177: Strategic Adjustment

dawn calendar Year 31628, Star Sea Calendar Year 27, January 1st.

Three months had passed since the establishment of Scott Province. This land, once shrouded in the smoke of war, was now rejuvenating with astonishing speed. Under the efficient coordination of Governor Fellan and the diligent labor of tens of thousands of Orc Slaves and hundreds of thousands of migrants, the outline of Scott City had become clear. The main roads were paved, and buildings in the core area—the Lords Mansion, barracks, warehouses, and markets—had risen from the ground. Vast tracts of wasteland outside the city had been reclaimed into orderly farmland, crisscrossed by irrigation canals. The skeleton of a new province had already taken shape.

Simultaneously, the much-anticipated 'Eastern Wasteland Army' was officially announced as established. With a total strength of fifty thousand, it included twenty thousand cavalry archers—elite troops adapted from the original Divine Arrow Army, all equipped with fine warhorses—possessing both high-speed mobility and long-range strike capabilities. The remaining thirty thousand were versatile infantry, strictly selected from new immigrants and trained intensively. The equipment and training standards of this new army were fully aligned with the four main legions. Legion Commander Angus was stationed in Scott Province, responsible for border defense while continuing to hone this future blade, and also overseeing the labor of tens of thousands of Orc Slaves.

Star Sea Hall, Council Chamber.

The first high-level joint meeting of the new year was held here. Except for governors, legion commanders, and those on special missions outside, the core decision-makers of the Star Sea Territory were almost all present. After months of break-in and enrichment, the structures of the Cabinet of Governmental Affairs and the Military Affairs Cabinet had become increasingly refined and were operating smoothly.

Linn sat on the main seat made of Star Sea Stone, his aura growing deeper and more restrained. Aivi accompanied him, her holy halo serene and peaceful. Elise was still undergoing her final Legendary Breakthrough in the breath of life and did not attend.

Below the steps, the newly appointed Chief Minister of the Cabinet of Governmental Affairs, Payson, and the Deputy Commander of the Military Affairs Cabinet (effectively in charge of daily military affairs), Clay, sat at the head of the civil and military official sequences, respectively. Both appeared composed and sharp-eyed, having adapted to their new roles and heavy responsibilities.

The meeting began with Clay reporting on military affairs. He stood up, pointed to the large Territorial Map hanging on one side of the hall, and spoke in a loud voice: 'Your Grace, colleagues. With the establishment of Scott Province, our Star Sea Territory now spans from Star Sea Island, through East Sea Province and Rhine Province, extending to Scott Province, forming a narrow corridor thousands of miles long from east to west. While this layout connects the provinces, it also presents a problem—the distance between the eastern and western ends is too great. The mobilization and deployment of troops and supplies take a long time and are inefficient. If there is an alert at the border or a need for rapid internal response, the existing land and water routes may not be able to respond in time.'

He paused and proposed a key suggestion: 'To fundamentally address this strategic mobility shortcoming, I recommend building a large teleportation array in Scott City! This way, we can achieve instant travel between Star Sea Island and the westernmost new province, greatly enhancing our territory's overall response speed and defensive resilience.'

Upon hearing this, whispers arose in the hall. teleportation arrays were strategic facilities involving profound spatial magic and massive rare resources, with extremely high construction and maintenance costs.

Chief Minister Payson of the Cabinet of Governmental Affairs then stood up. In charge of finance and resource allocation, he had to be cautious: 'The strategic mobility issue raised by General Clay indeed requires attention. However, the immense cost of a teleportation array is no small matter. Moreover, the site selection must consider long-term benefits and maximum efficiency.' He walked to the map and pointed to a spot on the southeastern coast of Laixi Deep Province in the Aolai Kingdom. 'Haige City, an important port in Laixi Deep Province, is prosperous in trade and has an excellent geographical location. If we can extend our influence here in the future and build a teleportation array, it could form a stable triangular network with the teleportation arrays in Star Sea City and East Sea City, covering the core areas of our territory and potential future development directions. Its strategic and economic benefits would far exceed building an isolated teleportation array in the remote Scott City.'

Clay frowned: 'Minister Payson's long-term planning makes sense, but Haige City is currently still under the rule of the Aolai Kingdom, not our territory. The strategic pressure on Scott City, however, is a present reality.'

Payson patiently explained: 'Precisely because Scott City is on the front line, building a teleportation array there would be too conspicuous and likely to provoke excessive vigilance from the kingdom. The Haige City plan can be a long-term goal. For now, we can first improve the conventional travel efficiency of the east-west corridor by strengthening Rhine River shipping, expanding roads, and establishing a relay horse System. We can aim for Haige City when the time is ripe.'

Everyone looked at the map, weighing the pros and cons. Payson's plan was more prudent and forward-looking but indeed could not address the immediate need for rapid mobility.

Linn then spoke, his voice calm yet decisive: 'Strategic mobility is indeed crucial. However, the construction of a teleportation array involves significant implications and requires careful long-term consideration. The triangular network concept mentioned by Payson aligns well with my vision and can serve as a long-term goal. For now, we need to optimize our layout with existing resources.'

His gaze swept over the military officials: 'At this stage, our garrison forces on Star Sea Island are overly concentrated. The two main legions, the Star Sea Legion and the Star-Moon Legion, with a total of one hundred thousand troops, plus special forces such as the air force, Guard Army, Griffin Knights, Orc Legion, and magic corps, amount to over one hundred fifty thousand troops. Defending one island and its surrounding islands is indeed redundant.'

He directly issued an order: 'Shirei!'

'Your servant is here!' Legion Commander Shirei of the Star-Moon Legion stepped forward.

'Effective immediately, the fifty-thousand-strong main army of the Star-Moon Legion is to be relocated from Star Sea Island and stationed at a strategic location at the border between Scott Province and Rhine Province. Establish a permanent military camp there, responsible for the defense of that area and serving as a forward base for future southward operations.'

'As you command!' Shirei accepted the order, a gleam of eagerness flashing in his eyes. The Star-Moon Legion was finally stepping onto the broader stage of the continent.

'Thus,' Linn continued, 'with fifty thousand troops of the Eastern Wasteland Army in Scott Province, fifty thousand of the Star Shattering Legion in Rhine Province, and the newly stationed fifty thousand of the Star-Moon Legion, the total standing field forces in our two western provinces will reach one hundred fifty thousand. This is sufficient to handle the current situation and lay the foundation for future actions.'

He then looked at the naval commander, Ocean: 'Ocean, your task is equally important. I order you to search for suitable islands or hidden bays in the Storm Sea Region (the vast and dangerous sea area between Star Sea Island and the mainland of the Aolai Kingdom) and begin establishing a large naval forward base. The base must be hidden, sturdy, and convenient for supplies. In the future, our naval fleet will use this as a relay point, capable of threatening any point along the Aolai Kingdom's long coastline at any time!'

'Yes, Your Grace! Ocean will surely find the best nest for the fleet in the Storm Sea Region!' Ocean solemnly accepted the order, well aware that this task concerned the future struggle for maritime supremacy.

At this point, Clay raised another issue concerning the long-term stability of the territory: 'Your Grace, there is one more matter. Our Star Sea Territory's domain is expanding, and cities are increasing. However, local defense currently relies entirely on the main field legions. Once the main forces are deployed to the front lines, the defense of rear towns becomes extremely weak. Although we currently have the Werewolf Tribe (actually allied) as an external barrier, in the long run, establishing a specialized, standing force responsible for homeland defense is imperative. Otherwise, as the territory expands further, this Hidden dangers will grow.'

Payson also agreed: 'General Clay is absolutely right. On the governmental side, we also need local stable defense forces to assist with Public Security, disaster relief, and more. Relying solely on the main legions to Balancing the conquest of cities and the defense of the land and the protection of the people is indeed not sustainable in the long term.'

Linn nodded; this was indeed an issue that required foresight. 'In that case, we shall proceed to establish a 'City Guard' System. Specifically: each county under a province will have a standing 'County Guard Regiment,' with a fixed strength of five thousand, primarily responsible for the daily guard, Public Security巡逻, and Elementary defense of important towns, Transportation hub, and warehouses within the county. It will be led by a colonel.'

'Each province will establish a 'Provincial Garrison Command,' overseeing the county guard battalions within the province, with a total strength of approximately thirty thousand (adjusted slightly based on the number of counties). A major general will serve as the supreme commander, responsible for internal security, defense of key locations, maintaining local stability in coordination with field armies, and auxiliary tasks such as civilian evacuation and Material transfer during wartime.'

He looked at Clay and Payson: 'Recruits for the City Guard can be Choose the best selected from eligible, loyal young adults across the territory, given treatment and honor superior to ordinary civilians. Its training syllabus, equipment standards, and officer selection and promotion will be uniformly Formulate and supervised by the Military Affairs Cabinet. Candidates for major generals and key officer positions will be selected and transferred from outstanding and loyal officers in the main legions by the Military Affairs Cabinet. The Cabinet of Governmental Affairs must cooperate to ensure the station, provisions, and Logistics support for the City Guard.'

'This method is excellent!' Clay and Payson agreed in unison. The establishment of the City Guard System would free the main field armies from Heavy defensive duties, allowing them to focus on Foreign conquest, while also building a A solid rear defense line, Complete the military structure of the Star Sea Territory.

The high-level meeting thus concluded. The two cabinets began Close collaboration and deployment based on the strategies decided today. Orders were issued from the Star Sea Hall and Spread to all directions.

A few days later, the fifty thousand soldiers of the Star-Moon Legion, led by Legion Commander Shirei, boarded ships and left Star Moon City, where they had been stationed for many years, Mighty and mighty sailing toward Rhine Province. This army, long stationed on Star Sea Island, was about to set up a new camp by the Rhine River. Their gaze had already crossed the river and plains, fixed on the even vaster and It was destined to be anything but peaceful. lands to the south.