Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Chapter 1145 -178: Unprecedented Scale of the Air Cavalry (Part 3)

“However,” his tone shifted, and his eyes turned sharp, “it’s worth it! Think about it, when our knights are bogged down by the swamp and monsters on the ground, a dozen armored harpies carrying heavy warriors can plummet from low altitude like meteors into the militia ranks of the Swamp Territory, or directly raid their command center… Such impact can instantly shatter a unit with low morale. They are our aerial heavy hammers, specifically used to crack hard nuts!”

Edmond concluded, “Lord, the Flying Horse Knights are precious and few in number, mostly tasked with rapid maneuvers and elite raids. But the Gray Swans, War Eagles, and Harpies are the net we will weave in the skies over the Swamp Territory, the powerful fist we will strike with! Gray Swans are for seeing through the fog, War Eagles for precise kills and harassment, Harpies for shattering hard shells. As long as we continue to invest and train their numbers and cooperation, the tricks the Swamp Territory relies on—terrain and monsters—will cease to be unsolvable problems! Air Cavalry will be the key to breaking the swamp!”

Su Li couldn’t help but lift the corners of his mouth, it seemed the results of the Black Pine Territory noble Griffin Military Academy were indeed remarkable.

Under their enlightenment, even Edmond, a Druid and Pasture Master, had a very clear understanding of warfare.

Thinking of using Air Cavalry to deal with the Swamp Territory wasn’t difficult.

After all, their terrain made it easy for knights to get bogged down—so why not avoid the ground entirely? Air Cavalry come and go like the wind, and they have an unobstructed view of ground targets, effectively a dimensional reduction strike against the Swamp Territory.

But for someone like Edmond, who could thoroughly understand and talk eloquently about each troop type and mount, a certain caliber was required.

So Su Li smiled and said, “Not bad, you’re becoming more and more competent as the Pasture Master. Did you hear these things from the Academy?”

“Yes.” Edmond nodded slightly, “The lecturers and students at the Academy discuss these topics every day, I’ve heard it so often that it’s become second nature.”

Su Li nodded again and then asked, “So many Harpies, has our trade caravan to Dragon Rock Castle returned?”

Hilude, standing by, replied, “Yes, My Lord. We sent the Hammer of War Squad to trade with Dragon Rock Castle, so it went very smoothly. The Hammer of War Squad returned last month.”

Air Cavalry are indeed fast.

These “helicopters” could bypass many ground monsters, only stopping by various Dwarf fortresses along the way, then flying directly to Dragon Rock Castle.

Leveraging the advantages of the air force, trade between both sides was very convenient.

Hilude continued, “Considering our future trade convenience, we handed over nearly 1500 Dwarf Oath Gold to them, procuring another Hammer of War Squad.”

“Additionally, the Dwarves delivered us 13 Harpies all at once. Now, our Air Cavalry has unprecedentedly expanded.”

Su Li made a quick calculation: in the upcoming war against the Swamp Territory, Hesse Territory would be able to deploy Air Cavalry including 1 Green Dragon, 5 Griffin Knights, 21 Harpy Knights, 10 Flying Horse Knights, 9 Warhawk Knights, and 167 Gray Swan Knights!

Therefore, Su Li smiled with confidence, “With over 200 Air Cavalry, we will gain an absolute, overwhelming advantage in mobility in our war against the Blue Mirror Territory!”

“What does the Swamp Territory rely on? Muddy, impassable wetlands, dense forests riddled with roots, lurking monsters, and the unpredictability of magic that can turn a flat path into a death trap in an instant! They think this can bog down our Heavy Knights, dragging the war into a battle of attrition and guerrilla tactics they excel in.”

Su Li’s smile turned cold, “But our Air Cavalry will completely disregard all of this! No matter how deep their quagmire, can it trap our wings? Rivers, swamps, dense forests, ravines… These obstacles, insurmountable for ground troops, are mere scenery to our Air Cavalry. Harpies and Griffin Knights can launch thunderous dives from any direction, striking directly at the enemy’s most vulnerable rear, attacking their command centers, supply lines, or ranged units. The enemy’s carefully constructed defenses will be meaningless in the face of vertical assaults!”

The mobility advantage transforms into unparalleled strategic advantages in battle. Especially as our own Air Cavalry grows in scale.

Take for example the Swan Riders. Typically, Air Cavalry or mounted archers find it difficult to gain an edge in ranged combat against foot archers—that’s because foot archers are more numerous, more tightly formed, with stronger bows and crossbows. So if both sides of equal numbers meet in the field, mounted archers struggle to outshoot an already well-arranged group of foot archers. Even if they do win, the loss in value of the mounted archers far exceeds that of their foes.

After all, the cost to train one Air Cavalry equals about ten foot archers.

However, when large numbers of Air Cavalry converge, they can leverage their mobility advantage to create an absolute local superiority, using denser arrow volleys to swiftly wipe out the opponent.

If a squad of foot archers exchanges fire with a squad of Swan Riders, the foot archers might win. But if a squad of foot archers faces ten squads of Swan Riders, then morale will be instantly crushed, and they’ll scatter and flee.

Moreover, among these Air Cavalry, there are many advanced flying monster riders that can conduct surprise raids.

Hilude also said excitedly, “Exactly, My Lord. As long as Edmond ensures all Air Cavalry units have their feed, equipment, and training maintained at the highest levels, once the snow melts in spring, we’ll be able to weave an inescapable net over the Swamp skies that will leave our enemies in despair!”

Su Li turned to Edmond and asked, “No problems, right? I hope you can use this time to fatten up all the Air Cavalry mounts so we can secure our advantage in the upcoming war.”

Edmond immediately assured, “Rest assured, My Lord. Our Pasture will go all out, utilizing the advantages of the Elves and Druids to fatten and strengthen our horses and mounts.”

Su Li nodded in satisfaction, deciding to give this capable subordinate some encouragement. It’s not fair to have the horse run without feeding it.

And for someone like Edmond, an Elder Druid, money is not effective.

It’s not that they’ve transcended worldly desires; from what Su Li knows, they have emotions and desires, like his Minister of Agriculture, Edmond’s cousin, Vandar Oak, who got involved with a voluptuous middle-aged Nun and plans to marry her this autumn.

But that was because they were genuinely in love, sharing common interests and aspirations in the pursuit of Jilun Magic, supporting and encouraging each other.

If they were truly licentious, they’d have gone for the younger, prettier Nuns.

So, for Druids like them, what they care about is spiritual pursuits.

And Edmond’s spiritual pursuit, Su Li always remembered. He smiled and said, “I recall your ambition has always been to build an Elven community, right?”

Edmond bowed slightly and replied, “Yes, My Lord. I have always hoped to gather wandering Elves, to build an Elven community and forest within the Territory. However, we’ve always been missing an Ancient Tree of Life.”

Su Li said calmly, “Your ambition might soon be realized. Our expedition team sent to the Black Pine Forest has, following the Bone Merchant Frost Forest, located the last Sky Titan in the Mortal World. They’re on their way back, and by timing, they should return after the ‘Spring Brings Life to All Things’ ceremony.”

“This journey of theirs is likely to have gained ancient tree seeds from the Sky Titan. If they truly have such Extraordinary Spirit Trees, I will permit you to build a forest at the foot of the Dusk Mountain Range, and establish an Elven town.”

“Ancient Tree above…” Edmond trembled with excitement and immediately promised, “My Lord, if we can indeed obtain this Holy Artifact, I, Edmond Oak, will nourish the land with my flesh and blood, communicate with the Ancient Tree with my Essence Soul, and will build an everlasting forest home beneath the Dusk Mountain for you, and all my wandering kin.”

“Keep your emotions in check,” Su Li chuckled, “my minister. The future of our territory is bright, and there will be plenty of places for you and the Elves to serve. How many Elves do we currently have in the Territory?”

“We already have over 20 Elves,” Edmond replied immediately, “Most of them are Rock People from the Valley of Memory. We invited them out as a return favor for helping them establish a collective grave for their Elven soldiers. These people are ancient long-lived, living fossils in each of their fields.”