Before long, the Military Department's formal transfer order arrived right on schedule.
A messenger rode a lightning-fast warhorse and reached Valagajudi at dusk, bringing a sealed letter stamped with red wax.
But Ang did not even open the order. He coldly instructed his subordinate to return it untouched and have the messenger tell the Military Department, "I refuse the transfer order."
The messenger looked troubled, but he could only bow and leave.
Ang stood atop the platform and watched him depart. His gaze was calm as water, yet he already understood—this was a political test, perhaps even a long-planned move to divide his power.
A few days later, Viscount Woraston indeed sent men to take over the defenses on the west bank of the Valagajudi River.
This time, Ang surprisingly made no attempt to stop them.
He personally received the general sent by Woraston, signed the handover documents without expression, and withdrew all the original 47th Regiment troops from the defensive line back into his own territory west of the Valagajudi River. They were concentrated around vast fields planted with magical rice.
The soldiers began building defensive lines around the farmland, erecting barracks, digging trenches, and even setting up watchtowers beside the magical rice fields.
At first, the farmers were baffled. They did not understand why the army had abandoned the front lines to station itself among the fields.
But they soon realized it was a good thing—with the army protecting them, they no longer had to worry about Lizardman attacks and could farm with greater peace of mind.
The newly arrived farmers who had brought their families to reclaim the wilderness were especially grateful for Ang's arrangements. Songs and laughter could often be heard drifting through the fields.
After Ang adjusted his forces, the Lizardmen across the Valagajudi River