Enemy Situation

Victor didn't intend to answer many questions about the medical team, instead relying on his authority to brush them aside. After all, explaining things was less effective than demonstrating them.

The magical plants in this world possessed medicinal properties comparable to many modern medicines from his previous life. There were Bitter Bamboo leaves, which acted as bandages with built-in hemostatic and antiseptic properties, and Green Bark Tree bark, whose anti-inflammatory capabilities rivaled penicillin. Various fruits were also packed with vitamins. Even with feudal exploitation and warfare, these magical plants allowed ordinary serfs to live to fifty or sixty years old.

Victor's reforms for the medical team were modeled after Nightingale's. The core principles were scientific management, sanitary conditions in wards, and training for nursing staff. He hoped this would, in turn, reduce personnel losses during combat, prevent severe injuries from worsening, and ensure minor injuries healed quickly, allowing soldiers to return to the army as soon as possible. This would maximize the preservation of fighting strength, as Victor considered people to be the most important asset.

To improve the medical team's standards, besides spending a large sum to recruit several renowned physicians, they also scoured for various plants with medicinal value. Unfortunately, most were difficult to cultivate or required special growing environments, so only finished products were available for purchase.

Since arriving on the grasslands, Victor had been consciously collecting some of the local magical plants, especially those with special effects. This was where Little Paru deserved praise. Perhaps due to his unique talent, he was very good at finding things others couldn't. Coupled with his long period of learning from Big Paru, he had acquired considerable knowledge, particularly in identifying special medicinal herbs.

The grasslands also harbored many unique plants. Victor was particularly impressed by the Boiling Blood Grass used by the Barbarian cavalry under the Northern Noble Allied Forces.

Little Paru had also led Victor to this plant. However, relying solely on collection yielded too little to meet the army's needs. The effect was indeed terrifying: humans couldn't consume it, but if horses ate enough, their stamina would increase exponentially. With some concentrated feed, they could run for over a thousand kilometers without rest and without decreasing speed. However, this could lead to exhaustion, requiring a long recovery period for the horses afterward.

There was also a type of Bone Marrow Fruit, which was pale white and resembled a small finger bone. Eating this fruit acted like a natural emetic, causing one to thoroughly expel everything from their stomach and intestines.

During the lean seasons on the grasslands, many herdsmen would mistakenly consume various poisonous plants or even spoiled food. This fruit was used to save their lives. Victor also collected this Bone Marrow Fruit as an important medicine.

Another unique type of reed was widely found on the banks of the Great Fish River. These reeds were very rich in fiber. Victor and Number 1, through the calculation module, reached a consensus: these reeds would be highly suitable as papermaking material. Therefore, Victor marked these reeds as an important resource for focused development.

Although papyrus already existed as a writing material, it was too expensive for everyday use. If a relatively cheap alternative emerged, its market prospects would be considerable, provided Victor was prepared for various impacts. If these reeds could be used for papermaking, they could provide an important product for the territory's future.

Victor was very grateful to Little Paru for helping him find these special plants. As a result, he also brought Little Paru's sister, Little Mouse, to his tent and arranged for dedicated maids to care for her.

Of course, he also understood why Paru of the Green Grass Tribe had valued Little Paru so highly. The child was truly very intelligent. His childhood experiences had forged a resilient spirit, yet he retained his kindness. Just the hardships he endured to support his sister were immense for a child his age.

Little Paru had a strong capacity for accepting and learning new things. In less than a month with Victor, he could already write the Common Tongue fluently, whereas before he could only speak it.

Now, like Michael, he served as one of Victor's close followers, often accompanying Victor on inspections of the territory.

This included visiting various factory sites. These experiences gave him a general understanding of the territory's development and filled him with admiration for Victor's extensive knowledge.

Victor also intended to nurture Little Paru. He frequently explained his past life experiences and knowledge to Little Paru in detail, hoping the boy would embrace this knowledge and the spirit it embodied with his own understanding.

Little Paru could grasp the inherent meaning of the knowledge Victor shared and accept its theories and spirit. As for the possibility of aiding an enemy, Victor didn't have strong feelings about ethnic divisions in this world. Moreover, he felt the Barbarians, whose lands had been encroached upon by various nations over the past two hundred years, were more pitiable in terms of inter-ethnic hatred.

He didn't care what might be done with this knowledge because, in his eyes, Little Paru, having already learned it and adopted its spirit, was naturally a kindred spirit.

During this period, Victor gained a new understanding of the grasslands within his territory, including some of their unique resources. He also selected suitable areas for the large-scale cultivation of the two types of magical alfalfa he had brought, which would become the most important pastureland for Muyuan Town in the future.

On October 18th, while Victor was exploring the grassland's resources, Knight Jack personally reported to him. Scout cavalry dispatched by Jack had returned with news: a Barbarian tribe's outpost had been discovered 120 kilometers west of the watchtower, on the north bank of the Great Fish River.

The outpost was not large, clearly a reconnaissance force. However, this tribe appeared quite wealthy, as the outpost's members were equipped with many iron tools and a considerable number of leather armors. The entire outpost numbered only a little over 300 people, but they were herding four to five thousand cattle and sheep, and possessed twice their number in horses. Their marching speed was fast, and the scout cavalry dared not approach too closely.

Their direction of advance was towards the north bank of the Great Fish River. Victor ordered Jack to immediately dispatch more men to track this tribal outpost. Simultaneously, he instructed them to find a way to extend their reach deep into the grasslands to locate the main force of this tribe.

Victor also notified all units to prepare for emergencies. All leave was canceled. The commanders of each unit were ordered to return to their barracks, assemble their soldiers, organize their weapons and equipment, and be ready for mobilization, awaiting Victor's order to engage in battle.