This is my story. First, I find a patch of land near my alliance. I send troops out, it's a 12 hour walk. Half way through, I want to send my hero back so I can attack valleys and stuff so I press recall, my entire army returns after a 6 hour hike. The next morning I resend the force but this time with 250 workers so I can build the city quickly. I get into the battle, 1 death, a worker. So I'm like, damn, and I send another group of workers on a 10 hour hike (cus I researched speed increases). This morning they get here and I learn the workers have to be in your town.