Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

While this might not seem like much, a look at the White Scars' history reveals a stark contrast. In 875M30, the Khan regained control of the Legion ten years after its return to the Imperium. On that day, over 10 Legionaries joined his ranks, despite the fact that the Legion's total strength in 5M865 was 30! Furthermore, before the Horus Heresy, the Khan's forces numbered only 7.

What a ridiculous increase in military size! Remember, when Fulgrim returned, the Emperor's Children had less than 1000 men, yet before the Heresy, they numbered 11. On Fenris, a planet where even birds can kill, Russ, despite the werewolf curse, managed to muster a Legion of between 11 and 13 men before the Heresy. And what about the Khan? 7 upon his return, and 9.5 at the time of the Heresy. Even Russ's strength pales in comparison! It's fair to say that the size of the Legion severely limits the Khan's capabilities.

Aside from farming, the Khan's attitude towards the Emperor was actually quite hostile. Of course, there were many reasons for this. One reason was that the Khan was incredibly discerning. And the Emperor, to some extent, was truly unremarkable. Another factor was the Emperor's timing. Less than six months after the Khan had avenged his vengeance and taken control of the entire planet of Chogoris, the Emperor arrived and demanded loyalty from the newly reborn Khan. Who could possibly be happy about that?

Baldur believed that as a Primarch with whom he had a connection, it was necessary for him to get to know the Khan, teach him some farming skills, and further understand the evils of the Void. Of course, he also needed to keep him away from Horus. In fact, the Khan's close relationship with Horus was largely due to the fact that Horus's Luna Wolves were a part of the Imperial fleet that arrived in Chogoris. Coupled with Horus's approachability and the contrast with the Emperor's abruptness, the Khan naturally felt closer to Horus.

"Now it's time to visit Chogolis," Balder muttered to himself. Then, as his humanity gradually faded, his essence emerged from the most secret chamber of the Endless Journey. Beside him, the Far Traveler, Star Chart, respectfully retrieved a psychic crystal for the Traveler. The Traveler fused a small fragment of himself with the crystal. The psychic crystal then transformed into a liquid mass, then into a human.

"In my name, go to Chogoris, meet my destined follower, and teach him how to become a king. Go," the Traveler said. Then, a portal opened. The Traveler, acting as a clone, bowed slightly and stepped into it. When he reappeared, he was already standing on the grasslands of Chogoris.

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"It's a big deal as soon as we arrive." When Balder's clone just arrived in Chogolis, he appeared in a grassland, and in the distance a large number of heavy cavalry were slaughtering a tribe on the grassland. In the distance, a team of light cavalry appeared in the traveler's sight, and they were rushing towards the battlefield quickly.

As a human colony, Chogoris gradually degenerated over the Long Night to a civilization comparable to the Renaissance of Blue Planet, or rather, the Iron Age. On this planet, there were two civilizations. One, the Paladin Empire, was located in the east. They frequently raided the western steppes, home of the Khan. According to the background story, it took the Khan a long time to defeat them. Of course, even before the battle with the Paladin, the various tribes of the steppes were also frequently at war.

"How did the Paladin hold off the Khan for over a decade in this Iron Age?" Baldur frowned. He couldn't understand how iron and rudimentary firearms could pose a threat to the Primarch. But then, the battle between the two sides revealed the reason: both sides were using psychic powers!

"Fuck, enchantment!"

"snowstorm!"

"And there's a curse." Overall, the travelers were slightly surprised by the psykers of Chogolis, but then they came to understand. After all, the fact that a psyker as powerful as Yesugei could emerge here proved that the local feng shui was more suited to psykers. Of course, psykers were only a minority, and most of the forces on both sides still fought with swords and bows.

"I should join this battle." In Balder's vision, two souls were unusually dazzling. That's right, dazzling. Even with Balder's experience, he could sense their power. And someone this powerful, if nothing unexpected happened, should be some celebrity!

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"Stop, stranger! I'm deeply grateful for your bravery, but until we get to know each other, I believe we should maintain a proper distance." A tall warrior stood a full 20 meters away from Bader. His gaze was resolute, full of scrutiny and caution. He wouldn't easily trust someone simply for their help. However, to express his gratitude, he left his men and approached Bader. He dismounted from his horse and spoke these words. Behind him, a slightly shorter man lurked in the ranks. However, that man was the most powerful of the army. In their previous exchange, Bader had heard his name—Yesugei! And the man before him was Qin Xia, the Khan's captain of the guard.

"I'm so lucky today." Balder said in his heart, with a smile on his face.

"I am a traveler, pursuing the meaning of life and civilization and exploring the unknown in my journeys. And now, I have gained a little, so I want to return to the world and start the other end of my journey." Balder said.

"Then I wish you can go further on your path." Qin Xia said calmly. At this time, a servant next to him led a horse with a saddle bag on it.

"Stranger, there is gold and silver in here, which can be used as a reward for the tribe's kindness to you. There are also water bags and dried meat. If you go west, it will be enough to support you to reach the nearby tribe. This horse can be used for transportation, and we will also provide you with another pack horse. I hope we can become friends when we meet again." Qin Xia said.

"Thank you, brave warrior," Balder said with a smile, then walked over to lead the horse. Balder didn't think that he would be accepted by the Khan and his tribe just by offering help once. If such a thing really happened, Balder would be very disappointed with the Fifth Legion. After all, even a man as cautious as Russ knew to test and gather intelligence first. How could the Khan and his men just accept a stranger with powerful psychic powers? The grasslands are full of killing and revenge. Even the closest people can betray. All those who have survived to this day sleep with one eye open!

Thus ended the first meeting between Badr and the Khan's men. Qin Xia and Yesugei watched Badr leave with scrutiny, and Badr decided to do his own thing: find a small tribe, manage them, and then return to his roots—farming. Actually, at first, Badr had considered the idea of ​​becoming a leader, but he didn't know how to manage the tribe. He hadn't thought about the idea of ​​becoming a leader, but had thought about the idea of ​​becoming a leader.

"Yesugei, my brother, what do you think?" Qin Xia asked as he watched Balder leave.

"He means no harm, at least I don't sense it. But I can't see through him. I don't know his past, nor his future. I tried to divine, but my spiritual sense tells me it's extremely dangerous," Yesugei said with a complicated expression. As the tribe's most accomplished prophet, Yesugei was also proud of his knowledge and mastery of the Supreme Heaven, far surpassing his peers. But this time, he didn't even dare to divine his opponent's thoughts!

"So, isn't this a good result? We separated peacefully, avoiding possible trouble for both sides. At the same time, it also left an opportunity for us to meet again." Qin Xia said with a sigh.

"That's good, and I have a feeling that we may meet again soon in the future." Yesugei took a last look at the direction where Balder left and mounted his warhorse.

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Time flies, and several months have passed in the blink of an eye. Just when Qin Xia was about to forget what happened a few months ago, the gears of fate made them meet again.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing?" Qin Xia entered the big tent. Before the Khan came, the leaders from all over had gathered together. They shared the situation and battle history of their tribes and joked with each other. But this time, most people gathered in front of Chief Zhuba, looking at his finely crafted armor and the scimitar in his hand.

"It's heavy plate armor, better than the elite knights of the Palatine Empire. Where did you get the spoils?" a leader asked.

"Bought it with livestock and gold. It's a small tribe called Sotai, located on the banks of the Sangqian River. They seem to have a new chief who is proficient in forging. Then they set up water wheels, iron furnaces and workshops by the river. They make a living by forging, starting with arrowheads, weapons, and then armor. Their level is really good, better than that of the Palatine Empire, lighter and more defensive. The crossbows of those knights can only leave a white spot on it." Juba said, pointing to the inconspicuous white mark on the right side of the plate armor.

"How could such a small tribe not be swallowed up by their neighbors?" a leader said. On the grasslands, people will do anything to survive. Only the scimitar and magic are the axioms!

"That new leader is incredibly powerful. He's a formidable warrior and a powerful mage. I once saw him lead a cavalry of fewer than 20 men and slaughter hundreds of bandits, leaving none of his men dead. He's incredibly powerful," Juba said with lingering fear. His words alerted everyone. Each tribe was like a wolf on the grassland, and wolves live in packs, each with its own sphere of influence. When two powerful beings appeared in the same area, a fight was inevitable unless one side retreated or surrendered.

"A leader of the outsiders? Juba, tell me about his appearance and situation." Qin Xia walked over. As Juba introduced the leader's situation, Qin Xia's expression was surprised at first, then became serious. He remembered the strange hermit he met in a battle a few months ago and what he said.

"Very well, you continue. I'll be out for a bit." Qin Xia then left the conference tent to search for Yesugei. In Yesugei's tent, he unexpectedly ran into the Khan, who had come to visit his prophet. Qin Xia then told his leader everything he had just heard, including his earlier encounter with Yesugei.

"An interesting fellow," the Khan said after listening, stroking his beard and lost in thought. "Don't you find this man strange? On the grasslands, everyone is in danger, even living on the edge of death. To survive for themselves and their families, everyone must first be a warrior and a hunter. We struggle in the mud to survive, while he ponders the true meaning of civilization and development? Like some of the scholars of the Palatine Empire, he's completely out of place on this grassland."

"Humans are influenced by their environment. On the grasslands, when a wolf is born, it's destined to be a hunter. But if that same wolf were to be domesticated in a town in the Palatine Empire, it would be domesticated into a dog." The Khan then looked at Yesugei. "You're both prophets, so you should have something in common, right?"

"The difference between him and me in the spiritual realm is as great as that between you and Qin Xia. When I saw him, my spiritual consciousness told me not to try to use magic to deal with such an existence in front of me. I have never encountered such an existence. My Khan, I disappoint you." Yesugei bowed and said.

"This world will not always work as we wish. There will always be things beyond our expectations and even our understanding. Just like you who are pursuing the road to heaven, there are too many unknown and untraceable things hidden in the darkness trying to capture our souls." Khan said calmly.

"So what should we do with this tribe and its new leader?" Qin Xia asked.

"I'll go and meet him," said the Khan.

"Are you going to meet him? Do you need a large army to accompany you?" Qin Xia asked.

"If that mysterious leader is as powerful as Yesugei, then I don't mind using a large army to force him to surrender and retreat. But if he is so powerful that even Yesugei dare not look directly at him, then the fight will be a disaster for both sides. It will be a war with no winner," said the Khan.

"Since he is so dangerous, we should be more careful."

"The danger is right beside us. Escape is not the solution. Moreover, as the only tribe in the entire grassland that can produce plate armor, coupled with our own powerful military force, delay is not the solution. While we now have a greater advantage, both fighting and cooperation are options, so we must solve the problem as soon as possible." Khan said.

"Okay, I'll prepare it right away." Qin Xia said with a bow.

Chapter 168 The First Meeting with Khan

"Here we are." Baldur rode his warhorse to the foot of a mountain. He waved his hand, asking his men to prepare blankets and felt tents. He had not prepared any food, because on the grasslands, one could not eat what others had prepared. Baldur knew the Khan was coming, just as the Khan knew that Baldur would be here to greet him.

A moment later, a small group of cavalry appeared on the hill. The Khan observed Badr in the distance, and Badr was also observing the Khan.

"He's a bit thin, but he feels even more sturdy, his eyes filled with vigilance and determination." This was the Khan's first impression on Balder. After witnessing the burly physiques of Primarchs like Leman Russ and Ferrus, the Khan's stature was indeed a bit thin. But beneath his battle robe, the smooth lines of muscle and his superhuman reflexes made him the most dangerous presence on the battlefield. He was not only powerful, but also agile. He was far more formidable than those power-oriented Primarchs.

Meanwhile, the Khan was observing Badr. The well-proportioned stranger raised his head and looked fearlessly at him, the future undisputed king of the grasslands. His eyes were filled with wisdom and reflection. He was unlike anyone else on the grasslands, including him. Because, even as a leader, Chagatai was still fighting for survival and the future of his tribe. All his identities lay beneath the words warrior and military commander. And it was clear that the man before him had escaped the fate of killing and being killed.

Khan mobilized all his senses and his illusory spiritual perception, hoping to see more from the other party, but the result disappointed him, because he could not find any traces of the past and habits from the other party's attire, expression and behavior, nor could he know the other party's purpose. The only thing he could be sure of was that the other party seemed to have no ill intentions.

"Okay, the host is ready, so it's time for us, the guests, to enter." The Khan said softly, and then he waved his hand. Most of the cavalry dispersed around, responsible for guarding and hunting. Yes, hunting. Since both sides did not trust each other, then the prey hunted on the spot was undoubtedly the safest. The prey captured by the cavalry of both sides was processed and cooked under the witness of both sides.

"Yesugei and Qinxia, ​​please stay away from me. It is obvious that the host wants to have a good chat with me alone." The Khan looked at the empty yurt and said after thinking for a while.

"Khan, your safety..." Qin Xia said with some concern.

"Don't worry, there is no existence on this planet that can threaten me. When I was a child, I was already a great warrior and hunter." Khan smiled and said to his captain of the guard.

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"Please sit down, my friend." Badr stood up and said when the Khan entered the yurt.

"Hello, leader of the Sotai tribe." Khan walked forward, and both sides maintained a proper distance, not too close, but not too far at the same time. Khan controlled the distance between them very well. If he drew out his long sword, the tip of the sword could just reach the other person.

"So, dear guest, are you here for the Sotai tribe's sophisticated ironware?" Balder said with a smile.

"Yes, I need a batch of weapons and armor." said the Khan.

"How much?" Balder asked.

"Everything you produce," the Khan said, glancing at the other man. "Whether you want gold or livestock, it's all up to you."

"That would be a lot." Balder was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Even if your entire legion were to be equipped, it would be more than enough."

"This..." Hearing this, Khan paused for a moment, his eyes instantly turning into needles that hinted at danger. His intuition told him that what this guy said was true!

"From now on, there will be two Khans on the grassland. One is the Khan who holds swords, and the other is the Khan who produces weapons." After pondering for a moment, Ogedei gave his greatest sincerity.

"You made the right choice, Khan. Also, let me say this: there will only be one Khan on the grasslands in the future, and it won't be me," Balder said with a smile. As for whether Balder could forge so much equipment? Of course, if he could, he could even rub it out with his hands! Of course, most of the work is currently done with hydraulic hammers, primitive lathes, and earthen blast furnaces. Balder's clone is rather lazy...

Unnoticed, the two sides engaged in the first round of combat. Winning or losing didn't matter, as both sides were extremely satisfied with the outcome. When the Khan heard Balder's answer, he was truly shocked. He couldn't believe how Balder, with just a small tribe, could forge so much armor and weapons in just a few months.

He then realized a serious problem: the Sotai tribe would completely control the supply of weapons, armor, and even ironware on the entire grassland. The production efficiency of the former was unmatched by other tribes. Even in the Khan's tribe, hundreds of blacksmiths and even more apprentices working in shifts day and night could not produce so much.

In reality, the most common protective gear worn by warriors on the steppes was fur clothing. If that were considered protective gear, a good rider would be considered lucky if they had a set of leather armor. A centurion with a suit of mail would be a family heirloom. Plate armor, on the other hand, was only available to centurions. And most of it was tattered captured goods.

If someone possessed such wealth but failed to protect it, they would soon be devoured by wolves. However, if this person possessed sufficient military power, they would become a force that no tribe on the grassland could ignore! Because they possessed the largest arsenal on the grassland, they could instantly arm an ordinary tribe to the teeth! On this grassland, everyone fought to the death, so how could the fighting power of an ordinary warrior be any worse? Isn't it just equipment?

Therefore, facing the newly emerged powerful force on the grasslands, Ogedei showed sufficient respect, expressing his willingness to share power with them. Reason and intuition told him that if he engaged in a fight, only one or two would survive. Ogedei expressed his respect, but also tested their position. As a leader, he was more than just a warrior. He was also a wise man who could weigh the pros and cons.

Badr's answer pleased the Khan, but also surprised him, as he seemed unconcerned with worldly power. He affirmed Ogedei's dominance over the grasslands. This gave the Khan a sense of relief, as at least the two were no longer enemies. But then, a question arose in the Khan's mind: what was the other party's purpose in doing this? Was he seeking a higher position? No, absolutely not, because, just now, the Khan had offered him a position equal to his own, but he had refused. So, what was his purpose?

"So, what are your goals? I don't think you simply want to be a craftsman," the Khan said. "I heard from my captain of the guards that you're searching for the meaning of civilization. Can you tell me more?" The Khan pulled a silver wine jug from his pocket and gestured.

"The meaning of civilization? That's a bit far-fetched right now." Balder took the Khan's wine flask without hesitation, uncorked it, took a sip, and then returned it. "Let me ask you a simple question. After you unite the steppes and destroy the Paladin Empire that oppressed you, how do you plan to rule the world?"

"To be honest, I haven't thought that far." Khan frowned.

"You should think about it, because you will soon realize this long-cherished wish." Balder said with a smile. In the background, it took Khan 20 years to unify the planet, and if he had his clone to help, Balder believed that this process could be greatly shortened.

"Perhaps, I will let my subjects graze freely on the grassland." The Khan said after thinking for a while.

"That's great. I will sell them various iron products. If they want to mine, I can also provide them with professional pumping and mining equipment. They dig out the ore and sell it to me, and I will make it into tools and daily necessities and sell them to them." Bader said with a smile.

"Haha, then you'll be the richest man on the grasslands! Even the treasury of my royal court won't hold more than yours," the Khan said expressionlessly. He realized one thing: once he overthrew the oppression of the Palatine Empire, his subjects would indeed be free from plunder and capture. But in the blink of an eye, they would be working for others again... The Khan was well aware of the profits from forging! Nowadays, a strong nomadic herder was worth far less than a suit of chain mail!

"Money doesn't mean much to me. I'm thinking about a problem. I want to see the world above the sky. And this requires the wisdom and efforts of countless people. It requires sufficient material foundation. Just like, if you build a cavalry team of a thousand people, you need hundreds of blacksmiths and apprentices, thousands of herdsmen to support this full-time army, special veterinarians to look after their horses, a camp, and warehouses to store large amounts of fodder and supplies. You and I are both building, but I ask for more and bigger things." Balder pointed to the top of his head and said.

Hearing this, Khan's eyebrows twisted into two ropes. He stared at the person opposite him, and a somewhat absurd but extremely possible idea came to his mind. He vaguely felt that this guy, like himself, might not be from this world! Khan realized that he was much stronger than other people on this planet, and it could even be said that he was not a creature of the same kind. And some of his adoptive father's words also made him vaguely think of something. His vision and sensitivity made him aware of the situation on the opposite side. And unlike him who came to this world in ignorance, this guy had a purpose! The other party did not admit it, and he did not ask.

"You have disturbed the peace and tranquility of a world," said the Khan.

"Some things in the world exist objectively. Whether you ignore them or not, they exist. Therefore, it is better to prepare for many things early. We live in a dangerous era. And your vision and talent should not be limited to this world." Bader said.

"I'm grateful for your guidance." The Khan took a sip from the wine flask. "From outer space? Do you know my past?" the Khan said.

"I'll learn a little bit." After some thought, Bader decided to be frank with the Khan, who was a man of understanding. Perturabo was much easier to fool than the Khan.

"So, am I a tool created to wait for my master to pick me up again?" Khan's words got to the heart of the matter. It was also a knot in his heart.

"You have a father. You have family and brothers," Badr said.

"Do I have a brother? I thought that you and I were created by some existence." Khan looked at Balder and said.

"I'm different from you. I have no family, truly no family," Balder said with a sigh. When he resolutely left the Warhammer universe, all the connections of cause and effect and fate were severed with his departure.

"Besides, I was not created. You were born strong, but my strength is the result of my own efforts." Bader said to the Khan.

"That's truly admirable." The Khan was taken aback at first, then changed the subject and said, "Do you know my creator?"

"Why do you not call him your father?" Baldur asked.

"Didn't he create someone like me to be a tool? I'm just stating the truth. Looking at myself, I feel like a killing machine," Khan said.

"On the grassland, everyone who can survive is a qualified warrior. Powerful military force is the basis of existence. This is the basic principle of the entire dark galaxy. If you feel that he lacks a certain humanity or is too purposeful, then please forgive him, because he has his own difficulties that he cannot tell you." Balder said with a sigh.

"Everyone, including your father, me, you and your men, they are all trying to survive."

"This is such a heavy and realistic topic," Khan said with a sigh. "So, what kind of person do my father and you want to transform me into?"

"Very good, at least now you are willing to call him father." Balder nodded with satisfaction.

"You don't seem to respect him very much." Khan keenly grasped the meaning of Badr's words.

"You, as a son, are like this, let alone me, an outsider." Balder smiled and avoided the topic. Balder knew that his first meeting with the Emperor was not friendly, but later, as they met more often, they just got along.

"Second question, answer this: what kind of person do my father and you want me to become?" asked Khan.

"Humanity, civilization and survival. What kind of life do you want your subjects to live? How to face those hidden crises? The progress of civilization and the effort it requires. In essence, the things you need to solve in the future are no different from what you are doing now. Don't be too resistant to the future, and don't think that your father is a tyrant. After all, you are also doing the three-draw-one-out thing. Everyone is fighting for survival. You are fighting for the survival and future of your subjects. His goal is bigger, for all mankind." Balder took a fruit plate from the side, picked up a plum from it and put it in his mouth.

"If that's the case, he must have very few friends, right?" Khan also picked up a fruit from the fruit plate.

"Why do you have such an idea?" Balder asked curiously.

"I've seen some kings call themselves 'Gua Ren' in ancient texts. My understanding of this is that they are alone. They sit on the throne, surrounded by people who covet this king. Some hope to be rewarded and promoted, while others hope to replace him. All of them work with masks. For the sake of profit, they will do anything, even more cunning and shameless than the inhuman beings in the Supreme Heaven. And this monarch knows all this. He lives every day in fear and trepidation. It's not an exaggeration to say that he is alone."

"And I will never be alone." Khan said after eating a fruit and wiping his mouth.

"Whatever you think," Balder said, rising. "You are still free. Cherish this free time, do what you want, and think about your future. If you think it's cruel to let your subjects face the darkness of the galaxy, then until things get worse, you can preserve the flavor of the grassland and the people's living habits."

"Have you met my other brothers?" the Khan asked.

"I've seen some,"

"What are they like? Are they outstanding bureaucrats? Generals? Scholars?" asked the Khan.

"You'll need to see, analyze, and experience these things for yourself in the future." Bader sensed the Khan's thorny situation. Understanding his brother was only one aspect of the situation; more importantly, he wanted to understand the man before him and his relationship with his father. He had a vague feeling that the man before him didn't seem to fear his father. So, what position would he hold within his father's empire? What exactly earned him this position?

"When are you planning to leave?" the Khan asked. "Time should be precious to someone like you, and yet you've wasted months of it with a bunch of barbarians you consider unworthy."

"......." Balder felt that the Khan before him was not cute at all. He suddenly missed Ruth at home. He believed everything he said. Unlike Khan, every word was sharp and guarded. Every exchange made Balder feel a little troubled.

"You don't welcome me?" Balder smiled, looking at the Khan. "I understand you're wary. If you wish, you can take over my tribe now, but remember this: if anyone I once commanded or commanded is treated unfairly, I will not spare them, no matter who they are, and you can't save them. I say that."

In Chogolis, you cannot expect much mercy from a group of men who struggle in conspiracy and fighting all day long. Pastoral idyll is just a fantasy, and plunder and massacre are the eternal themes.