King
Chapter 1042 - 1042 143 Returning Home_2

1042: Chapter 143, Returning Home_2 1042: Chapter 143, Returning Home_2 At that time, we may not need an enemy attack; just the logistics of the large army could drag the Empire down.

You all hesitate back and forth, afraid to speak the truth, so let me say it.

We now face two choices: either to blitz through, forcibly tearing through the enemy’s layered defenses, or to abandon a large swathe of land and withdraw the troops to recuperate!”

As he spoke, the Bearman Emperor smashed the table in front of him with a slap, scaring the Orcs with a shower of splinters—an event far more thrilling than merely flipping a table.

With the lid blown off, all the generals plunged into panic, casting their gaze toward the five Emperors.

Only they were qualified to participate in this situation; anyone else who attempted to speak risked getting burnt.

Looking at the indifferent face of the Bearman Emperor, the other four Emperors also wore very ugly expressions.

This disrespectful essence, after all, stemmed from a change in the strength of the various species.

All five Royal Clans were forced into a period of subsistence in remote and desolate areas; during a time of severe resource scarcity, the Cavalry’s losses were definitely higher than the infantry’s.

With resources stretched thin, to continue their species’ lineage, even the Orc Royal Family, unable to afford so many War Beasts, had to cut down their Cavalry force structure.

To be exact, they merely reduced the number of troop designations; the specific work of troop reduction was helped along by the Allied Human Army.

Due to the lack of materials, all species had to reduce the number of War Beasts they raised.

The Silver Moon Wolf Clan and the Lionman race suffered the greatest losses; they not only eliminated the weak but even temporarily paused the breeding of War Wolves and War Lions.

These actions directly determined that for several years following, their military strength was severely affected.

The relatively less damaged Bearman Royal Family gradually surpassed the Lionman race in military strength, becoming the Orc Empire’s leading power.

He who is stronger holds more sway, a political rule that has always constrained the weak.

…

Hudson breathed a deep sigh of relief as he returned to the Kingdom’s lands with his army.

Despite maintaining a calm front before his officers, the pressure he bore internally was by no means small.

Operating behind enemy lines meant any mishap was a possibility.

A careless encounter with the enemy’s main force would surely lead to heavy losses.

Glancing at the welcoming generals, Hudson calmly ordered, “Our soldiers have returned from a long expedition and need rest; let’s postpone the victory banquet.

Distribute the prepared wine and meat among the troops.

Ensure every soldier of the Expeditionary Army receives ample nutritional replenishment.”

The “victory banquet” following major battles wasn’t merely for praise and celebration—ample wine and meat essentially served to replenish the nutrition of the soldiers.

The Expedition Army Corps had no shortage of food supplements while slaughtering their way across the plains, but life on the battlefield nonetheless disrupted their regular routine.

Due to the necessities of war, eating inconsistently was the norm.

Often, even a sip of hot soup was a luxury.

Many soldiers lost weight after enduring hardships on the journey.

Hudson was eager to bring the troops back for rest and recuperation, concerned that the soldiers’ health wouldn’t hold up.

If he overused them and rendered this force of Kingdom’s Elites useless, he’d be unable to explain it to all parties involved.

“Yes, Marshal!”

The generals hesitated briefly in their responses.

But Hudson’s authority ensured they swallowed any comments that rose to their lips.

Postponing the victory banquet, not canceling it, wasn’t worth causing a fuss with the Commander in Chief.

The officers had no objections, and the lower-ranked soldiers were even less likely to complain.

With the prepared wine and meat distributed, the postponement meant there would be another celebration later—a double dose of joy.

The only ones who might be troubled were the Logistic Department.

However, that was a minor problem, considering the Expedition Army Corps had saved a considerable amount of supplies during their two months behind enemy lines.

After settling down, the losses of the Expedition Army Corps were tallied: four thousand officers and soldiers would remain forever on the great plains, and two thousand were forced to retire and return home.

Injuries could heal, but the expended vitality was hard to replenish.

Many soldiers had received multiple treatments of Divine Arts due to the war, depleting their life force.

Remaining on the battlefield meant they could perish at any moment.

Returning home for an honorable discharge might grant them a few more years of life, and with good care, they might even reach the average lifespan.

Hudson wasn’t heartless; he couldn’t be indifferent to life.

The situation in the Kingdom hadn’t deteriorated to the point of ultimate desperation—there was no need to send these heroes to their doom.

“Jose, go visit the army on my behalf, persuade those soldiers unsuited for further battle to retire.”

“Forget it, I will personally go and speak to them.

You draft the documents, elaborate on the situation to the homeland, and ensure proper settlement for these retired officers and soldiers.

Also, compile the Expeditionary Army’s achievements on the great plains, along with the details of the war, polish and organize them, then report them to the Kingdom as a whole.”

Hudson spoke with a sense of sorrow.

He could lead the Expedition Army Corps in a great slaughter, but he couldn’t alter the inherent cruelty of war.

In the face of cold casualty figures, the joy of victory vanished without a trace.

…

In the Lutesya Palace, Charles III massaged his temple wearily as he reviewed the data collected from all over.

Unwittingly, the situation on the Central Continent was on the verge of collapse.

Without swift remedial measures, the Continental affair was likely to spiral out of control.