The meeting room fell silent, all eyes fixed on Sebiel. My suggestion was, in principle, the correct approach for a delaying tactic, but the problem was getting the elf people to actively burn flowers and plants, which was something they found difficult to accept.
A sudden, thunderous crash echoed through the formerly quiet meeting room. An elf with light golden hair, seated in the middle, suddenly slammed his fist on the table: "Great Elder, this is a vile human act, we absolutely cannot use such a method in battle!"
A red-haired elf, seated in the third chair to the Great Elder's right, grew very anxious and spoke up to stop the officer. The golden-haired elf glared menacingly at me, while Avanti looked embarrassed, whispering softly in my ear.
The golden-haired elf's name was Komen. He was an outstanding martial artist among the new generation. He was about the same age as Avanti, but had already distinguished himself from over ten thousand warriors, becoming the captain of a 10,000-man spear regiment. Achieving success at a young age, it's no wonder he was incoherent. He had once pursued Avanti, but at that time, Avanti needed to seclude herself for magic training. She didn't want emotional issues to hinder her cultivation, so it ultimately came to nothing.
How fortunate! A rare beauty like this should properly be "ruined" by me, this young master.
As for the red-haired elf, his name was Reishi. He was Komen's father and also the Great Elder's cousin. He served as the chief of staff for the entire elf army and held high prestige within the tribe.
"Komen! Don't be rude."
"Forgive me for being too blunt. Protecting the life within the forest is our holy elf people's sacred mission. Setting fire to destroy flowers and plants is an act for cowardly, despicable rats, and even our army's morale could be shaken by it. So I hopes you will reject this suggestion!"
The dozens of dignitaries in the meeting room fell silent once more. Everyone's gaze was either fixed on the Great Elder or fiercely directed at my face. Most of them agreed with Komen, filled with a sense of rejection towards me.
But then again, for a mere foot soldier like him to try and outdo this young master, it seems he was a few centuries too early.
"Brother Komen speaks well, setting fire to grass is indeed a human evil act. Hmm, may I ask, what is your official position, brother?"
"This humble officer Komen, Captain of the Sixth Holy Elf Spear Regiment. The 'Silver Light' sword at my side will drink the blood of invaders, Baron, please remember that."
As Komen spoke proudly, he emphasized the word "Baron," as if mocking my hereditary rank.
That arrogant face looked at me with disdain, constantly glancing at Avanti sitting beside me, making me really want to step forward and slap him twice. The other commanders at the end of the table also cast disapproving looks at me. In this era, only heroes and brave warriors could win people's hearts, whether in the human world or among the elf race, it was the same.
"Good, Captain Komen, you truly has a broad mind, a dragon among men! Such talent is indeed rare in a century, your noble family produces so many talents, truly commendable. I just don't know how many great victories you has fought, and how many enemies he has slain?"
"Eh?"
Komen, who had a dignified expression, suddenly stiffened as if he had suffered a stroke. His foul face was as ugly as if his father had died.
I am well-versed in local customs and history. The holy elf's natural enemy is the dark elf, and their last bloodbath was four hundred years ago. Therefore, young elves aged two or three hundred years simply lack practical combat experience.
"Hey, hey, esteemed Captain, you're not going to say you've never been to the battlefield, are you?"
"This..."
I leisurely shook my head, adding a wry smile, while the other commanders' faces all showed irritation. Even the Great Elder and Reishi were extremely embarrassed.
"A soldier who hasn't been to the battlefield is like a 'greenhorn' (i.e., a virgin) who hasn't touched a woman; just talking is useless."
"You~~~" Komen looked so angry he almost spat blood, yet he couldn't retort my words. For soldiers, battlefield achievements are the source of prestige, followed by martial arts and magic; everything else is unimportant.
"Hehehehe... I wonder if anyone here has heard the deeds of our country's 'Three Hundred Thirty-Three Heroes'?"
"I have heard."
Sebiel, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up. Everyone else couldn't help but concentrate. After all, Sebiel was the captain of the magic corps and the most prestigious officer in the army; with him testifying, no one else could find fault.
"Time flies, and five years have passed without realizing it. Back then, the northern part of the Empire was invaded by a 150,000-strong orc army, but the three northernmost counties only had about 30,000 troops, an utterly disproportionate disparity in strength.
However, if the border pass were breached, the ten northern counties, with millions of civilians, would be ravaged and trampled by the orcs. At just fifteen years old, I was entrusted with a perilous mission, leading five subordinates to the northern city of Ferbenley to replace the fallen county chief, and assist the three great counties in resisting the orc invasion.
Under duress, I decided to take a risky path. With great difficulty, I gathered four hundred horses from the populace and recruited four hundred young, strong, and ambitious volunteers. My five subordinates and I personally led this force. Guided by natives, we traveled over a thousand miles to raid the orcs' food storage and burned all their provisions.
You should all know the rest. The orc race was forced to retreat due to lack of supplies. We managed to avert the danger of the city falling and protected the lives of millions of civilians. However, three of my loyal retainers died honorably, and only sixty-seven members of the entire army could return home. We couldn't even bring back the remains of our brothers who sacrificed their lives for the country; all they left behind were thin stacks of last wills."
At this point, I couldn't help but pause, lowering my head and sighing.
I wasn't acting; I was truly sighing. That victory was hard-won; merely in the treacherous infiltration, over twenty brothers sacrificed their lives. Three close friends who grew up with me also died protecting me, and the two surviving retainers are Reanto and Karon, who are still with me.
The reason I could achieve success at a young age, and they too could achieve something, was largely due to that battle, which was a major turning point. Especially Karon, for his age to reach the threshold of a great senior mage was truly thanks to that battle.
During this speech, all the previously disdainful gazes vanished.
"Can you understand the feeling of watching one friend after another, around the same age, who had shared hardships and joys, charge into the enemy lines with explosives to detonate and ignite? They truly entrusted their lives to me, just to protect their cherished families or loved ones. Although I did not fail in my trust and repelled the orc army, even to this day, I still cannot come to terms with the fact that their precious lives were lost by my hand. To me, the baron's medal on my chest doesn't represent glory; it merely represents the blood and tears of three hundred thirty-three good brothers. If you insist on being so concerned about those flowers and plants, then my subordinates and I will do it. My hands are already stained with blood anyway, and there's no need for you noble elf people to carry out such a rat-like act."
All the young commanders who had been hostile earlier were left speechless by my words. Komen's face, especially, turned green, looking as if he wanted to crawl into a hole. Compared to my experience, his insistence on benevolence and righteousness was just a pile of garbage.
The elf people also have one advantage: most of them are honest and trustworthy, valuing right and wrong facts more than personal gain. Compared to humans, befriending them is actually better.
I gave Sebiel a look, and he nodded subtly, saying, "Poisonous weeds can be replanted, but if our race is exterminated, can it be rebuilt? Under the circumstances, I support the Baron's suggestion."
There was no longer any opposition in the meeting. All the warrior commanders were awed by my speech and Sebiel's military prestige.
"Since Sebiel also supports it, I, Senyo, on behalf of the archer corps, support the grass-burning tactic."
"I, Setsuen, also support on behalf of the magic archer corps."
A rather cute female elf warrior, seated opposite me, stood up and saluted me and Sebiel. I also smiled and nodded, thanking her for the support. The captain of the magic archers was a blue-haired female elf named Setsuen, whom I believe to be this delicacy... no... this beaty.
Sitting beside her was a cold-faced elf named Senyo. Besides having the generally pleasing appearance of an elf, he was said to be the tribe's top archer, capable of shooting a silk thread with a great bow from 500 paces away.
Due to inherent physical limitations, the elf race's strongest force was undoubtedly the 5,000-strong magic corps under Sebiel. Next were the widely renowned 40,000 elf archers, and 10,000 elf magic archers. Finally came the largest in number, but lowest in combat power, the 120,000 infantry and engineer corps.
With the support of the three strongest legions, other generals surely couldn't object. The voices of support began to increase, and even Komen stopped voicing his opposition.
"Since the three captains and most of the officers have expressed their support, if there are no other dissenting voices, I, as the Great Elder, hereby order: Sebiel will immediately lead the wind, fire, and thunder magic divisions to the front lines to prepare for the burning; Senyo will lead 40,000 archers as backup; and Hashe, and Komen will each lead 10,000 swordsmen and spearmen as support."
"Your subordinate obeys!"