Knocking Some Sense Into Them

"Count, the Beastfolk have withdrawn!"

Hudson was in high spirits when he received the good news just as dawn broke.

It's best to avoid fighting battles that aren't guaranteed to be won. I wonder what the nobles from the Southeast Province, who just arrived to join us, think when they hear this "good news."

"Tom, send someone to deliver this good news."

Hudson said with a smile.

"Good news!" I must share this with everyone. I was originally planning to summon a group of high-ranking nobles for a meeting, but now it seems unnecessary.

Without the Beastfolk army causing trouble, this rendezvous mission can basically be declared a complete success.

The heavy losses are not a big deal; at least the core of many families in the kingdom was preserved, preventing the political system from completely collapsing.

Unlike previous wars, this defeat was entirely unexpected. Having been outmaneuvered by the Human Alliance, the Alpha Kingdom had no choice but to accept it.

Marshal Campbell was at most half responsible, but he died on the battlefield, so there was no way to hold him accountable.

If there is no responsibility for defeat, then the nobles who suffered heavy losses are the heroes of the kingdom. Heroes will certainly be treated well.

Even in a dog-eat-dog world, there's a compassionate side. At the very least, everyone should maintain a facade of civility.

Apart from those families that die out and will be immediately divided up, the remaining noble families will continue to exist for the time being.

If you have a solid foundation, a strong network of connections, and a capable successor, maintaining the family business should not be a problem.

Conversely, it will gradually decline. In the years to come, it will be slowly divided up by those who have been watching it.

The lesser nobles are the most vulnerable to being eliminated. They are inherently less resilient to risk, and once they suffer a blow, it is very difficult for them to recover.

The powerful nobility is deeply entrenched, and even if they decline, it is difficult for them to be completely eradicated in a short period of time. As long as they don't do anything reckless, they can live off their past achievements for many years.

As the war progressed, Hudson's attention increasingly turned to the postwar period.

After secretly taking stock of the kingdom's resources, Hudson had a clear understanding of the situation. The troops at the front lines accounted for at least 70% of the kingdom's military strength.

Of the five Northern Expeditionary Army who successfully broke through the encirclement, only one survived.

The troops currently providing support number only around 80,000 to 90,000. Even if they manage to gather some of the routed soldiers later, the total number will be at most 20,000 to 30,000.

These troops were considered the kingdom's elite force. Hudson's 30,000 cavalry, along with several legions from the original expeditionary force, formed the second-tier elite force.

The main difference between the two lies in the fact that among the surviving soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army, the proportion of cultivators is higher.

Of course, in a short period of time, the gap in combat power between the two was not widened.

Hudson's tens of thousands of elite troops were indeed slightly inferior in individual combat strength, but they had won battles all the way, and their morale was even higher.

The surviving soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army were all elite troops, but having just suffered a major defeat, their morale was almost completely shattered.

Besides these 200,000-plus capable troops, there are also hundreds of thousands of cannon fodder troops on the defensive line, but unfortunately their combat effectiveness is pitifully low.

Then there are the military forces left behind by each side. This part of the force cannot be fully counted; we can only roughly estimate its strength.

The Alpha Kingdom is tired and weary. In the upcoming war, it can still play a supporting role for the Human Alliance, but it is no longer qualified to be a main force.

The most important thing is to recognize your own position. A support player should naturally play like a support player; to treat yourself as a main player is just foolish.

A battle report was quickly drafted by Hudson. Once the ink was dry, it was swiftly bagged and sealed—the whole process was completed in one go.

Those in positions of authority should fulfill their responsibilities.

Hudson wrote all his suggestions in a secret letter, but how the kingdom decided was beyond his control.

Upon receiving news of the Beastfolk' retreat, Count Pierce coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The earlier misjudgment resulted in heavy losses and a chaotic situation for the Noble Allied Forces in the Southeast Province. They had finally resolved to save face and not join forces, only to have the Beastfolk retreat.

Every choice he made ended in failure, as if the whole world was against him.

"Priest!"

"Priest!"

"The Earl is injured!"

The guards' panicked shouts caused quite a commotion in the camp.

There was no other way; there were dozens of earls in the entire camp, and without their names, who could tell them apart?

After the panic subsided, all sorts of rumors and gossip began to circulate.

Gossip is always a favorite pastime for humans, especially after learning of the Beastfolk' withdrawal. Suddenly free from the pressure of survival, everyone desperately needs an activity to relax.

Poor Count Pierce, unfortunately became the "protagonist" of gossip.

When he awoke from his coma, everyone had imagined all sorts of possibilities: injury, poisoning, assassination attempt, curse...

"Priest Debang, how is Governor Pierce's health? When will he wake up?"

At the bedside, Hudson feigned ignorance and asked.

With his abilities, it would be far too easy for him to distinguish whether someone was truly unconscious or faking it.

Even a sorcerer disguised as a magician using Compass is still a magician. Hudson also knows ordinary healing magic.

However, being always cautious, he never used it in public.

To outsiders, he was a talented knight with considerable skill who became a mage by sharing the magical talent of the Earth Bear.

If people misunderstand, then let them continue to misunderstand. The cautious Hudson wouldn't reveal his true strength.

"Count Hudson, please rest assured, His Excellency the Governor has simply fallen ill from overwork and will wake up after a short rest. It's not a good time to disturb him with too many people, as you see..."

Priest Debang said, blushing slightly.

Lying wasn't the problem, but lying in front of a group of bigwigs still made him a little nervous.

If some high-ranking official notices the problem and exposes it on the spot without regard for the consequences, then this pastor will be in serious trouble.

As it turned out, he was simply overthinking things. Many nobles noticed that Count Pierce had awakened, but their emotional intelligence prevented them from being so naive as to point it out.

"In that case, we'll take our leave. For Governor Pierce's safety, Priest Debang, we'll leave the rest to you."

Having said that, Hudson led the way out of the tent. The act had gone far enough. Trying too hard to achieve perfection would only make things worse.

Although he was merely an honorary earl, which didn't give him the highest rank in the military, he certainly wielded the most real power at that moment.

With Marshal Campbell gone and the Kingdom not appointing a new commander-in-chief, Hudson, the commander-in-chief at the front, was the most powerful person on the front lines.

Unfortunately, this power is nominal. Everything stems from the kingdom's appointment.

An appointment grants the authority to command the Kingdom Army at the front lines; similarly, a revocation of that appointment can result in the loss of all power.

Hudson shook his head inwardly, having caused Count Pierce a minor setback. The two families could have gotten along peacefully, but now they were at odds because of their shared interests.

Similar things often happen among the nobility. Not to mention families that have no relation, even relatives and friends can turn into enemies in the blink of an eye.

With an additional high-profile "patient" added, the army was forced to stop in place. Since the Beastfolk army had already fled, and they dared not pursue them, Hudson was no longer in a hurry.

As soon as he returned to the barracks, his two older brothers rushed over. From their joyful expressions, it was clear that they were in an exceptionally good mood.

"Hudson, is Count Pierce going to die?"

Upon hearing Evola's words, Hudson nearly spat out his water. What was all this nonsense? The other person was perfectly fine; how could she say they were going to die?

"Where did you hear that rumor? That person is still alive and well. Remember this, and don't say such nonsense again!"

Hudson reprimanded him with a dark expression.

Rumors can be deadly. Count Pierce simply fainted from a fit of anger, and yet this has been spread about him like this; it's clearly a deliberate act.

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The mastermind behind this isn't easy to find. Mainly because there are just too many people who could be doing this kind of thing.

The Dalton Family's former political enemies; nobles hiding in the shadows who wanted to the Dalton Family; nobles whose interests in the Southeast Province were harmed; and even Hudson himself were prime suspects.

The whole relationship was a tangled mess. Hudson had no time to help investigate such a thankless task.

"Hudson, sometimes rumors can become the truth!"

Nelson deliberately lowered his voice as he spoke.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried to hide it, his excited expression betrayed his true feelings.

Count Pierce's son is still a teenager and is simply not capable of supporting a large noble family. Once he, as the head of the family, passes away, the Dalton Family will immediately fall into a state of leaderlessness.

There is no guarantee that the Coslo Family can take their place, but at least for a long time to come, they will not be able to cause trouble for the Coslo Family.

"Rumors can indeed become reality, but they're more likely to backfire. As the head of the Dalton Family, you wouldn't naively believe that Pierce lacks skilled protectors, would you?"

Alright, you all should stay out of these things. We can deal with our conflict with the Dalton Family slowly after the war is over.

Don't fantasize about swallowing an elephant whole; that will only lead to your own demise. Instead of wasting your time, you should collect information on the extinct nobles of the Southeast Province; it will be very useful in the future."

Too hasty!

The series of victories has caused many members of the Coslo Family to lose their way and become unable to clearly define their own position.

Hudson was well aware that the two of them represented not only himself, but also a large part of the family.

The reason the two were able to become representatives was because they were close enough to Hudson that they could say whatever they wanted.

This impatient and Evil Energy must be suppressed. Hudson didn't want his family to fall into depravity before it even had a chance to grow and prosper.

After a moment's hesitation, Hudson added, "Sometimes the eyes and ears can deceive you. What you see and hear is only what others want you to see and hear."

The Coslo Family now has only one mortal enemy: the Locknerd Family, which occupies our ancestral land.

As for the Dalton Family, they can only be considered competitors with potential conflicts of interest, far from being irreconcilable enemies.

You must learn to prioritize. Don't act impulsively based on your feelings, lest you needlessly bring great enemies upon your family!