“General Jones.”
People greeted Aston Jones as they entered the large tent.
Afterward, everyone sat down. Aston Jones maintained his usual languid demeanor. However, today, he didn’t prop his head up with his hand and doze off. Instead, he quietly said, “Gentlemen, the battle that will determine our life or death is upon us.”
Silence filled the room.
They had probably understood the significance of this meeting. After all, the usually reticent Aston Jones had taken the initiative to speak today.
But he was right. What was coming next was indeed a battle of life and death.
If they could win, then not only would the South Province be theirs, but the entire Kisia would fall into their hands. After all, if the God of War of Kisia were defeated, who else in Kisia could withstand their assault?
But if they were to lose, the South Land would be doomed.
One of them kneeled halfway, showing his attitude. He would not contradict General Jones in any way.
“We are willing to obey General Jones’s commands.”
Subsequently, the others also knelt down one after another.
Frankly speaking, uttering such words was extremely dangerous for these soldiers. From a certain perspective, they were showing loyalty to Aston Jones, not to Lord Whiteford.
Particularly for the military, saying such words was a significant taboo.
However, at this moment, an official from South Land walked in and slowly said, “Lord Whiteford has ordered that all soldiers of South Land obey Aston Jones’s commands. Anyone who resists will be killed.”
“Yes.”
All the soldiers in the tent accepted the order. But they were all somewhat shocked.
This meant that Lord Whiteford had completely handed over power to Aston Jones without any hindrance. It was clear how much trust this represented. The previous Maclean Lyons had led the soldiers to believe that Lord Whiteford was going to redistribute military power.
Now it seemed that redistributing military power was only Maclean Lyons’ wishful thinking.
Lord Whiteford trusted Aston Jones.
Perhaps the saying was true – “doubt not whom you have chosen, distrust not whom you employ.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
At this moment, the laziness in Aston Jones’s eyes slowly disappeared, replaced by a sharpness.
A sharpness that had never been seen before.
If Lord Whiteford was willing to trust him, Aston Jones, then he would not let Lord Whiteford down.
Everyone was shocked again.
This time, the shock was greater than that caused by Lord Whiteford’s decree.
Because they had followed Aston Jones for many years, through campaigns in the South and North, settling numerous battles, and finally unifying the land of South Land. However, they had never seen the laziness disappear from Aston Jones’s eyes.
But this languid General Jones, undefeated in every battle, was serious for the first time today.
“Issue my order, dispatch 150, 000 troops from the main camp to the front line. Have Pierre Calder return, I want to personally meet this God of War. At the same time, give Pierre Calder a death order. There are only 100, 000 troops in the main camp, but I want him to swear a military oath that he will defend it to the death, and he must not disobey,” Aston Jones slowly said.
“We are willing to follow you.”
The soldiers, knowing they could not stop Aston Jones from going to the front line, simply didn’t try to stop him. But they definitely wanted to follow him.
General Jones, the commander of the three armies, was going to the front line himself. They had to ensure his safety. If anything went wrong, it would be the end. As for whether they could ensure his safety, there was no doubt about it.
After all, they were the strongest warriors in South Land.
Apart from possibly being unable to handle the God of War of Kisia, they were confident against anyone else.
However, they also didn’t believe that this God of War could break through an army of 600, 000 and get near their large tent.
And this news quickly reached Pierre Calder.
“Sigh, General Jones is really getting serious this time.”
Pierre Calder sighed.
He knew the reasons; first, his repeated failures at the front line had resulted in the God of War leading him around by the nose. If this continued, his army of half a million would be wiped out.
He also knew that he was no match for the God of War.
Secondly, he knew that General Jones was serious. He was an old soldier under General Jones and naturally knew that Jones was extremely lazy. If he could avoid action, he would. Most of the time, he would sit inside the big tent, issuing orders and solving everything with his brain.
But this time, it could not be resolved within the big tent.
They were not facing an ordinary person, but the internationally notorious ‘Butcher’.
So, General Jones made his move.
“Commander Calder, General Jones has left you with only a hundred thousand soldiers. Isn’t that a bit few? If something happens, can a hundred thousand really hold on?”
A deputy officer asked from the side.
He always felt that it was too harsh.
A hundred thousand soldiers to guard a border, it’s too few.
Usually, at the very least, they would need three hundred and fifty thousand. Even with General Jones there, they would need two hundred and fifty thousand. That’s why he felt that General Jones was being too harsh on Pierre Calder in guarding this border.
“You don’t understand.”
Pierre Calder shook his head. “If it really comes to the point where I have to guard the border, then South Land is not far from extinction. General Jones at the front line will not let the enemy cross their line and come to us. Unless, they are defeated.”
He continued: “If General Jones is defeated, then South Land really has no hope.”
At this point, the deputy officer seemed to understand a little bit.
He had not followed Aston Jones, did not understand Aston Jones, but Pierre Calder knew.
However, at this moment, a soldier walked in from outside and reported: “Report, there’s an army of twenty thousand on our side. They are about to launch an attack on us, but those people, they are our brothers. They had previously surrendered in the Valley of Wolf. We… we… don’t know whether to shoot.”
They hesitated.
If it was the enemy, they would have shot early.
But these guys, they used to be their close comrades, sharing meals and living together.
“Of course, pass the order down, no one is allowed to show mercy. Otherwise, they will be dealt with by military law.”
Pierre Calder said firmly.
“Yes.”
The soldier left.
The deputy officer on the side also hesitated and asked: “Commander Calder, those… used to be our brothers. Should we… try to rescue them once?”
“Rescue? They have already surrendered. Do you know how many of them have defected? If we rescue them back, the danger will be greater. Since they have already surrendered, they are already enemies.”
Pierre Calder’s eyes were tinged with a hint of blood.
“Yes,” the deputy officer said.
“By the way, pass this order down, this order is from me, and has nothing to do with anyone else,” Pierre Calder added.
Killing these former brothers would inevitably cause resentment among some soldiers.
So, Pierre Calder would take the blame.
And the reason he was so decisive was because General Jones was coming and he couldn’t let Jones take the blame, so he took full responsibility.
“Leaving me with such a big problem before I go! Sigh!”
He was really unlucky. Being pressured and beaten by this one.
However, General Jones was about to arrive and the peak battle between two eras was about to begin.