King
Chapter 547 - 547 112 Lively Dwarf King _1

547: Chapter 112, Lively Dwarf King _1 547: Chapter 112, Lively Dwarf King _1 In the season of spring blossoms, worry etched on the faces of the Northern Expedition Army.

Another battalion’s food supply had been destroyed.

To Marshal Campbell, who commanded hundreds of thousands of soldiers, a battalion’s supply of food seemed insignificant; it wouldn’t even feed his army for a day.

But the problem was that, currently, the Northern Expedition Army was cut off and isolated, relying entirely on previously plundered food supplies to survive.

To conserve food, even the livestock among the army had been slaughtered.

Reducing the soldiers’ rations was out of the question.

Once provision became uncertain, the army’s morale would undoubtedly collapse.

“The enemy, taking advantage of their air superiority, has become increasingly frequent in starting fires.

It looks like they’ve picked up on our food shortage and are counting on it to bring us down.

In light of these circumstances, even if we disguised our food supplies as regular tents, we would still suffer heavy losses.

I firmly believe that ultimate victory will be ours.

But as our reinforcements are still en route, we must rely on ourselves for the time being.

We must take immediate measures and foil our enemy’s schemes!”

Upon hearing Marshal Campbell’s meaningful words, everyone’s faces darkened.

They all knew the army’s food supplies were running low.

The hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Northern Expedition Army consumed astronomically large amounts of supplies each day.

Having been surrounded and cut off from supplies for over a month, it would be more surprising if they weren’t short on food.

To conserve resources, the noble officers had recently forsaken roasted meat, resorting to stewing instead.

They did this hoping their personal soldiers could at least have a bowl of meat soup.

“Marshal, as per the old rule in times of crisis, increase the supply of meat!” Duke Cavadia said with a meaningful look.

Undoubtedly, his call to “increase the supply of meat” wasn’t about indulging in luxury as an ignorant person might assume.

Orcs could eat humans, and when pushed to the edge, humans could also eat Orcs.

It’s just that, compared to Orcs, humans held a slightly higher code of conduct.

They would only resort to such measures when absolutely desperate.

Since the start of the siege, there had been a special unit in the Northern Expedition Army dedicated to handling the bodies of dead Orcs, anticipating the day they would need them.

Seeing no objections from the crowd, Marshal Campbell gave a slight smile.

However, the hint of oddity in his smile was unsettling.

“Let’s do that then.

From now on, meat will account for half of our food supplies.

That temporarily solves our food problem.

Next we need to figure out how to launch a counterattack.

We’ve been quiet for so long I reckon the Orcs have forgotten we can fight back!” Despite having commanded troops for decades, he had been passive since the blockade started.

If the people present didn’t know Marshal Campbell well enough, they would’ve mistaken him for a drunken and incompetent leader.

Having waited for so long, they finally saw their chance to strike back, which also marked the darkest hour for the Northern Expedition Army.

The intensity of the Orc army’s attacks was increasing, and the casualties sustained by the North Expedition Army were also going up.

Most importantly, soldiers from the Five Royal Clans had begun to appear on the battlefield in recent days.

Everyone knew that the day the enemy would launch an all-out attack was not far off.

Despite lacking evidence, they all had a hunch that negotiations with the Orcs had hit a stumbling block.

“Marshal, the enemy is extremely vigilant.

Apart from the scattered encampments of cannon fodder species, the encampments of the Five Royal Clans have strong defenses.

Our scouting cavalry often encounters accidents, it seems we need to…”

Before Duke Pias could finish, Marshal Campbell interrupted, “Then we aim for the cannon fodder species!

But we’ll adopt a different approach this time.

According to intelligence reports, the Orc Empire is not at peace either.

Many vassal races are planning to revolt against the Five Royal Clans.

This is our best chance.

If we can cause discord between the cannon fodder races and the Royal Clans, the upcoming war would be easier.

Engaging the enemy directly is a war of attrition.

We are ready to risk annihilation if we can severely damage the Five Royal Clans!”

If they can’t win tactically, then they might as well go for a mutually assured destruction.

Clearly, Marshal Campbell was prepared for the worst-case scenario.

If the Orcs wouldn’t let the Northern Expedition Army leave, then they would use their sacrifice to gravely wound the enemy.

This proposition might be hard for the assembled nobles to accept.

However, it was the most beneficial choice for the Alpha Kingdom.

Heavy losses and severe damages were never the issue.

The real problem was being the only one to suffer such damage.

Marshal Campbell held a great deal of faith in Caesar III.

He believed that no matter the changes, the situation in the kingdom would always be under control.

If the old political landscape was broken, then a new one could be established.

When it came to maintaining a balance of power, Caesar III was a pro.

…

After the military meeting, the nobles returned to their campgrounds heavy-hearted.

They were about to risk their lives, and yet there was so much more they wanted to do!

Especially the nobles who brought their outstanding successors along with them, they were cursing themselves for being so foolish.

They’d put all their eggs in one basket.

Any carelessness would leave them with no successors.

It was too late for regrets now.

At this point, all they could do was react passively.

At midnight, several well-lit tents housing small political groups were immersed in heated debates.

The world of the nobility was never solitary.

The more dangerous the times, the more they needed to stick together for warmth.