Internal Hidden Dangers

In the Horseshoe Tribe's camp, Centurion Jell was restless. He had discovered an unidentified cavalry unit appearing near the camp yesterday and had reported it to the chieftain, Anlie.

Considering it was too late, Chieftain Anlie had not ordered him or the other centurions to scout the enemy. Instead, he instructed Centurion Wen Xi, who was in charge of night patrols, to increase patrol frequency and add more night sentries. The plan was for Jell and another centurion, Luda, to scout the cavalry unit the following morning.

However, Jell was deeply uneasy. His younger brother, Jian, was the centurion in charge of the outpost. He suspected that the cavalry's appearance might indicate an unforeseen situation at Jian's post. Therefore, in the middle of the night, he dispatched two warriors skilled in night vision to try and leave the camp to check on the situation at the outpost.

But the next morning, his subordinates found the warhorses of these two warriors outside the camp. The horses had apparently returned to the camp on their own, recognizing the way, while both warriors had vanished.

This made Jell even more worried about his brother's situation. The Jell family was currently in a precarious position. The hundred-man unit Jian had taken with him was a crucial force, essential for the Jell family's survival within the Horseshoe Tribe. Jell, whether out of affection or self-interest, had to find a way to rescue his brother Jian and ensure his and his unit's safety.

The Jell family was a major clan within the Horseshoe Tribe. It was their support that allowed Anlie to maintain his position as tribal chieftain. It was also through their contributions in supporting Anlie that they secured the positions of two centurions, enabling them to control one-third of the tribe's elite warriors.

Their considerable influence also aroused Anlie's suspicion. He had been trying to weaken the Jell family's military power by instigating conflict between the Jell family and the Wen and Lu families, who also held centurion positions. He had been systematically marginalizing the Jell family, assigning their hundred-man units to the most dangerous missions. Meanwhile, one of the other two hundred-man units belonged to Anlie's own clan, the An family, with An Sheng, Anlie's nephew, serving as its centurion. The remaining unit was managed by Shang Ye, the tribe's strongest warrior.

However, at this moment, to find out what was happening at the outpost, Jell had no choice but to swallow his pride and cooperate with Luda. With a resolute decision, Jell directly approached Luda.

"Luda, the chieftain ordered us to scout that cavalry unit this morning. When do you think we should set out?" Jell tried not to appear too eager. Although he was prepared to spend money, he wanted to save where he could.

"It's barely morning. My subordinates haven't eaten yet. What's the rush? Even the wolves on the prairie know to drink some water before getting up early. At least let my men have a bowl of hot soup first," Luda replied dismissively.

"Luda, you know as well as I do that Chieftain Anlie doesn't favor my Jell family. I absolutely cannot disobey his orders. How about this: I'll give you a hundred sheep. Consider it a treat for you and your men. Let's set out early and not delay the chieftain's orders," Jell quickly offered a bribe, lowering his stance.

"Oh, my good brother Jell, my subordinates and I thank you. How about this: wait for me for two hours. After my men and I have eaten your sheep, we'll set out," Luda's eyes gleamed with greed. He felt he could really take advantage of Jell this time.

"Damn it, 100 sheep! For you and your 100 men, let alone two hours, you couldn't finish them in ten days. Damn you, Luda, aren't you afraid of choking to death?" Jell was furious. Although he had anticipated Luda's greed, such undisguised behavior was still unacceptable to him.

"Luda, I'm not joking. I truly dare not delay the chieftain's orders, but at worst, I'll be fined some cattle and sheep. At worst, I'll pay this fine to the chieftain with all these sheep. I've been very polite to you. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit," Jell lost his patience with the fool and began to threaten him directly.

"Brother Jell, no, no, I was just joking. It would be too wasteful to give 100 sheep to the chieftain. The chieftain has cattle and sheep all over the tribe. Just give them to me. I promise I'll set out with my men right away," Luda, seeing the opportunity slip away, immediately changed his tune.

Jell was surprised by Luda's change of attitude and shamelessness. But then he thought about how, due to Anlie's suppression, the Jell family had to rack their brains and expend considerable effort to contend with the Lu and Wen families, and it felt utterly not worth it.

I must find a way to oust Anlie. Otherwise, the Jell family will face disaster sooner or later. This thought strengthened Jell's resolve to rebel against the chieftain.

Soon, the two hundred-man units were equipped. After all, they were the elite of the Horseshoe Tribe. Although they didn't have military pay like the professional troops of the Duchy, they were well-fed and clothed, and their weapons and armor were issued. They were far more elite than ordinary barbarian cavalry, and their discipline alone far surpassed them.

Luda and Jell's forces set out, one after the other. Due to restrictions on weapon purchases by barbarian tribes, even for vassal tribes of the Iron Birch Territory, weapons were manageable. However, they could at best buy leather armor with iron plating. Metal armor was simply not sold to them, let alone actual chainmail or plate armor.

This also shaped the combat characteristics of these barbarian tribes. They preferred light cavalry with all-leather armor. Because their knights and equipment were relatively light, they generally used one horse per rider, unless on a long expedition. This also gave them high mobility. Compared to Victor's light cavalry with two horses per rider, their movement was much swifter.

Jack, who had been observing from a distance, noticed the two hundred-man units emerging from the Horseshoe camp. Realizing they might be coming for him, he immediately led his troops south. He had no need to stay and fight.

"According to the plan, the Baron should have dispatched reinforcement troops. I just need to head south. It's a shame about the two warriors I captured last night; I haven't gotten much intelligence out of them yet."

Less than two quarters of an hour after they left, Jell and Luda arrived with their men at Jack's temporary camp. For them, finding tracks on the grassland was not difficult.

Seeing the scattered campfires, Jell dug into the embers and felt their warmth. "Still very hot. They must have left recently and haven't gone far."

Looking at the style of the camp, Jell felt something was amiss. This was clearly the style of a Duchy's standing army. Jell had fought alongside the armies of the Iron Birch Territory before and was familiar with the characteristics of these troops.

Although Jell knew from the beginning that they had come to this border grassland on the orders of the eldest son of the Iron Birch Family to disrupt the nobles' expansion, the information they received indicated that the person expanding here was only a Baron, with limited troops. However, judging by the camp's style, at least an elite hundred-man unit had been stationed here, which was not the strength of an ordinary Baron. Jell had seen the military strength of Baron-level nobles before; an ordinary Baron would be lucky to have 100 cavalry, and they wouldn't bring them all if they were here to expand.