CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: NOBLES DIVIDED BY INTERESTS

"This military council is meant to discuss how to deal with the orcs, not for you all to form factions. Since the Baron of the Frozen Lands isn’t coming, we won’t consider the defense of his territory."

After that, Earl Winter turned to the two other earls and said with a gentler tone:

"Loff, Muir—you two should be more familiar with the Black Goat Men. Let’s hear your thoughts."

Loff Weiss, heir of the Weiss Earl family, and Muir Solon, an elder who had personally taken part in the battles of the Northern Wind Province decades ago.

Normally, in a setting like this, only titles would be used to address nobles—first names were rare. That Earl Winter called them so familiarly raised eyebrows.

Some uninformed nobles began speculating about the nature of the three earls’ relationship. Those who knew the past, however, sneered inwardly.

Back then, Earl Winter had been the most vocal advocate for stripping titles from the original local nobles of the Northern Wind Province.

"Earl Solon, you’re older than me. Why don’t you speak first?"

Earl Weiss looked respectfully at Earl Solon, acknowledging the seniority of the old man.

"Then allow this old man to tell you how it is."

Muir Solon was far sturdier and sharper than his aged appearance suggested. He stepped up to the rough map of the Northern Wind Province pinned to the wall.

"Fifty-three years ago, I personally took part in a campaign where the Black Goat Men led a million-strong orc horde south into the Northern Wind Province. That time, the province lost half its military strength."

"The fortress on the Xiangshan Plain was completely destroyed. The Frost Wolf Cavalry of the Grand Duke of the North lost twelve thousand elite soldiers. Even by the time the Empire went to war with the province, that army had never fully recovered."

At those words, many nobles in the room looked pained.

"Yes... if not for that war, Grand Duke Meyers wouldn’t have had such an easy time conquering the province."

Someone sighed aloud—but was quickly nudged by a neighboring noble to remind him that they were now nobles of the Empire and should no longer dwell on the past.

Meanwhile, Earl Solon continued grimly:

"That invasion, the fortress on the Xiangshan Plain was breached from underground. A hundred-year-old fortress couldn’t even stop the orcs. The Black Goat Men are far more cunning than we imagine."

"The entire province lost more than a third of its population due to that breach. I dare say, even today, that population has not fully recovered."

"Against an orc horde led by the Black Goat Men, my recommendation is: preemptive strike—do not defend."

"They’ll devise countless ways to undermine our fortifications. Only by taking the initiative—by slaughtering orcs and killing enough of them—can we force them to retreat for the winter. Even the Black Goat Men can’t push them to keep fighting when their numbers dwindle."

Many lords nodded in agreement.

Why? It was simple. If a million orcs broke through unhindered, whose lands would suffer most?

Their own. Noble estates and strongholds—none of them were true fortified cities.

"Earl Solon, if we are to go on the offensive—where do you recommend engaging the orcs?"

Earl Winter turned to Solon and asked.

"The Xiangshan Plain. Once filled with Xiangshan trees, the area has largely recovered after decades. The dense forest can split the orc horde and help us easily eliminate those without heavy defenses."

"I disagree."

Someone stood up. It was Viscount Hogg, governor of Silver River County, widely recognized as one of the most capable viscounts in the province, with formidable forces under his command.

"We still don’t know the orcs’ numbers. If it really is a million, Xiangshan Plain won’t hold them. Even back when we had a fortress, we couldn’t hold—it’s even less likely now without one."

"Sure, dense forests divide the orcs—but they also hinder our cavalry. Are we seriously giving up our cavalry advantage and fighting them with infantry?"

Earl Winter looked at Viscount Hogg again:

"Then what does Viscount Hogg propose?"

Hogg answered proudly:

"Each county should build its own defenses and concentrate its forces to wait for the orcs to come."

"Earl Winter’s Sky Wolf Cavalry can serve as rapid messengers between counties. If one county isn’t attacked, it can send troops to aid those under siege."

"Replace offense with defense. If the orcs attack strongholds and cities, they’ll pay dearly. Once they suffer enough losses, they’ll retreat."

After Hogg spoke, others joined in.

"I support Viscount Hogg. Defensive strategies will inflict more damage than an offensive at Xiangshan Plain."

"Laughable—defense? Our lands are in the north, right in the path of the orcs. Even if we hold, our territories will be completely ransacked!"

"And charging into Xiangshan Plain blindly is supposed to stop the orcs? Our cavalry will be useless there."

"Cavalry? A single warhorse costs 300 gold coins in this province. Do you

have enough cavalry?"

"Fewer doesn’t mean none. Only cavalry can crush orcs—infantry are no match."

"The Xiangshan Plain is the only route south for the orcs. It’s flanked by mountains. Apply enough pressure there, and they’ll retreat."

"The last invasion was five years ago. The orcs have suffered during their time in the north—they won’t back off easily."

Once again, the nobles split into two factions.

One faction consisted of nobles whose territories were in the northern part of the province—the ones who would suffer first.

The other faction consisted of southern nobles, whose lands would be harder for the orcs to reach.

Especially Silver River County, the southernmost region, near the Winged Gorge.

This time, the divide wasn’t about local nobles versus imperial transplants—it was about geographic interests: north versus south.

In the end, it was all about self-interest.

"Enough!"

As the nobles argued endlessly, Earl Winter roared. The oppressive aura of a Sanctuary Knight swept across the hall, leaving many breathless.

"Since we can’t reach a consensus, we’ll vote—majority rules."

"Who supports taking the initiative and going on the offensive?"

Winter asked, then scanned the raised hands.

Smiling faintly, he asked again:

"Who supports Viscount Hogg’s plan?"

As he finished speaking, Earl Winter himself raised his hand.

More than sixty percent of the nobles followed suit.

The result, in truth, was no surprise.

Back when the Northern Wind Province was taken over, most of the land had been redistributed. These nobles, when given the choice, naturally selected the warmer, safer southern territories—leaving only the poor, frigid north to those with no alternative.