Explore "Despoilers of the Golden Empire" by Randall Garrett on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
They couldn't stay long in any one village; they didn't have the time to sit and relax any more than was necessary. Once they had reached the northern marches of the native empire, it was to the commander's advantage to keep his men moving. He didn't know for sure how good or how rapid communications were among the various native provinces, but he had to assume that they were top notch, allowing for the limitations of a barbaric society.
The worst trouble they ran into on their way was not caused by the native warriors, but by disease.