Rise of the Horde

Xiao Chen was left again alone inside his tent to think. He needs to find a way to deny the centaurs and other creatures from invading inside his lands, especially the farmlands and the pastures. The annoying raids that kept happening again and again were starting to annoy him already as they just kept coming back, even if they drove them away.

The last message he delivered to the centaurs was clear, but it might not be effective in the long run, as the bulk of his army is not anywhere nearby. The Yohan First Horde, Ikarush was a few weeks' march to the south and busy establishing a foothold where they can recuperate and prepare for the invasion of Ereia and exacting Adhalia's revenge.

His brain gears started spinning fast as he tried to recall anything inside his head that could be employed to ward off those destructive creatures. A tenth of their livestock were already lost due to the frequent raids and more than a fifth of the crops were destroyed in the process.

"What to do? What to do? Just what is it? Something is missing... Barbed wire? Mine fields?" he kept muttering to himself as he started recalling every bits of knowledge that he possessed. "Barbed wires could be effective but they can just jump over it or destroy it quickly...hmmm.." he massaged his temples as he tried to think of a way to repel those raiders.

He was already suffering a lot of headaches from the many problems that he had to deal with. The establishing of their very own currency, the wages, the production of different goods that he hid in the kobold village, etc. He had a lot of things going on inside his mind and no one was around to help ease up his load.

The only things that Adhalia can help him with is when it comes to trade and management of his residents. Draegh'ana only knows things related to battles and war, and not management, just pure slaughter. That's where she excels at. Galum'nor, Xiao Chen, shook his head as he remembered that hulking orc who seemed to be enjoying his role as the trainer of the trolls and the few orcs who remained that weren't deployed to be a part of Ikarush.

Well, that huge orc surely loved watching those under him suffer and pushing them to their limits as he had no complex thoughts. If what he tells him to do, he executes everything according to what Xiao Chen orders him to do. None dared to question him and his way of training since he would easily bash them up when they challenge his authority. Strength rules and respect is earned, not given which Galum'nor earned already.

Xiao Chen kept muttering words to himself, which would surely make anyone who is witnessing him talking to himself alone to call him crazy. He stood up and started unfolding the many scrolls that he had on his table, searching for anything that he had already jotted down to make him remember what he was looking for.

One scroll unfolded by itself as it's contents was displayed under Xiao Chen's gaze. The scroll contained a list of ancient strange devices that were used in the history of his old world. He craned his neck and slapped his table hard, sending many of the scrolls off his table as they fall down to the ground in a pile of mess.

"Caltrops! That's it!" he said to himself as he remembered the many piles of concrete that were spread along the shores of modern cities and the scattered tank traps in their old military base, they were designed after them.

According to historical records, it was Alexander the Great and his Macedonian army who made used of caltrops first before the Roman Legions. They employed the use of it at the Battle of Gaugamela against King Darius III and his more numerous army. It was the decisive battle that paved the way for Alexander the Great to bring down the once mighty Persian Empire.

He took one empty scroll and started drawing ba rough sketch of a caltrop. Originally invented for breaking up cavalry charges, the caltrop consists of four spikes pointed 120 degrees apart. They are sharpened and joined together in such a way that no matter how they fall, there will be a spike pointing straight up. If a horse were to step on the point, it would cripple the horse and the centaurs were half of a horse or whatever creature they were half of.

Xiao Chen smiled mischievously as he now found a way to repel those pesky four hooves from ever coming back. Imagining them stepping on the caltrops, his smile grew wider and wider.

Ideas of the usage of caltrops in future battles also came flooding inside his mind as the wide sea of sands of the Ereian Kingdom would have a lot of cavalry units which are accustomed to the hot climate. Xiao Chen expected them to field a cavalry of camels since that is the most common steed in a desert area or whatever type of creature they have.

They could also be carried into battle with the baggage and can be deployed by simply throwing them around. Such devices would surely allow them to ward off enemy cavalry easily without engaging them in a battle. In an instance that his warriors would also get ambush, it could be used to create a quick defensive position by just scattering them in front of them.

Adding a few more descriptions, Xiao Chen made the design of his caltrops to have barbed spikes, which was similar to the spearhead of the javelins thrown by his Yurakks.

"Hehehehe...."

Xiao Chen giggled as his imagination went wild as he sees centaurs jumping around, howling in pain as their hooves get punctured by the caltrops that he will scatter around the farmlands and the pastures.

"Let's see if you will dare to come back again after suffering what I am preparing for you. Mwahahaha..." Xiao Chen laughed evilly as he finally can get rid of one of the things that is plaguing his minds and causing him headaches.

His thoughts were a mess as he was flooded with many things to think of and he forgot most of what he had learned because of too much stress and lack of sleep. He pulled many all nighters, and he was now suffering its consequences.

Nodding in satisfaction, he headed towards his bed as he is now at peace after figuring out a way to repel the raiders. He closed his eyes while smiling in satisfaction and it didn't take long for him to fall into the embrace of sleep as he really needed it after the many all nighters that he pulled.