King
Chapter 529 - 529 100 Playing the Move After -1

529: Chapter 100, Playing the Move After -1 529: Chapter 100, Playing the Move After -1 At the Jade Palace, news of the changes on the front line had arrived several days ago, but Caesar III had yet to come up with a counter-stratagem.

The battlefield was in the Orc Empire, and the Kingom had lost its geographical advantages.

It was almost impossible to pull troops back unscathed under the Orc’s watchful eyes.

No help could be expected from the allies.

The Warhammer Kingdom was completely out of play, and would not regain its power for decades.

Moxi Duchy had also suffered heavy losses, and there was no expectation that they could play a major role before uniting with the aid forces from the Human Alliance.

Organising reinforcements wouldn’t work, as the fighting would likely have ended before a full squad was put together.

Currently, the Alpha Kingdom didn’t have the means to assemble hundreds of thousands of elites in a short period to respond.

“The Military Department, how do you plan to deal with the present complex situation?”

A question Caesar III was concerned about.

He was handing over the problem to the professionals since he could not solve it himself.

In comparison to a king who was quite inept, the bureaucrats of the Military Department at least had practical experience from the battlefield.

“Your Majesty, we find ourselves in an overly complex situation where we shouldn’t act haphazardly.

We need to rely on the proactive response of the frontline army.

Both the Kingdom and the orcs have suffered equally in this war thus far.

Even in the event of outright warfare, we may not necessarily lose.

Even if we cannot achieve a grand victory, we can still strike a massive blow to the enemy.

Marshal Campbell is rich in combat experience and is right at the front line.

He has a far more in-depth understanding of the situation than us.

We believe he will handle things appropriately.”

Duke Eufeele, Minister of Military Affairs, said with a stiff upper lip.

He was trying to reassure himself.

The actual conditions at the front line couldn’t be accomplished only by the sparse bits of information relayed back by the Gryphon Cavalry each day.

There were too many variables on the battlefield.

To be safe, they dared not let the Gryphon Cavalry carry back detailed military configuration from the front lineNumber.

It would be a disaster if the enemy intercepted the intelligence halfway along its journey.

Experience told Duke Eufeele that without knowing the specific circumstances on the front line, it’s better to refrain from interfering indiscriminately.

Caesar III gave the Minister of Defense a glare but eventually swallowed the rebuke he initially meant to utter.

Outbursts of rage were not going to resolve the issue.

That bunch of old immortals had sabotaged them.

As elated as they were during the all-out offensive, they now found it just as hard to withdraw.

It was purely an act of God, something the Military Department couldn’t solve.

“Your Majesty, the reinforcements of the alliance have entered the Moxi Duchy and are expected to rendezvous with the Moxi Army in about seven days.

The Foreign Ministry has urged them that if all goes well, the main forces should be able to reach the front line in about a month.”

Foreign Minister, Earl Francis, slowly stated.

He steered the conversation to alleviate the awkward atmosphere on the spot, but the problem still needed to be addressed.

After reflecting on it many times, Caesar III awkwardly found that not contributing to the mess was the greatest assistance for the front line.

“Marshal Campbell will be responsible for the situation at the front line, which I trust!

The matter of the reinforcements will continue to be followed up by the Foreign Ministry.

Send out the order, rename the Expeditionary Army as the Southeastern Army, have Earl Hudson extinguish the rebels at the fastest pace, and lead the army north.”

Caesar III spoke, his expression getting somewhat solemn.

Obviously, his professed faith and inner thoughts were misaligned.

It wasn’t insecurity that was driving him to urgently call for Hudson’s northward motion.

In case of any unexpected changes on the front line, the Southeastern Army would be the basis for restructuring the defense line.

As a qualified monarch, preparing for multiple contingencies was just routine operation.

“Your Majesty, there are still many prisoners of war in the hands of the…

Southeastern Army, what do you suggest we do with them?”

Prime Minister Duke Newfoundland asked tentatively.

These stout laborers had almost caused a fight within the Kingdom.

If it were not for the unexpected changes on the front line, which drew everyone’s attention, the division would have probably begun by now.

As the commanding officer, Hudson had a certain decision-making power over the allocation of the prisoners, but he could only exercise it covertly.

On the surface, the real boss was still Caesar III.

Such private allocation wasn’t a big issue, but there must be a limit.

While covertly dividing the spoils, there ought to be a big enough share left for the old boss.

“These prisoners are different, the majority of them had been forced by the Orcs to join the rebels.

Punish only the most heinous ones and deal leniently with those coerced.

Send a prisoner placement group to take over the prisoners from the Southeastern Army for the time being, and they will be dealt with after the war.

Taking into account the heavy losses suffered by the Kingdom and the severe labor shortage in many places, the prisoners would be distributed as spoils of war to those who have made merits after the war.”

Caesar III said, somewhat disheartened.

Dividing the spoils was often the most complicated process, even harder than making a cake.

It required an all-round consideration as to who got more and who got less.

Most importantly, the Royal Family lacked manpower!

Among the recaptured northern territories, the Royal territories accounted for a large proportion.

Without millions of people to fill in, there was no way to restore production.

The number of captured prisoners was quite large, but it was still not on the same level as the demand.

However, as the boss, he couldn’t monopolize all resources.

A portion of the limited “prisoner” labor force would also have to be shared with the Kingdom Aristocrats.

…

Within the Orc Empire, Marshal Campbell was leading the army forward at a slow pace.

The already appalling roads up ahead were falling into an even worse state under the Orc’s destruction.

Each day, the time spent repairing the roads was three times the marching time.

Even with manpower arranged to work overnight, it did not change the fact that the army was moving at a snail’s pace.

Without a substantial number of strongmen clearing the way in front, the Kingdom’s Northern Expedition Army was just an ordinary elite force that needed to work hard to overcome various difficulties encountered along the way.

“Enemy attack!”

Upon hearing the shout from within the camp, Marshal Campbell exhibited no reaction at all.

Scenes like this occurred numerous times daily.

The more it happened, the more immune they became.

As expected, this was another case of “loud thunder, little rain” type of attack.

A few dozen Orcs, hiding on both sides, set up traps using simple tools and launched a sneak attack on the army.

A hit-and-run, taking not even a cloud with them as they fled.

However, the experienced Northern Expedition Army was no pushover, immediately launching a counterattack.

Aside from a few lucky Orcs that managed to flee, the rest were sent to meet with the Beast God.

“Cease pursuit!”

With the officer’s command, the assault drew to a close.

Assigning responsibility bore no meaning.

For a small squad of dozens of men wanting to hide, it proved to be too easy.

The army was in a hurry to move, there was no time to be wasted here.

“Marshal, we have lost seventeen men and thirty-six are injured.

The injured men have been treated by the priests.

I estimate they will need a few more days to recover fully.”

After hearing the middle-aged officer’s report, Marshal Campbell nodded slightly and said, “Proceed as usual, we cannot delay the army’s march.”

The concern in his face revealed his internal panic.

With the current marching speed, it was almost certain that the returning Orc army would block their way.

Had it been another battlefield, Marshal Campbell would not mind making arrangements for a proper contest against the Orcs.

However, this was the Orc Empire.

In previous battles, they had wiped out countless Orc tribes along the way, killing millions of Orcs.

This deep hatred bred from such massacre, once they were blocked by the enemy, would surely attract countless Orcs.

The longer the delay, the more disadvantageous it would become for the Northern Expedition Army.

A slight lapse would lead to heavy losses.

Regrettably, rushing was ineffective.

The “Grandpa Knights” were wilful and would refuse to work on a whim, showing no consideration.

Without that “overwhelming” Mage Corps, the decimated roads along the way became the largest obstacle hindering the army’s return.

In comparison, the small-scale attacks that the Orcs launched along the way were not of concern to Marshal Campbell.

Adhering to the principle of not dividing the army regardless of how the enemy messed about, the Northern Expeditionary Force always moved forward as one.

The advantage was clear, it would not provide opportunities for the enemy; the downside was equally evident, as it slowed down the army’s advancement significantly.

Mainly because the fortresses of the Orc Empire were unsightly.

Not a single sturdy castle capable of accommodating the Northern Expedition Army was discovered along the way, otherwise Marshal Campbell would absolutely have led the troops in to act as a “nail household”, waiting for the reinforcements from the Human Alliance to arrive.

Moving and stopping along the way, Marshal Campbell was constantly observing his surroundings, looking for terrain that would be advantageous for the army to defend.

“Marshal, the Gryphon Scouts have just reported that the Orc army that was withdrawn from the Warhammer Kingdom has now appeared 150 miles away.”

…

Looking at the wild geese flying north in the sky and stepping back onto his homeland, Hudson, holding the elf bow in his hand, finally resisted the urge to hunt.

Winter was giving way to spring, and in this season full of vitality, it was not appropriate for killing.

His return to the Southeastern Province this time was purely for personal benefits disguised as public duty.

Although there were rebels here, their pitiful numbers were still not enough for the nobles with their remaining forces to manage.

“Tom, prepare the cart, I’m going to visit the Hollis family!”

Hudson said it with a neutral expression.

Being in Qiaomu County and not paying a visit to the in-laws just couldn’t be justified.

As for the Mountain Domain, it was genuinely inconvenient to return.

One must have limits when mixing public affairs with private interests, and Hudson, with his unstable base, had to consider public opinion.

A few rumors might not seem significant, but they could cause trouble at critical moments.

“Count, special envoy, Earl Laurent from the King, is here.”

The guard’s words directly shattered Hudson’s intention to go out.

He had to give respect to his own boss.

Once an envoy was sent, they must meet face-to-face.

He wondered if he was cursed.

Every time a special envoy from the king came, it seemed that nothing good ever happened.

The first one met a tragic end, being killed by mistake by the clergy on the way back home; the second, Count Jose, survived, but he carried the blame for the defeat in the Battle of Dachias; As for the third, Earl Laurent, it was to be seen whether he could escape this predicament.

Hudson sincerely hoped the latter wouldn’t have any issues; otherwise, the title of royal envoy nemesis might easily be put on his head.

Who made him “walk taller than others” now, with a bunch of people magnifying his flaws?

“Please invite Earl Laurent over.”