Way of Overlord
Chapter 146: Hunting

Chapter 146: Hunting

A week had passed since Aeryon first issued the order to raid, and the results were already apparent.

Hundreds of villages had been ransacked and pillaged.

However, a development occurred that Belarion and Mayeux had not anticipated.

Initially, there were only eight thousand barbarians riding southward in the initial attack.

But as time passed, more and more barbarians seemed to be converging on Yan territory.

Mayeux, who had taken a moment to rest after capturing a village and its people, grew concerned about the sudden influx of warriors from the rear.

This newfound urgency stemmed from a recent discovery.

A few hours earlier, Mayeux had sent scouts to investigate when he noticed a nearby village was engulfed in flames.

It was then that he learned about the arrival of horse riders from the Duhai tribe. The revelation left Mayeux in shock.

It was only then that Mayeux realized that Aeryon had changed his plan before riding southward.

The situation was becoming increasingly complex, and Mayeux needed to communicate with Aeryon to understand the evolving strategy.

Most people thought that Aeryon idea of riding to Yan, taking over Nurshira is already bold action that bordered on recklessness.

But to Aeryon, he felt that what he did is not enough. So, before he went, he sent a message to the tribes that bordered the Wall of Yan.

He sent messengers to Sordkazan tribe and ask them after their battle with the Tuvan tribe, don’t they have a lack in their resources?

After their victory against the Tuvan tribe, their borders had also changed as they now share area of influence bordering with other tribes that they did not border before

Now, Sordkazan bordered Utgard and Korun on the western side and they border the Esbizuk tribe on the east.

For the moment, the Sordkazan tribe would not expand too much as they would need time to reassess the danger they now have and digest all the gains that they had since conquering the Tuvan tribe

Hence, Aeryon suggested that they should find another method to gain resources. And what is the method that he proposes?

Raid Yan dynasty. Raid the northern regions.

Aeryon wasn’t content with just the Sordkazan tribe.

He extended his reach to other tribes, sending messengers to the Esbizuk tribe as well. Esbizuk tribe have also uses up many of their supplies during their expansion of the eastern region of the Southern Great Steppe.

Hence, they urgently needed resources and people

Like the Sordkazan tribe, Aeryon pointed the solution to this problem to Yan Empire.

Furthermore, he didn’t forget the Duhai tribe, bound by honour to fulfill their duties to their liege tribe Brolgadhr and Durka and his sons ride toward the south, probably the moment they get the message

and Mayeux was surprised to know that Aeryon even reached out to the Khagai tribe, known for their winter attacks on Western Zhou.

Instead of Western Zhou, Aeryon pointed an easy target for Khagai to replenish their supplies and train their warriors.

Yan.

All of the messages basically could be summed up into a few sentences and that is, riches abound in Yan empire. Ride with your horses and take all by the virtue of strength!

All these tribes received messages from Aeryon, though he couldn’t be certain whether their chiefs would commit their forces.

Aeryon was gambling on the possibility that when the news of Brolgadhr victory in the Yan Empire spread, it would stir the chiefs of these tribes to join his cause.

Mayeux instantly knows the other benefit of doing this

"Forming a coalition, uniting the Marynku’ he muttered when he got the full story of why there are so many horse riders from the Great Stepp raiding into the lands of Yan.

Mayeux actions, successfully taking down the villages and small towns surrounding Nurshira, sent a clear message that Nurshira is poorly defended.

Other tribes had harboured the same fear that launching an attack might provoke the full might of the Yan dynasty against them.

They still believed in Yan military prowess due to the dynasty’s propaganda.

However, news of Aeryon audacious raids in Yan’s northern territories quickly spread.

The allure of such rich pickings was too great for these tribes to resist, and they began their own raids toward the south, their actions influenced by the Brolgadhr tribe campaign.

Mayeux could not help but laugh

"My chief is truly brilliant. He even managed to draw all these tribes into his grand plan. Now, there is more power to confine the city. As long as my chief could unite these forces, then even Nurshira could be taken down" he thought to himself.

Mayeux stepped out of his tent and gazed upon his soldiers.

The journey to Nurshira is drawing near, and he took a moment to catch his breath and rest his men around here.

Mayeux observed as plumes of smoke billowed into the sky from the warriors’ camp.

It is a calculated move meant to instil fear in the hearts of the people of Nurshira.

He wanted them to believe that a formidable force is fast approaching, one they would be hard-pressed to repel.

"Let their anxiety grow," Mayeux muttered to himself, emphasizing the psychological aspect of warfare.

He issued orders for more smoke signals, creating an illusion of a much larger army. Deception, in this case, is a vital weapon.

To him it is like hunting. Even when hunting, you sometimes have to deceive your prey so that you would save your time and make sure you could hunt more effectively

Mayeux aimed to make the people of Nurshira believe that a massive invasion is imminent, inducing more panic and disarray.

His scouts had already reported back, confirming the mounting fear among the city’s inhabitants upon hearing of the Steppe warriors’ advance.

Mayeux knew that, in the art of war, sowing confusion and fear could be as effective as any physical assault.

He had many gains.

But there is also a few loss

A sigh escaped his lips as he considered the losses they had incurred so far.

"I’ve lost a few good men," he muttered to himself, a hint of regret in his voice.

The casualties numbered around three hundred, a significant toll.

However, when compared to the thousands of captives they had taken during their raids on numerous villages, it seemed like a small sacrifice.

Mayeux knew how to make the most of this captured population, and he had plans in mind for their use in the upcoming expedition.

Some he uses as intelligence gathering.

Those who surrendered and were knowledgeable about the region, customs, and people were invaluable for providing insights into the local geography, Yan’s infrastructure, and potential weaknesses.

They act as guides during the invasion, helping Mayeux navigate unfamiliar terrain.

And some captives serve as cultural intermediaries, helping to understand and communicate with the local Yan population.

This could be crucial for diplomacy or coercion tactics.

And one of his other methods is using them as human shield

Mayeux uses this effectively. He places these captives in the front and even uses it to make the people hesitate when he attack villages and town.

some captives would be strategically placed to deter Yan forces from taking aggressive actions. This would buy time for the raiding party.

Mayeux had sues such tactic for three times already and it works wonderfully.

And the rest of the captive, the Captives who is not fit for combat would be employed as labour for the raiding party.

They have to carry supplies, help set up camps, and perform other logistical tasks, thereby lightening the load on the warriors.

And the other methods that Mayeux use is making them act as decoy

Mayeux used them as a vanguard in decoy maneuvers. They divert enemy attention away from the main forces or create confusion on the battlefield.

"But most of my men is lost during the initial fight at the wall." He thought to himself and regretted it is a bit.

He still remember that battle from a few days ago

Mayeux led his raiders toward the Wall and even before they arrived Mayeux knew that he need to take the wall with tricks and deception

Because if he did not do that, it would be harder for him later.

Their target: the imposing Wall of Yan, guarding the northern borders of the Yan dynasty. As long as Mayeux could neutralize the defenders of this wall, then they do not have to worry about their rear.

The wall itself was a formidable fortification, but the warriors and the horse riders from the Steppe were not to be underestimated.

As the raiders approached the Wall, Mayeux make the strategy

Mayeux set his sights on a cunning plan. he knew the defenders of Yan could be lured into a trap, and so he began his ruse.

Mayeux first order was to build

He is unlike the people of the Steppe that does not know how to create siege weapons.

he had learned many architectural skills from the books that his father and his grandfather told him to read so he could build siege weapons

But of course, he could not do it alone and he could not erect it in such a swift manner. But he did not really have to create the real ones

He just have to make the Yan defenders think it was the real thing

He erected siege engines, wooden constructs that mimicked the tools of war, creating the illusion of a massive siege force amassing outside the Wall.

The Steppe raiders are skilled in the art of deception, and this was their grand performance.

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