The Darkspear's strength is the Horde's strength

Although the Burning Thorn Clan and Firetree Clan were forest trolls while the Darkspear were jungle trolls, they were at least of the same race and would naturally be more receptive to Vol'jin's leadership. Compared to Rend, Vol'jin was also more gifted in wisdom and political maneuvering. Rend was essentially nothing more than a false prophet. Whether now or in the past, he had never commanded so many people. Even the Blackrock Clan had only remained functional through extreme loyalty. Now, with Eitrigg's help, it could be said that aside from his passable martial strength, Rend's ratings in command, intelligence, politics, and charisma were rather unimpressive. Ever since transmigrating, Rend had been pondering how to resolve the issue of the forest trolls led by Vaur after the Blood Elves joined the Horde, yet he had never found an answer.

Since he could not handle it himself, why not leave it to Vol'jin, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the Horde and was more suitable and intelligent? Strengthening the Darkspear would not threaten the Blackrock Clan, would rid him of this nuisance, and would earn the Darkspear Clan's friendship. What reason was there not to?

Vol'jin had not expected Rend to directly hand over the two forest troll clans that followed the Blackrock Clan. They were part of the Blackrock Clan's fighting strength. If Vol'jin had been in Rend's place, he would not have been able to give them up so readily.

The Darkspear Clan had too few people. Even with several hundred thousand members, they still seemed somewhat small before other major powers. Vol'jin had naturally considered absorbing trolls from other clans into the Darkspear Clan, but he had only thought of the small jungle troll clans in Stranglethorn Vale that had suffered persecution from the Gurubashi and Bloodscalp clans. He had never considered the forest trolls far to the north, since their cultures differed greatly.

But Vol'jin could not refuse this temptation. Although Zul'jin's influence ran deep in the hearts of the forest trolls, Vol'jin was confident he could absorb them. If it had been the entire Amani Clan, the Darkspear might very well have suffered a backlash instead. But the Burning Thorn and Firetree Clans were merely two small clans with only tens of thousands of members combined. Given the Darkspear's scale, they could swallow them, using their greater numbers to absorb and divide the Burning Thorn and Firetree Clans.

Furthermore, with himself and Rokhan present, even Zul'jin would be unable to defeat the two of them together. They could naturally suppress any resistance from the Burning Thorn and Firetree Clans. As long as one of them remained behind to guard the clans, they could eliminate any thoughts of rebellion. In time, the Darkspear would surely absorb this vital fighting force.

Just as the Vilebranch Clan would join the Horde in the future, as would the Shatterspear Clan in Darkshore under Garrosh's call.

Although the Darkspear Trolls were only a medium-sized clan, the trolls' potential was there for all to see. They could continually absorb other clans and gradually grow stronger. Vol'jin was also highly ambitious. He wanted the Darkspear Clan to become the true orthodoxy of trollkind, to become like the Amani trolls, who had formed the Zul'Aman Empire and stood against Zandalar as an equal.

Rend and the Horde needed a powerful Darkspear Clan as an ally, while Vol'jin needed to strengthen the Darkspear Clan. The two men immediately saw eye to eye, and the plan naturally came together.

"Thank you for your selflessness, Chieftain Rend. The Darkspear will remember your help. The Darkspear and I owe you a great debt of gratitude." Even though Vol'jin was wise enough to understand that Rend was trying to win him over, this gift was exactly what he needed, and its temptation was too great. When the profit was great enough, even a wise man could not refuse.

"Vol'jin, I am not doing this merely for the friendship between the Blackrock Clan and the Darkspear. I am doing this because the Horde needs a strong Darkspear, and the orcs need a powerful ally. The Darkspear's strength is naturally the Horde's strength as well. In the future, I will also support the Darkspear Clan in absorbing trolls from other clans." When speaking with a wise man like Vol'jin, concealment was worse than speaking plainly. Rather than let Vol'jin misunderstand him, Rend might as well tell him what he truly thought. He believed that Vol'jin, who would one day declare, "The Horde is my people," would not betray the Horde. Even if they might one day turn their blades against each other, Vol'jin would never harm the Horde.

Trolls were an ancient race of Azeroth. Though they had declined, they remained an important force on Azeroth. If all trolls could be united, they would undoubtedly become a power capable of standing against both the Alliance and the Horde. Rather than make them enemies, it was better to turn them into allies. Given the Darkspear's scale, Rend understood that they could never truly unite all trolls and threaten the orcs' position within the Horde. Therefore, it was better to let the Darkspear absorb as many other clans as possible and strengthen themselves.

Using the Darkspear as the vessel, they would in the future absorb the Sandfury, forest, and jungle trolls, and even, during Wrath of the Lich King, absorb the surviving members of the Drakkari trolls after the Scourge destroyed them.

As long as they were wholeheartedly devoted to the Horde, Rend would do everything in his power to strengthen them. He would not fear that stronger allies might threaten his own position.

"For the Horde, Rend. The Blackrock Clan will forever be the Darkspear's friend." Vol'jin felt Rend's sincerity. Rend was someone who could truly give everything for the Horde, and that was the kind of person Vol'jin admired. He no longer addressed Rend as Chieftain Rend, clearly having already accepted him as a friend.

For the first time, Vol'jin truly felt a sense of home within the Horde. Compared to the members of his own race who had driven them away, these orcs and the Horde were far more worthy of his loyalty. The Horde was his people, not the decayed and dispirited troll empire.

Rend did not know that, through his efforts, Vol'jin had integrated into the great family of the Horde ahead of time, allowing the Darkspear Clan to truly become a member of the Horde earlier than before—an indispensable member.

After the battle, the orcs and Darkspear Trolls cleared the battlefield, buried the quilboars' bodies, and gathered the remains of the fallen Horde warriors. Later, under the shamans' guidance, they would hold a true orcish funeral for them.

The next day, the Horde divided into two groups. After asking Vol'jin and learning Ratchet's exact location, Rend decided to make a major deal with the Goblins. Thrall and Vol'jin, meanwhile, led the orcs and trolls to the future site of Orgrimmar to settle their people before returning to search for Grommash. One group headed south while the other went north, and they would finally meet at the future bridge over the Southfury River. Their great king, Varok Saurfang, and Rokhan would command the troops in constructing a permanent bridge across the Southfury River.

Although Rend had prepared many supplies, the Horde's daily consumption was an astronomical figure. After such a long journey, their provisions were running low. Furthermore, building the future Orgrimmar required Gazlowe, the grandmaster-level goblin tinkerer who had built Orgrimmar.

Compared with Gallywix, Rend was far more familiar with Gazlowe. This goblin power had accompanied the Horde all along without ever formally joining it. Especially during Warlords of Draenor, Gazlowe had accompanied the players through an entire expansion, helping them establish their own garrisons and fleets.

Moreover, Rend knew that Gazlowe was a goblin with genuine feelings—the only goblin who had ever refunded money. For Cairne's sake, he had returned the gold the Tauren had paid.