"Sir, as for your requests, I think we can definitely agree to the first one, but for the second and third ones, I think as long as you can discuss it with our village chief, then even if we can't fully meet your requirements, I think we can definitely give you a more satisfactory answer, what do you think?"
To my surprise, I originally thought that the last condition was unreasonable, but I didn’t expect that this thin and ordinary-looking villager would give me such a surprise.
According to the data and their performance, the village in front of them has at most 10,000 people, right? Why do they say such arrogant words? I have nearly a division of troops here, and the equipment and logistical supplies required are definitely not something that a village of tens of thousands of people can bear.
A big question mark appeared in my mind. What kind of village is this? A group of mountain people who have definitely received formal military training, a resourceful commander, a negotiator with a loud tone, everything is so suspicious...
"It's impossible to go to your village, but I think you can send someone to talk to me. I can swear here to guarantee the safety and personal freedom of your representatives. If you don't agree to this proposal, I think we don't need to talk anymore. I will leave here immediately with my soldiers..." The reason for not going is very simple, mainly because I am afraid of death. Although many novels are happy to see the protagonist go into the tiger's den alone, and when he comes out, he not only makes a lot of money, but also has countless subordinates and allies. I'm not sure I have such a good character. What if they play some tricks on me, and my life won't be in their hands
"Well... in this case, I have to discuss it with our village chief. However, in this case, it may take me two hours to reply to you, sir. I don't know..." The implication of his words was simply to ask me whether I could afford to wait that long.
"Okay, it's getting late after all the noise you guys made today. I think we should camp here for one night and leave tomorrow! But before we leave tomorrow, you must give me an answer. In addition, even if we can't reach an agreement tomorrow, my army will ask your village to let us pass by this hill..."
After saying yes, the thin young man turned around and ran back along the same path. The mountain people who had been watching from afar also slowly evacuated to the mountain after seeing the young man leave. Everything seemed so well organized.
"Set up camp according to wartime standards, mainly to defend against sneak attacks and infiltration, and build more shields. Also, cut down all the trees 200 meters outside the camp to prevent surprise attacks!" Although I am in the so-called cooperation negotiations with them, who knows what they are really thinking? It is always better to be safe than sorry. It will never hurt to be careful.
"Sir, you want to cooperate with them? But we don't even know anything about them. Do you think... could it be a trap?" After hearing my order, the staff officers immediately surrounded me.
"I'm not sure whether it's a scam or not, but what is certain is that this place is definitely not simple. Let's take a look at the intelligence we have! What are they? A mountain village composed of thousands of civilians from the Andler region. They have ordinary basics and mainly make a living by hunting. Merchants usually bring in various daily necessities in exchange for animal skins and other mountain products here...
Shit! What kind of daily necessities are these? Look at what they have in their hands? What are they hanging on their waists? The bows and arrows in their hands are definitely not homemade by ordinary mountain people. They must be mass-produced standard weapons. Look at the swords on their waists, they are the same stuff. So many weapons, are they also daily necessities
They are not simple, absolutely not simple! But from the attitude they have shown, I have not seen any major hostility so far, but at least one thing, we have to be careful tonight, just in case. "
"But sir, what's the benefit of us cooperating with them? After all, such a large mountain village cannot support the consumption of our troops. Moreover, there are often merchants coming to their place, and we cannot guarantee that the news here will not be leaked."
"Humph, you underestimated them again. If they just want to buy weapons and equipment for thousands of people, they only need to purchase them from the merchants. Why do they have to buy them in such a covert way? Also, you said that those merchants have been in and out of here so many times, but they have never discovered their secrets. Do you think their ability to keep secrets is bad? I cooperate with them, in addition to wanting to find a base, just to learn more about this area so that our troops can survive better. Tomorrow... I will wait for their reply tomorrow. If the cooperation is successful, it's fine. If not... I think you should know what to do. Sos, you are a veteran in this area. You should also think about how to start..."
"Hehe..." My words made the staff officer whom I called Soth chuckle a few times. If there was someone familiar with him around now, I think the hairs on his body would stand on end. As the mastermind of the 7 massacres of families and villages, no one would be able to show a good face to him.
At the same time, a heated debate was taking place in the mountain village. Some advocated cooperating with the Western Continental Coalition, some opposed any contact with us, and some hoped to have contact first and then cooperate depending on the situation.
"We should try to cooperate with them, so that we can support the Kastek Empire to send its main force to support us. Otherwise, both we and them may be defeated one by one by the Mocaster Empire in a short period of time.
Now we no longer have the grand occasion when Bora was here. We have 20 divisions, 7 of which have been destroyed by the Mokast Empire and the Kingdom of Yan, and 6 divisions have been instigated by the traitor Yura. Now we have less than 7 divisions. Moreover, these 7 divisions do not even have decent equipment. If we are discovered by the East Continent Allied Forces, we will have no chance of escape. Infantry, we are all damn infantry, and we can't deal with the siege of the large number of cavalry units newly formed by the Mokast Empire.
If we unite with their army, at least we can find a way to get nearly 20,000 war horses from them. In that case, we will have hope of continuing our flame of freedom. "The village chief spat at the other two elders who opposed the immediate alliance with the foreign Western Continental army, trying to win their consent.
"No, who knows how they got here? According to my intelligence, they actually broke through the blockade of the East Continental Allied Forces and rushed over from the Andrel Canyon. Just imagine, a division... no, even if it's a legion, they don't have the ability to rush over from the Andrel Canyon? A full 800,000 troops? This is no joke, how do you think they can rush over? I think we must send troops immediately to destroy all the soldiers of this division, and then we will move away immediately and make other plans elsewhere..."
"No, how can you command so brutally? How do you know if they are the real troops of the Kastark Empire? What if you attack the wrong person? By then, we may be attacked from two sides. By then, we won't even have any foothold... In addition, you said that we will move away immediately after attacking them. I want to ask you, how are we going to move 70,000 soldiers and more than 20,000 civilians? And then where are we going to move to? And then we destroy the foundation here? No, this is absolutely not allowed... I absolutely cannot agree with the opinions of both of you..."
"Alright, alright... My dear uncles, I don't know on what basis you all come up with so many speculations? Do you have any basis? Or are these just your self-righteous speculations? But then again, with your dull brains, you really lack the ability to reason...
Indeed, your speculations are not wrong, but I can tell you a few things. First, this army must be the army of the ancient Kastek Empire in the Western Continent. Second, this army is definitely not as easy to destroy as the two old men said. Third, if we cannot reach an agreement with them, then I suggest that we leave here immediately overnight... In case our troops suddenly become corpses when we wake up tomorrow morning...
So, I suggest that you three go and talk immediately. It would be best if it works out, otherwise I will have to run away immediately. As for you, I think you are old enough, so just stay and be a tool for them to vent their anger!"
"What the hell are you talking about, kid? If it wasn't for your dead old man's face... I... I would kill you right now!" An elder found a place to vent his anger after listening to the lazy words of Musa, the only audience member in the conference room.
"Boy, what gives you the right to say that? If you have any problem, just say it out loud. Don't hold it in and be self-righteous. If we are in trouble, you can't escape either. If you gloat over other people's misfortune, will you suffer the consequences? Speak, we are listening!" The village chief stopped the two elders from getting angry and unexpectedly stood with the two elders.
"First, their weapons and leather armor are all of the same age, and the Flame Legion marks on them are not temporarily engraved. Second, the weapons they use are not the weapons of the two military powers in the East Continent. Even we in the coalition’s inner circle are not aware of such strange equipment. Third, I learned that Yura’s four infantry divisions were just wiped out by a unit that used bows and arrows not long ago, and the unit in front of me just confirmed the information I obtained.
So, if you want to increase your strength and chances of survival, go and negotiate! Lower your posture, and by the way, you can also go and see their defensive positions and see the gap between us and them, so that you don’t think that the troops in your hands are so strong every day. . . . . . (To be continued)