Chapter 608: The war is about to begin
It wasn’t until three o’clock in the morning that Xu Lai lazily got up from the bed.
After running around for nearly two months, I didn't gain much. Counting yesterday's battle with the stronghold flying legion, I only killed tens of thousands of stronghold units.
Dozens of Paladins have advanced to Knights of Light, and a dozen Archangels have advanced to Seraphim, which has not improved the battle situation much.
And because there are too many top-level units, most of the experience is wasted.
At Xu Lai's current level, tens of thousands of orcs would be a drop in the bucket, and the improvement in the progress bar would be less than 1%.
The gold coins and materials that fell could not make up for the money Xu Lai invested.
What's more, because he had to rush to the scene continuously and basically recruited units, except for the corpses of the thunderbirds that were recovered by Xu Lai, he didn't even bother to pick up the rest that fell.
Although Xu Lai's own gains were not big, he successfully achieved his strategic goals:
Basically blocked the orcs' intelligence acquisition channels, completed the clearing of the area west of Hard Rock City, Even the large herds of wild cattle and horses in this area were driven away from this area.
But even so, it's not yet insurance.
The resources of the grassland will grow much faster than Xu Lai imagined.
Even with the help of the elf herders and the unremitting efforts of people like Bai Yang, Xu Lai still found it incredible that two dense forests grew in two months.
Strong plant growth means that animals will also be accelerated to a greater or lesser extent. For example, rabbits with extremely strong reproductive abilities will have a litter of dozens of animals per week, and they will grow up and mature in one month.
This terrifying speed means that there is almost no shortage of food for both herbivores and carnivores on the grassland.
This also means that it is impossible to completely cut off the supply of the orcs.
At most, it means that the orcs' supplies cannot keep up with the consumption rate.
It was rare to relax for a long time, but Xu Lai did not dare to relax all the time.
After receiving the news of Xu Lai's return, Reina gathered the officers of the Qingfeng Corps early in the morning and prepared to come to Xu Lai to report on her work.
The Qingfeng Legion has not done much in the past two months, except recruiting and training new recruits.
The morale of the entire legion was maintained above 95 points, which was partially diluted by the new recruits, but once fighting side by side with the Seraphs, it could still reach the full value of 100 points.
Although Hard Rock City uses a ready-made castle-level fortress heart, fortresses, base camps and castles all require time to build and upgrade.
So, the number of elf soldiers recruited by Hard Rock City is not too many.
However, in the past two months, the troops recruited from the entire grassland have been sent to Qingfeng City, Conaston and Hard Rock City.
In order to avoid accidents or other losses during transportation, we always send it to the nearest location. Anyway, it can be reorganized no matter where it is sent.
This was a right that Aini had not enjoyed before. He was only the largest nobleman in the grassland. The rest of the city, including the buildings occupied in the wild, all had owners.
Aini, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't ask others to contribute their soldiers to him unless he was willing to pay a price for it, such as spending money.
But if he is unwilling to spend money, Aini can at most recruit these nobles in advance when he is going to carry out military operations.
And it is not a special situation. The nobles are responsible for the troops they bring over.
Only in situations like the previous one, where two camps are fighting, will the troops need to be reorganized.
However, Xu Lai didn't need it. All the cities were conquered by Xu Lai or surrendered on his own initiative.
The city they had before no longer belonged to them, but all belonged to Xu Lai.
Those who voluntarily surrendered to Xu Lai were lucky enough to be able to manage their own cities. As for the cities that were conquered by Xu Lai, the officials appointed by Xu Lai were naturally in charge.
Gather the power of the entire grassland and get thousands of recruited troops every month.
Even some low-level infantry and shooters can basically advance in high-level buildings.
According to the current speed of accumulating several thousand mid-level and above combat power in a month, it will definitely be of great benefit to Xu Lai if it continues.
After listening to the report, Xu Lai encouraged everyone a few more words and had lunch with everyone at noon.
In the afternoon, Xu Laize, accompanied by Tahan, Yan Feng and other old subordinates, inspected the Qingfeng Army and gave encouragement and promises to all the soldiers.
The treatment Xu Lai gives to his soldiers has always been generous. This is because Aiwujiwu has so many things in that army that he can be proud of.
But today is different. Today, Xu Lai needs them to die.
In any case, there is still a huge gap between his own side and the soldiers in the stronghold. Every word he said today was encouraging these soldiers to die.
So, Xu Lai felt a little guilty, and this guilt became his promise for a better life in the future.
“Kill an orc general and get a bounty of 10 coins. Kill an orc general and get promoted to one level. Kill an orc chief and get promoted to three levels.
Kill an orc hero. Divide the land and grant titles. "
Xu Lai is only a baron himself, so it is impossible to enfeoff the title. He has neither the qualifications nor the desire.
Although the aristocratic enfeoffment system is a tradition in this world.
But this tradition has always been rejected by the rulers.
The previous high kings established permanent legions and permanent knights in the name of the empire in order to concentrate their forces and centralize power.
The nobles under the feudal system had too much power, which also led to the over-dispersion of the empire's forces, giving opportunities to camps such as strongholds, dungeons, hells, and cemeteries.
It’s just that the Supreme King died after not being able to do this for long. The descendants of the Supreme King have lost the threat from the other camps, and the pressure of domestic backlash is great, so they gradually gave up their efforts in this area.
Xu Lai is different. He is considered a member of the entrepreneurial generation and has sufficient authority and strength. The key is that he also has enough excuses.
Even Jimmy, the first nobleman under Xu Lai's command, has not been able to improve his status in any way.
Because he is a viscount and his allegiance is to a baron. How can he be so shameless as to ask a baron to grant him a title.
If even Jimmy can't speak, how can the rest of the nobles who either actively or passively surrender to Xu Lai dare to speak.
If they offended Xu Lai, Xu Lai would really dare to kill their entire family and hang them all in the most prosperous areas of their respective towns.
Anyway, Xu Lai had killed various nobles before, and everyone could see that Xu Lai was not very fond of nobles.
Xu Lai was not willing to enfeoff the nobles, but he was willing to enfeoff the land. However, the owners of these lands only had the right to harvest, not operation and management rights.
After Xu Lai's words fell, the Qingfeng Legion, which was neatly arranged underneath and was being inspected, instantly burst into cheers like a mountain roaring and a tsunami.
Especially under the leadership of Tahan and others, the shouts of long live made Xu Lai's body goosebumps.
This is not the first time Xu Lai has made a promise, nor is it the first time he has given out rewards. Xu Lai had fulfilled all his promises to the soldiers before, and even exceeded the quota. Therefore, even if he has not moved out any box of gold coins now, everyone unconditionally believes in Xu Lai.
This made Aini, who was also located in Hard Rock City, look envious.
The poison master, cattle and sheep were all transported to Stone City. Aini, the most critical figure in the poisoning plan, was naturally imprisoned in Stone City in secret.
Furthermore, this is an elf city, and the old man from Stone Castle who stayed here before was not used to it. Except for the civilians mobilized from the rear, there are almost no outside managers.
To put it simply, Aini couldn't find any help in this place, and he couldn't even find anyone to talk to.
Both those who were guarding him and those who were protecting him were elves. Not even a human could be seen within a hundred meters around him.
Out of trust in Xu Lai, all the soldiers believed that Xu Lai's promise would definitely be fulfilled.
At the same time, they also believe that if they are sacrificed, their children and parents will never be abused in the slightest.
Because in Qingfeng City, Xu Lai has established a Martyrs Academy specifically to educate and care for the families of all martyrs.
Although the Qingfeng Legion has been running around in various ways for the past six months, the changes in Qingfeng City have all fallen in the eyes of these people.
Although the military is a closed place, it is never a place where information is blocked.
But whether it is family members who come to visit or passers-by on the march, everyone will give a thumbs up when they mention Xu Lai, unless they are not from the grassland.
Even as long as Xu Lai appears in front of the Qingfeng Legion, even if he has not made any promises today, the mental outlook of the entire Qingfeng Legion will be completely renewed.
Originally, Seraph was still needed to take action, so that the morale lost by the Qingfeng Legion could be raised to full value.
However, Elvi and the others have not yet appeared, and even the paladins such as Roland have not played a role. Just a few words from Xu Lai have boosted the morale of the entire legion to the extreme.
Xu Lai slowly pressed his hand down, and the cheers of the crowd slowly stopped.
“Of course, there are rewards and there are punishments. What we are going to face this time is a battle that affects the lives and deaths of countless people throughout the grassland.
Behind us, there are our parents Relatives and friends, including our lovers and children.
As long as the Stone City is established here, the orc army will not be able to bypass the Stone City and attack the families behind us.
Therefore, I hope. You can defend this city to the death and never retreat!”
"Never back down, never back down!"
The army under the castle shouted loudly again.
They already knew that this time the stronghold was almost overwhelming, and the situation was more critical than the previous time.
The difference is that in addition to fewer orc soldiers last time, there are temples, towers, and elves on the grassland.
Now, although the elves have sent some people, they are not many, and apart from one ancient guardian, they are not very powerful.
Even our own soldiers have gone from hundreds of thousands before to less than 100,000 Qingfeng Legion including new recruits and logistics corps.
Therefore, the situation this time is far more critical than before.
It’s just that this time they have a stronger and larger city, sufficient logistical supplies, a trustworthy and powerful commander, and relatives to protect.
"So, I'm going to say something ugly at the front. Anyone who retreats without military orders on the battlefield will be beheaded. Anyone who refuses to advance after hearing the order will be beheaded. Anyone who disobeys military orders will be beheaded. Anyone who disobeys restraints will also be beheaded.
At the same time.
At the same time, , those who were executed for violating military discipline and law will be deprived of all honors and rewards
He himself cannot obtain the status of a martyr, nor can his family members receive the treatment of a martyr's relative.
This order is valid for everyone present, and it is also valid for me.
Starting today, our battle with the orcs in the stronghold has officially begun.
I will appoint Commander Lena as the commander-in-chief of this battle, responsible for commanding and commanding all battles on the front line. ”
When the orcs attacked before, it was difficult to bypass the Stone Castle. At most, wolf cavalry and flying troops were sent to harass the rear.
Otherwise, with the army of Stone Castle present, once the main force of the orcs bypasses it, the troops of Stone Castle will definitely block the food route of the orc troops.
Now, facing the longer and larger Stone City with dense forests on both sides, it is even more difficult for the orc troops to cross.
Of course, the enemy's cavalry and flying troops cannot be stopped by the defenders of Stubborn City alone.
Besides, Xu Lai cannot let Stubborn City fall into an isolated and helpless situation. If he knew that there would be no reinforcements, Xu Lai could not guarantee that morale would not drop quickly.
In addition, the ammunition for catapults, ballistas, and turrets cannot be sustained by the Stone City itself, and must be supplied from the rear.
On the contrary, it is food. There is a large amount of food in Nushi City, enough to feed the hundreds of thousands of people in the city for two or three years.
There are not many people in the stubborn stone city. The Qingfeng Legion plus Wang Chao's logistics troops total less than 100,000 people.
The rest are civilians mobilized from major cities, as well as farmers recruited, plus a small number of reinforcements supported by elves, totaling less than 200,000 people.
However, these 200,000 people are all soldiers and young adults. After the Qingfeng Legion has advanced many times, the average level of the new recruits is still 5 levels.
Coupled with increasingly skilled logistics troops, a large number of construction workers who are good at repairing city walls, and a commander with defensive expertise.
This city must be determined to hold on. Even the main force of the stronghold should not be able to capture it in a while.
In the Stone City, there are still magic trebuchets that Aini sent before. Xu Lai even dismantled the remaining ones from Kaunaston Castle.
These trebuchets may not be as powerful as the Cyclops with tens of thousands of people, but at least their range must be far beyond.
Therefore, after inspiring people, Xu Lai had nothing to explain and arrange for Hard Rock City.
He does not intend to stay here, and besides him, Tahan, Yan Feng and other cavalry troops will also leave together.
Although the cavalry will not be inferior to the infantry after being dismounted, the combat effectiveness will be reduced by half.
However, Xu Lai left Elvi and her angel army to Reina.
In addition, the stronghold also has a terrifying number of wolf cavalry regiments. Although Xu Lai appointed Jimmy to protect the rear, he still couldn't do anything.
Taking all the circumstances into consideration, Xu Lai decided to let Reina and the Qingfeng Legion guard Stubborn Stone City, and let Jimmy and the Knight Wind Legion serve as a reserve team to protect the rear passage and support various battlefields.
Su Ya is in charge of the defense and production of all rear cities, while Xu Lai is in charge of the mobile combat part that he is best at.
(End of this chapter)