Chapter 375: Good News!

Originally, Duke Lieshi's proposal had been for the entire army to advance in one go, pressing forward without even entering Red Shicheng.

They only needed to focus on locating the main Orc force, then drive them off using numerical superiority.

In past history, this method had resolved the threat of Northern Orc invasions several times.

After all, the Orcs only came to plunder grain and people; once they had looted enough, they would leave, never truly intending to fight a decisive battle against the Kingdom's main army.

But Duke Hernand claimed that this year was different.

Because this year, the Northern Behemoth Beast Clan had clearly enjoyed favorable weather and harvests, meaning the Beast Clan's supplies were actually more abundant than in previous years.

Yet, under such circumstances, they still chose to launch a massive invasion of the Griffin Kingdom, which warranted cautious treatment.

Therefore, Duke Hernand felt that this year, rash advances were not an option.

Instead, they should rely on the cities along the route, gradually reclaiming Northern lands step by step.

For instance, first arrive at Red Shicheng, secure Red Shicheng firmly, then seek out the main Orc force, before proceeding to the next city, and so on.

Although this method was safe.

It posed a huge test for the supply lines.

Thus, the support army was split in two, leaving a hundred thousand troops to remain in Black Longcheng.

This not only alleviated supply pressure but also consolidated Black Longcheng as a reserve force for support.

What made Duke Lieshi feel most uncomfortable was that His Majesty the King had approved this proposal.

"Report! Good news from the Vanguard Camp!"

Just as the atmosphere in the hall grew strange, a frantic sound of galloping hooves and shouting came from the front.

This made the assembled Hou Jues and Counts breathe a huge sigh of relief.

These two Dukes were too high above them; with their small arms and legs, they truly had no way to get involved, and even standing aside made them feel doubled pressure.

However, once everyone reacted, they were stunned again.

"Right, did you just hear that? What did the messenger say? Was it something about good news?"

"Uh! It seems so? He said good news from the Vanguard Camp, you heard it too? Then I must not have misheard, right?!"

The Hou Jues and Counts looked at each other in silence.

Judging by the distance, the Vanguard Camp had only just passed near the Emerald Valley Bottom.

What good news could there be in such a deep interior?

Could it be they just encountered a few Demon Beasts on the road and eliminated them?

"President, good news!"

At this moment, the messenger responsible for delivering the message had arrived.

"What good news?"

The Northern President and the two Dukes looked at the messenger with full faces of confusion.

"President, last night, a force of fifteen hundred Orcs launched a surprise attack on the Vanguard Camp, but because Lord Commander and the various Lords had prudently arranged defenses in advance."

"And through subsequent heroic combat, not only was the Orc conspiracy thwarted, but the Orcs also paid a heavy price!"

Boom!

"A force of fifteen hundred Orcs? Attacking the Vanguard Camp in Emerald River Valley? And then they were defeated! Is this a joke?"

"Yes! Didn't they say yesterday that the Orc forces were all blocked outside Red Shicheng? How did these Orcs suddenly appear in Emerald River Valley?"

"Your Excellency, that's not even the main point! The main point is that a night raid by fifteen hundred Orcs was actually defeated, and it's even being reported as good news..."

The nobles immediately began discussing in a cacophony of voices.

Because this news was truly too unexpected.

If this hadn't been military intelligence, they would have even suspected someone was joking.

And although the Northern Army Corps President didn't say much, the confusion on his face was equally intense.

He quickly took the scroll handed to him by the messenger.

Confirming the wax seal was intact, he immediately opened it to read.

And the more he read, the more vivid his expression became, his brows gradually relaxing from their initial furrow.

"Two Excellencies, you look at it too!"

After the Corps President finished reading, he immediately handed the scroll to Duke Hernand and Duke Lieshi.

However, for fairness, he continued to hold the scroll himself.

After the two Dukes read the scroll's contents, shock appeared in their eyes.

Only after a moment did Duke Hernand ask, "It records four hundred and three Orc heads; were they all brought?"

"My Lord Duke, they have been brought! They are in the convoy behind!" The two Dukes and the Corps President exchanged a glance, then quickly spurred their horses toward the northern road.

Seeing this, several Hou Jues and Counts quickly followed.

Soon, everyone met the convoy carrying the Orc heads and weapons.

Upon seeing the green Orc heads pickled with lime powder, everyone finally confirmed that this good news was real.

After all, Northern Orc heads were easy to identify.

Immediately, a smile appeared on the Northern Army Corps President's face. "Good! Haha! Truly a good omen, giving our great army a successful opening!"

"Yes! These Orcs, wanting to give us a wake-up call, went to great lengths to sneak in secretly; now, that fellow Sinclair's face must be even greener!"

"Hahaha!"

Immediately, the nobles burst into laughter, and even the two Dukes wore smiles.

Because if this Orc sneak attack had succeeded, then the two of them, these two Dukes, would certainly have lost face.

"The Vanguard Camp did very well this time; not only did Ryan and the others do well, but that noble named Mil and that noble named Gervas did well too!"

"Issue an order to notify the entire army of this matter, and simultaneously notify Baron Mil and Viscount Gervas for their bravery in the battle!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Wait!"

However, just as the subordinate was about to act on the President's orders, Duke Hernand called him back.

Immediately, everyone turned to look at Duke Hernand in confusion.

"My lord, I believe we only need to notify the entire army about this Baron named Mil. As for the Viscount named Gervas, record his head as a merit, but there is no need for a general notification!"

"Duke Hernand, why is that?" the Legion President asked, puzzled.

This was a performance for the entire army, something all nobles dreamed of; it was absolutely a good thing.

If Duke Hernand blocked it, that would be obstructing someone from gaining fame, making him an enemy.

Logically, such a small viscount could not possibly have offended a great figure like Duke Hernand.

Moreover, Duke Hernand had always been relatively fair in his dealings, so he truly could not understand the reason.

Duke Hernand smiled slightly, seeing the doubt in everyone's eyes.

"In the report, this viscount named Gervas was able to fight an orc one-on-one!"

"Furthermore, out of four hundred heads, he accounted for more than half, so such a battle record is too dazzling!"

"So dazzling that I worry the orcs will remember him when the time comes!"

"And, Legion President, look at the bottom left of this report, the request from Commander Ryan!"

The Legion President immediately looked in the direction Duke Hernand indicated.

The next moment, he saw another sentence below the main text of the report: 'Gervas fears orc retaliation; Viscount Gervas voluntarily requests that the Commander not notify or commend him!'

"Uh, there is actually such a request? This viscount..." The Legion President did not know what to say for a moment.

And just now, because he was too excited, he had only focused on reading the main text and did not look carefully at the rest.

"Very well! Seeing that even a viscount has such a battle record, I, the Legion President, will help out this once; we will only notify the merits of Baron Mil!"