"Akomann, pass down my orders."
Wu Liang looked at Akomann beside him.
"Double the defenses on the city walls, expand the reconnaissance range of the Scout Battalion, and monitor the movements of the roland people and the Six Great Tribes."
"Without my command, no one is allowed to leave the city!"
"The Black Rock Army must continue to step up their training, making every one of our soldiers an elite who can stand against ten! Especially the cavalry! I want the advantages of the saddle and stirrup utilized to the absolute limit!"
"I need a force of iron cavalry that can be deployed at any time to crush all enemies!"
"Yes! Mission guaranteed!"
A fighting spirit ignited in Akomann's eyes, and she felt incredibly excited.
This was what doing big things looked like!
Following behind such a man, she was now willing, even proud.
"What we need to do now is very simple."
Wu Liang looked out beyond the city walls, a playful smile on his face.
"Close the doors and watch the show."
He wanted to see how many days these six women could hold out.
Just as Wu Liang expected.
Over the next few days, the news brought back by the Scout Battalion perfectly confirmed his judgment.
On the first day, a scout came to report.
"Report, Lord Wu Liang! After leaving us for fifty miles, the Six Great Tribes split up in a valley to return to their respective territories."
"Ignis of the Ember Tribe and Suina of the Chuishi Tribe have integrated a portion of their elite warriors."
"It seems they have formed an allied force of about three hundred men and have taken the initiative to intercept the roland people!"
"Take the initiative to intercept? Have those crazy women like Ignis been kicked in the head by a donkey?"
Akomann was wiping her spear nearby and sneered upon hearing this.
"A ragtag bunch trying to fight the roland people with nothing but hot blood? They're just looking for death."
Wu Liang just listened calmly, his face expressionless.
"I understand. Continue scouting; I want to know every detail."
"Yes!"
New information arrived on the second day.
The allied forces of the Ember and Chuishi Tribes attempted an ambush as they approached the roland people.
Their plan was perfect, and the ambush site was well-chosen.
But unfortunately, they were discovered in advance by the roland people's experienced scouts.
As a result, the ambush turned into an encounter battle.
They were driven like ducks onto an open riverbank.
Then, it was a one-sided massacre.
Of the three hundred allied troops, fewer than dozens eventually escaped.
The whereabouts of Ignis and Suina were unknown, their fates uncertain.
Under the leadership of Chieftain Sa Lan, the Zhu Feng Tribe tried to use their speed advantage and the mountain terrain to shake off a few dozen roland cavalry.
However, the roland people discovered them, and the tribesmen were scattered and surrounded by iron hooves, picked off and shot one by one.
Hundreds of elite warriors died on the spot.
Sa Lan herself only managed to escape into the deep mountains and save her life under the desperate cover of the remaining warriors.
Almost every day, the news sent back to the Black Rock Tribe was of the Six Great Tribes fleeing in panic and suffering heavy losses under the roland attacks.
On the morning of the sixth day.
Wu Liang was lying on a newly made rocking chair, sunbathing and dozing with his eyes squinted.
The scout brought news again.
"Report, My Lord! We have discovered traces of the allied forces of the Moon Spring, Muge, and Yanze Tribes. They were cornered in a river valley by the roland people the night before last and were almost completely wiped out!"
"Fortunately, they were more familiar with the terrain than the roland people and barely managed to escape the pursuit."
Wu Liang heard this and waved his hand.
"I see. They held out longer than I expected. Not bad."
After listening to the battle report, Akomann showed a hint of worry on her face.
"Wu Liang, if this continues, they really will all be dead!"
Wu Liang smiled faintly:
"What's the rush? The time isn't ripe yet."
"Since they chose to die with their pride, why shouldn't I fulfill their wish?"
Wu Liang's tone carried a hint of banter.
"Don't worry, they won't die that easily."
"To me, as long as those six are fine, the lives of the others have little to do with us."
Wu Liang stood up and led Akomann into the Council Hall, coming to the sand table.
It was densely packed with small flags representing both sides.
Red flags of the roland people were everywhere in the Great Desolate Mountain, relentlessly hounding the flags representing the Six Great Tribes.
"Soon. They'll be back sooner or later."
Over the next few days, the Black Rock Tribe remained as peaceful as ever.
The defensive forces on the walls were further strengthened, and the reconnaissance range of the Scout Battalion was expanded to even more distant areas.
Every day, besides handling tribal affairs, Wu Liang took care of Wei Xian, who was about to give birth.
At night, he worked hard with Eliza and Akomann on the subject of resource transportation and conducted advanced strategic depth military lessons.
The tenth day.
When the scout reported that the Six Great Tribes were being hunted by the roland people with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
Those six Female Leaders, after struggling to escape the roland pursuit, appeared outside the gates of the Black Rock Tribe once again.
This time, their group was even more disheveled than before, with everyone bearing injuries.
Especially Ignis, Suina, and Sa Lan; they no longer possessed their former arrogance.
After waiting outside for a full hour, the tightly closed gates finally opened slowly.
It was still the same Council Hall, and still the same man sitting in the main seat.
"Oh, you ladies are back so soon?"
Wu Liang looked at them with a half-smile.
"What? Have you seen enough of the scenery outside? Or do you think the roland people's blades aren't sharp enough?"
These sarcastic words made the six leaders' faces flush red.
Ignis's body trembled violently, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh.
But this time, she didn't lash out.
"Lord Wu Liang..."
It was Alisha of the Yuequan Tribe who spoke, her gentle face filled with pleading and pain.
"We are willing to honor you as the Alliance Leader and follow your command... We only ask that you send troops to save our tribesmen..."
"Alliance Leader?"
Wu Liang burst into laughter as if he had heard the world's biggest joke.
"Chieftain Alisha, are you still dreaming? Or do you think I, Wu Liang, am a fool?"
He abruptly stopped laughing and stared at Alisha.
"Have you forgotten what I said last time?"
"What I want is submission! Complete, unreserved submission!"
"Not some bullshit Alliance Leader!"
Wu Liang stood up, walked toward them step by step, and looked down at them.
"It seems the lesson the roland people gave you wasn't deep enough. Not enough of your tribesmen have died yet."
"Wu Liang, what exactly do you want from us?"
Suina trembled with rage, her face as pale as ash.
"I don't want anything specific. To be honest, Chieftain Suina, I really admire your backbone."
Wu Liang's lips curled into a grin, revealing a row of white teeth.
"Since you chose to tough it out on your own at the start, then stick it out to the end."
"I'm no saint. I won't change my conditions just because a few of your people died."
"If you cannot satisfy my conditions, I will not deploy a single soldier."
"However, I can support you in spirit. Keep it up, I have high hopes for you."
The six Female Leaders were once again kicked out of the Council Hall.
They stood on the bustling and clean stone road of the Black Rock Tribe, watching the people of the Black Rock Tribe passing by with happy and peaceful smiles on their faces.
Thinking again of their lost homes and their tribesmen struggling in the wilderness, who could die at any moment, a massive sense of sorrow and helplessness instantly overwhelmed them.
That evening, a scout rushed into the Council Hall.
"Lord Wu Liang! Urgent military intelligence!"
"Speak."
Wu Liang was standing in front of the sand table, checking the positions of the enemy and his own forces.
"Our scouts have discovered that the roland people have mobilized about five hundred troops, seemingly intending to conduct a final encirclement of the remnants of those six Tribes!"
"They are currently trapped in the Wild Boar Ravine area and won't last past tomorrow at most!"
Hearing this news, both Eliza and Wei Xian, who were present, changed their expressions.
"Wu Liang!"
"Liang!"
Wu Liang waved his hand, signaling them to stay calm.
"What is the attitude of the six chieftains?"
Wu Liang looked at the scout.
"Just as My Lord expected, the chieftains of the six Tribes sent word that they have all agreed to your demands!"
The scout was excited.
"They are all willing to submit and have agreed to all your conditions. They ask that you send troops to reinforce them as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Liang slapped the edge of the sand table with both hands.
"Very good!"
"If they knew it would come to this, why act like that in the beginning? Why put on an act? In the end, I still have to clean up the mess."
Then, Wu Liang looked at Akomann.
"Akomann, the time is about right."
"Pass down the order: Black Rock Army, assemble!"
"My prey cannot be snatched by others."