Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 212 Coaching change
The handover ceremony for the marshal went smoothly. Raven was a royalist, and even though he was quite worried about the current war situation, he would obey the king's orders.

Elton's new Field Marshal, Cullen, is also a highly respected general. He was previously in charge of affairs in the Northwest Theater and did not have many entanglements with any of the parties.

His war experience was less than Raven's, and it was mostly characterized by surprise attacks, where he excelled at winning with fewer troops. The kingdom valued this quality in Karen and wanted him to lead a counterattack with the help of reinforcements.

Raven and Karen were discussing final military matters inside the tent.

"With the help of the fortress forces, the pressure on the hill defense line has been reduced somewhat, but we still cannot be careless. Lloyd is cunning and shrewd, and Isidore's support forces are also sufficient. I'm afraid there is another conspiracy."

"Lord Raven's words are wise and prudent, and I know that Isildur will definitely not sit idly by and wait for his doom. But you have been away from the central government for too long and are not aware of the current situation in the kingdom."

The Emerald Lands only agreed to stay for three months and refused to obey the Kingdom's unified command. The Arcane Empire's anti-war sentiment has waned, but they covet the resource-rich lands of the North. They are very likely to ally with Isildur. However, the most difficult problem is not external forces, but our own internal issues.

The kingdom has recently increased its military recruitment efforts, but has had to borrow money from the powerful nobles behind the trading cities, resulting in a deficit. Even several of the kingdom's gold mines have been mortgaged, and during Gold Rush Week, the interest rates demanded are even higher. If the war cannot be resolved within a year, the cash flow will dry up, and then it will be difficult to raise funds for the army!

Karen looked at Raven, who had aged considerably in just a few days, with even his temples turning gray.

He was well aware of the effort Raven had put in, but wars were often not about military matters, but rather the continuation of politics and economics behind them.

If possible, Karen would not want to take office at this time, replacing a highly decorated veteran coach. If the plan fails, he will be branded with shame.

Raven could only sigh and pat Karen on the shoulder: "You have a heavier burden. Hopefully, you can turn the tide!"
Knight Commander Conrad is loyal to his country and willing to sacrifice his life. His abilities coincide with your plans, so you can make good use of him.

Quen of the Cold Iron Crusaders is incredibly brave and can serve as the vanguard. The Holy Shield Gryphon Order needs a hero from the Church of Light to control them effectively.

After saying this, Raven moved his finger to the plains and the southwest region: "You must have heard about the story of the Kingdom's Twin Stars in the capital."

Viscount Sumu of the Plains, the guardian of Longlet Castle, slew the Son of Isildur Forest, and now joins forces with the Judgement Priest to slay the undead. His military exploits are numerous, and he will surely receive a royal decree soon.

The other, Sir Murak, spent most of his time fighting in the southwestern wilderness, mainly suppressing orc tribes and maintaining the balance of power between the fortress border states.

Both of them are rising stars in the kingdom's war effort, possessing extraordinary potential; they can be summoned together for a joint attack when necessary.

Karen nodded in agreement. He had heard of Murak before. With the alliance with the fortress and the complete liberation of the southwest region, Murak would be able to free up his forces to lead a large army to support the eastern front. This was an order personally issued by the king.

Su Mu, however, was a complete newcomer, whose rise to power was too rapid, like a shooting star. He had now become the de facto master of the plains. He was shrewd and good at managing affairs, and it was said that he had taken in many powerful heroes, making him a commander-type lord.

Raven was arrogant and conceited; if he recommended someone, they must have exceptional abilities. Karen kept Su Mu in mind, preparing to meet him at a crucial moment.

Just as the two were talking, an urgent military message came from outside the tent.

"It's terrible, my lord! The North has fallen!"

"No noise is allowed within the military camp..."

"what?"

The two marshals were clearly shocked. Just when the situation seemed to be looking good and they were about to launch a counterattack, the Northern Border pulled this stunt, instantly disrupting their entire plan.

"Frost Fortress is a well-known fortified city in the North. With the strength of the Northern nobles, they should have been able to defend it even if they couldn't win. How could it have fallen so quickly?"

Karen had already received intelligence from Congress and had deployed a force to provide support, but before they could even set out, they heard this devastating news. Raven was clearly more familiar with the Salim family: "Since old Salim's death, the North has been leaderless. The one who inherited the title is Rhodes, who clearly isn't very good at fighting, having previously lost cities and territories. He was just hoping that Salim's bloodline might inspire the other nobles, but now it seems like wishful thinking."

"We must drive Levin Farrell out of the North, otherwise Isildur will reinforce his troops and be able to penetrate deep into the heart of the country from the North, and the capital will be in grave danger!"

Karen immediately deployed his army, preparing to launch a joint attack on the northern border and reclaim the territory.

No matter how difficult the remaining battles may be, it's no longer Raven's concern. The Emerald Lands have sent a special force to provide assistance, but in reality, it's all about keeping an eye on Raven, their old rival, who must return to the capital to report for duty within the stipulated time.

After the handover was completed, the old marshal rode his warhorse and led a personal guard westward.

Before leaving, Conrad brought several generals to see him off. The knight commander was not afraid of offending the Emerald City, nor did he care about the new marshal's opinion. He simply adhered to the chivalrous spirit.

"Marshal, the country is currently in chaos. Take another 30 cavalrymen as escorts in case of unforeseen circumstances. After retreating from the hills, head directly to the plains. You can transit through Langlit Castle before entering the heartland."

Conrad waved his hand, and 30 champion knights stepped forward to join the guard.

Raven wanted to refuse, but after glancing at the beast tamer riding the flying dragon king on the tower, he swallowed his words.

If they were facing enemies of the human race, they might at least follow some rules. But these beasts in the fortress are even more vengeful than the orcs; they definitely need to be on guard.

"Viscount Sumu of Thorns is an upright human warrior who greatly admires you. You can seek his help in case of any emergency."

Although Raven is a powerful hero, without military power, his heroic abilities are completely useless. This is precisely the charm and characteristic of the hero world.

The struggle between the individual and the collective, as well as the process of integration, are always present in the development of heroes.

There are no perfect skills, only paths that suit you.

Raven had always seen things clearly, and thus knew that cultivating more talented generals was essential for the kingdom's revival. He was happy for young nobles to step up and take on responsibilities, finding it more meaningful than any act of heroism.

“Very well, I will pay a visit to Viscount Thorns and see this young talent you spoke of.”

Raven finally left, his silhouette stretched long by the setting sun, desolate and tragic.

He couldn't help but look back at the Kingdom's army and the generals they had trained. He felt nostalgia, reluctance, and sighs, overwhelmed with emotion, but in the end, he just smiled faintly and remained indifferent.

I fondly remember the day I enlisted, full of youthful vigor and courage, dominating the battlefield, asking who in the world could rival me. Now, years have passed, my hair has turned gray, and my ambitions remain unfulfilled.

Upon returning to the capital, he will most likely be unable to lead troops. Perhaps he will only be able to hear news from Conrad on the anniversary of Conrad's death, and that the country will be reclaimed.

Even so, he had no regrets.

Conrad led all the cavalrymen in a knightly salute to the old commander.

They came into obscurity, but left as legends.

Kingdom Knight Raven Finaksia!
(End of this chapter)