Chapter 1090: Chapter 1087: War Mobilization Order Chapter 1090: Chapter 1087: War Mobilization Order The war scene was intense, with cavalry charges and castle defenses firing arrows — in moments, castles fell. The large landed nobility had long been relocated by the Eagle Royal Family, leaving only the smaller nobles who were unwilling to abandon their fiefs, incapable of mounting substantial resistance.

As a result, the Flame Kingdom seized the opportunity to push forward unopposed. As the Knight Order marched past each castle, they either broke its defenses or received the noble’s surrender.

Then.

The logistics teams responsible for handling prisoners and serfs began to pack up, using carts and wheelbarrows to transport all goods, which were continuously sent towards the coast.

There, they were transported by the Fire Dragon Merchant Ships and Iron Dragon Warships.

Among the seven mermaids, only Duke Bruce of the Salty Sea remained to guard the waters around Flame Island, using fish-ugly serfs to labor, while the other six mermaids rushed to assist with the transport. A fleet of three-mast ships, loaded with materials and people, returned to Mind Island.

At the front lines, atop a hill, Liszt stood shoulder to shoulder with Emily.

Behind them lay two dragons, each deep in slumber — the Light Green Gemstone Dragon Ethan and the Formless Dragon Bard.

“Your Majesty, with the Punishment Order ending this year, there will be no more resources for the Eagle Kingdom’s inland coastal areas to plunder. Where shall we plunder in next year’s Punishment Order?” Emily inquired.

“We could push up along several major rivers to pillage some wealthy areas, but the to-and-fro would be a waste of time. Fortunately, the shipbuilding industry in our interior is booming and we have ample reserves of sailors, enough to sustain the long marches of the Knight Order.” Liszt squinted his eyes, “However, whether it’s necessary to do so remains to be seen.”

Emily looked up at Liszt, “Is there another way if we don’t do this?”

“There is.”

“Hm?”

“Mary recently reported to me that the Eagle Royal Family has had several secret meetings with the Steel Ridge Kingdom. It’s possible they may set aside past grievances and form an alliance.” Liszt’s intelligence came largely from the Blood Knights led by Mary Dawn Break and her numerous Blood Servants.

As the First Minister of National Defense, Emily, although not directly subordinate to Mary, was also privy to some information, “Does Your Majesty believe the Steel Ridge Kingdom would likely ally with the Eagle Kingdom and take a war stance against our country?”

“Maybe not against the Flame Kingdom, they could be targeting the Sapphire Duchy. Blood Servants have discovered rats from the Steel Ridge Kingdom flooding into the Sapphire Duchy in large numbers. Moreover, a considerable number of shipyards have been built in the northern seas of the Steel Ridge Kingdom, with a sizable fleet already assembled.”

In the past, kingdoms on land had no interest in the sea, with only the Eagle Kingdom plotting a dragon-slaying war to eliminate the pesky Sapphire Duchy and conspiring with the Bull Family to build a fleet.

However, since Liszt and Ach rose from the sea.

The perception that the sea was barren and desolate was quickly changed; the royal families of various nations have come to realize that there may indeed be resources above the vast sea. Thus, the Steel Ridge Royal Family also started to secretly prepare a fleet, ready to wage war across the sea at any moment and invade the Sea of Azure Waves — the Shell Sea is probably a place no one dares to touch.

“Building a fleet and sending out rats is indeed preparation for war. Your Majesty, I need to consult with Marquis Mary and then draw up war defense preparations,” said the adult Emily, who had become a qualified commander, “The Sapphire Duchy is the primary target, and Mind Island is directly in the line of fire.”

Mind Island holds a Magic Gate, an essential route for the Flame Kingdom to attack the Eagle Kingdom, one can imagine its strategic value.

A site coveted by all strategists.

At least the Eagle Royal Family certainly dreams of destroying Mind Island, destroying the Heart Reed Teleportation Formation, cutting off the Flame Kingdom’s eastern sea gateway.

“Mary will soon return from the Steel Ridge Kingdom, bringing with her the latest developments of the Steel Ridge Royal Family.”

“Should a maritime war break out, would the Steel Ridge Royal Family and the Eagle Royal Family dispatch Dragon Knights to initiate a new round of dragon-slaying wars?” As Emily spoke, a flicker of excitement sparkled in her eyes; since becoming a Dragon Knight, she had yet to participate in a true dragon-slaying war.

She had only trained a few times with Liszt… either Dragon Riding combat or engaging in close quarters battle.

Embracing Emily’s slender and powerful waist, Liszt spoke with boundless pride, “Whether we initiate it or not does not matter. Whether it’s a conventional naval battle or a dragon-slaying war, the outcome has already been decided. The sea has, and only has one master – and not just the Sea of Azure Waves or the Shell Sea, but the entire ocean!”

Emily gently rested her head on Liszt’s shoulder, feeling his grand ambitions; her excitement subsided slightly, replaced by a surge of sweetness: “Yes, my King, Your Majesty.”

…
The Punishment Order lasted for a full four months, from the beginning of August until the end of November.

Since the Eagle Kingdom continued to follow a strategy of non-resistance, Liszt unceremoniously stripped the land down to three feet, packing up and taking away all the population and materials on the land, even the unripe crops in the fields–since there was no one left here, there was no need to leave any resources behind.

After the war, a census was taken.

Eight hundred thousand people were plundered, of which feudal nobles were allocated two hundred thousand; the remaining six hundred thousand went to Liszt and his castle nobles.

The Greater Elves did not receive a single one, all having migrated away with the Nobles; the Little Minor Elves only received three.

The rest belonged to the elves owned by some smaller nobles.

“Overall, this year’s harvest from the Punishment Order, other than being quite substantial in terms of population, none of the other aspects were as good as last year’s Pioneer Mandate. The captives and newly recruited members of the Knight Class are mostly lesser nobles with poor talent and character,” summarized Duke Li Weiliam of Tulip Island at an Outer Cabinet meeting.

“It seems that the Eagle Kingdom’s move to migrate their Nobles has allowed them to minimize their losses considerably,” sighed Duke Piero of Phoenix Tree Island.

“I’m disappointed to say that there may be nowhere left to carry out next year’s Punishment Order; we need to open up a new battleground,” said Marquis Dimaria of Pea Island eagerly. Without sufficient wars to achieve merit, how could he realize his dukedom?

“Perhaps targeting the Snowstorm Mountain Duchy could offer a breakthrough?”

“The civil war in Snowstorm Mountain Duchy has just ended, and with the support of the Dragon Knights from Yellowstone Kingdom, Duke Spot has successfully ascended the throne, now also acknowledged by the Cornflower Gem Dragon, making it difficult to control them at will. Moreover, their domestic resources aren’t abundant, and two rounds of Punishment Orders are likely to render the duchy non-existent.”

Liszt directly halted the ministers’ suggestions: “For now, we will mainly pursue peace with Snowstorm Mountain Duchy, focusing on conquering the Eagle Kingdom… Don’t worry, the march of war for the Flame Kingdom is ceaseless, and perhaps someone will actively provoke a new war.”

As if to validate Liszt’s foresight, just as the Flame Era First Year came to an end in November and December barely began, the Blood Servants reported an important piece of news.

The Eagle Kingdom and the Steel Ridge Kingdom had announced an alliance and issued a war mobilization order for the conquest of the Sapphire Duchy.

“The traitors must be punished; the Sapphire Family has betrayed the Steel Ridge Kingdom, betrayed their own master the Platinum Family; only blood and flame can cleanse the sins they have committed!”

With the issue of the mobilization order,
the Sea of Azure Waves began to surge once more.