simply transferred a large number of troops from the rear, directly eliminating the possibility of being attacked again.

At the very least, Hudson no longer has the courage to launch another sneak attack on the Bearman Imperial Court.

With so many troops coming, it's clear they're not just here to defend their home. Retaliation against Flying Bear Fortress is entirely possible.

The main reason for the delay in taking action is a strategic issue. Flying Bear Fortress cannot be taken in a day or two; even the lives of hundreds of thousands of beasts wouldn't be enough to fill this enormous pit.

The city's supplies have been replenished several times recently, thanks to the peace vacuum created by the Hudson.

If you want to break through a city by besieging it, you must be prepared for a protracted war.

The bear-men don't have that much time to waste here. Even if they were willing to fight to the death here, the other Four Great Royal Clans wouldn't allow it.

The best way to get revenge is not to storm the city, but to lure the expeditionary force out of the city for a decisive battle.

In a head-on confrontation, a single bear-man infantry legion of the expeditionary force could be handled; but two bear-man infantry legions would require tactical maneuvering.

Any more, Hudson would have no choice but to flee with his infantry. Even though half of the new recruits from within the country had arrived, the number of combat-ready soldiers was still only the initial tens of thousands.

"Your Excellency can rest assured, we have already made our inquiries. The Beastfolk are amassing a large army at the front lines primarily to invade the Warhammer Kingdom."

The Warhammer Kingdom has amassed a large army, preparing for a decisive battle against the Beastfolk expeditionary force in the Artrus Province.

At this critical moment, the Orc Empire will inevitably muster a large force to launch a new offensive on the front lines in order to tie down the Warhammer Kingdom's army.

From this moment forward, the duchy is no longer their primary target. Perhaps by now, the Bearman Imperial Court has already begun its relocation.

Once the Beastfolk have completed their troop movement, we will take immediate action. Even if they want to turn back, mobilizing a large army cannot be accomplished in just one or two days.

"If we are fast enough, we can lift the siege of Dapes before the Beastfolk reinforcements arrive."

Seeing Marshal Hodge's confident demeanor, Hudson gave up on trying to persuade him further.

Whether it will work or not, we'll only know after the battle. They've made such thorough preparations; to pour cold water on their plans now would be incredibly tactless.

"No problem. As long as your army can hold back the main force of the Beastfolk and block the Beastfolk's reinforcements, the rest can be left to the expeditionary force."

However, we still need to send someone to urge them on the issue of warhorses and weaponry. The sooner they are equipped, the greater our chances of victory will be.

Hudson said generously.

His tone was so sincere that it gave Marshal Hodge no chance to refuse. He wanted to speak several times, but in the end, he swallowed his words.

Ultimately, they are the guest team. It's fine to ask them for help, but expecting them to take on the most arduous tasks is asking too much of them.

Most importantly, even if Hudson agreed, the expeditionary force would have no way to restrain the Beastfolk Behemoth Cavalry legion.

There's no point in talking about things that are destined to be impossible. Only cavalry units can truly restrain the Behemoth Cavalry legion.

With two cavalry legions and five Knight Order, their strength on paper is already very close to that of the Behemoth Cavalry legion.

If some cavalry were drawn from various units to participate in the battle, perhaps another cavalry corps could be assembled.

The two sides are not far apart in strength, and the chances of defeat are extremely slim, as the former can only hold the other side back.

The real problem is blocking reinforcements. If we can't stop the Beastfolk reinforcements, all the good fighting ahead will be for nothing.

Beastfolk Five Great Imperial Courts each send in an elite legion, the situation will be reversed again.

"Your Excellency can rest assured that the warhorses and weapons will be provided to the expeditionary force as soon as they arrive."

As for the overall strategy, it's too early to discuss that now. We'll wait until the situation becomes clearer before engaging in further communication and discussion.

Ultimately, lacking confidence, Marshal Hodge did not dare to give a definite answer.

The Beastfolk's strategic focus shift was merely their deduction based on changes in the battlefield situation; it did not necessarily mean that it would happen.

If they're just feinting and continue to relentlessly attack them, it's not impossible that they might decide to destroy the Moxi Duchy first.

With Marshal Hodge gone, Hudson's focus returned to military training. Compared to before, there have been significant changes recently.

Although he did not gain explicit loyalty from his subordinates, more and more nobles were showing him goodwill.

Even if you can't recruit them immediately, you can still be friends. The adult world is realistic; ultimately, it's still a transaction.

"What you can gain and what you need to give up" will be the most crucial factor in determining everyone's choice.

These things can't be rushed. Showing too much eagerness and prematurely revealing your needs will only put you in a passive position.

Most nobles are ambitious and will not sell themselves to others unless absolutely necessary. The best approach with these people is not to subjugate them, but to act as political allies.

Once the relationships are handled well, when it's time to recruit in the future, people will naturally send their children to us.

Compared to the nobles with titles and fiefs, the noble sons who had nothing were the Hudson could truly "buy off".

"Your Excellency, this is the new organizational plan for the expeditionary force. Please take a look!"

As they spoke, Baron Katerley handed a document to Hudson.

This was one of Hudson's recent achievements. Although he did not implement sweeping reforms to the expeditionary force, he did create a small staff headquarters within it.

Without altering the original military system, the newly established small staff headquarters has authority limited to staffing and assisting in handling military affairs.

Since it did not affect the noble officers' leadership over their private armies, nor did it infringe upon the actual interests of the people, it naturally did not cause any disturbance.

Even the current military reorganization follows the tradition of the Alpha Kingdom, proceeding with expansion step by step.

Hudson glanced at the list of officers and troop deployments above. There weren't many changes from what his colleague had communicated earlier, so he nodded slightly.

"Let's release the list to the public according to the above!"