Message Sent, the Army Mobilizes
Luda and his entourage were taken by Huo Qing to his Thousand-man squad and went with the army to the Iron Palm Tribe, which could also be considered as surveillance and protection of him.
However, this was all within Luda's expectations. As early as when he arrived at the Blazing Fire Tribe, he had set aside a group of people, some of whom were his subordinates and some were Intelligence Department personnel, who had been lurking near the Blazing Fire Tribe's Main Camp to monitor them. When the Blazing Fire Tribe made a move, these people would immediately report to the Two Rivers Territory.
Earlier this year, when Victor went to Iron Mountain Fortress, Victor introduced a batch of carrier pigeons to the territory for emergency communication within the territory. This time, Luda also brought a batch, which his subordinates were responsible for releasing to deliver messages.
Afterwards, this group of people would follow behind the Blazing Fire Tribe's team, keeping track of the Blazing Fire Tribe's movements and reporting directly to the military Intelligence Department.
Soon, the main force, which had been stationed at the Number Four Supply Station post for a day, received intelligence that the Blazing Fire Tribe had dispatched troops to attack the Iron Palm Tribe to the east.
Victor summoned all the army commanders and conveyed the intelligence. "The plan to lure the main force of the Blazing Fire Tribe out has succeeded. Next, we will proceed with the next battle plan: all troops will head north to attack the Blazing Fire Tribe's main camp. However, even so, the Blazing Fire Tribe is still a large medium-sized tribe, with a considerable number of soldiers and men remaining behind. Everyone must remain vigilant, go all out, and finish this battle quickly. Do you understand?"
"Clear!"
"Then we'll set off tomorrow morning. It's a 180-kilometer journey. We'll arrive in three days by forced march. Once we arrive, we'll launch an attack immediately, day and night. Shang Ye, your troops will be temporarily responsible for guarding the Number Four Supply Station. Jell, your Cavalry will cooperate with the Logistics Department to protect the supply line."
"Yes, sir!" x2
On the morning of July 6th, the camp was already bustling with activity. Infantrymen lined up in front of their tents, their iron boots rustling rhythmically across the dew-dampened grass. Their armor gleamed in the morning light, and the Golden Sunflower Crest on their shields shone brightly. Every soldier moved with clean, crisp movements, as if they had practiced a thousand times, without the slightest hesitation.
The Cavalry walked to their respective detachment's stables, skillfully untying the reins and leading out their warhorses and packhorses. The horses' manes fluttered in the morning breeze, their hooves clattering crisply on the ground. The Cavalry soothed their horses softly, their movements gentle yet swift, and the horses behaved remarkably docile under their command. The Heavy Cavalry worked together to secure their heavy armor to the packhorses, the metal plates reflecting dazzling spots of sunlight like miniature mountains of metal.
The Logistics Department troops busily led the draft horses to the wagons, skillfully securing the yokes to their shoulders. The horses, panting heavily, groaned as they pulled the wagons. The Bed Crossbow and baggage trains on the wagon frames were firmly secured, and the winches and ropes were checked again and again to ensure everything was in perfect order.
The entire camp was bustling yet orderly. The clanging of metal, the deep shouts, and the neighing of horses intertwined, creating a unique rhythm. There was no unnecessary noise, no chaotic shouting, only the focused eyes and swift movements of the soldiers. This army was like a precise machine, each gear operating precisely in its place, making final preparations for the upcoming operation.
The Cavalry unit that completed its formation first left the camp and set off on its way. Then, the chariot and infantry units formed the central army, with the infantry riding horses alongside the chariots. The logistics Transport Convoy brought up the rear, with the Horseshoe Tribe's Cavalry wandering around on the sidelines.
Victor, accompanied by his guards, stood on high ground watching the marching column begin its ascent. The vanguard had already disappeared from sight, while the supply train was just starting to move forward. The entire column stretched from the ground to the sky, its sheer size and grandeur enough to stir the heart and leave one breathless with awe.
Victor cracked his whip and rode straight to the front of the column. For the next three days of forced march, he had to be at the front so that all the soldiers could see him and maintain the morale of the column.
This operation can be considered an independent operation in the Two Rivers Territory. In addition, the territory construction of the Two Rivers Territory has been gradually improved, and the logistical support has become more efficient. Victor attaches great importance to this sweeping operation. He believes that logistical support is the best way to improve the combat effectiveness of the troops, based on the wisdom of his previous life.
He drew a large amount of supplies from the territory's warehouse, including flour and sugar. Although the flour was not the finest refined flour but ordinary yellow flour, and the sugar was just old rock sugar that had not yet undergone final filtration, the large number of cattle and sheep captured by Tribe Number Two could provide a large amount of meat and dairy products, as well as fruits and vegetables that had just come to market at the territory's farm. The open supply of these foods alone greatly boosted the morale of the troops.
Meanwhile, the standard military uniforms, with two sets per person, were made of thick double-layered linen, which was sturdy and breathable. They received unanimous praise from both new and veteran troops. With sufficient raw materials, Steelworks and Arms Factory worked overtime to produce armor, finally achieving full armor for combat troops. Even Auxiliary Troops were basically guaranteed a set of leather armor and a steel helmet. The arrows for archers and Bed Crossbow were also basically replaced with steel arrowheads. The number of crossbow bolts and bows carried by the troops alone was 200,000, and there were another 300,000 in several military depots. Supplies and weapons were extremely abundant.
Many officers said that with the large amount of supplies carried by the logistics convoy and the large amount of materials in the supply depot, it would be difficult for the troops in the Two Rivers Territory to lose.
If it weren't for the fact that half the journey could be transported by water, the costs of transporting these supplies by land alone would be unimaginable. In addition, the current season is perfect for launching an expedition, with abundant water and grass, and the livestock can be kept strong by being fed concentrated feed. Without these conditions, it would be a pipe dream to raid grassland tribes that are more than 400 kilometers away.
On the other side, the main force of the Two Rivers Territory had set off for the camp of the Blazing Fire Tribe. The Blazing Fire Tribe's army had been traveling for two days and was only two days away from the Iron Palm Tribe. Luda had not found an opportunity to leave the Blazing Fire Tribe's army for two consecutive days, and he was getting a little impatient.
Just then, Huo Qing summoned Luda, Luda hurriedly went to see Huo Qing. It was especially important to remain calm at times like these, as he couldn't let a small matter ruin his success.
Luda quickly found Huo Qing, "Lord Huo Qing, you were looking for me."
"Our advance team spotted carts and goods, which seem to be from one of your merchant caravans. Could you take a look and see if it is?" Huo Qing had someone bring some items to show Luda.
Seeing these items, Luda remembered that to speed up the evacuation, he had abandoned all the wagons and goods, and everyone had fled on horseback. Luda suddenly realized this was a perfect opportunity to leave the Blazing Fire Tribe's army, and a plan immediately formed in his mind.