20 hours online, many players took time to go offline to rest. Resting was to fight better. It was also to survive in this new region. Moreover, it was not easy for us to survive now.
……
I sat on a chair in the bushes and Lin Wan Er lay on my legs. She smiled, “Don’t be too pressured, you tried your best. Even if we can’t walk out it is not your fault.”
“If we really can’t walk out then it is definitely my fault.”
I looked at the ants on the ground and said with melancholy, “I am the commander of this battle and I could have just left the army system. Who knew that in the end, I faced such a failure? Even if we head out it is still a defeat. My only hope is for us not to get wiped here. That is also the worst outcome.”
Wan Er laughed and placed her cheeks on my knees, “Husband, you have too much on your shoulders.”
“En.”
I touched her hair and said, “Baby, bring Dong Cheng, Mocha and Wolf to head offline to rest. Sleep for 7 hours before heading online. They won’t attack so soon, it seems like they are waiting for something. Take the chance to rest, I will settle Ghost City matters.”
“But you need to rest!” She pouted.
I laughed and lowered my head to kiss her, “Don’t forget, your husband has Blazing Sun Body and he can afford to rest less. This is our final battle, I have to go all out. Listen to me and go!”
“En, okay then…”
She went to the guild to arrange for people to go offline.
Fewer and fewer players remained and very quickly there were only 50 thousand. But Yan Zhao Warrior didn’t go offline. He was old and needed to rest but as The Executor, this uncle insisted not to go offline.
When Wan Er, Dong Cheng, Song Han etc Zhan Long players went offline, Situ Xin and Lin Qiong rode their horses over and said respectfully, “Your Highness, a problem appeared.”
I said, “Is it grain?”
“Yes.”
Situ Xin cupped his fists, “The grain we brought is used up. The horses haven’t eaten for a day and the wild grass in Ghost City is nearly all finished. If this continues, we won’t have any cavalries to use.”
Lin Qiong said, “Worse is that the soldiers’ grain is used up. We are different from Aotian Race. They are cruel and can eat corpses for food, but us… We have finished our grain. Since last night, all grain reduced by 30% and the soldiers are so hungry. If this continues, we will just collapse!”
I rubbed my eyes and asked, “Is there any other way? Did the war hawk knights we send out find any suitable location?”
“No, a hundred miles of this place is a wilderness.” Situ Xin bit his teeth, “The wilderness can be used to release the horses but if our cavalries go, then they might not be able to come back. War Hawk Knights noticed that Aotian Race has 12 groups and is around us. They are just trapping us here. Each group has 50 thousand troops and any of them can deal lethal damage to us. We have no way out.”
“En, understood…” I should have guessed. Aotian Race wouldn’t let us leave this place alive. They knew that we were the most elite troops of the seven empires. Letting us leave is like putting the tiger back in the mountains. If we were all killed, it would be fantastic for them.”
At that moment, someone walked over with a sword. He brought several lieutenants, it was Jiuli City’s head, Zhu Hai Duke.
“Ocean Duke, is there something?” I asked.
He cupped his fists, “Your Highness, I was in charge of grain but my failure caused the troops to be hungry here. It is my fault! But I have a piece of news to tell your highness.”
“En, what news?”
“When we entered, there were 5000 logistics troops in charge of grain transport but they didn’t follow up. Reports said that they were killed by the Aotian Race but numerous grain and machinery are left in the valley. If we can get them back, it should be enough for 300 thousand troops for half a month.”
He cupped his fists, “Please give me 50 thousand troops, I am willing to lead the army and take back the grain that belongs to us!”
I was stunned, “This…”
Situ Xin said, “Your Highness, don’t hesitate. The front troops have started to kill horses, many injured troops need to eat. If this continues, we might all get wiped here.”
Zhu Hai looked at me, “I know that you are worried, so I will bring 30 thousand Guards troops out. I will ensure that we get the grain back by tomorrow. Your Highness, don’t hesitate!”
I looked towards Yan Zhao, “Uncle, what do you think?”
Yan Zhao nodded, “We have no choice, once they head out, I will gather the cavalries. We will head south to draw attention. Then Zhu Hai’s troops might be able to get the grain back.”
“En, that is all we can do.”
……
The troops split up and Zhu Hai led 30 thousand guards army troops out of the north gate in the night sky. Yan Zhao led 20 thousand elites from the south and headed toward their camp.
I was in charge of Ghost City and didn’t go anywhere. This place needed a spine.
I held my sword and walked on the streets. One could hear injured troops all around. Many people died from injuries and there were fewer and fewer of us. Many cavalries cried as they killed their own horses for food. If not more people would die. Some were even digging to find food. They stewed rats and centipedes together.
A young Royal Army cavalry held a bowl of horse meat and cried. This horse was his war horse and from now onwards he would just be an infantry. His eyes were filled with sadness.
I lowered my head.
Jing Yin followed behind me and held my hand, “Your Highness are you okay?”
I turned towards her and smiled, “I am fine.”
I knew that this NPC major liked me but… It wasn’t good, nothing good would happen between players and NPCs.
Jing Yin licked her lips and said, “Your Highness, no need to blame yourself. We followed you all around and have never regretted it. Dying on the battlefield is our destiny.”
I looked at her face and couldn’t help but turn around. I held her cheeks and smiled, “But all of you have brighter futures, you shouldn’t die here. You haven’t married yet ah…”
Her face flushed red, “I am willing to follow Your Highness, never to marry.”
“Silly, what are you saying? I don’t belong here and you don’t belong to me. You have a long life ahead!”
“Yes Your Highness…”
……
Two hours later, Yan Zhao led the cavalries back. They were just baiting the enemy so they didn’t suffer much losses. Ahead was total chaos, 100 thousand giants were three miles away from the city and after the drums played, they retreated. It seemed like they didn’t want to siege at night.
Very quickly, the sky lit up.
The rising sun broke through the clouds. I stood in the north wall and looked ahead but there was no news.
“Are the scouts back?” I asked.
Jing Yin shook her head, “No your highness…”
I was nervous, “There is no news from Zhu Hai at all, what is going on…”
Han Yuan said, “Should… I lead Royal Army’s heavy cavalry out to receive them?”
“No.”
I waved, “If Zhu Hai’s army can’t charge out, sending more there would just be asking for death. Let’s not waste Royal Army’s strength.”
Xiao Lie said, “Your Highness, actually, rather than being trapped here, why not charge out? We can choose all directions, it is better than waiting to die here.”
I smiled bitterly, “Aotian Race is waiting for that. They have more troops than us and each one is ten times stronger than us. Do you think we can break through?”
Xiao Lie was helpless, “Maybe… Not possible…”
At that moment, a War Hawk Knight flew over. It was injured and it stumbled on the walls, his face was covered in blood, “Your Highness, Ocean Duke’s 30 thousand troops were ambushed… Probably all of them are lost…”
“How many troops do they have?” I asked.
“At least 100 thousand!”
Situ Xin raised his blade and his face was ashen white, “Your Highness, those 30 thousand are mine… Please send troops to assist, we can’t let them die!”
Lin Qiong cupped his fists, “Your Highness, I am willing to lead troops to assist!”
I kept silent and asked the War Hawk Knight, “How many troops are there in the north?”
“50 thousand in the northeast, 50 thousand in the northwest and they all haven’t moved.”
I sighed and kept silent.
“Your Highness, send troops!”
Situ Xin, Lin Qiong and Han Yuan all knelt down.
Yan Zhao said, “How… They… They all want to assist!”
Jing Yin cupped her fists, “Your Highness, if we don’t assist, the troops will lose heart!”
Everyone looked toward me and waited for my orders.
……
After a short while, I lowered my head and said calmly, “Send my order, close the gates. No one is to head out!”
My heart hurt. Zhu Hai, sorry this time.
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