I’m a Rebel in Another World

Chapter 25: The Great Retreat

Seven days had passed. These serf soldiers could now run while maintaining formation, except for a few particularly foolish individuals who still mixed up their units. The rest had basically learned to follow their own phalanxes.

During this period, not only did the Allied Forces mock these serf soldiers who only knew how to run, but even many within the Allied Forces ridiculed the running training of the serf soldiers, privately calling Fabio the "Running General."

However, Fabio didn't care about any of this. He continued leading his troops in daily runs around the main camp. What began as running bare-chested gradually evolved into adding equipment, turning into weighted running.

During this period, not only did the Allied Forces mock these serf soldiers who only knew how to run, but even many within the Allied Forces ridiculed the running training of the serf soldiers, privately calling Fabio the "Running General."

Without systematic training, ordinary people simply couldn't complete five kilometers. Yet these serfs here could easily run five kilometers while maintaining proper breathing and pacing rhythms.

Henwil believed this was partly because people here indeed had slightly better physical constitutions than in his previous life, but another more crucial factor was that this was a feudal society where the vast majority relied on their own two legs for transportation.

In his previous life, humans had various means of transportation, lacked exercise, and had significantly degraded physical capabilities. One had to remember that in ancient times, humans could conduct raids over ten kilometers to hunt, literally exhausting those grass-eating animals known for their running endurance.

According to Henwil's calculations, a serf soldier wearing light armor, carrying weapons and a day's supplies, could easily run seven to eight kilometers in one go. In Henwil's plan, as long as this serf army could maintain formation while running five kilometers, they would already be qualified.

As long as they weren't facing cavalry units, any Allied Forces troops pursuing them for five kilometers would lose the ability to launch further attacks.

The opposing forces still occasionally erupted into small-scale battles, but the Allied Forces side no longer deployed serf soldiers for combat, instead sending regular troops to the front each time.Fabio's condition for accepting the rearguard mission was that his troops wouldn't be sent to the battlefield during this period.

After half a month of probing skirmishes between both sides, the Allied Forces had begun preparing for withdrawal.

It started as an ordinary day, with what should have been another thousand-man battle. But as both sides gradually increased their commitments, the number of combatants swelled to nearly ten thousand.

Then, the Allied Forces suddenly deployed several legions into the battlefield. Before Allied reinforcements could arrive, the engaged Allied legion had been completely annihilated.

The Plains City Grand Battle had officially erupted!

A total of two hundred fifty thousand troops from both sides began bloody slaughter within and outside the city walls. The fighting continued for four full days, with both sides suffering losses but no clear victor emerging.

Yet having no victory was already a defeat for the Allied Forces. This wasn't a tactical failure, but a strategic-level defeat!

Withdrawal had become inevitable!

On the evening of the fifth day, two Allied Forces legions had already taken advantage of the darkness to leave the camp and retreat southward first.

The opposing forces still occasionally erupted into small-scale battles, but the Allied Forces side no longer deployed serf soldiers for combat, instead sending regular troops to the front each time.

Seeing that four legions still remained stationed in the Allied Forces camp, nobody wanted to rashly attack these cornered beasts.

Tonight, Obiken was preparing to withdraw with the last regular legion. He didn't meet with Fabio again before leaving.

By now, Fabio's serf army had undergone significant upgrades - nearly twenty thousand armored units, plus over twenty thousand ordinary serf soldiers.

After half a month of probing skirmishes between both sides, the Allied Forces had begun preparing for withdrawal.

With anxious apprehension, Fabio followed Henwil's plan. At dawn, he still led groups of serf soldiers in scattered formation, running around the camp perimeter.

Meanwhile, plenty of cooking smoke still rose from the camp, with sentries on guard, patrolling cavalry, and armored soldiers training - everything appeared no different from the previous day.

Henwil didn't join the running, instead going to the quartermaster's department to inventory all usable materials. The Allied Forces withdrawal had taken many supplies, but this camp was simply too massive, leaving behind considerable resources that Henwil needed to sort through for useful items.

Then, the Allied Forces suddenly deployed several legions into the battlefield. Before Allied reinforcements could arrive, the engaged Allied legion had been completely annihilated.

Now Henwil had the large number of elderly and weak remaining in camp making flatbreads while simultaneously gathering all carts to modify their wheelbases, transforming those large wagons into smaller carts.

Additionally, remaining medical supplies needed sorting and organization.

This day finally ended amidst somewhat frantic busyness. The Allied Forces still showed no intention of attacking, apparently not yet realizing the Allied Forces had taken advantage of the night to withdraw.

The next day, Fabio only took those scattered serf soldiers for one run. By evening, he had everyone in camp eat one final lavish meat meal - since these supplies couldn't all be taken anyway, they might as well enjoy them now.

Henwil found Fabio: "We leave after nightfall!"

Yet having no victory was already a defeat for the Allied Forces. This wasn't a tactical failure, but a strategic-level defeat!

"We can establish defensive positions at Six Bay Mountain and continue holding there! Also, take all gold, silver, and treasures and scatter them throughout the camp!"

"You want to delay pursuing troops by having them search for treasure in the camp? But we need to burn the camp! There are still many supplies here we can't leave for the enemy!"

Henwil said helplessly: "These supplies are unimportant! Leaving the camp means the enemy must divide forces to explore and occupy it, reducing the numbers pursuing us! Sir, your military pledge only requires ensuring pursuing troops don't catch the main force within two days! As long as we complete this mission, nobody will care about minor details!"

On the evening of the fifth day, two Allied Forces legions had already taken advantage of the darkness to leave the camp and retreat southward first.

After nightfall, the camp sprang into action. Under the protection of Fabio's ten-thousand-plus running troops, over twenty thousand serfs drove thousands of carts southward in a gradual withdrawal.

Fabio had organized several retreat drills already, but actual implementation remained chaotic - though still far better than a complete rout.

After traveling through the night, Fabio only gave the order to rest at dawn.

Seeing that four legions still remained stationed in the Allied Forces camp, nobody wanted to rashly attack these cornered beasts.

"Afternoon! The Allied Forces will notice something wrong in the morning, but they'll need time for cautious probing. They probably won't enter the main camp until noon. Then treasure hunting and looting will likely occupy them until afternoon! With good luck, they might not make proper moves until evening."

"But even with another day's travel, we still won't reach Six Bay Mountain! Cavalry pursuit wouldn't need a full day!"

"Cavalry are valuable - they won't charge fortified positions recklessly. That's why we're placing the new troops at the rear. The pursuing cavalry won't be too numerous anyway; they'll just try to maintain contact with our tail, not daring to actually engage!"

Everything unfolded exactly as Henwil predicted. By evening, scattered reconnaissance cavalry appeared behind them. Seeing the organized running troops maintaining formation while marching, they didn't even attempt probing attacks.

They just sent a few riders back to report, while the remainder followed at a distance, always maintaining a posture ready to turn and flee at any moment.