King
Chapter 950 - 950 111 Penetrating Deep Alone_2

950: Chapter 111: Penetrating Deep Alone_2 950: Chapter 111: Penetrating Deep Alone_2 Compared to that, the situation on the western front was even more complex.

“Marshal, the great northern battle is imminent.

Shouldn’t we now…”

Before Count Orlan could finish speaking, Hudson interrupted, “The Kingdom naturally has to send reinforcements, but it must be done in an orderly manner.

The same military force, when distributed across various provinces and sent to the Northern Border, would consume resources on an entirely different scale.

The strategic resources gathered by the Kingdom were limited, merely a third of what they had before the outbreak of the last war.

Currently, every country on the continent is preoccupied with its own wars, completely disregarding us.

Going forward, we can only use our limited strategic resources to fight an endless battle.”

When it came to Kingdom strategy, even the face of his father-in-law was not enough.

People could recruit soldiers swiftly, but couldn’t produce strategic resources just as quickly.

For the sake of victory, some sacrifices were essential.

There were things that could be done but must never be spoken aloud.

Deep down, Hudson entertained the thought of letting the Northern Border be devastated, yet he dared not reveal such thoughts in his actions.

Otherwise, the Nobles of the North could tear him to pieces.

It was best to leave such antagonizing matters to “unavoidable” circumstances.

An incomplete defense line was just scapegoat number one.

Insufficient strategic resources belonged to scapegoat number two.

More scapegoats would appear to prove it wasn’t due to Master Hudson’s lack of effort, but that the objective conditions did not permit.

“Marshal, since strategic resources are insufficient, let’s make it quick in the Northern Border!

First concentrate our forces and crush the Orc Army, and then…”

Before Duke Hiro could finish, Hudson simply shook his head.

“Duke, in a situation where the strength gap is not significant, a quick battle is never one-sided.

The Orcs aren’t fools.

Why would they engage in a decisive battle with us?

All they need to do is tie up our main force and buy time for the two Different Races on the western front.

You are more familiar with the situation on the prairies than I am.

If the Orc Army doesn’t engage us decisively, does the Kingdom’s Army have any chance to penetrate deep into the Great Prairie and fight them?

Don’t forget how much strategic resources we consumed last time to counterattack the Great Prairie Alliance.

With the little reserve of resources in the Light Kingdom, what do we have to force them into a decisive battle?

Moreover, we don’t even have time.

The situation on the western front could collapse at any moment.

Moxi Duchy could only hold on for two months at most under the assault of the two Different Races.

The time left for the Kingdom does not exceed three months.

One month for national mobilization, another month for the army to assemble and rush to the frontline, and at least twenty days to provide support to the western front after the battle.

Assuming everything goes smoothly, the total time left for the army to fight a decisive battle against the Orcs is just about ten days.

How could we fight this battle?”

You don’t realize until you count, and it’s shocking when you do.

Hudson’s question, “How could we fight this battle,” left everyone speechless.

The actual situation was likely to be even more severe than theoretical deductions.

Judging by the data, the current military strength of the Kingdom was only on par with that of the Orc Empire.

Even those present, though not commanders themselves, knew enough about military affairs from observation and experience to understand the consequences of a hasty battle with the enemy.

If Hudson, the strongest tactician and Commander in Chief, said it was not feasible, the others were even less confident.

Duke Hiro was obviously under pressure from the Nobles of the North, unable to bear it and wanted a quick solution from him.

But, unexpectedly, not only did Hudson not take it, he instead provided a deep analysis and bluntly said, “How could we fight this battle?”

Without a doubt, this was a question no one could answer.

If everyone knew how to fight, Hudson wouldn’t need to be in his position.

Currently, the primary source of strategic resources for the Kingdom was still the South Province, which had not been affected by the war.

From the perspective of the Kingdom, the security of these provinces was more important than the Northern Border.

If any mishap occurred in these rear provinces, it would be useless no matter how well the Northern Border fought.

With a lack of strategic resources, the Kingdom’s defeat was merely a matter of time.

In fact, internal pressure within the Kingdom always existed.

If Hudson hadn’t recently achieved a great victory on the western front, internal disputes would have been even greater.

No one criticized his strategy now because the west was fought brilliantly, and the casualty ratio did not invite criticism.

Despite the situation continually worsening, it was not Hudson’s fault.

The poor performance of allies was an inescapable error.

Having quickly ended the meeting in the Capital, Hudson went straight to the frontline.

Those trying to pressure him to change the current strategy were simply thinking too much.

The Nobles of the Northern Border might have many objections, but they couldn’t change the fact that the Orcs were at their doorstep.

They wanted the Kingdom’s main force to gather in the north, yet faced the predicament of insufficient strategic resources.

With two unchangeable realities compounded, many began to suspect that Hudson’s previously proposed “North first, then West strategy” was merely a means to ascend and mislead them.

Suspicions were futile, the military’s strategic inclination towards the north was evident to all.

The Kingdom invested heavily in the defense line, to claim that Hudson, the Commander in Chief, didn’t support the Northern Border was obviously not persuasive.

Apart from Hudson himself, the only other person with full knowledge was Caesar IV.

But everyone shared the spoils, and he, too, played a disgraceful role in the shifts of Kingdom strategy.

The situation was deteriorating; it was time to let the Noble Lords of the North endure some hardship.

Risk and reward were proportional; the more they enjoyed expanding territories previously, the greater the risk they must now bear.