Marching on Blackwater City

"Santos, I still can't take you on this mission. You know the situation in Golden Sunflower Territory and Boler County. I really don't trust anyone else with these matters, so I can only ask you for help again!"

Victor felt sorry for Santos, who had followed Santos for a long time but had always been assigned dirty and tiring jobs.

"My lord, I'm fine. This is my duty. Besides, my hand will probably need some time to heal."

Santos slightly raised his right arm, showing Victor his arm, which was being held in place by elderberry and Bitter Bamboo leaves, indicating that his injury still needed time to heal.

Victor glanced at Santos, shook his head, and said, "But this won't affect your command of the troops. As the Regimental Commander, you don't need to personally take to the front lines!"

Fine, since you put it that way, I'll take it seriously!

Santos laughed immediately after hearing this, not wanting to put Victor in a difficult position.

"It's really nothing, my lord!"

"In that case, could you recommend some units? I'm planning to transfer four detachments from the Golden Sunflower Territory. Which units do you think would be suitable?"

Santos understood that this was a preferential treatment from Victor, allowing him to recommend his subordinates first. If they achieved merit in subsequent battles, he would also receive a share of the credit. Santos naturally accepted this with pleasure.

"Then the 7th Garrison Detachment stationed at Wolf Hill, the 4th Red Ginseng Territory Detachment stationed at Hongshenling, and the 9th and 10th Garrison Detachments left in Linshui Town as Reserve Force —all four detachments have good combat capabilities."

"Introduce me!"

"The 7th, 9th, and 10th detachments have many veterans from the Southern Marching Legion. They were all wounded soldiers who were sent to the Golden Sunflower Territory treatment with me after the Battle of Rotten Tree Beach. Most of them have now recovered and returned to their posts. The Detachment Commander also have experience serving in the Guard Cavalry. You know them all; they are..."

As for the 4th detachment, its Detachment Commander is Panfilov, who is from the Black Oil Pine Barony. Last year, he was sent to the Golden Sunflower Territory as reinforcements.

He was a Squad Leader at the time, and he performed outstandingly in the counter-encirclement campaign. After the war, he did not return to Black Oil Pine Territory, but simply stayed here. Foss thought he was very good, so he recommended him to me.

After I took over the defense of the Golden Sunflower Territory, due to a shortage of officers, I promoted him to the position of acting Detachment Commander, and he did a very good job.

During his stay at Red Ginseng Territory, he personally led a team to wipe out two groups of refugees who had fled from other counties, without affecting the normal production of Red Ginseng Territory at all.

After..."

Santos is indeed meticulous. Although Victor's intention was for Santos to recommend a few trusted confidants, it was also to balance the military factions in the territory.

After all, Santos, as a high-ranking officer of the Golden Sunflower Family, was a major figure in the military system. Victor's decision to leave him in charge of the Golden Sunflower Territory and prevent him from participating in the upcoming battles would definitely affect his position in the army.

But Victor could tell that the people Santos recommended were all acting out of public interest. Neither the three Detachment Commander from the Guard Cavalry nor Panfilov bore the deep imprint of Santos.

Victor noted down the names. "Then I understand. I will leave Golden Sunflower Territory tomorrow morning."

Inform these four detachments that I will meet them along the way and lead them north to join forces with troops sent by allied territories, then march towards Blackwater City."

Early the next morning, Victor led his Guard Cavalry to Linshui Town by boat, and then led the 9th and 10th detachments northward along the Blackwater River.

Santos saw them off at the dock until the fleet turned the bend in the river and disappeared from his sight.

At this moment, his attendant said with envy, "That fellow Panfilov is so lucky this time, he actually went north to fight with the lord."

When I first arrived at Golden Sunflower Territory, I was just a Squad Leader. In less than half a year, I became an acting branch Detachment Commander. If I can make a contribution this time, I might not only be promoted to a full-fledged position, but also advance another rank."

Santos said calmly, "That's the result of his own hard work. As an officer who didn't come from a territory, his abilities are outstanding in all aspects. Otherwise, I wouldn't have recommended him to the lord."

"But sir, your inability to participate in the battle this time, will it affect the rewards after the war? I heard that the lord has set very generous rewards this time."

Based solely on your current military achievements, Your Lordship will certainly be promoted to Count and have the power to confer titles of Baron.

As a high-ranking officer in the territory's military system, you have the merit and seniority to become a baron. It would be a great pity if you didn't participate in this battle and were thus unable to become a baron.

Santos glared at his henchman, thinking the guy talked too much, but what could he do? The guy was always like that, never holding back his words.

He asked this not only for Santos's title, but also for himself and the officers under Santos who were also stationed in the Golden Sunflower Territory.

"You can rest assured, the lord will not forget our contributions."

After saying that, Santos turned and left the dock.