My Players Are So Fierce

849: 289.

Affirmation from Marshal Loren_2

849: 289.

Affirmation from Marshal Loren_2

The good news is, our guess was correct.

After the heavy blow in Westerburg and the ongoing conflict of two years, the once fully-staffed Winged Cavalry of 5,000 with an equal number in reserve now has less than 500 battle-worthy men left.

The bad news is that the hardships haven’t crushed those highlanders; they seem to be fiercer than before.

This might be a good thing, considering the situation with the Black Disaster approaching.

Their emergence means there is a greater likelihood that Transylvania could hold back the Jackal and Wolf People’s advance.

Additionally, based on some clues captured by our Scout, we can now basically judge that Count Cico’s lineage has not died out.

The Winged Cavalry still have a lord they can pledge allegiance to, which means that it’s very likely West Cico’s Earldom will soon come under the rule of that young Vampire Governor.

It’s hard to imagine, but he truly brought the entire Transylvania under his rule in just one month.”

“He even crushed the troublesome Jackal and Wolf People quickly, despite being at a severe disadvantage.”

Marshal Loren snorted and narrowed his eyes as he said:

“It seems I need to adjust my impression of Lord Morphy a bit; that makeup-wearing vampire isn’t a pansy, but a man who can indeed stand tall—a capable man and a potential adversary to be taken seriously.

However, given their current manpower, even if they have defeated the Jackal and Wolf People, the gathered bandits shouldn’t have been completely eliminated so swiftly, right?”

“No, they haven’t.

According to the continuous reconnaissance by our Scouts, Governor Morphy has nearly sent out all his manpower in Count Cadman’s Domain and part of the Andma Hills to execute a crushing campaign, but we noticed they didn’t simply exterminate the Jackal and Wolf People en masse.

Instead, they captured a large part of them.”

The Human General said with some concern:

“That Vampire Governor has captured the Jackal and Wolf People and put them to work in the quarries of Moore Village Baron’s territory.

Additionally, he’s been capturing Gnolls and sending them to mines in the southern part of Transylvania.

According to our spies in Nordtof, that mining area has been temporarily allocated to the Winter Wolf Army as collateral to ensure the food trade between Transylvania and Nordtof.

Hence, I guess the vampire plans to use the Jackal and Wolf People and Gnolls as expendables, to restart some of their facilities within their territory; in the face of a manpower shortage, it’s not a bad emergency strategy.

But the troubling thing is, that cunning vampire has driven a large portion of the defeated Jackal and Wolf People onto our territory…

even the areas around Lake Xiuerpres in the East Prussia border and the Kato area have seen traces of Jackal and Wolf People.”

“So, you think this is a bad thing?”

Marshal Loren rolled his eyes as he said to the General he trusted:

“It’s a pretty good tactic—to have one’s powerful neighbor help bear part of the defense burden is a rather cunning strategy.

But for us, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, Soros.

Our soldiers combat their own kind year-round, and lack experience dealing with barbarians.

Let’s use these fleeing Jackal and Wolf People as practice for the new recruits, as a live combat training to prepare for the Black Disaster.”

“Of course, our soldiers have no problem!

I believe that even a new recruit wouldn’t lack the courage to confront the Jackal and Wolf People, but the problem, Loren, is that I do not trust all the soldiers of East Prussia,”

General Soros finally voiced his worry.

He observed the Marshal’s expression before quietly sharing some bad news he had just received, saying in a low voice:

“Those fleeing Jackal and Wolf People crossed the border on a large scale two days ago, but last night, they had raided three villages, causing over 200 casualties…”

“?”

The Half-Dwarf Marshal’s entire expression froze.

Then, a visible anger burst forth on his face, and his clenched fist slammed hard onto the table, making the teacups in front of them jump and spill the fragrant tea everywhere.

“I clearly set up a perfect defense zone along the East Prussia border, with at least one Allied Forces detachment stationed at each zone.

It’s just fleeing Jackal and Wolf People, for Christ’s sake!

How could their defenses have such a massive gap?”

He bellowed:

“Who was in charge of that defense zone?

I’m going to drag him to the military court!

This is sheer negligence!

No, this is collusion and murder!”

The Dwarf’s loud voice made General Soros want to cover his ears, but he knew he couldn’t do that, or the petty-minded Marshal would take note of it.

He sat up straight and after Marshal Loren finished roaring like a lion, he reported with a face that looked more dead than alive:

“All the defense zones guarded by the Pioneer Corps and even our Retinue Army were as solid as a rock.

The problem occurred in a Border Defense Force’s defense zone.

At the time the Jackal and Wolf People raiders broke into the villages, those rabble were still feasting.

They received the news even later than the Pioneer Fortress, and the troops defending those three villages had run away before the battle began.

I’m just grateful it was the Jackal and Wolf People and not the regular Transylvanian army that came; otherwise, that gap would have been enough to bring a shameful defeat to our defensive line.

The commander of that defense zone and the deserters have already been hanged by the military judge, but this has exposed a terrible problem, Loren, the local Border Defense Force that we’ve incorporated is a mess.”