Hudson's Great Divide-and-Rule Method
At the French Kingdom's camp, representatives from various countries gathered to discuss the upcoming battle plan.
The person who initiated this special military meeting was none other than Hudson, the logistics commander.
As the commander-in-chief of the army, how could he remain silent after his own King was assassinated?
Leading the army directly to the front lines to fight and avenge Caesar III is a terrible idea. Smart people know how to leverage resources, and Hudson was no exception.
With the military strength of the Alpha Kingdom, it would be difficult to do anything to the Beastfolk, but it would be a different story with the human alliance.
"Count Hudson, you summoned us here in such a hurry, surely not just for a reunion?"
"Blake asked provocatively."
Although he did not know the purpose of Hudson's convening of this military conference, he was determined to sabotage the choice of which the enemy supported.
"Commander Blake is overthinking it. Everyone is busy with the frontline battles every day. Even if Hudson is insensible, he wouldn't ask everyone to come over for a reunion at this time."
The main reason for inviting everyone here is for the upcoming war. The Alliance Council has decided to accelerate the pace of the war, and I'm sure you've all received similar orders.
Based on the current development of the war, we simply do not have the ability to the Annihilation of the Orc Empire in the short term.
Therefore, I discussed with Marquis Sunil, Marquis Olavell, Duke Danguot, and others, and we concluded that the current tactics were too outdated and could not meet the current need for a quick victory, so it was necessary to make slight adjustments.
The direction of the adjustment is very simple: change the current tactic of exterminating the Beastfolk and allow the Beastfolk tribes to surrender.
In exchange for their surrender, the Beastfolk must accept our reorganization and command, and contribute to the overthrow of the evil Orc Empire.
After saying that, Hudson smiled and glanced at Commander Blake, which was a response to his earlier provocation.
Unauthorized interference in the command of the coalition forces is a major political taboo. Each major power has its own independent military command authority and hates nothing more than others meddling in its affairs.
Hudson has been busy lately trying to change the Allied tactics. He's either promoting his own tactics or on his way to do so.
As it turned out, the Lord of Dawn did indeed favor him. After much persuasion, he finally gained the approval of a group of like-minded generals.
After the number of people who agreed with the new plan grew, and they felt they could change the Human Alliance's decision, today's proposal came about.
"Indeed, I have discussed this new combat mode with Count Hudson in private."
We all agree that the current approach is too risky and will result in too many losses.
After analyzing various tactics, we finally found the best way to reduce the losses of our army—to fight Beastfolk with Beastfolk.
Having been on the front lines for so long, I reckon everyone has found out by now. The Beastfolk are called one race, but in reality, they are composed of multiple races, and the blood feud between them is no less deep than that between us humans.
This is the opportunity.
"As long as we promise to support these cannon fodder races to rule the Orc Empire after the war, they will stand up and join us in destroying the evil Orc Empire!"
Marquis Sunil added accordingly.
The tactics aren't important; the key is to minimize your own losses. Using Beastfolk to wear down Beastfolk is much easier than using your own people to fight them.
No matter how heavy the casualties, there's no need to worry about the aftermath. He will be greeted with flowers and applause upon his return home, not a group of weeping relatives of fallen nobles.
"Marquis Sunil, according to your logic, the Orc Empire is still Beastfolk, and we have only changed their ruler."
Everyone has come from afar, a great distance, for the sake of our human race's foundation, not to help the Beastfolk seize power!
"Commander Blake mocked."
Right or wrong doesn't matter; the point now is to oppose for the sake of opposing. No matter how valid the other side's reasons are, he has to stick to his guns to the end.
"Commander Blake need not worry. If they want to take control of the Orc Empire after the war, they'll have to live to see it!"
Even if they survive by sheer luck, we can just give them a piece of land and let them rebuild the Orc Empire.
We only promised to support them in ruling the Orc Empire, but we never promised them what kind of the Orc Empire we would give them.
No one stipulates that Orc Empire must have a population of over 100 million. If we want, a tribe of a few hundred people can also call themselves an empire.
There are many Beastfolk races. We can give any orc to join us and let them enjoy their own Orc Empire behind closed doors.
If they still think it's not enough, a tribe and an Orc Empire are also negotiable.
The Orc Empire has a vast territory, and we don't need to take it all. Taking the southern grasslands is enough, and the rest of the region can be given to them to establish independent kingdoms.
Forget about the central Ula Mountains; they're a paradise for magical beasts, and all they could do there was feed them.
I think the northern Nikola Plateau and the western Salal Hills are both good locations; there's no problem setting up several thousand "Orc Empire" there.
This will win the hearts of all races on the An Continent, letting them know: Our human race will not exterminate other races!
Marquis Olavell's words startled Blake. The collusion between the Frankish Kingdom and Alpha Kingdom was already infuriating the Church; when did the Iberian Kingdom join in?
With the three strongest kingdoms on the continent united, what role does the Church play?
What's worse is that there seems to be a string of kingdoms behind it that also support this plan. Without doing anything, the Church has been isolated by these kingdoms again.
Blake knew the rest without even thinking. The small nations, accustomed to playing both sides, would inevitably have no choice but to support the proposal.
If nothing unexpected happens, he will be the sole opponent. Even the countries secretly controlled by the Church will not stand with him as the opposition at this moment.
The major tactical adjustments made by the human alliance directly impacted the strategic deployment of the Orc Empire.
When the allied forces stopped their ruthless extermination tactics and instead resorted to political inducements to induce surrender, the Beastfolk's resistance weakened dramatically.
Countless Beastfolk tribes were "voluntarily" defected after the human coalition army besieged the city.
After transforming himself, he immediately became the vanguard of the allied forces.
A small number of die-hards who were extremely hostile to the human race were soon forcibly sent to meet the Beast God in this wave of events.
Thanks to the careful training of the Five Great Royal Families of the Beastfolk, the stubborn Beastfolk tribes have all become history, and what remains are all intelligent "beasts" who know when to advance and retreat.
With a combination of empty promises and harsh realities, the allied forces' racial talents were fully unleashed. A host of nobles stepped forward, showcasing their masterful rhetoric and empty promises.
With the help of collaborators, the allied forces advanced at an increasingly rapid pace. Pressure was now directly mounting on the Beastfolk Royal Court.
"The Human Alliance has gone mad!"
The Bearman Emperor roared in a near-hysterical voice.
The relentless advance of the human alliance and the constant defections of his underlings made him feel the crisis of his race's annihilation.
It would be difficult for the Light Humans to destroy the Five Great Royal Families, but if someone within the Orc Empire cooperated, it would be hard to say.
Many things, once opened, can never be closed again.
"Bear Emperor, calm down. We've considered this worst-case scenario beforehand."
Those races were never of one mind with us. Once humans stop exterminating them, surrender will become the norm.
Besides, these cunning humans promised to support them in rebuilding the Orc Empire. With those fools' brains, it would be a problem if they didn't fall for it!
The Eagle Emperor spoke up to persuade him.
But the worry in his eyes proved that he wasn't as optimistic as he claimed. Many things can't be solved just because you foresee them.
Humans play the game of open strategy, and any Beastfolk tribe with a bit of ambition knows how to choose.
Even knowing that the humans were using them as cannon fodder, they still couldn't resist the temptation. After all, following the Five Great Royal Families meant they were also going to be cannon fodder.
Since they were destined to be cannon fodder, they naturally had to choose a generous master to serve under.
For their military achievements, the Five Great Royal Families would at most grant them a piece of grassland, but the human race could directly give them a country.
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Perhaps these races will become a new threat to humanity in the future, but that is a problem for the future.
It is easier for any country to divide than to unify. Even a single race can split due to interests, let alone a mixed empire composed of different races.
Hudson's dismantling strategy has caused all the Beastfolk races to establish independent kingdoms, resulting in a spectacular sight of thousands of kingdoms vying for dominance in the northern part of the continent.
If someone were to stir things up, the various Beastfolk races, who are already part of the food chain, would fight to the death, and the conflict would never stop.
For at least several decades, no Beastfolk race will have the power to unify all races.
"Eagle Emperor, such a big thing has happened, and you're still sitting there."
If we don't take action, we're doomed. If I find out which bastard came up with this underhanded scheme, I'll tear his soul out and burn it for ten thousand years!
..."
"Bear Emperor, there's no need to go looking for him. You're very familiar with that bastard who came up with this dirty trick; he's currently at the top of the Empire's bounty list."
You've already offered a bounty of 100,000 sheep, 30,000 cattle, and 1,000 slaves... Should we increase the reward a bit more?
"It was a joke," said the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor.
Life is tough, but we still have to keep going. If you don't find some fun for yourself, you'll break down.
Unfortunately, everyone had a high threshold for laughter. Even though they knew it was a joke, only the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor was laughing.
The reason they could laugh was that the core members of the Silvermoon Wolf Tribe had completed the relocation first.
The remaining werewolf tribes are mainly composed of ordinary werewolves, with only a very few whose bloodlines have reverted to their ancestral form qualifying them to become members of the royal family.
"Okay, enough joking around."
In my opinion, the current situation of the Empire is not as bad as you imagine.
Humanity's desire to dismantle the empire seems incredibly simple, but all of this hinges on the decline of our five families.
As long as we preserve our strength, even if the enemy dismantles the Orc Empire, we will be able to reunite it.
Now it's a test of patience. As long as everyone's people have completed their relocation, we can slowly wear them down.
Unless the human alliance remains stationed on the grasslands, we can return at any time after they leave and reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to us.
Of course, we need to time this carefully; we must wait until things have calmed down before making any further moves, and we can't afford to provoke the human race any further!
"I still have lingering regrets," said the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor.
A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit.
Having personally experienced the power of the human race, he had completely given up any thought of becoming the overlord of the continent.
"The Silver Moon Wolf Emperor is right. It's not time to be pessimistic yet. This offensive by the human race may seem fierce, but it actually foreshadows that the end of the war is not far off."
The assassination of Caesar III has unveiled the power struggle within the Alpha Kingdom. What was once a covert struggle has now been brought to the forefront.
The internal conflicts alone will keep him busy. No matter how much he wants to destroy us, he has to resolve the internal conflicts first.
Even if Caesar III were to generously declare that he would not pursue the matter, those nobles would have to believe him first. Now that the seeds of doubt have been sown, one side on each side has to fall before things can end.
Without the insistence of this pro-war faction, the already wavering Human Alliance's determination to destroy us will soon falter.
If this drags on, the heavy logistical burden will crush them. We have plenty of time to wear them down; at worst, we can cede the vast grasslands to them first!
Alex said, feigning magnanimity.
Deep down, he had already cursed Hudson's entire family. It was utterly insidious; they clearly wanted to destroy the Orc Empire.
Without the numerous vassal tribes providing them with resources and wealth, the Five Great Royal Families wouldn't be living such a comfortable life.