At eight in the morning, the temperature began to rise abruptly, as if a spring breeze had suddenly scattered winter's bitter frost.
In less than half an hour, the thermometer's mercury column rapidly climbed to fifteen degrees above zero, and warmth spread everywhere.
The camp's previously desolate atmosphere, caused by the bitter cold, was instantly shattered and replaced by a scene of vibrant chaos.
The Mobilized Soldiers walked out of their tents one after another to enjoy the sudden warmth. Laughter and cheers rose and fell throughout the camp.
Even the Dwarven prisoners, who had looked listless because of the cold, had regained their vitality.
Color had returned to many Dwarves' faces. They called out softly, hope for survival flickering in their eyes. Clearly, the prolonged low temperatures had affected the Dwarves severely.
Of course, although the end of the disaster and the rising temperature had driven away the cold, they also meant that another serious problem was about to arrive.
The Expeditionary Force had to organize their supplies and prepare to return as quickly as possible. They had to leave the Dwarves' territory before the Dwarves could launch a pursuit.
Otherwise, once they were surrounded inside the territory by the Dwarves' pursuers, escaping would become troublesome.
"Forty thousand Dwarven prisoners. We need to arrange ten squads to handle them. After our main force withdraws, release a batch of prisoners every half hour. Have each squad escort and drive the Dwarves in a different direction."
"If any Dwarves try to escape along the way, just make a token effort to stop them."
"But remember this: don't deliberately release them. Let them believe they escaped by sheer luck."
Su Deben made his arrangements methodically and soon formulated a complete Evacuation Plan.
Even if they were forty thousand pigs, it would take