The ck Tortoise and Vermillion Bird group trained with their new equipment with Sakh''arran at the helm, guiding and observing them. Whenever Sakh''arran yelled amand, the soldiers executed it at almost the same time a few times but they weren''t in sync most of the times.


    There would be those who execute themand earlier orter than the others which prompted Sakh''arran to mete out punishments. Xiao Chen''s strict nature had rubbed off on Sakh''arran and the unfortunate warriors under hismand were taking the brunt of it.


    "Overhand! Restore! Underhand! Restore! Shield Drop! Restore! Shield Strike! Restore! Evade! Restore! Push! Restore"


    Sakh''arran''s stern voice echoed all over the training grounds, his soldiers sloppily trying to keep up with the pace of hismands.


    From a distance, Gur''kan just shook his head at Sakh''arran''s way of training his warriors. He knew that Sakh''arran was just trying his best to make those under him to be as strong, skilled and tough as they can be. Gur''kan followed the punished warriors under Sakh''arran running back and forth carrying with them their equipment, Galum''nor''s foolish smile caught his attention. The musclehead was enjoying the harsh training very much.


    "Alright! White Tigers follow my lead!"


    Gur''kan addressed to his men then demonstrated the new moves and began drilling his men. The White Tiger group were armed with the new pure iron spear along with the new shield, their way of attack was simr to those wielding the sword but they just have a few more moves that were based on the previous phnx formation.


    They would be the core of the formation, presenting a forest of spears to their enemies but unlike the phnx formation, they were more mobile and can fight separately and aren''t restricted to stay together with their peers to be effective inbat.


    They also had a secondary weapon which is the main weapon of the ck Tortoise and Vermillion Bird group, the long stabbing swords but they are no longer equipped with the two throwing spears.


    *****


    Xiao Chen was observing themanders train their soldiers at their discretion, he had encouraged hismanders to take the initiative more and not solely rely on him since in the future he won''t be around at all times and can''t see the situation of his men clearly in the battlefield unlike hismanders who is up close and personal with the enemies.


    In an obscure corner of the training ground, Adhalia watched as the Yohan First Battalion started their new training routine. She somewhat felt relieved that they are now training like how she knew, striking with weapons and not just enhancing their physiques.


    *****


    For two straight weeks, the Yohan First Battalion trained daily, adapting and getting familiar with their equipment. The battle band sounded the attention call upon the request of the chieftain.


    The beats of war drums and the sts of the battle horns filled the training ground, the groupmaders then directed their men and formed the standard battle line formation, twelve orc upfront and thirteen orc deep.


    With Xiao Chen giving orders to the battle band, one very long st of a battle horn sounded, followed by eight beats of the war drums that had a few second pause in between.


    Upon hearing themand being ryed by the battle band, the ck Tortoise group quickly changed their formation. Eight additional columns was then formed, the formation shifted from twelve orc frontage to a twenty orc frontage and eight orc deep.


    Xiao Chen designed certain tunes from the battle band to be yed to ry generalmands, the single long st from the battle horn was directed to the ck Tortoise group. If it is two long sts of the battle horn, it is for the Azure Dragon, three for the White Tiger and four for the Vermillion Bird group.


    Each tune corresponds to a certainmand. Xiao Chen designed them as such for his army to be mobile upon the battlefield and to be able to execute moreplex maneuvers.


    *****


    A few more weeks of training and getting familiar with themands, the Yohan First Battalion were now ready for realbat.


    With the general map infront of him, drawn by him with the help of the warg riders that he sent scouting around the Orcishnd near the Burning Sands. The location of the tribes were marked down on the map, including the terrains around it wheather it was a in, hills, streams etc.


    Xiao Chen must know the surrounding terrains in order for him to n safe routes ande up with certain strategies to tackle their enemies. With the information brought by the scouts that he had sent out, he was d that he had decided to reform the structure of his army earlier since the terrain to the east further from the previous location of the Galuk tribe was riddled with hills and rocky paths.


    The tight phnx formation wouldn''t have been effective in such a terrain and their cohesiveness would have beenpromised.


    ording to the scouts, their were two tribes close to them. The Falcon Feather tribe to the northeast and the Stone Viper to the east just a little further from the original location of the Galuk tribe.


    *****


    After four days of rest inorder for his warriors to rx their sore muscles a little bit and packing the necessary supplies, the Yohan First Battalion sortied out from the Yohan Tribe.


    Shields held on their left and their swords sheathed on their scabbards which was attached to their waist with the help of a fine leather belt designed by their chieftain. The spear wielders held their spears on their right hand, clutching it three fourth down the shaft, the longer part raised high up, like they were trying to pierce the clouds up above.


    Four columns of warriors marched forward, divided into their groups and toons. The first toon of the ck Tortoise group march at the forefrontmanded by Sakh''arran, followed by the second toon under the lead of Galum''nor.


    There was an almost eight feet distance between each toon, disciplined and orderly they march forward. Four toons upfront then followed by the Thyrians pulling wagons of supplies and extra equipments at the center of the marching line being handles by the logistics group under the lead of Kul''tha.


    "Keep the Thyrians in line!"


    Kul''tha shouted towards his men handling the Thyrians as they pull the heavy wagons. He was guiding those under him to keep the Thyrians close to the toon that they are following and keeping the creatures of burden at the same pace as the marching warriors.


    Just infront of the first toon belonging to the White Tiger group, Xiao Chen rode on a wagon with no equipment or supplies on board. The wagon carried a elongated thick b of wood which served as a table to Xiao Chen.


    On the makeshift table was the map that Xiao Chen had made with the information provided by the scouts, fastened to the makeshift table by small iron pins.


    Xiao Chen was in deep thoughts, his eyes staring intently at the map infront of him,mitting every detail into his mind. Across him was the curled up Grogus who was being closely watched by Aro''shanna.


    The chinking sounds of her battle axe as she try to sharpen its edges with a piece of whetstone was making Grogus have second thoughts of his idea in attempting to jump down from the wagon and make his escape.


    Aro''shanna nced at curled up Grogus then smirk at him


    "Sneaky bastard... I''m waiting..."


    she said, tempting Grogus to make his escape before continuing on sharpening her battle axe.


    Grogus'' eyes trembled, he lowered his head between his short legs then hugged his knees with his arms, curling into a ball.. He started to distract himself by thinking of food recipes that he had done and possible recipes that he can create, trying to get Aro''shanna''s smirking face out of his mind.