Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 314 Recruitment
Gwen and Sumu met in the study to discuss the next defensive front.

“I’ve discussed this with Raven. He said that since you started by defending cities, you could build a solid defensive line by relying on the Kuraki and hilly battle lines. But now the situation has changed. Lloyd’s army has heroes who have mastered the art of flight. They can cross towering mountains and bypass natural barriers directly.”

In this situation, hills and plains are indistinguishable, offering no natural defenses. What are you planning to do?

The hill defense line fell because Isildur had a hero with the magical ability of flight join the battle, instantly changing the course of the war.

This level 5 spell is extremely rare; it's rumored that none of the magic towers in the entire Isildur Empire possess it, and it's unknown where they found this hero.

Now that we have obtained the intelligence, we must take this into account when setting up our defenses.

"If we try to block the enemy in the hills, it's basically impossible. No matter how we resist, they can always break out of the encirclement and launch a surprise attack. But if we deploy our troops in the city, we'll lose a lot of natural strongholds, making it even more difficult to defend."

Facing strategic magic like flight spells certainly makes defense seem very passive.

Su Mu pondered for a moment, then took out the map: "I have a subordinate who is proficient in reconnaissance. I plan to first establish observation posts in the hilly defense zone to monitor the movements of the Isidore army. Even if the enemy possesses the magic of flight, they cannot travel long distances in a short time and will definitely rest along the way."

We cannot simply defend an isolated city. Without layers of defense, it is only a matter of time before the enemy army surrounds us and breaches the city.

We must put pressure on the Isildur so they dare not use their flying magic lightly; even if they do come, they will be a lone force, and we must quickly annihilate them.

Su Mu pointed to a city in the hilly pass called Black Cliff. It was originally a stockade for transporting supplies and had only average defensive capabilities, but now it has become a key garrison on the front line.

"The defensive fortifications of Black Cliff need to be rebuilt, and a garrison should be dispatched to guard it, preferably a ranged force, to cut off the enemy's attack route."

More importantly, we will deploy a mobile force. I will station the Griffin Legion at the midpoint between Kuraki and Black Cliff, ready to provide support at any time. If a large enemy force manages to break in using flying magic, we will immediately engage them to contain them.

The collapse of the hill defenses was largely due to Karen's decision to give all his cavalry to Conrad, leaving him without mobile forces and allowing the enemy to defeat them one by one. Sumu is unlikely to repeat this mistake, but while he understands this, having usable troops is crucial.

The Gale Griffin possesses considerable mobility, and coupled with Sumu's ability to govern advanced logistics, it can rapidly reach the battlefield. Isildur will find it difficult to launch surprise attacks using flying techniques; as long as reserves are available, they can seize upon enemy weaknesses and encircle and annihilate them.

Gwen was still somewhat worried, but Su Mu certainly knew more about military matters. Besides, Cangmu was the other party's hometown, so no amount of caution was too much. Su Mu would never joke about his life and fortune.

“Alright, I will immediately have Congress send artisans from the rear to Black Cliff to help you build fortifications, and will also provide some defensive equipment.”

The soldiers who suffered a rout at the front are trying to regroup, but it will take some time to restore their morale. Congress has transferred some troops from the valley to provide support, and a new marshal will lead these troops. As the commander of the army group, you can make decisions independently, but you must cooperate in the overall strategy.

This outcome was within Su Mu's expectations. The Kingdom had suffered heavy losses in the Hill Campaign, and the Battle of Sunset Fortress had also been a difficult one. It would take time to reorganize the army. During this period, Kuraki could only stand on the front lines and fight alone. This was why the Congress was so generous in giving him what he wanted.

Su Mu stared at Gwen and asked, "Who is the new marshal? Does Lord Raven have a chance to regain the command?"

Logically, with Karen's death and the breakdown of relations between the fortress army, the royal family clearly supports Raven, making him the only choice for the new commander. However, judging from Gwen's expression, things are probably not that simple.

Gwen looked closely at Su Mu, trying to read something from his face, but Su Mu showed no unusual expression.

A rumor circulating in Congress suggests that Sumu's suppression of the fortress in the southern region wasn't merely a matter of justice; he wanted to support Raven. While teaching the Emerald City a lesson, he also aimed to clear obstacles for Raven's return to the rank of Marshal.

Since the fortress claims there's hatred between the two sides, then let's deepen that hatred. Once it reaches a certain point, we won't need to rely on the other side anymore. Of course, this is mostly conspiracy theory speculation; at least Gwen didn't see it in Su Mu's words.

"There is another candidate for the new leader who will cooperate with our counterattack plan. The Parliament and the Royal Family have made arrangements."

Su Mu nodded and said nothing more.

The selection of a general is clearly a power struggle among the kingdom's highest levels. If he doesn't get the support of the royal family and parliament, it would be better for him not to be the marshal. Raven finally managed to get out of trouble, and if he were to take the blame again, he would probably die on the battlefield like Karen. It's good that things are as they are now.

"One month. No matter what difficulties you encounter or what methods you devise, you must hold on for one month, and the kingdom's reinforcements will arrive."

Gwen stared intently at Su Mu.

After thinking for a moment, Su Mu replied, "I will formulate the entire battle plan, and Congress shall not interfere at will. Congress will provide the boundary stones for the construction of Black Cliff City, and also provide me with a set of city magic arrays."

It's not that I'm greedy; you know how difficult this mission is. If anyone is willing to come to the front lines to resist, I'm willing to relinquish the hilly terrain and command.

Gwen quickly pulled Su Mu back and said with a smile, "That's for sure. You are the governor of the plains, and you have full command over Black Cliff. Even after the new commander arrives, there will be other arrangements."

Don't worry, Raven and I will back you up in Congress!

Su Mu nodded. Resisting Isidore's army was the most basic bottom line. He did have a plan to deal with the fortified army. If he had more troops, it would be easier to arrange. Therefore, he planned to rest and recuperate for a while.

This month is the month of Crimson Flame, and the fortress will not be easy to conquer. Moreover, the enemy is going to regulate the migration in the Fal Forest, so Lloyd may not be able to advance recklessly.

After everything was settled, Gwen brought Raven over, and Su Mu invited several of Kuraki's heroes. Everyone drank and chatted, and the atmosphere was indeed quite pleasant.

Compared to Speaker Quentin of Congress, Gwen was noticeably more approachable. After all, Quentin represented the interests of the upper-class nobles in Congress, creating a natural conflict with the emerging aristocracy like Gwen's, which couldn't be resolved with mere pleasantries.

The royal family holds a high position and even encourages competition among nobles, thus preventing the formation of a monopoly.

Gwen has mentioned privately on several occasions that the eldest prince, the first heir to the kingdom, has high hopes for Kuraki. If Sumu can advance further, granting him a fiefdom would not be a problem.

This is quite interesting. The next step is to either further military achievements to establish a duchy, or to align oneself with the eldest prince to be promoted to duke. Perhaps both are possible.

Su Mu did not rush to agree, but simply smiled and brushed it off.

Raven had told him privately several times that royal affairs were complicated and he shouldn't get involved easily.

I've heard that the eldest prince is in a very bad situation, having been overshadowed by the second prince on several occasions. The king is even considering changing the heir apparent, and recently he's been reflecting on his actions in the royal chambers.

The court minister is the eldest prince's man? Then why is his situation so bad?
Sometimes, people who seem kind and friendly are not necessarily allies; and some people who are temporarily opposed are not necessarily enemies.

It's virtually impossible to gather all the forces at once. But it is precisely in the midst of this arduous struggle that there is tremendous room for growth.

(End of this chapter)