There can't be a Harvest Moon in the RimWorld.

"Once we cross the pass in the Ciora Mountains, our destination is Pelican Lake. We can find water and replenish our food supplies there, so it shouldn't be a problem," Gray said confidently.

After resolving the conflict between the Cedar Clan and the 460 Legion, Gray and I reached a conclusion.

Now that we had learned that the Brown Pool tribe was still alive and had occupied Mount Corilo, where they were facing off against the enemy, we adjusted our plans and decided to prioritize heading to the besieged camp.

The specific method was that I disguised the 460 Legion as a warrior team sent by the Cedar Clan to participate in the siege, and then took the opportunity to rescue our allies.

The Snow Cow Shaman showed great enthusiasm for this matter, and it seemed that he would fully support anything that went against the tribe.

The grudge of being chased and driven away back then is decades old, at least two generations ago, yet this old man still remembers it so clearly. No wonder he is the only scholar in the tribe...

The old man enthusiastically supported Gray's trip and even sent ten of the tribe's most elite warriors—I've always suspected that his use of "elite" was just a euphemism for unruly.

At the same time, he gave us all the camels he had stolen, and also provided enough food and equipment to get to the holy mountain.

These four-legged animals are better than those two-legged animals!

With the addition of the ten camels that the 460 Legion brought with them, I now have eighteen camels, each fully loaded with supplies and metal armor and still able to move with ease, providing great convenience for our journey.

I initially looked down on the equipment of the Cedar Clan. Their rudimentary wooden armor and spears were so cheap that they didn't even bother to cover them with iron. However, in order to disguise themselves as the Cedar Clan's troops, everyone changed into tribal cloaks over wooden armor and carried a wooden spear, and marched forward nimbly.

The tribal cloak is just a thick hooded vest worn to protect against sunburn; it's not particularly sophisticated. But the wooden armor is more interesting; Gray and I studied this piece of equipment together.

The wooden armor produced by the tribe consists of vests with wooden blocks and strips tied to the chest and back. According to our tests, it is quite effective against attacks from small-caliber firearms and sharp weapons, but it is almost like wearing nothing against blunt force trauma and rifle fire.

The fact that such an effect can be achieved with only a small amount of wood suggests that this equipment is not as primitive as we might imagine. The wooden armor's effectiveness in bearing weight is entirely consistent with the principles of armor making, leading me to speculate that this equipment likely has a more advanced prototype, with the wooden armor merely a cheaper imitation.

"Lions, can you keep up?"

I turned to Lion, who was all geared up and ready to go, and found him looking remarkably relaxed. He replied without a care in the world, "Absolutely no problem, sir! Compared to our usual weight training, this gear is like air! Walking fifty kilometers a day is no problem at all!"

The humans on this planet seem to have exceptionally good physical abilities; after training, they can easily complete forced marches, reaching the level of me and Gray.

"Boss, your men are all excellent! They're on par with the elite warriors of my Cedar Clan!" Gray exclaimed in surprise at their physical prowess. He had also seen the steel armor I had crafted; the 460 Legion's ability to fight fully armed was, in a sense, a rare and formidable force.

“These guys usually just slack off, I don’t know why they came this time,” I said suspiciously, then turned to Six-Wheel Face and asked, “Sixth Brother, didn’t I leave you guys here to guard the trade zone? Why did Burnett kick you out?”

Six-Faced was equally bewildered as he replied, "I don't know, sir... Ever since he met those kids, Burnett has been acting like he's been injected with adrenaline, saying things like he'd give his life to repay their kindness, leaving only Four-Legged Chicken to help with operations, and telling us we absolutely must catch up with you, sir, to protect your safety..."

It seems I rescued the children of Shisongzhuang, and that Burnett is so grateful that he's planning to follow Zhuge Liang's example and dedicate himself to the cause.

But Burnett is really overestimating himself. Who was Zhuge Liang, anyway?

Not only is he a renowned culinary inventor and a master of mechanics, but he's also a master of splitting forces for surprise attacks! Even if he has few soldiers and only Guan Yu left, he can still divide his army into three routes: one led by Guan Yu, one by Red Hare, and one by Green Dragon Crescent Blade! And if each army carries Yan Liang, a specialty of Hebei, the enemy would be terrified!

"May he live a long life."

I recited a sentence without any sincerity, and then asked Six-Wheel Face, "Where's the bald guy? Why isn't he with you guys?"

The sixth brother seemed even more confused than I was. "Sir, isn't Alexander with you?"

...Holy crap, I think I forgot about this guy!

The original plan was for him to reach the Cedar Clan ahead of time, and then they would meet up and set off together. But Gray hadn't seen anyone come. Could they have been eaten along the way?

That shouldn't be the case. I gave him the Tang Sanzang set and the full pilgrimage buff, so how could he have been eaten by a tiger as soon as he left Liangjie Mountain?

"My lord, I think I saw Alexander looking for a trade route map from Burnett the other day. Could it be that he was traveling that trade route?" The Lion had been holed up in the tavern lately, studying board games at the magical wooden chess table, and seemed to know something about it.

"A trade route map?" I asked curiously. "What's that?"

Zero Lion patiently explained, "It's a route map that merchants usually use when they travel. It records the location of various strongholds and forces, and each merchant has a copy!"

Wait!

Let's pause here!

I think I've seen this so-called trade route map before. It does indeed show trade routes with clearly marked roads, but it definitely doesn't mark the Fir Tree Clan—because they are a bunch of barbarians who don't understand trade.

The entire trade route described above extends northwards, making a large detour through the Noga Mountains, passing through settlements along the way before branching off. From there, the northern route leads to the temperate plains, while the southern route follows an ancient road across the desert to reach the steppes where tribes gather...

In other words, the bald guy who picked up the wrong map is probably heading north in a big circle, having to travel across most of the desert before he can reach his destination and meet up with us.

Hmm... it seems like the route taken on the pilgrimage to India back then was similar. They could have just crossed over from Xinjiang to India, but they ended up taking a huge detour, traversing the Hetao Plain and the Western Regions before finally reaching India...

I hope this planet is round too...

Chapter 494 Medieval Evangelion

What is needed to lead troops into battle?

Some people believe that as long as one is brave and capable in battle, that's enough. They seem to think that training an elite army, equipping them with armor and weapons, will allow them to act with impunity, and by occasionally using a scheme or trickery, they can dominate the world.

But is it really that simple?

Of course not. Putting military training aside, there's a whole host of things to learn just about leading troops. For example, how to set up camp, how to cook, how to deploy troops, how to conduct reconnaissance, how to maintain morale, and how to boost morale. If one comes from a military family, they need to learn about mountains and rivers, geography, astronomy, and physiognomy from an early age. You could say that whatever a tomb raider learns, a qualified general must also know—which explains why tomb raiders sometimes hold military ranks.

It wasn't that Cao Cao wanted to make tomb raiders into generals, but rather that only generals could be good tomb raiders!

For example, mountains and rivers are fundamental. You can't lead troops into battle without knowing the local landscape and cities, constantly asking questions like, "Hey, how do I get to America?" The other side's response would definitely be, "How would I know? Go ask the village chief!"

Stargazing and geography were even more important. Stargazing was for determining direction. When traveling in vast grasslands and deserts, only the stars could serve as a guide. Therefore, generals had to be able to distinguish locations to avoid the embarrassing situation where Wei Qing and Huo Qubing had already annihilated the enemy, while Li Guang was still lost and wandering around Yanmen Pass.

Knowing the terrain means mastering geographical knowledge. To set up camp, you must first find a good location and avoid giving the enemy the opportunity to trigger the passive skill of flooding the enemy's seven armies. At the same time, when digging wells, digging ditches, and building fortifications, you must also avoid granite mountains and mudslides.

If you, as a general, don't know any of these things, then coincidentally, you are exactly the same as me!

At the very least, one must have the ability to consult reliable people about the above issues, or find the correct answer from various opinions.

"Grey, do you think this plant is edible? It looks a lot like a fig..." I asked.

Gray watched for a while, then picked a fruit and put it in his mouth. He quickly spat it all out, his stomach made a strange rumbling sound, and his face turned pale.

Seeing Gray clutching his stomach and running into the bushes nearby, I knew the answer in my heart.

I casually tossed the bag of fruit aside and took out another unidentified fruit, waiting for the next person to come so I could continue my "Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs" plan.

The lives of leaders are often simple, unpretentious, and monotonous.

You see, although I don't understand these essential skills for leading troops, my men do.

What? You mean Gray doesn't understand anything?

But he's in good health!

The night was exceptionally enchanting. Because we were in a remote desert region with little civilization and camped on the shady side of the Chiola Mountains, the air was exceptionally fresh and clear. The slightly cool temperature made the surrounding scenery seem as desolate as late autumn.

The group of over forty people split into four groups, scattered around the area, lit bonfires, and set up simple tents to protect themselves from insect bites. Half of the group went to sleep, while the other half, like me, sat on the open ground, gazing at the sky, lost in thought.

Zero Lion eagerly approached with a piece of toasted wheat cake. "My lord, please eat something proper. These fruits are inedible; I've been meaning to tell you that. Oh, where is the chieftain of the Cedar Clan?"

Somewhat embarrassed, I picked up the suspicious fruit from the ground, took the crispy baked wheat cake, and started eating it with cold water.

"Lion, have you guys figured out our next route yet?" I asked.

Zero Lion nodded: "Don't worry, sir. We just studied the map in your hand and confirmed it. After we go down the mountain tomorrow, as long as we follow the coastline, we can enter the border area of ​​the Blue Lake Hermit Crab Grassland."

"sure?"

“It’s a sure thing! Although this route isn’t documented due to its rugged terrain and lack of commercial value, the Cedar Clan has memories of their migration and is certain that following the coastline will lead to Pelican Lake. After that, you’ll find an ancient asphalt road on the edge of the desert, where there’s also a trading post of the Aim Human Federation called Delvas Town.”

The lion's expression was exceptionally confident. "By then, we can hire guides on the spot and complete the rest of the journey!"

I patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction, "Well done, I'll teach you Gwent next time!"

Zero Lion excitedly returned to his tent and continued playing the card game he had invented with his men, shouting and making a great commotion.

The Lions' team was a bunch of crazy people, especially when playing games, they would stick together. The Four-Legged Chickens' team was a separate group, while the Six-Wheel Faces' team was much quieter. Half of them were fast asleep, while the other half had set up a pot around the campfire and were cooking some unknown dishes, which attracted the hungry people of the Cedar Clan, who eagerly went up to mooch a meal.

But I didn't feel lonely sitting alone at all—because I was surrounded by a large group of animals!

That's right, I brought the animals from the territory with me. At this moment, a dozen or so camels formed a circle, shielding the supplies from the cold winds from all around.

Meanwhile, four wild horses lay in the camel city, slowly nibbling at the withered grass on the ground and pulling out roots hidden underground to taste.

The two cheetahs were exceptionally alert in the darkness, and they also served as guards at night. Sometimes they would lie down and roll around at my feet, sometimes they would play and frolic with each other, and sometimes they would run to unknown dark places to catch small animals such as field mice that appeared at night.

The little horse with the emoji was particularly relaxed and had long since fallen into a deep sleep, its snores rising and falling like thunder from the mountaintop, making the savage suspect more than once that it was going to rain.

The sound terrified the two fighting chickens. They stood firmly on my shoulders, refusing to leave, and silently watched me continue working.

The fruits I collected along the way were no longer of any use, but I couldn't sleep through the long night, so I took out the armor of the 460 Legion and started painting on it with the red berries I had collected along the way. I painted a huge red cross on the front of each suit of armor, trying to turn them into medieval Evangelion warriors. Even if they couldn't win, they could still claim to be the Red Cross on the battlefield and be invincible!

If possible, I would also like to have them all dressed up as people who are striking wooden fish, holding prayer beads, wearing black gauze hats with crosses on them, claiming to be from Laoshan, and shouting "Amen" to everyone they meet.

There's nothing shameful about this behavior. The saying "If Odin fails, try Christ" originated from the Vikings. Archaeologists have also discovered several Thor's hammers engraved with crosses in Scandinavia, which were used as talismans and buried with the dead.

So the struggle over beliefs is all a facade; the real struggle is over interests. I know the jay is also caught in a tribal power struggle, and I just hope the Brownpool tribe can hold out a little longer so we have a chance to rescue her.

Keep it up, ally...

Chapter 495 Delvas Town

The next few days were uneventful, with each day repeating the routine of setting off at dawn, camping at noon, and setting off again at dusk. The food also changed from fixed rations to wild food that was collected everywhere. In addition, my superb fishing skills were the only thing that kept the morale of the troops after the high-intensity marches every day.

The card game developed by the lion also played a role, bringing joy to everyone during their daily rest at the camp—while also taking away everyone's food rations.

Even so, living in isolation in the wild for a long time, surrounded by desolate and repetitive scenery, caused the team to feel increasingly stressed and longed to find a populated place where they could eat, drink, and rest for the night.

With these feelings in mind, we quickly crossed the Ciora Mountains, followed the winding coastline, and then passed by the shimmering Pelican Lake, where we witnessed the spectacular sight of waterbirds soaring together.

...Afterwards, we had a meal of roasted bird meat. To be honest, the meat was a bit dry and had a strong odor. If we're talking about taste, chicken is definitely the better choice!

After I defeated a few tribal barbarians who were eyeing the fighting chicken, we set off again, refreshed, heading northeast along the dirt trade route by the lake, in search of Delvas Town, which we planned to use as a transit point.

…………

Beside the long-neglected dirt road stand two rows of equally old houses. The brick and stone walls have kept them sturdy to this day, but the erosion from the sun and wind in the desert region has exposed the structure of these rugged buildings, making them look dilapidated.

What makes these buildings even less impressive are the pitted and damaged surfaces and the marks of nailed-on planks.

The walls blackened by flames, the faint stains of blood everywhere, and the building signs studded with arrows all indicate that a major battle had recently taken place here, and the smoke of the war has not yet dissipated...

"Get out of here, you barbarian! If you come any closer, we'll shoot!"

Just as we were marveling at the state of battle damage here, many dark gun barrels emerged from the fortifications on both sides of the road, coldly pointing at us approaching in a tone devoid of any goodwill.

It was then that we discovered that the middle of these buildings was filled with waist-high roadblocks and rows of wooden barricades, with the bunkers connected layer by layer to form a hidden defensive fortification.

I immediately realized that most of the buildings along the road were abandoned, and the town's supposedly hospitable residents were probably hiding behind cover, trying to use Thomson Ripple to deal with us.

I hesitated for three seconds whether to shout "Ora ora ora ora" in greeting, but in front of the gun barrel I decisively used the French double-handed salute to show my indomitable military spirit.

"We are just passing businessmen! We mean no harm! Please put down your guns!"