Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 427 Unprecedented Scale of Air Cavalry
Hearing Edmund's report, Su Li was also very pleased. The territory's commercial trade had truly taken shape, and they were even able to trade Pegasus.

With this kind of trade, Muyuan could then trade horses. Leaving aside whether a Tea Horse Road could be established, creating a trading system for spices and warhorses would be absolutely no problem.

After all, the empire was indeed rich in warhorses, but extremely short of spices.

Every territory that could produce spices was extremely wealthy, the richest in the region.

Blackwood Territory is one of the few territories capable of producing spices. Both Hot Spring Town and Spice Corridor are powerful opportunities that developed thanks to Su Li's intelligence. Hot Spring Town's vanilla orchids rely on its healing hot springs, while Spice Corridor relies on Rainbow Falls and Gem Pool.

These sacred sites are incredibly difficult to establish in other territories. After all, each sacred site is formed only through a confluence of various opportunities and coincidences. For example, Rainbow Falls required an obelisk to be built atop the falls before an earthquake. Building the obelisk wasn't enough; it also had to be ensured that when the falls occurred, the obelisk would collapse towards the falls and shatter into numerous fragments.

Without the guidance of intelligence, it would be extremely difficult for an ordinary territory to simultaneously achieve so many conditions through sheer chance.

Edmund also gave a very detailed report on this matter: "My lord, our achievements in improving horse breeds are also very significant. We have acquired more than 100 Bloodmane warhorses through various means such as trading and breeding, including 47 adult warhorses and 62 foals."

"Bloodmane Warhorses?" Su Li's eyes lit up, and he asked incredulously, "We already have over a hundred warhorses of this caliber?"

Su Li remembered that Edmund had told him that the manes of these warhorses were usually blood red, symbolizing an invincible banner on the battlefield. They were often used as mounts by imperial generals or noble lords, so they were also known as Blood Banner Conquerors.

It is the finest warhorse of the Old World. This is because a large region of the Empire was once a prosperous colony of the ancient Elven Empire, and these warhorses are actually descendants of elven warhorses. When the elven colonists abandoned the Old World and sailed back to their elven kingdoms, many horse-taming families left behind a large number of elven warhorses during their retreat. In other places, the wood elf ancestors, living in the forests, also released herds of warhorses, which roamed freely in the ruins of elven cities and bred with local forest horses on the grasslands and plains. These hybrid descendants are the Bloodmane warhorses of the Empire.

This new breed of horse is much larger than any other horse in the Old World. They are stronger and more resilient. The only problem is that they require lush meadows and bushes and free-range pastures to grow up in.

Despite the enormous cost, once Imperial knights began riding these warhorses, they discovered that the horses showed no fatigue from the heavy armor. Even when Old World horses were exhausted to death, they still galloped and leaped with ease, not to mention their composure in battle, unlike ordinary warhorses that were easily terrified. The Imperial knights' victories were not only due to their own courage and skill, but also to the warhorses themselves.

According to the empire's internal regulations, only knights of the elite rank or higher are permitted to ride these precious warhorses, and only a few lucky and trustworthy commoners can serve as grooms to serve these incomparably noble warhorses. The people of the empire consider it an honor to share a stable with such noble warhorses, and these grooms must find ways to ensure that the Bloodmane warhorses can comfortably and happily shed their seed in the local forests.

Edmund straightened his back, his voice steady and resolute: "Yes, sir. One hundred and nine. Forty-seven adult warhorses and sixty-two foals. Without the Academy's new regulations on warhorse breeding and Moonclover, we wouldn't even dare to dream of such a number."

“The instructors at the Griffin Academy have broken down and refined the art of horse breeding,” he explained, his tone conveying his confidence in the new system. “In the past, it relied on the experience of nuns and old horse herders, passed down orally, and the quality depended entirely on individual skill. Now it’s different. After the academy developed the Warhorse Breeding system, they have conducted very detailed research on various precious warhorses.”

“They compiled a manual—a thick parchment scroll,” Edmund gestured, “which clearly explained everything from controlling the breeding season, caring for mares during their gestation period, calving techniques, and the steps for training foals, to how much and what kind of feed to give them at different ages. The old horse herders’ effective methods were also recorded, verified, and written into the regulations. Every herder who served Bloodmane horses had to learn this from the academy instructors, pass the examination, and receive a certificate stamped with the academy’s wax seal before they could enter the Bloodmane stables and paddock. That’s what you call ‘having rules’.”

“Moonlight alfalfa is the foundation, sir, that hasn’t changed.” He pointed down from the plateau. “But the academy’s regulations have maximized the power of this feed. When to feed fresh hay, when to feed hay, how to add feed before mating, how to adjust during the foaling period, how to gradually add feed after the foal is weaned… all according to the manual. It’s no longer ‘good enough,’ but ‘must be.’ Horses eat it, their bones and muscles grow faster and more evenly, mating success rate is high, mares conceive more steadily, and foal survival rate also increases. In the past, it would take four or five years for a Bloodmane foal to grow to the point where it could carry armor and charge into battle. Now? Three years! The skeleton and endurance are up to standard. This is the result of the combined effect of regulations and good feed.”

“Of course,” Edmund said pragmatically, “we also buy horses from outside to replenish our bloodline. There are always knights or minor nobles within the Empire who can’t afford to raise Bloodmane horses. Through reliable channels, we have gradually acquired several fine stallions and mares with foals. The money for these horses was partly obtained by exchanging herbs from the Spice Corridor and vanilla from Hot Springs. These newly arrived horses were immediately cared for according to the Academy’s procedures, their pedigrees were registered, and they were included in the breeding program.”

“Now,” he concluded, gazing towards Broken Valley Peak, “the best pastures have been given to the Bloodmane herd, raised according to the academy’s regulations, supported by Moonfly stalks, and tended day and night by certified herdsmen. That’s how we got this number of one hundred and nine horses. My lord, the expenses are high—transporting hay, raising people, and buying horses all cost money. But seeing the knights able to charge into battle on such warhorses in the future, this money has been well spent!”

Su Li completely agreed with Edmund's statement.

Money should be spent wisely!

Why is the Hessian Territory's vast financial resources left to rot in the treasury of nobles instead of being used to breed warhorses and enhance combat effectiveness?
Bloodmane horses were undoubtedly one of the most important components of the knightly forces' combat effectiveness.

Thanks to the high and cool terrain and the extremely vast, boundless pastures in the northern part of the Black Forest Territory, the Black Forest Territory is able to breed a large number of high-quality warhorses.

No matter how many high-level mounts a territory has, warhorses will always be the knights' primary mounts, without exception.

If all the mounts could be replaced with Bloodmane Horses, the Black Forest Territory's combat power would obviously be greatly enhanced.

For example, if all 100 warhorses were given to the Crimson Night Knights, the entire Crimson Night Knights could be re-equipped, and their combat power might instantly surpass that of the Black Forest Guard Knights.

If all 200-plus knights of the Black Forest Guard were equipped with these warhorses, their combat power would likely skyrocket, second only to the Vengeful Sun Half-Griffin Knights. Their combat strength would far surpass that of other knightly orders.

Su Li then asked, "What about the other mounts? Any progress?"

Edmund was clearly prepared. He immediately straightened up, his voice carrying the certainty of a battlefield commander: "My lord, this is precisely what I wanted to report. Against the damned mud and dense forests of the Swamp Territory, even the most elite ground heavy cavalry will find it difficult to make a difference. The instructors at the Griffin Academy and the druids of the Church of Dawn all believe that air cavalry is the sharpest weapon to tear through the swamp's fog! We've been focusing our efforts on just a few things these past few months."

"Over in the Baran Dominion, the grey swan population has completely stabilized and has even grown considerably." Emundt's tone was relaxed. "There are now 167 adult swans and 46 half-grown chicks fluttering around in the training ground. These adult birds are rather docile, but they are really stable when carrying half-human scouts, and they are particularly agile when navigating through the misty, dense woods of the swamp."

"Since these gray swans are not strategic resources, and halflings are willing to sell anything for money, we have purchased a considerable number of these mounts from Maleburg and various halfling caravans. The largest single purchase was more than 40. Now that our territory's finances are abundant, these mounts are the easiest to scale up."

"Our best halfling scouts are undergoing intensive training, learning to conduct visual reconnaissance at low altitudes in complex environments, as well as to drop signal flares or small incendiary bombs at low altitudes. The goal is to make them our 'eyes' and 'harassers' over the swamp. We don't aim for a direct assault, but rather to figure out the swamp territory's layout and militia movements, and to cause them some trouble from time to time."

"The progress on the warhawks is even faster." Edmund's voice carried a hint of pride in the magic of Giron. "The druids and the Knights of the Light Arrow have an inexplicable connection with those warhawks. There are currently nine warhawks that can reliably cooperate with the druids in combat. These are not ordinary birds of prey; they can understand complex commands, and their claws and beaks are covered with wind blades or natural toxins. They can easily tear through animal hide armor and even light armor when they swoop down."

"Their greatest advantages are speed, stealth, and surprise. Druids riding on the backs of eagles can silently glide through the treetops, searching for enemy commanders, spellcasters, or monster tamers, and then launch a fatal blow. Or they can directly swoop down to attack exposed light infantry and archers on the ground. Against monsters hiding in the swamp, warhawks can accurately locate them from the air, guiding our ranged fire or directing other air units to strike. They are the assassins and hunters of the sky."

Finally, and most importantly, the monster mount, the Horse Eagle.

At this, Edmund's expression turned serious, even tinged with regret. "The horse vultures sent from the Gray Mountain Kingdom... My lord, these things are truly formidable, but also incredibly difficult to handle!" He took a breath. "We've only successfully received and initially tamed twenty-one so far. Their griffin blood makes them fierce and warlike, while their horse-like physique gives them ample carrying capacity. Clad in specially made Sunfire armor, carrying heavily armored warriors on their backs, they're like battering rams in the air when they charge! They can swoop down through a hail of arrows, tear through enemy formations with their claws, and the spears or warhammers of the warriors on their backs can smash open an enemy's head."

“But the cost is high,” Edmund shrugged. “Training them cost us four of our most experienced beast trainers and seven were seriously injured. These beasts are wild and untamed, and when they go berserk, they don’t recognize even their own kind. They also have an enormous appetite, eating almost exclusively fresh meat, especially prey with a hint of supernatural energy. Moonlight alfalfa has little effect on them. Maintaining the consumption of these twenty-one eagles is equivalent to raising a hundred bloodmane horses!”

“However,” he changed his tone, his eyes sharpening, “it’s worth it! Think about it, while our knights are bogged down in the swamp and monsters on the ground, a dozen armored eagles carrying heavily armed warriors crash down like meteors into the swamp territory’s militia ranks, or directly raid their command center… That impact is enough to instantly crush a demoralized force. They are our aerial hammers, specially designed to smash through tough bones!”

Edmund concluded, "My lord, Pegasus Knights are precious and few in number, primarily tasked with rapid mobility and elite raids. But the Grey Swans, Warhawks, and Horse Eagles—these three are the net we will weave and the punches we will deliver over the Swamp Territory! Grey Swans will see through the fog, Warhawks will hunt precisely and harass, and Horse Eagles will smash through hard shells. As long as we continue to invest in them, increasing their numbers and improving their coordination, the Swamp Territory's tricks relying on terrain and monsters will no longer be insurmountable! Air cavalry is the key to breaking the Swamp's deadlock!"

Su Li couldn't help but smile. It seemed the achievements of the Griffin Military Academy, a noble institution in the Black Forest Territory, were indeed remarkable. Under their guidance, even Edmund, a druid and steward of the pastures, had gained a very clear understanding of warfare.

It wasn't difficult to come up with the idea of ​​using air cavalry to deal with the swamp territory.

After all, their terrain is such that it's easy for knights to sink into the ground. So why not just avoid the ground? The air cavalry are as swift as the wind and have a clear view of ground targets, making it a devastating blow to the swamp territory.

But to be able to know every type of unit and every type of mount so well, and to talk about it so fluently, like Edmund does require a certain level of skill.

So Su Li smiled and said, "Not bad, you're becoming more and more qualified as the head of the pasture. Did you learn all this from the academy?"

“Yes.” Edmund nodded slightly and said, “The lecturers and students at the academy talk about it every day. I’m so used to it that I’m sick of it.”

Su Li nodded, then asked, "Are all these vultures our caravan returning from Dragon Rock Fortress?"

Standing to the side, Hilde replied, "Yes, my lord. Since we used the Warhammer squad to go to Dragonrock Keep for the trade, it went very smoothly, and the Warhammer squad returned last month."

Air cavalry are indeed fast.

These helicopters can bypass the large number of monsters on the ground, only stopping at various dwarven fortresses, and then fly directly to Dragonrock Fortress.

Taking advantage of their air force superiority, the transactions between the two sides were very convenient.

Hilde continued, "Considering the ease of our future trade, we gave all of our dwarven covenant gold, nearly 1500, to the dwarves and also purchased a Warhammer squad."

"In addition, the dwarves delivered 13 horse vultures to us at once. Now our air cavalry is larger than ever before."

Su Li did a quick calculation and found that in the upcoming war against the Swamp Territory, the Black Forest Territory could deploy 1 Green Dragon, 5 Griffin Knights, 21 Horse Eagle Knights, 10 Pegasus Knights, 9 Warhawk Knights, and 167 Gray Swan Knights!
So Su Li smiled and said, "With these 200-plus air cavalrymen, we will gain an absolute and overwhelming mobility advantage in the war against Blue Mirror Territory!"

"What does the Swamp Territory rely on? It's the muddy, treacherous wetlands, the tangled, dense forests, the monsters lurking within, and the unpredictable environmental magic that can instantly turn a flat path into a death trap! They think that this will hold back the iron hooves of our heavily armored knights and drag the war into their preferred methods of attrition and guerrilla warfare."

A cold glint appeared on Su Li's lips: "But our air cavalry will completely disregard all of this! No matter how deep their swamps are, can they trap wings of flight? Rivers, swamps, dense forests, ravines... these obstacles that are insurmountable barriers for ground troops are nothing more than fleeting scenery for our air cavalry. The horse-eagle and griffon riders can launch thunderous dive attacks from any direction, directly striking the enemy's most vulnerable rear, attacking their command centers, supply lines, or ranged units. The enemy's meticulously constructed defenses will be rendered utterly ineffective in the face of vertical strikes!"

Mobility advantage translates into an unparalleled strategic advantage in combat, especially after one's own air cavalry force has increased in size.

Taking the Swan Riders as an example, air cavalry, and even horse archers, generally find it difficult to gain an advantage in a duel with infantry archers. This is because infantry archers outnumber each other, have a denser formation, and possess stronger bows and crossbows. Therefore, if each side were to encounter a single unit in the open field, horse archers would rarely be able to win a direct duel against a well-organized infantry archer formation. Even if they did win the duel, the losses suffered by the horse archers would far exceed those of their opponents.

After all, the cost of training one air cavalryman is enough to train ten infantry archers.

However, when a large number of air cavalry gather, they can rely on their mobility to create an absolute advantage in a local situation where they outnumber the enemy, and use a denser rain of arrows to quickly eliminate the opponent.

If one squad of infantry archers were to engage in a duel with one squad of Swan Riders, the infantry archers might win. But if one squad of infantry archers were to engage in a duel with ten squads of Swan Riders, their morale would be instantly shattered, and they would rout and flee.

Moreover, these air cavalry also include a large number of advanced flying monster cavalry capable of launching surprise attacks.

Hilde replied excitedly, "That's right, my lord. As long as Edmund can ensure that all air cavalry units have the highest level of feed, equipment, and training, we can use the air cavalry to weave a desperate net over the swamps after the snow melts in the spring!"

Su Li turned to Edmund and asked, "Is there no problem? I hope you can use this time to fatten up all the air cavalry's mounts so that we can gain the upper hand in the upcoming war."

Edmund immediately assured him, "Please rest assured, my lord, our Pasture will do everything in its power to make good use of the advantages of the elves and druids to fatten up our warhorses and mounts."

Su Li nodded in satisfaction, deciding to give this capable subordinate some encouragement. You can't expect the horse to run without feeding it.

For an old druid like Edmund, money has no effect.

It's not that they've seen through worldly desires; as far as Su Li knows, they also have emotions and desires. For example, his Minister of Agriculture, Edmund's cousin, Fandral Oak, got involved with a plump middle-aged nun and married her this autumn.

However, it was also because the two were truly in love, shared a common interest and ambition in the pursuit of Jilun magic, and were able to support and encourage each other.

If he were truly lustful, he would have targeted the younger, prettier nuns.

Therefore, for druids like them, spiritual pursuits are of greater importance.

Su Li had always remembered Edmund's aspirations. He smiled and said to him, "I remember your ambition has always been to build an elven community, right?"

Edmund bowed slightly and replied, "Yes, my lord. I have always longed to gather the scattered elves and build an elven community and forest within the territory. However, we are currently lacking an Ancient Tree of Life."

Su Li calmly said, "Your ambition may be about to be fulfilled. Our adventure team, which went into the Black Pine Forest, has already found the last Sky Titan in the mortal world by following the Bone Merchant Frostwood. They are on their way back and should be back after the [Spring Awakens All Things] ceremony."

"They are very likely to have obtained an ancient tree from the Sky Titans on this trip. If you do indeed possess this extraordinary spirit tree, I will allow you to build a forest at the foot of the Twilight Mountains and create an elven town."

“By the ancient tree above…” Edmond trembled with excitement and immediately promised, “My lord, if we can truly obtain this sacred object, I, Edmond Oak, will nourish the land with my flesh and blood and communicate with the ancient tree with my spirit. I will surely build an eternal forest home for you and for all my wandering compatriots beneath the Twilight Mountains.”

"Control your emotions," Su Li said with a smile. "My minister, the future of our territory is bright, and there are many places that need your and the elves' service. How many elves are there in the territory right now?"

“There are already more than 20 elves,” Edmund replied immediately. “Most of them are rock people from the Valley of Memory. We invited them out as a reward for helping them settle the mass graves of elven soldiers. These people are all extremely old and long-lived, veritable living fossils in their respective fields.”

(End of this chapter)