102: 30th Army Corps

A month later, it was early October.

The clamor of the coronation ceremony had gradually faded, and with the empire newly established, everything was waiting to be rebuilt.

However, the most pressing issue remained the threat from the north.

Inside the strategic room, in the deepest part of the temporary Imperial Palace (expanded from the former Military City Command Headquarters).

Brian and Spirit Eye were examining a holographic sand table of the Azure Wolf Continent.

On the sand table, the red markers representing the remaining beastman forces still occupied vast stretches of land.

Although severely damaged, their roots remained.

"Master, the beastman remnants have retreated to the line between the Broken Cliff Mountains and the Eastern Forest Sea, utilizing the complex terrain to construct defenses, and have begun a brutal internal consolidation, eliminating the old and weak, intending to preserve their most elite 'spark'," Spirit Eye reported, relaying the latest intelligence from the sky patrollers.

"They seem to have changed their strategy, from frontal assaults to guerrilla warfare and attrition, relying on the terrain."

Brian nodded slightly, his fingertip tracing across the sand table: "A cornered beast still fights, still possesses residual courage. If left unchecked, they will become an unending nuisance in the northern part of the empire. But a complete extermination also requires careful methods."

He paused, then continued: "Our previous victories relied on the absolute power of new-model robots. But to completely conquer and assimilate this land, we cannot rely solely on the slaughter of steel."

"Too much death caused by non-native forces of this world might trigger the plane's instinctive vigilance and rejection, which would be detrimental to our future plans."

"Is Master worried... that when pulling the plane, it might trigger the plane's instinctive resistance!?" Spirit Eye immediately understood.

"Yes! But not just that!"

Brian nodded, "I currently have two concerns: first, what you just said. Second, too much slaughter caused by robots might provoke a curse from the beings of the Boundary Sea! After all, there's the precedent of the Undead Overlord!"

He paused again: "Therefore, the strategy for the final extermination of the Azure Wolf Continent needs to be adjusted. The empire's steel legions will primarily play the role of shields, bulwarks, and deterrence. And the sword used to conquer the beastmen should, as much as possible, be wielded by human armies."

He elaborated on his vision:

Iron Wall Advance, Compression of Space:

The iron oath guardian and breaker legions will no longer be the main force charging into battle, but rather mobile fortresses and supporting firepower, steadily advancing along key paths, constructing an insurmountable blockade, gradually compressing the beastmen's area of activity into designated zones.

Sky-Eye Guidance, Intelligence Advantage:

sky patrollers will provide comprehensive monitoring, relaying information such as beastman troop deployments, supply stockpiles, and command centers to the commanders of the human expeditionary forces without reservation.

Ghost Decapitation, Command Disintegration:

annihilators will focus on hunting beastman clan chieftains, shaman elders, and other key figures, paralyzing their command system, but avoiding involvement in large-scale massacres of ordinary beastman soldiers.

Sanctuary Escort, Morale Assurance:

Sanctuary robots will move with the main human legions, greatly reducing human soldier casualties and maintaining high combat effectiveness and morale.

Human-Centric, New Army Training:

The main expeditionary force will be composed of legions from the former three northern kingdoms, who have received complete human-machine coordination training and possess the highest loyalty to Brian.

They will be supplemented by observation units from some southern kingdoms.

This will allow them to thoroughly hone their coordinated tactics in real combat, experience the advantages brought by imperial power, accumulate military merits, and become the military backbone of the empire's future.

"What we are fighting is a war of human conquest against beastmen, with the empire providing absolute assurance and support," Brian concluded.

"Let the people of this world witness firsthand that, under my guidance and protection, humanity, relying on its own strength, ultimately defeated its ancient enemy. This will neither provoke the plane's instinctive resistance nor will it maximize the cohesion of the empire's internal populace."

"Understood, Master!" Spirit Eye's blood butterfly flickered, and the War Room Clone had completed data synchronization with the main body.

It turned out that the one accompanying Brian was the War Room Clone, while the Main Clone was eating in the Mage Tower!

"Simulation complete!" Her eyes lit up, and she excitedly tugged on Brian's sleeve, "This way, we can both avoid plane resistance and temper the human legions—Master is truly the most amazing!"

Brian smiled slightly: "Go and formulate the detailed 'Wolf Hunt Plan'. Tell Adrian and Franco to select thirty of the most elite and loyal legions to form the Empire's First Expeditionary Army."

He turned around, pointing a fingertip at the holographic sand table that had appeared, and the map of the Azure Wolf Continent suddenly lit up.

"The specific composition is as follows:", "Five main heavy-armored legions, each with fifty thousand troops, all battle-hardened veterans, serving as the vanguard and spearhead of the entire army.", "Fifteen standard mixed legions, each with thirty thousand troops, forming the backbone of our army, responsible for front-line advancement and regional clear-up.", "Ten light assault legions, each with twenty-eight thousand troops, focused on mobility, specializing in outflanking, flanking maneuvers, and complex terrain operations."

"Every ten new-model robots will be proportioned as 5 iron oath: 2 Sanctuary: 1 sky patroller: 2 annihilator. They will be paired with human legions at a ratio of 10:1. That means every fifty thousand humans will be accompanied by five thousand new-model robots, equipped with 2500 iron oath, 1000 Sanctuary, 500 sky patroller, and 1000 annihilator."

Brian looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through Blizzard Fortress, seeing the war machine operating perfectly under his will.

"Thirty legions, nine hundred and eighty thousand soldiers, will merge with the empire's steel creations. This will be a war of a new era. Let the banner of the Dawn Empire, before this unstoppable torrent, be planted on every inch of the Azure Wolf Continent!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Spirit Eye playfully gave an imperial military salute and went to execute the orders.

Brian once again cast his gaze northward.

This time, his eyes not only held the will of a conqueror but also a gardener's patience and calculation.

What he wanted was not a shattered, resentful plane, but a relatively complete and compliant new territory that could smoothly integrate into his future lord system.

The empire's steel torrent would transform into an invisible cage, and the true sword-wielders would be the hands of humanity, bathed in the empire's glory.

This final conquest was about to sweep across the Azure Wolf Continent in a completely new mode.