CHAPTER 309: CHAPTER 211: THE PRICE OF DIGNITY

The bloodthirsty pursuit of the Hansa New Army basically concluded after three days. Sporadic battles continued, but the overall situation had been determined.

With Rune being assassinated, the Oden Kingdom Army’s command system collapsed. The remaining generals were utterly lost, eventually making the most rational choice driven by the instinct to survive.

Escape!

This choice was originally sound, but without unified command, the escape naturally devolved into a rout.

Christine revealed the true nature of the Cold-blooded Witch, continuing to ascend the hot air balloon to command with ease. Under her direction, the various armies pursued and slaughtered relentlessly, leaving no escape for the Oden people.

The pursuit battle started from Helentz Castle, passed through Oro Town, and finally reached the gathering point of the war launched by the Oden Kingdom at Hosen Castle.

The unfortunate Sven the Seventh planned to fight a defensive counterattack here, aiming to drain the Hansa New Army’s morale and fighting spirit, waiting for a chance to counterattack.

He issued summons to all vassals, demanding they lead their private soldiers from their territories to assist.

However, his defeat affected not only the royal family’s direct troops but also terrified the local lords by the combat prowess of the Hansa New Army.

They ostensibly complied with the king’s call, but in reality, only committed troops verbally.

The Hansa New Army was now riding high on morale and successive victories; who would dare to challenge them?

Over thirty thousand new troops surrounded Sven the Seventh, who had less than ten thousand men left, at Hosen Castle. They did not launch an attack, only intermittently bombarding them with shells to pressure the garrison.

Hosen Castle was a formidable fortress, with heavy casualties inevitable from a direct assault. Naturally, Roland was unwilling to use these precious, battle-tested soldiers as cannon fodder.

Over a month of warfare, although resulting in glorious victories, also led to over five thousand casualties in the new army, which pained him dearly.

This was not just five thousand soldiers, but the future sergeants and junior officers of an expanding army.

Calculated differently, with each veteran able to lead five to ten men, the loss was indeed significant.

Such is war; it always comes with a price.

Though Roland and Sif braved the front lines, fighting valiant battles and slaying enemies; Christine brought her commanding artistry to its zenith; and the coordination between the naval and land forces was seamlessly smooth, yet the Oden Kingdom Army was elite too, making these losses rather commendable.

The next step was cleanup and aftermath management.

Roland didn’t proactively send people to engage in negotiations with the Oden people.

Initiating negotiations was also a psychological game; whoever appeared to concede first would lose the upper hand.

The combined strength of the Oden Kingdom and the Three Overseas Provinces was comparable, with foreign powers backing them as well; their hard power might even exceed that of the Three Provinces.

As long as they held Hosen Castle till winter’s arrival, with Roland’s side struggling for logistical supplies, the tide of war might turn.

Roland had almost fully mobilized his new army to fight this war, leaving only a few garrisons at the three provincial capitals. Any unexpected changes would only increase the pressure on Roland.

To boost morale, the Empress, portrayed by the Magic Mirror, personally came to the front line, camping in the Suyige region.

Though the situation was alarming, Sven the Seventh, who retreated back to Hosen Castle, remained calm, knowing Roland could not launch a strong offensive against such a fortified stronghold. He had to grit his teeth and hold on, waiting for the situation to change.

The siege of Hosen Castle dragged on for over half a month, with Sven the Seventh anxiously waiting in silence due to severed communications for over half a month.

Finally, amidst the oppressive heat of midsummer, a messenger arrived.

The messenger was tidy in appearance but his face didn’t look good.

Sven the Seventh noted the messenger’s expression and felt a jolt in his heart. Before he could inquire, the messenger handed him a confidential letter.

Just a few glances into the letter, and Sven almost spat out blood.

"Those treacherous traitors!"

His blood surged, desperately wanting to return to the Imperial Capital to punish those who betrayed him.

This confidential letter was delivered by trusted aides left in the Imperial Capital, risking great danger, summarizing the recent domestic and foreign affairs.

Roland had not attacked Hosen Castle but instead dispatched a vast fleet to blockade the Imperial Capital from the sea and land, cutting down oak trees.

Sven the Seventh took a long time to realize these oak trees were for rebuilding the navy.

He spat out blood and nearly fainted on the spot.

The Oden Kingdom’s navy had been devastated by the Sussex Empire over a hundred years ago. The entire nation couldn’t field thirty warships, with experienced navy commanders and sailors sorely lacking.

Even facing the mightiest pirates, this navy would avoid confrontation, let alone contend with the Fourth Fleet.

In the battle off the Imperial Capital’s seas, twenty-seven warships set out, with only thirteen limping back to the port, giving the Fourth Fleet a significant achievement boost.

Upon returning to the Imperial Capital, General Gode saw that naval warfare was futile, so he cannibalized the cannons off the ships for the port’s defense batteries and scuttled the ships themselves.

Hearing this, Sven the Seventh was too angry to speak.

Scuttling ships to block the port and dismantling cannons for defense, at first glance, seemed attempts to minimize loss, yet it was quintessential army thinking.

Even if the Hansa New Army withdrew, the Oden Kingdom’s navy was completely ruined.

In this era, a coastal state without a formidable navy was like a beautiful maiden walking unclothed on the streets, inviting abuse.

Rebuilding a navy wasn’t so easy.

With all remaining warships scuttled and the shipbuilding timber seized by Roland, any hope of rebuilding the navy within a century was dashed.

In his youth, Sven the Seventh had studied at a military academy in the Jin Yuan Republic and even served in the Jin Yuan Navy for a year and a half, fully understanding the importance of a navy.

Unlike Gode, Rune, pure army commanders focused solely on land, Sven had a fervent desire to build a powerful navy.

"My ships, my trees! Ah!"

In anguish, Sven the Seventh closed his eyes and only after a long while did he steady himself again.