Gathering intelligence from the battlefield was important, but back in the present, Heshima knew he had to respond.
If the enemy really had wiped out his detached force, that terrifying unit would likely reach this fortress soon. Even so, Heshima did not believe he would lose.
But if that enemy force arrived and reinforced the defenders, the Barbarian army's hopes of taking the fortress before them would vanish completely.
With the detached-force strategy already a failure, the Barbarian army had to find a way to breach the fortress if it wanted victory.
So Heshima wasted no time. He immediately ordered every commander and tribal chief in the camp to gather at his tent, where he would issue new military orders.
He also warned the Commanders of Ten Thousand under his direct command: "The news that our detached force was defeated must be kept under tight wraps. For now, only you know about it.
"The chiefs of the smaller tribes don't know the full story. If word gets out, I'll hold you responsible."
The Commanders of Ten Thousand nodded hurriedly, promising to obey and never leak the information.
Heshima's messengers soon spread through the Barbarian Main Camp, and large numbers of commanders and tribal chiefs began converging on his tent.
It was the first war council of this scale ever held in the Barbarian Main Camp. In the past, Heshima had summoned only the army commanders and a few tribal chiefs close to him. He rarely called in the chiefs of the smaller tribes.
This council was different. Even the leaders of the smallest tribes had been summoned, and before long, several hundred people crowded into Heshima's tent.
Keledu received a summons as well. He immediately knew something had happened, but the Barbarian camp was vast. Even the Faith Order, with