242: Chapter 140: The Approaching Steps of War_2 242: Chapter 140: The Approaching Steps of War_2 As for the orc empire to the north, hasn’t it already been confirmed that they are preparing to invade from the south?

War is inevitable anyway, and adding one more reason for war doesn’t hurt.

Pass on the order, the new round of nobility ennoblement ceremonies will be advanced to the end of this year!”

Said Caesar III with full confidence.

Confidence derives from strength.

Compared with the previous war, the comprehensive national strength of the Alpha Kingdom has increased significantly.

In recent years, major powers within the kingdom have been covertly expanding their armies.

Especially the nobles of the South, their growing military strength is closing the power gap with the Northern aristocracy.

In the short term, this seems to be a good thing, better facilitating the internal balance of the kingdom.

But Caesar III is not short-sighted.

Compared with the northern aristocracy under the military pressure of the orcs, the southern aristocracy, devoid of external threats, will pose real trouble if their power increases too much.

Internal mergers and acquisitions among the nobility have never ceased.

While the number of noble lords in the kingdom doesn’t seem to change significantly, the nobles who hold multiple posts are increasing year by year.

Especially those major nobles, they stir up affairs every three to five years, and incidentally annex one or two territories.

The actions are not extensive.

Each time it is just one or two knight’s territories, and it is considered a big move to seize a baron’s territory.

All these minor actions, clearly playing the game of using one to kill another, and yet they keep themselves well hidden.

The annexation is always planned years, or even decades, in advance.

The facades are so well-crafted that middle and lower nobles hardly notice them.

If he hadn’t looked at it over a longer timeline, Caesar III might have ignored these happenings altogether.

Over the past hundred years, the area of territory owned by the major clans within the kingdom has increased by more than a tenth.

If this situation does not change, the breaking of the balance is inevitable.

Caesar III is already worrying about the imperious clans in the north, he doesn’t want a few more to emerge.

It can be said that growing internal contradictions are one of the reasons why the Alpha Kingdom must wage war.

Similar things are happening in the Orc Empire.

However, compared with the ‘rules-abiding’ internal struggle in the Alpha Kingdom, the Orc Empire is way more brutal.

When dialogue fails, a fight breaks out.

The struggle between the internal tribes is just as brutal as external warfare.

Sometimes, when the struggle fails, it might even result in the extinction of a species.

Both sides have reasons to provoke war.

One could say the war is already approaching, it’s just a matter of piercing the final veil.

Caesar III can see these issues.

The major powers within the kingdom can similarly analyze the situation.

As long as those in power are not foolish, they know that war is bound to break out.

Holding the nobility ennoblement ceremony in advance is undoubtedly a clear political signal.

Almost every time the kingdom advances the ennoblement of nobles, war breaks out in the following one to two years.

Occurrence of such highlights the inevitability of it.

Hence advancing the ennoblement now signifies the readiness for war.

…

In the Mountain Domain, Hudson, who has just finished settling his personnel, was baffled by a summons from the kingdom.

“Advance ennoblement,” theoretically speaking, is definitely a good thing for the noble themselves.

Only after accepting a personal ennoblement from the king, the noble title becomes truly legal, and one can hold a seat in the Noble Parliament.

Unlike now, though he has a noble title, he is technically a “provisional noble”.

If anything unexpected happens, he might be stripped of his status.

If Hudson hadn’t learned about the history of the Alpha Kingdom, he might, like a group of small nobles, rejoice in ignorance.

Unfortunately, he knows too much.

Combine that with the information he’s gathered from his various “friends”, reason tells him trouble is brewing.

The Mountain Domain, which is still in its developmental stage, is not ready to face war, especially a full-scale war with the Orc Empire.

According to past experience, this level of war invariably leads to decline of major nobles and lots of reshuffling among smaller ones.

Some are overcome in battle, dying for their country; some achieve remarkable military feats and rise rapidly; some suffer psychological breakdowns and desert, losing everything…

In short, this is an era of major reshuffling.

The battlefield is full of hope but it also accompanies endless despair.

Every time a war breaks out, the Alpha Kingdom suffers heavy losses.

Countless impressive clans fall in the war, replaced by the rise of new powers.

To be precise, it should be considered a further advancement of old powers.

To be able to replace a major power, their own foundation for accumulation is destined to be high.

This is determined by the societal background.

Apart from the Kingdom’s standing army, the main force of the war is formed by the Noble’s Private Army.

Carrying their own troops into the battlefield, wanting to achieve outstanding military achievements, how can it be possible without some power?

Even though there have been cases of class jumping, no one has seen anyone rising from a civilian to a major noble.

Even if the king is willing to ennoble, real situations must be considered.

On the battlefield, individual ability is ultimately limited.

The main force of contention is the army.

Even the strongest on the continent are inconspicuous in the face of a vast sea of people.

Looking at the northern border, Hudson sighed in resignation.

He had initially thought the Mountain Domain had developed quite well.

As long as he focused on farming for a few decades, he could establish a great enterprise of his own.

How could he expect his plans to change, not having fully developed the Mountain Domain yet, but the steps of war have approached even sooner.