The Vanguard of Durkes

Outside, Deboning’s face remained grim and silent. Porter offered him a sour plum. “Eat one, it’ll help you cool off!”

Deboning waved him away.

“Oh, come on, wasn’t this expected? Arges was bound to clash with Francis… but I never imagined their animosity would run this deep!” Porter adjusted his glasses. “Still, it should be fine. They might bicker, but neither of them would jeopardize the nation or its people. With a national crisis upon us, they’ll only squabble. Just endure it; consider it an act of benevolence!”

Deboning, still quite cordial to Porter, huffed, “I am a Grand Pontiff of the Divine Cult, yet I can’t even get through the gate! Arges truly deserves to be killed!”

Aliza, munching on dried beef, suddenly piped up, “Porter, when do we go to war? Aliza can’t wait to earn merits and become a high-ranking official!”

Porter chuckled. “What’s the rush? Our troops haven’t arrived yet. Let me see… Hmm, given their caliber, they’ll likely only make it here by the end of the month, just as the one-month mobilization order expires!”

Aliza counted on his fingers. “That’s still ten days away!” He was utterly disappointed, then worried. “They won’t be late, will they? I heard Marshal Arges is terrifying when leading troops; he’d kill someone for being a second late!”

“They won’t be late…” Porter tapped his own head. “As long as Captain Dud, the Quartermaster, doesn’t drag down the whole army…”

Inside the command post.

Arges sneered dismissively, pointing at a map of Lanning. “A mission? What important task could your ragtag army possibly handle?!” He gestured towards Durkes City in the southernmost part of Lanning and Tukus City in the north. “They should be thankful if your motley crew can even reach here within ten days without missing the deadline! Do you think your irregulars are the Sigurd Legion’s elite troops?!”

“Don’t worry, I know you’re hoping my army delays, so you can legitimately deal with me, but alas…” Du Chen spread his hands. “You’ll be disappointed—unless you’re so despicable as to order the provincial governors along the way to obstruct my army’s advance!”

“Do you take me for a contemptible scoundrel like yourself?!” Arges roared. “With the nation in crisis, I have no time for your petty political games! One word: ten days from now is the one-month deadline. If they don’t arrive, you’ll report to the military tribunal yourself!”

“No problem!” Du Chen turned to leave, thinking, *I have faith in the army Porter trained! They’ve already proven their capabilities against the Merfolk!*

Arges fumed, “Come back! Have you forgotten the military salute when dismissing yourself from a Marshal?!”

“My apologies, I’ll go learn it right away!”

Just then, Lieutenant General Zach knocked on the door. “Come in!”

“Marshal…” Zach glanced at Du Chen. “The outpost fifty li away reports that His Excellency Francis’s army has already entered the outskirts of Tukus City…”

Du Chen froze. *That fast? Porter’s trainees truly have some skill.* He raised an eyebrow, meeting Arges’s gaze.

Arges remained unmoved, scoffing, “A joke. The mobilization order was issued barely twenty days ago. Marching from Durkes City to here in twenty days? Only my Sigurd Legion could achieve that in Lanning! It must be a small vanguard force, nothing more!” He proudly met Du Chen’s stare. “A few capable generals arriving early doesn’t count. Your two Regiments, fifteen hundred men—even one missing, and it won’t be considered reported!”

Zach frantically signaled Arges with his eyes. “Marshal… all fifteen hundred men, from both regiments… they’ve all arrived!”

Arges paused, slightly stunned, then sneered. “Francis, your reputation as Lanning’s richest man is indeed well-deserved! How many Gold Coins did you spend hiring large transport vehicles this time? The military treasury won’t reimburse you for that!”

“So, they hired transport vehicles. No matter, any problem that money can solve isn’t a problem!” Du Chen retorted with a cold smile. “I’m spending my own money to serve the nation; that doesn’t violate military regulations, does it, Great Marshal?”

Zach quickly interjected before Arges could speak. “Marshal… there are no traces of any transport vehicles. They, they marched here on foot… and the forward scouts report that their marching speed is absolutely on par with any elite imperial unit!” He cupped his hands in a respectful bow. “Please arrange their encampment, Marshal!”

Arges looked at Zach, then at Du Chen. “I’ll go see for myself!”

The area around Tukus City was merely a vast expanse of dusty yellow roads. Now, from the southern road, a cloud of dust billowed, and a force, like a yellow dragon emerging from water, ran towards the city, meeting countless gazes from within and without.

“Whose troops are these?!”

“Black armor, red cloaks, lotus insignia on their shoulders… It’s the Durkes City Garrison! Heavens, they arrived ten days early?!”

“Impossible! Lord Francis’s army was formed when the Merfolk wreaked havoc, less than half a year ago! Look at them—these are clearly battle-hardened veterans!”

“Eh? Don’t you think something’s odd? Look, the ones running at the front are elite veterans, that’s not so strange. But the Quartermasters behind them… their killing intent is even heavier than the veterans’!”

The army arrived near the city’s outer camp, then suddenly, like an eagle retracting its wings, their eight-column formation compressed into four. The entire force, with an eerie elegance, became slimmer and twice as long, flowing into the main road that led straight to the city gate.

Reaching the open ground before the city gate, the formation expanded again. Fifteen hundred men, in just over ten seconds, perfectly arrayed themselves into a square formation ready for inspection. Thump! Thump! With a synchronized stomp, the fifteen hundred men stood tall and proud, utterly silent!

Throughout the entire process, not a single General gave an order…

Arges had already ascended the city wall. Seeing the army before him, his eyes suddenly lit up! As the Great Marshal commanding Lanning’s forces, he was a master strategist and could naturally discern the true strength of this army.

Du Chen’s eyes also gleamed. He quietly asked, “Porter, is this really *my* army?” Porter bit his finger, eyes wide. “Yes, it’s them. But… but are they *really* the army I trained?!”

Just then, the Troop Commander from the right flank of the formation strode out, approaching the base of the city wall, and saluted solemnly. “The Second and Third Regiments of the Durkes City Garrison report for duty, as ordered!” Immediately after, a squad of soldiers ran out behind him, neatly untying the packs on their backs. The Commander added, “The Durkes City Garrison eliminated bandit groups totaling five thousand nine hundred men along the way. Please verify!”

Porter swallowed sour plum after sour plum, his large eyes blinking as he whispered to Du Chen, “Did I hear that right? They marched *and* eliminated bandits, then arrived ten days early… Francis, did the Holy Church give them some kind of elixir?”

Du Chen gazed out, the chilling killing intent emanating from the entire formation making even him inwardly tremble. He quipped, “Marshal, my army has arrived!”

Arges was stunned for a long moment, then stiffly waved his hand. “Occupy the Third Camp Sector and set up camp!”

The Durkes City Garrison remained motionless!

Zach frowned and barked, “Enter the Third Camp Sector!”

Still, no movement!

Du Chen smiled faintly, staring at Arges, then ordered, “Durkes City Garrison, heed my command! Enter the Third Camp Sector and set up camp!”

“YES, SIR!”

A mountain-shaking, tsunami-like roar erupted simultaneously. The black-armored formation, like a flood dragon entering the sea, flowed into the camp sector. For a moment, the faces of the other ragtag army Generals turned ashen, and Arges’s face was livid!

Du Chen raised an eyebrow. “Marshal, can you now assign a mission to my Second Legion?” Arges’s mouth twitched. “Indeed, they are elite troops! But a force of fifteen hundred, no matter how elite, is still only two Regiments. If you could bring thirty thousand such troops, I might consider letting you lead the vanguard. But them…”

Du Chen cut him off. “Marshal, I understand. I’ll lead my troops to handle logistics and medical support!” With that, he glared resentfully at Arges, as if Arges had greatly wronged him, then turned and walked away!

As he walked, Du Chen secretly smirked. *Did my army take some kind of elixir? Hehe, but no matter how elite they are, I can’t send them to throw their lives away. Quartermasters… Hehe, safety first!*

Arges snorted. *Francis, that bastard! Hmph, I originally wanted to say that troops like yours are too good for the Second Army and planned to transfer you to a regular army unit to serve as a spearhead for surprise attacks and harassment. But since you’re so eager to be the Quartermaster, I’ll just go ahead and be the villain, letting you take on the lowest role in the army!*

On the city walls, several seasoned Saint Kaine Household Guards sighed inwardly. *What’s happening? The Lord and the Third Young Master argue every time they meet, and each time it’s worse than the last… If the Third Young Master and the Lord could join forces, how prosperous would Saint Kaine be?! Alas, the Third Young Master hasn’t been the Third Young Master for a long time now!*

Descending the city walls, Porter pulled Du Chen, rushing towards the camp; he was even more impatient than Du Chen.

Waving over the Troop Commander, Du Chen asked, “What happened? Why has my army suddenly become so powerful? Also, how did you manage to eliminate bandits *and* arrive here in twenty days?”

The Commander was taken aback by the question, glancing back at the logistics unit setting up camp. “My Lord, do you truly not know Captain Dud’s capabilities?”

Dud? To be honest, Du Chen really didn’t know much about his coolest godson’s military prowess…

Looking at Dud in the distance, clad in black armor and an iron mask, directing the logistics unit with a halberd, and the respectful gazes of the soldiers towards him, Du Chen only heard the Commander explain in the simplest terms: “My Lord, since Captain Dud took command a month and a half ago, he led three hundred men to eliminate three major bandit groups within the territory in ten days. Twenty days ago, upon receiving your orders, he led the Quartermaster… the logistics army ahead, without carrying any supplies whatsoever!”

“How did you manage without logistics?”

“Captain Dud said that carrying supplies would affect our marching speed, and the brothers were newly formed and truly lacked training… so he led the advance. Relying on intelligence provided by the Holy Church, he eliminated seventeen bandit groups of various sizes along the way. Our logistics and supplies were all plundered from the bandits—Captain Dud calls this ‘Wage War to Sustain War’! Our main army… actually struggled to keep pace with the logistics unit’s advance the entire time!”

Du Chen touched his nose, exchanging a speechless look with Porter…

But the Commander wasn’t finished. “Furthermore, Captain Dud captured two thousand four hundred prisoners along the way. Twenty-eight of them filled the roles of brothers lost during the various bandit suppressions. The rest were entrusted to local officials for escort back to the territory. Whether these prisoners should be executed or conscripted into the army, we await your command, My Lord! Also, five days ago, we seized two sacred artifact mortar cannons, and they’ve been brought here!”

Du Chen suddenly felt that someone’s words about ‘three thousand Elite Soldiers conquering the world’ might not have been a joke after all…

“My Lord, Captain Dud’s training methods are extraordinarily ingenious. From breathing techniques to battle formations and the sheer killing aura, it is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Therefore, I took the liberty of asking Captain Dud to train the troops on my behalf, which is why you see over a thousand brothers in this state today!” The Commander finished, then stated solemnly, “I request to step down from my position as Marching Commander and let Captain Dud take over!”

Porter shook his head, then ambled over to chat with Dud for a while. Upon his return, he wore an expression of pure bliss. “Francis, it seems I’ll have plenty of time for snacks now. What wonderful news…”

Porter relinquished command of the Second Legion, taking on the role of Marching Strategist instead. He further suggested giving Dud full authority and fulfilling all his requests! Du Chen, without a word, tossed Dud a slip of paper. *Write down what you need. If it can be bought, I’ll buy it for you. If it can be acquired, I’ll get it for you. If it can’t be bought or acquired… I’ll steal it for you!*

*Just train me an elite army!*

Because only truly elite troops can survive longer on the battlefield, can return home alive to see their parents, wives, and children! Only then could Du Chen dare to face the common folk who entrusted their sons and husbands to him!

Ten days passed in a flash. During these ten days, Dud diligently performed the Quartermaster duties Du Chen had actively sought for him by day, while by night, he led the troops tens of li away for intense training. The battle cries echoing through the night sent shivers down one’s spine!

In the first month of Fallen Gods 1280, at the Lanning Lord’s Alliance meeting in Tukus City, Arges personally took command of the Second Army. With his order, three hundred thousand troops marched towards the currently icy and snow-covered McAllen Great Plains!

The vanguard advanced majestically, while in the middle of the main army, Du Chen, with his fifteen hundred men—quite possibly the most elite troops among the three hundred thousand—were cooking and caring for the sick!

Heaven’s Ocean Pass was close at hand. Du Chen squatted among the soldiers, sharing steaming flatbread with them. “Hehe, I know you all feel a little slighted. You won’t find anyone stronger than you in this Second Army. But aren’t Captain Dud, Grand Pontiff Brook, Strategist Porter, and Commander Aliza all here with us? Don’t worry, you’ll have chances to earn merits…”

He had originally intended to secure a peaceful assignment, ensuring everyone returned home safely. But these brats didn’t appreciate it, Du Chen inwardly grumbled. Just then, Dus’s voice echoed in his Divine Sense, “Francis, the abductor and pursuer just fought again. The one who took your elder brother has escaped once more…”

“How many times has this happened? Any new news?”

“Never mind how many times. Fifth Brother, I just heard the pursuer shout something to the one who abducted your elder brother, just as he was about to be shaken off… you’ll definitely be interested in what he said!”