Chapter 861: Chapter 103: Crisis Emerges · The Development of Flash Spear City (2)
Talent isn’t just about attracting them to the Hesse Territory and then resting easy.
Every year, the village graduates so many young and enthusiastic students. If you don’t find them something to do, they’ll definitely find something for you, and what they find won’t be so ordinary—at the very least, it’ll be quite spectacular.
Thus, after Oliver’s report, Su Li summoned Hilude and said, "My Chief Steward, it seems necessary to expand our organization. If the Knight Order and Mercenary Corps in the territory can’t accommodate so many knights, we must increase the structure and accommodate talents in this area."
Hilude has always been very supportive of Su Li’s decisions, as this is her duty as the High-tier Attendant Chief. She responded, "I think we can add a squadron to the High-level Directly Affiliated Attendant’s structure, and at the same time add a squadron to the Provincial Legion. After this expansion, our directly affiliated secular army will exceed 2,500 people."
However, despite saying that, her heroic eyebrows still slightly furrowed as she remarked, "But, my Lord, this is like drinking poison to quench thirst. Not to mention the financial strain from army expansion, just from a people’s perspective, it can easily raise objections. After all, in the Sunshine Military Academy, we have an organized, fully equipped 300 knights."
"These are all our territory’s enthusiastic Preparatory Knights, always ready to join the Hesse Territory’s army."
Undoubtedly, all this points to one fact: relying only on Su Li to maintain the army, there’s simply no way to accommodate so many knights.
Su Li took a deep breath and said, "We still have to rely on civilian power. Let the civilian caravans and Mercenary Corps absorb these newly joined knights."
"But this matter will clearly progress slowly." Oliver, the Iron-fisted Prime Minister, still prioritized territorial intervention: "If we rely solely on civilian teams, absorbing these people will not only progress slowly but also lower wages, causing public resentment."
"In the current situation where knight supply exceeds demand, the territory needs to step in and provide them with a... target of righteous proclamation."
"Then let Gilles organize, and have his Knight Order start launching and preparing to recruit members to go to Oka Mountain."
While he was discussing with Oliver, an Attendant Knight suddenly hurried to the room, whispered a few words to Hilude, then Hilude’s face changed as she returned to the room and solemnly said, "My Lord, there is bad news. According to reports from Minister of Foreign Affairs Hartskline, the Sea God Knights from Blue Mirror Territory are gathering, and the atmosphere at the border has sharply risen. It’s said some caravans have been intervened and delayed by the Sea God Knights."
Su Li instantly clenched his right fist, slammed the table heavily, and stood up: "Baron Grant intends to provoke a war between us."
Hilude immediately followed Su Li to a large war map in the study, gazing at the map on the wall filled with battle spirit: "Currently, they are only mobilizing troops, but as the units reach their deployment positions, we believe the real border blockade will soon come."
Using geographical advantages to limit opponent development and force the enemy to submit is something every territory does, and Su Li didn’t complain.
He merely regrettably said, "It’s a pity the Brionne River’s flow is too strong, otherwise we could build a dam to block it, trapping them."
This tactic was used once by Dwarfs within the Empire, forcing the honorable Elector to apologize personally.
But those were special geographic conditions; the Brionne River is not completely sourced from the mountains, but has tributaries continuously flowing in the upper and middle reaches.
Simply cutting off the upper stream barely affects the lower stream’s flow.
Building a dam in the middle or lower reaches surpasses the world’s engineers’ skill limits.
But he quickly composed himself and said, "Regardless of Baron Grant’s provocations, our immediate priority is to stabilize our minds and successfully host the Radiant Competition Festival. The troubles Blue Mirror Territory causes us this year will only affect us temporarily, but the impact and gains from the Radiant Competition Festival will last for decades."
Although he said so, the swift actions by Blue Mirror Territory still shocked Su Li and Hilude greatly.
They started action just after harvest season ended, not even caring about the grand celebration being held in Su Li’s territory.
This might be his noble confidence, completely ignoring others’ opinions and pressures.
Su Li had to carefully suspect and asked, "Does Baron Grant have any trump cards?"
Hilude shook her head and said, "It’s hard to say if he received any support, since he acted so quickly. Our intelligence is still in the investigation stage. Ashfield has sent Half-Elf spies into Blue Mirror Castle, but it will take time to uncover their bottom line."
Su Li’s brows furrowed tightly together and he asked, "Could it be support from the Swamp Territory’s lord?"
If the Swamp Territory’s lord is indeed aligned with the Blue Mirror Territory’s lord, their combined forces of nearly 10,000 Elite Knights could easily overpower Su Li.
In most cases, quantity is a form of quality. When the opponent has overwhelming numerical superiority, they can indeed sweep away the Hesse Territory.
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