Enemy Sighted

On December 7 Sacred Calendar Year 99988, at the repeated request of the Moxi people, the King force completed the rotation of troops.

Looking back at the Flying Bear Fortress, Hudson couldn't help but feel secretly saddened.

Over the past few months, the expeditionary force has undergone a transformation here, marking a significant leap in his life.

He rose from an ordinary legion commander to become the supreme commander of the expeditionary force, a unique figure on the entire human-beast battlefield.

This climbing speed is something even the top second-generation elites in China can hardly match.

In this respect, Crown Prince Caesar also deserves great credit. It was precisely because of his negative example that the dignitaries of various countries "once again" realized that war requires professionals.

Even if one wants to appoint a member of the family, one must first examine their abilities, rather than simply assigning a position based on their birth.

This inadvertently created opportunities for many minor and medium-sized nobles. Otherwise, the position of Commander-in-Chief wouldn't have fallen so easily to Hudson.

The commanders-in-chief all rose to power by taking advantage of this favorable wind, and the generals below them were no exception. In the past, only nobles of the rank of viscount or above served as legion commanders, but now there are not only barons, but even knight legion commanders.

Of course, this was mainly due to the special nature of the expeditionary force, which prevented second-generation descendants from reaping the benefits, thus allowing these personnel appointments to proceed smoothly.

In China, for a minor nobleman to rise to prominence, he would have to go through one major battle after another and accumulate enough prestige before he could possibly be promoted.

How long these good times will last is anyone's guess. After all, the greatest lesson humanity can learn from history is that it never learns anything.

The unity among the nobles was forced upon them; once the situation improved, they would immediately fall into internal strife.

Hudson glanced longingly at the towering city walls and surveyed the lush green vegetable garden, knowing that this departure might be a final farewell.

Looking at the group of gloomy-faced officers seeing him off, he didn't know how to comfort them and could only tell them to pray for their own good fortune.

Although it seemed that two legions had been sent to relieve the troops, everyone knew that without the expeditionary force stationed there, Flying Bear Fortress was no different from an ordinary military fortress.

It's only a matter of time before the Beastfolk army returns. The vegetable gardens outside the city can only be harvested once; there's no hope for anything more.

Not everyone can intimidate Beastfolk with their reputation alone. The Bearman Imperial Court, having suffered injustice earlier, might take revenge on the new garrison for the mistreatment they endured at the expeditionary force.

If they can't defeat the expeditionary force, can't they at least defeat two Moxi legions?

These are all internal affairs of the Moxi Duchy, and Hudson has no power to interfere. No matter how difficult the mission to guard Flying Bear Fortress is, someone has to go and defend it.

The greatest value of Flying Bear Fortress lies in leaving this nail, which makes the Beastfolk uncomfortable.

"Set off!"

At Hudson's command, the army marched in orderly formation and embarked on their journey.

The chilling atmosphere that enveloped them seemed to silently proclaim: this was an elite force.

One hundred and fifty miles away, the Bearman Imperial Court, which had just moved from the Bethel region, received news of the expeditionary force leaving the city immediately.

"The enemy has finally emerged. Tell the other four imperial courts to proceed according to plan and speed things up; we can't let the enemy escape this time!"

"The Bearman Emperor said viciously."

As one of Beastfolk five orc kings, the actual losses caused by the expeditionary force trampling the joint camp were not significant, but the humiliation was enormous.

Even though so much time has passed, the political impact hasn't faded. Every time people mention the expeditionary force, they inevitably bring up the Bearman Imperial Court as a backdrop.

Hudson had become a thorn in his side, and he could not quell his hatred until the expeditionary force was annihilated.

Driven by both hatred and self-interest, the Five Great Imperial Courts conspired to create a massive web.

Not only must the expeditionary force be annihilated, but the Warhammer Kingdom and the Moxi Duchy must also be taken away in one fell swoop, laying the foundation for the glorious victory of the Orc Empire.

The bait has been laid, and the initial plan was very successful. Now it's time to test the actual execution.

Dapes City, inside the Beastfolk army's camp, Prince Butzwig smiled coldly as he read the intelligence report from the eagle-man scouts.

Lifting the siege of Dapes involved the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops, which could not be accomplished overnight. Troops had to be gathered from all corners of the country, making complete synchronization impossible.

Even though the Moxi people were prepared and ordered their troops from various regions to converge and advance towards Dapes City, Prince Butzwig still saw flaws everywhere.

"Three elite infantry legions, two cavalry legions, plus five Knight Order, and fifteen newly formed legions, plus the seven legions of the expeditionary force, with a total strength of over 350,000."

This doesn't even include the garrison in Dapes City. If you add them all up, the number would probably be close to 500,000.

"We're surrounded by enemy troops to the south, north, east, and west. The Moxi people really think highly of us!"

Prince Butzwig's words drew laughter from the group of generals.

Behemoth Legion remained unfazed. In the last Dachias Battle, the humans also possessed an overwhelming numerical advantage, yet they were ultimately routed and forced to flee.

This time the enemy forces are more numerous, but they also have far more troops than before.

"Your Highness, the enemy is amassing a large army, and we cannot simply stand by and do nothing."

While they're busy, let's rout one of their armies first—consider it a great opening gift for them!

Gregg couldn't help but suggest it.

The Behemoths, born for war, have never feared war; they only fear the absence of war.

If it weren't for the Behemoth leadership being clear-headed enough to suppress the belligerent desires of their subordinates, they would probably be either at war or on their way to war.

"Commander Gregg, your suggestion is excellent. The gathering of the enemy army is indeed a good opportunity."

However, the more opportunities arise, the more rational we must remain. If we can see the problems, so can our enemies.

Who can guarantee that this isn't a deliberate flaw created by the enemy to lure us into a trap?

Clark, who spoke out against the grain, was an advisor recruited by Prince Butzwig. Over the years, he had offered numerous suggestions and was deeply trusted by the head coach.

"So, according to our Viscount Clark, we're just going to watch and do nothing for now?"

Gregg mocked, feigning annoyance.

It's impossible for there to be no conflict between the civil and military tracks. As a general who had fought his way up from the battlefield, Gregg genuinely despised those who only knew how to talk.

Clark was already used to this scene. Gregg looked down on strategists like him, and he certainly didn't think much of this "brute."

If Clark truly wanted to gain prestige in the military, he had plenty of opportunities. The problem was that he was first and foremost Prince Butzwig's advisor and strategist; his military position was secondary.

Opportunities to shine should naturally be left to the commander-in-chief. How can a staff member usurp the position and seek personal glory?

His integrity is the main reason he is so trusted. Otherwise, how could a fox-human like him be qualified to sit here and discuss matters with a group of Behemoths?

"Commander Gregg, don't be anxious. We'll definitely have to fight. But with enemies on all sides, we need to choose a target, right?"

For example, that expeditionary force that just came from the north. If we were to attack them, we wouldn't be able to take them down in a short time.

As time dragged on, human armies from various regions converged, and the army besieging Dapes City was in grave danger.

The best option now is to first target a weaker human army to demoralize the enemy.

"It would be best to wait for reinforcements from home to arrive before engaging the human race in a decisive battle."

Clark answered calmly.

He'd just casually dug a pit for himself. He'd said almost everything he could say, and no matter how Gregg responded, he was bound to fall into it.

"Snort!"

After letting out a cold shout to express his dissatisfaction, Gregg turned his head away.

Experience taught him not to engage in verbal sparring, as it meant disaster.

The best way is to use fists. If you can't reach an agreement, just beat them up. If that doesn't work, just beat them up again.

They all follow Prince Butzwig, so they have to give him some face; they definitely can't do something like this.

"Alright, let's leave it at that!"

Whether this is an enemy weakness or a trap they deliberately set, we must fight this battle.

Mr. Clark is right; the expeditionary force is probably the strongest among these human armies. It will be difficult for our main legion to wipe them out in a short time.

The enemy to the west is very close to the expeditionary force. If we attack them, it could easily turn into a two-pronged attack that encircles us.

The best option is the enemy to the south. Although they are the most numerous, they are mostly new recruits. The only ones with any real fighting ability are two Knight Order and one infantry legion.

If we are fast enough, we can defeat the enemy army before they can gather.

"The head guard, send a message to His Highness the Crown Prince: the fish has taken the bait. Instruct him to urge the Empire to send reinforcements as soon as possible."

Prince Butzwig waved his hand and said.

His nonchalant words couldn't hide the unnaturalness in his eyes; clearly, as bait for this plan, he still felt the pressure.

Behemoth Cavalry, the human army's combat effectiveness was indeed low. However, the human army was simply too numerous, while he only had one Behemoth Cavalry legion at his disposal.

Throughout history, battles where ants outnumber elephants have far outnumbered classic battles where the few defeat the many.

No matter how elite your army is, you must be careful when facing an enemy force ten times your size.

After all, this enemy wasn't entirely a rabble. The human elite legions couldn't compare to the Behemoth Legion, but they could still hold them off for a while.

If a battle fails to be won quickly and instead devolves into a protracted war of attrition, it will be a disaster for the side with inferior forces.

In Dapes City, the nobles and royalty were busy with strategic planning, and even the news of the Longevity Secret Method did not cause the slightest ripple.

It's not that they lack the desire for immortality; quite the opposite, it's precisely because their will to survive is so strong that they have no time to think about such ethereal things.

No matter how good immortality is, you still have to survive first before you're qualified to talk about it.

"The expeditionary force has set off, and the armies throughout the duchy are also in action."

For safety reasons, the Military Affairs Department ordered all troops to limit their marching speed to 30 li (approximately 15 kilometers).

Marshal Hodge communicated with Earl Count Hudson, and the expeditionary force would act as the vanguard to draw the attention of the Beastfolk army.

However, as agreed, the Duchy's army was ultimately responsible for the final battle against the Behemoth Legion.

Based on the expeditionary force's marching speed, they are currently about 150 miles away from Dapes City.

Now we'll see if the Beastfolk fall for the trap!

Count Martins spoke with an air of seriousness, as if everything was under his control.

Unfortunately, everyone present was a seasoned politician and immediately understood the implied meaning.

The euphemism was to suppress the marching speed to 30 li per day, but in reality, that was the fastest the army could march.

The expeditionary force is responsible for drawing the Beastfolk' attention; in other words, the expeditionary force is currently the closest to Dapes City.

Martins was forced to resort to linguistic maneuvering. As the Duchy's Minister of Military Affairs, he couldn't very well directly say that his own army was performing poorly.

Even if it is true, it must be covered up.

Otherwise, if word gets out and causes unrest, it will be a huge problem.

Moreover, the army's slow advance was mainly due to the newly formed legions, while the main legions were still quite good.

"Count Martins, these main legions have just been replenished. Can they hold off the Behemoth Legion?"

Chancellor Herczeg asked with concern.

It wasn't that the Moxi Duchy was incompetent; the main problem was that the early battles had resulted in the loss of too many elite troops, leaving them unable to sustain their strength.

If the main force hadn't suffered such heavy losses and spent so much time resting and replenishing in the rear, Dapes City wouldn't have been so easily besieged.

"Prime Minister, I think the problem now is not how to hold off the Behemoth Cavalry, but how to intercept the Beastfolk reinforcements."

I don't think any normal commander would have thought that a single Behemoth Cavalry legion, plus a bunch of cannon fodder, could besiege the Dapes City.

It's clearly a trap, deliberately designed to lure our main force into a decisive battle, and the duchy has no choice but to comply.

Now it's a competition of patience and speed; whoever loses patience and makes a mistake first is more likely to be eliminated.

The Warhammer Kingdom is the best example; it tried to preserve its strength in the previous battles, and now it's time to pay the price.

The Orc Empire's expeditionary force has already caused unrest in their rear. Despite amassing hundreds of thousands of troops, they are still being led by the nose by the enemy.

Although the situation in the Duchy is critical, we still have reinforcements. The advance force of the Human Alliance has already set off and will arrive next spring.

What I need now is to buy time. No matter the battle, buying time is the core objective.

A lack of a direct answer sometimes equates to a denial. The facts are there, and they cannot be changed by personal will.

Count Martins, who was familiar with the Duchy's army, knew very well that the key to holding off the Behemoth Cavalry did not lie in the performance of his own cavalry, but rather in whether the enemy cooperated.

Both are highly mobile units; if the Behemoth Cavalry want to run, no one can stop them.

The few Knight Order that could directly confront them were too few in number. Moreover, these troops belonged to different families, and it was uncertain how much fighting power they could achieve through temporary cooperation.

If they lacked tactical confidence, they would compensate with strategic victories. Their core mission was to buy time and relieve the siege of Dapes; the success or failure of one or two battles was not crucial.

Unaware that he had been forced to become the vanguard of the entire army, Hudson continued his march as usual.

The army converged on Dapes City from all directions, and no matter what the Beastfolk chose, they could only attack from one direction.

Hudson believed that with his reputation, he was unlikely to be the unlucky one to pick on the weak.

"Pass down the order: the scouts will expand their reconnaissance range by ten miles, and the Heavy Infantry will be divided into three groups to take turns serving as the vanguard while wearing armor."

Experience is something that is learned through experience. Despite his confidence, Hudson still couldn't guarantee that the opposing commander was intelligent.

If they happen to encounter a foolish general, they'll choose someone with a big name to establish their authority, and the expeditionary force will be their primary target.

Historically, there are many examples of this. Many single-minded generals often achieve unexpected victories, mainly because the opposing generals misjudged the morale of the enemy.

Although war is all about manipulating people's minds, you have to have the means to do so. If you encounter a stubborn enemy, no matter how much you try to create a diversion, they will just press on directly.

The order had just been given when the Griffon Cavalry, responsible for remotely monitoring the Behemoth Cavalry's movements, landed in front of Hudson.

"Your Excellency, the Beastfolk Behemoth Legion has moved. Their direction of attack is exactly opposite to our position."

Upon hearing this news, Hudson's first thought was that fighter jets had appeared. However, considering the distance between the two sides, he had to suppress this tempting idea.

Even the closest Beastfolk were no less than 140 miles away from the expeditionary force.

After such a long march, whether they can seize the opportunity to strike is unknown, but they'll definitely be worn out first.

On the battlefield, speed is of the essence. If you want to take advantage of the Behemoth Cavalry's absence to raid the camp, the best option is still cavalry.

Unfortunately, the expeditionary force's cavalry corps had just completed its expansion and was not yet a fully formed army; it could only be considered an elite mounted infantry force.

Cavalry warfare and infantry warfare are ultimately different. Hudson wasn't sure exactly how much combat power his cavalry legion possessed.

Leading a cavalry legion of unknown combat strength to charge into the camp of hundreds of thousands of Beastfolk, Hudson's brain wasn't completely broken.

It's better to leave these fighter planes to the Moxi people. The army already on its way certainly won't make it, but the army in the city can still move.

Breaking through the encirclement might be difficult, but seizing the opportunity to gain some advantage and boost morale is still possible.

As if he had thought of something, Hudson suddenly ordered, "Pass down the order to set up roadblocks on the roads behind the army, especially dig more horse traps on the main roads."

Scouts were left along the route to keep watch; once any trace of the Beastfolk army was spotted, signal fires were immediately lit.