OBS Chapter 640 New Rival
Chapter 640 New Rival
"How come there are only two thousand-man squads?"
Dester's gaze lingered on the two centurions for a long time, his tone carrying a barely perceptible tension.
The centurion on the left stood ramrod straight, his response tinged with obvious confusion:
"I'm not clear on the specific arrangements. The commander of my infantry regiment only issued a written order requiring the entire 1,000-man unit to complete the inventory, verification, and distribution of all equipment, ensuring that every weapon and every suit of armor was in working order, and then immediately proceed to this location to assemble. He did not mention whether other units would cooperate in the operation."
Another centurion followed closely behind, giving the same account as the former:
"My orders were exactly the same. The commander only emphasized the assembly time and demanded that there be no delays. As for why only our two teams arrived, there was no additional explanation."
"damn it."
Short curses escaped from between Dester's teeth, the raging anger in his chest almost breaking free of his reason.
He knew immediately that it must be that Adon who changed his mind at the last minute, so he was ready to question Adon about what he was doing.
But the next second, Adon's clueless and dull-witted face clearly appeared in his mind.
Dester instantly calmed down. He knew that guy's character all too well. When questioned, he would only ramble on or use empty words to evade the question, and he would not get any useful answers. Instead, he would only waste precious time.
Dester took a deep breath, suppressing his dissatisfaction and anxiety.
Now is not the time to assign blame. The mission has been assigned, and regardless of whether the forces are sufficient, the objective of annihilating the mercenary group must be achieved.
He looked at the two centurions, his tone regaining its composure:
"The entire team sets off, targeting the outer edge of the eastern mountainous area. Maintain vigilance along the way, with a scout team spread out in each direction to provide cover. Report any unusual activity immediately."
The two centurions accepted the order in unison and turned to organize the troops.
Dester remained where he was, his gaze sweeping over the two thousand soldiers who had gathered. The soldiers were in neat formation and fully equipped, but their numerical disadvantage remained a potential problem.
During the march, Dest remained in the middle to the front of the column, which allowed him to keep abreast of the movements ahead and respond to any emergencies that might arise from the rear.
Every two hours he would order the troops to take a short break, not to let the soldiers relax, but to allow the scouts to change positions, replenish their energy, and ensure that there were no blind spots in the reconnaissance range.
At the same time, he would personally inquire about the reconnaissance results from the scouts ahead to confirm that there were no suspicious footprints, cooking smoke, or deliberately damaged vegetation along the way, as these were all traces that mercenary groups might leave behind.
When we arrived at the outskirts of the mountains, the sun had not yet set.
Instead of sending his troops deeper into the mountains, Dester chose to stop in an open area three miles from the edge of the mountains.
The terrain here is flat, with a wide view, and it is close to a stream, which can ensure a water supply and prevent the enemy from outflanking and encircling from the side and rear.
"Let's set up camp here."
He issued the order and immediately began deploying various defense measures.
"The 1,000th team, lead your soldiers to set up tents and divide the area into command, accommodation, supply, and medical zones. Leave sufficient passageways between each zone to ensure smooth coordination. The tents must be at least two meters apart to prevent the fire from spreading in case of fire."
"The second thousand men's unit will lead five hundred soldiers to cut down nearby hardwoods and build walls and chevaux-de-frise. The walls must be at least twelve feet high and thick enough to withstand the piercing of spears, with a lookout point every three feet. The chevaux-de-frise should be arranged in a staggered pattern on the outside of the walls, and the sharpened logs must be sharpened and ground, with the bottom buried deep in the ground to ensure that they cannot be easily moved."
"The rest of the troops shall immediately dig trenches around the camp, one meter wide and one meter deep, with sharpened wooden stakes at the bottom and the trench walls firmly hammered to prevent collapse. All fortifications must be completed by 9:00 PM tonight without delay."
The orders were clear and unambiguous, and the two centurions immediately took action after receiving their orders. The soldiers performed their duties, and the entire camp was bustling yet orderly.
Dester didn't stop; he went back and forth between different work areas, carefully checking the progress and quality of each task.
At the same time, he summoned the military clerk and gave the following instructions:
"Draft a notice informing the residents in the mountains that if they voluntarily move out, each person can receive two silver coins as resettlement compensation. The notice should clearly state that the silver coins can be collected outside the camp gate."
"Furthermore, we emphasize that we are the regular army of the Yoda Empire and will never harm innocent civilians. If any residents are willing to provide clues about the mercenary group, a generous reward will be given upon verification."
The document was quickly drafted into a proclamation, which Dester carefully reviewed to ensure there was no ambiguity before issuing the order:
“Select twenty soldiers who speak clearly and have a friendly demeanor, divide them into five groups, and have them carry notices to the edge of the mountains and major intersections to post them. At the same time, have them shout along the way to ensure that the message reaches the ears of the mountain residents. Remember, there must be no conflict with the residents, and no burning, killing, or looting.”
"Fifty soldiers will be selected from each of the two thousand-man teams to form patrol teams to patrol within a five-mile radius of the camp, day and night, in four shifts. The patrol teams must be careful to conceal their movements, and report any suspicious persons immediately. They must not pursue them without authorization to avoid falling into an ambush."
After completing these steps, the camp's defense system was basically in place.
Walls, barricades, and trenches formed three physical lines of defense, while patrols and lookout posts created a comprehensive surveillance network. The measures to appease the residents were intended to cut off the mercenary group's intelligence sources and hiding places.
Standing on the high platform in the center of the camp, Dest looked down at the various tasks that were proceeding in an orderly manner. His anxiety eased slightly, but he knew that this was only the basic preparation, and the real test was yet to come.
The two thousand soldiers were always the biggest weakness. With just these men, the chances of completely wiping out an elite mercenary group familiar with the mountainous terrain were extremely slim.
Seeking support was a clear idea for Dester from the very beginning.
The reason he set up the camp first was to ensure the stability of the rear so that he could go and seek reinforcements.
"Two centurions."
Dester summoned the two men, his tone serious.
"I will personally go to Anda territory to seek reinforcements. The affairs of the camp will be temporarily handled jointly by the two of you. Remember the following points and be sure to strictly follow them."
"First, hold the camp and do not launch any attacks without authorization. No matter what the scouts discover, hold the position and wait for reinforcements. If attacked by mercenary groups, use the fortifications to wear down the enemy and wait for my news. Do not advance rashly."
"Second, continue to pacify the residents. For residents who provide clues, we must carefully verify the information and only give rewards after confirming that it is true and valid. We must not easily believe false information."
"Third, the scouts' reconnaissance range should be expanded to the depths of the mountains, focusing on investigating the mercenary groups' encampment locations, troop deployments, and the specific locations of those settlements. However, it is imperative to remain concealed. Once enemy traces are discovered, retreat immediately and do not expose your own position."
The two centurions carefully noted down all the instructions and responded in unison:
"Please rest assured, sir, we will strictly follow orders and ensure the safety of the camp."
After giving his instructions, Dester selected twenty cavalrymen as his guards, packed his belongings quickly, and immediately set off for Anda territory.
Anda territory borders the northeastern part of Rona territory, and the road between the two places is relatively flat, so cavalry can reach each other within a day at high speed.
We arrived in Anda's capital early the next morning.
Instead of heading directly to the army commander's residence, Dester went first to an inconspicuous tavern in the city. This was a secret meeting place agreed upon by the military advisors of the Kingdom of Heldran, hidden and safe, and not likely to attract attention.
As soon as he stepped into the tavern, he heard a familiar voice:
"Long time no see, Destin."
In the corner, a fellow military advisor to the Kingdom of Heldran sat with a glass of juice in front of him. This man was the resident military advisor here, responsible for communicating with military advisors from other regions.
Dester stepped forward and sat down opposite him. Upon seeing this, the tavern owner immediately served him a glass of the same juice.
Drinking alcohol is prohibited while on duty; this is a clear rule of the military advisory group, and both of them consciously abide by it, so no further explanation is needed.
How are you doing over there?
The other person spoke first, their eyes showing concern.
Dester picked up his juice, took a sip, and his face showed obvious impatience and complaint:
"Not good at all, Yoda sent a stupid pig."
The other party did not press for details, but waited quietly. He knew that Dester was always calm and would never speak so highly of his colleague unless the matter was truly difficult.
Dester put down his cup, his tone becoming serious:
“A mercenary group has appeared in the mountains of Rona Territory. They were specially hired by Midland. They are extremely powerful, familiar with the mountainous terrain, and operate in a secretive manner, making them very difficult to deal with. I was ordered to wipe them out, but that idiot Adon only gave me two thousand-man squads, a total of two thousand men.”
"Two thousand people?"
The other party frowned, clearly realizing the seriousness of the problem.
"This force is far from enough to deal with the elite mercenary group hired by Midland; it's practically sending the soldiers to their deaths."
"exactly."
Dester's tone carried a hint of helplessness.
“I have set up camps and built fortifications on the outskirts of the mountains, and I am also trying to win over the locals to cut off the enemy’s intelligence sources. But with these measures alone, it is impossible to form an effective encirclement and annihilation. If we launch a forced attack, not only will it be difficult to eliminate the mercenary group, but it may also cause our own troops to suffer heavy losses, or even allow the mercenary group to break out and spread to the surrounding territories, causing even greater trouble.”
"So you came all the way to Anda Territory specifically so that I could suggest to the commander of the army stationed here that an army be dispatched to support you?"
The other party immediately understood his purpose, and his tone was somewhat deliberate.
Dester nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation:
"Anda Territory borders Rona Territory. If the mercenary groups in the mountains are not eliminated in time, they will surely threaten the border security of Anda Territory in the future. Deploying troops to participate in the encirclement and suppression will not only help me, but also eliminate the hidden danger for Anda Territory. I hope you can mediate between us, explain the pros and cons to the commander, and implore him to send troops to support us."
The other person was silent for a moment, scratching their head, clearly weighing the pros and cons.
Although the military advisors of the Kingdom of Heldran have the authority to advise the commanders of the Yoda Empire, the deployment of troops is no small matter, involving many issues such as troop deployment and logistical support, and cannot be promised lightly.
I will try my best.
After a long silence, he spoke.
"I will go to the Commander's Mansion immediately to explain in detail the threat posed by the mountain mercenary group and the importance of supporting the siege of Rona Territory to Anda Territory. However, I cannot guarantee success, as troop movements require approval at various levels, and the Commander will also consider Anda Territory's own defense needs."
Dester felt a little more at ease, at least a glimmer of hope appeared:
"Thank you. No matter the outcome, I am grateful for your help. As long as we can persuade the commander to send troops, even just a thousand-man unit, it will greatly increase the chances of success in the encirclement."
"No need to be so polite. As military advisors to the Kingdom of Heldran, we should look out for each other and work together to safeguard the kingdom's borders."
The other person smiled and then gave a reminder.
"However, you can't place all your hopes on Anda Territory. Thorne Territory is also adjacent to Rona Territory, and there is a military advisory group from our Kingdom of Heldran there. Moreover, the army of Thorne Territory is not weak. You might as well go there to ask for help. More people means more strength, and more troops means more chances of victory."
Dester's eyes lit up. He had only thought of Anda Territory before, but had overlooked Thorne Territory. Thorne Territory, Rona Territory, and Anda Territory formed a triangle. If he could persuade both territories to send troops at the same time, and add his own two thousand men, they could encircle the mountainous area and completely trap the mercenary group in the mountains.
"you're right."
He nodded.
"I will head to Thorne immediately. The more channels for seeking help, the greater the chance of success. In any case, I must secure enough troops to ensure the success of the encirclement and suppression mission."