Meanwhile, the Iron Bone Tribe and Faith Order forces, which had been marching at an ever-increasing pace, also ran into serious trouble after such prolonged, intense travel.
Many minor chiefs of the Iron Bone Tribe and their followers could no longer endure this marching speed. They demanded that the pace be slowed, or the ordinary tribesmen and livestock would not be able to withstand it.
Even if they made it back to the grasslands, the entire tribe would likely lose a great number of people and livestock. Most importantly, these minor chiefs stood to lose the most. Their followers and flocks had already been more than half depleted during the southern invasion, and they no longer wanted to suffer further losses.
These minor chiefs gathered and went to Heshima. In the past, they would never have dared do this, but after everything that had happened, Heshima's prestige was far from what it had once been. They dared stir up trouble only because of their numbers.
But Heshima's attitude was exceptionally firm. Without the slightest regard for the minor chiefs' objections, he drove them away.
Naturally, these minor chiefs within the Iron Bone Tribe were unwilling to accept this. They even led men to storm Heshima's tent, forcing him to deploy his personal troops to suppress the ringleaders and strip them of their followers and livestock.
Only through such iron-fisted measures did Heshima maintain his decision to march quickly.
Yet the unrest still spread through the Iron Bone Tribe. More and more people failed to understand, and some tribal warriors even discussed in private whether the Great Chieftain had gone mad.
But things soon changed when Barbarian Ranger Cavalry encountered some Barbarians from the small and medium tribes that had fled during the decisive battle at the border.
Although the Northern