So, Bandak returned to New Uzhhorod and reported the matter to Shen Mu.
"Diesel Company Subway Station Entrance?" Shen Mu pondered, recalling that this subway station entrance was quite famous before the disaster, as the Diesel Company's headquarters were located there, and it was surrounded by a commercial street and a Shopping Mall, making it quite prosperous.
It was natural for there to be a subway entrance.
However, he also understood that the subway entrance Bandak mentioned now represented the Undead Monster that might appear at any time in the subway tunnel, and it was no longer a question of 'might', but of 'will' appear, possibly even Abyssal Demons or Hell Devil.
These were all monsters that posed a clear threat to his Uzhhorod.
"Lord Shen Mu, but there's no need to worry. Ten Holy Tree Knights and I have already checked the subway tunnel. They are all very ordinary Skeleton Archers or Skeleton Monsters."
Bandak shrugged his shoulders in response, his face devoid of extra expression, simply saying in a muffled voice, "If those Skeleton Monsters come out of the subway tunnel and into the desert, I have ways to repel them. If possible, I have always wanted to apply to you, Lord Shen Mu, to lead the Swadian Recruits, Swadian Commoners, and Swadian Militia to fight those Undead Monsters, so that our soldiers can grow sufficiently."
"Then leave these matters for you to decide, Bandak. I have great confidence in your work." Shen Mu nodded, not bothering with these minor details, as he said, he had great confidence in Bandak.
"Thank you for your trust, Lord Shen Mu." Bandak bowed his head again in gratitude.
As they talked, the sky gradually darkened.
In the western sky, the setting sun struggled to release its last glorious light, but its descent was inevitable. It could only force itself to flash one last extremely dazzling light before completely sinking into the Blue Star World.
Night had arrived.
'Buzz!'
Then darkness completely enveloped the entire Blue Star World.
Followed by the pervasive gray mist.
However, for Uzhhorod on the mound, these were not problems. They had already lit bonfires in time, and the patrol teams on the outer city walls held torches, illuminating the surrounding environment.
The entire mound was brightly lit, and the seemingly solidified darkness and gray mist could not completely erode the mound.
This was due to the protection of the Mount & Blade Rules.
The Mount & Blade Rules had spread here the moment New Uzhhorod was established, or rather, they had firmly taken root here like a point.
They repelled the blue star rules, repelled the spirit world rules, and also repelled the death spirit rules.
Only the Mount & Blade Rules existed here.
However, these Mount & Blade Rules had also actively absorbed some blue star rules and some spirit world rules, as the Mount & Blade Rules understood which rules were beneficial to them and which were significantly harmful, so they did not completely repel everything.
Or rather, the Mount & Blade Rules understood that they could only rely on the blue star rules and spirit world rules to resist the death spirit rules or other evil rules.
However, the Mount & Blade Rules still occupied the essential and absolute position.
Shen Mu once again came to the top balcony of the castle, looking at the Rodok Sharpshooters holding sniper crossbows around him, who had not rested and were still strictly guarding their posts, vigilantly observing the surroundings. He felt quite satisfied.
These Rodok Sharpshooters were formidable killers with a range of over 500 meters, and an effective range of up to 1 kilometer.
Within 100 meters, they could directly pierce through wooden planks three fingers thick.
And within 100 meters, they could also pierce through the thick fan-shaped shields of Swadian Knights and the best Mamluk steel shields equipped by Mamluks.
Not to mention, once within 50 meters, no matter who or what equipment, they could directly pierce with one arrow, achieving a terrifying one-shot kill effect.
This was why Shen Mu arranged all these Rodok Sharpshooters here.
After all, these Rodok Sharpshooters also wore heavy armor, with excellent defense. If those Wood Elves really dared to fight them, Shen Mu believed these Rodok Sharpshooters could gain a certain advantage.
After all, the equipment was here, the advantage of defending the city was here, and from a high vantage point, the outside was open wilderness, so they naturally had a good defensive advantage.
Moreover, the Rhodok Veteran Crossbowman next to these Rodok Sharpshooters also held heavy crossbows, which could similarly cause significant armor-piercing effects on armored units and terrifying lethal effects on unarmored units.
100 Rodok Sharpshooters, plus 100 Rhodok Veteran Crossbowman, plus 100 Swadian Skirmisher and 700 Swadian Militia.
A total of 1000 ranged archers.
And they were a combination of elites and ordinary archers.
Coupled with those melee soldiers and the Swadian castle of New Uzhhorod below, it was enough to make any enemy who dared to offend this place suffer greatly and drink their fill.
"Bandak, it's dark now. If my prediction is correct, the Undead Monster outside the mound who have noticed the new castle and human settlement here should naturally be attracted to this place."
Shen Mu suddenly spoke, smiling at Bandak, who was still observing the darkness outside: "Alright, I'll leave this to you. If you want the soldiers to grow, everything is up to you. I trust you."
Then Shen Mu patted Bandak's shoulder and returned to the castle hall to find a room and go to sleep.
At this time, the 50 Holy Tree Knights who followed Shen Mu also returned to the castle hall with him, but they consciously divided into several shifts. Not everyone went to sleep with Shen Mu; some still stood guard.
After all, even in Deherim, they would consciously arrange shifts for duty and night watch. Now, in this dangerous, newly established Uzhhorod, they would naturally raise their vigilance.
Of course, the 10 Holy Tree Knights who came with Bandak did not rest. They still stood behind Bandak, diligently protecting Lord Bandak, whom Lord Shen Mu personally instructed them to keep safe.
"Thank you for your trust, Lord Shen Mu." Bandak slowly clenched his fist and looked at the retreating figure of Shen Mu returning to the castle's main building, his face filled with emotion.
To allow a general to personally be responsible for a castle, and to grant him various command and promotion rights.
This was essentially equivalent to enfeoffment.
And for Bandak, who had always taken commoners as his protected objects, the current situation brought him one step closer to becoming a tribune.
This further represented that he was one step closer to his ideal.
"What I want to create is a world without exploitation, where people can live and work in peace, and where there are no nobles or lords oppressing commoners. Although this is absurd, ever since I met Lord Shen Mu, I have seen the benevolent and equal light shining on Lord Shen Mu."
Bandak slowly reached out and touched his heart, his gaze towards Shen Mu becoming even more reverent.
Almost fanatical worship.
Of course, Shen Mu, who was already asleep, did not notice that new dialogue boxes had popped up after he fell asleep.
Ding! Your general Bandak's trust in you has increased even more; he has completely opened his heart to you!
You can now bestow skills upon this general!
But it doesn't matter; he will see these dialogue boxes when he wakes up, and Shen Mu will then deal with them accordingly.
In a version where every single character is correct!
And this also represented Bandak's almost fanatical faith in Shen Mu.
This was a form of recognition.
Absolute loyalty means being willing to die for Shen Mu with one's own life.
But if one's ideals and aspirations can be realized through the person one serves, then it is no longer merely a question of ordinary loyalty or disloyalty, but a form of faith.
This is the feeling Bandak now has for Shen Mu.
"Alright, now I need to gather those 200 Swadian Commoners and 700 Swadian Militia."
Bandak thought for a moment. Currently, Uzhhorod had 200 Swadian Commoners and 200 Swadian Militia that were sent when it was first established.
Plus the 500 Swadian Militia dispatched by Shen Mu.
Together, they formed the current low-level soldier system.
However, as for these Swadian Militia, with a total of 700, Bandak did not want any other arrangements for them. The reason he called them out was also to escort these Swadian Commoners.
That's right, Bandak wanted to level up all 200 Swadian Commoners tonight.
It would be even better if these 700 Swadian Militia could also be upgraded.
After all, after Swadian Militia upgrade, they become Swadian Light Infantry, excellent core forces equipped with chainmail, sword and shield, and spears. They are qualified regular troops and soldiers in the Swadian Kingdom, and an important foundation for forming the regular army.
Although they lost their ranged attack capabilities, the hunting crossbows only had a range of 50 meters. If they really clashed with those Wood Elves or the Skeleton Archers in the Skeleton Legion, they might not gain much advantage.
It would be better to directly upgrade all of them into Swadian Light Infantry, raise their shields, rely on the infantry helmets on their heads and the chainmail on their bodies, charge forward to approach the enemy, and engage in close-quarters combat.
In terms of close-quarters combat, Bandak had considerable faith in these Swadian Light Infantry.
After all, after losing the Rhodok infantry and ranged Crossbowman provided by the Rodok Kingdom, the Swadian Kingdom could still maintain the initiative, although it relied on the Swadian Heavy Cavalry and Swadian Knight. It was also inseparable from the infantry and Crossbowman system, which were equally well-equipped and could appear in formations and batches.
Therefore, although Bandak did not think highly of the Swadian Kingdom's infantry and Crossbowman, he felt they were acceptable. After all, it was understandable that the infantry and Crossbowman in the Swadian Kingdom inherited their technology from the Rodok Kingdom.
With the powerful heritage of the Rodok Kingdom, even if their strength was poor, it couldn't be too bad. At least they were at a medium level across the entire Calradia continent.
Not strong, but not weak either.
This, coupled with the strongest plain cavalry units, the combination of Swadian Heavy Cavalry and Swadian Knight, made the Swadian Kingdom capable of defending cities, successfully attacking cities, and even more invincible in field battles.
"If it weren't for King Harlaus of the Swadian Kingdom causing trouble everywhere, arbitrarily dismissing nobles and stripping lords of their titles. Perhaps the Swadian Kingdom would have already forced the surrounding kingdoms to submit." Bandak thought of the 'wise' King Harlaus, a scornful smile appearing on his lips.
And this King Harlaus was also the kind of noble he most detested.
Arbitrarily oppressing commoners, wantonly exploiting villagers, and even wantonly oppressing merchants and traders, completely disregarding ordinary people.
Even minor nobles and knights, and even the great nobles, seemed to be treated by this King Harlaus as his personal servants, casually summoned and dismissed, their identities arbitrarily stripped, and even arbitrarily exiled, all for the sake of a tiny bit of profit and a small amount of territory.
"But if the Swadian Kingdom were under the command of Lord Shen Mu, then perhaps it could achieve a new life. And not just the Swadian Kingdom; if the Rodok Kingdom, Nords, and Vigia Kingdom, as well as the Kujit Khanate and Sarrand Sultanate, all united around Lord Shen Mu, then perhaps the prestige of the Empire could be restored."
Bandak still remembered the lingering power of the Empire that once ruled the entire world.
And under the Empire's rule, people lived and worked in peace, and although there were occasional conflicts, they did not affect the overall situation.
The chaotic wars Calradia was currently facing were not the mainstream during the Empire's era.
People could all get their jobs, all had their own houses, and the wages they received were enough to eat whatever they wanted, all living very well.
At this moment, Bandak looked at the 700 Swadian Militia who had gathered, and the 200 Swadian Commoners, each holding a wooden stick, all looking bewildered and at a loss.
A resolute expression appeared on his face: "Following Lord Shen Mu is absolutely the right thing to do." (End of Chapter)