Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 456 Proclamation of Punishment: Iron Stream Advances Westward
In the early April of the 1432nd year of the Celestial Calendar, the third year of the Summer Moon Alliance.

It was the season of transition from late spring to early summer, and the air was filled with the vibrant and moist breath of life. The rice seedlings on the vast plain were lush and green, growing vigorously, and the wildflowers on the Bailu Plain were in full bloom, displaying a riot of colors.

It's like a carpet of vibrant colors interspersed on a green ground.

And along National Highway 002, which runs through this carpet, traffic flows endlessly.

The naming style of the national highways in Hanhai is exactly the same as that of Dongxia. The main north-south highways start with 2, the main east-west highways start with 3, and the ones starting with 0 are the core trunk roads of the territory, which are the planned four vertical and three horizontal highways.

Route 002 is a core main road that extends from Xuanshui Special Zone to both sides, reaching the border of Dingshan County to the north and passing through Qishan Pass to the south.

This is the core thoroughfare connecting Qishan inside and outside, but the foundation of this road still comes from the Bailu Kingdom more than two hundred years ago.

During the orcish occupation, aside from building some villages of varying sizes, they had absolutely no concept of road construction.

What road? Just step on it, and that's a road, isn't it?
Even the dwarf, who was so stingy he would squeeze oil from the cracks in the rocks, had to periodically take out some copper coins to do some patching and maintenance for the convenience of the caravan, just to barely keep the road passable.

Under such circumstances, it is easy to imagine that this transportation line, which runs through the north and south, was already riddled with holes, full of potholes, with cracks everywhere where there were stones, and mud pits everywhere where there were no stones.

If it rains, it's almost like sliding on a swamp.

When Han Hai took over Bailu Plain, what he saw was a scene of utter desolation in terms of infrastructure.

At this critical moment, the lord spoke up: "Build the road first!"
“We’ve captured quite a few orc prisoners, so we can’t just waste food feeding them. It’s not potato harvesting season yet, so let’s get on the road repair first.”

Therefore, the Bailu Xuanshui Special Zone mobilized more than 40,000 laborers, plus more than 100,000 orc prisoners, and a guard team composed of the National Defense Army and militia, forming a huge road construction team.

Thus, with ample manpower, specialized equipment, and well-organized project management, Hanhai completed the construction of two vertical and one horizontal road network on the original old trade route in just six months.

At this very moment, this newly renovated National Highway No. 002 is facing its first major test since its completion.

Rolling down the road were elite troops drawn from the Hanhai Field Army and the National Defense Army.

The lord also wanted to build a fully mechanized legion, but at the current stage, it was not very realistic. So, the super hybrid force in front of us came into being.

Leading the way were a small number of cavalry.

A fact that is gradually becoming a consensus within the Han Hai is that the Han Hai's main force, the field army group, is eliminating cavalry in large numbers, and even powerful forces such as orc wolf riders and elven leopard riders are gradually withdrawing from the combat sequence.

As the kings of war in the starry world, cavalry has an extremely awkward characteristic: it puts too much strain on logistics.

Even disregarding speed, the food and fuel required for a warhorse traveling a thousand kilometers is at least ten times that of a truck of the same capacity.

To supply the cavalry at the front, more camel pack animals were needed; to sustain these animals and the transport teams, more food, water, and fodder needed to be carried...

This is how the ratio of regular troops to auxiliary troops, often one to one or even one to two, came about when large-scale battles were fought on the mainland.

Of course, there is another combat strategy, which is to "seize supplies from the enemy" and directly plunder supplies from occupied areas.

Clearly, Chen Mo wouldn't allow that, so based on this alone, even if warhorses had many advantages, they had already become defensive tools in the Vast Ocean. This meant small-scale, short-distance mobile forces centered around strongholds, capable of departing and returning on the same day.

In today's long-distance, cross-regional operations, only a small number of elite troops are left in the army for mobile patrols.

For example, the Unicorn Squad leading the way!

However, once the cavalry is gone, mechanization cannot be replenished overnight. Even though the dwarven masters at the Vast Ocean Factory swung their hammers so fast they left afterimages, the number of Vast Ocean's war machines and trucks could not possibly meet the army's needs in such a short time.

Faced with this situation, the lord drew inspiration from the unique skills of certain major Eastern powers on Earth.

Chen Mo took out his motorcycle.

The kind where each vehicle carries dozens of people...

The soldiers in the Starry World generally have good physical fitness and strong balance. The multi-layered support fixed on the motorcycles allows others to sleep and rest on the vehicle, in addition to the rider, thus achieving the effect of one motorcycle being equivalent to one truck, greatly improving the mobility of the Hanhai Field Army.

With motorcycles carrying soldiers, the trucks' transport capacity was freed up to tow heavy artillery, carry weapons, and transport ammunition...

Of course, because motorcycles involve the core component of the engine, Hanhai's current production capacity is still limited. Therefore, the field army is also equipped with a considerable number of bicycles.

The technology required to make this thing is much lower, and the Xuanshui Industrial Zone has already achieved complete localization and self-production.

These bicycles have two iron frames extending from the front to the back, with diagonal triangular supports underneath. Two people ride them, one in front and one behind, while an infantry squad of soldiers sits on the two side bars.

If you bring undead skeletons, you can take down three platoons...

Finally, there are soldiers who can't get a ride yet and have to walk.

On both sides of the avenue, caravans that had been temporarily stopped, scattered pedestrians, and people working by the roadside huddled together under the watchful eyes of the guards' gun barrels, watching this mechanized motorcycle infantry group roll south along National Highway 002.

"Look at this formation! Another major battle is about to begin!"

"I wonder how much territory we can conquer this time? At least several prefectures, right?"

"They'll definitely be able to appoint a lot of generals and award a lot of medals!"

"It's good to have taken it! We've opened up new land, and those who want to leave can get land too! The workshops will definitely need to hire new people!"

An old laborer with a scar on his face smacked his lips, chewed on a blade of grass, and squinted as he smiled, "Following the lord in battle, we've never suffered a loss! Fight! Fight fiercely! Fight our way to peace and prosperity!"

The crowd chattered excitedly, their faces glowing.

Victories, one after another, brought tangible benefits to the vast land—more land, a safer environment, more jobs, and a better life. This fostered not only a profound respect for soldiers but also a fervent atmosphere of fervent joy at the prospect of war.

This atmosphere, in turn, inspired the army. When they noticed the eager, admiring gazes of the people on the roadside, the soldiers in the ranks unconsciously straightened their backs, raised their chins higher, and stomped their feet louder.

He truly looked down upon the world!
As the troops passed the former Qishan South Camp, Han Hai issued a "Letter to All Nations of the Starry Continent and All Compatriots of Order" to all nations of the Starry Continent.

This is what later became known as the "Declaration of Annihilation of Green Pine".

Back then, the campaign against the orcs was documented in proclamations; now that war is being waged against human nations, the same treatment should naturally be given.

In the private words of the Hanwai Foreign Affairs Department, our lord always keeps the greater good in his hands.

The text was drafted by an old scribe, and it's a bit too crafty, but that's okay, everyone can understand it.

Since the retreat of the heavens and the separation of various races, the nations of the Eastern Continent should have shared weal and woe, jointly preserving the flame of civilization. However, the Green Pine Kingdom, as a human nation, has failed to uphold the bonds of brotherhood, instead exhibiting the greed of wolves! Disregarding the greater good of humanity, it has instigated internal strife; its crimes are blatant and beyond description!

Next, the crimes were meticulously analyzed and listed:
[His first crime was betrayal and murder of his friend and neighbor!]

In the past, the Emerald Duchy of Cloud Mist fought for years to defend its territory and protect its beasts, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. Instead of offering assistance, Green Pine took advantage of their exhaustion, launching a ruthless attack, seizing their cities, and plundering their people, leading to the death of Earl of the Crystal Wall, Flowing Cloud, on the battlefield, his loyal soul restless!

They abandoned the principles of the human alliance and committed the heinous act of taking advantage of the chaos! Their crimes are unforgivable!

His second crime was his insatiable greed and cruelty, which led him to repeatedly violate the Great Wall!

My vast and desolate territory is home to the ancient Han Hai tribe, which has expanded its territory to the east and defended against fierce enemies to the north, creating new living space for the Starry Sky tribe. However, the Green Pine Kingdom, through its Zircon Territory, has bribed bandits to repeatedly invade our borders. In the first year of the summer month, they brazenly gathered a large army to cross the border and attack, killing our border people and destroying our fields. Their forces are fierce, and they want to turn my Han Hai into a wasteland!

Fortunately, thanks to the lord's wisdom and the soldiers' valiant efforts, their ferocity was thwarted. However, the vicious dog's desire to devour people remains to this day. Yesterday, the jade was harmed; today, the vast sea sheds blood. Tomorrow, which country and which tribe will be next?
His third crime, the most shameless of all, was the assassination of the Chairman.

...]

This refers to the assassination attempt on Chen Mo. In any case, crossing borders to assassinate the leader of another country has indeed caused great displeasure among the ruling classes of various countries.

To some extent, not targeting the leaders of other countries with assassinations is an unspoken rule on the mainland. After all, if you can kill others, others can kill you. With everyone having professionals, once this precedent is set, the consequences will be endless.

Emperors and kings can't just hide in their castles all the time...

[His fourth crime was disturbing the moonlit stream and damaging construction.]

...]

This refers to Green Pine's sabotage of the Xiyue Railway construction. [Its fifth crime: fearing foreign powers and harming its own people, poisoning the nation...]

Its sixth crime...

The entire text is expansive and powerful, especially the line "When they see dwarf merchants, they kneel and wag their tails, begging for meager profits; when they encounter the might of orc soldiers, they tremble with fear and sell out their people for a mere survival!" This line has been repeatedly sung by bards in various arias.

After listing the enemy's numerous crimes, the manifesto concluded with a rousing announcement of the impending military campaign, while also subtly sowing discord within the enemy ranks.

Our alliance wields the sword of justice and raises an army to punish the guilty!
It is not for territorial expansion, but for punishing rebellion! It is not for personal grudges, but for public justice!

The target is solely the chief culprit of the Green Pine Kingdom and its stubborn accomplices; we hope that all discerning warriors and oppressed people within the Green Pine territory will distinguish right from wrong and not be buried with tyranny. We also hope that the nations of the mainland will see through the true nature of the Green Pine and not aid and abet evil.

The army marches westward, its glory shining brightly under heaven! It will surely clarify right and wrong, uphold the principles of Heaven, comfort the wronged souls, and avenge past humiliations!

This manifesto spread much faster than the one used to quell the orcs back then.

After all, although the war between the orcs was about "righteousness," it only affected some countries with contact lines. The grudges and conflicts between human forces, on the other hand, were more likely to stimulate the public's nerves, which were most sensitive to intrigue and revenge.

All countries and departments have opened their eyes wide and become more alert.

It is widely believed that Green Pine Kingdom is bound to suffer losses, but its ability to defeat Emerald three times and fight Orcs twice demonstrates that it is not a kingdom that can be easily conquered.

A fierce battle between evenly matched forces is about to begin, and all nations are ready to watch this spectacle unfold.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Contrary to most people's expectations, Han Hai did not adopt the multi-pronged approach and four-sided attack that everyone had previously guessed. Instead, it only used one route, attacking from east to west in a direct and forceful manner.

Before the outbreak of the great war, the Green Pine Kingdom repeatedly assessed the strength of the Vast Ocean. At that time, it was estimated that, apart from the Vast Ocean's "Iron Chariot Musketeers", there were at least three or four other troops that could be mobilized.

First and foremost, there's the orc army, which Green Pine fears most.

That's right, things are just that absurd. The Green Pine Kingdom wasn't too afraid of Han Hai, who had defeated the orcs, but was more afraid of the orcs who had been defeated by Han Hai.

The reason might be that the orcs captured Green Pine nobles and liked to tear them apart on the spot, while in the Vast Ocean there was still the possibility of capturing and ransoming them.

However, unexpectedly, despite the fact that on the wasteland, whether it was the "Thunder Roar" and "Sky Ridge" tribes that had joined earlier, or the remnants of "Thunderjaw" and "Iron Spine" that joined later, all of them were vying to ask Lord Han Hai for battle, Chen Mo did not bring any of them.

Even Milos, the leopard orc who was the first to obtain the title of Han Hai officer because he held firm at the Vulture Cliff mine, was unceremoniously thrown out by the lord.

Faced with the doubts of the local officials, Chen Mo only said one sentence.

"There's no reason to lead orcs to fight humans!"

Alright, everyone understands now. Our lord's "mental fastidiousness" has flared up again.

The other force desperately pleading with Chen Mo to send troops was the Elves.

The cities of Baishi and Qingze, which were captured in the last war, quickly stabilized due to the "rescue" and "nurturing" policies supported and constrained by the Han Hai. The elves gained access to the "land under the sun," which they had not set foot on for hundreds of years, and the power and influence of the Grand Elder and the Queen were at their zenith.

Now that the Streammoon region has become an ally, it's inconvenient to take action anymore. Therefore, the land north of Silvermoon Forest has become the place where the elves often gaze with deep affection.

The former Elven capital was located on the land of green pines.

Even the Green Pine Kingdom believed that the reason why the Lord of the Vast Sea suddenly wanted to attack Green Pine was inseparable from the elves.

Nine times out of ten, it's because the elves coveted their homeland in Greenpine Territory, and then instigated that "femme fatale" little girl to whisper sweet nothings in Chen Mo's ear!

Look, after Chen Mo finished visiting Silvermoon Forest, he started planning this "railway" and "train" as soon as he arrived in Creek Moon. If it weren't for the Green Pine Kingdom's desperate sabotage, that "train" would probably have already burned down into the town of Green Pine by now.

Reversing cause and effect actually makes quite a bit of sense.

After Green Pine publicized this matter, Vast Ocean issued a notice to the elves, stating that the elf troops were not allowed to leave Silvermoon Forest before Vast Ocean officially issued authorization.

On the surface, everyone says that Chen Mo couldn't save face, but as for the real reason...

Chen Mo confided in Liu Shuang privately.

"I know the elves yearn for their homeland, but humans are humans, and elves are elves."

"By taking over the old site of Silvermoon City and allowing the elven clerical staff to move in, I have done them a huge favor. But if they take over the large area of ​​Greenpine on their own, and then I make them leave, then I will owe them something."

"So, I have to follow their lead, do you understand what I mean?"

Liu Shuang blinked her clear eyes, first nodding, then shaking her head.

"You tell me how to fight, that's how we fight. As for the elves... you don't need to worry about them!"

It seems the little cotton-padded jacket is letting in the wind...

Chen Mo smiled gently: "Isn't that your 'family home'? I'm afraid you'll get upset if I don't explain it to you clearly."

Without hesitation, Liu Shuang blurted out, "With you here, they are my 'home'!"

Chen Mo couldn't help but burst into laughter.

That's just how this little girl is. She seems clueless, but this indescribable "feeling" is just too illogical.

You can't fool her!

The orcs remained stationary, the elves remained stationary, and the lord could still mobilize two human armies.

The Southern Route Force was a human army organized by various tribes of Xiyue, who were "willing to serve their lord like dogs and horses." Its core members were the vanguard team selected by the thirteen tribes of Xiyue to go north and participate in the lord's campaign against the orcs.

Because Xi Yue is now highly aligned with the lord's interests, the loyalty of this force is beyond doubt. However, Chen Mo doesn't think much of their mixed combat strength and naturally won't let them enter the battlefield to cause trouble.

The Han Hai Command issued an order requiring the "Xi Yue Loyal Legion" to maintain integration, strengthen training, and ensure the protection of the railway line while awaiting further instructions from Chen Mo.

Once the Green Pine is dealt with, it might be a good option for an occupying force in the future.

The western branch is a mercenary force selected by the Kingdom of Mirror Lake in accordance with the requirements of the Vast Ocean, following the signing of the agreement with Mirror Lake.

This unit is the complete opposite of Xiyue; it is extremely powerful in combat, but its loyalty is questionable.

If this unit is allowed into Green Pine, will it be able to completely maintain military discipline? If a serious looting incident breaks out, will harsh punishment trigger a backlash? These are all unknown factors.

Therefore, Chen Mo did not dare to use it lightly either, and even at the cost of self-inflicted damage to his own combat power, he drew a group of officers from his own field army and national defense army, all of whom were Torch Vanguard members or reserve Torch Vanguard members, totaling 600 people, and conducted training for this unit in the depths of the Windbreak Plains.

It was used as a backup piece, a reserve force to be used in critical moments.

In conclusion, the lord has countless elite troops under his command, but after much consideration, it is still the human forces under his command that should fight this battle.

Amidst these dramatic changes, the Hanhai Field Army advanced westward, with the main force preceding the working groups, and began to fully restore its occupation and control of the former territory of Dongguan.

When the White Deer Plain was controlled by the Vast Sea, it ceased to be a passage for the orcs to move south, and thus gained value for actual control and management.

On April 16th, a bright red flag was planted atop the long-abandoned border watchtower in Dongguan.

On April 20th, Skyfrost City, which had been ravaged by orcs and plundered by Green Pine, was "reclaimed" without bloodshed by the vanguard of the Vast Sea army.

That very afternoon, Deputy Commander Liu Shuang rode her unicorn "Da Bai" past the city, gazing at the city that held so many of her memories for a moment. Then she turned around, neither entering nor stopping, and continued leading her troops westward.

On April 22, the scouts of the Hanhai Vanguard Force clearly saw the Liuli Mountain in the distance, which stretched across the boundary between Dongguan and Yunwu.

At the foot of the mountain, at the pass known as "Dongguan Pass," the densely packed camps, the fluttering green pine royal flags and the battle flags of various territories, and the weapons reflecting the cold light in the sunlight all conveyed a clear message to the vast sea.

Here, they will face the Zircon Territory Guard of the Turquoise Kingdom, who are on high alert.

War is imminent!
(End of this chapter)