Evil Dragon: The young dragon I picked up keeps planning on becoming an empress

Instructor Lance had spent two years in the Northern Borders and had never ceased to praise the combat abilities of the Northern Border Soldiers.

Andre had employed the tactics of scorched earth to deplete the Northern Border Soldiers' supplies, and this strategy had earned Instructor Lance's approval.

If all went well, the rebellion initiated by Princess Elusha could be suppressed within a month.

Under normal circumstances, that would be the case.

Unfortunately, not long after, bad news arrived one after another at the Eternal Capital.

The province closest to the Northern Borders failed to carry out Andre's scorched earth tactic and fell into Princess Elusha's hands while seizing the opportunity.

In less than a month, one province had fallen.

Then the second province and the third province... Within just four months, five provinces had fallen.

Some provinces were conquered by Princess Elusha, while others chose to side with her directly.

And some lords also chose to serve under Princess Elusha.

Of the 18 provinces in the Ande Kingdom, five had fallen in less than half a year.

Andre's scorched earth tactic had failed, and to defeat Princess Elusha, he could only attempt to win back the provinces she had conquered by offering favorable conditions.

It was also necessary to see whether the provinces that had sided with Princess Elusha had genuinely defected.

Andre hoped these provinces had only feigned allegiance, but the truth was... they had defected in earnest.

The other provinces couldn't spare any troops to help support the battlefront provinces for the time being.

Given Princess Elusha's rate of advancement, if they couldn't defeat her rebel army in the last battlefront by the end of the year or at the start of the next... Princess Elusha's Northern Border Army would appear beneath the walls of the Eternal Capital.

With no other options left, to curb Princess Elusha's momentum, Andre prepared to ask his mentor Lance to lead troops and suppress his own sister.

But after searching, he found out that Instructor Lance was neither at his manor nor in the Eternal Capital.

Instructor Lance had disappeared, but Andre didn't think much of it; he didn't believe his instructor would desert before the battle, for even the Barbarian Tribes had been subdued by him.

Princess Elusha had survived up to this point thanks to Instructor Lance.

If Instructor Lance were serious, within three months... Princess Elusha would be defeated and fleeing back to the Northern Borders.

Where could the Instructor have gone off to play at such a critical time?

Did he really not take Princess Elusha's Northern Border Army seriously at all?

Or is it possible that... Instructor Lance wanted to use this opportunity to hone his military capabilities?

Let's try and see, if we can defeat Princess Elusha's rebel army before Instructor Lance returns, then later, when it comes time to divide the spoils, demanding more money will come with greater confidence.

This is also a chance to demonstrate his, the King's, abilities; defeating Princess Elusha's Northern Border Army would ensure that no minister or noble would dare question him in the future.

In the following period, King Andre spent all his time in the military department, day and night, discussing tactics and military strategies with the generals.

Facing matters he didn't understand, he would actively seek advice from experienced veterans, as Instructor Lance had said, "Armchair strategizing"... A single error could sacrifice the lives of hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of soldiers.

He had visited military camps and spent time living and eating with the soldiers; to him, those soldiers weren't just symbols, but living, breathing people.

After Princess Elusha had captured the first province, breaking his scorched earth strategy, he allowed the frontline soldiers to surrender to his sister, Princess Elusha.

All were subjects of the kingdom, and even if he were to lose in the end, and Princess Elusha became the Queen of the Ande Kingdom, it wouldn't matter, as long as she didn't kill Instructor Lance, he could accept his own defeat.

Andre proved his capabilities through his actions; without Instructor Lance's help, he relied on his own talent and ability to discern people's character and successfully held back Princess Elusha's advance.

There was even a close call when he almost captured the daring Princess Elusha, who was fond of leading her troops. Unfortunately, the strength of the Northern Border Soldiers was too great, and in the end, they allowed Princess Elusha to break through the encirclement.

Princess Elusha also realized her brother Andre's military talent and began to stabilize her approach, meanwhile spreading propaganda that the Treasurer Lance was corrupt and had taken bribes.

She further publicized that it was the Treasurer Lance who had staged a coup, coercing the old King to abdicate and pass the throne to her own brother.

She claimed she wasn't fighting for the throne but to seek justice from her brother Andre and to execute the traitorous and corrupt thief, Lance.

If her brother Andre was willing to execute the treacherous thief Lance, she would immediately withdraw her troops and return to the Northern Borders, vowing not to set foot in the Eternal Capital for the rest of her life, willing to spend her life guarding the Northern Borders for her brother Andre.

Public opinion.

Psychological warfare.

Andre realized the sinister intentions of his sister, Princess Elusha, and immediately set about restoring the good name of his mentor Lance.

When Instructor Lance served as the public security officer: The Eternal Capital enjoyed peace with doors left unlocked at night and lost items remaining unclaimed.

When Instructor Lance was transferred to the military department: During his tenure, he fought to regain back pay for many soldiers and due to this, even had multiple quarrels with the finance minister.

Afterward, reassigned to the Northern Borders, Instructor Lance subdued the Barbarian Tribes that often raided the regions, leading to a ceasefire agreement with the Ande Kingdom.

Returning to the Eternal Capital, upon being appointed as the finance minister: When a province suffered from flood disasters, Instructor Lance immediately allocated supplies, provisions, medicine, and even took the lead in donating to raise funds for the affected province. To ensure the funds were promptly used for the disaster victims, he even ordered the Bronze Army to the disaster area.

To prevent embezzlement of the relief funds.