Kingdom's Bloodline, page 677
“In contrast, the Kingdom of the Great Dragon gradually fractured and weakened: the confrontation of the five archdukes at the King Selection Congress led to a bitter outcome, with four dead and one maimed.
“The blight and chaos were far worse than what we are seeing today.”
Thales recalled the old treasured sword that King Chapman always had with him, and clenched his fists.
But with a change in tone, Gilbert said warily, “But it was precisely the peak of chaos and disorder that prompted the crowning of ‘Steel Breaker King’ and Dragon Clouds City holding the position of power.
“Marking the beginning of the monopoly on the throne by the Walton family for three generations.
“And the reunification of the archdukes of ten territories.
“Bringing the Kingdom of the Great Dragon back to the pinnacle, dominating the Western Peninsula.”
No one at the long table spoke.
The shadow of the Bloody Year shrouded their minds.
Gilbert continued earnestly, “History proves that Eckstedt is no Camus, much less Thornland. They will not stay divided forever.
“And a friend once told me to never underestimate the bravery of Northlanders.”
In that moment, Thales was transported back to Dragon Clouds City. Figures of Northlanders flashed across his eyes:
King Nuven, Dead Face, Administrator Mirk, Kaslan, Chapman Lampard, Viscount Kentvida, the Fire Knight, Long-Haired Roknee, Bowl Cut, Red Witch, Gleeward the veteran, Kirks the tailor, the Raven of Death, Ian the Nuisance…
But suddenly he thought of one thing.
‘Little Rascal, and Quick Rope.
‘They’re Northlanders too.’
“Well put,” Military advisor Solder Ryder said loudly, his gaze sweeping past the ministers who were rejoicing in Eckstedt’s decline earlier, “And we have no time to lose.”
His resounding words left no room for rebuttal.
Thales noticed the Chief of Finance, Kirkirk Mann purse his lips in disapproval.
But in that instant.
“Gilbert.”
King Kessel’s voice could be heard announcing resolutely, “You’re reinstated with immediate effect. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yours—although it already is.”
The king glanced at everyone. “I believe, whether it’s Eckstedt or within Constellation, no one will raise any objections this time?”
The officials at the Imperial Conference lowered their gazes; no one spoke.
“Your bid is our command, Your Majesty,” Prime Minister Cullen responded warmly.
These words seemed like a signal. The former Foreign Affairs Minister—to be exact, the current Foreign Affairs Minister—honorary count Gilbert Caso was silent for a while before nodding respectfully, “I will do my utmost.”
Thales quietly relished the surge of undercurrents in this back-and-forth.
The king nodded and turned to another person. “Solder, I heard you have something you wanted to say?”
The military advisor bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Thales leaned back in his seat.
After learning about the outcome of the Northwestern war, he was in a much better mood. Even the pressure that enveloped him when he entered the palace had been relieved.
Now, all he had to do was quietly listen until the conference ended, then welcome the price for what he did last night.
He understood his role.
Solder opened the document in his hand and cleared his throat. “Although the development of the war was somewhat unexpected, but the conclusions of the Ministry of Military Affairs has remained fundamentally unchanged for these past few months.
“This war between Eckstedt and the Alliance of Freedom may be small in scale, but its significance is far-reaching.”
This ‘Big Soldier’ reached a palm out to indicate on the map. “City walls, chevaux de frise, military fortifications, trebuchets, Eternal Oil, Mystic Guns, military intelligence messenger crows and saker falcons, as well as the Refined Crystal Drop weapons used exclusively by elite troops—all these things played an indispensable role, much more so than before.”
Solder paused; his expression was serious. “War, my lords, war.
“War is now different in this era.”
Sitting across from him, the Chief of Finance, Kirkirk Mann did not bother to conceal his impatience. He waved a hand and groaned, “There he goes again.”
Solder grimaced.
But he suppressed his displeasure and responded patiently, “The demand that war places on logistics is increasing, and so is its dependence.”
The military advisor indicated to a few areas on the map where the previous few great wars happened.
“These historical wars tell us that the Northlanders’ military power in direct confrontations remain unparalleled, but…”
Solder’s pace of speech quickened. “Strong physiques, exceptional martial arts skills and ardent fighting spirits are all past prides. They cannot make up for hunger, broken armors and injured soldiers.”
His words made many ministers frown.
“And their bad example has proven not only that massacring and looting locally to obtain supplies is not enough for battlefield consumption, but that it can also cause unexpected resistance and hostility, and even lead to loose discipline and morale.”
Solder nodded in the direction of the king. “This was how the Alliance of Freedom—despite being only a small country—was able to trouble the three great cities of Eckstedt to the extent that they neglected certain aspects of the war and were drained, all by relying on favorable geographical and social conditions.
“That taught us a lot.”
He looked around but his gaze was met with unexpected silence.
A few ministers seemed to be communicating with their gazes, to Thales’ puzzlement.
This was his first time at the Imperial Conference. He had yet to understand the rules.
Finally, as the highest-ranked official, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, Duke Cullen coughed softly and took the bait when no one seemed willing to respond, “For example?
Solder retracted his gaze of dissatisfaction. “We cannot repeat the mistakes of the Northlanders. We have to place an emphasis on the safeguarding of supplies and logistics efficacy.
“Starting from the regular soldiers of the royal family.”
There was another bout of silence.
Even King Kessel remained wordless.
As if this was a terrible topic.
“Master Solder, we have always placed the utmost priority in our logistics supply to the regular soldiers of the royal family,” the Minister of Agriculture, Lord Krapen, who had been daydreaming for the most part of the conference, suddenly roused and hurriedly tried to draw a line between himself and the issue, “Especially during wartime, with Sunset as my witness. At the very least, there has never been a shortage of army provisions…”
Solder cut him short, “I did not mean to point a finger at you, Lord Krapen.”
But in the next moment, the military advisor’s gaze turned to Thales.
“For the past few months, the regular soldiers of the royal family and the suzerains of the Western Desert have worked together to rescue His Highness, going deep into the desert.”
The Duke of Star Lake froze subconsciously.
“That was a valuable attempt. After the Desert War, we once again tested our ability to establish a unified supply line in a foreign land, and expanded the limits of expedition logistics.
“I have submitted the report to each of you before the conference.”
Some ministers started reading the documents in front of them, while some remained composed, as if they had expected this.
But Solder raised his voice and boomed, “It has been shown that the independent logistic capabilities of the regular soldiers of the royal family are excellent: the shortest route specifically fixed by the Ministry of Military Affairs, the safeguard protocols of the rear defensive line, and the repeated combing of the desert area have guaranteed the smooth flow of the supply line, and even supported the army in driving straight towards the border the Alliance of Freedom.”
With a change in tone he continued, “But in contrast to this was the logistics organized by the local Western Desert suzerains! Dawdling and dithering, inefficient and disorganized! From Blessings Town to the frontlines in the desert, there were countless instances of illegal trading and bribery. Until now, their logistics numbers are still a mystery.”
“Consequently, there were unscrupulous merchants who smuggled the military-use Eternal Oil in Blade Fangs Camp to the desert orcs, and were intercepted by the regular soldiers!”
‘Smuggling Eternal Oil…’
Thales gulped, accepted the document that Gilbert handed over to him for shared reading and smiled in reply.
Solder Ryder turned to a page in the document in his hands and looked cross.
“Baron Williams even reported an atrocious incident—following an attack on orcs after a pursuit, his vanguard officer handled the seizure according to regulations, but was faced with the unreasonable obstruction and illegal embezzlement of the Western Desert regional recruits!
“They were irreverent towards the authority of the royal family, and almost attacked their allies!”
Hearing this familiar story, Thales rubbed his nose.
“Indeed. Legendary Wing’s also mentioned that…” Kirkirk Mann’s started saying heedlessly amid the sound of turning pages, “Loyal to king and country and in consideration of the big picture, he had to suffer in silence by dismissing a selfless and honest vanguard officer to keep the peace and save the faces of the Western Desert dukes…”
At this, the Chief of Finance’s expression changed as he slammed the document on the table. “You believe such nonsense from that dumbass?”
Thales raised his eyebrows.
‘Well, this is the appraisal that one of the phenomenal Three Constellation Commanders gets at the Imperial Conference.’
“Erm, from how it’s worded…”
Gilbert feigned a timely cough to mask Master Mann’s sudden expletive. “I believe Williams must have a new stenographer.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister’s banter was done just right. It eased the tension and prompted soft chuckles from the ministers at the Imperial Conference.
“Master Solder, I understand what you mean.”
The Minister of Agriculture, Lord Krapen—whose status in the Imperial Conference Thales began to slowly comprehend—chuckled along in response, “What I meant to say was, on logistical issues, ever since the start of the Desert War, we have cooperated well with different merchant groups and trade associations. If you need anything from food and clothing to livestock and ironware, I would be more than happy to introduce them to the Ministry of Military Affairs…”
Solder cut him off again, “No.”
The military advisor elaborated coldly, “The logistics of a war involving tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of personnel are sophisticated and complex, and require a certain amount of scale and longevity.
“No single suzerain, town, citadel, or merchant group is qualified to undertake such an onerous task.
“Not even the Ministry of Military Affairs.”
Lord Krapen’s smile froze.
Solder continued with a keen gaze, “Unless there is a royal order to unify its management, taking effect throughout the kingdom.
“The method of having recruits of suzerains arrange their own provisions and logistics, and supplement those with whatever supplies they can obtain locally, has long become obsolete.”
The ministers fell silent at these words.
The military advisor’s gaze, keen as a blade, brushed past everyone at the table. “Regardless of how varied the sources of army recruits or how many suzerains are entitled to lead troops, we need a more unified, more efficient and more convenient logistics structure.
“To be able to continuously provide supplies of sufficient quality and quantity to the frontlines in a future war that spans several years.”
Each minister had a different expression, and each was contemplating the implications behind these words.
King Kessel’s face was still hidden in the dark against the light; only a dark shadow flickered.
Prime Minister Cullen exhaled and said heartfeltly, “Master Solder, you are talking about logistics.
“But you are referring to more than just logistics, am I right?”
Solder looked towards the prime minister with a calm gaze.
Silence shrouded over Ballard Room once again.
“Alright, Big Soldier, we know what you’re up to,” the Chief of Finance, Kirkirk scoffed, having no intention of concealing his displeasure, “What else? Give it to us all in one go.”
Thales noticed that Gilbert started to wipe his lorgnette—that was a sign that he was concerned and using this opportunity to think.
Solder gave Kirkirk a stare.
“This is not the only lesson that the Northlanders taught us.”
Under the scrutinizing gaze of the entire Imperial Conference, the military advisor seemed even sturdier, showing no signs of sluggishness that betray his age.
“Taking the war of the Alliance of Freedom as an example: enticement, peppered attacks, occupation, hiding, division of troops, circumventing, eliminating enemy leaders, spying and reporting…the war cycle is lengthened, its scope is expanded, the tactics used are complex and its impact is multi-faceted. It can no longer be summarized with a few key battles.”
Solder stared at the chess pieces on the long table. “We have all seen that Eckstedt had unparalleled numbers and an advantage in direct confrontation, but it was also because of this that it was difficult for the large army to move about fluidly and they were structurally bloated.
“Against ‘Astonishing Ivan’ and his small, flexible elite squad, and engaging in battle in a foreign land, they were at a loss and did not know whether to advance or retreat.
“Not only that. Karkogel is the commander-in-chief only in name. Each of the three armies of the Northerners were not subordinate to the others; they were coordinating with each other at best. Transmission of orders was time-consuming and inefficient. It was difficult for the multi-headed command to work together. All this eventually led to a dismal outcome.”
With a change in tone, he lamented, “Yet the same deep-seated problem exists equally within our internal structure.”
Solder slammed the table with a palm. “Based on what I saw in Western Desert, the regular soldiers of the royal family and the Western Desert recruits, despite cooperating in an expedition, belong under separate command structures. The former were clearly professional and experienced elites, but were constantly held back by their peers. The latter, under the flags of different suzerains, were unruly, poorly coordinated, undisciplined, and are inferior in military strength.
“Not to mention the power struggles between the dukes of the Western Desert severely impacted the entire battle.”
Agitated, the military advisor gradually disregarded the formal diction that he had acquired over the years from his visits to Renaissance Palace, and slang from his younger days when he used to fight in the army started to appear.
“Two units of the same level could not piss together just because their commanders resented each other. Such multi-headed command hindered opportunities in battle—Baron Williams’ military report mentions this fucking point in particular.
“If not for these local suzerains and their recruits neglecting their duties and running amok, why else was His Highness’ return full of obstacles, why else did Blade Fangs Camp encounter such a disaster?”
Thales immediately sensed countless gazes fall on him.
Knowing the truth of the Western Desert incident to some extent, he felt pressured.
But the figure at the end of the long table remained unmoving.
Faced with Solder’s questions, the ministers were equally silent.
The only person standing to one side, the scar-faced envoy from the Secret Intelligence Department, morphed into a sculpture and did not move an inch.
Duke Cullen, seemingly accustomed to this work of recommencing a conversation after silence, slowly asked, “So?”
Solder took a deep breath, “In the Bloody Year, the Starlight Brigade proved this point. Today, Eckstedt and the Alliance of Freedom has restated it.
“In contemporary wars, the key no longer lies in quantity and intensity, but quality and efficiency.”
He raised a clenched fist as he rallied, “So we need a unified chain of command, reliable logistics, more military-savvy soldiers, strict tiered structures, efficient communication, as well as the spirit and awareness of selfless dedication.”
Solder presented his point fervently, ignoring the looks of discomfort directed at him by his colleagues. “And we cannot expect the recruits of the extensive number of suzerains to achieve this, whether they are immediate vassals of His Majesty or dukes and counts of remote feudal territories.
“Only the regular soldiers of the royal family, who are professional soldiers, are reliable!”
Contrary to his usual leisurely manner of speech, Prime Minister Cullen raised his voice and asked somberly, “Master Solder, what exactly are you trying to say?”
The military advisor thumped the table and said loudly, “My fellow ministers, times have changed.
“For the sake of the future, we need more active-duty officers and more professional soldiers to assume stricter responsibilities and more important tasks across the kingdom, in case of a rainy day!
“The expansion of the regular soldiers of the royal family has to be included in the agenda.”
Solder’s words were met with another bout of silence.
In the tense atmosphere, Thales stretched his back, which felt equally tense.
He saw Gilbert gently close his eyes.
“Expand…” Duke Cullen sighed, “How many times does this make?”
“Three,” Kirkirk Mann replied almost instantly without batting an eyelid, clearly no stranger to the situation, “And this is not including the four times that he was vetoed.”
