Chapter 377: Orc Slave Troops!

After everyone took their seats, the meeting began.

As expected, the meeting's topic concerned the enemy ahead.

They were now less than forty li from Red Stone City—roughly half a day's march.

According to scout reports, enemy traces had appeared ahead, and the road to Red Stone City had been cut off.

Thus, if the vanguard camp wished to advance further, they must clear the passage.

"But gentlemen, rest assured—according to the scouts, the number of orcs blocking us is not large; the vast majority are slave troops!"

"Of these, there are roughly two thousand slave troops and only two hundred true orcs!"

"With such numbers, our vanguard camp has every confidence to crush them. So, I ask you all to prepare—we begin battle tomorrow!"

"Also, do any of you have suggestions or objections? Speak now if you do!"

The nobles naturally had nothing to say. After waiting a moment and confirming no one had objections, Commander Lei Meng dismissed them.

Yet, as the others left, Commander Lei Meng specifically ordered his men to hold back Gervas.

"Commander Lei Meng!"

"Lord Gervas, please sit!" At this moment, Commander Lei Meng had shed his earlier sternness; his face wore a warm smile.

"Commander Lei Meng, what do you wish of me?" Gervas sat without ceremony and accepted the tea the commander had brewed himself.

"Lord Gervas, I'm not giving orders—I'm asking you: do you have any advice regarding tomorrow's battle?"

"Commander Lei Meng, I have no real objections. But if enemy numbers remain unchanged, victory tomorrow will surely be ours!"

Lei Meng laughed. "Lord Gervas, it seems your confidence exceeds mine? But then, your strength is extraordinary—this is only natural."

"Tomorrow marks our vanguard camp's first direct engagement. I hope, Lord Gervas, you'll lend me a hand in overseeing the battlefield."

Clearly, this was Lei Meng's true purpose.

Gervas's subordinates were formidable, and tomorrow's battle could not afford failure.

Thus, Lei Meng had kept Gervas behind, hoping he would watch over the field.

"Commander Lei Meng, I will give my all against the enemy." Gervas made no grand promises, yet these words were enough.

……

【Ding! Daily intelligence has refreshed…】

【Intelligence One: A thirty-li ahead lies an orc encampment—that is today's vanguard camp target.】

【However, the scout report on enemy numbers was inaccurate.】

【Though the orcs openly number only two hundred, they have hidden another two hundred in the dense woods beside the camp.】

【Intelligence Two: Red Stone City is still under attack by an orc army of thirty thousand.】

【Intelligence Three: Your flight squad has reached a mountain hollow fifty li southeast of your current position today.】

【Intelligence Four: Caro Village was attacked by a band of orcs today; fortunately, the villagers spotted them in time and escaped early, losing only some grain.】

【Intelligence Five: Pit Village was also attacked by a band of orcs today, but the villagers were not so lucky—they failed to detect the orc ambush in time.】

【As a result, half the village's men were slaughtered, and many women and children were captured and taken back to orc tribes as slaves.】

Intelligence Six: Willard has been troubled these past two days, as Mil's fame has left him uncertain whether to continue targeting Mil.

【Of course, Willard is also relieved—thankfully, it was not you, Gervas, who gained renown.】

【Ding! Daily intelligence refresh complete!】

The next morning, Gervas was jolted awake by the shouts and neighing outside his tent.

Moments later, the familiar ding-ding sounds followed in his mind.

War-era intelligence was as usual, yet Gervas caught one useful piece.

That was the intelligence about a hidden orc ambush force on today's battlefield.

Though such a small number of orcs would have little effect with Gervas present,

unforeseen casualties among hundreds or even thousands of peasant conscripts were possible.

As for the other intel, Gervas rose immediately and retrieved his map from his storage space.

After searching a while, he finally located the two villages attacked by orcs on the map.

At least two or three hundred li away—Gervas could do nothing.

Thus, today's only useful intelligence was this one.

"My lord, are you awake?"

Isabella, who had been waiting outside the tent, heard the movement inside.

"Yes, Isabella!"

"My lord, may I enter?"

Then, Isabella entered, clad in a purple wizard's robe.

Her delicate face and golden hair, set against the purple fabric, carried a peculiar allure.

"My lord, let me attend to your washing and dressing."

Gently, Isabella began washing and dressing Gervas.

One must admit: though all condemn the feudalism and corruption of ancient rulers,

when one becomes that ruler oneself, it is truly irresistible.

Especially in this European-style noble world.

Nobles were law itself; legal constraints here were far weaker than in ancient China.

Thus, even on campaign, one could live in luxury.

At least, Gervas was already disciplined—he kept Isabella not for pleasure.

Unlike other nobles, whose camps all carried three or five servants.

Though most were male servants, they were kept for indulgence.

Fully dressed in Isabella's tender care, and after sipping warm beast-meat broth, Gervas was ready to march.

……

In the afternoon, the vanguard camp finally reached its target.

Ahead lay a mountain pass.

Though the hills on either side were not high—only a hundred meters or so—

the army and supplies could pass only through the narrow gap, five or six hundred meters wide.

Once through the pass, the open plains of Red Stone City lay ahead.

Right now, a wooden encampment, two hundred meters long and wide, blocked the center of the pass, standing like a single man holding the gate against ten thousand.

On the wooden walls of the camp, heads moved thickly.

Yet most were human faces; only a few were green-skinned beastmen.

These human faces were the orc slave troops.

But most of them were pitiful souls.

Orcs were poor at farming and crafting, so they raided humans and enslaved them to labor for them.

When battle came, these humans became fighting slaves.

And when orcs faced famine, these humans became food…

Thus, each year during orc invasions, besides grain, people were their most vital target.

Though they kept humans like cattle and sheep, breeding them for offspring,

their consumption outpaced reproduction, so slave troops needed annual replenishment.