Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

The day Imrek sang the Dragon Song, Port Eleste.

Located in the southern Windswept Plains of the Kingdom of Safri, the port of Eliste is one of the major cities of the Kingdom of Safri and a true commercial hub in this traditional and elegant kingdom.

Almost all of the Kingdom of Safre's maritime trade had to pass through here. As one of the most important commercial ports in Ulthuan, its status among Safre's other cities was second only to the White Tower of Hoth, known as the source of eternal wisdom.

Now, like Lorthorn, Port Eleste has become "loyal"—a part of Duruch.

There was no attack, no siege, and not even a single real head-on conflict.

After landing in Lorthern, the 11th Army, led by Mandir Riel, advanced along the northeastern main road of the Kingdom of Ithaan, crossed the Taur Peninsula, entered the edge of the Plains Kingdom, and finally headed north, its advance aimed directly at the port of Elisthe.

No one can stop it, no one can organize to stop it.

Ultimately, they successfully occupied the entire Windswept Plains and took over the important town of Eleste without bloodshed.

"How are you feeling?" Darkus walked with his hands behind his back, then turned to look at Mandir walking beside him and asked casually.

He left the White Tower of Hosse and arrived at the port of Elisthenes.

Although he doesn't need to personally handle specific matters, it doesn't prevent him from coming to take a look, since this place occupies an irreplaceable and important position in his overall strategy.
Moreover, it's close enough to the White Tower of Hosse to make it convenient for him to come over.

Mandir did not answer directly, but instead grinned, revealing a faint smile, an arc of emotion that was hard to describe.

"It's weird."

She finally gave a vague yet meaningful response.

When she saw that Darkus simply smiled and shook his head gently after hearing this, with no sarcasm or impatience in his eyes, her expression relaxed, and that half-smile finally turned into a genuine smile.

She then respectfully performed a solemn, formal, and almost traditional greeting to Dakota.

This was the second time she had bowed so deeply to Čacus since meeting him in the port of Elisthenes. Her respect for Čacus was undisguised, genuine, and far from mere formality.

Her respect for Dakota stemmed not only from his current high position, but also from the profound impact of his past actions.

Keep your own affairs in order.

As Kira's daughter and the heir to the Riel family, she understood better than any outsider what Darkus's support for her family meant.

After Darkus's dazzling debut, her mother was able to consolidate her control over Calond Karl, no longer in a state of constant turmoil, no longer worrying about the indifference from above and the constraints from below, and no longer existing like a pawn that could be removed at any time.

Subsequently, with the implementation of a series of new policies, the establishment of regulations, and the reorganization of the military and political structure, her family experienced a leap in growth.

Her aunt, Violet, became one of only five high priestesses in the Stormweavers Order, wielding considerable influence within the navy. She herself, after receiving systematic military training and practical experience, became the commander of the Eleventh Army, a true power broker.

Today, the Rael family not only holds a solid position in Trudeau's political arena, but also wields considerable influence and dominance in the Navy and Army.

Now, the situation is very favorable.

She is confident, and her family is well-founded—the Riel family will go further, higher, and deeper.

She had no reason not to respect Dakota.

"When we came..." The next moment, Darkus's tone turned serious, like a dark cloud suddenly pressing down, making the originally relaxed air tense.

“No!” Mandir exclaimed.

She knew what Darkus was asking, though he didn't say it aloud. She was all too familiar with the sharp intent hidden behind his words. Her expression instantly turned serious, and she responded without hesitation, her voice as firm as a warhammer striking the ground, "The troops strictly followed orders. During the advance, apart from the Dark Riders acting as scouts, the troops did not enter any villages."

Dakos said nothing more, nor did he press further. He simply looked at Mandir in silence, his gaze lingering briefly on her face before he nodded, his expression neither sad nor happy. He then turned and walked straight ahead, hands behind his back.

His footsteps echoed with the heaviness and caution of the Truc Army logistics system.

Unlike Napoleon's radical, ruthless approach that relied on plundering enemy resources, Duruci's logistical system was conservative and steady, stemming from mature strategic thinking and a deep understanding of the costs involved.

They did not adhere to the principle of "an army marches on its stomach," meaning they would collect food locally to the greatest extent possible to reduce the pressure on rear transportation. Nor did they blindly rely on the gamble of "speed equals supply" in raids, that is, to seize the enemy's supply depots before the enemy could react through rapid maneuver.

Darkus knew that fighting in Ausuan was a complex affair, fraught with hostility and uncertainty. To hope for a quick maneuver to seize enemy supply depots would be tantamount to entrusting the fate of the entire army to chance and the gods, and pushing any allies he might win over to the opposite side.

Duruci's logistics system relied on clear and reliable supply lines.

At the central command, Karashir Erwin controlled the Army Quartermaster Department, overseeing the procurement, distribution, and transportation of supplies. He established a strict hierarchical management system, with each corps having its own quartermaster and supply detachment, forming a vertical and compact supply network from top to bottom to ensure that every ration, every sword, and every drop of oil at the front lines arrived at their designated locations on time.

We strive to achieve standardization and uniformity.

The rationing standards were strictly enforced, with explicit regulations on the proportions of grain, equipment, and even alcohol, and even a certain amount of surplus was allowed, thus avoiding losses, chaos, and waste.

After entering Ausuan, they never engaged in systematic looting or local conscription.

There was no forced requisition of food in the occupied territories; instead, local governments were required to provide bread and meat in proportion to the population. There was no demand for fodder for horses; farmland was harvested locally, and horse-drawn carts, oxcarts, and even livestock were requisitioned.

In Dakota's view, this was neither good nor necessary.

If the enemy adopts scorched earth tactics, burning farmland and emptying warehouses, on-site conscription will instantly lose its meaning.

His mind is imbued with a profound memory of history.

He knew that one of the reasons Napoleon's invasion of Russia was a disastrous failure was this inherently fragile supply system.

That massive army, numbering over 600,000 men, 200,000 horses, and 40,000 cattle, requisitioned 60 million kilograms of grain in Prussia alone. They even established a large granary in Danzig capable of sustaining 400,000 men and 50,000 horses for 50 days. On paper, they seemed well-prepared, however…

That's just a superficial phenomenon, a rich illusion on paper.

To store and transport the massive military supplies, Napoleon made meticulous arrangements before his campaign. He established large warehouses in Danzig, Grodzund, Warsaw, and other locations, attempting to build a solid logistical foundation for the upcoming invasion of Russia. Furthermore, he planned to establish forward warehouses at strategic locations such as Vilna, Minsk, and Smolensk after entering Russian territory to ensure a continuous supply of materials to the front-line troops.

On the surface, these arrangements seemed to foreshadow a well-organized and well-planned war. However, the reality was far less optimistic. In fact, these logistical preparations were only superficial; their underlying structure and actual effectiveness were simply inadequate to meet the severe demands of a large-scale expedition to Russia.

According to wartime estimates, the army that invaded Russia would need to consume about 7000 tons of food and fodder every day, not including the consumption of ammunition, clothing, bedding, and fodder for horses.

Given the immense logistical pressure, such a daily consumption standard is almost unsustainable.

Moreover, compared to the densely populated, numerous villages and towns, and relatively convenient transportation of Western Europe, the Eastern European plains present a completely different picture. It is a vast and desolate land, sparsely populated, with few roads, most of which are muddy paths, and water sources that are scarce and mostly swamps.

These natural conditions severely limited the possibility of obtaining supplies locally and greatly increased the dependence on rear supply lines.

As the French army penetrated deeper into Russian territory, its logistical supply lines were stretched drastically, and the difficulty of supplying supplies increased exponentially. Large quantities of food and military supplies had to be transported from the strategic rear to the front in a step-by-step manner. This made logistical support an exceptionally heavy task, testing not only the rear's organizational and mobilization capabilities but also placing extremely high demands on transport vehicles and road conditions.

Even more serious was the presence of the Cossack light cavalry, renowned for their mobility, who specialized in infiltrating the French rear to harass their supply lines and baggage units. They would ambush supply wagons or burn bridges and roads, further exacerbating the already strained French transport efficiency and causing frequent disruptions to the supply chain. Furthermore, severe weather became another obstacle to the French marches and resupply routes. In some areas, torrential rains made already rugged paths even more muddy, and the repeated crushing of wheels quickly damaged roads, paralyzing transport. Horse losses also increased dramatically during this period; many horses died of exhaustion due to lack of fodder and water during the long march, further weakening transport capacity.

The original plan was for the French army to use the Vilnius River as a waterway to transport large quantities of supplies to the front lines, establishing a stable supply base and continuously supporting the advancing corps. However, things didn't go as planned. The Vilnius River was too shallow at the time to support large-scale water transport. Simultaneously, the French army lacked sufficient land transport to fill this gap, causing a large amount of urgently needed supplies to remain stranded in upstream areas such as Königsberg, unable to be delivered to the front lines in a timely manner.

The logistical crisis erupted extremely quickly and was deadly.

The army had only been on the march for five days when it was stuck in place for a full 18 days due to waiting for supplies. Such a long delay not only eroded morale but also caused them to miss the strategic opportunity to engage the Russian army in battle, disrupting the entire campaign's rhythm and ruining the original plan for a swift victory.

During the arduous march that followed, the continued shortage of supplies forced many warhorses to graze on roadside weeds for sustenance. However, due to the lack of nutrition in these weeds, many horses quickly died from bloating or poisoning. The shortage of drinking water also worsened, with soldiers in some areas forced to rely on swamp water for survival. Because the water was murky and untreated, drinking it easily led to diarrhea and disease, causing an outbreak of disease throughout the army and severely weakening its combat effectiveness.

Even more deadly was the scorched-earth tactic employed by the Russian army. During their retreat, the Russians organized villagers to burn down houses, hide or destroy food and fodder, and pollute water sources, completely destroying all materials and infrastructure along the way that could be used by the French army. As a result, wherever the French army advanced, everything was reduced to scorched earth, barren of everything.

This not only completely shattered the ideal of using war to sustain war, but also forced the French army to continue consuming precious rear supplies.

Faced with this dual predicament—the rear supply system becoming unsustainable and local supply operations falling completely behind—the internal order of the army began to gradually collapse.

Exhausted and starving soldiers began to loot, targeting civilian homes, villages, and even their own supply units. Upon encountering granaries or locations with ample supplies, the soldiers would swarm in, vying for the spoils, instead of waiting for orders. This disorganized and unplanned looting resulted in the waste of vast quantities of resources, some of which were destroyed in the struggle, making orderly distribution impossible. Later, it even escalated to the looting of their own army's supply units.

Within just over a month of entering Russian territory, the French army had suffered non-combat casualties of 13 men, with over 8 horses dead. Behind these numbers lies the gradual disintegration of a massive army, ravaged by hunger, disease, and cold. Soldiers deserted in droves, morale plummeted, and they watched helplessly as their comrades died. No one could stop this desertion, not even Napoleon.

By this point, the war to conquer Russia had already failed.

Although the army was still moving forward, it was only driven by inertia. Its will had long since become like that of horses frozen to death by the roadside—stiff, cold, and lifeless.

The next step is to make a decision: either continue forward, go all in, and gamble everything; or turn back and admit defeat.

result……

"Neither the commander of the gendarmerie, nor the captain of the supply wagon, nor the officer of the staff, did any of them fulfill their duties to me." — Napoleon's famous quote.

When it came to Duluth's turn, Dakota, who was driving the car behind, fully learned from the lessons of those who came before him. There was no other way; he had so many precedents to learn from.

Besides Napoleon's Peninsular War and his disastrous defeat in the Russian campaign, there was also the world's third counter-offensive against Ausuan.

That was the most intense and protracted battle between Duruci and Asur, a clash of titans between two long-time rivals. They traded blows, attacking and defending repeatedly.

Later, Duruci advanced into the inner kingdoms of Ulthuan, but Tethys decisively adopted a scorched-earth policy, burning fields and towns rather than allowing Duruci to obtain supplies. Ultimately, Duruci's army, tormented by hunger and thirst to the point of near collapse, could only retreat in panic.

From the scorched earth of Nagareth all the way to Tal Anlek, and from Tal Anlek a bitter battle all the way to the Withered Isles, finally, Duruchi was completely driven into the sea, leaving behind only a devastated battlefield.

Although Darkus did not officially hold any position in the Truc army, in reality, a large number of rules, regulations, policies, and new organizational structures were shaped by him. Karashir, as his staunch supporter, was practically his embodiment, the executor who carried out the "Darkus ideology" to its fullest extent.

From the very beginning, he made it clear that he had abandoned the plan to forcibly requisition food in the occupied territories.

Why is Duluqi trying to "whitewash" his image now?

Who told Malekith to become the Phoenix King?
The old order, maintained by killing and plunder, was no longer applicable to the new era. This was the political tone set by Dakota, and once it was established, many strategies had to be adjusted accordingly.

In addition, how should grain be requisitioned?
That's a very delicate matter. For a quartermaster, the word 'standard' hides a huge amount of room for maneuver, and Darkus knows Duruci's nature all too well. In his understanding, if they are allowed to continue to handle the new situation with old thinking, problems will only follow one after another, making matters worse. If the war goes against them, a series of troubles will begin to emerge.

Moreover, the methods of requisitioning grain were extremely unstable; even if one wanted to requisition, one might not be able to.

The Kingdom of Safriars was sparsely populated and simply couldn't meet the massive resource demands of Duruchi's army. The Kingdom of Elion fared slightly better, but it could only provide pasture, not actual rations. Other regions…

There is currently no need for an offensive.

The Kingdom of Itien might be a viable option, but Itien is Duruch's stronghold, a rare and stable region at present. Darkus's aim is to establish a long-term ruling order, not to create turmoil and hostility. If famine, conquest, or even guerrilla warfare were to occur there now, the situation would quickly spiral out of control.

Kill them all? Use the Kane sect's methods to massacre all the rebels?
So, should Finnubar be killed in the end too?
If that's the case, then why bother going through all the trouble of eliminating the Kane Cult in the first place? Why not just join them directly?
But this is impossible; it's an unsolvable paradox.

This is why Darkus had to constantly navigate between reality and ideals, mediate between the sword and the law, and search for a possible "third way" between the empire's desire for expansion and the reconstruction of order.

This path was destined to be difficult, but he had to take it.

Therefore, before attacking Ausuan, Duruci prepared enough supplies to last the army for five years. After entering Ausuan, he set up large warehouses at strategic nodes, that is, key cities on the march route, and relied on the sea to transport supplies. This was undoubtedly the optimal solution.

Prior to this, Lorthion was Dulrich's only strategic point in Ausuan, given its geographical location.
Now, Angrel and Port Eleste have also been incorporated into the chessboard, becoming Trucchi's second and third strategic nodes, bringing the southeastern coastline of the Inland Sea into the supply radiation range.

Subsequently, there will be a fourth, a fifth... and a tenth strategic node. According to Darkus's blueprint, the Truc Army will make full use of the ocean and rivers, relying on these nodes to launch a spiderweb-like advance and encirclement operation. Starting from these nodes, the offensive will no longer be a blind act, but a precise blade guided by logistics. Every advance will be backed by resources, roads, and river transport.

The next phase will focus on the Kingdom of Elion, a place with grasslands and rivers, open terrain, abundant resources, and hidden potential.

Under the established strategic policy of not requisitioning grain, developing agriculture and animal husbandry on the Windswept Plains is the most reasonable and appropriate solution for Trucchi's current situation.

Occupation is no longer plunder, but cultivation; advancement is no longer burning and killing, but sowing.

Besides food as a ballast, Dakota, who was steering the chariot behind him, did other homework and learned a lot from the lessons of those who came before him.

He particularly emphasized the establishment of pontoon bridge units to prevent embarrassing situations like Huang Baitao's actions or Trudeau's frustration at the river, and stressed the need for cross-river strike and mobile deployment capabilities.

In addition, during the advance, the Trudeau Army will simultaneously construct roads and establish temporary or permanent highway supply lines to ensure that the front lines are never short of food, troops, or manpower. Where necessary, railways will also be built to maximize transportation efficiency.

Also, water purifier devices.

Even a seemingly small but extremely important project has been prioritized for inclusion in the support system.

Dakos demanded that the Duruci soldiers have access to clean, treated hot water, rather than relying on local river or well water. He knew that non-combat casualties were the biggest killer of the army, and minimizing injuries and illnesses was key; he didn't want soldiers to die in the water before falling to the enemy's blade.

After walking for a while, Dakos arrived at the port area.

He arrived at a very good time, or rather, he chose to appear at this moment precisely because the timing was right.

The weather was clear, a gentle sea breeze was blowing, and the calls of albatrosses could be heard from the horizon. He stood on a high point on the dock, overlooking the operation of the entire port area.

A large number of Albatross-class merchant ships, built for war, were neatly moored beside the pier, which was still undergoing upgrades. They were the veins behind the war, the heartbeat of Trucchi's war machine. Further out, even more merchant ships were anchored, quietly waiting to enter their berths, one after another, like a long snake formation at sea, laden with the appetite of war.

On the dock, Duruch soldiers and civilians from Asur who had been conscripted to assist were working side by side, unloading, registering, moving, and storing cargo—every process was well-organized and orderly. They were busy and silent, their sweat and steam mingling with the sea breeze, creating a real and reassuring smell in the air.

Dakos stood there, watching the gantry crane slowly lift the containers from the merchant ship and place them steadily in place, the whole movement like a precise dance.

He quietly absorbed all of this, appreciating the rhythm and efficiency of industry.

That is the future direction for Duruci, and even for the elves—not the blood and fire of the past, but gears and steel, machinery and magic, a completely new mode of warfare where victory or defeat on the front lines is determined by control.

After watching for a moment, he moved again. (End of Chapter)