Rendezvous and Pursuit
Victor was very satisfied with the work of the reconnaissance troops and directly instructed the Logistics Department to start building the outposts at the sites selected by the reconnaissance troops. Only warehouses and barracks needed to be built, and supplies did not need to be transported for the time being.
Victor did not intend to abandon these outposts after the war. Instead, he relied on them to establish settlements such as villages and towns for immigration and land reclamation. After all, the land near water sources is more fertile, and relying on rivers makes it easier to provide support and defense.
Just then, a staff officer knocked on Victor's Ducal House door.
"Your Excellency, there is important intelligence being delivered. It was sent by Chief Luda and is in a red mailbox."
"Let me see it quickly."
When Victor first asked the Horseshoe Tribe to conduct intelligence gathering, he stipulated that three-colored mailboxes should be used to indicate the importance of the intelligence.
White indicates regular/urgent, and should be reported within three days of receipt; black indicates top-priority, and should be reported on the same day of receipt; red indicates special request, and must be reported immediately upon receipt, regardless of day or night.
So far, Luda and Jell have never used a red mailbox. Even the last intelligence sent from the Blazing Fire Tribe was sent in a black mailbox, so it seems that this intelligence is indeed extraordinary.
Soon, the staff officer arrived at Victor's Ducal House with the messenger. The messenger took out the letterbox, and the staff officer checked the wax seal of the letterbox. After confirming that it was Luda's personal seal and that the wax seal was not broken, he used a knife to scrape open the wax seal, opened the letterbox, took out the letter inside, and handed it to Victor.
Victor opened the letter and read it carefully.
This letter was sent by Luda to his men immediately after he brought Dane back to the caravan. It contained all the information he had seen in the Iron Palm Tribe. To ensure that Dane could be safely sent back to the Two Rivers Territory, Luda hoped that Victor would send troops to meet him.
"This is truly a precious treasure! Luda has prepared a wonderful gift for me," Victor exclaimed.
Victor had been thinking about how to lure the Blazing Fire Tribe into splitting their forces, and now that Luda had brought back Dane, the key to completing this plan, the conquest of the Blazing Fire Tribe could become very easy if used properly.
At the same time, Dane's special identity and the valuable intelligence he possesses are very important for Victor's exploration of the grasslands. If he were handed over to the Iron Birch Territory, there would be a good chance to use him and the Blood Scorpion Tribe to complete the unfinished business of the previous battle and completely bury the remaining main force of the Tribal Alliance. In this way, the northern Coalition of Nobles would be free from any hindrance and could devote all its strength to the south.
Victor didn't intend to think too much about it at this point; once the person was brought back, his usefulness could be explored gradually.
"Inform Ron that he should take his troops and come with me across the river to the north."
Victor gave the order to the staff officer, who had previously been Victor's bodyguard and had handled many such orders before. The staff officer immediately ran out to relay the order.
Victor left the Military Academy, and with the guards he had just gathered, went directly to the dock in Wood Fort Town to prepare to cross the river.
Just as they were waiting to board the ship, Ron arrived with his troops.
"Victor, I've already notified the troops. The rest of the men will be assembled by Jackson. I've brought a company over first. What do you need us for?"
"I need to pick someone up as soon as possible. You take the troops and come with me. Leave one person at the dock to wait for Jackson. Have them follow behind our troops and be ready for battle."
In his letter, Luda mentioned that the Iron Bone Tribe's army was also searching for Dane. Although he had already dismissed the Iron Palm Tribe, he could not rule out the possibility that the Iron Bone Tribe would pursue them after receiving news of the caravan.
Victor also believed that the Iron Bone Tribe would not easily give up the clues, and Luda's judgment was based on evidence. In that case, Victor had to send out a support force and prepare for battle.
James was the acting Regimental Commander of the First Regiment, but James usually traveled between Green Valley Town and Wood Fort Town. When James was not around, the deputy Regimental Commander, Ron, took charge of the work. The First Detachment of the First Regiment was also a fully-organized Cavalry detachment, and Ron also served as the First Detachment Commander. This detachment was also a rapid reaction force, which is why Victor notified Ron to follow him.
After Victor and Ron led their troops across the river, a total of more than 140 Cavalry, each with two horses, galloped northward.
By this time, Luda and his men had been traveling across the grasslands for two days straight, abandoning all the wagons except for the horses and the necessary food.
Dane also questioned Luda, asking why there was no need to rush, since they had already shaken off the Iron Palm Tribe's pursuit.
"Young Master Dane, the Iron Palm Tribe is easy to deal with. They didn't have much desire to pursue you to begin with, but don't forget that the Iron Bone Tribe's Cavalry are also chasing you. They certainly won't give up easily."
"Then why are we heading south? If we're going to the Blazing Fire Tribe, we should be heading southwest, right?"
"This is also part of my plan. If the Iron Bone Tribe knew about my caravan, they would definitely think we would head towards the Blazing Fire Tribe. But if I detour to the south, I can delay them from catching up with me. I also sent my men ahead of time, one man and four horses, to rush back to the tribe to inform Lord Huo Qing and have his troops meet us. As long as we reach the designated location and meet up with the meeting troops, we will be safe."
Dane thought Luda's words made a lot of sense.
"Captain Luda, you are really wasting your talents as a caravan leader. You can still think of so many things under the circumstances. You will be my strategist from now on. I will mention it to my uncle after I arrive at the Blazing Fire Tribe."
"Yes, Master Dane, I, Luda everything in my power to help you."
The scout next to Luda was shocked by Luda's behavior and words. This man could always lie with a straight face. He had to report to the General Staff and conduct a loyalty review of this man when he got back.
Just then, one of Luda's men approached him and said, "Sir, I have observed a Cavalry about ten kilometers behind us, pursuing us."
This subordinate was known for his exceptional eyesight, able to spot gazelles from ten kilometers away; Luda trusted his abilities.
Luda was surprised. "How could it be so fast! We clearly didn't head towards the Blazing Fire Tribe, so how did the Iron Bone Tribe's pursuers catch up so quickly?"
"It's a falcon. The Iron Bone Tribe is very skilled at training falcons. Their falcons can spot prey from a great height above the ground. We must have been spotted by their falcons," Dane said.
Seeing this, Luda didn't waste any more words and shouted, "Speed up! There are pursuers behind us! Everyone, change horses!"