Chapter 189: Betting with the Fate of the Entire Sunset City!

"Master Governor!!" The scout's voice was filled with horror and urgency.

"Urgent report from the border! A—a massive army is marching toward us!"

"The flags—they are the flags of the Silver Moon Province! The leader is the Silver Moon Marquis, William!"

The atmosphere in front of the hall instantly solidified.

Vittel's expression changed: "So fast?!"

According to the messenger, it would take at least ten days or half a month for William to gather his main force. But now, only one day had passed!

Roko's brows also furrowed tightly, and a bad premonition flashed in his heart.

"How many people? How far are they from us?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Black—a vast expanse, impossible to count! At least—at least twenty thousand people!" the scout said trembling, "They have already crossed the Red River Valley at the border of the province, at most—at most three days, they will be at the city gates!"

Three days later.

To the west of Sunset City, a black line appeared on the horizon.

That line, in everyone's field of vision, rapidly thickened and lengthened, like a surging tide, rushing toward Sunset City in an overwhelming manner.

The murderous aura, even from more than ten miles away, made people feel a palpitation.

Roko stood on the tall city wall, his hands on the cold battlements, looking expressionlessly at the approaching army.

Behind him, Vittel, Silas, and a group of generals and nobles were all looking grave, not daring to breathe loudly.

Is this the foundation of an old Marquis?

In just three days, he pulled out an army of twenty thousand!

I saw that the army was magnificent, with flags fluttering. At the very front were thousands of infantry in silver heavy armor, holding tower shields and long spears, their steps uniform, each step seeming to step on everyone's heart, forming an oppressive feeling that made people suffocate.

On the wings of the infantry phalanx were an equal number of light cavalry, who galloped back and forth, guarding the surroundings.

And in the center of the army, countless flags surrounded a gorgeous chariot pulled by eight divine white horses.

On the chariot, an old man wearing a silver commander's robe, with white hair and beard but a spirited look, stood proudly.

Even from such a distance, Roko could feel the substantial pressure and iron-blooded aura emanating from the old man.

Without a doubt, that person was the Governor of the Silver Moon Province, Marquis William.

"What an elite division." General Vittel looked at the army outside the city and couldn't help but sigh, his tone filled with dread.

"Can we—hold it?" a newly promoted noble asked with a trembling voice.

The atmosphere on the city wall became oppressive for a time.

Although Roko's army had been expanded, most were new recruits, and the true elites were only the three hundred Storm Knights he brought and a portion of the veterans under Vittel.

Facing such a battle-hardened tiger and wolf division, no one had any bottom in their hearts.

Silas's face also turned a bit pale, and he whispered to Roko: "Master Governor, William is coming fiercely, and much faster than we expected, it seems he was well prepared. If we fight hard, our chances of winning are not high."

Roko did not speak, just watched quietly.

Outside the city, William's army stopped about two miles away from the city wall and began to set up camp. Countless soldiers were busy in an orderly manner, one military tent after another rose from the ground, and defensive works such as refusal horses and arrow towers were also quickly built.

Their movements were skillful and efficient; it was clearly not the first time they had done such a thing.

Soon, a team of more than a hundred cavalry galloped out of the enemy camp. They held high the flags representing the royal family and Marquis William's family emblem, and came straight to the moat of Sunset City.

The knight in the lead looked like a general; he drove his horse forward, his face carrying undisguised arrogance and contempt.

He didn't even announce his name, just reined in his horse and shouted toward the city wall in a tone of judgment:

"Listen, you traitors on the city wall! I am the vanguard officer Marcus, under Marquis William, who came to take over the province by order of His Majesty the King!"

"Your leader Roko Raymond, defying the royal order, tearing up the imperial decree, and slaughtering nobles, has already committed a heinous capital crime! The Marquis is benevolent, thinking that heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, and gives you one last chance!"

"Open the city gates immediately, put down your weapons, and surrender! The Marquis may spare your lives! Otherwise, on the day the city is broken,"

"I will definitely tear you into pieces and leave no chicken or dog!"

Arrogant!

Extremely arrogant!

The crowd on the city wall was instantly angered to the point of turning blue.

Vittel was even more furious and stepped forward to scold, but was stopped by Roko raising his hand.

Roko looked at the vanguard officer showing off his power under the city, and instead of being angry, he laughed.

He walked a few steps forward, came to the very front of the city wall, and his voice was not loud, but clearly spread down.

"Go back and tell your master, stop pretending here. This Sunset City was taken back by me from the traitor Archibald. If he wants to be Governor, he can, let him come and take it himself."

"As for you—" Roko's eyes instantly turned cold, "a running dog of a traitor, you dare to bark wildly in front of me? Get lost!"

The vanguard officer Marcus did not expect Roko to be so tough, and instantly turned red with anger: "You—you yellow-mouthed kid! You are at death's door and still dare to be tough! The Marquis—"

Before he finished speaking, Roko ignored him completely.

Roko turned around, facing the soldiers on the city wall, and then, his gaze crossed them and cast toward the army outside the city.

The next moment, a vigorous battle Qi erupted from his body, and his voice, under the blessing of battle Qi, was like rolling thunder, resounding throughout the entire battlefield!

"Soldiers outside the city! Listen!"

"I am Roko Raymond! A descendant of the Raymond family!"

"I know, among you, many come from the Silver Moon Province, you are the people of the Black Kingdom, and you are the warriors who defend the country!"

"But do you know who you are fighting for right now?"

"You are fighting for a traitor who imprisoned the King, colluded with a dark organization, and brought in foreign enemies, the Third Prince!"

"Your Marquis, William, is just a running dog sent by that traitor!"

"Just a few days ago, I personally executed the former Governor of the Sunset Province, Archibald! Because he colluded with the Third Prince and colluded with the Castilla Principality, wanting to sell our western land to our blood feud!"

"The evidence is right here! All the citizens of the city can testify for me!"

"Now, your Marquis is coming to complete the treasonous business that Archibald did not finish! Are you also going to help the tyrant and become traitors who sell out the Kingdom?!"

"Your blades are not aimed at the enemy, but at your own compatriots! Your families are behind you, and when the iron hooves of Castilla crush our homeland, you will be the sinners of history!"

Roko's voice was full of power and incitement, each word like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of those Silver Moon Legion soldiers.

The army outside the city was suddenly in a commotion.

Many soldiers' faces showed confusion and wavering expressions.

Most of them really didn't know the inside story of the Royal Capital, only knowing they were ordered to come and "suppress the rebellion." But now, hearing Roko say this, they seemed to have—become accomplices of the traitors?

In the distance, on Marquis William's chariot, the old Marquis's expression instantly turned as gloomy as water.

"What a sharp-tongued kid!" he squeezed a few words through his teeth, "Attacking the heart is the best, interesting. But just relying on lips,

you can't defend the city!"

He waved his hand suddenly and gave the order.

"Marcus! Stop talking nonsense with him! Give me a probing attack! I want to see how hard his turtle shell is!"

"Yes, Marquis!"

Marcus under the city received the order, a ferocious smile appearing on his face. He drew his long sword and pointed forward.

"Cavalry unit! Charge!!"

"Woo—"

The horn of attack sounded.

A light cavalry unit of about two thousand people whistled out from the formation of the Silver Moon Legion, like an arrow off the string, launching a fierce charge toward the city gate of Sunset City.

The sound of hoofbeats shook the sky and earth, as if to crush the earth.

On the city wall, Vittel's expression changed: "Not good! They want to grab the city gate!"

"What's the panic." Roko remained calm, "Pass my order, archers prepare!"

He had long expected the other party to do this.

I saw that the two thousand cavalrymen rushed to the moat in the blink of an eye. However, just as they were about to cross the drawbridge and charge the city gate, a sudden change occurred!

In the grass that looked plain in front of the drawbridge, countless sharp wooden stakes suddenly emerged! At the same time, the ground collapsed without warning, revealing deep trenches!

"Ah!"

The hundreds of cavalrymen charging at the front couldn't react at all, falling into the trenches and traps along with their horses, instantly pierced by sharp wooden stakes, suffering heavy casualties.

The cavalry behind were terrified and hurriedly reined in their horses, the entire charging formation instantly falling into chaos.

"Shoot!"

At this moment, Roko's cold voice sounded.

On the city wall, thousands of archers who had been prepared for a long time released their bowstrings at the same time.

"Shoo shoo shoo shoo!"

The dense rain of arrows, like dark clouds, covered the sky, making a sharp whistling sound, pouring down toward the chaotic cavalry group below!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The sound of arrows entering flesh, accompanied by the screams of soldiers and warhorses, merged into one.

After one round of arrow rain, there was a second round, a third round—the cavalry unit under the city, after paying the price of hundreds of corpses, finally collapsed. They left behind the corpses of their companions and fled back to their main formation in a sorry state.

On the city wall, a sky-shaking cheer erupted!

"Master Governor is mighty!"

"Long live Sunset City!"

First battle victory!

Although it was only a small victory, it greatly boosted the morale of the defenders. They looked at Roko with eyes full of admiration and trust.

Roko's face, however, did not have the slightest joy.

He knew that this was just an appetizer. William was an experienced old general and would never retreat because of this small setback.

The real test was still to come.

Silas walked to his side, looking at the enemy camp outside the city that had become quiet again but looked more oppressive, and whispered: "Master Governor, the opening was very smooth. But our numbers are too disparate from theirs. If they launch a strong attack regardless of the cost, just relying on defending the city, we won't last long."

Roko nodded, his gaze deep.

"I know."

"So, we can't just defend."

"We have to find a way to take the initiative."

"What?!"

"Master Governor, think twice!"

General Vittel was also anxious, he stepped forward and said excitedly: "Master Governor! I know you are brave and good at fighting, but we really don't have the capital to take the initiative! With our small force, rushing out is just sending food to others! Once the field battle fails, we won't even have the chance to defend the city!"

"Who said we were going to have a field battle with them?" Roko glanced at him, his mouth curling into a cold arc.

He picked up the black small flag representing his personal guard "Storm Knights" from the sand table, did not place it on the city wall, but directly crossed the red wooden block representing the enemy main force and inserted it at the very end of the entire camp.

Everyone's eyes followed his movements, their faces full of confusion.

"Although William's army is elite, they have a fatal weakness." Roko's voice was full of confidence, "They came too fast."

"Fast?" The crowd was even more puzzled. Soldiers value speed, isn't this an advantage?

Only Silas was thoughtful, a flash of light in his eyes.

Roko explained: "Precisely because they came too fast, they only brought the most elite combat troops, and the logistics and baggage troops must still be behind. Moreover, in order to pursue speed, the food and grass they carried must not be too much. Now supporting their army must be food and grass collected on the spot."

He drew a circle on the sand table behind the enemy camp with his finger.

"Here, is their temporary food and grass warehouse. And here, is their craftsman camp, I am sure that all siege equipment is being worked on overnight here. These two places are the lifeline of their army."

General Vittel instantly understood Roko's intention, he gasped, and blurted out: "Master Governor, you want to—night raid?"

"That's right." Roko's eyes were brightly scary, "Tonight, I want to give William a big gift."

"This is too risky!" Vittel almost roared, "The enemy camp is heavily guarded, how can our people sneak in without anyone knowing? This is no different from sending death!"

"Regular troops certainly can't." Roko's gaze fell on the black small flag, "But my Storm Knights, can."

He looked at Vittel, and also at everyone present, his tone calm but carrying unquestionable majesty.

"Tonight at the hour of the rat, I will personally lead three hundred Storm Knights, leave the city from the water gate in the north, and bypass to the rear of the enemy camp. Our target is their granary and craftsman camp!"

The entire command room was silent, and everyone was stunned by this crazy plan of Roko's.

Personally leading three hundred people to raid a camp of twenty thousand?

This is no longer adventure, this is betting with life! Betting with his own life, and the fate of the entire Sunset City! ===== CHAPTER 190 =====