Chapter 428

"What does that mean?" The commander-in-chief's heart sank, a dark premonition creeping in.

"Hah! Commander-in-chief, look—you're afraid, aren't you?"

"But fear won't help—facts won't change just because you're worried!"

"I originally sent my troops on a detour to Red Shicheng merely to guard against any stragglers!"

"But now, using them to cut off your link to Red Shicheng? Perfect—hah! Commander-in-chief, do you still think your grain supplies are sufficient?"

Sensing the commander-in-chief's shifting expression, the Beast King laughed triumphantly.

To be honest, he never expected the troops sent around back to play such a crucial role.

But now it was clear—his foresight had compensated for the setback inside Winter's End City.

Whoosh!

"What did the Beast King say? He stationed troops behind us to intercept?"

"It seems so! Does that mean we're completely surrounded by the beastfolk—and our rear link is severed?"

"Exactly—if the southern road is truly blocked by the beastmen, all contact with Red Shicheng is cut off—no chance to request reinforcements!"

"Requesting reinforcements is secondary—the main issue is food. Without food, we'll be starved to death inside Winter's End City!"

The Beast King's words dropped bombs into the hearts of nobles and soldiers alike.

Just hours ago, each noble had been delighted, having foiled the beastfolk's scheme last night.

Yet the reversal came faster than anyone imagined.

"Beast King, do you think I'd believe you? Your lie won't work on us." Hearing the gasps around him, the commander-in-chief knew he couldn't let panic spread.

"Hah! Commander-in-chief, useless—you said it yourself: truth can't be hidden, even if you try to cover it up now."

"But when your messengers return, you'll taste despair—hah!"

Thus, the commander-in-chief's plan to crush the beastfolk's morale backfired completely.

The beastfolk resumed their assault, forcing the commander-in-chief to order full defense.

"Two Dukes, do you think the Beast King's words could be true?"

Inside the war council hall, only the commander-in-chief and the two dukes remained.

Duke Lieshi and Duke Hernade said nothing immediately—none could be certain.

After a long pause, Duke Hernade finally spoke slowly: "Whether true or false, we'll know for certain by evening. All guesses and worries now are useless!"

The commander-in-chief nodded. "There's no other choice!"

Thus, time passed until evening.

When several messengers who had set out at dawn returned in disarray from the south, the commander-in-chief and the two dukes' spirits plunged to the bottom.

Because it meant the Beast King had spoken the truth.

Otherwise, these messengers would never have turned back mid-journey.

"Commander-in-chief, the number of Beastmen on the southern road is at least twenty thousand, and there are at least five hundred Wolf Riders as well."

"If we hadn't run fast, we might not have made it back to report!"

"Twenty thousand Beastmen? And five hundred Wolf Riders?" The commander-in-chief's face darkened instantly.

He had assumed five or six thousand beastfolk behind them was already the maximum.

Now he was told there were twenty thousand—this completely sealed off the Kingdom Army's escape route.

Both Duke Hernade and Duke Lieshi finally frowned—this situation was truly dire.

"Commander-in-chief, we saw clearly—the enemy numbers are accurate, and they're advancing straight toward Winter's End City!"

"Good. Rest for now. Remember—this news must not be leaked to anyone!" The commander-in-chief nodded grimly and dismissed the messengers.

Then, with a face full of worry, he turned to Duke Hernade.

"There's no choice left—we must hold the city. Wait until those twenty thousand beastfolk reach the walls, then respond as circumstances demand!"

"By the way, Commander-in-chief, to prepare for a prolonged siege, food rations must be allocated immediately—so all nobles' grain stores must be surrendered!" Duke Hernade clearly had no better option.

The commander-in-chief hesitated, then finally nodded.

Though issuing this order now to seize grain was practically an admission of defeat.

But food control had to begin at once.

Otherwise, if the army remained besieged long-term without enough food, the consequences would be terrifying.

The commander-in-chief's order to seize grain was swiftly issued.

Though the decree framed it as precautionary—just prudent foresight.

Yet combined with the Beast King's words that morning, the lesser nobles already knew the truth.

Suddenly, every noble in Winter's End City lived in fear.

Though the commander-in-chief ordered grain surrender, nobles still secretly hoarded some.

The commander-in-chief knew he couldn't push too hard now—otherwise it would backfire.

So he chose to stop short, turning a blind eye.

At least, if the collected food was distributed properly, the army could survive twice as long.

…

"My lord, when will Winter's End City crush the beastfolk?"

"That's unlikely."

"What? How? Our Kingdom Army has over a hundred thousand men inside the city, plus towering walls—can't we defeat the beastfolk?"

"And if we can't defeat them, what's the point of us being here?" Knight Mi Gen exclaimed in shock.

"Knight Mi Gen, our purpose here is that Duke Lieshi doesn't want you to earn glory inside Winter's End City."

"As for why Winter's End City can't defeat the beastfolk—according to Moonchaser's scouts, the city was attacked by beastfolk last night."

"The orcs had hidden a contingent of elite orcs in Lindongcheng in advance. If the legion soldiers hadn't discovered it in time, the orcs would have broken through the city gate, and Lindongcheng itself wouldn't have been saved."

"Of course, although Lindongcheng was saved, part of the grain and fodder inside the city seems to have been burned by the orcs, so the kingdom's army in Lindongcheng is actually not in a good position right now!"

"Also, I heard that in the direction of Redstone City, there are still twenty thousand orc troops flanking from behind. The kingdom's army is essentially surrounded now!"

"Huh? This… how could this be? We've only been away from Lindongcheng for a single day!" Knight Mi Gen felt as if his entire mind had gone blank.

Even Knight Commander Lei Meng beside him now showed a stunned expression. "My lord, doesn't that mean our being transferred away from Lindongcheng was actually a good thing?"

"Exactly. In a certain sense, being dispatched to Baron Kalle's castle here means we've temporarily moved away from the eye of the storm."

"Of course, if the main army is routed, the orcs will certainly drive straight in afterward, occupying Redstone City, and even Black Dragon City."

"When that happens, the position we're in right now will directly become the enemy's deep rear, and our fate absolutely won't be a good one!"

"So our safety is only temporary."

"My lord, then what should we do now?" Knight Mi Gen immediately grew anxious.

Why does it feel like every campaign has so many twists and turns?

Things had clearly been smooth sailing before.