Leading Disaster South

Following the Kingdom Conference, the Alpha Kingdom returned to a state of war. However, the current measure is—training without mobilization.

As per tradition, legions of varying sizes were formed in nearby regions to prepare for the upcoming major battle.

Each prefecture had its own legion; smaller prefectures formed smaller legions, and larger prefectures formed larger legions. The original system of legions with tens of thousands of men was completely disrupted this time.

The smallest remote county has a legion of only four or five thousand men; the largest Royal Capital legion, however, has a strength of over forty thousand men.

Laite County, where Hudson was located, was considered a large county in the Southeast Province. According to the plan, it needed to provide a large army of 20,000 men, half of which would be contributed by the Mountain Territory and the other half by its own people.

They were either from other branches of the Coslo Family or were underlings of Hudson. The entire Laite County, plus half of Whitton County, was now under Hudson's influence.

That's not all; the Coslo Family's branches scattered throughout the country also constitute a considerable force.

If you add them all up, it wouldn't be difficult to raise another 20,000 people.

After all, those who went to war with Lord Hudson and came back alive were the ones who made a profit.

Besides the newly rich who went north to develop their careers, the family branches that stayed behind also made considerable progress.

In addition to normal expansion, many lucky individuals inherited wealth from their in-laws.

There was no other way; following Lord Hudson on the battlefield not only made it easier to gain merit, but also resulted in a higher survival rate than following other commanders.

Only those who survive have the right to talk about development.

The most important factor that enabled Hudson to successfully become the head of the family and suppress the elders in the various branches was that he brought tangible benefits to everyone.

If some spendthrift sons lead their own families to the front lines, the entire army will be wiped out. Forget becoming the head of the family; it would be a miracle if relatives didn't become enemies.

Due to cost considerations, current training will definitely be conducted in various locations, but once a war breaks out in the future, we will still need to find a way to bring people together.

Unlike the ease with which the previous coordination was handled, this time the coordination will definitely be much more difficult.

Knowing that a branch of the Coslo Family was under their control, they wouldn't release him easily. It wasn't intentional obstruction, but rather a way to secure their own future.

Putting aside other things, during his time as commander-in-chief, Hudson couldn't very well send his "own men" to their deaths on those missions with a high chance of certain death, could he?

Hudson didn't take these little thoughts to heart. Just because things can't be resolved now doesn't mean they can't be resolved in the future.

Moreover, placing a few branches under their command would reassure the noble families, which is actually worthwhile.

Just as Hudson wouldn't deliberately send any army to its deaths, these people wouldn't dare use members of the Coslo Family as cannon fodder.

Mutual checks and balances often facilitate smoother cooperation. After all, the Kingdom Army is the main force in this war, and close coordination between its various units is essential.

As soon as the general strategy was settled, Hudson's residence became bustling with activity. Nobles came to visit him in an endless stream every day.

The daily social engagements were exhausting; if it weren't for the Military Affairs Department' strong insistence on retaining him and requiring him to participate in the development of emergency plans, he would have run away long ago.

"Your Excellency, the Duke Newfoundland has come to visit!"

Hudson was speechless when he received news of the prime minister's late-night visit after just seeing off a guest.

"Please come quickly!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hudson stood up and went out to greet him personally. This was the old prime minister's prestige, and he had to be given the respect due to him.

After some pleasantries, the Duke Newfoundland got straight to the point. "Count Hudson, there's no one else here, so don't hold back. Just say what you're thinking!"

I've already reviewed the plan you presented to the Military Affairs Department. The situation in the Northern Continent hasn't collapsed to that point yet, has it?

The kingdom was not optimistic about the upcoming war. They hadn't expected Hudson's proposed plan to be even more pessimistic than they had anticipated.

The strategy against the Beastfolk is fairly normal. But the strategy against the Elves and the Ancient Remnants is terrifyingly passive.

Even though Hudson considered sabotage behind enemy lines as a proactive attack, the nobles saw it as passive avoidance of war.

In the history of the Aslant Continent, there has never been a precedent for guerrilla warfare. Only the remnants of defeated and destroyed forces would lie in wait to cause sabotage.

"Prime Minister, this war is different from the past. All indications suggest that the countries in the south and central parts of the continent want to completely annihilate the alien races within their respective spheres of influence."

The Elves may watch the Alien Race Alliance suffer defeat, but that doesn't mean they'll stand Alien Race Alliance perish. In a crucial moment, they might very well choose to lend a helping hand to the Alien Race Alliance.

You are well aware of the strength of the Elves. If they change their strategy, the Northern Continent will find it difficult to withstand their advance.

Moreover, the Northern Continent also has Ancient Remnants and Beastfolk. If these three alien races join forces, we have no chance of winning in a direct confrontation.

The only hope is to trade space for time, to stretch the enemy's battle lines as much as possible, to increase the difficulty of their logistical supply, and to drag out the war.

The reason for taking swift and decisive action against the Beastfolk is that they were severely weakened in the last great war. Not only did the Five Great Royal Families suffer heavy losses, but the vassal races also suffered even greater losses.

Without enough cannon fodder, the Beastfolk' favorite human wave tactics are no longer viable. The Five Great Royal Families dare not risk their few remaining members in a desperate fight against us.

Once a few battles are fought and they realize this, a strategic stalemate will ensue.

The individual soldiers of the Elves and the Ancient Remnants are very powerful, but they have been away from the mainland battlefield for a long time, and their tactical thinking and the command ability of their officers are seriously lagging behind.

They possess a military strength of ten parts, but at most they can only utilize five or six parts of it.

Moreover, the number of their clansmen is limited, and the number of troops they can mobilize is only a few hundred thousand. Even if they were to abandon the Northern Continent, they would not be able to control such a large territory.

There are so many noble castles along the way; they need to be taken down one by one. With their limited forces, they simply can't finish in a short time.

If they really did that, then we'd be out of the picture. I reckon the Continental War would end before they even finished removing the obstacles in their path.

If they wanted to support the Alien Race Alliance, their only option was to abandon the noble castles in the countryside, control only the major cities along the way, and forcibly open a passage.

This is our chance to strike back. All we need to do is send a small force, in alliance with the remaining nobles from various countries, to attack their supply lines from their rural castles.

If conditions permit, experienced slave-hunting teams can be sent deep into the Elf Forest to cause trouble and distract their forces.

Of course, this is an option under extreme circumstances. The Elves are not to be trifled with; if they are truly provoked, even the kingdom would be unable to withstand it.

If they didn't use the kingdom's territory as a route and instead chose to cross into the central continent from the western countries, then there would be no need to resort to these extreme measures.

Hudson said coldly.

One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand.

As a general of the Alpha Kingdom, his primary concern was the interests of the kingdom, and only secondarily the battlefield on the continent.

After a moment of silence, the Prime Minister Grand Duke Newfoundland, slowly nodded and said, "You're right, the Beastfolk are still the biggest threat to us."

There are at least one hundred million humans scattered across the Northern Continent. Even if the Light Elves and the Ancient Remnants were allowed to kill them, how many could they possibly kill?

Besides, our human race is now the overlord of the continent. They have to worry about being punished later, so they will definitely have to be cautious when they start fighting.

After all, not all alien races are as reckless as Beastfolk, completely disregarding the consequences.

It's clear that the Duke Newfoundland has chosen to support Hudson's plan. On the surface, it might seem like a retreat, even bordering on betraying an ally, but strategically it's certainly feasible!

If the plan is followed, the countries along the route can completely abandon cities that are destined to be lost and evacuate their people to the countryside to preserve their strength.

As for the impact of letting the Elves army pass through on the Continental War, well, I can only say I'm sorry.

If the major powers in the central and southern regions were willing to send troops to support him, Hudson would not have come up with this idea, no matter how difficult the battlefield was.

Unfortunately, these countries treated the nations of the Northern Continent as pawns from the very beginning. In order to survive, they shouldn't blame everyone for giving up.

It can't be considered a complete surrender. According to Hudson's plan, the Alpha Kingdom will still intercept the Beastfolk army and contribute to the Continental War.

The various countries of the Northern Continent will also attack the supply lines of the Elves and the Ancient Remnants. The specific effects are currently unknown, but at least it proves that everyone is still persisting in their resistance.

Theoretically speaking, if the human nations in the central and southern regions are strong enough, they can play the "closing the door and beating the dog" game, burying the Elves and the Ancient Remnants on the battlefield.

"Prime Minister, things are not that simple. Whether the countries of the Northern Continent can understand our intentions is still unknown, and even if they do, they may not be willing to give up."

Having survived since ancient times, the Elves and the Ancient Remnants are no fools. Even if they can't see through our plans in the early stages, they will eventually figure them out.

They faced two strategic options: either follow the route we set and head south to reinforce the Alien Race Alliance, or unite with the Beastfolk to first destroy the kingdom, seize the Northern Continent in one fell swoop, and form a new north-south confrontation.

The kingdom is still under immense pressure. If the worst-case scenario occurs, our only chance of survival is to concentrate our superior forces and cripple the Beastfolk at all costs!

Hudson said, feigning bitterness.

The more he knew, the greater the pressure he felt. Originally, he was the only one bearing the burden, but now that the Duke Newfoundland had delivered himself to his doorstep, it was just as well, dragging another unfortunate soul into the mess.

If nothing unexpected happens, the kingdom's high-ranking officials will be caught in this "anxiety" in the days to come.

There was no option of surrender, and the more anxious everyone became, the more they could only rely on Hudson in military matters.

Hudson's scheme was blatant and open; he wasn't afraid of anyone finding out. After all, he was the only general in the entire Alpha Kingdom capable of commanding a million-strong army.

"Your Excellency, rest assured, the kingdom will do its utmost to handle this matter and do everything possible to avoid the worst-case scenario. However, we must still prepare for the worst."

If things really get out of control, the Orc Empire will have to rely on you!

The Duke Newfoundland said with a solemn expression.

It was clear he was terrified. He had initially only felt the pressure, never imagining that the Alpha Kingdom was on the verge of life and death.

No one knows what those elves are thinking, but given the collapse of the Alien Race Alliance, it is indeed possible that the three alien forces would set aside their differences and join forces to occupy the Northern Continent in order for their races to survive.

If it really comes to that, dealing with the Beastfolk becomes the only option. Until then, Alpha Kingdom can do is "divert the trouble south."

Since the Alpha Kingdom and the three major kingdoms of the Central Continent are also competitors, the Duke Newfoundland felt no pressure at all about taking advantage of the situation to trick them.

The resulting political consequences need not be considered for the time being. Only the surviving forces need to consider political issues.

In Hudson's view, once the human race wins another victory in the Continental War and the threat of other races is eliminated, the Human Alliance will collapse.

When it really comes to that, "joint survival" will have taken a backseat, and large-scale mergers will become the mainstream of the times.

As if overnight, war became the mainstream on the continent. Leaving aside the countries that had already started fighting, all the countries on the continent embarked on the path of expanding their military and preparing for war.

As a benchmark for the Northern Continent, the Alpha Kingdom's move prompted other nations to follow suit.

The Moxi Duchy was the most proactive among them. King George, bewildered, simply ordered the Alpha model to be copied verbatim.

A few years ago, we poached some talent from the Alpha Kingdom, and they brought their experience with them. Now all we need to do is promote it.

Each prefecture has one reserve corps, and the number of troops is being maximized. Even the previously hidden able-bodied young men have been brought out this time.

In the blink of an eye, the army on paper of the Moxi Duchy was restored to its peak.

A new round of reinforcements has also begun along the border defenses. Having learned their lesson the hard way, the Moxi nobles are now personally overseeing the construction this time, determined not to allow bureaucrats to interfere.

As it turns out, harsh realities in society are the best way to motivate people to improve. Similarly, the Moxi Duchy, which also copied the Alpha Kingdom's mobilization mechanism, was the only one that truly implemented it after being subjected to harsh realities.

The Duchy of Orton.

Both issued mobilization orders immediately, but their actions were much slower than their neighbors'.

Of course, the pace was slow, but everyone still took action. The feudal nobles in various regions also joined in, and there was no slacking off.

This clearly did not satisfy Oden XIX. In normal times, this King was a lazy bum, but in times of crisis, he became a lively fish.

"Waste!"

"They're all useless!"

"What is the Military Affairs Department doing?"

Why, after so long since the order was issued, are the reserve corps in various places still disorganized and in disarray?

Can't you do it yourselves? Can't you even copy it?

Don't forget, this war is different from any other!

There aren't that many powerful nations blocking our way. The Warhammer Kingdom is destroyed, and the armies of the Elves and the Ancient Remnants could arrive at any moment.

Theory and practice are ultimately not the same thing. Having been defeated once, the Duchy of Orton did indeed develop a sense of crisis.

The problem is that they intervened in the war for too short a time. The Beastfolk army was merely passing through their territory, and before they even understood what was happening, the enemy had already left.

If we're talking about accumulating experience, then all I've gained is the experience of suffering defeats, and that's it.

"Your Majesty, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on the Military Affairs Department. Reserve training has indeed begun in various regions."

The problem now is that while we have gathered the people, we lack experience in specific training.

There have been numerous cases in various regions where serfs died due to overtraining. This demonstrates that the training of serf soldiers was not the same as that of knights.

We are considering sending people to the Alpha Kingdom to learn from their experience, or directly hiring military instructors from there to help us complete our reserve training.

Chancellor Jacob helped explain.

"Then what are you waiting for? If you have a solution, go and implement it right away!"

The Foreign Affairs Department should immediately send someone to coordinate relations. In this time of crisis, the Alpha Kingdom should surely offer assistance.

Not content with that, Oden XIX added, "Not only should we learn from them, but we should also send people to inform our neighboring countries so that they may also send people to learn from them."

In this time of crisis, we are all in this together. The Foreign Affairs Department is doing its utmost to persuade all countries that only by involving more nations in war preparations can we have a chance of survival!

Such profound words greatly shocked the courtiers. They never expected that their King, who spent his days indulging in food, drink, and entertainment and rarely concerned himself with state affairs, would possess such insight.

"Your Majesty, learning from the Alpha model militarily also means that we should align ourselves with them politically."

In particular, their recruitment of military instructors has allowed the Alpha people to directly intervene in our army. They are already the largest country in the Northern Continent; if they pull something like this, the future of all the countries in the Northern Continent will likely be..."

Before Foreign Minister Dubois could finish speaking, Oden XIX impatiently interrupted, "Alright, enough with the nonsense."

To put it simply, what you're trying to say is that doing this will disrupt the balance, and in the future, the Alpha Kingdom will dominate the Northern Continent.

What's there to be conflicted about?

These are all things for the future; let's live to see the future first!

If they cannot withstand the enemy's advance, the Duchy of Orton will cease to exist before the Alpha Kingdom can dominate the Northern Continent.

"The principality is almost gone, and you expect me to concern myself with international affairs?"

No problem, I don't care about the flood after I die!

If the Duchy of Orton were to disappear, let alone the possibility of the Alpha Kingdom dominating the Northern Continent, even if it were to unify the Northern Continent, it would be none of Oden XIX's business.

Let's worry about the future later; taking care of the present is the right thing to do.

Moreover, the battlefield is full of uncertainties; a powerful nation can perish in war, and a weak nation can rise in war just as easily.

The future is uncertain, anything is possible!