Chapter 34: Meetings and Schemes

The old Dwarf stood stunned for a brief moment before shakily crouching down to pick up his pipe; when he stood back up, he seemed to have aged a few more years.

"By the Ancestor Gods! I truly thought you were joking with me!" He paused.

"When I was following a prospecting team in the east looking for ore veins, I heard an old saying from the Cathay Empire: 'Heroes have emerged from the youth since ancient times!' At the time, I didn't think much of it, feeling that if one really wanted to accomplish something, one still had to rely on a beard and experience. Now it seems that saying wasn't wrong at all!"

"Let's go, let's get inside first! Leaving everyone standing outside in the middle of the night is no way to do things!" Grom signaled the caravan, and the group entered the outpost in an orderly fashion.

The caravan went off to unload, while Sinuoli, Grom, and several high-ranking Dwarfs from the outpost walked into the conference room; the Captain of the Eternal Hammer, Gelunsen, followed behind.

"Let me introduce you. This is Gold Seeker, our Clan's honorable Tanchuozhang, and also the Vice President of the Miner Guild. Back in the day, he worked side-by-side with our grandfather!" Grom said, looking at the old Dwarf.

"Hahaha, I served as a deputy to that old man for a hundred years or so. When your father Thorgrim was elected High King, he boasted to me that the site chosen for your ancestors' tomb was excellent, and that future descendants would achieve even greater things than that.

I thought he'd had too much beer! What Dwarf in this world is nobler than the High King? I never expected that after so many years, the Ancestor Gods would once again bestow their divine grace and choose a Chosen of the Goddess!" The old Dwarf finally regained his composure, took a deep puff of his pipe, and his emotions were somewhat stirred.

"Uncle, on the way back, we encountered a group of Slave Rats in the tunnels. This is not a good omen! Has there been anything unusual around here in the last two days?" Grom asked, sitting in the main seat.

"You've returned at just the right time! Grom, we had just finished a meeting discussing that if you hadn't returned by tomorrow, we would have had to send someone to Karaz-a-Karak to report!" Gold Seeker spoke up.

"After you left, we followed your instructions and suspended mining activities underground, but the Greenskins' reaction has been very strange. They've changed from their previous style of holding the fortress and refusing to come out, and instead, they are actively coming out to harass us.

This afternoon, that Greenskin warboss even led a bunch of lads in an attempt to assault our outpost. You weren't here, so I didn't dare to march out and form a line; I just had the Nuxhou, Thunder Guns, and ballistae drive them back with a few volleys."

"Hah! They have a death wish? Perfect, let us wipe out the Grudge!" Grom slammed his fist onto the table.

"Pass on my order: let the main force get some good rest, arrange for sentries to rotate shifts to prevent a night raid, wake up at seven tomorrow morning, eat at eight, and once we're full, follow me out to crush those brainless green things!"

As he spoke, Grom intended to rise and leave the table. He let out a huge yawn; after several days of continuous travel, even a resilient race like the Dwarfs could barely hold up.

"Big Brother, do not be in such a hurry; hear me out!" Sinuoli, who had been silent since entering, spoke up. Hearing this, the Dwarfs who were preparing to leave stopped; they had sufficient respect for this young Chosen of the Goddess.

"Oh? Does my younger brother have something to say?" Grom asked with great interest. In his memory, Sinuoli had been buried in Rune Scrolls since he was a child and had little interest in war.

"Big Brother, think about it: the Greenskins are actively sending cavalry to harass us, and even assaulting our outpost with their main force—what are they trying to do?"

"Of course they want to have a fight with us! Or do you think they want to surrender? We don't take Greenskin prisoners!" Grom replied.

"Then what is our relationship with the Greenskins?"

"What kind of nonsense is that! We have been mortal enemies with the Greenskins since the age of the ancestors! You don't want to claim them as kin, do you? If you want to go, go, but don't drag our Drazkrad Clan into it!" Grom was completely confused.

"Exactly. Can we do what our enemies want us to do? If we fulfill their wishes, wouldn't that grieve our kin and gladden our enemies?" Sinuoli quoted a book.

"True, every time we take the initiative to go out and want a decisive battle with the Greenskins, they always close their gates and refuse to come out!"

"If they don't want to fight, they don't fight; if they want to fight, they fight—we cannot let those idiots have their way!"

Hearing Sinuoli's analysis, the surrounding Dwarfs all cried out.

"The way I see it, the Greenskins suddenly acting so abnormally must mean there is some problem inside their fortress! Either they are out of food, or they have started fighting with the rats!"

Connecting the Slave Rats seen on the road with the news that miners had discovered traces of Ratmen underground, Sinuoli gave his judgment.

"Makes sense!"

"As expected of the Chosen of the Goddess!"

"Hah! That's what I was thinking too!"

"Oh, forget it! You were the loudest one shouting to go out and fight just a moment ago!"

Having heard Sinuoli's words, the surrounding Dwarfs expressed their agreement one after another.

Grom was overjoyed. He finished the beer in his cup and said, "Not bad! My brother has grown up! I've read plenty of military strategy in books, but every time I encounter a situation, I just want to swing my hammer and get to it!" He was genuinely happy for Sinuoli's growth.

"Then what do you think we should do next?" Grom decided to hand the lead over to Sinuoli.

In front of so many elders, Sinuoli was slightly nervous; this was also his first time participating in a military conference.

"The way I see it, it's better to wait two or three days and observe. We just brought in a batch of supplies, so there's no need to rush. If small-scale, fast units harass us, we leave them be; if they dare to assault the outpost with a large force again, we greet them with ranged weapons."

Sinuoli paused to organize his thoughts and continued, "Besides keeping up the guard to prevent night raids, we must also send out more scouts to clarify the intelligence. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated! Who is in charge of the Ranger unit?"

A middle-aged Dwarf dressed strangely responded and stepped out. He was not wearing the common heavy steel armor, but rather a cloak over leather armor, and his face was full of the marks of weathering.

Rangers are an anomaly among Dwarf troops. Unlike their kin who usually operate underground, they often live in the wilderness far from the fortresses. This unit is often composed of hunters and herdsmen; there are also some clans whose original Shanbao were conquered but who are unwilling to join other Shanbao and live under others' roofs, who form Ranger units. They are also common in Dwarf settlements within Human society.

This type of unit is equipped with a variety of weapons, from bows, crossbows, and firearms to Battle Axes and traps, all within their repertoire.

Rangers usually operate in small groups, undertaking tasks such as standing guard, gathering intelligence, flanking from the rear, striking and destroying War Machines, and even assassinations.

Although they are an indispensable part of the Dwarf military, and the stories of legendary Rangers are often precious topics of conversation at the dinner table, they do not receive much respect in Dwarf society.

"Arrange for your people to keep an eye on the Greenskins' movements, and take care to protect yourselves!" Sinuoli issued the command.

Got a better recommendation spot this week, continuing to ask for votes, collections, and tips. There will be an extra update tonight.

Saw the Cathay trailer; it was already in the outline, just a bit further back. Can't be helped, it's too far away.