Negotiations within the Green Leaf Group continued, and at this time, Shen Mu had already arrived at New Uxhall and met Mr. Bandak, who was directing the unarmored soldiers to form a line outside the city wall, gradually advancing towards the Green Leaf Group.
“Lord Shen Mu, everything is ready,” Mr. Bandak reported, coming to Shen Mu’s side.
“Mm, well done.”
Shen Mu rode his warhorse, unable to hide the smile on his face as he looked at the low-level soldiers advancing towards the Green Leaf Group with the carriages.
He joyfully instructed Mr. Bandak beside him, “Remember, later on, you must pay attention to concealment and not expose our strategic intent.”
The strategic intent he spoke of was to feign a deterrent, using the spy Zhang Bo's cover to allow these low-level soldiers to approach the Green Leaf Group’s Wood Elf Village.
However, all the armor was secretly placed on the carriages.
Should any situation arise, they could re-arm at any time, transforming into a combat formation primarily composed of elite Swadian Light Infantry, supplemented by Swadian Militia and Swadian Recruit.
Although they wouldn't be able to conduct strong offensive operations, with the Swadian Kingdom’s tactical training, they could still form an excellent defensive line.
This would allow them to resist the Wood Elf troops emerging from the Green Leaf Group.
Whether it was to delay or block the Green Leaf Group's forces, it would be very effective.
Then, it would create an excellent opportunity for Lezalit and Bestour, the two true spearhead forces arranged by Shen Mu, like left and right fists.
To deliver a powerful blow to the enemy.
Even directly eliminate the Green Leaf Group’s Wood Elf Village, completely destroying it and reducing it to the same fate as the Diesel Company.
“Don’t worry, Lord Shen Mu, everything is almost arranged,” Mr. Bandak said with a faint smile on his face as he looked at the advancing soldiers.
For him, who was usually very meticulous, such a smile was rare, which also indicated his absolute confidence.
Shen Mu was quite confident in Mr. Bandak’s ability to handle matters, so seeing him speak with such a confident smile, Shen Mu didn’t ask further.
Shen Mu also smiled and nodded quietly, saying, “Well done, but the most crucial thing is to withstand the Green Leaf Group’s attacks at the critical moment.
You must defend and hold out until Fatis leads the Holy Tree Knight Order’s cavalry to support you.”
“No problem,” Mr. Bandak replied with equal confidence.
He naturally understood Shen Mu’s meaning.
And he also knew that Fatis leading the Holy Tree Knight Order’s cavalry was essentially the reserve force.
If he couldn’t hold out, Fatis would lead the Holy Tree Knight Order to support them.
If they could hold out, Fatis would lead the Holy Tree Knight Order to directly attack the Wood Elf Village.
It was like when the left and right fists attacked, Fatis and the Holy Tree Knight Order he led were like the most dangerous and cunning gut punch.
It was also a killing move to annihilate the Green Leaf Group.
“Mm, I’m very confident in your work,” Shen Mu praised Mr. Bandak again.
Then, they rode together, following these low-level soldiers towards the Green Leaf Group.
According to estimations, these low-level soldiers should reach the Green Leaf Group around 11:30 AM, at which time the Green Leaf Group should also be in negotiations.
This would just happen to create surface pressure on the Green Leaf Group.
However, Shen Mu did not fully enter the Green Leaf Group’s edge with these low-level soldiers.
Just as the infantry unit formed by these low-level soldiers was about to reach the Green Leaf Group’s edge, Shen Mu left them.
He took the 50 Holy Tree Knight responsible for protecting him, turned his horse around, and started moving along a different route.
He was going to find Fatis.
In the northeast corner of the Green Leaf Group, a place that was formerly a district hospital, Fatis was stationed there with the Holy Tree Knight Order.
This position allowed them to support Bestour and Lezalit, who had already outflanked to the north and were ready for attack.
Or to support the low-level infantry unit led by Mr. Bandak, who was also approaching from the east.
It was a very crucial point.
It was also the meeting point that Shen Mu and Fatis had previously identified and confirmed on the map.
This would facilitate Shen Mu’s central command.
“Lord Shen Mu,” when Shen Mu arrived at the entrance of the district hospital with the 50 Holy Tree Knight, Fatis, who had been waiting at the entrance, immediately came to greet him.
He personally held Shen Mu’s warhorse by the reins and helped Shen Mu dismount from the warhorse.
“Mm,” Shen Mu nodded in response and asked, “How are the preparations coming along?”
“Everything is also ready,” Fatis replied.
“What about Bestour and Lezalit?”
Shen Mu and Fatis walked towards the temporary camp set up in the district hospital’s parking lot, and Shen Mu asked again, “How are their preparations? Are they proceeding according to our plan?”
Fatis welcomed Shen Mu into the temporary camp, into the makeshift tent made of white cloth, and then respectfully said, “Lezalit and Bestour are also almost ready.
They are currently outflanking to the pre-designated attack location on the map, waiting for orders.”
The pre-designated attack location on the map was directly north of the Green Leaf Group, a very wide main road that led straight to the Green Leaf Group’s location, and it was a straight line.
If they launched an attack, they could gallop directly to the Green Leaf Group’s city walls and attack within about 20 minutes.
These were all attack routes meticulously planned by Shen Mu, Fatis, Bestour, and Lezalit back in Deherim, using the Bali River Street map.
“In that case, I’m relieved,” Shen Mu nodded again.
Now, they just needed to wait quietly.
However, while waiting, Shen Mu thought of something and a slight smile appeared on his lips: “I think Mr. Bandak should be able to handle that guy Zhang Bo well, right?
After all, if there’s any news, I previously asked Zhang Bo to have our Kujit Veteran Horse Archer act as messengers to report back to Mr. Bandak.”
Shen Mu clearly meant that he was afraid Mr. Bandak, being too serious and responsible, sometimes wasn't good at lying and couldn't deceive Zhang Bo with words.
He was afraid Zhang Bo might discover some clues.
"No, you can rest assured about this. Mr. Bandak has also traveled in Calradia before and has seen too many things. Compared to when he was first expelled from the Rodok Kingdom for offending a noble, he has changed a lot."
Fatis smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Shen Mu's words.
Although they were all compassionate individuals, it didn't mean that being compassionate and having justice in their hearts would make them easily deceived or foolishly naive.
Those truly naive and foolish people had long since perished in the chaotic environment and the wicked world of Calradia.
Therefore, even if Bandak was determined to protect ordinary people and commoners, considering himself a tribune, he only sympathized with the commoner class.
Because he understood the hardships they endured, he wanted to protect them and help them live better lives.
He still maintained the necessary vigilance towards all Swadian Commoners he encountered, not letting his guard down in the slightest.
After all, many fallen knights, cavalry, and even nobles had died at the hands of these commoners.
It was not uncommon.
Many commoners or villagers in the wild were ordinary commoners and villagers during busy farming seasons.
However, during the off-season, they could become Bandits who robbed on the road or kidnappers who extorted money.
Therefore, simply saying that people in Calradia are either righteous or evil is completely wrong. Of course, saying that Bandak is a completely upright person is also incorrect.
Shen Mu understood this point as well.
"Since that's the case, then I'm relieved." Shen Mu nodded and then quietly waited in the tent.
If there was any news, Bandak would send Steppe Bandit to inform him.
After all, Bandak's side wasn't entirely composed of low-level soldiers; there were also hundreds of Steppe Bandit waiting there.
Their fast mobility made them perfect messengers.
Everything was ready, just waiting for nightfall.
"By the way, Lord Shen Mu, have you noticed that this area seems to have undergone some changes?" Fatis suddenly spoke up, bringing up a topic: "After nightfall, the number of Undead Monster appearing has become very small, and even if Undead Monster appear, their strength is very weak."
"Hmm, I've noticed that too. It happened after that Undead Monster army attacked us." Shen Mu nodded.
They had discovered this earlier.
After the massive Undead Monster army's attack on his Deherim failed that night, Shen Mu noticed that in the following two or three nights, the Undead Monster that appeared were truly scarce.
Even if there were any, most were the lowest-level Skeleton Soldiers.
Skeleton Soldiers that even a Farmer without a level could easily defeat.
As for Zombies, Ghouls, Skeleton Warrior, and the like, they didn't appear, or if they did, their numbers were extremely small.
Therefore, the level, quality, and quantity of Undead Monster appearing in Bali River Street now have been significantly weakened.
This was also why they decided to launch a general attack on Green Leaf Group's Wood Elf Village at night.
"These past few days, I've also been thinking about this, and I suddenly came up with a possible idea," Fatis said, "If we eliminate more and more Undead Monster, does that mean we are striking the death spirit rules in this area more and more strongly? It's precisely because we've killed too many Undead Monster that the death spirit rules' control over this area has been weakened, and thus it can't summon more Undead Monster."
"That's a rather novel idea." Shen Mu thought for a moment, raising his eyebrows slightly, "It seems to make sense."
As they began to deal with matters at the rule level, Fatis, Bestour, and Lezalit, these mount & blade generals, had also come to understand things like death spirit rules and Mount & Blade Rules.
That's why they were pondering.
After all, they had encountered such a unique situation, and since they had encountered it, they had to think and figure out the reason.
This in itself was a thinking ability.
"Moreover, the fewer and lower-quality Undead Monster we've encountered at night during this period seem to confirm this point." Fatis spoke again, "Lord Shen Mu, we are about to deal with Green Leaf Group and its Wood Elf Village.
Once we completely control Bali River Street, we will be able to control the entire Long City.
At that time, if our power grows stronger, we must consider the issue of death spirit rules.
After all, death spirit rules can summon many Undead Monster armies through darkness, and these Undead Monster armies will be our major concern, so we must consider them early."
"Yes, that's true." Shen Mu nodded, "But after we control Bali River Street, it should be a golden period of rapid development.
At that time, military aspects should not be the main focus; instead, we should rapidly expand and establish more castles and villages, including our Deherim."
After the military war ended, the next step should be the development of people's livelihoods, and also to expand more territory to bring more mount & blade commoner units into this world and make them his subjects.
Only in this way can a positive cycle be formed, making his Deherim stronger and stronger.
If he only focused on war and neglected to develop his internal affairs, his power, and his territory, then even one setback or failure would disrupt this rhythm and lead to a series of very negative consequences.
Therefore, Shen Mu clearly understood that he should focus on developing his territory next.
After all, even in Deherim, the more than 6,000 mu of cultivated land had not yet been farmed.
He relied entirely on using Faith Power to ripen that portion of the fields.
Only then did he get food.
This extremely abnormal development path did not conform to a normal development rhythm.
Therefore, it had to be changed. (End of chapter)
