February 14, 1869.
A group of more than fifty people set off towards the capital of the Yake Kingdom, led by Merk, who had declared half a month ago at the Mbeya expansion meeting that they would go to war with the Yake Kingdom.
Marching on the savanna was somewhat challenging, especially on foot. Sivert provided them with carriages, but the team could only take turns resting in the carriages. It wasn't that Sivert was stingy; rather, carriages were strategic resources in East Africa and were relatively scarce.
This group of more than fifty people was evidently a regular East African military unit, with standard-issue Dreyse rifles, clean and tidy Prussian uniforms without any missing pieces, and simple grenades produced by the East African Armory hanging from their waists.
"The weather is really stifling!" Merk said to his companions while wiping sweat off his face with a handkerchief.
