Battle Results Report and the New System

Karl slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing that catches the eye is the familiar wooden ceiling and beams, the same ceiling that he had in his bedroom at Carnford Castle.

He instinctively tried to sit up, but a tearing pain and indescribable weakness immediately shot through his body, causing him to groan and fall back down weakly.

He gasped for breath, gritted his teeth, and endured the excruciating pain that felt like his bones were about to fall apart. With all his might, he managed to prop himself up on the soft cushion at the head of the bed.

He looked down at himself; the heavy plate armor stained with blood and mud had long been removed, and he had put on a clean, soft linen nightgown.

The setting sun streamed through the cracks in the window, casting warm dappled light on the floor. A faint scent of herbs filled the air, and everything seemed peaceful and serene, a world apart from the bloody, hellish battlefield of yesterday.

Just then, the bedroom door was gently pushed open, and the steward Edgar walked in carrying a wooden tray with a bowl of steaming sweet soup, some bread, and a glass of water on it.

"Sir, you're awake." Edgar saw Karl sit up and a relieved smile immediately appeared on his face. He quickly walked to the bedside. "How are you feeling? The army doctor said you just fainted from exhaustion and need to rest. I got you some food."

Karl nodded, his throat terribly dry. He took the water glass and sipped a few mouthfuls. The cool liquid slid down his throat, bringing a sense of relief.

"How long have I been asleep?" His voice was still hoarse.

"About nineteen hours, sir. It's the afternoon of the second day now." Edgar placed the tray on the small table beside the bed. "Please have something to eat."

Karl didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the soup spoon and slowly drank the warm broth, feeling the warmth and strength that the food brought.

As he ate, he gestured to Edgar with his eyes to report the situation.

Edgar understood and stood by the bedside, beginning his methodical report, "The main force of the reinforcements sent by the Count has all arrived. Yesterday, we were rescued by the vanguard cavalry led by Sir Kylan, about four hundred men. A follow-up force of one thousand infantrymen, commanded by another Sir Laurent, is also there. They are now all encamped and deployed around Carnford. With them here, even if the Sauron learn of the disastrous defeat at the front, they will likely not dare to launch another attack anytime soon."

Karl nodded slightly; this was within his expectations. Since Earl Rochefort had made his move, he wouldn't just do half of it.

Edgar paused, his tone becoming somewhat somber. "Regarding our casualties... preliminary statistics show a total of eighty-seven soldiers killed in action, twenty-two seriously wounded, and nearly a hundred lightly wounded; almost everyone is injured."

The number made Karl pause slightly in his hand holding the spoon. Although he was somewhat prepared, hearing about such a heavy loss still felt like a needle prick to his heart.

Those are not just numbers; they are vibrant lives, the precious vitality of his territory.

Edgar seemed to want to change the subject, and continued, "Sir Brendan has drafted a new manpower replenishment and training plan overnight; the original is in your study."

"However, I think you probably don't have the energy or interest to look into it right now," he smiled. "Let me briefly summarize his thoughts: he believes that although the battle resulted in heavy losses, it wasn't all bad."

"The downside was the loss of personnel, but the upside was that this bloody battle greatly trained the surviving soldiers. They underwent the most brutal test, and their combat skills, willpower, and loyalty to you have all been elevated to a new level."

"Moreover, news of our Carnford victory against overwhelming odds, severely crippling Sauron elite forces, will surely spread throughout the Northern Territory soon! This will undoubtedly greatly enhance our reputation, attracting more scattered Northern Territory refugees and warriors eager to fight against the Sauron to come and join us!"

Edgar continued, "The core of Brendan's plan is to regard these veterans who have survived the trials of blood and fire as the most precious asset and seed."

"Gradually withdrawing them from front-line combat units to serve as instructors and junior officers for recruit training, allowing them to teach and lead new recruits, will enable the fastest formation of combat capability and ensure the continuation of our Carnford fighting style and tradition."

"He suggested establishing a system whereby veterans who have fought bravely, are experienced, and have made meritorious contributions can be transferred from the front lines to teaching positions in the rear, depending on the circumstances."

"This way, we can preserve these valuable core personnel, preventing them from dying needlessly on the battlefield, and also ensure the continued and efficient growth of our army's combat effectiveness. After all..." Edgar glanced at Karl, "As you often say, modern warfare is no longer an era where victory or defeat can be determined by individual bravery. The power of the collective, strict discipline, and efficient training are the keys to influencing the course of battle."

After listening, Karl's eyes revealed a look of deep agreement.

He slowly put down his spoon and nodded. "Brendan's idea is excellent, perfectly suited to our current situation and future needs. These veterans are indeed more valuable than any weapon or gold coin. Let's execute his plan."

"Yes, sir," Edgar replied respectfully.

"What about the Sauron?" Karl asked about the results of the battle.

Edgar's spirits lifted, and his tone carried a hint of pride. "Based on the battlefield clearing and detailed confessions from prisoners, the Sauron army that attacked consisted mainly of two parts."

"Firstly, there was the Light Cavalry led by Unag, totaling four hundred men. Under the two charges of Commander Lyon, nearly one hundred of their vanguard were annihilated, and the remaining three hundred riders, seeing the situation was unfavorable, fled north."

"Secondly, there was a mixed infantry corps led by Invag, with a total strength of about nine hundred men. This included five hundred and sixty-two well-trained and relatively well-equipped combat soldiers, about two hundred auxiliary soldiers responsible for supporting operations and supplies, and about one hundred slave soldiers who were driven to the front and were almost unarmed."

"In terms of the results, the most crucial point is that the 562 Sauron Combatant under Invag's command were almost completely annihilated by our army under the repeated attacks on the front line and the cavalry charges on the flanks! Only a very few managed to escape in the chaos, while his auxiliary troops and slave soldiers suffered heavy casualties and most of them scattered."

"More than four hundred of them died in the sieges and hand-to-hand combat on the main battlefield. Among these four hundred, eighty-three were Sauron Berserker. The other nearly two hundred were killed by the reinforcements' cavalry after the rout. The weapons and armor captured were piled up like mountains, enough to rearm several platoons!"

"And most importantly, the Soren Battle Group, Invag, was captured by our army. This is perhaps the first time in the past ten years or so that the Broomflower Army has captured such a high-ranking officer when facing the Sauron."

He paused, his tone tinged with regret. "However, as you predicted, the main force of the Sauron cavalry, led by their commander, successfully broke through and escaped. Sir Kylan's cavalry... well... couldn't catch up. Charlotte Knight seems to have some complaints about this."

Karl smiled slightly, "The situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, and there is no perfect ending. To be able to annihilate nearly six hundred of Sauron's elite infantry, capture one of his Battle Group Commander, rout his army, and force him to flee in disarray with such inferior forces is already an undeniable great victory."

"Enough to make Harald feel the pain for a long time, and to show all the people of the Northern Territory that the Sauron are not invincible."

Although it was regrettable, Karl knew that it was already a glorious victory, winning Carnford valuable living space and unprecedented prestige.