Commander of the Allied Forces
Terence City, under the relentless attacks of the Beastfolk army, was finally on the verge of collapse.
The outer city had long been lost, and many sections of the inner city had also collapsed. Aside from cursing the bureaucrats who had built the walls, Marshal Hodge could do nothing more than give them a piece of his mind.
After much effort, they finally made contact with the outside world. The situation in the duchy improved slightly, but reinforcements still couldn't arrive.
Although a large number of troops have gathered near Dapes, most of them are newly recruited soldiers who are unlikely to be able to fight the Beastfolk army head-on in the open field.
An absolute gap in strength cannot be bridged by effort alone. The Moxi Duchy cannot afford the consequences of military adventure, nor will the officials in the Royal Capital agree to it.
Since reinforcements couldn't arrive, the officials in the Royal Capital still did something prudent: they allowed the city to break out after it fell.
The main reason is that the city contains the sons of the various noble families of the Royal Capital. If it is certain that the city cannot be defended, there is no need to leave "one's own people" behind and perish with the city.
However, by the time the order arrived, it had lost much of its practical significance. Breaking out sounded simple, but it was impractical in practice.
By holding the city walls, the garrison could still put up a fight against the Beastfolk. But once they left the protection of the walls, the situation would be entirely different.
Two legs can't outrun four legs. If we try to break through now, we'll just be handing our lives to the enemy.
Some of the Beastfolk's reinforcements had traveled south to the Warhammer Kingdom, while others were on their way back.
Even if they manage to escape the Beastfolk's encirclement, they will most likely run into these people on the way.
A large-scale evacuation is out of the question. The only option is to break out separately and gamble on luck, which means that most people will inevitably be sacrificed.
"Marshal, let's leave together! The chaotic situation at home cannot be left without you!"
Harley tried to persuade him.
He spoke the truth; he genuinely hoped Marshal Hodge could break through. The situation in the Moxi Duchy seemed to be improving, but with the fall of the Terence Defense Line, it would soon take a sharp turn for the worse.
Although the Royal Capital have gathered a large army and is ready for a major battle with the Beastfolk, the duchy still lacks a commander with high prestige and rich war experience.
As the only surviving marshal in Moshir's army, Marshal Hodge could indeed become the commander-in-chief if he were to break through the encirclement and return.
"Harley, you can go now! The Terence Defense Line has fallen, someone has to be left behind to die with it."
My decision to stay and perish with the city is not only to give an explanation to my countrymen, but also to give an explanation to the countless soldiers who died defending the city.
According to news from home, reinforcements will arrive in another month and a half. Given the current situation in the duchy, as long as they don't cause any unnecessary trouble, delaying for this short period shouldn't be difficult.
As for the question of leadership, isn't the Count Hudson, who has never been defeated since his debut, the perfect candidate?
They're highly capable, have a distinguished military record, and their reputation has been embellished. They'll leave once the war is over and won't encroach on everyone's core interests; they're much more popular than this old codger!
Marshal Hodge chuckled and quipped.
Besides these obvious reasons, another reason for choosing to perish with the city was that his body was on the verge of collapse.
The prolonged high-pressure environment placed an unbearable burden on him. His body, true to its nature, needed rest when tired and weary.
Exhausted both physically and mentally, Marshal Hodge simply did not want to continue this high-pressure life. For him now, death had become a relief.
"Boom, boom..."
After a deafening roar, the city wall, unable to withstand the pressure, finally collapsed. Countless Beastfolk armies swarmed in through the breach.
Upon seeing this, the officers hurriedly led the garrison soldiers to rush forward, attempting to plug the breach again. Unfortunately, this time the breach was simply too large, and despite the garrison's best efforts, they were unable to stop the Beastfolk's advance.
The city has fallen!
The noble officers defending the city continued to fight fiercely with their troops. Every building within the city became their battleground; this was the last stand of the defending soldiers.
"Damn Beastfolk scum!"
"Moxi people of bitches, I'll remember you!"
Since receiving news that the Beastfolk army was marching south and about to reach the Warhammer Kingdom, Joseph II's angry curses have never stopped.
This is absolutely outrageous. Last time, when Dapes was besieged, the Beastfolk army used the route to bypass and infiltrate, so it was understandable that they couldn't stop them.
But this time the situation was clearly different. The siege of Dapes had been lifted, and hundreds of thousands of troops had gathered together, allowing the Beastfolk cavalry to slip past right under their noses.
The signs of water leakage were far too obvious.
Even if we can't stop the Beastfolk cavalry, we should at least fight a battle to prove that we've done our best.
Unfortunately, the Moxi people seemed to suffer from procrastination. Upon receiving news of the Beastfolk army's passage, they did not immediately send out cavalry to intercept them, but instead gathered their entire army to act together.
The consequence of this caution was that by the time the main army slowly arrived at the battlefield, the Beastfolk cavalry had already entered the Duchy of Orton.
Life was already tough, and now the sudden arrival of tens of thousands of Beastfolk cavalry has made the situation in the Warhammer Kingdom even worse.
You reap what you sow.
The Warhammer Kingdom's promise to send troops was merely a formality; now it's time to repay that promise.
"Your Majesty, enemy reinforcements have arrived. It seems unlikely that our attempt to annihilate this remaining Beastfolk army will be successful."
Alternatively, we could consolidate our lines, retreat to the western part of the kingdom, and hold our ground until allied reinforcements arrive before launching a counterattack.
Minister of Military Affairs Tiago began to offer his advice.
The true situation in the Warhammer Kingdom is even more serious than he described.
In order to prevent the Beastfolk from taking advantage of the situation, they chose to first encircle and annihilate the Beastfolk infantry within the encirclement before seeking out the enemy cavalry for a decisive battle.
The decision was definitely correct; even if they wanted to find the enemy's cavalry, the infantry couldn't catch up with them.
The cavalry might have a chance to catch up with the enemy, but the problem is they can't defeat them!
With the entire Standing Army tied up at the front lines, and only three and a half cavalry legions and five Knight Order cobbled together from various parts of the country, how could they possibly have the confidence to seek out a decisive battle against the orc cavalry Beastfolk a larger force?
Things that are destined to be impossible should naturally be put off. Even knowing that the Beastfolk cavalry's actions were destroying the foundations of the Warhammer Kingdom, they were powerless to stop it.
The sacrifices cannot be in vain. If we cannot stop the enemy from causing destruction, then we should first eliminate the Beastfolk infantry in front of us.
The plan was very ambitious, but once the battle began, the reality proved harsh. The Beastfolk infantry chose a camp that was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the terrain limited the number of troops that could participate in the attack.
Despite possessing an army of 700,000, they have struggled to fully utilize their numerical advantage. They've been fighting for so long, and still haven't been able to defeat the enemy.
The Beastfolk remnants that Tiago mentioned actually numbered over 20,000, and compared to the initial force, they had only lost six or seven thousand men.
In contrast, the Warhammer Kingdom suffered tens of thousands of casualties, making it a clear loser.
Tiago wouldn't have suggested retreating to the western part of the kingdom if he hadn't seen no hope of victory.
Of course, the most important thing is that everyone's foundation has been almost completely destroyed by the Beastfolk, and what remains cannot be preserved. The substantial losses have already been inflicted, and it's time to accept reality.
"Snort!"
After giving a cold shout, Joseph II said indifferently, "Do you think the Beastfolk will allow you to leave at this time?"
We don't know when the Alliance reinforcements will arrive, but the Beastfolk reinforcements have already arrived. If we retreat now, the Kingdom's entire army at the front will be wiped out!
It's not that he won't learn until he's faced with a dire situation; it's just that given the current circumstances, even if the army wanted to make a strategic retreat, it would be difficult.
The sheer length of the marching column, stretching for hundreds of thousands of troops, is self-evident. This long, single-file formation, exposed to the enemy's onslaught, is a terrifying prospect.
To successfully complete the strategic shift, significant troop losses are inevitable. Even losing more than half of the troops is not impossible.
Even worse, the main force of the kingdom, which was holding the front line, would be left isolated and vulnerable to attacks from both sides.
If they're lucky enough to hold out until the Human Alliance reinforcements arrive, then it'll be fine. But if they're defeated beforehand, the Warhammer Kingdom's losses will be truly enormous.
If they reach that point, perhaps they can challenge the title of the weakest kingdom on the continent. Any duchy with any real power is stronger than them.
A decline in international standing is barely tolerable. However, the domestic political balance will be disrupted, with the eastern nobility collectively declining, and the western nobility, already at a disadvantage, inevitably vying for dominance.
Strength determines influence, and with the loss of the royal foundation, Joseph II's control over the kingdom was bound to decline.
There are solutions, but they would have very serious consequences. For example, one could send the western nobles in the army to cover the rear and hold off the pursuing enemy troops.
This strategy could be used to kill someone else, and the nobles in the western mountains would likely become even more alienated from the kingdom. Even if the strategic shift was successful, it would be difficult to gain the full support of the local nobles.
Those guys might just abandon him as King, declare independence after the war, and form a new country.
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Similar things have happened many times in history. The current ethnic states in the north are those that broke away from the Empire of Light.
With so many ready-made learning models, Joseph II did not believe that the western nobles could not follow suit.
In any case, the Warhammer Kingdom was severely weakened after the war, and the entire Warhammer Plains was reduced to ruins. The problem of post-war reconstruction was difficult to solve, and it was simply unable to send troops to suppress the rebellion.
"Your Majesty, we can't afford to worry about that now. The army's logistics have been cut off by the enemy, and the provisions carried with the army are very limited, which cannot sustain a prolonged war."
The enemy reinforcements have arrived; if this drags on, it will become even more difficult for the army to move.
Chancellor Gaiyin bitter advice.
Knowing when to cut your losses is an essential survival skill for every outstanding nobleman. Previously, when everyone was organizing a large army to fight the Beastfolk, it was because the family's foundation still existed, and they had to do everything in their power to protect it.
Now that everything has been destroyed, there's no point in continuing to hold on, so we naturally need to consider the aftermath.
Putting the kingdom's interests aside for now, the priority is to preserve strength as much as possible to avoid being eliminated in future political turmoil.
At the Royal Palace in Dapes, Hudson was invited to a meeting early in the morning.
News of the fall of Terence City has arrived. Now, only Flying Bear Fortress remains standing on the entire Terence Defense Line.
According to the intelligence we received, the situation at Flying Bear Fortress seems to be dire as well. The outer city and its attached fortresses have all fallen, with only the inner city still in the hands of the garrison.
No one knows how long they can hold out. Maybe they've already fallen, but the news just hasn't reached us yet.
Frankly, it's a miracle that Terence City has held on this long. According to Hudson's assessment, Terence City should have fallen two weeks ago.
The reason is very simple: in order to relieve the siege of Dapes, the Moxi people withdrew troops from the front lines, resulting in a significant reduction in the garrison's strength.
Secondly, many parts of the city's defense works have minor defects, and the quality of the project can only be described as barely passing.
With multiple unfavorable factors combined, Hudson was naturally pessimistic. The fact that the defending forces managed to hold out until yesterday was an excellent achievement.
Judging from everyone's expressions, they were all in a bad mood, and many of them had slightly red and swollen eyes, obviously having shed a lot of tears.
It's likely that a younger generation was on the front lines, and now the defenses have completely collapsed, resulting in the tragic scene of an elderly person burying a young person.
There was no other way; when the country was in trouble, these "major shareholders" also had to fulfill their obligations.
As the last person to enter the venue, Hudson remained completely calm. He had gotten up and come over as soon as he was notified; he hadn't been deliberately late.
Bathed in the somber atmosphere of the room, Hudson's spirits also sank. Led by a servant, he sat down in his seat and remained silent, sharing in everyone's sorrow.
After a moment of silence, Chancellor Herczeg, suppressing his grief, said, "Everyone is here, so let the meeting begin!"
The Terence Defense Line has collapsed, and given the current state of the duchy, it will be very difficult to build a new defense line to stop the Beastfolk army from invading.
If nothing unexpected happens, the Beastfolk army has already begun its southward march. The second Dapes Defense War will soon follow.
Human Alliance reinforcements are still on their way. Even if we ask them to speed up now, we'll have to hold out for at least forty days.
Let's all share our thoughts on how to formulate a defense plan!
Hudson's opinion of Chancellor Herczeg instantly rose several points because of his quick recovery.
With the eldest son dead on the battlefield and the second son trapped in Flying Bear Fortress, his fate unknown, there are truly few people who can remain calm.
It's important to understand that Chancellor Herczeg only had two sons, at least those two on the surface. If they both died on the battlefield, all the achievements he had worked so hard for would have to be handed over to others.
Most people in this situation would likely just give up and quit. This guy, however, is still here to chair the meeting—a true paragon of aristocracy.
"Before we formulate a defense plan, we need to select a commander-in-chief to lead the entire army. Otherwise, if every military mobilization is decided by us, it will inevitably lead to major chaos."
I propose that the Count Hudson be appointed commander-in-chief of this great war, responsible for leading the armies of both nations.
Count Martins' words took Hudson by surprise.
It's true that the Moxi army lacks a commander with high prestige, but that doesn't mean they have no candidates. Count Martins, as the Minister of Military Affairs, is the best choice.
He was in charge of the previous Dapes Defense War. His military skills were outstanding among the high-ranking officials of the Moxi Duchy.
The fact that Count Martins is now recommending Hudson not only means that he himself is giving up, but more importantly, it means that command of the army is being transferred.
To hand over command of one's own army to outsiders while fighting on home ground is not only bold, but bold beyond imagination.
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd began to whisper among themselves. Hudson guessed that if he hadn't been there, someone might have already started cursing.
The reason he didn't immediately object was not only because he had high emotional intelligence, but more importantly, because Count Martins had made his position clear: he had no interest in the position of commander-in-chief.
If Hudson is also rejected, they will have to find a new head coach.
This is an awkward topic. The Moxi Duchy has a lot of military generals, but very few are renowned.
Count Fedris originally held some prestige in the army, but unfortunately, he had led the armies of the southern provinces and suffered a crushing defeat at the Behemoth Legion halfway through the campaign.
Although they did not suffer a major defeat, the fact that a force of over 100,000 men was overwhelmed by a single enemy legion is clearly unconvincing.
If even their own people can't accept it, the expeditionary force is even less likely to. If the expeditionary force doesn't agree, there will definitely be problems with the cooperation between the two armies.
Unlike Hudson, who could strategically retreat if he couldn't win, the high-ranking officials of the Moxi Duchy didn't have the courage to abandon Dapes and embark on a path of exile.
Count Martins' decision to promote Hudson was clearly based on this consideration, as he didn't want any problems to arise in the subsequent cooperation.
Even if command of the army is temporarily relinquished, the army still belongs to the Moxi Duchy. It's merely a matter of losing face; the actual interests will not be harmed.
"I support the Minister of Military Affairs's proposal. Count Hudson has a distinguished military record, having fought countless battles since the beginning of the army without a single defeat. He is the best candidate for commander-in-chief!"
Foreign Minister Renato's words were like pouring water into boiling oil, instantly making the room lively.
Interestingly, while everyone was discussing it, they only expressed their opinions privately, and no one publicly stood up to express their opposition.
While others didn't object, Hudson wanted to. The position of Allied Commander-in-Chief was prestigious, but the responsibility was immense. If they suffered a defeat, they wouldn't even have the chance to shirk responsibility.
The most crucial issue is that there's only responsibility, but no tangible benefits. Winning is expected, but losing means losing the reputation one has painstakingly built up.
Just as Hudson was about to voice his objection, Chancellor Herczeg preemptively said, "Since no one objects, then Count Hudson shall be the commander-in-chief of the army."
"Your Excellency, for the safety of humanity, you must accept this weighty responsibility!"
With the great cause of humanity brought up, the crowd, which had been discussing amongst themselves, suddenly fell silent, each one staring quietly at Hudson.
Suddenly they realized that it seemed that discussing this topic was just wishful thinking on their part, without obtaining the consent of the person involved.
What should you do if you are rejected?
This shift in mindset directly influenced everyone's attitude. Instead of considering how to oppose Hudson's rise to power, people were now thinking about how to push him into office.