King-Chapter 1402 - 274, 10-way Intersection_3

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"I am aware of all these practical issues, so the overarching framework cannot be altered. The changes needed now are only localized adjustments."

"With the end of this war, for a very long time ahead, the Orcs will struggle to pose any real threat to the Kingdom."

"The development of the territory’s land forces has essentially reached its ceiling. With the current population we have, sustaining thirty thousand Standing Army troops is already quite difficult."

"If we were to expand further, I fear our neighbors would not feel at ease. Especially that one in the Capital—he might not sleep well at all!"

"What we should focus on next lies—primarily—in the Navy!"

"Ignoring the massive profits from maritime trade for now, the Mountain Domain and Snow Moon Territory are separated by vast oceans. To ensure smooth connectivity between the two regions, we must possess a formidable fleet."

"Of course, another option is to negotiate land exchanges with other Nobles—simply relocating our territory to the grasslands to consolidate into one unified expanse."

As soon as Hudson finished speaking, everyone’s expressions immediately changed.

They all had prior experience with land swaps in the Southeastern Province. Back then, however, the transactions only involved a handful of Nobles.

The current scenario is clearly different. The Mountain Domain boasts fertile land, well-established infrastructure, and substantial territory size.

Moving it to the grasslands would introduce a host of problems. Not only would production value need to be recalculated, the logistics of relocating the population would be a nightmare.

"Duke, while we may discuss other matters, land exchanges are absolutely out of the question!"

"The Mountain Domain’s fertile soil makes it ideal for agricultural production; it contributes eighty percent of the territory’s grain output and one-hundred percent of its steel production."

"Our self-sufficiency in food and weapons depends primarily on the Mountain Domain."

"Though Snow Moon Territory is also developing rapidly, catching up to the Mountain Domain will still take a considerable amount of time."

"We are not short on land resources right now, so there’s no need to trade territory with others."

"If we truly need land, we can simply take it from the Orcs!"

David spoke with an expression of trepidation.

As the territory’s agricultural officer, he was nearly pulling his hair out trying to ensure food self-sufficiency.

After spending so much effort developing the Mountain Domain, just as he was starting to see better days, now his leader unexpectedly raised the idea of relocating their land.

The truth is, everyone fully understands the benefits of a consolidated territory.

Snow Moon Territory contributes significantly less, primarily due to its shorter development time and insufficient population, while also being situated close to the frontlines.

From a pure resource standpoint, the vastness of Snow Moon Territory undoubtedly surpasses the Mountain Domain in overall resource volume.

Common minerals such as coal, iron, copper, gold, and salt have all been discovered in Snow Moon Territory, though they remain undeveloped for now.

Hudson’s proposals essentially represent a collision between land power and sea power.

Now that the Orc threat has diminished and Snow Moon Territory has been stabilized, the likelihood of catastrophic upheaval is nearly nonexistent.

If the territory were entirely relocated, then there would be no debate—the land forces could be developed to their fullest.

Once the strategic focus is finalized, the only path forward is full-scale eastward expansion, leading inevitably to continued wars and military buildup.

"As long as the gains are substantial, Hudson couldn’t care less whether Caesar IV sleeps well or not."

Remaining cloistered in his territory, focusing exclusively on development instead of vying for power in the Capital, avoiding disruptive political maneuvers, and refraining from creating unnecessary trouble for the Kingdom—that makes for a model Noble Lord.

As for the Navy, maintaining a fleet capable of transporting troops and threatening the coastal regions of the Orc Empire would suffice.

Three Ghost Ships serve as the ultimate strategic deterrent; anyone attempting to provoke trouble from the sea will likely end up in the same fate as the Clergy’s fleet—feeding the fish, utterly bewildered."

"If there’s no land exchange, and the strategy of dual-territorial focus continues, then a capable Navy will be indispensable."

"Ghost Ships are effective for covert operations, but the Mountain Domain still requires a publicly presentable fleet."

"Duke, David is right."

"The strategic importance of the Mountain Domain cannot be overstated; besides supplying our food and iron, it also connects to the Kingdom’s Southern Frontier."

"With control over both territories, our influence spans the Kingdom’s north and south, rather than being merely confined to Near Eastern Nobles!"

Cain’s comments were echoed by the other advisors, all urging Hudson to abandon the idea of a land swap.

"Building up the Navy is no big deal—even if the territory’s debt increases, the bank is owned by us, so funding won’t be a problem."

"However, losing political influence could have dire consequences."

"For major Clans, political influence is their lifeblood. Once it’s lost, being ousted is only a matter of time."

"Perhaps during Hudson’s era, leveraging loyal subordinates and old ties would still allow his influence to impact the Kingdom’s provinces, but future successors surely wouldn’t possess the same capability."

"Even if exceptional talent emerges generation after generation, there wouldn’t be enough Orcs left to serve as stepping stones."

"Once the Orc Empire is wiped out, the Northern Continent will likely enter a prolonged period of peace. For at least the next century, the Alpha Kingdom will be absorbed in consolidating its gains."

"With the Alpha Kingdom pursuing stability, and the peace-loving, sparsely populated elves already reluctant to engage in strategically unwinnable conflicts, the likelihood of war is minimal."

"The aftermath becomes irrelevant, as no kingdom remains ever-victorious. A comfortable century of tranquility is likely the precursor to a downturn."

"A nation in decline will already be consumed by internal woes, leaving no strength for external expansion."

...

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