Empire Calendar Year 7742, May 7th. Snow falling in the north.
…
It was snowing heavily in the cold Muyu City. Although it was normal for snow to fall in Muyu City, it was already May. It was not normal for it to snow. It was noisy in the city. The sound of horses' hooves, quarrels, orders, and the crying of the common people were all mixed together. The news of the four northern passes of Cloud Province had been lost came one after another. The people in the city had heard about the massacre in Lingkong Province. The legend of the eastern barbarians who attacked made many people cry every night. Now it was too late to escape. Muyu City, known as one of the seven famous cities of the empire, did not look like a prosperous city, but more like a graveyard.
On the city wall, snow was falling, and the snowflakes fell on the shoulder armor.
Luo Xin brushed the snow off her shoulder and put her hand on her sword. She looked anxiously at the people who were trying to escape on the main street. She could not help but frown.
"The people are in a mess." Su Zhangyan, the deputy commander of the Iron Blade Army, said.
"Yes, it is a mess."
Luo Xin said lightly, "Deputy Commander Su, take some people to comfort the people. Tell them that the two hundred thousand soldiers of the Iron Blade Army will live and die with Muyu City. Moreover, the three princes will send reinforcements soon. Cloud Province will not be lost."
"Yes, I will do it right now!"
Su Zhangyan quickly flew down the city wall. Luo Xin looked at his back and couldn't help but sigh. Su Zhangyan was the distant nephew of her foster father, Su Muyun. He was also one of the few remaining generals of the Su Clan. She really hoped that he would be able to overcome this crisis. Otherwise, the Su Clan of the Cloud Province would become history, and she would be one of the gravestones of this period of history.
Outside the city, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard. A light cavalry quickly stopped, grabbed the rope at the edge of the city wall, and climbed up like a monkey. He knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Greetings, Master Xin!"
"No need to stand on ceremony. Is there any news?"
"Yes." The cavalry said in a low voice, "They are already fifty miles away. There are at least one hundred thousand people, and there are about fifty Dragon Knights. There is an endless stream of people behind them. I cannot count them clearly. In addition, I saw another army of a different race."
"Whose army?"
"Northern Desert Wolf Soldiers."
"What?" Luo Xin's body trembled slightly. "Are you saying that the Wolf Soldiers of the Northern Desert are with the people of the Empire of Tianji?"
"Yes." The cavalryman frowned and said, "After the Long Ji Army annihilated the demon race in the northern polar region, they disappeared without a trace for nearly half a month. This subordinate guessed that during this half a month, they must have annihilated the Northern Desert while waiting for reinforcements. Now it seems that the Northern Desert has already surrendered to the Tianji Empire, otherwise those wolf soldiers would not listen to the Tianji Empire's orders."
"A bunch of fence-sitters!"
Luo Xin punched the battlements hard, causing the broken stones to fly in all directions. She said angrily, "Damn the Northern Desert! Every year, we send them so many gold and silver gifts, brocades and satin, but they surrender to the Kingdom of Tianji so easily. Damn it! If I had known this, I would have asked for permission to go to the Northern Desert and uprooted them!"
As he said this, he paused to calm down and said, "How many wolf soldiers did you see?"
"I couldn't tell at first glance, but they covered the entire Wandering Plain. If I'm not mistaken, the number of wolf soldiers is at least over 100,000. These beasts have burned, killed and looted along the way. Our four states and 23 counties in the north have been deeply harmed. Wherever the wolf soldiers went, there was devastation and countless casualties."
Luo Xin trembled with anger. She closed her eyes and said to the sky, "Father, Luo Xin has let you down. I can't believe I couldn't protect your people. I'm too useless!"
As she said this, Luo Xin shook her robe sleeves and turned to the group of generals behind her. She shouted in a low voice, "Pass down my order. Prepare for war. We would rather die than surrender!"
"Yes, father!"
Everyone knelt down on one knee, looked up at Luo Xin and said in unison, "We pledge our lives to serve our country. As long as the city lives, we live. If the city falls, we die!"
…
At dusk, the snow was getting heavier and heavier. It fell to the ground like goose feathers, making a rustling sound. Outside the Twilight City, more and more troops were gathering. They did not face any resistance and did not show any signs of attacking the city. They just set up a few hundred camps far away from the Twilight City, surrounding the city so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.
Tonight, it seemed like the Long Ji Army did not intend to attack the city.
Inside the tent, snow was constantly falling from the entrance of the tent, and a bonfire inside the tent was providing warmth for everyone. On the bonfire, there was a roasted cow that was about to be cooked, and it was sizzling with oil.
A middle-aged general sat on the commander's seat. He was wearing a commander's armor. He was the commander of the Long Ji Army, Fang Lan. Another seat was arranged for him to sit on the same level. It was none other than the Dragon Rider General, Lin Tongtian.
Below the commander's seat were a few deputy commanders of the Long Ji Army and Captaincy. Then, there were a few people of different races in leather robes. One of them, who wore a crown on his head, was the leader of the Northern Desert Tribe, Big Wolf Lord Mo Dun (MO-DU).
"We'll start attacking the city tomorrow morning."
Fang Lan took the warm wine from the maid and smiled. "The Twilight City is an important city of the Qin Empire. It is rich and sturdy. It is known as one of the seven famous cities. The general guarding the city is Luo Xin, the adopted son of Su Muyun. Hehe, it is said that he is also a famous general of the Qin Empire. Who will fight the first battle?"
The group of Captaincy of the Long Ji Army was solemn. No one said a word.
Fang Lan smiled and said, "Great Wolf Lord Maodun, you are the chief of the Wolf Tribe of the Northern Desert and an ally of our Empire of Tianji. Since we have made an agreement, it is time for your tribe to fulfill it. Why don't you … let your 150,000 wolf soldiers be the first to attack Muyu City? What do you think, Great Wolf Lord Maodun?"
Mo Dun was slightly stunned. A few of his subordinates were also shocked and unwilling. After a few seconds, Mo Dun bowed respectfully and said, "Lord Fang Lan, we, the wolf soldiers, have come from afar. We are not used to the climate here. Besides, many of us have not had a full meal for many days. Why don't you let your army attack first? We will be ready after some rest."
"Is that so?"
Fang Lan smiled faintly. "I heard that the tribes of the Northern Desert graze in the summer and fall and raid in the spring and winter. You must be having a hard time. Look at the vast farmlands around the Twilight City. If we can make it the fiefdom of your wolf soldiers, you can farm here. You can also have the women of the Central Plains to warm your tents. How great would that be!"
Mo Dun clenched his teeth and remained silent.
Fang Lan continued, "Since the Northern Desert Wolf Tribe has decided to serve the Tianji Empire, why are you hesitating? Big Wolf Lord Mo Dun, I promise that if you can take down the Twilight City, I will give this city to you. I will also give you half of the 14 prefectures of the Cloud Province as a reward. What do you think? "
Mo Dun was shocked. The Northern Desert had been coveting the Cloud Province for thousands of years. How tempting was that! But Mo Dun also knew that the person guarding the city was the famous general of the empire, Luo Xin. The 200,000 Steel Blade Army under him was the main force of the empire. How could his 150,000 wolf soldiers take over the Twilight City from Luo Xin?
"Give me an answer." Lin Tongtian seemed a little impatient. He said, "Don't let the Tianji Empire think that our ally is useless. You can't do anything and only know how to waste food."
Mo Dun clenched his teeth. "I will go! My 150,000 Wolf Soldiers will attack the city with me, but you must provide us with siege weapons. In addition, you must let my Wolf Soldiers eat their fill. Even if I have to let them die, I will let them die with a full stomach. "
"Don't worry about that."
Fang Lan smiled. "Someone, send an order to the Supply Department to slaughter cattle and sheep. Let the wolf soldiers eat their fill tonight. Tomorrow morning will be the time for them to fight the enemy."
"Yes, Commander!"
Mo Dun's face was livid. He didn't say anything else.
…
Late at night, deep in the wolf soldiers' camp, inside the main tent of the Big Wolf Camp.
Mo Dun didn't say anything. He looked very old.
The generals' faces were also pale. One of them said, "Great Wolf Lord, the walls of the Twilight City are more than 20 meters tall. The soldiers and food in the city are good. They also have those terrifying cannons that can spit fire. If we attack the city rashly, we will be sending our wolf soldiers to their deaths. Humph … the people of the Tianji Empire deserve death. They are just using the wolf soldiers to waste the cannons in the city. The Tianji Empire only treats us as a tool. When did they ever treat us as an ally?"
Mo Dun said calmly, "I know, I know. There's no need to say anymore. We will attack the city tomorrow morning. Let the 1st and 3rd Battalion attack until noon. If they can't take the city by then, retreat. If … if we lose more than 50,000 people, retreat as well."
"Then what do we tell Fang Lan?"
"Humph!"
A cold light flashed in Maodun's eyes as he said, "We wolves are wolves, and Fang Lan only treats us like dogs. Don't worry, Fang Lan only has 150,000 soldiers. After they take over a city, they will need to leave people to defend it, and we wolf soldiers are the best defenders. If Fang Lan isn't stupid, he won't just watch as 150,000 wolf soldiers go to their deaths."
"Yes, I understand."
"Sleep early. Tomorrow is the day we go into battle." Mo Dun's face was cold. He said, "One day, I will make Fang Lan and Lin Tongtian regret this!"
…
The next morning, the snow finally stopped. When the morning light shone on the snow-covered city of Muyu City, the conch horn sounded in the distance. Dense numbers of Wolf Soldiers pushed the siege equipment straight towards the city wall. A great battle was about to break out!
"Clang!"
Luo Xin pulled out her sword. She shouted, "Prepare for battle!"
The people on the city walls started to get busy. The archers quickly drew their arrows. The magic crystal cannons started to calibrate. They aimed at the pre-set positions below the city walls. They were just waiting for the enemy to enter their firing range.
The wolf soldiers held a round shield in one hand and a curved blade in the other. They were covered in fur armor. They roared and hit the round shields with their curved blades. The clanging sounds echoed through the sky.
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