Dom was sat around a campfire with Subutai, Xun You, Xun Yu and Abubakar. The sun had set and the only light around the camp was from the infrequent torches and the occasional campfire for the units that hadn't gone to sleep yet.
The camp was rather silent, bar the occasional neigh from a horse in one of the crudely built stables, a hiss from a Sabre Tooth Tiger mount or the footsteps of the Warriors on watch that paced around the camps perimeter.
"Meng Gao has been dispatched with a small squad to Tongpai Town." Subutai started as they sat around the campfire. "He knows the area well as that is originally where he is from. They intent to watch from a distance and see what is happening. Firstly if Tongpai Town is still in the hands of the leader Da Qiao or if the Type 3 Humans have attacked."
"If it is still under control of Da Qiao then they will try to infiltrate and get an understanding of the current situation. The key things they are looking for are the current military count and an understanding of the overall situation." Xun You added, "If it is under control of the Type 3 Humans, or any feeling is there that they are nearby, they are to return immediately and we will send a larger scouting force."
"Won't Meng Gao be recognised, seeing that he is from Tongpai Town originally?" Dom asked.
"We don't think so." Xun You replied, "He looks very different, his hair has been cut and his eyebrows trimmed. He is also dressed very differently to how he was as a Shang Militia."
"He was part of Guthrem's unit, which was either destroyed or joined us." Subutai commented, "Not many commanders will recognise warriors from different commanders units. I am confident in my skill to recognise a face, but I doubt the other commanders in Tongpai Town would."
"I definitely wouldn't remember them." Abubakar commented.
"You hardly remember your own men." Xun You said in a disproving tone.
"I do!" Abubakar argued back, "But my unit keeps changing as more troops arrive."
"What do you think of the Celts that Crassus brought?" Dom asked.
"They seem eager to fight." Subutai replied, "Cunomoltus the Commander has a calm head compared to his men. They have been promised a good reward for their service, and I expect they will do well to earn that."
"My main worry is that they will run if things get tough." Xun You added, "We also can't expect them to be the first line of attack either as they won't appreciate being a sacrificial lamb."
"We will use them as a brunt attacking force if we are in a battle on open ground." Subutai continued, "We will move the Hoplite and Legionaries up, and then once the lines are drawn, we will create a central pathway that they can charge through. If it is a siege battle, they are confident they can sneak over the walls in the night and open and hold the gates."
"They will be useful regardless then." Dom replied confidently.
"My biggest excitement is the Balearic Slingers you have brought with you." Subutai stated with excitement. "I have heard good things from Octavian when I spoke with him earlier."
"They are known as the Snipers of Antiquity." Dom replied, "Supposedly they can effectively hit a target with precise accuracy from one hundred and twenty metres, and with their longest sling, up to four hundred metres."
"I look forward to seeing them train tomorrow in the Military Drills I am putting on." Xun You added, "If they are as good as you say, we can work in some new tactics depending on the situation."
"Their leader Balius seems well respected by his men." Xun Yu commented. "We have a good small army growing here."
"How are you going on with protecting the camp at night?" Dom asked, seemingly impressed at the basic fortifications that had been built around the crude Military Camp.
"Octavian and the Legionaries saw that we had a well built camp." Subutai replied seriously, "They are more and more impressive as we continue on. If I had come up against men of the Ninth Legion when I invaded the west, it may have been slightly more troublesome."
"We also have a change of guard every two hours, so we always have fresh faces who know they will only be awake for a short period." Xun You added, "The Morale is high, so we have seen a high uptake on the menial tasks."
"No one wanted to do Latrine duty though." Subutai said with a shrug. "It seems that no matter how high morale is, no one wants to clean up the camps waste."
"Not that I can blame them." Dom replied grimly.
They continued to discuss military matters for a while, whilst eating some of the rations that the Military Camp had been supplied, it was primarily dried bread, some dried beef and some fruit from nearby trees that had been deemed safe by Lucius's farming team.
"How is Lady Meritamen?" Abubakar asked, being dispatched as her guard primarily by Meritamen's father, but had been used in a different role since his arrival.
"She is doing well." Dom replied, "She is currently arranging some events for the people of Riverside, so that they can celebrate our differences, and the future prosperity of Riverside."
"She has always been an intelligent woman." Abubakar replied seriously, "Some of her siblings are similar, the difference with Lady Meritamen, is that she has a big heart as well. You have done well by having her granted to you as a wife."
"I didn't have much choice." Dom shrugged, which caused Subutai who was nearby to laugh at remembering the situation in which Dom had been betrothed her. "I am sure if I had said no, your father would have made our return much more difficult."
"Knowing how successful Riverside is in such a short period of time, I am sure you would have escaped regardless." Abubakar laughed. "How is your concubine Lady Tomoe?"
"Not a concubine." Dom facepalmed, remembering now why he spent little time with his Ancient Egyptian Commander. "We have a new Domestic Hero named Lady Hatshepsut."
"Queen Hatshepsut?" Abubakar asked, his eyes wide as he thought of the Queen from a couple hundred years prior to his birth. "You do collect them as Commander Gan Ning says."
"He says what?" Dom asked, glaring at Abubakar in shock, which caused Abubakar to get a slightly cold sweat. Dom then burst out in laughter, which caused a laugh amongst the other Commanders at Abubakar's bad fortune.
They all soon headed to their tents for the night. Dom's had been built by his Forbidden Guard that had accompanied him, and he was placed in the centre of the camp, with a ring of the other Heroes around him.
....
Dom soon awoke in his tent, he had slept with his armour by his side. He had been told that once they moved closer to Tongpai Town, it would be worth him wearing the armour to sleep in, just in case of a night attack. Dom had read of warriors being struck down in just their underwear in night attacks, and didn't have any plans on being one of those people.
He redressed quickly, with one of his Guards helping him place the armour, before opening his tent flaps and gazing out to the rising sun in the distance. He headed towards where he could hear the sounds of Warriors talking, and saw that the morning breakfast was being distributed at a food station in the southern part of the small camp.
He grabbed himself a plate of food as well, having been greeted kindly by his assortment of troops and sat with the other commanders as they ate their breakfast. The food was almost like a thick porridge, however it has been seasoned with some flakes from fruits and tasted surprisingly good.
"An army marches on it's stomach." Xun You commented when he saw Dom's face of enjoyment as he ate.
"A happy stomach, makes a happy man." Abubakar had added before he departed towards the fields to the south outside the camp, where the troops that had already eaten were gathering.
.....
The day moved quite quickly, as the different units went through a series of military drills. The Horse Archer Cavalry practiced shooting arrows as they retreated, whilst the accompanying Lancers practised some charging drills with quick directional changes, based on a flag system that Xun You had introduced.
Xun You and Subutai were stood atop a small wooden tower as they directed the different drills that took place. Dom and Xun Yu watched on impressed as the different units performed. The infantry practised different formation changes, whilst the Celtic Mercenaries tried to follow simple commands that were sent their way.
Dom was most impressed with the Balearic Slingers, whose aim and range was just as good as he had expected. They had set up a range of targets on a nearby tree line and each target was littered with holes, from the collection of small stones and other materials that had been fired in their direction. The slingers were also good at close range, having loosened their last stones, before charging with their lighter weapons and stabbing at the targets.
Subutai had nodded his head in approval at the sight, and Dom couldn't wait to see them in action a few days later. First he had to log out for the day, check the forums and with his friends. Time was catching up to him and he didn't have long left at the Academy before his move. He then had the Top Players Auction to be involved in, not that he expected there would be much of value in it for him. Once he returned he had to deal with Tongpai Town and the Celebrations that Meritamen had organised for him.
"Rider approaching!" A nearby guard announced, as a Horse Archer appeared to the north, in the distance of Tongpai Town. A few hours had passed since the drills had started and Dom felt that the training regime that Subutai and Xun You had come up with, was something that even the forces in the real world would be interested to see.
"Must be a message from Meng Gao." Subutai stated as he headed down his ladder. Dom, Xun You and Xun Yu accompanied him as they headed towards the camp where the Rider was waiting for them.
...
"Tongpai Town is still under control of the Leader Da Qiao, though their has been no sight of her." The rider announced, "Centurion Meng has asked me to let you know that they have infiltrated the Town as traveling merchants and are staying at a Tavern inside. He expects to be able to provide daily updates. Currently there seems to be no worry about an incoming attack and even the destruction of Guthram's unit is rarely discussed, with most rumours being that he either abandoned Tongpai Town or is on a secret mission."
"How about the Military numbers?" Subutai asked.
"Four Hundred Shang Dynasty Militia have been accounted for so far." The rider replied, "But we have not been able to get to the centre of the Town, these are primarily from those that have been seen in the camp to south that is situated on a slight hill and those on the town's small walls."
"Right, let's get planning and send Meng Gao some instructions!" Xun You announced, as Dom thought about what was to come.