The winds from the south side of the Rocky Mountains carry the rough scent of the rocks as they blow across the heavy stone walls of the Mountain Throat Fortress.
When Paul's 25,000-strong army arrived outside the fort, Derrick Heller, the local garrison commander who had already received the news, was waiting at the fort gate with Imar, the chief of the Stonemason Clan.
Derrick, dressed in a crisp military uniform and standing tall, saw Paul riding at the front of the column and immediately stepped forward to salute: " Marquis Glaeman, the entire garrison of Mountain Throat Fortress welcomes you!"
Paul dismounted, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled gently: " Derrick, how have you been? Your father, Earl Heller, mentioned you when he visited Lakeheart Town. He said that since you were stationed at the border, even the content of your letters home has become much more composed. He asked me to convey his greetings as a father to you when I see you."
A hint of warmth flashed in Derrick's eyes, and he quickly replied, "Thank you for conveying my father's concern, Marquis!" The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, their conversation ranging from border defense to the army's subsequent marching plans, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
At this moment, Paul's gaze turned to Imar beside Derrick. The chieftain of the Stonemason Clan was no longer the tough man usually seen among dwarves. Instead, he looked like a child who had done something wrong, with his head hanging down and his hands nervously clutching the hem of his clothes. He was completely different from the man Paul remembered.
Paul stepped forward with a smile and said, " Chief Imar, it's been a long time. Do you remember when you came looking for me in Lakeheart Town?"
Imar stiffened, slowly raising his head, his eyes filled with terror. He certainly remembered being expelled from the Stonemason Clan, arriving at Lakeheart Town as a guide for a human expedition, hoping to reclaim his position as chieftain of the Stonemason Clan with Paul's help, even offering the Clan's mineral resources in exchange. Paul hadn't agreed, firstly because he didn't want to easily intervene in the internal strife of the dwarven clans, and secondly because the Stonemason Clan's territory was too far from Alda at the time.
Now, as a defeated and surrendered party, Imar no longer possessed the arrogance he had shown when they last met. He took a step forward, bowed deeply to Paul, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, " Marquis, when we last met, I was blinded by my obsession and even tried to use your power to seize power and profit. Later, I foolishly sided with the orcs, allowing the Stonemason Clan to participate in the war that harmed Aldor. I am guilty."
He lowered his head for a moment, then looked up with tears in his eyes: "But not only did you not punish the Stonemason Clan for their mistakes, you also allowed us to remain in the Rocky Mountains and preserve our clan's heritage... This magnanimity is something that I and the entire Stonemason Clan will remember. From this day forward, the Stonemason Clan will be loyal to the Marquis, guard the passage through the Rocky Mountains for you, and never make the same mistake again!"
Looking at Imar's sincere expression, Paul nodded slightly and said somewhat seriously, "There's no need to dwell on the past. It's good that you can admit your mistakes and correct them. Your people are skilled at quarrying and building fortifications. The army will be passing through the Rocky Mountains pass, and we will need your help to repair the road. This is your chance to atone for your sins and contribute to the war on the steppe."
"Yes! We will do our best!" Imar replied quickly, his previous tension and guilt largely dissipating.
At that moment, a hint of urgency flashed in Derrick's eyes. He stepped forward and earnestly pleaded, " Marquis, the Mountain Throat Fortress garrison has been stationed in the Rocky Mountains for many years and is extremely familiar with the surrounding terrain. I implore you to allow me to lead a portion of the garrison to join the expedition. This will not only guide the main army but also allow us to fight the orcs once again and avenge the people of Aldor!"
Seeing the determination in his eyes and remembering the Marquis Heller's expectations for his son, Paul nodded in agreement: "Good! With you familiar with the terrain, the army's crossing of the Rocky Mountains will be much smoother. You will select some elite troops to accompany us, responsible for scouting ahead and guarding the flanks. After the battle, I will praise your achievements to the Marquis Heller."
Derrick was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you so much! I will definitely not let you and my father down!"
Paul added, "There is another crucial matter to confirm right now: can our heavy equipment pass through the mountain passes of the Rocky Mountains? Especially the four-wheeled wagons carrying supplies, and the heavy cannons carried by the troops. If the passages are narrow or the road surface is damaged, the speed of the army's advance will be greatly affected."
Imar immediately straightened his back, patted his chest, and said loudly, " Marquis, don't worry! Absolutely no problem! Ever since we learned that you were going to lead your army through, the entire Stonemason Clan has been mobilized. We've widened the narrowest section of the passage by half a zhang, filled and compacted the potholes with gravel and clay, and even built log supports for areas prone to collapse. Not to mention four-wheeled wagons and heavy cannons, even heavier siege weapons can pass through steadily!"
As he spoke, Imar gestured to indicate the width of the passageway, his tone full of confidence: "I personally walked through the passageway three times, checking every section to ensure there are no problems!"
Derrick, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, confirming, "I also sent soldiers to assist the Stonemason Clan in repairing the road, and we scouted both ends of the passage beforehand. We found no trace of orc scouts, and the road is safe. As long as the army follows the route, we should be able to cross the Rocky Mountains and reach the edge of the grasslands in about five days."
Paul's tense brows gradually relaxed, and he nodded in satisfaction: "Very good! I'm relieved to have your confirmation. Derrick, you arrange for the army to set up camp outside the Mountain Throat Fortress. The soldiers need to rest after this long march and conserve their strength for the mountain march ahead."
The next day arrived quickly, and Paul suddenly felt inspired. Having a few days of free time, he wanted to ride into the mountains to hunt and also to see the terrain. So, under the protection of a large number of servants, he took Derrick and Imar into the mountains.
The road into the mountains was more complicated than expected. Imar and Derrick rode at the front as guides. The initial section was all winding and rugged mountain roads, like a maze. Paul felt that without the guides, he would definitely have gotten lost as a newcomer.
But after walking for about half a day, the scenery suddenly changed. The rugged mountain road gradually disappeared, and in its place was a relatively flat road. Although the road was not wide, it was wide enough for two horses to ride side by side. The steep rock walls on both sides of the road were no longer there, but instead some gentle slopes and grasslands.
"I never imagined there was such a place in the Rocky Mountains." Paul reined in his horse and looked at the scene before him with admiration. "With such a flat road, it's no wonder that the Orc Cavalry was able to cross the Rocky Mountains so easily."
He said thoughtfully, "The terrain of this road is very flat and the width is sufficient. I think it is perfectly feasible to build a railway here. I will write to Lakeheart Town and ask them to send an engineering team to survey and study the area. If we can build the railway from Yellow Earth Land to here, it will be much more convenient to mobilize troops and transport supplies in the future."
Upon hearing the word "railway," Imar looked puzzled and couldn't help but ask, " Marquis, what is this 'railway' you're talking about? And what about this 'train'? Is it a mode of transportation that's faster than a horse-drawn carriage?"
Paul smiled and explained simply, "You could say that. A railway is a rail laid on the ground, and a train is a vehicle that runs on those rails. It can carry a lot of supplies and people, and it's much faster than a horse-drawn carriage. Plus, it's less affected by the terrain. You'll see for yourself when the construction team arrives."
Imar nodded as if he understood, but his heart was filled with curiosity about this "railway" and "train" that he had never seen before.