Chapter 379 - 264: The Academy Faction Joins

Chapter 379: Chapter 264: The Academy Faction Joins

In truth, Duke Calvin never held any real hope of preventing the war from breaking out. He just wanted to delay its arrival.

It was currently the spring planting season, a vibrant time perfect for farming—a time that couldn’t be wasted on war.

Once war broke out, a massive number of Recruited Soldiers, conscripts, and serfs would be dragged from the fields and sent to the battlefield. The crops would be left untended. In the end, it would be they who suffered the consequences, and the very foundations of the Empire would be shaken.

The Empire could no longer boast of its vast lands and abundant resources. Years of continuous warfare had depleted its grain reserves far too quickly. Compounded by the intentional or unintentional hoarding by nobles everywhere, the amount of grain on the market had drastically decreased.

Moreover, as long as he spoke out on this matter, regardless of the final outcome, he could avoid making an enemy of either Henry or the Emperor.

If Henry truly rose to power, he would need to have left himself a way out. As for the Emperor, he had to demonstrate his loyalty even more, for he was a high minister of the Empire, a trusted confidant of the Emperor, and the Emperor’s uncle.

He was old now. He might as well take a few swings, whether he hit anything or not.

Duke Calvin shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly. ’The situation in the Empire has reached such a state, with all the different factions vying for power in the shadows.’

All he could do was his best to buy time and wait for a better opportunity. Perhaps he could still find a path that would satisfy both sides.

The Prince’s thoughts were not so different from Duke Calvin’s. The only difference was that he didn’t want to open another war front that would divide the logistical supplies for his main encampment on the border of the Northern Lands.

The situation on the Northern Lands’ border was already complicated, with the Alien Race watching menacingly. If logistics became insufficient, the border defenses would crumble.

The only reason they were still able to expand their front lines was because Henry had wiped out the main elite force of the Inferior Horned Beasts in one fell swoop.

The Prince had no desire for a direct confrontation with Henry at a time like this, which would only divide his attention. He preferred to stabilize his position in the Northern Lands and wait for the situation to become clearer before making any further plans.

Duke Calvin’s delaying tactics could only temporarily ease the situation. They couldn’t solve the fundamental problem.

The Prince thought to himself, ’War will come sooner or later, but at least I can’t let myself be attacked from two sides.’

Meanwhile, those old classmates who wanted to join Henry had finally arrived after a long and arduous journey. There were a little over thirty of them.

They were travel-worn and covered in dust, having met up in groups of two and three along the way.

When Henry learned that his old classmates had arrived, he thought for a few seconds, then went to stand at the camp entrance himself.

Talented people always receive preferential treatment. Over the years, the academy had produced batch after batch of graduates, creating a massive treasure trove of talent.

Numerate, literate, and highly skilled in combat...

They were qualified to be Governors, Infantry Officers, Archer Officers, Cavalry Officers, Quartermasters, Engineers, Herbalists...

Right now, Henry didn’t lack basic soldiers; he lacked all kinds of capable officers!

The officers currently in his army could fight and use tactics, but their skills were all unorthodox, born of necessity. Henry had wanted to give these officers formal training, but it would take too much time, so the plan had been shelved.

After gathering in Chai Kan, these academy graduates traveled together as a group to Odoche.

Traveling together, driving carts and leading horses, all clad in armor and bearing weapons, they were a sight that made robbers and Bandits quickly steer clear.

Henry spotted them from a distance. A warm smile spread across his face as he strode forward to meet them. "Welcome, welcome! We’re all old friends here. I didn’t expect you all to actually come!"

The moment they saw Henry, all their nervousness, uncertainty, and awkwardness vanished. They let out a collective sigh of relief.

Most of these old classmates came from minor noble families. As second sons, they were destined never to inherit their family’s fiefs or titles.

In their own families, they could only serve in positions like captain of the castle guard, patrol leader, or drill instructor for new recruits. All their Martial Arts were buried in the trivialities of daily routine.

Now, as they stood before Henry, their eyes held a mixture of awe and anticipation.

"Senior!"

"Count Henry!"

Henry nodded, skipping the pleasantries. Academy graduates could be summed up in one word: efficient.

He got straight to the point. "I know why you’re here, and I know what you’re capable of. However, in my army, everything is decided by merit."

He had them demonstrate their Martial Arts one by one. Swords clashed and spears danced as he had his soldiers spar with them. The old classmates used every skill at their disposal, eager to prove their worth.

Henry watched intently from the side, nodding from time to time. These men’s combat prowess was worlds beyond that of his Personal Guard.

The reason his army’s record was so outstanding wasn’t because of their superior fighting techniques. It was because they were fearless and fought with reckless abandon, plus they had Henry as their ultimate backstop—an advantage so great it was like cheating.

After the assessment was complete, Henry announced, "Starting today, you are all Deputy Captains in the infantry."

The old classmates were stunned for a moment, then burst into cheers.

Although the position might not seem high, and no different from the roles they had in their families, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

A Garrison Team was in no way comparable to a field unit, let alone one of Henry’s field units.

In their original families, as second sons, they had almost no chance of inheriting a fief and could only while away their days in limited positions.

Marry, have children, eat, and wait to die.

But here, as an officer in a field unit—especially in a place where there was constant war—it meant infinite possibilities for advancement!

’A second son of a noble? That status is worse than being a great landowner! Since a second son can’t inherit a fief anyway, we might as well risk it all here. Maybe we can carve out a new future for ourselves.’