424: Chapter 55, Duke with a Cold Face_1 424: Chapter 55, Duke with a Cold Face_1 After a brief conversation, Hudson understood Harley’s purpose.
As expected, the situation in Dapes was tense, and they needed to trigger some movements.
Severing the supply line of the Orc Army was indeed a great objective, one that couldn’t be thought up over just a few drinks.
Hudson assumed that the folks at the capital harbored no such fantasies.
Their main aim was to prompt action and stop the continuous reinforcements of the Orcs.
Despite the lack of specific data, based on the troop movements of the Bearman Imperial Court, Hudson estimated that the number of Orcs besieging Dapes would not be less than 300,000.
This number was still growing, though the elite forces were only those initially present.
There seemed to be no limit to the cannon fodder.
The cause of all this was clear to Hudson without investigation.
Simply put, native nobles were easier to bully and obtaining food supplies was less difficult.
Any castle taken would result in substantial gain.
Even if the defenders burned the granary, the strong stomach of the Orcs could digest the charred grains to satiate hunger.
As long as the city was captured quickly enough, there would be grains left to eat.
With meat and grains readily available, the pressure on logistic support lessened, allowing for continuous reinforcements at the front line.
An ant can harm a giant elephant with enough bites.
As the besieged Orc Army continually increased, it was clear to see how much pressure the disconnected defenders were under.
“Baron Harley, I understand.
Please relay to Marshal Hodge that we’re watching for opportunities to retaliate.
At the latest by this month, the expeditionary army will devise a large-scale operation.
He should just wait for our good news,” Hudson promised enthusiastically.
There would be action, but the specific timing would depend on when the Orcs presented an opportunity.
The best soldiers were made by battle, and Hudson needed to find a suitable opportunity for the two newly revised legions to draw blood.
The Battle of Dachias doesn’t count.
Being pursued by the enemy, the broken soldiers couldn’t be effectively honed.
“Thank you for your understanding, Earl Hudson.
Marshal Hodge is under great pressure.
To be honest, our previous attacks all ended fruitlessly.
You’re aware of the situation in Dapes.
While the Human Alliance has decided to wage war against the Orcs, disputes about troop quotas are still ongoing,” Baron Harley said worriedly.
Unlike Hudson, who hailed from outside, the native nobles of Moxi Duchy all held great expectations for the defense of Dapes – it was their last hope.
Once Dapes fell, the Moxi Duchy could basically announce its end.
The thought of relocating and continuing the fight was a pipe dream.
Losing the most fertile plains, the leftovers couldn’t sustain the ensuing war.
Re-establishing the country after the war hinged on intelligence.
If they merely repelled the Orc Army, with such a wicked neighbor, few would covet the land of Moxi Duchy.
However, this time the Human Alliance was determined to give the Orcs a taste of their own medicine.
If they successfully heavily damaged the Orc Empire and helped the Alpha Kingdom reclaim their lands, Moxi Duchy would once again be a secure rear.
Affluence and safety invited plunder.
The nobles who fought would come to gain a share of the rewards.
Relying on others to reestablish Moxi Duchy, they couldn’t bargain with a strong hand.
The best approach was self-reliance, or all would be turned into exiled nobles, without assets, allowing others to divide the spoils.
“Baron Harley, rest assured.
We are both facing similar issues.
If your country fell, we wouldn’t be far off.
Looking at the Orcs’ conduct, it’s clear that they’re on their last ropes.
We assume that the Alliance’s resolution scared them.
They intended to swiftly conquer the Northern Lands before the Allied Forces arrived, hoping to attract different races to the war.
However, such wicked tactics are bound to fail.
The great Lord of the Dawn will not watch his people continually slaughtered by the Orcs.
The darkest hour is just before dawn, and the light will arrive soon.
Considering that aid from different countries has not arrived yet, I believe your country should first seek immediate help from the Alliance.
For instance: strategic resources, weapons, equipment that you lack, or support from high-end forces, particularly the Aerial Forces.
With the Hawkman constantly flying overhead, a lot of secrets have been exposed, which has been tough to counter.
The communications among our troops need to be strengthened.
If we have enough Aerial Forces to coordinate the defenders along the entire line, we can drastically increase our fighting capacity,” Hudson suggested persistently.
The resources of the Human Alliance should be taken if offered.
If they really received support from various countries, representing the Alpha Kingdom’s expeditionary army, they would certainly be able to get a share.
As for the debt, that would be Moxi Duchy’s problem, unrelated to him as a guest commander.
Tiny calculations were insignificant.
The key was that these suggestions were genuinely to solve issues.
The reason they were trapped in Flying Bear Fort without any action, was not because of the powerful Orc Army, nor because Hudson was cowardly.
The main reason was that every movement was under the enemy’s watchful eyes, so it was difficult to act.
These days, Hudson had been observing the habits of the Hawkman Scouts, hoping to seize an opportunity to launch a severe blow and plan for a outing hunt.
However, there was a high degree of uncertainty.
If the Hawkman Scouts were cautious and didn’t move within range, Hudson was powerless.