Main Force Arrives
Soon, Shang Ye and Jell led their troops to clear out the chieftain's tent. This was the only tough battle they fought today, but even so, it didn't cause them much trouble.
They found a lot of gold and silver in the chieftain's tent, which Shang Ye sealed on the spot, intending to hand it over together with the main force after its arrival.
Most of the warriors in this tribe were killed because they were not heavily armored, and the crossbowmen's arrows were heavy arrowheads with blood grooves and barbs, which would either kill or wound those hit. Many warriors who were hit by arrows were executed by the Allied Army without any need for medical treatment.
The herders of this tribe were mainly enslaved. Most of them were to directly participate in the subsequent main army's battle against the Blazing Fire Tribe, responsible for transportation and odd jobs. It is estimated that not many of them would survive until the end of the war.
This tribe is small and its warriors are not strong. The Two Rivers Territory is not lacking in Auxiliary Troops, so there is no need to absorb these warriors Auxiliary Troops. It is better to use them as ordinary slaves.
The biggest gain from this operation was livestock, especially the more than 20,000 sheep, which nearly doubled the size of the entire Horseshoe Tribe's sheep population. However, the Horseshoe Tribe will not take these livestock with them for the time being; they will remain here as logistical support for the main force of the Two Rivers Territory.
As agreed, the Two Rivers Territory will count the number of livestock and, after the sweep operation ends, will replenish the livestock consumed and return them to the Horseshoe Tribe according to the counted number.
Seeing that the work of clearing out the tribe had been completed, and it was only a little past one in the afternoon, Shang Ye and Jell simply notified the Logistics Department on the ship to send people to survey the conditions of the tribe and prepare to start the construction of the supply depot.
In order to complete the construction of the supply depot as soon as possible, the Logistics Department directly dispatched an engineering detachment to accompany the ship. After on-site inspection, the engineering detachment concluded that the terrain was not suitable for building the supply depot.
Having no other option, Shang Ye simply stayed behind with his infantry to guard the prisoners and the camp, while Jell continued to lead the Cavalry to accompany the engineering detachment in selecting a site for the outpost.
Fortunately, things went smoothly from there. They walked two kilometers north along the river and the engineering team found a high-lying, flat wasteland that was perfect for a military post.
Seeing that the distance was not far and it was still light, Shang Ye and Jell immediately began to drive the slaves to cooperate with the engineering team to start construction, striving to complete the construction of the outpost as soon as possible.
The building materials were directly from the demolished tents in the Barbarians camp. As for where these slaves would sleep at night, Jell considered that half of them were still the property of the Horseshoe Tribe, so he took some sheepskins from the tribe's warehouse and gave one to each person. Fortunately, the grasslands were not cold at this time of year, and the sheepskins were warm enough.
Thus, Shang Ye and Jell divided the team into groups to oversee and guard the slaves. Jell Shang Ye cooperation and the availability of manpower and building materials, the construction of the entire supply depot progressed very quickly.
By the third day, the supply depot was basically completed. The post station, warehouse, and walls were all finished. The remaining defensive facilities, such as deer forts and arrow towers, could be completed later. The basic functional area of the supply depot was now complete.
On the fourth day, July 4th, Shang Ye and Jell received news that the main force was about to arrive, and they personally led a team to welcome the main force and Lord Victor.
In July, the grasslands shimmered under the scorching sun, and the main force of the Two Rivers Territory Commandery marched like an iron torrent across the boundless green fields.
Including the Logistics Department, the army in the Two Rivers Territory numbered more than 5,000, with Cavalry forming the main force. Each Cavalry was equipped with two warhorses—one for charging into battle and the other for carrying equipment and supplies.
Heavy Cavalry were even more extravagant, possessing three horses: a warhorse clad in heavy armor, a packhorse carrying weapons and armor, and a light riding horse for long marches.
Even the infantry, at Victor's request, were completely equipped with mules and horses, with most of them riding horses. Only a few Bed Crossbow units rode in chariots, with strong draft horses pulling the heavy equipment.
The thunderous hooves of nearly ten thousand horses shook the earth, raising dust that formed a golden mist in the sunlight. The warhorses' manes billowed in the hot wind, and their armor gleamed blindingly in the sunlight. The Cavalry's banners were raised high, their Golden Sunflower Crest fluttering in the wind, as if announcing their arrival to the steppe.
The three hundred chariots in the central position stood out conspicuously in the formation, among which the chariots pulling Bed Crossbow were particularly magnificent. The huge ballistae were firmly fixed to the chariot frame, and the quenched steel torsion arms gleamed with a cold bluish light in the sunlight. The draft horses panted heavily, their hooves making a dull thud as they trod across the grass, leaving deep ruts in their wake.
The vanguard of Light Cavalry scouted ahead, sweeping across the grassland like a gust of wind, while the Heavy Cavalry advanced steadily in the center. They did not wear armor during the march; instead, the armor was neatly stacked and fixed to the backs of their packhorses. The clanging of these iron armors sounded like war drums, shaking the surrounding air.
The infantry followed behind the main force on horseback. Although their horses were not as imposing as warhorses, their orderly formation and firm steps still exuded a formidable aura.
The fleet followed the main force along the riverbank, with flat-bottomed boats towing rafts upstream. The boatmen on the boats used hooks to precisely catch debris on the river surface to avoid colliding with the rafts behind them.
Victor stood on the high ground, overlooking the massive army. His scarlet cloak gleamed in the sunlight, and his Golden Sunflower Crest banner fluttered high in the wind. This steel torrent of nearly ten thousand horses was advancing with unstoppable momentum toward its destination.
Just then, the sound of a messenger's horn rang out. Victor looked up and saw a group of messengers moving through the ranks, blowing their horns as they approached him.
Upon seeing this, Victor knew there was an important military report to be made, so he spurred his horse and rode along the column toward the messenger, with his guards following closely behind.
When the lead messenger captain saw Victor, he immediately saluted on horseback. "Your Excellency, the vanguard has completed the occupation of Tribe Number Two and, in coordination with the engineering detachment, has completed the construction of Number Four Supply Station. The vanguard's Detachment Commander Shang Ye and Chief Jell have arrived with their troops to join and support the main force, and they are just five kilometers ahead."
Victor nodded upon hearing this. "You've worked hard, my soldiers. Now take your men to the ranks and rest for a while."
After saying that, Victor led his guards forward and arrived at the front of the entire force.
Several tens of minutes later, Victor saw the War Department waiting on the riverbank. He instructed the flag bearer to wave the flag and tell Shang Ye and Jell to thank them for their efforts and sacrifices.