A few days ago, when he was recruiting people from various places, Sambik felt uncomfortable because he felt that he had changed too quickly, from a simple farmer to a bully. If he were given more time, he might do even more excessive things. Sometimes when he thought back on the things he had done, they were simply unreasonable.
"The military rations have been brought back. Let's see how much they can distribute to us. Starting today, the military rations will be distributed. If we don't have enough food on the road, we will have to rely on ourselves."
While Sambik was thinking about something, Raf's voice sounded from the side. It turned out that these hundreds of people had brought back several carts of military rations, which were only enough for two or three days. You know, even these military rations were very difficult to get, and almost all the surrounding civilians were looted.
That day, Sambik and his men were out on a mission. They had intended to leave some food for the surrounding people, but Sambik was whipped. This was a punishment for his kindness, so from then on, Sambik didn't care about anything else. Whenever he passed by a tribe, he had to take everything he could. As for how these people would survive, is there any need to ask? So, do you still ask how they would survive?
Just look at the refugees around. Sambik never imagined that the powerful Arab Empire would have so many naked refugees. After talking to them, he learned that since the end of the last war, most cities in the north have been caught in a refugee crisis.
The local government offices didn't even bother to intervene. They simply drove the refugees away, fearing they would turn their own region into a hell. At first, Sambik cursed these northern officials, but what was he doing now? When he saw refugees approaching his troops, he would raise his whip. This was the change during this period.
There was no other way. Some armies had sympathized with the refugees before, but what was the result? The number of refugees outside was increasing. When you were waiting for food, they were no longer begging, but directly robbing. These refugees knew that they were the imperial army, and robbing military rations was tantamount to rebellion, but everyone was already unable to survive, so who would care whether they rebelled or not?
After experiencing a catastrophe, Sambik's scimitar did not kill the Tang Dynasty soldiers first, but instead killed his own refugees first. It was after that massacre that he and his men seemed to have been reborn. Everyone also knew that after that war, their hands were no longer clean.
Moreover, the food supply is insufficient now. If you don't kill these refugees, your soldiers may kill you after they take away the food. Some generals of the army are too kind, so their food has long been gone.
"Do you think the Tang army is just like us, relying on looting for all their supplies?"
Sambik looked at the soldiers surrounding him and felt a little uncomfortable. He had thought that the Arab Empire was extremely powerful, but when the real war started, he realized that sufficient military rations were an unattainable thing, and sometimes the soldiers might even have to fight on an empty stomach.
This was unimaginable before, but now it has become a reality. After hearing Sambik's words, Laf sneered. He didn't know how to explain this. Do you know how far away the Tang Dynasty is from us? They are unfamiliar with the place. If we rely on looting to fill our stomachs, I'm afraid we don't need to go to the front lines to fight. If we rely on looting to fill our stomachs, I'm afraid the Tang Dynasty army will starve to death.
"Don't dwell on those useless things. There's no good in thinking too much now. What we need to do now is to organize our rations and other supplies, and then follow the main force into battle. All refugees must be driven north. Their presence will make the nobles in the capital uncomfortable. Just because of one person's discomfort, hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of people will be forced to return north."
When Rafe said this, he felt a deep sense of irony. The granaries in the capital were full of food, but why were those people unwilling to share it? Even if you're unwilling to help the refugees, we're fighting for the entire empire. Don't we soldiers deserve to eat? Then who are you leaving the food for?
Raf did not say this out loud, but many of his men have already raised this question. We are now fighting for the empire, and even our lives belong to the empire, but we only have a few days of food. If there is no new food supply, we may face starvation at any time. Is this the powerful Arab Empire?
"You two come here..."
Just as the two were talking, a cavalryman rushed in from the camp gate. That man was their immediate superior. He must have received new orders. From yesterday morning till now, they have not received any new orders. After all, the surrounding villages have been looted. If they send more people there, they will only see an empty village.
"Your mission is this section, that is, follow that small group over there and drive the refugees north. If anyone can't walk, kill them directly. In short, don't let these people continue to move south. As for whether to give them food or not, it depends on your own reserves."
The general took out a simple map, and Raf couldn't even understand what was written on it. Fortunately, Sambik had learned it before. If he hadn't, both of them would feel that the things printed on this rag were like a heavenly book.
Sambik still had doubts, but after touching the wound on his body, he finally shut his mouth. He also knew that sometimes such doubts were useless. If you dared to speak out, your general would whip you.
So in this situation, it is best to keep your mouth shut. Many things have nothing to do with you, and you don't need to think so much. Just honestly carry out the tasks assigned to you, which will benefit everyone. If you don't perform the tasks, then you will see how your superiors will punish you. Your father's kindness cannot hold up in the army.
"Prepare for battle."
In desperation, Sambik could only give orders and start their first operation to drive out the refugees.
