Chapter 25: Unconventional Tactics

fact proved that Lenta’s advice was extremely wise and correct. The Minglan Knights and the Homer Knights had become the two main forces under her command. One was based on the Poznan and Silesia knights, while the other was based on the Homer knights. Knights from both regions took pride in joining these orders. Meanwhile, the Gothenburg Knights were striving hard to catch up with these forces, hoping to become another major player in the shortest time possible.

The strength of all three knight orders recovered rapidly, even expanding. Through competitive battles, they abandoned their previous reliance on superficial splendor and clichés, embracing more practical combat experience, which led to a qualitative leap in their combat capabilities.

While knightly forces alone cannot determine the outcome of wars, with their existing advantages in infantry and mage forces, the addition of these three knight orders undoubtedly added significant weight to the scale of victory.

In fact, Komer had long analyzed the composition of the Northern Alliance’s military forces. Compared to Nicomedia, the Northern Alliance had much stronger knightly forces, but their infantry was far inferior to the Rockbound Corps (half-orc forces) and the Stormtroop Corps (barbarian forces) under his control. This was the main reason they were forced to adopt a tough defensive stance in the face of the relentless assaults by orcs from the northern borders.

However, once the orcs penetrated deep into the Northern Alliance’s territory, its armies could use their relatively well-developed fortress defense systems to limit the orcs’ impact. They would also concentrate their forces to launch decisive battles at the right moment, thereby inflicting heavy losses on the orc armies. In the end, the orcs were always forced to retreat in defeat.

Komer had also compared his own military strength with that of the Northern Alliance. How to use his advantages to suppress the enemy and secure victory had been a topic he and Fran had studied. But military conflicts cannot be won solely through tactics. While he considered how to exploit his strengths to counter the enemy’s advantages, the enemy was doing the same, seeking ways to counter or counterattack. The Northern Alliance also had many excellent military leaders; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to stand firm in their battles against the orcs to this day.

Many pre-planned strategies turn out to be useless in actual combat. Komer could only advise considering everything thoroughly as much as possible; ultimately, it was strength and adaptability on the spot that determined the outcome of wars. While Komer was focused on figuring out how to deploy military forces to face what could be called the battle that would decide the fates of Nicosia and himself, Fran quietly arrived in Komer’s study. Komer’s gaze kept drifting toward the Göteborg region, which had recently come under his control. Fortunately, Hoffman had withdrawn cleanly from the uncontested struggle for power, so hostility toward him in that area wasn’t too strong. The Anson family, represented by Lenta, siding with him also helped resolve many conflicts, further strengthening the Göteborg Knights. What should be done now? Wait passively until the Northern Alliance fully controlled the Katin region before taking action, or strike first? The former was slower but allowed more time to prepare forces, while the latter could gain the upper hand but risk a fierce counterattack from the Northern Alliance, which was already gathering strength. “Fran, what should we do now?” Komer suddenly raised his head. “It depends on how you plan to fight this battle. If you just want to drive the Northern Alliance out of Nicosia, it’s best to strike first. As long as we can hold our ground initially and let my reinforcements follow, the Northern Alliance’s current strength isn’t enough to match ours, unless they send more troops,” Fran said. He had realized the war was inevitable as soon as he received Mahagumi’s report and had issued mobilization orders to the logistics department and combat troops at top speed before coming to Komer. “If we’re going for a full-scale war to completely break the Northern Alliance’s back, we might as well let them come in. Katin isn’t something they can swallow whole. If we can unite with Bessarabia and launch a joint attack, I think we can give them a harsh lesson.” “It doesn’t depend on us; it depends on the Northern Alliance,” Komer frowned. Fran’s words seemed open to debate.

“Yes, so my lord needn’t worry too much. Since the scale of the war depends on the opponent, there’s no need to overthink it. We just fight when they come. We’ll commit as many forces as we’re ready to at this point. The Northern Alliance’s current forces aren’t particularly strong, and the core members of the Attica and Knossos alliances aren’t fully prepared for a full-scale war. I doubt they’re mentally ready for one, especially regarding Katyn. Even if their rulers have such intentions, it will still take time to convince their nobles and people.”

Fran’s tactful words immediately resolved Komer’s doubts.

“Order Dragumo to lead the vanguard into Katyn first, with the Gothen Knights and Homer Knights following. The Stormtroop Corps and Minglan Knights should get ready as well. They must arrive at the designated location within three days. Within a week, I want to see our forces competing with the Northern Alliance on equal terms.”

“My lord, I suggest using the Nise River route to transport some of the half-orc troops to Livonia first. After all, that area is already territory promised to you by Princess Kakiya. I believe the Northern Alliance will hope to avoid direct conflict with us until we declare war officially. This is our opportunity. Securing Livonia will be very advantageous for us to launch another front in our future efforts to reclaim Katyn.”

Fran’s suggestion caught Komer’s attention—it was a good idea. The Northern Alliance had no legitimate claim to enter Katyn, and they hadn’t raised any slogans to attack him, clearly not wanting to engage in a large-scale conflict right away. They also needed some time to prepare, and that time would work in his favor.

“Hmm, very good. Proceed as you suggest. Send Dragumo to seize Livonia. He must hold it firmly. Once we control Livonia, the Northern Alliance will have to fight on two fronts. Fran, speed up the mobilization of the remaining troops—everyone must be on the battlefield within three days.” Komer decided with a clap of his hands.

Dragumo, returning from the South Cordillera Wasteland, received the urgent order in a daze. With hardly any chance to ask questions or gather information, he led three thousand soldiers by boat from Plovdiv to the designated location in the middle of the night. After landing, they marched rapidly for two days to Fortress Bruce, then boarded ships and set off upstream.

Two days of non-stop marching exhausted even the proud and tough orc soldiers. Though they were regularly trained in such marches, they had never faced such intense exertion before. Moreover, the strict military orders left them no room for negotiation—after all, orcs never had the habit of bargaining.

Fortunately, as soon as they boarded the ships at Bruce Fortress, the orc soldiers got some time to rest. Thirty large cargo ships of various sizes were requisitioned temporarily, and their holds hadn’t even been cleaned of coal ash or slag. The orc soldiers hurriedly boarded, and soon thunderous snoring filled the cabins.

Dragothmo was also tired—such intense marching drained a lot of energy. But as a commander, he naturally had to work harder than the soldiers. Right now, he had to fight off sleep while thinking about the purpose of this mission.

The joint order from Komer andFranz was simple: control and defend Livonia, ensuring it wasn’t lost for at least a week. By then, three thousand reinforcements would arrive. The enemy was an army from the Northern Alliance, with unknown numbers, ranks, or commanders.

Dragothmo immediately realized how tricky this mission was. This wasn’t like the almost drill-like battles in the South Cordillera Desert. With no information about the enemy, he would need to send scouts to gather intelligence as soon as he set foot in Livonia. Livonia was far too distant from Komer’s territory—reinforcements were out of the question for several days. Dragothmo knew Komer’s main forces were concentrated in Gothenburg, and his three thousand men were waiting in Plovdiv to receive another three thousand orc recruits trained at the Muscat Camp.

Dragothmo took a deep breath. Wait—could those three thousand reinforcements be the new recruits from the Muscat Camp?!

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. That would indeed be a troublesome situation. Those three thousand recruits had no combat experience. Although Dragothmo trusted the quality of orc soldiers, this was a brutal war, and he had been given a strict order to defend Livonia. Clearly, the enemy was powerful, and he might face the cruelest and most unfavorable circumstances. What would those inexperienced recruits bring?

This was truly bad news.