In the early morning on the Persian Plateau, the secret encampment hidden within the mountain folds gradually awoke, with noise replacing the silence.
The influx of thousands of newly recruited tribal militia and their families instantly made the originally temporary outpost into a vast and lively place, while also bringing immense management and settlement pressure.
Jiang Feng and Samir barely slept all night, their eyes bloodshot yet appearing exhilarated.
They shuttled between the temporarily marked training and living areas, shouting with hoarse voices, organizing the youth militia — still weary and undisciplined from fleeing — into groups, distributing limited weapons, and explaining the most basic tactical discipline and camp regulations.
