The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 25: The Great Retreat

Seven days have passed, and now these serf soldiers, except for a few blockheads, have mostly learned to run with their respective formations.
During this time, not only have the allied forces mocked these serf soldiers for their running, but even many within the coalition have ridiculed their training, dubbing Fabio "the Running General" behind his back.
However, Fabio doesn't care about the jeers and continues to lead his troops in running around the camp every day. Starting with bare-chested runs, they gradually add equipment, turning into weighted runs. The blazing summer heat makes even the cooler early mornings and evenings sweat-drenched.
Henwell runs alongside them, impressed by the physical prowess of the people in this world. Without systematic training, most wouldn't be able to complete a five-kilometer run.
Yet here, the serfs can easily run five kilometers with the right breathing and pacing.
Henwell believes that, on one hand, the physical fitness of people here is indeed better than in his past life. On the other hand, it's crucial to remember that this is a feudal society where most travel is done on foot.
In the past life, humans had various modes of transportation, leading to less exercise and significant physical decline. In ancient times, humans could run over ten kilometers to hunt, exhausting even the most agile herbivores.
Based on Henwell's calculations, a serf soldier wearing light armor, carrying weapons, and a day's supplies can easily run seven to eight kilometers in one go.
In Henwell's plan, as long as this serf army can run five kilometers in formation, they are considered qualified. Unless they face cavalry, no allied force can pursue for five kilometers and still have the capacity to launch another attack.
Currently, the two opposing sides occasionally engage in small-scale skirmishes. However, the coalition forces have stopped deploying serf soldiers, opting instead to send regular troops into battle each time.
Fabio has been tasked with covering the retreat, meaning he won't see battle during this period.
After two weeks of probing and minor clashes, the coalition begins preparing for a retreat.
On what seems like an ordinary day, a skirmish involving a few thousand soldiers gradually escalates to nearly ten thousand combatants.
Suddenly, the coalition deploys several legions into the battlefield. Before the allied reinforcements can arrive, the engaged allied legion is completely annihilated. Thus, the Battle of Wilderness City officially erupts.
A total of 250,000 troops from both sides engage in a brutal slaughter inside and outside the city. The battle rages on for four whole days, with both sides suffering losses, yet no clear victor emerges.
However, for the coalition, failing to secure a victory equates to a defeat—not tactically, but strategically. Retreat becomes inevitable.
On the evening of the fifth day, two coalition legions quietly leave the camp under the cover of darkness, heading southward to begin the retreat. By the tenth day, the allied forces have yet to launch an attack.
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Having suffered severe losses in the grand battle and with Wilderness City now under their control, the political stakes have diminished significantly.
Many legions are reluctant to continue the costly fight. Observing that four coalition legions still remain in the camp, no one is eager to recklessly attack what could be a desperate, cornered foe.
Tonight, Obiken prepares to lead the last regular legion in their retreat, leaving without a final meeting with Fabio.
At this point, Fabio's serf army is newly equipped, boasting nearly twenty thousand armored units and over twenty thousand regular serf soldiers. As per the agreement, Fabio must wait two days after the main forces retreat before he can withdraw.
With a sense of unease, Fabio follows Henwell's plan and continues to lead his serf soldiers in their chaotic runs around the camp after sunrise.
The camp still shows signs of life—plenty of cooking fires, guards on duty, patrolling cavalry, and armored soldiers in training. Everything appears unchanged from the previous day.
Henwell skips the morning run and heads to the supply depot to inventory all usable items. The coalition's retreat has taken away a significant amount of supplies, but the camp is so vast that plenty remains.
Henwell's task is to sift through and select the useful resources.
First and foremost is food; the world's grain is a barley-like crop with yields far surpassing those of the feudal era in Henwell's past life, supposedly blessed by the Goddess of Harvest.
The grain is processed into flour for consumption, and Henwell organizes the elderly and weak to bake flatbreads in the camp. He also gathers carts to modify their axles, transforming large wagons into smaller carts. Additionally, leftover medicines need to be sorted and organized.
This day ends amidst a flurry of somewhat frantic activity. Meanwhile, the allied forces show no intention of attacking, seemingly unaware that the coalition has already retreated under the cover of night.
On the second day, Fabio leads his disorganized serf soldiers for one final run. By evening, he ensures everyone in the camp enjoys a last hearty meal of meat, knowing they can't take all the supplies with them and might as well feast now.
Henwell approaches Fabio, saying, "We'll leave after nightfall."
"But the time hasn't come yet."
"We can establish a defensive line at Six Bay Mountain and continue to hold them off. Also, scatter all the gold and silver treasures around the camp."
"You want the pursuers to waste time searching for treasure here? We should burn the camp. We can't leave all these supplies for the enemy."
Henwell responds with a sigh, "These supplies are insignificant. Leaving the camp intact forces the enemy to split their forces to explore and occupy it, reducing the number of pursuers. Your orders are simply to ensure the pursuers don't catch the main forces within two days. Once that's achieved, no one will care about the minor details."
Fabio considers this and realizes Henwell's reasoning is sound. He then instructs his guards to carry out the plan.
As night falls, the camp stirs into action. Under the protection of Fabio's ten thousand running troops, over twenty thousand serfs begin their slow retreat southward, accompanied by a thousand carts.
Fabio has organized several drills for this retreat, yet the actual execution remains chaotic, though it's far better than a complete rout.
After a night of marching, Fabio orders a rest at dawn. "Henwell, when do you think the pursuers will arrive?"
"By afternoon. The allied forces will notice something's off in the morning, but they'll proceed cautiously, entering the camp around noon. They'll be busy searching for treasure and looting supplies, likely keeping them occupied until afternoon. If we're lucky, they might only act decisively by night."
"But even if we march for another day, we won't reach Six Bay Mountain. Cavalry can catch up in less than a day."
"Cavalry is valuable and won't charge recklessly. That's why we have the new troops at the rear. The pursuing cavalry won't be numerous; they'll just shadow us, hesitant to engage directly."
Everything unfolds as Henwell predicted.
By evening, scattered scout riders appear behind them. Seeing the organized running troops ahead, they don't even attempt to probe. Instead, a few riders return to , while the rest maintain a safe distance, ready to turn tail at any moment.