CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 239: RE-ENTERING THE ALDEAN TERRITORY

This young man, though young, is no pushover... Stags thought to himself, personally walking over and bringing the two men to another squad.

After the third sound of the bugle, First Legion Commander Fesaros appeared at the front of the training grounds of the Military Department, announcing: Each unit is to count their personnel. Any soldier not yet present will face military punishment.

The results delighted him: everyone was accounted for!

Evidently, yesterday’s assembly drill had an effect, and each level of team officer fulfilled their responsibilities. Therefore, he did not make a pre-march speech and directly declared: The entire army, move out!

The First Legion departed in four orderly columns, filing out of the grounds, along the main road of the town, and heading toward the west gate.

The roadsides were already packed with tribal clansmen. Some were soldiers from the Third Legion, their eyes filled with envy. Others were the heavily pregnant wives of First Legion soldiers, their faces full of reluctance as they loudly called out their husbands’ names...

With sharp eyes, Casaridaoa spotted his wife Enneaga among the crowd. Suppressing the urge to wave back, he instead sternly reminded his subordinates, "Stick close to the group ahead. Don’t fall behind!"

The First Legion left the village, treading the road south of the Kupa River. At the tail end of the formation were over a dozen transport carriages from the tribal logistics team, carrying only one type of military supply—army tents.

By noon, the First Legion arrived at Snowdonia, where Fesaros issued an order for temporary rest. The somewhat tired soldiers sat themselves along the roadside surrounding Snowdonia Village.

Maximus and his officials personally served the soldiers with water and provisions that had been prepared earlier.

After half an hour, the rested soldiers reassembled and continued their march.

This time, however, the troops gained several new members: the leader of the Budocaribas, sent by the Alde Tribe both to urge the Nix Tribe to dispatch troops and to serve as a liaison and guide throughout the campaign;

members from the Nix Legal Department assigned as the Military Judges for the First Legion;

the Military Affairs Department of the Military Department, which dispatched personnel to act as record-keepers for battle merits of the First Legion;

the Civil Affairs Department, which sent members to oversee and verify the heroic deeds and penalties among First Legion soldiers;

the Finance Department, which assigned personnel to regulate the spoils of war and also manage the soldiers’ personal belongings;

a small engineering team from the Public Works Department, tasked with supervising camp construction;

and a few workers from the Iron Workshop under the Public Works Department, responsible for weapon and armor repairs. Due to the absence of siege operations in this campaign, no siege equipment specialists were dispatched...

Additionally, Lebilus, the Arms Officer of the Military Department, joined with several of his staff to manage logistics and supplies. He also enlisted the help of Acronis, the Chief of Internal Affairs, who invited several tribesmen with extensive cooking experience within the rebel army to join and specialize in preparing hot meals for the soldiers.

In fact, both Military Officer Frantinus and Chief of Staff Quintus wanted to join the march. After all, this was the first major battle since the Twenty Peerage System had officially been implemented and the Nix Tribe had formally settled. However, they were persuaded by Maximus to stay, citing the many military affairs of the tribe that required their attention and that senior officials could not leave lightly. (Lebilus was allowed to join because the Arms Department was newly established under the Military Department, with relatively few matters to handle. Moreover, Lebilus needed this opportunity to gain experience with military engagements in his new position.) As a result, the Military Affairs Department and Staff Department each sent personnel to assist the First Legion with daily affairs and military consultations.

Another reason for Maximus’s decision not to let them join was this: Fesaros, despite his cheerful and lively personality, was equally ambitious. Previously, his good friend Pequot had distinguished himself in glorious battle and earned commendations from the tribe. Now, if commanding troops to aid the Alde Tribe required the assistance of Quintus and Frantinus, it would be a source of embarrassment for him.

Maximus understood this well and thus sought to give Fesaros the opportunity to take independent command in this campaign.

However, assisting an ally on their territory involved not merely military concerns but political ones as well. To navigate relationships with the various tribes of the Alde, Commerce Officer Pigeris accompanied the army to handle diplomatic matters. He was also tasked with negotiating post-victory shares in the salt mine and other business dealings with the Aldeans.

Furthermore, Maximus dispatched three attendants from the Secretariat. Their roles included handling the army’s correspondence, documenting the customs and cultures within Aldean territory, and managing communications between Maximus and Fesaros...

Of course, there was one more unspoken reason from Maximus. Namely, the surveillance of any abnormalities within the First Legion, with these findings to be covertly reported to the Intelligence Division of the Secretariat afterward. This was because one of these attendants was under the command of Casius.

As the First Legion continued its march, the fleet at Snowdonia Pier also set sail southward.

This Nix fleet consisted of ten ships—four captured during the war with Segestica and six newly constructed over the past several months by the tribe’s shipbuilding workshop. The fleet had previously demonstrated its effectiveness in waterway transportation between the two towns.

Admittedly, the timber used for shipbuilding had not been properly dried and was prone to damage, but it would suffice for short-term use.

Other than the sailors, the ships were empty. They would only be loaded at the Aldean Tribe’s Main Camp with the promised grain supplies for further transport to the First Legion.

The First Legion stretched out in a long column, advancing along the north bank of the Kupa River, while the fleet aligned in a straight row, sailing on the river.

The two groups moved in parallel, until the army turned southward upon reaching Validosi, and the fleet diverged into the Kolana River.

By autumn, the Kolana River’s water levels had receded, allowing the First Legion to pass through the fordable section with ease.

By dusk, they arrived at the outskirts of the Budocaribas Tribe.

When the Nix Tribe migrated last year, they had completely dismantled their temporary encampments, leaving no timber behind. Interestingly, the Aldeans had left the land of the former camp untouched, with even the trench lines preserved, now overgrown with grass.

Thus, the First Legion set up their camp on the site of this former encampment. Since they were in allied territory, they didn’t need to dig trenches or build earthworks—only clearing the grasses, leveling the ground, and setting up tents was required.

After Fesaros issued the order to encamp, the engineering crew assigned temporary housing areas for each unit. Subsequently, team officers worked alongside their soldiers to complete the tasks together. In the lively and casual atmosphere of camp-building, the new Reserve Tribe Members gradually began integrating into the collective of the First Legion.

While the soldiers were setting up camp, the leader of the Budocaribas Tribe, upon returning to his tribe, brought along a group of individuals. These were all tribal leaders from the Aldean tribes that had agreements with the Nix Tribe, unexpectedly congregating at the Budocaribas settlement.

They warmly invited Fesaros to a tribal feast, but Fesaros declined politely, citing, "As the commanding officer, I cannot leave the army during a campaign, lest I violate military law."

However, the Aldean leaders were not disappointed, for Commerce Officer Pigeris eagerly accepted the invitation. For him, a banquet was one of his most proficient battlegrounds.

Early the next day, after breakfast, the soldiers dismantled their tents. Fesaros instructed team officers to relay the following to the troops: "Some Aldean forces from tribes friendly to ours will march alongside us. Everyone, stay vigilant and ensure you do not bring disgrace to our tribe!"

Soldiers raised a practical question: "Should we march fully armed?"

The team officers gave a unanimous response: "Not necessary, but ensure the formation remains tidy, march with pride, and hold the banners high."

The First Legion departed the temporary encampment and entered the Budocaribas settlement.

This was Fesaros’s second time leading troops into this settlement. He vividly remembered that during his first visit, the villagers were wary, with some even showing hostility.

Now, both sides of the road were packed with Aldean villagers, their eyes filled with curiosity, respect, and anticipation. After all, they had personally witnessed this army defeat the fearsome Pannonians twice at their doorstep. Unconsciously, they had come to view these outsiders as heroes and hoped they would give the detestable Otarlat people who had bullied them a thorough lesson in the upcoming battles.

Fesaros also noticed several villagers excitedly waving their hands, some even shouting out the names of specific soldiers. At first, he was puzzled, but he quickly realized that these Aldeans must have previously been employed by the Nix tribespeople and treated well. Recognizing their former employers among the ranks, they were now brimming with enthusiasm.

"In less than a year, these villagers regard us as family. What a dramatic change!" Pigeris exclaimed beside him, expressing his true feelings. "This is all thanks to the leader’s wisdom! Of course, I’ve played a small role as well."

"You’ve played a role?" Fesaros asked, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction. While he could admit that their leader’s directives and battles commanding respect from the Aldeans were unquestionable, he found it difficult to credit Pigeris, who had never even been on a battlefield, with such accomplishments.

Pigeris seemed oblivious to the implicit meaning of Fesaros’s words. Pointing to the roadside, he said, "Look at that tall man. I remember him; he sold sheep at our market. And that slightly plump woman? She once bought chickens and eggs from us at the market and intended to rent a stall from us long-term. That dark-skinned young man sold dried fish at the market. And that old man? Hearing we were short on flax, he’s been selling it to us daily at the market and also wanted to rent a stall long-term..."