They drove forward for more than 300 kilometers without any large-scale battles. The larger nomadic tribes they encountered had no more than a thousand people. From afar, they heard Ohyumiko's gentle voice showing goodwill, and they traded some meat and milk with the nomads for food supplements. There were also some blind horse bandits who attacked at night, but they were naturally there to get killed.
Some herdsmen offered cattle and sheep out of fear, and Lu Ming paid them similar coins, which was much cheaper than in the mainland, but much higher than the merchants who were issued special licenses by Ma Quanyou to buy cattle and sheep from herdsmen. The herdsmen were grateful.
At night, we rested near a wetland. More than 30 miles northwest of here is the city of Kori, one of the three ancient cities on the grassland.
Kori City is the largest settlement of the Lanyuan tribe, with a population of approximately 10,000.
In the past, the grassland tribes migrated with the water and grass, but two or three hundred years ago, they gradually formed fixed places for trade, religious activities, etc. The aristocratic groups also gradually liked to settle in these prosperous commercial places. The three largest commercial centers in the east, central and west are the three ancient cities of the grassland, which are also the largest gathering points of the Lanyuan tribe, the Huangyuan tribe and Ma Quanyou's Hongyuan tribe.
…
The stars are twinkling, and the entire sky seems to be right above your head. The night sky over the prairie is extremely beautiful.
Except for the sentry, the other soldiers rested on the spot without taking off their clothes, but they were all given simple sleeping bags with plastic sheets as the bottom.
This felt very fresh to the Japanese soldiers. In fact, Lu Ming was deeply influenced by his previous life. His combat philosophy was to let the soldiers get as much rest as possible when conditions permitted, so that they could be full of energy during combat.
Lu Ming leaned on the tracks of an armored vehicle and looked at the military map in his hand. There was a small red dot on it, which was his current position.
Deputy Company Commander Wang Dayong was sitting next to him, while Ma Chinar was pacing not far away.
"Let's take a break tomorrow morning. There will be airdropped supplies, and we'll collect them. At nine o'clock, send someone to extend the cordon as far as possible to prevent the airdropped supplies from being picked up by the herdsmen." While Lu Ming was speaking, Wang Dayong nodded repeatedly. Although he felt puzzled, why didn't he use a signalman to contact about the airdropped supplies
The airdrops are mainly fuel, and armored vehicles have been generally using fuel from auxiliary fuel tanks.
No tanker truck was brought this time to avoid becoming a major target of attack. There was only a truck loaded with more than a dozen barrels of diesel, which was well camouflaged. However, as the last strategic material to save lives, it would not be moved easily.
Lu Ming took out a pack of cigarettes. The face of this body looked quite heroic, but overall he had the temperament of a rough man. He was not tall, had muscular body, and was addicted to smoking. He didn't know if it was the toxins from his dependence on opium that had been suppressed in his body that turned into a tobacco addiction after being discharged.
After thinking about it, Lu Ming put the cigarette back. It is better to quit if possible. Although it feels like this body, smoking or not has no effect on physical skills.
The walkie-talkie next to him suddenly started beeping, "Boss, I'm at sentry post number three, there's an envoy from the city of Kori coming."
"Hmm? Let the person come over." Lu Ming responded.
The airship went to investigate yesterday and found no signs of large-scale migration of herders in the city of Kori. In the evening, Ma Chinar led people to investigate, but also found no changes in the city of Kori.
There was no ambush when they got close, nor did they see the two tribes coming to support the Kori city, let alone the Kori tribe escaping. Just when they were wondering what the Lanyuan tribe was up to, the messenger arrived.
On the day of the expedition, the main force was the Austrian-Vietnamese Brigade.
Because Ma Quanyou’s main force is now occupying the five plains area in the northern border.
The 2nd Infantry Division and the Black Sparrow Unit are watching his movements. If he returns to his base to defend, they will find a way to engage him in a decisive battle on the grassland.
But for the time being, there is no sign of large-scale mobilization of Ma Quanyou’s troops.
In fact, from this point of view, the Ao Yue Brigade is indeed cannon fodder to lure the enemy. If Ma Quanyou's main force returns to support, before the arrival of the Second Infantry Division, the Ao Yue Brigade will have to face the edge of Ma Quanyou's main force. Its mission is also to delay his main force, which will inevitably be a bloody and bitter battle.
Maybe it's safer in an armored vehicle.
While Lu Ming was pondering, two wolf riders led an old man in a grassland cloth robe over. They had already searched the old man, but the two wolf riders were still standing on his left and right, ready to restrain him at any time.
Seeing Lieutenant Lu Ming's rank, the old man hesitated, "Sir, are you leading the army this time?"
Lu Ming smiled and said, "You are here to make peace, right? You can tell me first. If your conditions are not acceptable to me, then you don't need to see my boss."
The old man was helpless and said, "Sir, my name is Yang Dianzi, and I am here to negotiate peace with your army on behalf of our clan leader Yang Tuoluo, because our clan has no hatred against your army, and your army is attacking Ma Quanyou..."
Lu Ming waved his hand and said, "Ma Quanyou's cavalry division has the strongest combat effectiveness. Your clan also has 3,000 soldiers in it, right?"
The old man coughed and said, "All of this can be discussed. My tribe can summon its people to return..."
Lu Ming waved his hand again to interrupt him. "Six generals from your clan have been accused of crimes against humanity along with Ma Quanyou. The rest of the low-ranking officers and soldiers have done many evil things, haven't they?"
The old man was startled, "What does your army mean?"
Lu Ming pondered and said, "Whether Ma Quanyou's cavalry division is from your clan or not, it has nothing to do with your clan now. If your clan opens the city and surrenders, Kori City can be spared from the disaster of war."
"I need to report this to the clan leader." The old man was unwilling to give up. "Sir, please listen to my conditions and report them to your superiors, okay?"
Lu Ming waved his hand: "No need, what I just said is the prerequisite for us not to attack the city of Kori. Otherwise, do you think our army traveled more than 600 miles just to play house with you?"
The old man was silent for a while, and then he said, "Okay, I will report back to the clan leader."
Before coming here, the tribe had agreed on many favorable conditions and felt that peace talks would be successful. Of course, it couldn't be called a peace talk, it was just surrender to the Principality of Montenegro, but it was a relatively good result.
After all, it is obvious that if the Principality of Montenegro intervenes in the war in the northern border, the alliance between Ma Quanyou and Chen Xingchang will inevitably fail in the end.
A force that completely drives the Japanese out of the Northern Territory. Even if there are twists and turns in the process, it shouldn't be a surprise that they will eventually defeat the Ma Quanyou Alliance.
Even with the advantage of the grassland, Ma Quanyou's troops can retreat.
But the Lanyuan tribe is closest to the Zhongzhou people's territory. Just like now that the Zhongzhou people are going deep into the grassland, regardless of whether they can capture Ma Quanyou's lair, their own tribe will inevitably suffer first.
Why not just submit to the people of Zhongzhou as we did before
However, the Zhongzhou people obviously meant to annihilate Ma Quanyou's main cavalry division, which included 3,000 soldiers of their own tribe, and would not accept the surrender of any part of this force.
Those three thousand soldiers are the youngest and most skilled warriors in the tribe. How could the tribe leader abandon them
But the conditions put forward firmly by a small lieutenant from Central China were obviously the bottom line of the Black Mountain people. That was why he dared to report to the chieftain himself without even communicating with his superiors.
The old man sighed, turned and left.
Over there, the deputy company commander Wang Dayong looked at his back and said to Lu Ming: "Company commander, did you contact the brigade..."
Lu Ming shook his head: "No, we just need to do our best and prepare for the attack."
"Okay!" Wang Dayong said no more.