svetikya Chapter 90 Breaking the situation
Chapter 90 Breaking the situation
Tiberius's eyes, sharp as an eagle's, swept across the crowd in the dim light of the oil lamp. His speech was rapid, clear, and unquestionable:
"Brother Habroy! Dmitry!" He called out to the two most experienced commanders, "Give me eighty of your most capable and fearless veterans! They must be seasoned fighters, daring to risk their lives!"
He abruptly turned to Lisanro, his gaze fixed intently on him, his voice heavy: "Lisanro! Listen, whether your father, Governor Lisanro, becomes a prisoner of Valantis, spending his remaining days in the mines, or returns to Rhys in glory to continue as governor, is up to you!"
Lisangluo was so overwhelmed by this sudden burden that he gasped for breath and his face turned pale instantly.
Tiberius continued issuing orders, each word like a hammer blow to Lisanlo's heart: "You are now Mario Ferrero! Put on your most conspicuous armor and cloak, and lead us—yes, me with you! Just these eighty veterans! They are not allowed to bring any long weapons or shields except for their short swords, machetes, and hand axes! They're not even allowed to take off their armor and throw them straight down from the city wall! If you're going to put on an act, go all the way!"
He described the scene that was about to unfold: "Then, you'll lead our 'discarded and defeated' remnants, carrying a white flag, out the main gate and towards the Valantis' position! Pretend that Mario Ferrero has nowhere to go and is surrendering with his personal guards!"
He then turned to Habroy and Dmitri: "As for you two, take the rest of the able-bodied men and ambush behind the city gate! But make sure to completely block up the other gates with debris beforehand! Leave only this one exit! Then, wait!" He emphasized the signal to wait, "If Vito gives the order to attack from the city walls, you two charge out like madmen! Remember, be fast! Be really fast! Forget about formations, use that time to rush in front of them and catch them off guard!"
Finally, he looked at Vito, his most trusted veteran: "Vito! Your mission is paramount! Hide all the laborers and wounded soldiers in the shadows at the base of the walls, don't let them show their faces! But leave one or two clever ones on the walls, make them shout as loudly and realistically as possible! Shout: 'We've been abandoned!' 'You beasts, you've eaten all the food!' 'You don't deserve to be called human!' 'We've run out of arrows! Our weapons are broken!' 'Someone save us!'... In short, I want every Valantis soldier outside to hear clearly that we're at our wits' end, that we're fighting amongst ourselves! Make them completely lower their guard!"
"This time, if we want to get out of here alive, it will require the effort of each and every one of us!" Tiberius said, taking a deep breath. "So, please do your utmost, otherwise, we might really die in this obscure little town!"
With the arrangements finalized, everyone dispersed to prepare, some with resolute determination and others with trepidation.
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Lisangluo walked to the room where his father was recuperating. Through the door, he could hear Lisangzhuo's faint groans from inside, caused by pain and anxiety.
He leaned against the cold stone wall, slowly sliding down to sit and burying his head between his knees. His young shoulders trembled slightly as he whispered to himself, his voice filled with disbelief and a hint of bitterness:
"Dad... whether we can survive this time... it's actually up to me?" He recalled himself not long ago, a spoiled brat who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, and at most played "war games." Now, however, he had to shoulder the burden of the lives of hundreds of people, and even the fate of his father and himself.
An unprecedented pressure was threatening to crush him. He gave a bitter smile, a smile that looked more like a grimace.
However, when he looked up at the people outside, busily preparing and placing their hopes on this adventurous plan, especially when he thought of Tiberius's trusting (or perhaps desperate) eyes, a strange strength welled up from the bottom of his heart. He vigorously wiped his face, and his eyes gradually became firm.
"Damn it... I'll risk it!"
He stood up, walked to his magnificent armor and cloak, and slammed his helmet hard onto his head.
"Consider it... another 'bloody battle'!!!"
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"Sir, this is young master Mario Ferrero's letter of surrender, along with his tokens."
Vito knelt on the ground and respectfully presented a magnificently decorated sword, an exquisite brooch, and a neatly written letter.
Mohata, seeing the letter in his hand and the almost obsequious words on it, no longer had any doubts.
"Very good, very good." Mohatta nodded. "Since young master Mario is willing to surrender, we naturally welcome him. Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, Vito, we'll meet at the city gate."
"Yes, sir." Tiberius knelt on the ground, not daring to make eye contact. From Mohata's perspective, Tiberius was just a trembling servant kneeling on the ground, looking terrified.
Mohata smiled dismissively, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Indeed, the master is just like the servant; a weak servant will inevitably have a weak master!
"By the way, how much food is left in the city?" Mohata suddenly asked.
[Why is he asking this?] Tiberius thought to himself.
What he didn't know was that, in addition to deploying a large number of elite Tiger Robe Legions and heavy cavalry, Valantis had also mobilized a significant portion of the military aristocracy, instructing them to recruit their slave warriors, family private soldiers, and sons to join the war.
Of course, these people joined the group with their own capital, and they had to provide for themselves. Their reward was reparations from the Three Daughters Kingdom, slaves and land in the newly conquered territories, and the right to plunder during the war.
Mohata, a thrifty nobleman, began to scheme as the war was about to end.
Logically speaking, the rations for these 1,500 people, as well as the prisoners, should be supplied by his own treasury or estate. Watching cartloads of grain and weapons being transported out of his own granary was incredibly painful for him, so it was a good thing that he could save some money now.
Moreover, he had already rendered great service in the battle to annihilate the Ries Expeditionary Force in the Delta. Upon returning home, he might be able to secure a position as a local tax collector, or perhaps wait for the elders of Valantis to divide Rieslan into tax-farming plots and auction them off, then rake in a hefty sum…
Therefore, Mohatta intended to use the spoils from Stoneraven Town to offset his earlier investments. After all, for him, the war was almost over, and he certainly wouldn't continue fighting on the front lines.
He was also very grateful to Tiberius for killing all the mercenaries he had hired in Stoneraven Town.
Since everyone is dead, there's no need to pay any further commissions or spoils.
"The food supplies, enough to last us for three days, are sealed in the granary and await your inspection, sir," Tiberius said, kneeling tremblingly on the ground.
"How weak! Since you have food, why don't you fight back?" Mohata said, scoffing. "I thought you surrendered because you ran out of food."
Upon hearing this, Tiberius almost thought he had seen through his scheme, but seeing Mohatta's naive contempt, he knew that this arrogant "victor" simply looked down on the surrendered "Mario Ferrero" young master.
[Phew, thank goodness, I thought he knew about our plan!] Tippy took several deep breaths, quickly suppressing his wildly beating heart.
At this moment, Mohata's biggest concern was no longer fighting, but how to put on a majestic appearance and properly display his victorious demeanor and the dignity of an ancient Valantis nobleman in front of that young master Mario.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing..." Tiberius suddenly looked up and said.
"Vito, what's wrong?" Mohata asked, frowning.
Are the surrenderers also negotiating with me?
Besides, you are a slave.
"No, it wasn't me, it was my master, young master Mario," Tiberius quickly waved his hand. "He asked me to inquire about the treatment after surrendering, and whether he could reside in your estate as your 'honored guest'?"
"Live in my estate?" Mohatta almost laughed out loud.
Before surrendering, the first thing Mario Ferrero, the master of "Vito Coppola," wanted to ask was how he would be treated.
Sure enough, if a master makes a cowardly slave his servant, then the master will naturally be cowardly as well!
As expected, the Kingdom of the Three Daughters is a moral low ground. The nobles in these places are essentially spice merchants and loan sharks!
Alas, saline land!
Alas, the inherent weaknesses of our nation!
Alas, the land where the flowers of evil bloom!
"Don't worry at all!" Mohata laughed heartily, then waved his hand. "Rest assured, your master will be sent to my manor, to my inner chambers where he will receive the same treatment as me. I will also give him silk clothes and delicious food to entertain him."
"After all..." Mohata looked smugly at the top of the tent, as if he could see the distant walls of Stone Raven Town through the tent, and behind the walls the anxious, fearful, and hungry soldiers and mercenaries of the Three Daughters Kingdom.
Yesterday, General Marcus sent a new proclamation, ordering soldiers and officers near the flank corridors to do their utmost to capture as many markets and outposts as possible, in preparation for the army's advance into the heart of the disputed territory!
This is a genuine achievement! It's only a two-day journey from Stone Raven Town to Twin Bridge Town! And with Twin Bridge Town, a crucial node in the flank corridor, falling, Peninsula Harbor and Bloodline Pass behind them can only passively defend! Therefore, their fall is only a matter of time!
Seeing General Marcus's composed and spirited demeanor, Mohatta was quite confident, certain that Valantis' army would completely swallow up the entire flank corridor.
Thinking about this, Mohata couldn't help but feel elated.
He muttered to himself, "Perhaps, in a newly conquered territory, I too will have the opportunity to become the governor of an autonomous region?"