King
Chapter 762 - 762 42 Soothing policy_2

762: Chapter 42, Soothing *** policy_2 762: Chapter 42, Soothing *** policy_2 Of course, if the war is won, the situation would be completely different.

However, considering both sides’ apparent strength, everyone remains unsure.

Although the standing armies of the two kingdoms do not differ much in number, the Black Forest Kingdom’s army already has a structured formation of magical beast knights, with more advanced weapons and equipment.

The disparity in the strength of the nobles’ private armies of both kingdoms is even greater.

The elite of the Alpha Kingdom nobles’ private army had mostly been sacrificed on the orc battlefield, and it has only just managed to replenish its ranks in more than a year’s time.

How much combat capability they possess is unclear.

Regardless, the noble lords present have no confidence in these troops.

In contrast, the nobles’ private armies of the Black Forest Kingdom, whether in number or quality, are superior.

The difference in the strength of extraordinary troops is even more drastic.

In the Black Forest Kingdom, nobles would be embarrassed to call themselves major nobles if their families do not have hundreds of magical beast knights.

Then there are magician regiments of various sizes.

Its exact strength is unclear, but even the weakest magician regiment is stronger than Hudson’s miniature magician regiment.

Of course, the Alpha Kingdom isn’t without its advantages either.

Quick mobilization being one, the key factor lies with the kingdom’s nobles, nearly all of whom are veterans of the battlefield.

The individual capabilities of the various domestic armies are not as strong as those of the Black Forest Kingdom, but these men are hardened soldiers fresh from the battlefield.

This is why Hudson dares to assert that, in dictating the pace of the siege, the movable forces of the Black Forest Kingdom lack the capacity to overrun two provinces.

Failure to achieve a partial victory in a short time will result in a strategic stalemate.

Once the human sea tactics start, the advantage of the Black Forest Kingdom’s elite troops will not be as pronounced.

The Continent of Aslante is not peaceful, so the strength of the human race cannot be spent indefinitely in civil wars; there will be nations stepping in to mediate when the time comes.

If it were not for the need for a period of peaceful development to consolidate their own foundations, Hudson wouldn’t mind going with the flow and engaging in a battle with the Black Forest Kingdom.

After all, a war can truly divert domestic conflicts.

Instead of letting the kingdom’s aristocrats fight amongst themselves incessantly, why not lead them out to battle?

Winning or losing isn’t important.

With the current way of fighting, expansion resulting from internal strife among the human race mainly involves nibbling away; none have resulted in the obliteration of a nation in a single battle.

“Marquis Delgado, the Black Forest Kingdom has called on major nobles from all over the kingdom to come to the capital for a meeting.

This is a recruitment for war.

The wise man is prepared for all eventualities.

The kingdom must prepare for war ahead of time and cannot be caught off guard by the enemy with a surprise attack…”

Almost at the end of his speech, Count Martins realized something was wrong.

It seems that there is no precedent for a direct surprise attack in wars between the nations of the human race.

However, he maintained his composure.

After all, conventions are not inviolable.

Before the war breaks out, no one knows if the enemy will play by the rules.

Predictions about things that have not yet happened cannot be defined by right or wrong.

Even if he’s aware that his judgment is too subjective, he is determined to stick to it, as it’s a matter of survival for border nobles.

Anyone in his position would request the kingdom to prepare for war so as not to be disadvantaged once it breaks out.

The best outcome would be to launch a massive counterattack as soon as the war breaks out, pushing the battlefield inside the enemy’s borders.

“Count Martins, things are not that bad.

You are all holding on to your castles now.

Even if the enemy launches a surprise attack, they will find it difficult to achieve much.

Sacrificing the nation’s reputation over a few castles, the people of the Black Forest are not that crazy.

Don’t forget, our relationship with the Black Forest Kingdom has only started to deteriorate recently and there are no irreconcilable hatreds between us.

Even if they can’t control themselves and want to launch a war, we could divert the calamity elsewhere.

We could even tacitly allow the Black Forest Kingdom to invade one or two small kingdoms in the northlands, who are known for their neutrality- it would not be a bad choice.

If they want to cozy up to the central major countries, then we might as well let them.”

Listening to the words of Prime Minister Duke Newfoundland, Hudson marvelled inwardly: Goodness me, isn’t this the clone of the policy of appeasement?

If the Alpha Kingdom plays this game, it would be the beginning of trouble.

Once the ambition of the Black Forest people is stirred up, a full-scale war between the two countries will become inevitable.

Knowing this, Hudson did not oppose it.

What does he care about the life and death of a few small northern countries?

According to the rules of the Continent of Aslante, even if the Black Forest Kingdom is allowed to expand to the Northern Continent, their pace would not be quick.

To smoothly annex a country, even the smallest Earl’s domain, one must exhaust all political, military, and diplomatic means, and face the interference of several powerful nations.

If the measures are a little too aggressive, one would be surrounded and beaten until unrecognizable.

“The Chancellor has a point; the current international situation has changed and our foreign policy should adapt accordingly.

At present, several major nations in the Central Region have ambitions to expand north.

Given the current state of our Kingdom, stopping them would be exceedingly difficult.

Perhaps we should make certain concessions, sacrificing the interests of the silent majority, temporarily stabilizing them.

This will give the Kingdom time to recover.”

The Duke of Zuell was explicit about the appeasement policy.

Everything stemmed from interest.

Several provinces in the southeast faced defense pressures, and the southwestern provinces were no less at ease.

Everyone is busy recovering their strength; now the nobles of the Kingdom, do not want to start a war at this moment.

Count Carlos and Count Martins, who were originally clamoring, quieted down at this moment.

It’s clear that they didn’t want to go to war with the Black Forest Kingdom either.

If there was a chance to divert the enemy, who would willingly turn their territory into a battlefield?

“Duke Zuell, the enemy’s ambition cannot be satiated with some small gains.

The more lenient we are with them, the greater their ambition becomes, and sooner or later it will backlash on us

Perhaps, our enemies will not merely be Black Forest Kingdom, but many Central Region kingdoms ruled by their desires.

The best option is to strike out immediately, extinguishing the enemy’s ambitions with iron and fire, rather than tempting them to annex other small nations!”

Duke Hiro hurriedly objected.

The speed at which the war faction disintegrated was simply too fast, and they did not even bother to struggle anymore, forcing him to step forward.

If the appeasement policy passes, war is definitely not a possibility for the time being.

As long as the Black Forest people have brains, they will know to bully and feast on the smaller nations, rather than butting heads with Alpha Kingdom.

With such a turn of events, the many nobles within the Kingdom were pleased, except for the tragic Nobles of the North.

In a time of peace, the military advantage of the Nobles of the North, which once belonged to them, will quickly be caught up with and erased by everyone else.

Some wealthy Major Nobles might even surpass them militarily due to their enormous financial resources.

“Duke Hiro, if you can solve the Kingdom’s financial problems, and find a way to make up for the military strength gap between the two sides, I think this proposal is excellent.

If you can’t do so, your suggestions are not operable.

Don’t forget, wars are fought on logistics.

Considering the Kingdom’s current financial capabilities, we might run out of money just as the war begins.

This time the enemy is not a Different Race, without the guarantee that the Human Alliance will cover for us.

If you can ensure that the Kingdom Army can continue fighting for the Kingdom when logistics and supplies are lacking, then consider my words unsaid!”

The words of Marquis Delgado left Duke Hiro speechless, the other four Grand Dukes also turned pale with annoyance.

The problem of the army being slightly weaker can be overcome.

At worst, old soldiers can be used to counter the elites.

With everyone’s wealth of combat experience, there might be chances of winning on the battlefield.

But “without money and strategic supplies”, is truly an insurmountable problem.

Given the financial situation of Alpha Kingdom, let alone going out to borrow, not being prematurely collected by creditors is already a favor.

“Count Francis, based on everyone’s just proposal, does the Department of Foreign Affairs have the ability to pacify the Black Forest Kingdom?”

Caesar IV asked with concern.