Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Large-Scale Warfare
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“Alright, kids. Let’s go.”
Early in the morning, I led two camels toward the west gate. Today was the day of the march test.
But my handling of the camels’ reins was extremely cautious.
You can’t treat camels roughly just because they look gentle.
Among the livestock humans raise, horses are infamous for their foul tempers, but camels are even worse.
These damn camels spit everywhere even on normal days. Well, considering the harsh lives they lead, it’s no wonder their tempers are rotten. One wrong move, and a big accident could happen.
Still, if I had to pick the biggest gain from coming to Kara, it was learning just how useful camels are. They’re a bit slower than horses, but their stamina is incredible. With proper training, they can cover 100 km a day without breaking a sweat—and the next day, and the day after that.
It was astonishing. They’d make excellent wartime assets for humanity’s armies in the coming age of annihilation.
Everyone’s waiting.
As I passed through the west gate, thousands of people clustered tightly together came into view. They buzzed with tension the moment they spotted me. Soon, a crucial test that could change their lives forever would begin.
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes!”
A thunderous roar erupted in unison. These were people who’d fallen to commoner status for not being heirs, shunned by their families as bastards. Their resolve for today’s test was bound to be extraordinary.
I nodded, pleased by their spirit.
“One last tip before we start: don’t pass me. That’s a sign of poor pace management.”
“Yes!”
“Good. Today’s a long test. Don’t rush—stick to your usual pace.”
“Yes!”
“Oh, and one more bit of good news. Top 1 through 30 get 9th-class nobility. And anyone who laps me once passes outright. Give it your all.”
I told them not to rush, yet dangled a carrot to make them do just that. I like people faithful to their desires, but I despise those who let desire ruin them. They’re the classic ticking time bomb type—and those bombs don’t go off alone. They drag everyone around them down with them.
So I had to weed them out whenever the chance arose.
Sure enough, eyes lit up with greed here and there.
“Alright, go!”
I gave the signal and took off, gripping the reins. It was just a normal human jog, a bit slow, so the camels kept up effortlessly.
Soon, a group surged past me, urging their camels hard. They must’ve been hungry for that 9th-class title. I’d told them to manage their pace, but they just wouldn’t listen.
On the other hand, some stuck right behind me, using the same strategy—hundreds led by Nazir and Bayan.
I studied their faces closely. People like this fall into two categories: the wise ones, or those who like freeloading.
But armies are group efforts, so the latter isn’t so bad. The former might even rise through the ranks.
About an hour in, we’d circled Kara once. During the stamping break, I gave the camels water and surveyed the group. They were breathing hard, but not exhausted—their stamina looked solid.
No surprise; these were kids raised with grueling family training from youth. They had an edge.
I mounted the left camel and picked up speed. Some of the early frontrunners had nearly lapped me already.
I couldn’t let idiots like that stick around. Time to push a little.
“Hyah! Hyah!”
I alternated between the two camels, riding and dismounting to run whenever I could, easing their burden.
By the second lap, then the third, dropouts began trickling in.
Most were early overachievers or those who’d slacked on training, but quite a few lagged because family finances only allowed one camel. I made a mental note of the promising ones among the latter. I had to distinguish the lazy and dim from the ones held back by circumstance.
The former were hopeless; the latter would pull their weight with support. And Kara wasn’t so flush that it could afford to flunk the disadvantaged for “fairness.”
Still, with everyone watching, they had to drop for now. I could recruit extras later.
“Hyah! Hyah!”
I kept glancing back as we rode. Six laps in, most had fallen away, but a few clung stubbornly to my tail. Nazir and Bayan stood out, vying neck-and-neck with each other.
When Nazir fell behind Bayan, I hopped off and ran again.
Nazir closed the gap and overtook Bayan. Bayan had the better camel; Nazir, the superior rider.
Bayan’s grandfather is Udin, right?
Udin headed Kara’s venerable Ibrahim family. No wonder his camel’s bloodline was top-notch.
Nazir, from mere 9th-class nobility, matched him on skill alone. My eyes naturally gravitated to Nazir.
“Dropped!”
Late afternoon brought a wave of dropouts. Maybe their skills were good, or the camels’ endurance—or both—but it was later than expected.
Satisfying.
Three more months of grooming, and I could shove a lethal suppository right up Duke Bastain’s ass.
I eased my pace a bit. With about 4,000 to sort, I couldn’t cull too ruthlessly.
As sunset neared, a dust cloud rose far to the west. Tens of thousands were approaching Kara on camels and wagons.
Timing-wise, it had to be the Great Desert Bandits and their tribesfolk. Officially the Lobros horde’s prime target, they had no choice but to rely on Kara now.
They’re here. The Great Desert Bandits.
They were the final piece in Kara’s military puzzle. Sure, they loved pillaging too much, but otherwise, they were a dream force: battle-hardened, desert-savvy, survival experts, and fast movers.
Plus, nearly 5,000 combat-ready. They’d boost Kara’s army quality and size immensely.
The Kara palace buzzed with activity. They were planning a grand welcome for the Great Desert Bandit leaders who’d arrived days ago, plus invitees like Akram.
I walked to the grand hall with Master Udin, deep in discussion. Population swell from the bandits and tribes was the hot topic.
“Total 56,000. Food’s manageable, but housing’s the issue.”
“Have them camp outside for now. They’re nomads; tents are home.”
“But when the enemy hits Kara, those outside are dead or captured.”
Fair point. But we had time.
“They won’t arrive till winter. No rush. Real problem’s the plagues afterward.”
“Plagues?”
Udin’s worry deepened. Kara had suffered massively from epidemics before.
“Yeah. Sieges breed them—crowds in one spot.”
“Ah, yes.”
“So while building housing, ramp up city hygiene, quarantine zones. Fix the waterways too.”
“Yes.”
“Dispatch officials to grant everyone Kara citizenship. We need population to run the Great Desert anyway—might as well absorb them now.”
Udin’s eyes widened.
“But they’re bandits?”
“Warriors who’ll fight for us soon enough. And how long do we tolerate Great Desert Bandits? Post-war, whoever wins, they’re a headache. Better turn their war service into nobility and end the raiding.”
If we won, I planned to elevate Kara to kingdom status. That’d annex at least western Great Desert, making bandit trade-route chaos a royal pain. Absorb them now for the future.
Udin acquiesced and moved on.
“Intel says Lobros navy landed at Ramis tribe village recently. Building a port now.”
Ramis was a coastal tribe a month-and-a-half south of Kara. Lobros navy aimed to make it a sea supply base for their land army pushing on us.
“Troops?”
“Claim 200,000 total, but really about 40,000. Half techs, laborers, merchants—civilians.”
So 20,000 combatants. Matched my past-life history knowledge.
“Lucky break.”
“Pardon? Master, they’ve got us surrounded.”
“That they stopped is the luck. Now it’s winnable.”
“Ah, yes.”
I halted mid-stride. Kara’s forces were finally assembled. Time to mess with Lobros Kingdom.
“And form an envoy to Lobros.”
“Peace treaty?”
“Nah. Think they’d accept?”
“Then why…?”
I smirked slyly.
“Tell them Duke Bastain’s secretly offered killer terms for alliance. What’ll Lobros royals counter with?”
Udin gaped.
“Sowing discord?”
“Yep. We’re over 30,000; Bastain’s past 200,000. Together, they could take Lobros.”
“Plausible, but will they buy it? Stratagems like this are wartime staples.”
“Doesn’t matter. Lobros King’ll bite—he’s paranoia incarnate. Best case, Bastain’s fired; worst, he’s hamstrung commanding. Try it.”
“Understood. We’ll move fast.”
Udin agreed eagerly. Envoys cost little; success was jackpot. Obvious call.
In Kara palace’s grand hall, vassals lined both sides as Padilla sat on the throne, veiled in silk.
She gazed subtly at the warriors kneeling center-stage, pledging loyalty: Akram, who’d brought Brahm remnants; Kasim and Great Desert Bandit chiefs.
At my signal, Padilla addressed them sternly.
“Akram Commander and Kasim Chieftain, step forward.”
Akram and Kasim advanced, prostrating.
“Yes, Emir of Kara~”
“Akram Commander, hear this first.”
Akram bowed deeply.
“Yes, Your Excellency~”
“I grant you 1st-class nobility and authority over 4,200 warriors. Fight the vile Lobros horde with all you have.”
“My deepest gratitude. I pledge my life to crush the enemy and serve Your Excellency.”
Akram’s force: 1,400 Brahm survivors plus recent refugee fighters. He’d form and lead the 4th Army.
Padilla called next.
“Kasim.”
“Yes~, Your Excellency.”
“I grant you 1st-class nobility and command of your bandit force. Fight the vile Lobros with full might.”
“Yes, Excellency.”
Kasim’s: 4,890 bandits in the 5th Army. Wild bunch—worrisome, yet elite potential.
I met Padilla’s eyes and smiled warmly.
Scale’s set. Bastain’s sweating now. Heh heh heh.
Rajjal’s 1st Army: 4,123 total.
Shura’s 2nd: 4,102.
Newly promoted Adan’s 3rd: 4,108.
Uncle Zenbe’s mercs: 4,393.
March test dropouts (2,230 noble kids) plus unassigned outlanders (2,742): 4,975 reserves.
Add new 4th and 5th: Kara total 34,791. Respectable host.
Lobros logistics capped winter deployment at 50,000 max.
Siege doctrine demands 2:1 odds. Bastain had to agonize: send 50k and risk little gain, or hold back and drag the war eternally.