“What? Charging the main camp?”
Everyone on Ron’s side was stunned. What was happening? They actually dared attack the main camp? Weren’t they supposed to be drawing away the Red Flames?
“What are the Red Flames trying to do? Do they really think their meager forces and strength can do anything against the main camp?”
“What can that army accomplish? Go to the main camp to deliver their heads?”
“I truly did not expect the Red Flames to charge the main camp. They must think they can defeat it.”
The generals all scoffed in disbelief. The previous battle had made them completely lower their guard against these soft shrimps.
But Ron had not let down his guard: “The Red Flames are not without fighting power. Don’t forget the 30, 000 South Land troops they wiped out before. It was because we underestimated them that I hope we don’t repeat that mistake. Lang, take 10, 000 men to pursue them.”
Ron ordered Lang to give chase. He did not send Jackie’s men because they were still farther south, guarding against potential raids on the southern border. So he could only dispatch Lang.
“Yes, sir!”
But before Lang could marshal his forces, intel came that Reese Daniels’ army was stirring, as if preparing to break through the enclosure.
“Lang, hold off for now. They are the priority,” Ron waved his hand, his face taut.
The Red Flames were ultimately just a minor player. The real threat was Reese Daniels’ army. As long as they contained them, the Red Flames could only cause minor disruptions. If Lang took 10, 000 men away, they might not be able to hold off Reese’s forces.
Still, Ron reported the situation up the chain of command. Soon, fearing the Red Flames would cause trouble, the main camp dispatched 10, 000 men to intercept them, led by General Dillon James, a fierce warrior.
Thirty li from the main camp, Dillon James gripped his spiked mace and eyed the Red Flames opposite him. He bared his teeth in a savage grin, exuding a violent killing intent. “A bunch of worthless rabble daring to attack our main camp? You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. Tell me, are you ready to die by my hand?”
It was true the Red Flames were a mess. Exhausted from forced marches, they wheezed for air, straggling along without any semblance of formation. Dillon James regarded them with increasing contempt. This was supposed to be an army? They dared to take the battlefield in this state? Ridiculous. Did Kisia have no decent men left?
“Halt,” Theresa Lindsay signaled and gave the order to stop. They could advance no further, already blocked 30 li from the main camp. Even against just 10, 000 enemies, they could not break through. They were too weak.
“Rest in place,” she commanded. Immediately, the people barely staying upright collapsed haphazardly to the ground, all dignity forgotten.
Dillon James itched to slaughter them immediately. But it was useless. As pathetic as these Kisia troops were, they could still run very fast. His men might not be able to catch them. Moreover, he could not pursue. His army was the last line of defense for the main camp. He could let no one through.
So despite his urge to attack, he ordered his men to hold position and prevent accidents. The Red Flames rested in plain view just a few hundred meters away, yet the South Land army had no intention of attacking them either in their exhausted state.
Thus, a bizarre stalemate took shape.
Within the Red Flames, many looked to Theresa Lindsay strangely. Their orders had been to serve as bait, to find a way to escort Reese Daniels’ army to attack the enemy main camp. Not for them to reach it themselves.
At first, they thought their army was just charging forward to draw the South Land troops into pursuit, relieving pressure on Reese Daniels’ forces. But after they advanced, the South Land army did not give chase. They assumed it was to taunt and attract them again. After all, that was their mission.
Yet Theresa Lindsay did not order a retreat, instead pushing them straight here in one go. They did not understand why, but none had questioned it. A soldier’s duty was to obey orders, even if many of them were new recruits. Those days of training had instilled military discipline.
So no one asked. Theresa Lindsay sat tall upon her horse, halberd in hand, her mien stern and imposing like a great stalwart general, exuding security. But they did not need to feel secure. They were soldiers now, not common folk.
… The war raged on.
Mountland was shrouded in smoke and the stench of blood. Below the city walls, corpses piled up, raising the ground level and making it easier for South Land troops to scale.
Casualties atop the walls were also grievous, with even reserves depleted.
“How long… has it been?” Lee Berger rasped, asking an aide.
“Three… hours…” the aide smiled wryly.
“Three hours… we have to hold out ten hours… only seven left…” Lee Berger muttered, eyes bloodshot.
He looked again at the exhausted soldiers on the walls. Just three short hours felt like a lifetime. Yet below, the South Land army was mustering another charge, seemingly endless.
These three hours, Lee Berger’s nerves had been taut, not a moment’s respite. But it felt like his lifetime’s worth of mental effort had been spent. He had never been so weary.
“At most, we can hold one more hour,” he assessed their situation.
One more hour. But Primus had ordered them to endure ten hours. There was still a gap of several hours.
“Report, enemy has started charging!” came the call as the South Land forces below gathered for another wave, even larger and more ferocious than before.
“Send all reserves!” Lee Berger bellowed. “We must defend this wall to the death!”
“Yes, sir!” soldiers on the walls shouted.
Perhaps not even an hour could be held. Lee Berger was frantic with worry. The South Land troops were too frenzied.
Just then, news came that Master Lewis was leading internal Mountland forces to reinforce the city walls. The Kisia soldiers were overjoyed to hear of reinforcements. The South Land side was also glad. Among those forces were their spies and plants from the Harding family.