Many of the commanders present were confused, but Field Marshal Gai Mou and a few lower-ranked Simbarnese officers knew exactly what Victor meant.
The Animal Generals were an elite group of four Generals that had a similar role to what Victor was proposing. Over four centuries ago, the continent of Simbar was united by the Gongsun Dynasty. They reigned for 200 years and ushered in a wave of prosperity and peace. The continent was taken to new heights, and its military was arguably the greatest in the world.
The Gongsun Dynasty's military was unparalleled; not only was it vast, but highly skilled individuals were appointed to command it. At the peak of their power, King Gongsun Du appointed four Animal Generals, each one commanding a region's worth of soldiers.
The northern region was commanded by the Black Tortoise (玄武) General. The first-ever Black Tortoise General was named Fa Zheng. He was a figure who was heralded as a defensive genius and proclaimed the shield of the Gongsun Dynasty.
Black Tortoise General Fa Zheng had fended off multiple invasion forces from the continents of Asharan and Kislev. It was due to these feats that he was awarded one of the highest honours a general could receive.
Ever since Fa Zheng, generals who had demonstrated such remarkable defensive feats were assigned the title and appointed the commander of the Northern Army.
The Animal General that commanded the Eastern Army was proclaimed as the Azure Dragon (青龍) General. The first-ever Azure Dragon General was a descendant of the Sun family, who later became royalty until Gu Tian conquered them.
Azure Dragon General Sun Quan was renowned for his swordsmanship skills; he was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Enemies feared the sight of him, and allies were relieved to fight alongside him.
Alongside Fa Zheng, Sun Ce distinguished himself during the invasions. While Fa Zheng commanded and strategised at the rear, Sun Ce was in the thick of battle. His swordsmanship was mesmerising, almost like an eloquent dance.
For his ferocity and ability to lead from the front, King Gongsun Du appointed him the commander of the Eastern Army and bestowed upon him the title of the Azure Dragon General. The men who succeeded Fa Zheng were similar in ability, Generals who led from the front and fought beside their soldiers.
As for the commander of the Southern Army, they were bestowed the title of the Vermilion Bird (朱雀) General. The founding general was a man named Tao Qian. He was a famed individual for his wisdom and overall strategy. Many quipped that he had a bird's-eye view of the battle and could accurately make adjustments.
During a rebellion, General Tao Qian managed to rout an enemy that outnumbered him 5 to 1. His quick thinking and precise commands made him the Dynasty's top strategist. The consistent string of victories that he had brought secured him a spot in the Animal Generals.
Finally, there was the commander of the Western Army. Their title was the White Tiger (白虎) General. The founding general was named Xiao Qiao. What set this General apart from the rest was the fact that the commander was a woman. Her beauty was remarkable; many could not fathom the ruthless hunter she was.
Xiao Qiao was an extraordinary commander. Her strategies were impeccable; she would lure the enemy into a false sense of security and pounce on them when they least expected it. With these strategies, she would overturn the tide of a battle since she had thrown the enemy into disarray.
There may have been many objections to her appointment, but none could deny her talent as a commander. The scrutiny and discrimination she faced were not hidden. Jealous officers were quick to lash out with venomous words and acts of defiance. But, one by one, they fell into line. Whether that was done willingly or not is left to be debated.
There were only 2 or 3 successors for these honoured positions. Towards the end of the Dynasty's reign, calamitous droughts and a plague caused the once-thriving continent to fall from grace.
With death and disease spreading, the Simbarnese people fell behind the times. Technological advancements were halted due to them prioritising the immediate needs and wellbeing of the people. The workforce population dwindled, and more and more people were forced to till the land.
The Dynasty's reserves were spent on importing goods to sustain the people, but that surplus quickly ran out. With no money left, the once grandeur rulers of these lands slowly faded away. Some died of the plague, while others cut their losses and tried to start a new life with the money they had stored away.
When the dynasty fell, the titles died with them. The land was divided, and small regions popped up, declaring themselves an independent nation. This soon caused further calamity as the continent was now full of internal wars.
As a result, three kingdoms emerged from the fighting, each holding a third of the continent. These were the kingdoms that had ruled for the last century and a bit, until the Kingdom of Gu succeeded in unifying the continent.
This whole story was told by Victor as he wanted his commanders to understand the history and significance of these titles. If the two continents were going to become one nation, a certain level of respect and understanding was needed.
Some of the commanders were confused as to how Victor knew all this; a few assumed that during his travel back to the capital, Field Marshal Gai Mou had taught him all of this. They were wrong; the reason Victor knew this was due to the rewards he had received shortly after the Battle of Naka.
'Historic Quest Complete!: Conquer A Foreign Continent!'
'Rewards: 1x Legendary-Level Commander Summon, 8x 10,000-Man Infantry Unit Summon. 4x 10,0000-Man Cavalry Unit Summon, 4x 100-Gun Artillery Summon, 200,000 Store Points, and a Simbar Continent History Book.'
These rewards were bountiful to say the least. Victor planned to use all the soldier summons to boost the four Simbar armies. The Commander Summon would be used when Victor was back home in Hannover. As for the Store Points, they were to be saved for an emergency.
Victor immediately used the Simbar Continent History Book while he was travelling and was able to learn about the rich history of his newly conquered continent. This new knowledge was so in-depth that Victor knew more about this continent than he did about his own.
With the history of the Animal Generals explained, it was finally time for some appointments.