Zhang Bo, Sun Zhiru, and the 10 Negotiation Experts were riding horses towards Green Leaf Group, a journey of about two hours.
It wasn't far.
If the warhorses galloped at full speed, they could arrive in less than an hour.
They had set off after breakfast in the morning, and according to their expectations, they would reach Green Leaf Group by noon, where they could also have lunch.
Then, after lunch, the negotiations would begin.
If luck was on their side, they could return from Green Leaf Group to Deherim by evening.
However, they weren't returning to Deherim, but to a place called New Uxhall, at the former site of the Diesel Company, and their current path was actually leading them to New Uxhall.
But it didn't matter.
After all, the human territory currently occupied by Shen Mu's forces was generally referred to as Deherim.
Although New Uxhall was a place name, in the eyes of Zhang Bo, Sun Zhiru, and all Blue Star Humans, it was part of the Deherim faction's territory.
"I never thought the powerful Diesel Company would be taken down by Lord Shen Mu, and after it was resolved, a castle would be built on the Diesel Company's territory," Sun Zhiru said, looking at the spire, clearly the top of a castle, that had appeared on the horizon, a look of emotion on his face.
Beside him, the Negotiation Experts, recalling their time living in the Diesel Company, also showed emotional expressions: "I never thought things would change so much."
The once powerful Diesel Company was annihilated in a short period, and then Lord Shen Mu rose like a rocket with his Deherim.
Not only had the former Diesel Company been annihilated, but even the currently surviving Green Leaf Group was on the verge of annihilation.
It could even be said that these Negotiation Experts held the key to whether Green Leaf Group would be annihilated or not.
If Green Leaf Group treated them poorly, or if Green Leaf Group continued to be hostile towards Deherim, then the ultimate outcome would only be annihilation in the river of history, just like the Diesel Company.
"Indeed, things are unpredictable, no one can foresee them," Zhang Bo, riding ahead, heard the conversation between Sun Zhiru and the other Negotiation Experts behind him, and a faint bitter smile appeared on his lips: "Just as it was said in our Blue Star history, nothing is constant; there is prosperity and decline, decline and rise, rise and recovery, it's all the same."
However, as Zhang Bo said this, he wasn't thinking of Deherim's rise, but rather that Green Leaf Group, currently in a low period, would one day awaken and recover.
Of course, these words could not be said explicitly, as there were still 20 Khergit Mounted Archers wearing lamellar armor, holding long spears, and carrying longbows, looking fierce, beside them.
Zhang Bo was well aware that these human Mounted Archer guards escorting him, while ostensibly guards, also had a monitoring role.
Although the monitoring aspect wasn't very significant.
Most of their duty was protection, but since they were guards sent by Shen Mu, they also had the ability to relay information.
Certain things absolutely could not be said carelessly.
"Alright, New Uxhall is ahead, let's go," Zhang Bo said no more, waving his hand forward, signaling everyone to continue.
Of course, as they passed New Uxhall, they also saw the human soldiers already assembled at the base of the earthen mound outside New Uxhall.
"Those soldiers don't seem to be wearing any armor, do they really think this is just a picnic?" a negotiation expert couldn't help but complain, clearly uneasy about the soldiers not wearing armor.
After all, they were going to Green Leaf Group for negotiations, and their lives were at risk.
If Green Leaf Group truly became enraged and turned hostile, directly killing them and then attacking, how could these human soldiers, clearly lax and unarmored, possibly resist?
Whether they could resist or not was another matter.
But if the people from Green Leaf Group noticed the extremely lax appearance of these human troops and truly took a desperate gamble to kill them, then these Negotiation Experts, who still dreamed of a beautiful future and of making achievements, would truly be dead.
How wronged they would be then.
"Nothing should happen, after all, Green Leaf Group has already suffered heavy losses; if they dare to turn hostile, it won't be us going then."
Sun Zhiru, however, was calmer, and seeing the worried expressions of the Negotiation Experts, he smiled and said, "You just need to think about it to understand: do these guys from Green Leaf Group really dare to resist us? Lord Shen Mu's heavy cavalry legion and heavy infantry legion are always ready. If it weren't for the future of the Blue Star Humans, and out of consideration for everyone being fellow Blue Star Human compatriots, perhaps it wouldn't be us setting out for negotiations now."
The Negotiation Experts also understood Sun Zhiru's meaning, and they nodded to each other with worried expressions, saying no more.
At least with Shen Mu and Deherim's troops as backup, they were relatively safe.
At least the Blue Star Humans within Green Leaf Group should understand this point.
Accept defeat.
Since they had already lost, and they were given a very dignified way to exit, if they still didn't want to be dignified, still wanted to fight like cornered beasts, and still wanted to fight to the death with them, then the outcome would truly not be dignified.
This was also the confidence they had to go to negotiate.
"Keep going, there's no need to stop here in New Uxhall," Zhang Bo, at the front, turned his head to remind them, then looked at the increasingly close New Uxhall, lightly tapped his horse's belly with his legs, and shook the reins to make his traveling horse go faster.
Soon they passed New Uxhall and went deeper into Bali River Street.
However, just as they left New Uxhall, Bandak, on the city wall, coldly watched their figures, his eyes filled with an intense indifference.
"Lord Bandak, they have left the vicinity of New Uxhall. Should we inform Lord Shen Mu now?" a Holy Tree Knight behind Bandak asked.
This Holy Tree Knight was one of Bandak's bodyguards.
"Alright, I'll trouble you with that. Go notify Lord Shen Mu," Bandak nodded, gesturing for the Holy Tree Knight to convey the order.
The Holy Tree Knight bowed slightly, then turned and left.
The reason Bandak was so courteous to this Holy Tree Knight was that Bandak himself was just a commoner. It was only because he was highly regarded by Shen Mu that he was assigned to New Uxhall, becoming the supervisor of the castle.
In terms of rank, he was indeed not as high as a Holy Tree Knight.
However, in the eyes of Mount & Blade Soldiers, this rank was essentially a class.
But even if it was a class, human relations and social etiquette had to be considered. Even though Bandak was just a commoner, not a noble, and not even a knight, simply because of his relationship with Lord Shen Mu, being highly regarded by him, they had to treat him with considerable courtesy.
Moreover, they knew that the order Shen Mu gave them was to protect Bandak's safety. And during their time interacting, they had already realized Bandak's benevolent heart, despite being a commoner, as he genuinely cared for the common people.
This drew the Holy Tree Knights, who originated from the Holy Tree Knight Order, emphasized harmony between humans and nature, and cared for the common people—these top-tier Fifth-rank Knights—to him, leading them to respect him.
This is why these Holy Tree Knights respected Bandak so much and obeyed his orders.
The Holy Tree Knight went to deliver the message and returned quickly, about 30 minutes later.
And when he returned, he was accompanied by someone, none other than Fatis.
"Bandak," Fatis spoke first, greeting Bandak, "How are your preparations coming along?"
"Everything is ready, I can follow your arrangements at any time, Knight Fatis," Bandak nodded back at him, answering earnestly, "Next, I will dispatch troops to follow behind these Negotiation Experts."
"Alright, I'll leave everything to you then," Fatis nodded. This was the outcome they had discussed earlier.
Bandak didn't hesitate at all. He immediately turned and went downstairs to the base of the motte in New Uxhall. Looking at the more than a thousand unarmored low-rank soldiers who had already assembled, he waved to them, signaling them to follow him as they walked along the main road towards the depths of Bali River Street.
They were heading in the direction of Green Leaf Group.
However, among these more than a thousand unarmored low-rank soldiers, about a dozen large carts were also walking through the crowd.
From the outside, it was unclear what exactly these human-pulled flatbed carts were carrying.
But if one looked closely inside, they would find that what was covered by tarpaulins on these flatbed carts were, surprisingly, chainmail and leather armor.
And they were distributed at a rate of 1 to 2 flatbed carts per hundred people.
Combining this with the number of Swadian Light Infantry, Swadian Militia, and Swadian Recruit outside, one could tell that these were the armors for these soldiers.
If they encountered an enemy, they could quickly re-arm themselves through these accompanying flatbed carts in the shortest possible time, transforming back into brave and skilled Mount & Blade Soldiers.
Bandak merely glanced at this without saying much, but he was quite satisfied in his heart, because these soldiers were already very experienced veterans. They knew exactly when to wear armor and when to feign weakness.
The reason he asked them to accompany him to Green Leaf Group was also because he valued their status as veterans among the low-rank soldiers.
They were all people with combat experience.
Moreover, if Green Leaf Group truly dared to launch an attack on them, these low-rank soldiers, consisting of 500 Swadian Light Infantry, 300 Swadian Militia, and 200 Swadian Recruit, would be enough to hold off the Wood Elf troops of Green Leaf Group for quite some time.
As long as they could withstand those Wood Elf troops, then behind them would be the true elite forces, with Fatis personally leading as commander, and Lezalit and Bestour arranged to provide support and launch surprise attacks.
Just behind New Uxhall, on a street about two blocks away, Fatis had already arrived.
And on this street, two heavy cavalry clusters had already fully lined up.
The Swadian heavy cavalry cluster was under the command of Lezalit.
And the Khergit heavy Mounted Archer cluster was under the command of Bestour's command.
As for the Holy Tree Knights of the Holy Tree Knight Order, who were separately behind, they were personally commanded by Fatis.
They all had clear divisions of labor.
"Knight Fatis, it seems our plan can begin?" Lezalit and Bestour saw Fatis riding over, and quickly spurred their horses to Fatis's side, eagerly asking.
Clearly, they were somewhat impatient.
"That's right, it can begin," Fatis nodded, making their faces light up with even more excitement.
"So, shall we depart now?" Lezalit and Bestour asked eagerly again. After all, Fatis was the true commander; if Fatis didn't speak, they would have to wait for orders no matter what.
However, Fatis did not disappoint them. Seeing their eagerness, he calmly nodded and said, "Now, according to the plan, you are to outflank and go around to the rear-left of Green Leaf Group. Lord Shen Mu will find you then, and remember, your march must be concealed. Absolutely do not let anyone detect anything."
"Understood, we are aware of that," Lezalit and Bestour were both very experienced veteran generals.
They were also quite skilled in surprise attacks.
Especially Bestour, who even had a faint smile on his face at this moment: "To ensure the success of the surprise attack plan, we have already wrapped some linen cloth around the horses' hooves to reduce the sound of our march, ensuring the smooth completion of the surprise attack plan."
"Well done," Fatis praised.
However, he still reminded them, "When I told you to outflank and go around, I meant to go a very long distance around. Do not appear in this vicinity. In the evening, I will have the Negotiation Experts deliberately prolong the time until very late, and our surprise attack operation will also be at night."
