"General …" Myjack rode up the hill where Claude was stationed and jumped off his horse. He tossed the reins to an orderly and saluted Claude.
Claude nodded at him and continued watching the two groups of people on horseback in the distance.
The one heading north was the nikancha's migration party. They listened to Claude's advice and headed for the mountains north of Port Vebator. They were going to rely on the terrain and the ammunition Claude lent them to fend off the Shiksan forces that would come after them.
At the same time, the nikancha would also send their armed men into Shiks' colonies to attack the mining sites and towns to free their fellow miners and slave miners to strengthen their armed forces.
They wanted to start a new rebellion in the inland colonies to seize more territory and find an opportunity to establish their own independent nation.
Yes, they would establish an independent nikancha nation.
The night before, Claude played a game of chess with the four nikancha and successfully drew a big pie for them.
All he gave them in return was the ammunition of a Shiksan standing corps. He didn't give it to them for free, but lent it to the nikancha on credit.
Once the nikancha gained a foothold in the Shiksan colonies, they would be able to repay the debt with all sorts of resources and continue to receive ammunition from Claude.
Myjack and Berklin were also part of the meeting. Claude gave them two missions. Myjack was to lead Tribe 131 to strut around Port Vebator and create the illusion that the main force was still at Port Vebator. That way, they would be able to buy a month's worth of time for the nikancha to migrate north.
Berklin, on the other hand, would bring close to a hundred basic officers and follow the nikancha north into the coastal mountains. There, they would set up a few defensive lines for the nikancha and conduct the most basic military training for the nikancha's armed forces for three months.
The group heading south was much smaller than the nikancha's northbound group.
Apart from the two main regiments of the Monolith 3rd Division led by General Eiblont, there was only the majority of the Thunderbolt Regiment 1301.
However, apart from the hundreds of wagons filled with spoils of war, there were also more than two thousand Shiksan captives from the local garrisons. Those were the spoils of sweeping through the Vebator colony.
Apart from that, there were close to ten thousand nikancha youths following behind them to the south. Their goal was to head to the three supply bases at the border to transport the weapons, ammunition and other supplies Claude had promised to lend them.
Berklin arrived at the hill Claude was at with a dozen junior officers. Claude went over and patted them on the shoulder. "Do you understand your mission?"
Berklin grinned. "Of course, Boss. Don't worry. We can train the nikancha to be on par with the Shiksan corps. The more intense the battle, the better.
The more intense the battle, the better. Once Shiks' attention is drawn away by the nikancha, Thundercrash will have the chance to take advantage of the chaos and stab them in the back. "
That was a little too direct, but Berklin wasn't wrong at all. He knew exactly what Claude was planning.
Claude smiled bitterly and kicked Berklin angrily. "Bastard, you're still a lieutenant-colonel of the kingdom. You'll have a silver moon on your shoulder when you return.
Can you not talk like a hoodlum? This isn't asking you to be a hoodlum in the royal capital, extorting peddlers. You better act like a high-ranking officer of the kingdom! "
Looking at the junior officers holding back their laughter, Claude's expression turned serious. "All of you will be leading the troops on this mission. I don't care what you think of the nikancha or how much you despise them, but you mustn't show it on your face no matter what.
The only thing you can say to the outside world is that you sympathize with their plight and object to Shiks capturing them as slaves.
That's why you're volunteering to help them train their soldiers and set up defensive lines to defend against Shiks' attacks.
I hope you remember that apart from training the nikancha, setting up defensive lines and helping them plan attacks on the mines and towns, you're not to interfere with their internal conflicts or management.
They'll give you good food and even women. You can enjoy all that as usual.
However, you must remember that you're only going to help them temporarily. Don't get too entangled with them in case you can't get away when you return. Understood? "
The junior officers saluted in unison. "Understood, General."
Claude waved them off. "Alright, you may go. I wish you all the best.
Lieutenant-Colonel Berklin, apart from you, there are a total of 96 junior officers on this mission. I hope the same 96 will return with you in three months' time. Not a single one less. "
Berklin turned serious. "Yes, General. Not a single one less!"
Seeing Berklin and the junior officers ride away, Myjack couldn't help but ask, "General, do you really think the nikancha can be trusted?"
Claude sighed and didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "What do you think?"
Myjack shook his head. "I don't trust them. There's a saying in the colony that goes, don't trust the sincerity of the nikancha. They might swear in front of you and forget about it the moment they turn around. They're the most untrustworthy and untrustworthy people.
Now that they have a favor to ask of us, they have to lower their heads and listen to us.
But if they defeat Shiks and establish their own nation, they'll definitely go back on their word. "
"You're right. The nikancha aren't worthy of our trust.
Claude nodded. "But they are indeed the only allies we can find right now. Helping them become Shiks' primary target is the only way we can change the situation we're in.
You should know very well that Shiks can fail time and time again because they have a strong reserve army.
Our theatre, on the other hand, can't afford to lose even once.
If we want to divert Shiks' attention to the nikancha rebellion, we have to make them stronger first and make them a thorn in Shiks' side. Then, while Shiks is dealing with the nikancha rebellion, we can wipe out a few of Shiks' standing corps. That way, Shiks will feel the pain and have no choice but to seek peace talks with Shiks to end this endless colonial war. "
"I understand what you mean, General, but it's a little too much for you to transfer so many weapons, ammunition, and other supplies to the nikancha at once. It'll be easy for the natives to use it against you," Myjack tried to persuade him in a roundabout way.
"No, Jack. While it's an unwritten rule that every colonial nation has to abide by not selling firearms and ammunition to the natives, it's not a written rule.
After all, the nikancha are a mixed race and are descendants of the Freian colonists and Nubissian natives. That's why they can live near the colonial towns and work hard to feed their families.
Even some experts on the continent are arguing that nikancha aren't natives of Nubissia, "Claude said as he pointed at the nikancha troops moving north.
Claude pointed at the nikancha who were moving north. "Nobody can really stop the nikancha from getting their hands on firearms. Didn't Kuka say it last night? He bought more than two hundred firearms from adventurers to protect his Kuman settlement and used them to threaten them into annexing three smaller settlements. He became the strongest nikancha on the west coast.
"He's an ambitious nikancha who dreams of establishing an independent nikancha nation. I'm only giving him a chance to realize his dream.
"The nikancha worship an evil god called Sunidat who proclaims that all things belong to him. He established a divine kingdom and chased the white colonists out of Nubissia.
It used to be nothing more than a slogan, but now, they see a glimmer of hope. If they can occupy the Shiksan colonies, they might really be able to establish an independent nikancha nation there. So, I don't have to worry about them coming to a compromise with Shiks and betraying us.
"Sometimes, I really don't understand what's wrong with the Shiksan people's brains. They actually set their sights on the nikancha, capturing them as slaves and forcing them to work.
Actually, they didn't need to put in much effort. All they had to do was pay a small price to feed the nikancha and keep them warm. They even had some money to buy a few bottles of cheap alcohol to get themselves drunk. Then, there would be enough young nikancha laborers to work in the mines.
"Just like the mining companies in our colonies, there are nikancha miners who go down to the mines to make a living.
Perhaps the Shiksan nobles and mine owners were a little too greedy. It was said that they used to capture the native Etate natives for mining, but the resistance from the natives grew more and more intense, making it more and more difficult to capture them. So, the Shiksan nobles and mine owners set their sights on the relatively friendly and lazy nikancha. They were used to using slaves for free, so they treated the nikancha like slaves as well. They weren't willing to pay the slightest price for their services, and in the end, they forced the nikancha to rebel.
"Last night, I agreed to lend them a corps' worth of weapons and ammunition because I wanted to strengthen the nikancha's military might so that they wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow from the Shiksan corps after we leave.
"Another reason is that we can't bring back the weapons of Tofedor's corps.
They're too heavy. We'll need at least a thousand four-wheeled wagons to transport them back, but where are we supposed to find that many?
"That's why we can only give up on the weapons and equipment. Their standard firearms aren't as accurate and long-range as ours. Their gunpowder isn't compatible with ours either. We'll have to separate and process them again after we transport them back.
"As for the Shiksan uniform, I'm sure you won't like it either.
"It's necessary for us to give up on these useless things. We only have so many people and we still have to watch over the hundred thousand captives.
"It's only normal for these useless things to fall into the nikancha's hands after we give them up. Everyone knows that the nikancha love scavenging. So, what does it have to do with us if they get their hands on the weapons and ammunition we gave up? Are we supposed to return them to the Shiksan?
Letting them fall into the nikancha's hands and use them against Shiks is better than letting Shiks use them against us, isn't it? "
Myjack was speechless. Claude's words showed how thoughtful he was. He even came up with an excuse to shirk responsibility.
The night before, Claude had refused to let the nikancha chief, Kuka, keep his beautiful daughter, the saintess of Sunidat, by his side because he didn't want others to be able to use it against him.
Even the three logistical bases that stored the Shiksan army's ammunition told them that they had to wait for Thundercrash's soldiers to leave before the nikancha youths were allowed to move their supplies from the warehouses.
"Don't overthink it."
Claude patted his brother-in-law on the shoulder. "It's no big deal for the nikancha to have firearms and ammunition. They don't have gunpowder workshops or repair workshops.
The more they fight with Shiks, the more they need our support. A musket without ammunition isn't as effective as a spear, and muskets wear and tear in battle. They won't be able to repair them, so they can only rely on us to provide them with supplies.
That's why the nikancha will have to pay the price if they want to get their weapons and ammunition from us.
While they don't have much money right now, they can take it from the Shiksan colonial owners and local towns.
The more they cause a ruckus, the more wealth they get and the more support they'll get from us, the more Shiks will pay attention to them.
Compared to our colonies, the Shiksan military will only think about quelling the nikancha rebellion first. Otherwise, the nobles in their colonies won't let them off. "
Since Claude had made up his mind, Myjack didn't have anything else to say. He nodded. "General, you should go back. I'll hold off the Port Vebator garrison for a month. I won't let them come out and disrupt our plans."
Claude patted him on the shoulder. "There are some things you need to use your brain for. There's no need to go to Port Vebator every day.
As long as we control a few key locations and ambush the scouts sent out by Port Vebator, the defenders will naturally think that our main force is still nearby.
Also, pick another camp at night. Don't stay in the main camp to avoid an ambush. "
"Huh?
General, what do you mean by 'pick another camp'? "Myjack asked.
"It's simple. If Port Vebator sends a light cavalry squad out to scout, they definitely won't be able to hide from you or escape your pursuit.
But if they send one or two people disguised as civilians to sneak out in the middle of the night, you won't think much of it even if you run into them in the day. At most, you'll just scare them a little before letting them go.
That way, news of the camp being empty and the departure of the main force will reach the ears of the defenders in Port Vebator. When they learn that you only have a single battalion, the enemy will likely send a few regiments to ambush you.
"So, don't stay in the main camp at night. Find another hidden spot to set up camp.
If the enemy finds out that the main camp is empty, they'll definitely split up to scout.
At that time, concentrate your forces and ambush one of the enemy lines. As long as you can heavily injure them, they'll think the empty camp is part of our scheme to lure them out of the city. I believe they'll regroup their forces and defend Port Vebator to the death. They won't attack so easily anymore. "
Myjack came to a sudden realization. "I understand, General. Don't worry, I'll be able to keep them in the city for another month …"