Because the retainer tribes were scattered at varying distances, they reached the front at different times.
The local Orc tribes were naturally the first to finish mobilizing. The sight of grain piled like mountains, brand-new swords and battleaxes, countless powerful bows and crossbows, and numerous Legendary Rank fighters gathering at Green's command sent their morale soaring and made them more devoted to him than ever.
Not long before, the Silver King had secretly sent word to these former followers, hoping to persuade them to rebel. After all, Green had a measure of control only over the Orc warriors who had joined the Retainer Army. The far more numerous Orcs owed him allegiance in name alone.
When the Silver King contacted the Orc tribes, some of their chiefs had indeed been tempted. But with the bulk of their warriors serving in the Retainer Army, they had been unable to make up their minds.
Then Green brought out vast quantities of grain, and those wavering tribes settled down at once. The Silver King? Old loyalties? All fucking bullshit. Watching their share of grain arrive early, then seeing a great iron pot filled with steaming white rice, even an Orc who missed the Silver King would have shouted, "That smells amazing!"
Next to reach the front were the warriors of the former Human City-States: thirty thousand fully armed elite soldiers. Then came the Lizardfolk, Gnolls, Kobolds, Fishmen... Column after column of troops flowed toward the northern front like streams joining a river.
Three days later, the enemies who thought themselves so well hidden finally attacked.
Dark figures slipped nimbly out of the woods and raced toward Penny's former camp as though they could fly...
Green, meanwhile, stood atop a small hill to the rear with his many subordinates, watching the camp two kilometers