Maximus did not respond to this; the arrival of his army was the best reassurance he could offer.
The army had to continue eastward, which meant passing through Budocaribas’s village. Even though the soldiers had adhered strictly to military discipline and behaved admirably after entering the territory of the Alde Tribe — something Budocaribas had witnessed firsthand — he still appeared tense. After all, this was the first time the Maximus Army was directly entering an Aldean village; if any unexpected incidents occurred, tens of thousands causing commotion within the settlement could result in a disaster.
To address this, Maximus reassured Budocaribas once again, while Budocaribas entered the village ahead to communicate and interact with the tribesmen. Outside the village, Maximus issued strict orders to all department leaders to keep their subordinates under control and ensure nothing went wrong upon entering the settlement.
An hour later, the village gates opened, and the Maximus Army entered in orderly silence.
Although Budocaribas had warned the tribesmen beforehand, some curious individuals stepped out of their houses and gathered along the village’s main road to observe.
This was the Maximus Army’s first close encounter with the Aldeans within their village. In their view: the Aldean soldiers maintaining order at the roadside, though armed only with rudimentary wooden shields and spears, clad in plain one-piece garments, and sporting disheveled hair without armor, still exuded fierceness through their muscular physiques, sharp gazes, and intimidating presence. By contrast, the observing Aldean tribesmen were mostly women — thin, dressed in tattered clothes, barefoot, yet possessing a delicate charm...
It seemed, as Karsipengpas had mentioned, the Alde Tribe had endured frequent battles in recent years, suffering heavy casualties, resulting in a scarcity of men and a surplus of women — something particularly evident in the frontline village of Budocaribas.
From the perspective of the Aldean tribesmen: the large army entering their village was composed of soldiers who were all robust, marching with heads held high, emanating an intimidating aura. Each soldier wore armor, carried curved red square shields, had ornate short swords strapped to their waists, and bore bulging packs on their backs, showcasing their martial valor and apparent wealth.
The women in the ranks were equally sturdy, with glowing complexions, walking as boldly as the men, their assertive presence catching the attention of the roadside Aldean warriors, whose eyes involuntarily fixated on their ample bosoms.
Maximus, however, kept his focus elsewhere: the village’s houses were densely packed and chaotic, clearly lacking proper planning. All the structures were wooden, with roofs featuring shallow angles and eaves just about 1.5 meters above the ground, covered with thick straw and mud. The wooden walls were similarly coated with mud. The houses were small, likely accommodating only two to three people... Maximus wondered if this was due to the Aldeans’ limited construction skills or if such houses were suited for the local climate; he thought to seek advice from the locals later.
He didn’t see the chief’s main residence of Budocaribas, nor did he find a village square used for gatherings or training. He had heard of a small dock built by the riverside, but it seemed far off and was nowhere in sight.
With only a quick glance at the village, the army moved on without stopping, exiting the eastern gate of the settlement and marching another half mile before reaching their temporary encampment.
The temporary encampment had been agreed upon by Maximus and Budocaribas during their journey. Given that Validosi was a swamp abandoned for years that would require time to prepare for habitation — along with the threat of sudden Pannonian attacks — the army needed a secure rear area for rest and storage of supplies.
"This is farmland cultivated by our tribesmen, but to help you settle down quickly, we’ve had no choice but to relinquish it for now," Budocaribas said regretfully.
"Elder Budocaribas, your village’s kindness will always be remembered. I promise it will be repaid someday!" Maximus showed an expression of gratitude, though inwardly he thought: Old man, didn’t you state before that your village was still suffering attacks from the Pannonians? Clearly, these eastern lands are their primary target, as evidenced by the sparse stalks in the fields. Now my army is stationed here, essentially acting as a shield in front of your village, ensuring you can farm safely behind us. You should thank us instead!
Of course, Maximus kept such divisive thoughts to himself.
Since it was already early September and the wheat in the fields had long been harvested by the Aldeans, the soldiers had no additional work to do in this regard. Maximus issued orders immediately, and the entire army enthusiastically began constructing the camp.
"Leader Maximus, should I first take you to see the lands of Validosi?" asked Cardosipampas.
"That would be excellent!" Maximus eagerly agreed, as he had been intending to make such a request.
Maximus instructed Flanitnus to oversee the soldiers constructing the camp and took Quintus and Volenus along.
Upon hearing they were heading to Validosi, Budocaribas decided to join the group as well.
The five men rode towards their destination, and before long reached a stretch of marshland ahead.
"This isn’t Validosi; it’s the convergence of the Murenica and Kolana Rivers, and the resulting marsh is caused by flooding," Budocaribas explained.
The group circled westward around the marsh, riding along the west bank of the Kolana River, and soon arrived at Validosi.
Led by Budocaribas, Maximus and the others climbed the western hill of Validosi. From the elevated vantage point, they looked eastward to see the Kupa River winding southward, while the Kolana River snaked northward like two twisting green ribbons, eventually merging into a broader river that flowed gently eastward.
At the confluence of the two rivers lay expansive marshland. Under the noonday sunlight, the marsh shimmered with rippling reflections. Clusters of reeds and aquatic vegetation flourished abundantly; when the river breeze blew through, they swayed like waves. Flocks of herons soared in the sky, dispersed across the water, or craned their necks in song. Occasionally, circular ripples appeared on the water’s surface before a heron dove sharply, emerging soon after with a wriggling fish in its beak, triggering a scramble among nearby herons. It was a beautiful tableau of wetland ecology.
While the scenery was striking, Maximus only wished to quickly drain the marsh and convert it into farmland for his soldiers to cultivate.
Noticing Maximus transfixed, Budocaribas couldn’t help but remark, "Leader Maximus, isn’t this Validosi splendid? Look at how vast and flat this land is! If it weren’t for—"
Maximus interrupted him, scowling, "Elder Budocaribas, I remember you telling me Validosi to the east was a vast, fertile plain. Now all I see are dense forests!"
"Uh, well..." Budocaribas stammered in reply, "Although there are many trees, it’s undeniably flat land without hills! Besides, those dense forests act as a barrier, forcing the Pannonians to detour instead of attacking directly..."
Maximus frowned and said nothing.
Quintus suddenly interjected, "Leader, I think our base could be built right here. These hills are fairly level and close to Validosi."
"That’s not possible!" Budocaribas shouted in sudden panic, drawing everyone’s attention to him. Hastily explaining, he added, "You don’t know how close this is to the marshland. At night, the mosquitoes are unbearable, making sleep impossible! Moreover, there isn’t enough land here to grow crops — you’ll end up starving!"