Dom was soon travelling West on the Calm River on one of the smaller Bireme that had been left behind. It was slower than the Trireme, but the distance to Mountview would only take them a few hours and all of the Trireme were either training or dispatched to Gan Ning already. Subutai had travelled with him, keen to check on the progress with Gan Ning, Xun You and Tomyris as well.
After travelling West for over an hour, having passed the old location of the Town of the Gluttonous Chief and some large sections of forest to the north and open plains to the south, they passed the newest Fort in Riverside. To the south of them was the now towering Westwood Fort, a small dock attached to it for quick resupply. The Fort had been built by Centurion Percennius and his unit, with tall wooden walls built from the trees from the Red Woods in the south.
On top of the wooden walls, were four watch towers in each corner, with Legionaries alert and looking westwards towards the unexplored world beyond. A Legionary noticed the approaching Bireme, waving in greeting as the clearly marked ship with it's Sabre Tooth Flag travelled past. Crew from the ship waved back and jokes were shared between the Legionaries on the wall and the Bireme's crew.
"They've done a good job." Dom commented to Subutai as they travelled past.
"It's impressive isn't it. Sun Ce is building something similar in the North. We were planning to build a wall from the Fort to the Mountains that create the Red Hare Valley, it will take us time but Percennius has already began chopping down wood to create a temporary wooden wall." Subutai replied proudly.
"With Forts like this surrounding our territory, we should have good visibility of our borders." Dom agreed as the Bireme kept travelling towards the Fork that split the Calm River.
"We just need to maintain strong communications, and have forces within a days march to each area to reinforce if they come under attack." Subutai explained, "However, if we are looking to only have Western borders by land and the Mountain Pass to the North, then we are in quite a good position."
"We just need to increase our navy." Dom replied, wondering what the best way to do it was. They had the ships building, but not the crews.
"Hopefully we have a navy related Golden Token Mission?" Subutai questioned, "We can always hope."
"I'll need to recall some of the Ships as well before I launch the mission!" Dom realised out loud, "I hadn't thought of that."
"The bigger we grow, the more problems that will arise." Subutai laughed.
They finally approached the Fork in the River, that either continued Westwards in to lands unknown or headed North towards Tongpai Lake. To their right was Mount Calm River, a towering mountain that gave Riverside a natural barrier to the West and an abundance of resources that could be mined. The Bireme took the North path on the Fork, heading north and around the large mountain towards the Mountview Fort.
"It's peaceful isn't it." Subutai commented as they headed North. The only sounds being from moving water beneath them and the occasional bird that flew over head. "I have travelled much of the world, but I feel like this is my favourite place yet."
Dom didn't disagree, it felt strange travelling on the Bireme up the wide river, surrounded by forest on each side. There was the occasional sign of large fish beneath the current and the occasional face of a deer or other small animal as they sipped from the fresh water.
Another hour passed before the scenery began to change, Trees had been felled, leaving large spaces of tree stumps. Men could be seen cutting down more Trees of the Silver Forest, whilst Warriors either helped or stood nearby keeping watch. Large piles of felled trunks were stacked together further in shore as a space, similar in size to Riverside, had been cut free of the forest.
At the centre of this open space, beside the shore, was a large stone Fort. Similar to the one they had discovered in Tongpai Town. However, the walls had been made higher with wood and the walls were manned by serious looking Slingers that walked along them. Beside the Fort was a small dock, that had a merchant ship currently being loaded with wood that had been felled.
"Mountview Fort." Subutai commented proudly, "They have cut down a lot more forest since my last trip."
Dom was impressed by the amount of work that had been completed. Beside the Fort was a large row of wooden houses that had been constructed, accommodation for both the Civilians that were working here and the additional Warriors from Tomyris and Gan Ning's forces. There was also temporary stables, that were currently housing some of the Batavi's horses that were powerful enough to swim in the River. Further up the River, Dom could see the outline of one of the mighty Trireme, currently anchored side ways in the River so that it would slow the approach of any ship coming from the direction of Tongpai Lake. Not that any ship other than a Riverside ship should be coming their way.
"It will be a great location to build a Town once it's been cleared." Dom replied to Subutai, the River was full of fish and the felled land was fertile and perfect to grow food on. It was naturally protected by the River, and would become a key defensive City from anyone travelling towards them from the North West or Tongpai Lake.
"I agree, I don't think it will be the most popular for people to move to, it will be secluded and a frontier City until the Silver Forest has been cleared more. I have arranged with Lars that in the future, we will direct the Lumber Jacks to cut routes directly here around the Mountain and direct through the forest. Hopefully we will have an easy path to traverse then and it will become a more attractive Town for migration." Subutai explained. "The Fort will have to stay here though, it is a key location."
"If Crassus and Shang Yang have their way, we could base a defensive army here and have their families live in the attached City." Dom decided. Believing this to be a good way to increase the population of the future Town.
"I do not disagree, but I want to keep the forces rotating. Otherwise a permanent defensive army will be week in comparison to our offensive ones." Subutai replied, understanding Dom's thoughts, but having his own.
The Bireme soon arrived at the small dock, arriving on the opposite side of the long wharf to the Merchant Ship. Some workers quickly placed a ramp on the ship, whilst Dom and Subutai prepared to disembark. In the distance, Dom could hear some commotion taking place between some Warriors that were outside of the Fort, the liveliness breaking the peaceful feeling from the relaxing views.
"Our mighty General has returned!" Dom heard from below, as Gan Ning approached excitedly.
"And he brought a guest!" Tomyris laughed from beside him, nudging Gan Ning in the ribs as Dom's head appeared.
"Welcome Lord Lazarus!" Gan Ning welcomed, "You have been missed, come and see Mountview Fort."
As Dom stepped off the ramp and clamped Gan Ning's arm, Tomyris ordered a nearby Warrior to go and bring the other Generals and Xun You who were currently spread around the Fort. She then gave Dom a tight hug in greeting, ignoring any hierarchy that had formed in the time they had been together.
"It's good that you are back." Tomyris said seriously, "There is much to be done and I knew you wouldn't want to miss out. Let's head to the War Room and I will show you."
Dom turned to Subutai, who shrugged his shoulders as they followed Tomyris and Gan Ning in to the large Fort.
...
Xun You was currently bent over the map that was spread across the room, as Dom and Subutai entered behind Gan Ning and Tomyris. Beside him was Lu Fang who was pointing at different parts of the middle and explaining something to him. Xun You looked under pressure, his normally relaxed face seeming to be stuck in thought.
"I am sure that it is here or here, but I have ordered my Spartans there to keep an eye out." Lu Fang explained seriously.
"Have we missed anything exciting?" Subutai asked, interrupting their conversation. Both Xun Yu and Lu Fang looked up and smiled weakly at the group as they entered.
"Lot's." Xun You replied seriously as he walked round the table and grasped arms with Subutai and Dom. His stress levels seeming to drop now that Dom and Subutai had arrived. "When Guo Sheng arrives, I will show you everything, but we need to prepare for a fierce battle."
"Is it that bad?" Dom asked as he approached the map, a drawn and detailed version of the forest that covered from Riverside, to Mount Calm River and then to Tongpai Town's location. Areas had been marked with crosses or circles.
"Yes it is." Xun You explained as he headed back round the table towards the Map. "Whilst we wait on Guo Sheng, I'll explain our findings."
"He shouldn't be long, he was briefing one of our units as you were arriving." Tomyris commented as everyone gathered around the map.
"I had to ask him to do something for me." Lu Fang apologised to Tomyris, who didn't seem to mind.
"So what has been happening?" Dom asked, his impression that everything had been smooth so far from his update the previous day, was now eroding away.
"We started to push our clearance in to this final area." Xun You began, "So far we haven't discovered much remnants of the Type 3's that we defeated. Some clues here and there and some abandoned camps in the Cave systems that Tomyris discovered. However, as soon as we began to enter this area things changed. We found remanent of battle on the trees, scorched parts of the ground and some dried blood stains."
As he talked, the doors to the meeting room opened and Guo Sheng entered, his face was a bit pale and he nodded his head at Lu Fang before greeting Subutai and Dom. He headed beside Lu Fang and whispered in his ear something, before standing beside him.
"We have found a survivor." Lu Fang explained, before noticing the looks on people's faces, new news even to Tomyris and Gan Ning. "A human survivor!"
"Of Tongpai Town?" Subutai asked, leaning forwards with a confused look on his face.
"No, a human from the Town that is supposed to be located in this area." Lu Fang explained, pointing to the empty part of the map. "From our conversations with those in Tongpai Town, there was knowledge of a Town within the forest, but they had heard little from them and believed them to be isolationists. With the internal corruption within Tongpai Town, the Forest hadn't been overly explored so we were unaware if this Town even still existed. It does."
"When did you find the survivor?" Subutai asked, a slight tinge in his temper as he hadn't been aware and that none of the Generals had informed them as they arrived.
"Last night one of my Spartans found her on a late night watch within an out camp we have created in the forest, they have only just brought her back to Mountview Fort and made us aware." Lu Fang explained patiently. "She's not in a good way, my Legionaries are looking after her, but it's not looking positive. I was going to ask if we could send her back to Riverside on the Merchant Ship, so it is great timing that you have arrived with the Bireme."
"What has happened to her?" Dom asked with a worried look on his face.
"That is what I have just been trying to find out." Guo Sheng explained, "She had mentioned some things to her savours last night, which they have told Lu Fang and now myself, but I have been able to get a bit more from her."