Don't Mess with That Dragon-Chapter 774 - 015: Black Hand
Despite winning a vanguard battle, Gory was keenly aware that this was merely a brief skirmish before the real war.
It was much like when the vanguards of two armies encountered each other right before a world war.
The units eliminated in this battle were only a small part of the hundreds of thousands of monsters in the Red Dragon Empire’s legion.
Adjacent to the southwestern borders of the Red Dragon Empire lies not only the Kaoof Duchy.
In other directions, there are two more countries.
According to intelligence from the front lines, the Red Dragon Empire’s monster legion divided into three forces to invade from the south, with the force marching towards Ditri Duchy led personally by the King of Calamity to invade that nation.
In the face of such overwhelming momentum, the victory in this battle was merely a ripple before the actual epic conflict.
Therefore, after defeating the Red Dragon Empire’s monster legion, Gory wasn’t overly excited.
Instead, a hint of worry appeared in his gaze.
"The wars that lie ahead are the real trouble. Hopefully, the rear logistics will be expedited, and the two other countries including Ditri can only temporarily be abandoned, waiting until the main army arrives to launch a counter-assault."
While pondering, Commander Gory had already formed a rough plan for the future.
Even with the formidable power of the Blue Dragon Legion, capable of confronting enemy numbers over tenfold its size.
But before the Blue Dragon Kingdom’s reinforcements arrived, they were about to face the infamous monster legion from the Red Dragon Empire situated in the western Seta Continent!
Once hundreds of thousands gather, coupled with the fearsome King of Calamity.
Even with the strength of the Dragon Nest Legion, Gory still hesitated.
However,
since the Kaoof and other duchies pledged loyalty to the Blue Dragon Kingdom, these places were now part of the Blue Dragon Kingdom’s territory.
No matter how challenging,
he must defend here until the rear army’s reinforcements arrive.
Once they lose this strategic position at the Kaoof Duke’s City, occupied by the monster legion of the Red Dragon Empire, reclaiming it later would require crossing the vast, rugged mountainous terrain spanning hundreds of kilometers.
This long line of logistical supplies would pose a deadly threat to the Dragon Nest Army on expedition.
To prevent the Blue Dragon Kingdom’s strategic position from becoming disadvantaged,
guarding the Duke’s City of Kaoof Duchy and halting the enemy northwards holds significant strategic importance.
Both Gory,
and the numerous Dragon Nest Legion under his command have reasons they must defend.
After cleaning up the battlefield,
the army began returning to the city.
Unlike Commander Gory’s far-sighted worry, the citizens within the city saw the Blue Dragon Kingdom’s army crush the Red Dragon Empire’s monster legion with ease.
The formidable Dragon Nest Legion swept everything in their path, with the enemy unable to offer any resistance as they were defeated.
The stark contrast,
led the entire city’s people to cheer loudly.
Cheering loudly for the Dragon Nest Army’s grand victory.
Also cheering loudly for the bright future they hoped to see, at recruitment locations within the city, more aspiring youths lined up wanting to join the militia to protect their homeland and contribute to the great Blue Dragon Kingdom.
This was no exaggeration.
Despite being stationed in the city for only a few days, any officer of the Blue Dragon Kingdom’s army had long mastered the art of pacifying newly occupied areas.
Not to mention other methods, merely the act of distributing food that was unprecedented in feudal societies was enough to win over the minds of the lower-class populace.
Moreover,
during these days, certain officers handling intelligence occasionally stirred sentiments by covertly distributing stories about Blue Dragon Kingdom’s various policies, welfare, and legends of certain individuals rising from refugee to affluent by purchasing several estates under Blue Dragon Kingdom’s governance.
Through the mouths of minstrels, these soft articles spread among the masses.
This manipulation of public opinion, 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
was something the straightforward folks of this world, unaccustomed to an information explosion, could not resist.
In just a few days, amidst circulating rumors,
even the street hooligans,
developed a heartfelt longing for the governance under the Blue Dragon Kingdom.
Precisely for this reason,
when Gory led the victorious Dragon Nest Army back to the city, instantly evoked a wave of cheering akin to mountains roaring and seas raging within the entire city.
...
Meanwhile,
within the Royal Palace.
At a high tower, several dignified figures stood at the top level, eyes gazing through the void, watching the army continuously returning outside the city.
Leading them was none other than King Louis XXI of the Kaoof Duchy.
At the city gate,
numerous civilians gathered, lining the path in welcome.
The cheers rolled in, wave after wave, covering the entire city, even clearly audible within the Royal Palace.
"I wonder what thoughts King Louis has now?"
Behind King Louis XXI, a figure slowly stepped forward, looking at the roaring sound with some amusement and asked.
"Hmph! They’re merely a group of commoners~ The gratitude of commoners amounts to nothing!"
Louis XXI snorted coldly, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
This was understandable.
During his reign, the commoners had never cheered for him like this, even though Louis XXI paid little attention to the admiration of the lower class, a sense of frustration still brewed within him at the moment.
In just a few days,
the hearts of all in the city, including refugees fleeing south, were entirely won over by the Blue Dragon Kingdom!
Nothing more than a group of ingrates!
"Let’s leave this aside; are you sure your plan will succeed? Don’t just give away three duchies to that heretic nation!"
Suppressing his anger, Louis XXI looked towards the figure beside him.
In his eyes, there was doubt towards the secret organization’s grand plan.
In fact,
The reason the Kaoof Duchy and the other three duchies near the southern edge of the Red Dragon Empire all pledged allegiance to the Blue Dragon Kingdom was due to deep internal intrigue, with the person beside Louis XXI one of the masterminds.
The Blue Dragon Kingdom’s politics, devoid of aristocracy, was extremely disliked by the noble class of feudal-era countries.
As the biggest beneficiary under the noble system, the king disliked it even more.
If not for the person beside him,
even under Red Dragon Empire’s assault, facing exile or fleeing wouldn’t lead him to easily seek contact and allegiance with the distant southern Blue Dragon Kingdom.
Such was the case for the Kaoof Duchy,
And similarly for other nearby countries like Ditri Duchy.
The reason all three duchies simultaneously pledged to the heretic monster nation,
was all because,
an irresistible force in the background was driving these events!
