Chapter 45: Their Respective Choices

This was destined to be an arduous and bitter battle. The bone dragon had indeed lost its ability to fly, but that did not mean it had fallen into a disadvantage.

The traits of the undead meant that the bone dragon had no concept of fatigue or injury. Such a terrifying creature could not be killed. It could only be destroyed.

So when Thorne prepared to launch another attack with his squad members, Baird turned back and looked at them calmly.

That glance contained far too much.

Thorne stopped in his tracks. Before him lay the shattered mountain forest. In the wind and rain, every adventurer and mage was charging on the front line. The radiance of spells and the cold gleam of weapons intertwined, and the power bursting from them was enough to make anyone tremble in fear.

The battle was still continuing. Was he... really going to retreat at this moment?

Without saying a word, Annie mounted her horse, cracked the reins, and did not forget to carry away Maria, whose physical constitution was the weakest, before disappearing into the mountain forest without looking back.

Those who could become battlefield commanders always judged the situation more accurately than ordinary people. At this moment, the side at the end of its strength was not the bone dragon, but them!

“She actually became a deserter?!”

Lilith was shocked and furious. She had indeed looked down on Annie, but she had never imagined Annie would be so hypocritical and cowardly. She was simply a disgrace among them!

“We should also...” Thorne hurriedly grabbed Lilith. However, in the next instant, a sudden change occurred on the battlefield.

When the Mana inside the mages’ bodies was exhausted, and when the confined space shattered, the bone dragon vanished from where it stood once more.

Its tail whipped up smoke and dust. Two mages exploded into blood mist on the spot, leaving not even bones behind.

Its sharp claws split the earth apart. Several adventurers were instantly crushed into the mud, turning into bloody filth.

The first to break away from the battle was Sophia. She cast flying magic and brought the last surviving mage into the air with her, quickly fleeing into the distance.

Before leaving, she did not forget to use magic to transmit her voice into Thorne’s ear. “While the Dragon Slayer still has strength left, withdraw immediately!”

Seeing Baird press toward the bone dragon with his magic sword transformed into a black dragon, engaging in fierce battle once again, Thorne recalled Baird’s warning to them. Step by step, he pulled Lilith away, clenched his fists, and moved faster and faster.

A few seconds later, a blur swept past them. It was Dane, who had even thrown away his weapon. Only half a pair of pants remained on his body, and he was covered in blood.

A huge gash had split open on Dane’s head, and blood poured down his face. He wiped it away again and again. As he passed the two of them, he casually said, “Kid, scatter and run. We will gather at Duskmoon City when the time comes!”

Thorne merely nodded numbly. After crossing several mountain peaks, the aftershocks of the distant battle still echoed through the valley.

He did not know what he was hoping for. He merely turned back abruptly, only to see endless flames blooming as waves of a red sea blocked his vision...

“Duke, the flood disaster has been fully investigated. There were no casualties, and grain was distributed in time. The only issue is that rebuilding the villages will be very difficult.”

Inside the Ducal Estate, Red had been rushing around for the entire day and finally submitted his report to Oswald before nightfall.

“I know. They all live on the river flats. Those in better conditions still have boats to live on. Those in worse conditions use a few wooden planks to build a home. That place... was never suitable for human habitation in the first place.”

Oswald pondered for a moment, then waved for Red to sit on the sofa across from him. He crossed his legs, took out his pipe, and smoked a few mouthfuls.

He intended to have these several hundred villagers move to the rebuilt Count’s territory. That place was currently short of labor, and large stretches of wasteland were still uncultivated.

Once the villagers went there, they would soon be able to live and work in peace, and they would no longer have to suffer from that damp chill.

It was just that Oswald was somewhat uncertain about Marquis Hughes’ attitude toward this.

“When you came, did Marquis Hughes say anything?”

“I have already reported this to Eileen. Before we left, the Marquis asked whether we would still purchase grain after autumn this year, as well as the specific quantity of cotton the Duke needed to buy.”

Red picked up his cup and took a sip of water. “Eileen said she would handle this matter. As for the flood and the affected villagers, the Marquis did not mention a single word.”

“You have worked hard. Leave this matter to me.” Oswald looked at Red approvingly. Red’s ability in war was average, but he had handled emergency work in an orderly manner.

“Yes, Duke. Do you have any other instructions?”

“I will draft a set of regulations tomorrow. When the time comes, send militia to escort the disaster victims to the Count’s territory. It is getting late today. Go back and rest first.”

“Yes. I will take my leave.”

After Red left, Oswald no longer had any desire to read that report. With his pipe in his mouth, he soon fell into deep thought.

Marquis Hughes was a good businessman, but he was not suited to being a lord. A person who only thought about making money should just be a merchant. If such a person managed territory, he would only harm the people.

Once the matter in the east was over, the position of Southern Marquis should also be adjusted.

Oswald stood and returned to his desk, continuing to handle official business. The price of resting during the day was having to work overtime at night, and oil lamps were far more expensive than sunlight...

When the rain had stopped and everything was silent, Luna knocked on the door and entered the office. Full of confidence, she handed the strategic deployment she had prepared to Oswald.

Oswald raised his brows and put down the pen in his hand.

He did not understand what there was to arrange when eight hundred elite cavalry were charging several thousand peasant soldiers. Could they not simply use arrows from a distance to harass them, use mobility to continuously disrupt the enemy formation, then look for an opportunity to charge in and end it in one wave?

However, this was Luna’s first time leading troops into battle, so he still had to treat it seriously.

Oswald took Luna’s deployment plan. After quickly reading through it, he could not help drawing in a sharp breath. When he looked at Luna again, there was a trace of... complexity in his gaze.

“You have capable people under you.”

This was the only evaluation Oswald could give.

Four hundred light cavalry would travel openly and with great fanfare. The other four hundred heavy cavalry would advance along side roads, hide by day and move by night, circle behind the enemy army, assault the city, and capture the enemy’s family members.

Then, before the decisive battle began on the front battlefield, they would drag the nobles’ children to the front and force the other side to surrender. If they did not surrender, then they would kill...

“Luna, come here.” Oswald put down the plan and called Luna over. He gently patted her head, and under her puzzled gaze, he sighed faintly.

“A sage once said: Govern the state with righteousness, use the unexpected in war, and win the world by not stirring up trouble.”

“Righteousness refers to the proper path. It means being open and aboveboard, stopping at oneness, and acting in accordance with the Dao. The unexpected refers to what lies beyond expectation. It does not mean conspiracies and tricks, but rather the use of various techniques and methods.”

“If you are this unscrupulous, using other people’s children as threats today, then who will dare come to Ice City and meet you tomorrow?”

Oswald knew that Luna could not have come up with such a plan. This had to be a scheme proposed by someone under her command to avoid causing too much slaughter.

“Elder Brother...” Luna thought about it. It did indeed seem to be the case. If she really did this, would anyone dare trust her in the future?

“All things in this world are not opposed to one another. Righteousness includes the unexpected, and the unexpected cannot be separated from righteousness. The first half of your plan is very good. Circling around and assaulting the city is indeed an unexpected force, but the second half needs to be changed.”

Oswald could not help thinking of the Chu-Han Contention in history, as well as the famous Hongmen Banquet.

People always said that Xiang Yu had not killed Liu Bang at the time because he was foolish and arrogant, but Oswald did not agree.

If Xiang Yu had truly killed Liu Bang at the Hongmen Banquet, then he would not have become that Hegemon-King of Chu whose name was passed down through the ages in the chronicles of emperors.

Even if he regretted it countless times afterward, winning openly and losing openly was the bearing a king should possess.

“For the cavalry assaulting the city, it would be best if you personally led them. After occupying the city, defend it from within. Once their retreat is cut off, the peasant army will naturally collapse without a fight before long.”

Luna tilted her head and thought seriously for a while. “What if someone in the city rebels and cooperates with the enemy from the inside?”

Oswald chuckled. Stroking her head, his gaze became more serious than ever before.

“That will depend on your ability. You are the young lady of the Northern Territory. If you cannot make the people in the city truly trust and submit to you, then what need do you have to participate in this war?”

Luna’s heart jumped. An invisible pressure fell on her shoulders, almost making it difficult for her to breathe. This was a trial...

She left the office with a little unease and heaviness. Looking at her small back, Oswald could not help worrying about her safety again.

But so be it. How could a bird kept in one’s palm soar through the sky? Her path would always have to be walked by herself.

At midnight, Oswald finally finished all his work. He stretched, extinguished the oil lamp, and quietly left the office.

Just as he walked out and passed through the corridor, the maid on duty tonight came before him with a lamp and said respectfully, “Duke, Lady Eileen instructed us to prepare a late-night meal for you. Do you need it?”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Since they had prepared it for him, Oswald could not let their kindness go to waste.

However, when Oswald arrived at the dining room, he discovered that there was also another person who had not eaten dinner. The two looked at each other, and neither had anything to say.

Sitting in the main seat, Oswald saw a bottle of red wine that had been opened and could not help frowning.

Diana, who had just lifted her wineglass, suddenly felt an invisible chill.

Oswald silently poured himself a glass of wine and finally waited for his late-night meal: a bowl of oatmeal porridge with nuts, a plate of steamed fish, and the vegetable platter he least wanted to see.

Was this health maintenance? A late-night meal should be beer and barbecue, damn it!

Diana put down her wineglass and elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

“Duke, have you considered the matter I mentioned before?”

She cannot possibly think she is very clever, can she... Oswald yawned. He truly could not be bothered to deal with her, and faintly began to worry about the royal family’s education in the Royal Capital.

“Even if a great war is to be launched against the demon race, that is something His Majesty the King and I should discuss. As a Princess, how can you decide great affairs concerning the Northern Territory and the Central Region?”

Diana frowned. “This...”

Oswald continued cutting the fish with his knife and fork. “As for those capable ministers and fierce generals you mentioned, forgive me for speaking frankly, but they are nothing more than a group of incompetent people. Moreover, you believe you are serving the kingdom, but you have overlooked one thing.”

“What thing? Please speak plainly, Duke.”

Oswald lifted his wineglass and shook the blood-red liquid. A cold smile curved at the corner of his mouth. “This matter is simple. It is merely a question of who exactly sits on the throne.”

Diana slammed the table and stood up in anger. “Of course it is my royal brother. What, could it be that the Duke wants to rebel?”

“Rebel? Hehe.” After making a comparison in his heart, Oswald even began to feel that Luna truly was a clever, worry-free good child.

When it came to rebelling against one’s own elder brother, even ten Lunas could not match one Diana.

“You must be joking, Princess. Secretly winning over generals and ministers, privately contacting a Duke of one side, and secretly cultivating one’s own faction—it seems someone else has been doing those things.”

“You!” Diana was furious. Oswald had actually turned the accusation back on her!

She had indeed done these things, but her starting point had always been for the kingdom’s stability and to avoid repeating the mistakes of the previous life.

Who would have thought that even though she treated others with such sincerity, Oswald still refused to change his ways.

It seemed that she should never have come here, much less come to see this disgusting man!