Chapter 4, The Frontline

A small business owner conscripted from the city suddenly broke down in tears during training, resulting in Klaus executing him from a meter away with his aura, severing his head. This made all the new recruits understand what military law entails, and in an instant, the enthusiasm for training surged by threefold

Klaus furrowed his brow: "How can that be? Without the supervision of veteran soldiers, those five hundred thousand new recruits are sure to fall into chaos. Do you want the entire front to collapse? Moreover, thirty thousand troops are simply insufficient to withstand the onslaught of the opposing army. What on earth has happened to the 'Green Wilderness Corps'? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

Kailuo sneered: "You have no food left. If I attack now, you will be doomed. Such bluster is of no benefit to us. Why should I cooperate with you?"

The commander looked at the nearby recruits with a somewhat sympathetic gaze, shaking his head and saying helplessly: "Klaus, this is the Duke's order. The Greenfield Corps has encountered a minor issue outside. They intended to advance along the Koslo Mountains to conceal their marching direction, but they encountered a landslide, which has significantly slowed their progress. In order to defend our territory, we must..."

Karin sighed and said, "The Qingfeng Plain is one of your country's largest grain-producing areas, and one could say that there is no shortage of food. However, we have come at the wrong time. We arrived in spring, and as a result, the crops in the fields have only just begun to sprout. Why was I not informed that the harvest occurs in autumn when I set out? This means we do not have enough food."

Kailuo approached Lei with a cold smile, suddenly grabbing him by the neck and shouting loudly: "What do you know, what do you understand? This is the military, discipline is above all, discipline is life, discipline is victory. If a bunch of chaotic trash can win a war, then what do we need the military for? Do you understand? Military law, military law, haha, if you could be in my position, you would understand why military law must be strictly enforced... If a bunch of chaotic trash can win a war, then what do we need the military for? Do you understand? Military law, military law, haha, if you could be in my position, you would understand why military law must be strictly enforced..."

Kailuo was taken aback, and he asked in a daze: "Are you the commander of the Smart Empire? Or a mage? A Phoenix of the fifth rank? In your Smart Empire, that is not much; how could someone like you lead an army? Has your emperor gone mad?"

At that moment, Lei suddenly picked up his bow and arrow, turned around, and drew the bowstring. He then released an arrow, and with a loud "bang," he pulled too hard, causing the standard bow in his hand to snap in two, while the arrow shot out with a piercing whistle.

An old soldier staggered over, smiling as he patted Lei's body, and remarked: "Lei, you young lad are quite robust; you hardly look like a seventeen-year-old. Hehe, the biggest guy in our team is not much bigger than you. With this physique of yours, if you train a bit more and learn some horsemanship, you might even become a knight."

Aoliew tilted his head and shouted, "Should we go find the army of the Smart Empire, kill someone and see if I faint?"

Karlin muttered a few words, presumably inquiring about Kaylo's mother, grandmother, and other figures, before stating: "I can swear, by the god we worship, that everything I say is true. The God of Wisdom (the God of Conspiracy) is watching from above. If I speak falsehoods, may I meet a terrible end... What use is it to keep me here? At most, you would receive a ransom from my father, but I could provide that ransom for you. My several lovers are duchesses, and the gold coins they give me are more than enough to cover my ransom."

Reluctantly greeting the new recruits, they carried the incapacitated individuals into the tent. Klaus and the other team leaders discussed for a while longer before loudly commanding their subordinate soldiers to reorganize the camp according to Kelo's requirements. They aimed to extend the defensive line while maintaining troop density as much as possible, and it would ultimately depend on which temporary corps would be unfortunate enough to be the first target of the enemy's attack

Klaus had not yet recovered from the joy of his sudden promotion by two ranks when he was stunned by the orders that followed. He pointed at a group of new recruits, composed of petty citizens, who were weakly stabbing at a scarecrow with sharpened wooden sticks, and asked in an incredulous tone: "My lord, do you want me to lead these people to intercept the army of the Smart Empire? Do you not realize that even the most ordinary magical attack would frighten them to death?"

A wondrous light had already emerged in Kairo's eyes. A fifth-tier mage was nothing significant; even if he were to be eliminated, the reward would only amount to a little over a thousand gold coins. However, if he could capture the commander of the Smart Empire and send him to the imperial capital, he could at least elevate his military rank to general or perhaps even acquire a title of count. Especially since he was the son of the Prime Minister of the Smart Empire, it was likely that he was able to act as the commander of the Smart Empire due to his father's connections. This meant that his father must hold him in very high regard. The value of this individual, particularly as the son of the Prime Minister of the Smart Empire, was indeed immense. And yet, he had ventured alone into his camp. My goodness, a mage, all alone in a camp filled with knights and soldiers, was akin to a delightful little lamb wandering into a dragon's lair.

Kalin looked innocent, staring blankly at Kairo: "Deception? Are you insulting me? I have never deceived anyone. You must know that my most glorious record is spending one night among three noble ladies, and it was my honesty that won their hearts. Are you intending to insult me? ... Oh my God, if it weren't for the fact that the son of the Minister of Military Affairs of the Empire is vying with me for the power to lead troops into battle, would I have come out with only half a month's worth of supplies?"

Bitter loudly complained while gathering his subordinate soldiers: "Lei, are you not afraid of accidentally injuring our people? Although our army is no longer on the Qingfeng Plain, it could still be one of ours. Fortunately, he is wearing a wizard's robe; otherwise, I would suspect that you are being overly sensitive."

Kailuo remained silent for half a day, and finally sighed, saying: "I cannot trust you, so please stay." His hand suddenly exerted force and firmly grasped Karlin's wrist.

Karlin screamed, "Oh my God, it hurts so much, my hand is broken... Damn it, for an elegant magician, can't there be a bit of grace?"

However, Karine immediately filled her face with a smile, warmly taking Kelo's hand and saying, "Actually, there's no need to trouble yourself. I came here just to discuss something with you."

Lei, perplexed, asked: "Why? If we all learn it, wouldn't that significantly enhance our combat capabilities?"

Kalin looked around at the soldiers in incomplete armor with a grin, and once again lifted a bottle of fine wine delivered by the attendant of Kelo, gulping it down. Nearby, a drunken recruit cursed inwardly: "Damn it, aren't wizards supposed to avoid alcohol? How can this guy drink so fast? He's practically one of us."

A bizarre event unfolded, leaving all the soldiers rushing in a state of astonishment. Large, visible ripples spread through the air, while the sharp arrow gradually slowed its descent, eventually coming to a halt in mid-air. The magician galloped over and effortlessly grasped the arrow that was suspended in the air. Subsequently, a small whirlwind whirled around the arrow, howling as it shot back.

The Biters have rushed over upon hearing the news, helplessly helping Lei up from the ground. Aolai murmured beside them: "Usually, when Lei kills those wild beasts, he doesn't even blink. Why does he react like this when he sees a human head?"

Klaus found it somewhat amusing and delivered a hard punch to Ole's shoulder, saying: "Nonsense, how many of you are going to find the army of the Smart Empire? Even the lowest-level mage could easily kill you. Not to mention their soldiers; although the soldiers of the Smart Empire are trash, at least they are much better equipped than you, and they have undergone several years of training. You few cannot manage it."

Before Kairo could respond, Karlin spoke again: "You imprison me and use me to exchange for my family's ransom, which is even less possible. As I have said, after dark, Shalin will have taken control of the military."

Kailuo smiled, bowed respectfully, and greeted in a tone that was not entirely sincere: "Your Excellency, it is a great honor. Please, come in, come in. Oh, what kind of wine do you prefer? My goodness, you wizards drink tea; I will have someone fetch you some fine tea right away"

Karlin showed no trace of noble demeanor, grabbing a bottle of wine and downing it. Then, casually wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his robe, he spoke in a low voice: "So, you see, if you cooperate, it will benefit us all. One million gold coins. If I can enter the Mage Association, I will give you one million gold coins. What do you think?"

Lei smiled a bit shyly, while Bi Te had already come over to join the fun: "Brother Kafu, you must not underestimate our Lei. If it comes to strength, I wouldn't be a match for him even if there were three of me. If it weren't for his mother's illness, he would have time to practice martial arts with us; I wouldn't stand a chance even against ten of him... By the way, I saw that the team leaders all know how to use fighting spirit. Doesn't the army teach this?"

Carlin shrugged his shoulders, wearing a nonchalant expression, and somewhat flustered, climbed down from the horse. He walked towards the camp, sighing as he said: "I also believe that His Majesty has gone mad, but what can I do? My father is the Prime Minister of the Empire. He always expects me to achieve some merits to promote my official position. However, I, Carlin, am known as the most beautiful man in the capital, the first lover. How could he bear to let me engage in such violent affairs?"

Klaus ordered the soldiers to set up camp, while he took a few personal guards to meet with several other team leaders, oh, the current temporary corps commanders

Kailuo suddenly realized, smiling: "However, if you are withdrawing your troops, then just retreat like that. Why do you still need my cooperation?" He was determined to keep Karlin in the camp at all costs.

Karlin's face was filled with hatred: "You want to transport supplies to the Imperial Capital? Don't you know that the logistics department of the Smart Empire is overseen by the Minister of Military Affairs? How could he possibly send me supplies? Last time, he provided enough fodder for thirty thousand warhorses to last three years, but not a single grain of rice was delivered. He keeps talking about supplies, giving me fodder, which is almost the same as food. Does he expect me to fight on grass? I am a noble magician! That damned old turtle, when I return, I will definitely seduce his youngest concubine." Karlin suddenly let out a string of coarse words, ... Last time, he provided enough fodder for thirty thousand warhorses to last three years, but not a single grain of rice was delivered. He keeps talking about supplies, giving me fodder, which is almost the same as food. Does he expect me to fight on grass? I am a noble magician! That damned old turtle, when I return, I will definitely seduce his youngest concubine." Karlin suddenly let out a string of coarse words, ... which made a group of soldiers feel quite comfortable, as it turned out that nobles could curse too...

The faces of the two guards relaxed, and they chuckled, "Well, rest assured, the Duke has ordered all the blacksmiths in the province to work overnight. They have already manufactured enough iron spearheads, and once sharpened and mounted on wooden poles, they become long spears, right? As long as they learn to use the long spears to stab, having five hundred thousand spear soldiers should be able to inflict significant casualties on the enemy, shouldn't it?" After saying this, they casually tossed a sample to Klaus.

Klaus looked expressionlessly at the people in the arena who were gradually unable to move, and sneered: "Of course, how could I possibly let them go? More than two thousand people, over two thousand armed soldiers, standing with long spears, capable of defending a line of considerable length. Heh heh, if I don't take care of that bastard, am I still Klaus?"

The sound of orderly footsteps approached, brought by Kairo, as the four imperial teams that had escaped from the 'Iron Blood Fortress' rushed over, wielding the handles of their weapons to deliver a brutal beating to the brawling soldiers, throwing them out like dead dogs.

Klaus was stunned; he was well aware that Lei and his group were far more formidable than ordinary citizens. If he were to faint at the sight of a severed head, then wouldn't the other soldiers flee at the mere sight of blood? How could they possibly fight like this? He quickly scanned his surroundings, and indeed, the faces of the onlooking soldiers bore a hint of strange expressions, as if the appearance of another head would send them running for their lives.

The black-robed mage slowly removed the hood of his cloak, revealing a handsome face. With a smile, he said: "I sincerely apologize; I am the commander of the army of the Smart Empire. My name is Karlin, a fifth-tier mage of the Smart Empire." He smiled and gave a slight bow on horseback; although the gesture was somewhat comical, it exuded an unparalleled elegance.

Kailuo pondered for half a day, unable to utter a word

Kailuo was left in a daze by Karlin's words, who began to curse softly: "Damn Shabaste, how dare he compete with me for this command position. I should have made him follow me into the army, then found an opportunity to behead him. What a damned fellow... Your 'Iron Blood Fortress' is truly too stingy; the supplies inside are only enough for us to eat for thirty days. Now that we have been deployed for almost a month without food, how do you expect us to manage?"

Klaus sighed, weakly striking his longsword, and murmured, "We must send these fellows to the battlefield... Well, I obey the orders, but sharpened wood cannot kill; it can hardly pierce even the thinnest leather armor, my lord"

Kailuo wore a smile on his face and unconsciously nodded. He suddenly realized that his actions were too easily misinterpreted by the soldiers, so he quickly straightened his expression and said: "Accepting a bribe? Do you think I am such a shameless person? Can the knights of the Vante Empire engage in such behavior?"

Bite furrowed his brow as he looked at the more than two hundred heads on the ground, letting out a helpless sigh: "After all, these are human heads. Killing a wild beast and killing a person should be different, right?"

Kalin knelt solemnly on the ground, and according to the rituals of the Smart Empire for worshiping the gods, a faint blue magical aura emanated from his body. He made a grand oath: "In the name of the God of Wisdom, with General Kairo assisting our retreat, grant me sufficient military merit to be promoted to the Mage Association. We shall retreat as a whole army, leaving the 'Iron Blood Fortress', and shall not launch any offensive against the Vante Empire. Should I violate this, may I be struck down by heaven and earth, suffer a miserable death, and be abandoned by all the beauties in the world, never to win the heart of my little princess in this lifetime."

Kailuo heavily threw the雷 onto the ground, precisely landing it on several still oozing bloody heads, and whispered: "Although you did not violate military discipline, you trespassed into the central army, disrespected the commander, and violated the commander's orders, which is also a crime. However, we need manpower now, so I will spare your life; you should be grateful to me, little one." He coldly laughed as he shook his bright red cloak and walked towards the main tent with a group of high-ranking knights, casually tossing out a remark: "Those who fought, each will receive fifty lashes."

Karlin immediately explained: "Oh my, I certainly did not mean to insult your army's combat capabilities. However, after all, we now possess the 'Second City of the Continent,' which you built yourselves, claiming it to be an impregnable fortress, correct? Therefore, from a logical standpoint, it is possible for us to inflict significant casualties on your army. Especially when you report that after a bloody battle, having sacrificed three hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, or even six hundred thousand soldiers, you finally captured the fortress, that would indeed be a tremendous achievement... So, from a logical standpoint, it is possible for us to inflict significant casualties on your army. Especially when you report that after a bloody battle, having sacrificed three hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, or even six hundred thousand soldiers, you finally captured the fortress, that would indeed be a tremendous achievement... And what about the compensation? ... Hehe, even a windfall could amount to several million gold coins, right?"

Kafu whispered, "Nonsense, if we all learned it, how would those noble knights and officers seize military achievements? Moreover, would the higher-ups really allow ordinary people to wield such powerful forces? It's just like in the Shimat Empire, where apprentice wizards are required to swear an oath to never disclose any knowledge of magic to commoners, and they are branded with magical seals that prevent them from breaking their vows. It's all the same principle."

Klaus sighed deeply and shook his head, saying: "I am not referring to the issue of weaponry. With so many of us going over, the Smart Empire will inevitably consider the risks of attacking us. It is not cost-effective to exchange our new recruits for their elite troops. What I am talking about is: high-ranking knights; we do not have high-ranking knights among us. My lords, among the commanders of our three divisions, the most skilled is a Silver Fourth-Order Knight, who is still inferior to your strengths. Moreover, only three of them are Silver Knights, and there are very few Bronze Peak Knights like myself. If they challenge us to a duel, can we refuse?"

To Kairo's surprise, the new recruits all displayed a sense of relief on their faces, as if they were no longer required to fight, and they seemed much more at ease. Kairo felt a surge of emotion; did these fellows actually wish for this? However, Kairo also felt a bit of fear. If it weren't for Carlin coming forward with this peculiar plan, leading such a troop against the legion commanded by Shalin would surely have led to his demise.

Klaus stared wide-eyed at the conical gun muzzle in his hand, his expression one of disbelief. It was essentially just a piece of iron sheet rolled into a cone, with the seams haphazardly glued together with molten iron. Klaus looked helplessly at the two bodyguards and sighed, "Well, let's go with this; at least it has much greater lethality than a wooden stick, but I still have questions"

The new recruits began to shout, and more than a dozen archers had drawn their bows, ready to shoot, while the black-robed mage had already ridden to within several meters of the main camp. The mage sneered: "Is this the courtesy with which your Vante Empire treats its envoys? I am truly disappointed."

Thus, as the lord had already fled, and most of the high-ranking knights within the territory had perished along with the "Green Wilderness Legion," while the private armies of other surrounding lords were slow to arrive and the reinforcements from the imperial capital were nowhere to be found, the new recruits led by Lei advanced towards the front lines.

Kailuo exclaimed: "Are you joking? Do you think you can inflict massive casualties on our legion?"

Karlin wore a look of grievance, almost on the verge of tears: "The military texts state that when retreating, one must ensure the enemy does not dare to pursue. However, I only brought one hundred thousand soldiers this time, and it seems you have at least a million here. How can I prevent them from pursuing? I have no choice but to come and discuss this with you. Moreover, my military achievements are insufficient. Originally, upon my return to the country, my father intended for me to join the Mage Association, but now, that is no longer possible."

Karlin pouted: "I won't do it, I'm not a knight, I won't duel. Duels can only be fought between knights. Hmph, do you think I'm someone who knows nothing? ... Actually, the matter is quite simple. As long as you do not pursue us when we retreat, and then set a fire under the 'Iron Blood Fortress', it would be best if it could burn to death about ten thousand of my soldiers. I can then tell my father that the Vant Empire conquered the 'Iron Blood Fortress' with overwhelming force, forcing me to withdraw, but I also inflicted casualties on at least one million of the Vant Empire's troops. In that case, His Majesty will surely reward me.

Everyone present fell silent, and all the officers and soldiers understood that the intimidation value of their army here outweighed its actual significance. If they could not scare off the enemy, then the enemy could easily overpower them. A person with a sound mind would not attack an enemy force of over 500,000 with just 160,000 troops. However, if the opposing side ran out of supplies and feared being pursued to their deaths, the possibility of a desperate gamble becomes quite high. Especially since Shalin was known as a fierce general of the empire; otherwise, he would not have been assigned to guard the 'Iron Blood Fortress'.

The guards smiled, their expressions becoming much more relaxed, and nodded as they said: "This issue has already been considered by the Duke. Our captain, the formidable Golden Knight Kairo, will lead several senior knights to the border. If they wish to engage in a public duel, let those soft-footed knights of the Smart Empire experience the might of our Vant warriors."

Karlin began to curse: "Isn't it that damn General Sarin of yours? I gave him ten million gold coins as a bribe, and he sold out the 'Iron Blood Fortress.' But all the soldiers under him revolted; not only did they flee, but they also burned all the supplies. On my first day in the city, I had to gnaw on popcorn for an entire day. Do you think that was a pleasant experience? ... ... My favorite still remains the lamb chops from the imperial capital." ... ... My favorite still remains the lamb chops from the imperial capital.

Lei was already stunned with fear, staring at the head that was so close, while beneath him sat another head, his hand surprisingly pressing down on one. His vision darkened, and a wave of nausea surged in his stomach, causing him to vomit uncontrollably. Just as he expelled a few mouthfuls of bitter liquid, he fainted.

However, Klaus and his party's encampment is situated alarmingly close to the border of the Xili Province. Even with their slow pace, they reached the rendezvous point in three days. Three temporary legions had already arrived, and the main camp was well established. From a distance, the vast expanse of gray and black tents appeared quite impressive

The surrounding soldiers have already begun to stir. The 'Greenfield Legion' has been eliminated? What does that make them? They are a regular elite corps, well-equipped and well-trained. And what about ourselves? If the Smart Empire's army can eliminate them, then getting rid of us shouldn't be a difficult task, right

Karin sat on the horse, murmuring softly: "God, it is you who taught me the despicable and the vile... Hmm, the oaths I swore cannot be taken seriously. Do those idiots of the Vant Empire not know that the oaths of the nobles of our Smart Empire can be disregarded as easily as one would discard vegetables? Truly foolish."

Karlin rolled his eyes: "A knight is absolutely forbidden to kill his own captives, as stated in your Empire's code of chivalry. Moreover, a knight must not kill a defenseless captive; otherwise, he will be stripped of his knighthood and title... Well, another question and a topic for discussion is, if I die, that bastard Shalin will be very pleased to gain my military power, yes, that's how it is"

The three burst into laughter, their words filled with disdain for the knights of the Smart Empire

Kailuo increased the strength in his hands and nodded with a smile: "Please, go ahead. What is it? Are you going to surrender to us? Or are you planning to betray the Smart Empire and seek our protection?"

In the distance, a rider on a black horse was galloping urgently across the Qingfeng Plain. Kafu had already started shouting nervously: "It is a wizard from the Shimate Empire, everyone be alert... Strange, how dare he come here alone?... Odd, how did Lei hear about this? We certainly weren't paying attention, what a peculiar kid, truly worthy of being born a hunter"

In the brief moment of this short sentence, the arrow had already pierced through the air and struck the face of the black-robed sorcerer. This arrow, shot by Lei, was indeed extraordinarily swift, accurate, and lethal.

Kailuo trembled with rage as he slowly drew his long sword, channeling all his energy and shouted at the soldier on the hill: "Shut up." A wave of air rippled forward, causing the first hundred or so soldiers to feel a sudden pressure in their chests, their vision filled with golden stars, and they collapsed to the ground. The immense sound wave also silenced those soldiers who were gleefully watching the spectacle.

Klaus sighed softly: "Fifty strikes? That could leave them unable to get up for two months. Heh heh, I didn't expect that just after arriving at the front line, there would be non-combat losses of over 2,000. This is not a good omen"

The ruling class's mentality is something that ordinary people cannot comprehend.

Kailuo slowly released Karlin's hand and took a few of his subordinates with him, while the several Golden Knights walked off to a distant place to discuss.

Seeing the strange expressions of the officers and soldiers nearby, Kairo shouted with righteous indignation: "My God, are you bribing me? In broad daylight, you dare to bribe me? This is an insult to me, and I cannot tolerate it. My dear sir, I request a duel with you"

A silence fell over the large tent for a moment. Kairo took a sip of water and was about to continue speaking when Lei burst in, shouting loudly: "Lord Klaus, it's bad! Our men have gotten into a fight with those from the temporary 7th Legion... One of our brothers has a longstanding feud with a brother from their side, and when they met, they started fighting. Naturally, we had to help our own, and they, of course, helped their own. Now over two thousand people are caught up in the fray."

Kalin, in a disheveled state, clutched a pile of empty liquor bottles and struggled to mount his horse. He then shot a glance at Kelo. Kelo hurried over, only to hear Kalin sneeringly say: "If I were you, I would send all the soldiers watching to the front lines, allowing me to kill them... I have killed them, which counts as some real merit, while you would have them killed, thus preventing today's events from being discovered... Well, I am rambling, oh God, forgive me."... I have killed them, which counts as some real merit, while you would have them killed, thus preventing today's events from being discovered... Well, I am rambling, oh God, forgive me.

Seeing that the soldiers had no objections, Kairo revealed a smile: "Then, Your Excellency Karlin, please make your formal oath."

They were almost amused by Karlin's peculiar oath, but fortunately, they realized they were in a military camp and managed to suppress their laughter. Karlin brushed the dust off his clothes, stood up, and said with a smile: "Alright, could you also give me a little assurance? Don't you need to swear an oath?"

Kailuo cast a disdainful glance at Lei, who was rendered speechless and had a purple-red complexion due to being choked. With a cold laugh, he said: "However, I do not believe you will ever have the opportunity to become someone like me, little boy. I am a top-tier knight of the Empire, a general in the Imperial Army, my knightly title is that of a Meritorious Knight, and my noble rank is Viscount. You... hum hum"

Two guards looked at Klaus with difficulty and whispered, "This is already the fastest and most effective solution we can find for the shortage of arms. We know there are too few armors and not enough weapons, so we can only have them extend the wooden sticks to make long spears to confront the enemy. There is really no other way. The other lords have their private armies stationed at the border of the Silihang Province, but none are willing to come to our aid, so we can only rely on ourselves."

Before Kairo could speak, Carlin began to talk to himself: "I truly apologize; I accidentally killed one of your soldiers. I was too sensitive, and I am really sorry. Um, I think I should compensate a little bit of funeral expenses." After saying this, he started rummaging through all the pockets on his body. However, after searching for a considerable amount of time, he still found nothing, and he suddenly smiled awkwardly.

Karlin seemed unconcerned by Kairo's actions and said with a smile, "Just bring the wine here; I enjoy drinking while standing under the sky, admiring the beauty of nature. As for the tent, it has a strong leather smell, which I am not accustomed to... Well, first of all, I sincerely apologize for the expression on my face regarding my subordinates' annihilation of the 'Greenfield Legion,' my heartfelt apologies, Lord Kairo."

Including Kairo, a total of eighteen high-ranking knights charged into the fray, wielding their weapons with ferocity. These lofty knights showed little regard for the lives of the commoners. In the pained gaze of Klaus and the others, approximately two hundred heads fell in an instant, and the splattered blood elicited a series of anguished cries from the soldiers engaged in the brawl, who scattered like frightened ghosts, trembling as they stood in place.

Karlin wore a face of gloom: "Oh my, how can I possibly say this? It's really quite embarrassing... We would like to withdraw, but could you please cooperate with us?"

The temporary leader of the Seventh Legion, Exes, who is also a team leader and a Bronze Tier 4 Knight, looked at Klaus with a bitter smile: "Well, Klaus, am I not the same? Damn it, who was the one leading the fight? I will personally take him down later."

Kailuo was at a loss for words; the matter had already been stated to this extent, what else could he do? The new recruits all knew that the 'Green Wilderness Legion' was reputed to be the legion with the most regular knights among the private armies in the southern part of the Empire. If they had not truly annihilated the entire 'Green Wilderness Legion', how could they possibly know the exact number of the low-ranking Black Iron Knights?

Karlin shrugged: "You don't want it? Then just give it to me. I am preparing to buy the latest jewelry for my little princess. Whether you cooperate or not is up to you. After all, you cannot imprison me; I am a high-level mage. Your Vante Empire lacks excellent mage talents, and you cannot seal my powers. Hmph..." After all, you cannot imprison me; I am a high-level mage. Your Vante Empire lacks excellent mage talents, and you cannot seal my powers. Hmph..."

Karlin shrugged indifferently: "Then, as General Shalin suggested, I have brought one hundred thousand soldiers, ten thousand mages, along with the fifty thousand soldiers in the city who have surrendered to us. We can start the battle overnight; after all, we are all destined to die, so why not die in a way that makes you suffer a bit more... Just like my first love, since I was bound to lose it, I found seven young girls and lost it in a grand manner. This is my principle in life: if one cannot survive, then let it be a beautiful and glorious death.

Karlin cautiously said: "In fact, as long as you set a fire and then cut a little bit of the soldiers' arms and legs, smearing the walls with blood, it will appear as if you have reclaimed the 'Iron Blood Fortress' through a bloody battle, right? And I, I have caused significant casualties to your Vante Empire's living forces, so when I return, I will also have great merit and rewards."

Kailuo blinked and smiled, saying, "The wine has arrived, would you like to have a glass?"

Kalin burst into laughter, swiftly embracing several bottles of fine wine that the orderly was carrying, and turned to walk outside. Many soldiers attempted to intercept him, but Kelo waved his hand slightly, and they immediately halted in their tracks

Fortunately, Klaus is a rather pragmatic team leader. He incorporated all the young people from the team in Keli Village into his veteran ranks. Along the way, Klaus spared no effort in intensifying the training for the other new recruits. Every day after marching, he required those uniformed pikemen to practice thrusting their spears furiously in the camp until they could no longer lift their arms, only then allowing them to rest

After two busy days, Lei finally drove the last stake into the muddy ground with a stone. He rubbed his bare torso and sighed. Indeed, serving in the military is not an easy task; at least setting up the camp is so troublesome and laborious. However, he was unaware that the regular army could set up a camp in just a little over an hour. The inefficiency of their new recruits was the reason it took them two days. Especially since Kairo insisted on strengthening the defenses at the front of the camp, they had to drive in three rows of stakes, making it inevitable that the process would be slower.

Kailuo wore a cold expression, staring intently at Karlin: "So, esteemed sir, what exactly do you wish to say? As the commander of the Smart Empire's army, what purpose do you serve by coming alone to our camp if you do not intend to surrender to us?"

Klaus and the other team leaders exchanged glances, unable to speak. The veterans had all been dispatched to supervise the new recruits, leaving no one available. If these new recruits were not accompanied by veterans, they would have long since fallen out of formation.

Kailuo tightly grasped Karin's hand and smiled, saying: "Please, go ahead, everything can be discussed, won't you come into the main tent? Someone has already gone to prepare the wine."

Kailuo, accompanied by five Golden Knights and twelve Silver Knights, rushed to the edge of the frenzied fighting arena. At this moment, over five thousand people were swinging their fists in a chaotic melee. Meanwhile, on a small hill to the right, approximately ten thousand people were clapping and shouting: "Fight! Fight! Damn it, kill those bastards! Keep it up! Hahaha, this is really lively! Who knew the army could be this entertaining"

Kailuo was taken aback; he suddenly realized that Karlin had called out his name upon their first meeting. However, he could not afford to pursue this question and instead nervously covered it up: "My goodness, what are you saying? The Green Wilderness Corps is advancing here; how could you possibly engage with them?"

Kailuo suddenly turned around, his blood-red eyes fixed intently on Lei, who had spoken. Klaus felt a sense of foreboding, but he dared not intervene. As soon as Lei's words left his mouth, he regretted them, fearfully gazing at the menacing Kailuo, nearly collapsing to the ground.

A smile also appeared on Klaus's face: "Then there is nothing to worry about. Although I am just a bronze knight, I should be able to take down those mid-level silver guys from their empire, right? If I can eliminate a division commander, I could make a significant profit."

The main military tent was set up within Klaus's camp. Hearing the commotion outside, Kelo rushed over with a large number of knights and soldiers, loudly declaring: "Are you the envoys of the Smart Empire? Ha, I do not accept any arguments. Please leave, and if your commander wishes to go to war, then let him come."

Kailuo displayed a look of sudden realization, her face beaming with a smile: "So that's it, our soldiers of the Vantidi Empire are the finest on the continent... But, can't you request your imperial capital to supply more provisions?" The knights beside Kailuo felt that something was amiss. After all, Karlin was the commander of the opposing side; how could Kailuo discuss their tactics with him? It seemed as if Karlin had led Kailuo into a trap with his roundabout approach.

After a long while, Kairo slowly approached and said in a low voice, "Brothers, do you have any objections?" He had to seek the soldiers' opinions. That damned Karlin had revealed his plan in front of everyone, and it was precisely a plan that required a certain understanding between both parties, something that should not be made public. Kairo did not want the soldiers to misunderstand his character.

Another team leader began to express his grievances: "All my veterans have been assigned to the team for supervision, but I don't think the results are very good. I feel that instead of letting those veterans waste their energy mingling with the new recruits, it would be better to concentrate them. With our three divisions and twenty-one teams, we have a total of thirty thousand personnel. Concentrating our superior forces to defend a specific point might yield much better results, don't you think?"

Kailuo was about to speak when Karlin quickly interjected: "Moreover, that bastard Shalin told me that if I don't return before dark, he will automatically take control of the army and begin his attack against you. That scoundrel is a man of the Minister of Military Affairs, and he would love nothing more than to kill me; he wouldn't care about my life at all, and he will definitely bring people to kill me."

Kailuo knelt on one knee, drew his long sword, and shouted loudly: "We shall act according to the agreement; you will relinquish the 'Iron Blood Fortress,' and we shall not pursue. I swear by the honor of a knight, by the honor of my family, and by my blood that guarantees the truth of my oath"

Kailuo was stunned, and the surrounding soldiers were also taken aback. At this moment, more and more soldiers gathered to watch, all having heard Karlin's words. Those who were standing far back and had not heard it also received the message from their companions, and soon began to murmur softly.

He had just arrived at the temporary central command tent when he heard a roar from inside: "Alright, our task is to defend our own province well, and it is sufficient to block the three hundred miles of the front border. You will form a straight line for the camps, placing twenty thousand men in each camp, a total of twenty-five camps. Secure the central two hundred miles of territory, and do not concern yourselves with the flanks. If the Smart Empire intends to advance from our flanks, they cannot do so without alerting those damned lords' legions, so let them fight it out." If the Smart Empire intends to advance from our flanks, they cannot do so without alerting those damned lords' legions, so let them fight it out.

Kalin has already walked through the gates of the military camp, smiling and waving his hand, saying: "It's alright, it's alright, dear General Kairo. Oh, I actually have a great fondness for fine wine; those noble ladies and young misses all prefer red wine, the finest red wine. Therefore, I have little interest in tea. Only by catering to their tastes can I pursue them, so let's have some wine."

The imperial soldiers who had just completed their executions marched past them in formation. Upon hearing Klaus's complaints, several officers cast him furtive, peculiar glances before quickly moving on. The others did not notice their abnormal expressions; however, Lei, who had just awakened and opened his eyes, did see them. Yet, with his mind still in a state of confusion, Lei did not connect the meaning behind the officers' gazes.

Karin smiled mysteriously and said, "Well, I would like to discuss something with you."

Kailuo was stunned. If it were truly Shalin leading the army forward, and if Shalin were personally commanding, then this 530,000-strong army would not be enough to contend with him. A large group of sheep could never be compared to a pack of lions. They have 160,000 men, among whom there are even 10,000 formidable sorcerers

At the same time, those new recruits summoned from the city of - Tu - Book, when they can slack off, will absolutely not put in any effort. Take the section managed by the squad from Keli Village as an example; it is primarily the new recruits from the mountainous areas who are doing the work. Those petty citizens, how could they be willing to exert themselves? Although Biter and the others are squad leaders, they are still young and have not yet learned to assert their authority or file petty reports, leaving them truly helpless in dealing with these individuals

Kailuo shouted: "What if I kill you right now?"

Kailuo shouted in disbelief: "Impossible, the 'Iron Blood Fortress' has enough provisions for one hundred thousand troops to last ten years, how could that be?"

Kailuo was about to deal with Lei's grave offense of intruding into the central army, but upon hearing over two thousand new recruits in a chaotic brawl, he lost all inclination to confront Lei. He angrily slammed his hand on the table and shouted: "Let's go, follow me to see where the military law team is! Get rid of those leading troublemakers... Damn it, how could I forget? With such a trashy army, how could there possibly be a military law team?" He stormed out of the tent, turned back, and cursed again: "No wonder a mere private could rush in; the guard is actually a new recruit? Can't you even arrange for a few reliable people to stand guard?"

The voices of the new recruits grew louder, and Kairo's expression became increasingly grim. However, he was still sneering inwardly: "What does it matter if you let the soldiers know about the demise of the 'Greenfield Brigade'? You have already entered my camp; can you still escape? Damn it, just watch how I deal with you"

A small voice trembled slightly, yet spoke in a somewhat uneven whisper: "If we must kill, let it be the leader. Why must so many innocent lives be taken? Military law, military law, military law is too harsh."

On the third day of training, two of Duke Green's personal guards, bearing the insignia of a top-tier silver knight with five sharp teeth within a lion's mouth, arrived at Klaus's camp and delivered the following dry command: "In the name of the Duke, Team Leader Klaus is hereby promoted to the temporary 15th Legion of the Silly Province. The entire army is to mobilize and advance to the border between the Qingfeng Plain and the Silly Province, coordinating with the other twenty temporary legions to intercept the forces of the Shimate Empire, and absolutely prevent them from advancing further"

Klaus smiled, yet his heart was filled with doubts: "Strange, no matter where Duke Green goes, Lord Kelo always follows him. But this time, Lord Kelo actually took people to the front lines. Doesn't the Duke worry about his safety?" However, Klaus was unaware that after receiving the battle report from the front, Duke Green had already moved his family and all his possessions towards the imperial capital. If he could not be a formidable lord in the local area, then becoming a noble in the imperial capital would also be acceptable, far better than being captured and killed by the enemy. After receiving the battle report from the front, Duke Green had already moved his family and all his possessions towards the imperial capital. If he could not be a formidable lord in the local area, then becoming a noble in the imperial capital would also be acceptable, far better than being captured and killed by the enemy.

In the venue, the imperial soldiers from four teams have already pinned down those involved in the brawl to the ground. They drew out whips, hemp ropes, or simply wooden sticks, and began to strike down upon them mercilessly. These imperial soldiers from the four teams are elite forces, possessing great strength. One can only hear the wretched cries of those brawlers as they writhe on the ground, their thin clothing torn apart, and streaks of blood appearing on their bodies.

Another team leader interjected: "I am actually more concerned about other issues. While combat effectiveness is one thing, the advantage in numbers can somewhat compensate for the lack of combat power. However, as for morale... I do not believe that soldiers who panic at the sight of blood can hold the line."

Carlin squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the steed immediately began to gallop slowly. Kelo gazed at his back for a while, then turned back to the camp with a smile.

Kailuo gradually revealed a smile and exclaimed: "My God, Lord Carlin, do you take me for a fool? Perhaps you do not understand the importance of food, but surely your subordinate generals would remind you of this? Do you think you can deceive me with such a simple trick?"

Karlin wore an expression of displeasure, and he shouted loudly: "What is this? Could I possibly do such a thing? Why should I surrender? We have at least won a battle; why should I betray my own country? I am pursuing His Majesty's little princess... Well, this is a trivial matter, isn't it?"

Kafu glanced around and muttered a few words, then quietly asked, "Did that Ster, who taught you martial arts, not tell you these things? Fighting energy can only be learned by high-ranking knights or nobles. The imperial army does have a standard training method, but one must at least be a Bronze Tier 4 knight to qualify for it. Other noble families also have some different training methods, but how could they possibly teach us?"

Lei instinctively lowered his head, and with a 'thud', a hapless new recruit behind him was immediately pierced through the chest by the long arrow, letting out a terrible scream as he fell to the ground. Lei's whole body began to tremble; it was the first time he felt the death of a comrade, especially when that guy fell, his chest brushed against Lei's back, leaving a large smear of blood on it.

Klaus cautiously walked in and what he saw was the Knight of Kelo, clad in purple armor, with his family's dragon emblem on the insignia. He hailed from a noble family; although he did not have the right of inheritance, he was permitted to use his family's emblem on his armor. His knightly insignia was engraved on his weapon, depicting a golden dragon with four sharp teeth in its mouth. He hailed from a noble family; although he did not have the right of inheritance, he was permitted to use his family's emblem on his armor. His knightly insignia was engraved on his weapon, depicting a golden dragon with four sharp teeth in its mouth

Upon seeing Klaus enter, Kelo merely nodded slightly and continued to give orders: "No, for safety's sake, we need to move the camp a bit closer, understand? Do not give the enemy any opportunity to attack us. Hmph, if my subordinates were all elite troops like the 'Green Wilderness Legion', I wouldn't need to be so cautious, but..." He muttered softly, "A bunch of trash, can they even fight?" Hmph, if my subordinates were all elite troops like the 'Green Wilderness Legion', I wouldn't need to be so cautious, but..." He muttered softly, "A bunch of trash, can they even fight?"

The Bitters listened in fear from the side, not daring to speak

Kailuo immediately instructed: "It is of no concern, Your Excellency. Someone, carry this poor young man inside, and provide his family with a compensation of five hundred gold coins, to be delivered directly into the hands of his family, understood? Now, Your Excellency, please come in, please come in..."

Kailuo's heavy voice echoed throughout the entire camp: "If there is another instance of group fighting, those who do not adhere to military discipline will be executed"

Kalin nodded slightly, casting a brief glance at Lei, who stood like a wooden statue nearby, watching the commotion. He then glanced at the broken standard bow in Lei's hand, muttering to himself: "It's this kid, damn it, he almost shot an arrow across my face. I thought these new recruits wouldn't notice my movements, but unexpectedly, he actually heard the sound of my horse's hooves. Is he a dog or a human?"

Kailuo was startled by his sharp scream, feeling a bit awkward and slightly relaxing his grip. Indeed, the other party was merely a magician; there was no need to be so tense. After all, he was the highest-ranking knight. Given his own strength, at this distance, even the most powerful magician could not escape his fist. Why be so anxious?

Karlin looked at Kairo with a pure expression: "It can't be possible. When our people cleaned the battlefield, there were a total of 26,782 corpses, including 19 Golden Knights, 67 Silver Knights, 195 Bronze Knights, and approximately 478 Black Iron Knights. This perfectly matches the information we have regarding the 'Greenfield Legion', doesn't it?"