The Lively Dwarf King

In the season of spring warmth and blooming flowers, the Northern Expeditionary Army was filled with sorrow.

Another camp's food supplies were destroyed.

For Marshal Campbell, who commanded hundreds of thousands of troops, a single tent's worth of food was nothing, not even enough to sustain the entire army for a day.

The problem is that the Northern Expeditionary Army is now isolated and helpless, relying entirely on the grain they had previously plundered to survive. In order to reduce food consumption, even the livestock in the army have been slaughtered.

Cutting soldiers' rations is not an option. Once logistics cannot be guaranteed, the morale of the army will quickly plummet.

"The enemy, relying on their air superiority, is setting fires more and more frequently. They must have realized we are short of food and want to use this to defeat us."

If things continue like this, even if we disguise our supplies as ordinary tents, we will still suffer heavy losses.

I firmly believe that final victory will belong to us, but reinforcements are still on their way, and for the time being we will have to rely on ourselves.

We must now take action; we cannot allow the enemy's plot to succeed!

Upon hearing Marshal Campbell's meaningful words, everyone's expression changed drastically. Everyone knew that the army was short of food.

The daily supply consumption of hundreds of thousands of the Northern Expeditionary Army was astronomical. Being besieged for over a month without supplies meant they would have no problem surviving.

In order to reduce the consumption of resources, the noble officers have recently stopped eating roasted meat and instead opted for stewing.

The purpose was simply to ensure that his personal guards could have a bowl of meat soup.

"Marshal, according to the old rules for special times, increase the meat supply!"

Duke Cavadia said meaningfully.

Without a doubt, his "increase the meat supply" is not the "why not eat meat porridge" argument made by the ignorant.

Beastfolk can eat people, but if pushed to the limit, people can eat Beastfolk too.

However, compared to Beastfolk, humans still have a slightly higher moral standard. They only do this when there's absolutely no other way.

From the moment the army was besieged, a special unit within the Northern Expeditionary Army was dedicated to handling the corpses of fallen Beastfolk. Their purpose was to prepare for this day to come.

After glancing at the crowd and seeing that no one objected, Marshal Campbell smiled slightly.

But the sinister glint in his smile was chilling.

"Let's do it this way. Meat will make up half of the supplies we provide."

The food problem has been temporarily solved. Next, we need to figure out how to organize a counterattack.

"With such a long period of silence, I guess the Beastfolk have forgotten that we also have the ability to retaliate!" As a veteran commander who has led troops for decades, he has remained silent ever since the Beastfolk army blocked his way.

If the people present hadn't known something about Marshal Campbell, they would have thought their commander was a good-for-nothing.

After waiting for so long, the moment of counterattack has finally arrived, which is also the darkest moment for the Northern Expeditionary Army.

The Beastfolk army's offensive intensity is increasing, and the casualties of the Northern Expeditionary Army are rising daily. Especially in recent days, soldiers from the Five Great Royal Families have once again appeared on the battlefield.

Everyone knew that the day when the enemy would launch a general offensive was not far off.

Although there is no evidence, people still vaguely speculate that communication between China and the Beastfolk has encountered setbacks.

"Marshal, the enemy is very vigilant. Apart from the scattered camps of those cannon fodder races, the camps of the Five Great Royal Families are heavily guarded."

Our reconnaissance cavalry often encounter unexpected incidents, and we want to..."

Before Duke Pias could finish speaking, Marshal Campbell interrupted, "Then let's fight the cannon fodder race!"

However, we'll be using a different strategy this time.

According to intelligence sources, the Orc Empire is also in turmoil, with many vassal races rebelling against the Five Great Royal Families.

This is our best chance. As long as we can sow discord between these cannon fodder races and the Five Great Royal Families, the war ahead will be much easier.

"Let's engage the enemy in a war of attrition. Even if we risk total annihilation, it shouldn't be too difficult to severely weaken the Five Great Royal Families!"

If a tactical victory is impossible, then a strategic mutually assured destruction strategy might be adopted. Clearly, Marshal Campbell had prepared for the worst.

If the Beastfolk won't let the Northern Expeditionary Army leave, then let's just use the sacrifices of the Northern Expeditionary Army to severely weaken the enemy.

It might be unpleasant for the nobles present, but it was the most advantageous option for the Alpha Kingdom.

The real problem is that only one company suffers severe damage.

Marshal Campbell had great confidence in Caesar III, believing that no matter how the situation changed, the kingdom's situation would remain under control.

The old political order has been broken, so let's establish a new one. Caesar III was a master at playing the game of checks and balances.

After the military conference concluded, the nobles returned to their own camps, their minds heavy with worry.

We have to fight tooth and nail, but we haven't lived enough yet!

Those nobles who brought their outstanding sons along especially cursed themselves inwardly, "I've been blinded by greed."

If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk losing them all if you're not careful.

It's too late for regrets. At this point, all we can do is react passively.

At midnight, in several brightly lit tents, small political groups were still engaged in heated arguments and discussions.

The world of the nobility is never lonely. The more dangerous the times, the more they need to stick together for warmth and support.

If you look closely, you'll find that each of these small circles is filled with regional characteristics.

This is a product of the times.

Transportation and communication limitations restricted people's social circles, and most of the time, people were accustomed to interacting with the nobles around them.

Over countless years, through intermarriage, the nearby noble families had long since become one family.

Even though they are competitors on ordinary days, they are also natural political allies in the competition within the kingdom.

Among the many small groups, the alliance of the five dukes of the North is the most unique.

In other political groups, besides the great nobles, some middle nobles with considerable strength also squeezed in.

Among the five great ducal factions of the North, only these five families existed; all other Northern Nobles were vassals. Although they had the fewest members of any political alliance, their military strength was the most formidable.

"Who's outside?"

Duke Cavadia angrily questioned.

Someone dared to eavesdrop on his meeting in his own camp; they were simply disrespecting him.

The other four were also seething with anger. The topic they had just discussed was not honorable, and if it got out, it would immediately cause a huge uproar.

"Father, please calm down. I just received a special message. Its contents are too complex for me to handle on my own, so I've brought it here to seek your advice..."

Duke Cavadia glared fiercely at his son, his face turning terrifyingly grim.

It was so embarrassing. He should have realized that no one but his son could have dealt with the guards so easily.

"Xilo, you'd better have some serious news to bring, or you'll regret your recklessness!"

Duke Cavadia said irritably.

"Father, the contents of this letter are too horrifying to bear. You should read it yourself!"

As he replied, Xilo handed over the secret letter. He dared not provoke Duke Cavadia's patience at a time like this, or he would surely get a beating.

In the blink of an eye, the Duke Cavadia, who was originally angry, suddenly turned to horror.

Perhaps realizing his loss of composure, he quickly regained his composure and then addressed the other four dukes:

"You should see for yourselves; the contents here are really too difficult to explain!"

Duke Pias, who was closest to the letter, was the first to receive it. After a brief glance, his expression changed drastically.

Without any further ado, he handed the letter directly to Duke Agalon, who was standing to the side.

Unsurprisingly, the dukes were all visibly shocked after reading the contents of the letter.

Is the content of this letter accurate?

Beast..."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Duke Agalon swallowed them back.

However, the word "beast" has exposed many problems.

"Regardless of their reputation, isn't this an opportunity for us?"

Duke Pias said with a cold laugh.

Having spent most of their time in the North and monopolizing most of the trade with the Orc Empire, how could these families possibly have no connection with the Beastfolk?

However, with the outbreak of war, they silently put away this connection.

Compared to other nobles in the kingdom, their attitude towards the Beastfolk was one of love and hate. Sometimes they wished they could uproot the Orc Empire, and other times they wished the Beastfolk would be more active.

Everything is about interests. The most important factor in the rise of the Five Great Families was their resistance to the Beastfolk invasion.

It is because of the existence of the Beastfolk that the kingdom continuously provides them with support, and the Five Great Families have thus become the most powerful noble families in the kingdom.

If the Beastfolk were gone, the output of their fiefdoms alone would not be enough to sustain their current massive military.

Perhaps in less than ten years, they will fall from the kingdom's strongest military aristocracy to the mortal realm, slowly becoming gatekeepers for the great nobles.

This is still an optimistic estimate. Considering the countless enemies they have offended over the years, whether they can escape unscathed is still an unknown.

"Yes, an opportunity!"

"It could also be a disaster!"

"The Beastfolk have quite an appetite. Even if they are weakened this time, it's not something that just a few of us can handle."

If the Northern Expeditionary Army suffers heavy losses, our families will also face difficulties.

"Dominion over the kingdom, what a huge pie!"

"Duke Cavadia said sarcastically."

The letter painted a bright future. Unfortunately, it was far too impractical.

To control the Alpha Kingdom, strength alone is not enough.

If the King doesn't agree and the nobles in the south don't cooperate, can they really resort to military means?

No matter how badly damaged a ship is, it still has three pounds of nails.

If internal strife breaks out, the Alpha Kingdom could easily decline. They might not find so many "close" allies for the next Beastfolk invasion.

"Whether we eat the pie or not is another matter. As long as we have the initiative, then nothing is a problem."

The question now is whether the Beastfolk truly intend to let us leave. If it's a conspiracy against us, then we'll be in serious trouble.

"Duke Agalon said with a worried expression."

"A prolonged defense will inevitably lead to defeat!"

The army's food supplies were running low, and the allied reinforcements were slow to arrive. Even with special measures, the Northern Expeditionary Army could not hold out for long.

We are left with only two options: either follow the marshal's orders and fight the Beastfolk to the death, or find a way to break through and escape.

Since the Beastfolk are willing to let us leave, let's try to break out. If the breakout fails, we'll just fight them head-on.

Anyway, we didn't need to do anything. If we managed to break through, it just means we were lucky.

Duke Pias urged.

Regardless of whether the Beastfolk's promise was valid, he had to give it a try.

Unlike other families whose enemies are still lurking in the shadows waiting for an opportunity, the enemies of the Locknerd Family are already out in the open.

Without bringing his troops back, relying solely on the forces left behind, he couldn't possibly defeat the newly emerging military strongman, Hudson.

Fortress of Ash.

The low stone houses, accompanied by the clanging and banging sounds, are a unique feature of this ancient city.

People of all ethnicities throng the streets and alleys, living together peacefully, much like a utopian society.

This unique landscape can only be seen in Fortress of Ash, the capital of the Dwarf Kingdom.

There aren't many reasons; it's simply because this is the largest arms production and sales center on the Aslant Continent.

Racial talent cannot be reversed through training.

The same raw materials, after being processed by the dwarves, will be of even higher quality.

Any dwarf craftsman would be a master blacksmith in the outside world.

Almost all the noble equipment on the continent is sold from here. The components of high-end magical equipment are mostly forged by dwarves and then assembled and enchanted by alchemy masters.

It can be said that without the Dwarf Kingdom, the weapon forging level of the entire continent would drop by two levels.

In this chaotic world, no one can ignore the will of the arms giants.

Of course, Dragon Race are an exception, as they are abnormal beings who don't need weapons.

Other races who want to do business here must abide by the local rules.

The strength of the dwarves is naturally an important factor in their ability to live such a comfortable life.

Unlike the human race, which has a large number of soldiers and generals, and unlike the Elves warriors, the dwarves rely on the sharpness of their weapons and armor.

Various crossbows and Magic Crystal Cannon... are all at the forefront of the continent. Their long-range combat capabilities are undoubtedly the best on the Aslant Continent.

Although their overall strength cannot compare to that of the human race, they are still among the top in the continent.

A Church procession entered the Dwarf King without causing a ripple.

Arms deals are often intertwined with politics; they can't be closed simply with money. Big deals are always discussed politically first, then price.

For a major power to make military purchases, going to the royal palace is perfectly acceptable. Although the Dwarf King dislikes this kind of political game, he has no choice but to bite the bullet and participate for the sake of national interests.

Looking at the large bowl in front of him, and estimating that it contained no less than two pounds of wine, Bishop Solon, who was in charge of the mission, secretly groaned.

This is the highest form of hospitality among the Dwarves, but that's just their own explanation. To outsiders, it's clearly just deliberately making things difficult for them.

How much to drink depends entirely on the Dwarf King's mood. Anyone who drinks it becomes a friend of the Dwarves, and refusing to drink it is considered disrespectful.

Of course, there are exceptions.

For example, whenever the Elves delegation arrived, the large bowls were transformed into small wine glasses, and the strong liquor was replaced with fruit wine, displaying great elegance.

"Bishop Solon, welcome to Fortress of Ash. Please accept the highest respect from my Dwarves!"

What's going on? Why are you using such a small bowl?

When treating distinguished guests, you should use a basin, you know!

Go get mine quickly...

Before the Dwarf King could finish his performance, Bishop Solon hurriedly stopped him, saying, "Your Majesty, a bowl is enough."

I am merely a minor bishop; I cannot overstep my bounds. Please reserve the bowl for our more distinguished guest!

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt like slapping himself.

He speaks without thinking; such a large bowl of strong liquor could be deadly.

Unfortunately, the enthusiastic Dwarf King showed no intention of letting him off the hook, waving his hand and saying, "Bishop, you can rest assured, in addition to the basin, we also have wine jars."

If the Pope ever comes, we'll treat him to a huge wine vat; we promise he won't make things difficult for you!

Not daring to let the Dwarf King continue his antics, Bishop Solon immediately picked up the wine bowl in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty, Sauron..."

Before Bishop Solon could finish speaking, the bowl of wine was refilled.

"Bishop, you're too kind. The Dwarf Kingdom and your esteemed Church have always been on friendly terms."

For the sake of our lasting friendship, you must have another bowl!

Upon hearing the word "friendship," Bishop Solon inwardly groaned. A friendship did indeed exist between the two sides, but it was a matter of the last century.

Going back in time, when the Church was dominating the continent, there were quite a few clashes between the two sides.

Just by looking at this scene, you can tell how deep their friendship is.

He forced himself to drink the second bowl, only to find the dwarf maidservant continuing to pour wine. Bishop Solon then collapsed to the ground, completely drunk.

So what if I make a fool of myself? If I don't get drunk on my own, I'll be forced to. If I deliberately pass out, I can at least drink less.

With the main character fallen, the Dwarf King lost interest in his antics. He immediately ordered the maids, "Quickly, take our distinguished guest to rest!"

After seeing Bishop Solon off, the Dwarf King glanced at the northern continent, waved to his confidant, and said, "Tell the Beastfolk envoy that I have done them a great favor."

"If they want us to intervene and mediate, they'd better show more sincerity quickly, otherwise the human representatives will make offers, and they'll be in big trouble!"

Is the Church's representative trying to bribe the Dwarves so they won't get involved in the war?

Anyway, the Dwarf King now assumes it is true.

Even if a representative from another country came, he would still think the same way. The truth doesn't matter, as long as he can make a profit.

In the eyes of the Dwarf King, humans were detestable, and Beastfolk were no better.

The current inclination to support the Beastfolk is simply due to the overwhelming strength of the human race. If the human race continues to grow powerful, one day the Dwarves will have nowhere to go.

Since they're all annoying people, we can't let this work go to waste. If we want the Dwarves to join the mediation, we need to offer them tangible benefits.