ATLA, In A Darker World

Chapter 29 Profession

During the Hundred-Year War, the three most important things were the following. Food, Water, and manpower.

In any war that lasts even a fraction of this one, supplies would always be required in large quantities.

In this case, the Fire Nation was certainly having an easier time than the Earth Kingdom. Strongholds, bases, outposts, they all ran on food for its inhabitants to survive.

The Fire Nation could simply plunder and pillage to make up for their needs. The Earth Kingdom, on the other hand, couldn't behave so recklessly as they would be robbing their own territory.

For the Firebenders who had mastered maritime fleets and had the sea advantage, transportation of food, weapons and other things wasn't a concern anymore.

Regular resupplies were scheduled successively. The Earth Kingdom didn't have such convenience.

As the Fire Nation encroached more on their lands with each passing year, good food had become a luxury for the vast majority of earth kingdom citizens.

With the Fire Nation's early attack and the Earth kingdom's slow response during the early years of the war, the outcome had already been set in stone.

All villages the Fire Nation encountered were captured, occupied or simply burned to cinders. At first, the Earth Kingdom didn't take it too seriously, feeling that they had simply lost some land to their invaders. But subsequent developments let them know how stupid their slow response decision was.

The fall of several settlements led to a chain reaction that the Earth Kingdom army didn't notice until it was too late.

Entrenching themselves in captured land, the Fire Nation immediately attacked unrelentingly, occupying all trade routes in their area and successfully creating a rift between one part of the earth kingdom and another.

In this way, the cornered land wouldn't be able to receive supplies from allies and strongholds in other regions.

With starving and delaying tactics, they pressed their advantage and colonized more and more settlements within a sort period of time.

The Earth Kingdom eventually reacted, but the damage was done. The already occupied land now served as a springboard for more as they burned the towns, villages, and settlements around many earth kingdom strongholds, isolating them from the main army and strangling their food supply.

When food rations were depleted, the soldiers were soon defeated with the passing of time. Their invaders had used this method to defeat base after base while suffering minimal casualties and retaining large numbers of personnel.

Sometimes, paying a certain price, but it paled in comparison to the rewards.

It was no wonder the Earth kingdom was losing. One wrong move had led to a chain reaction leading them to a downward spiral.

Prices of food skyrocketed like there was no tomorrow as food transportation in certain regions was no longer possible.

Soldiers barely had enough to fill their stomachs. So you could imagine what the refugees who had fled their homes were experiencing.

Currently, Haican was experiencing a similar situation.

All surrounding settlements East, South, and West had either been destroyed or occupied by the Fire Nation.

The land North, although not occupied by invaders, was fraught with dangers. Without bending, those who took that path might not survive.

There were no villages to obtain supplies from, showing that the Fire Nation was using the same tactics as always. And refugees gathered at the stronghold for food and a safe haven every day, consuming whatever they had left.