The King

Chapter 446: checks and balances

   is in chaos, the entire Warhammer Kingdom is in chaos. Losing the restraint of the expeditionary force, the major factions have started a crazy infighting mode.

  First, the resistance armed forces from all over the country joined forces to overthrow the exile faction, and then there was a split within the resistance armed forces, with grassroots factions and noble factions fighting non-stop.

   Undoubtedly, the shadow of the Moxi people must be behind this. If there is no external provocation, even if there is a conflict, it will not intensify so quickly.

  After all, in the previous war, countless veteran nobles have been eliminated, leaving a large piece of unclaimed land for everyone to divide.

   None of this has anything to do with the returning Hudson. For the Warhammer people, infighting is a terrible thing; but looking at the whole continent, it becomes a small disturbance not worth mentioning.

  The international influence caused by it has not been as high as the rescue of the captives by the elves, and it has received a high degree of attention.

   But it's just attention, the Warhammer Kingdom is in a state of anarchy, and all parties don't know who to turn to if they want to protest.

  It was like the wind when it came, but it turned into a snail when it went back. It's not that the quality of the expeditionary force has declined, it's mainly because there are too many spoils.

   Not many things were seized directly, but there were not many gifts received. Hudson didn't eat alone, it was a military practice to share the profits.

  In order to transport the trophies, everyone’s poor horses are now pulling carts. Not only did the cavalry become infantry, but they also had to work part-time as civilian husbands.

  Transport your own loot, no matter how hard or tiring it is, no one complains. Everyone has a lot of big and small bags, and on the surface it seems that the harvest is similar.

  The difference lies in the value. The more outstanding the military exploits, the higher the value of the spoils.

  The trophies of officers and soldiers at the bottom are mostly practical. Cloth, salt, tea, gold coins...

   Obviously, Hudson also worked **** the distribution of spoils. In the case of meeting actual needs, be as fair and equitable as possible.

   "Marshal, urgent report on the northern line!"

   Received the battle report, glanced at it roughly, and Hudson said blankly: "Got it."

   He was startled, thinking that something big happened, but he didn't expect that he had lost a line of defense.

  The line of defense created by temporary rush work is not bad if it can be used, what else can I ask for.

  If you lose it, you will lose it. From the northern border to the southern border, the kingdom still has countless lines of defense.

  The orc empire in its heyday had no way to break through the kingdom's defenses in a short period of time, let alone now.

  The rich experience of being beaten allows the Kingdom's army to always preserve its vitality to the greatest extent when the line of defense is lost.

  Data don't lie. A line of defense held back the orc army for more than a month, losing 40,000 troops, which Hudson could fully accept.

   Of course, there is serious water in these figures. It is said that the enemy army was delayed for more than a month, and the time for the enemy to actually launch an attack must be much shorter.

  Hudson is sure that the orcs have no idea at the moment, but if they want to keep the newly recovered prairie, they have to continue this war.

  According to his original vision, the orc empire would invade the kingdom with all its strength, and the newly recovered provinces in northern Xinjiang would all fall, placing the battlefield on the territories of the five northern dukes.

   This is not to cheat teammates, but the five dukes are often beaten, they are the most experienced in facing the orc invasion, and the fortifications in the territory are also the most complete.

   In contrast, the newly recovered provinces are not good enough. The development time is too short, the infrastructure is not perfect, and the battlefield is placed there, and logistics is a big problem.

  If it weren't for Hudson's quick victory on the western front, the pressure of the two fronts was superimposed, and the kingdom would not last long at all.

  The army moved forward slowly, as if it was completely unaffected by the defeat in Northern Xinjiang. It's just that Hudson can sit, but it doesn't mean that all the northern Xinjiang nobles can also sit.

  Different from ordinary human countries, the Alpha Kingdom's handling of lords' lost cities and lands is extremely strict.

  In the previous orc invasions, countless noble lords died on the battlefield, not because they couldn't run, but because they couldn't run.

  The killing of the orcs is a test of life and death for the noble lords in the border areas.

  In the Emerald Palace, Caesar IV was in a state of sorrow and joy. He had just received the good news of the truce on the western front, and a letter of plea for help from northern Xinjiang came to him like snowflakes.

   "The Expeditionary Army, how long will it take to reach the capital?"

   Caesar IV asked concerned.

   "Expeditionary Army", this special army, has placed high hopes on the kingdom since its birth.

  Facts have proved that the Kingdom made the right move. Relying on the high mobility of the elite cavalry, they quickly defeated the alliance of the ancient survivors, deterred the elves, and laid the foundation for the signing of the non-aggression treaty.

  These are only direct impacts, causing even greater indirect impacts. After the Warhammer Battle of the Great Plains, the countries' judgment on the strength of the Alpha Kingdom was once again invisibly elevated.

   Originally due to the serious injury after the war, the international status that fell, suddenly came back.

  "Heroes" are always vulnerable to special attention. In particular, the expeditionary army was assembled from private armies of various families, and the royal family was the main force among them.

   Nearly 30% of the officers and soldiers in the expeditionary force came from the royal family. It can be said that the elite children of the younger generation of the royal family are basically stuffed in.

  The situation of each family is similar. They have sent their best children to experience it, and learn how Hudson uses soldiers by the way.

  Compared to the illustrious military achievements of the expeditionary army, they actually cared more about the safety of their own children.

   In the battle report issued by Hudson earlier, there was only one death toll, and the identity of the deceased was not introduced in detail.

   "Your Majesty, according to the current speed of the expeditionary force, it will take about ten days to reach the capital.

   Look, do you want to urge them to speed up? "

   Archduke Afiero asked tentatively.

   The news that the expeditionary army has gained a lot is no secret in the capital.

  My own children are also in the army, and there is a high probability that they are also one of the vested interests. Naturally, no one will criticize this.

  Including the slow marching speed, it is also acquiesced by everyone. What's more, after such a long period of high-intensity combat, it's time for the expeditionary force to rest and reorganize, and they can't waste the elite just because they are on their way.

   "Forget it, they have a lot of luggage, so the marching speed should be slower, just slower!"

   Caesar IV waved his hand and said.

   When they came back, their speed was less than half of the speed when they went out. The expeditionary force can be regarded as setting a record, which is completely contrary to the normal march of "returning like an arrow".

  Caesar IV was able to not panic because it was time to reap the fruits of victory on the Western Front, and it was not unacceptable to temporarily lose the sparsely populated poor provinces in the north.

   It is not the same as other great nobles, and they can bear it. In addition to letters of appeal for help, it is inevitable to start public relations in the capital.

   "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry about the issue of rewards for the expeditionary army. But the situation in northern Xinjiang is imminent. Since the war broke out, we have fallen to thirteen counties, and many strategic locations have been threatened.

  The Earls of Oran, Albert, Doug, and Forbes in the border area...all sent urgent letters for help.

  The commander-in-chief of the front line, Marquis James, also sent a letter for help, claiming that the defense line deployed by the Kingdom in the border area is far from meeting the needs of the war.

  According to his estimation, if there is no more reinforcements to join the battle, in the next three to six months, the kingdom will lose the seven northern provinces again. "

  The prime minister, the Grand Duke of Newfoundland, said solemnly.

  Purely from an economic point of view, the seven provinces in northern Xinjiang have made a direct negative contribution to the kingdom, and the central government has to allocate funds for relief every year.

   But the accounts are not calculated that way. The Alpha Kingdom has a total of more than 30 provinces, and losing seven provinces at once, no one can afford the political impact.

  If such a tragedy really happened, then the emerging aristocratic group that had just risen would definitely suffer a devastating blow.

  The political structure of the kingdom will definitely be impacted. The old aristocrat's right to speak has been further strengthened, and Hudson is the only one left among the emerging aristocrats.

   There is no problem with self-protection. If you want him to balance the power of the old nobles alone, then there is no need to fantasize. It is even more likely to jump ship directly and join the old noble camp.

  Anyway, the internal camp confrontation in the Alpha Kingdom is not that sharp, and the boundaries between the old and new aristocratic groups have always been blurred.

  The Koslow family has also been inherited for thousands of years, and Hudson has made up for the shortcomings of the inheritance. As long as you have a thicker skin, you can also join the circle.

   "Is the whole country mobilized?"

   Caesar IV asked uncertainly.

   Every time the orcs invade in an all-round way, the Alpha Kingdom will mobilize the whole country. It stands to reason that this time will be no exception, but the reality does not allow it.

  The strategic materials raised by the kingdom at the moment are far less than in previous wars. If there is a nationwide mobilization, the biggest problem is how to solve the logistics of the army.

  The newly recovered seven provinces in northern Xinjiang are all poor. The local industrial economy is almost zero, and the food production is difficult to support themselves.

  Don't say that it is to provide food and supplies for the army, it is not bad if it is not hindered. Maybe the kingdom will have to take out valuable strategic materials to rescue the refugees caused by the war.

   "Your Majesty, absolutely not!

  The current situation has not reached that point yet, and the national mobilization has too much influence, so it can only be the last choice.

  Because of this war, in the past month, the kingdom has added another 3.86 million gold coins to its budget deficit.

  Lack of money can still find a way, but strategic materials cannot be changed. There are wars everywhere now, and it is difficult to buy enough strategic materials even if you have money.

  We have done our best to raise supplies. The material consumption of the more than 500,000 troops on the front line alone drove the whole kingdom to go crazy. "

  Finance Minister Marquis Delgado cried bitterly.

  Among the high positions in the Alpha Kingdom, the most difficult one is the Ministry of Finance. It seems to have a high position and weight, but it is actually a mess.

   Either filling the hole, or trying to find a way to fill the hole. From home to abroad, their creditors are everywhere.

  Whenever the night was quiet, the bald Marquis Delgado wanted to let the finances go bankrupt instead of just putting it to pieces.

  However, this kind of thing that has been infamous for thousands of years can only be thought about in the end. If you really want to go bankrupt, you can't appear in your own hands.

  Among the ministers of the kingdom, Marquis Delgado submitted the most letters of resignation. The resignation letters contributed by one person exceed the sum of the heads of various government departments.

  When Caesar IV succeeded to the throne, he once wanted to replace this preoccupied old man, but after gaining a deep understanding of the kingdom's finances, he finally dismissed this dangerous idea.

  In any case, Marquis Delgado was able to close the gap without causing financial collapse.

  If you change to someone with poor ability, you might be overwhelmed all of a sudden. This kind of shocking hole, Caesar IV will be scared when he sees it.

   "Marquis Delgado is right. Given the current situation in the kingdom, if we really mobilize the whole country, we can only last for more than five months at most.

  Especially, the road conditions in these seven provinces are worrying, which increases the logistical pressure. According to the estimates of our Ministry of Military Affairs, maintaining the current strength on the front line is almost the limit.

  The best choice now is to let the front line hold on for a while, and then go to the front line to fight the enemy after the expeditionary force finishes resting.

   This is also the opinion of Marshal Hudson! "

   Grand Duke Afiero echoed.

  As the Minister of Military Affairs, he knows the soldiers well. The situation on the front line is indeed dangerous, but it is not time to collapse immediately.

   Without the support of the Human Race Alliance, it is a miracle in itself to be able to support 500,000 troops to fight on their own.

   "Your Majesty, what the two ministers said is very reasonable, but we have to consider the demands of the frontline nobles.

  If we cannot send reinforcements in a short period of time, can we consider replacing with a strong commander? "

   As soon as the voice of the Prime Minister, the Grand Duke of Newfoundland, fell to the ground, Caesar IV understood it instantly. Originally, I wondered why these issues were so controversial. The relationship was just acting for him, and the real purpose was to change coaches.

  Hudson hasn't even arrived in the capital yet, so he was assigned a new position so quickly. The Marquis James, who needs to be sacrificed, happens to be his confidant.

   Objection is impossible. The most powerful people in the court have unified their positions, and the local nobles have also made demands, and the king has no way to stop them.

   It's not that everyone doesn't give Marquis James a chance, it's because he can't win the battle! No matter what the reason is, if you lose, you lose.

  Compared with a defeated commander, everyone is more willing to believe in Hudson, who beat the orc to doubt his life in the last battle.

  Even though the performance of Marquis James was not bad, he was able to keep the main force of the Kingdom's army when the enemy was strong and we were weak, but he couldn't stand the comparison.

  "It is a taboo for military strategists to change the commander in the middle of the battle. Moreover, Marshal Hudson has just finished a battle and needs time to adjust and rest.

  The expeditionary force that has just returned to China also needs to restore its combat effectiveness, and it is also inseparable from Marshal Hudson.

   Otherwise, let Marquis James continue to serve as the commander-in-chief of the front line, and wait for Marshal Hudson to finish handling the affairs of the expeditionary force before taking over the command of the front line. "

  Caesar IV strives for Tao.

  After working hard for such a long time, he still had to return to zero in the end. His heart was broken. However, his performance on the front line made him lack the confidence to support Marquis James.

   Gaining time at this moment is also the last struggle of Caesar IV. If Marquis James can win a big victory on the front line, he can also gain some military say.

   After everyone looked at each other, they agreed. It can't be compared with Hudson, but compared to other generals in the kingdom, Marquis James has at least the experience of commanding hundreds of thousands of troops.

   During the last war, he followed Hudson as the deputy commander, and after the war, he served as the commander of the standing army. He still has very rich experience in leading troops.

  In fact, everyone does not want the Hudson family to dominate. The current embarrassing situation is only due to the lack of candidates to check and balance.

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