Chapter 12: A Glimmer of Hope

"Report, my lord. The enemy army is about 140 miles east of the city, with approximately 800 cavalry. There's still no sign of the Dragonkin," said Garen, the intelligence officer of the Crimson Blood Legion. He was a man with a slightly shifty look, but his skills in gathering intelligence were undeniable. Perhaps it was because he had once lost an entire legion due to a single intelligence mistake, which made him particularly vigilant now. With no professional scouts in the area, he and Baras's light cavalry had taken on the task of gathering enemy intelligence.

"The enemy doesn't seem to have many forces?" Li Bing stood on the crumbling city tower, puzzled. 

Could it be that they are this confident? They've only sent 800 cavalry, and there's no sign of the Dragonkin. 

Is this part of their strategy? Or are these just their vanguard scouts?

"Do they have reinforcements?" Ikalu asked, equally confused. 

"None within two days' ride of cavalry, I can guarantee that!" Garen spoke with unshakable confidence and a touch of pride.

"Li Si Te, what do we do?" Ikalu's question confused Li Bing. Why was she asking him about military tactics?

"Your military insights last time were great. I trust your ability," Ikalu said, seeing the confusion on Li Bing's face. She added, her face cold but with deep admiration in her eyes. 

Ancient Chinese military strategies are powerful! Li Bing thought to himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he spoke to Charlemagne, "The light cavalry will flank from both sides, with some knights blocking their retreat. We will use the main force to engage them head-on. Time everything carefully, and make sure the forces surround them simultaneously! We will use a grand envelopment strategy, completing a large encirclement, and finally, a complete annihilation!"

Li Bing didn't underestimate the enemy, and quickly applied his strategies from playing real-time strategy games. In the end, he even quoted a famous saying from the founding president to impress everyone.

"Splendid! A great envelopment, a complete encirclement, and an annihilation! Baras used to be the master of flanking tactics, but even he couldn't have thought it through as thoroughly as you did, my lord! I'm truly impressed!" Baras, the commander of the light cavalry, was the first to voice his approval. The other commanders of the Crimson Blood Legion looked at Li Bing differently. They hadn't expected this small, weak-looking lord to be so proficient in the art of war.

Li Bing felt great satisfaction from the praise, realizing that his childhood military books and university gaming experiences had indeed been useful...

Li Bing and Ikalu sat together in the outer city tower, waiting for the return of the Crimson Blood Legion. 

This time, with overwhelming numbers, the legion should surely win, right? 

But considering his usual bad luck, Li Bing couldn't help but feel uneasy. What if the Crimson Blood Legion lost? Where would he escape to?

As Li Bing lost himself in worry, he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Ikalu, dressed in military gear, resting her shoulder on his. Her expression was one of fear, and even a touch of loneliness.

Ikalu was the most afraid. She knew the severity of her crimes. Killing a member of the Bright God's Inquisition was a grave offense. Moreover, she had freed the undead army, replaced her arm with a demon's, and wielded a magic sword. Although she was confident in her martial skills, the reputation of the Dragon Knights was too great, and she was deeply uncertain.

She loved her sister more than anyone, and she feared ever being separated from Ilyan again. She didn't want to feel that way again.

"Trust me, trust yourself, trust the Crimson Blood Legion. Believe... everything will be fine," Li Bing said, comforting her with the words he had once used to console himself. He gently embraced Ikalu and patted her back.

Ikalu smiled. She truly smiled. After smiling, she was even more beautiful. There was less of the heroic air and more of a gentle tenderness. At that moment, a seed began to sprout in the heart of the young girl.

Though Ikalu had reluctantly slept with Li Bing, everything was based on Li Bing's relationship with Ilyan. She knew this kind of twisted affection would destroy itself sooner or later, but at that moment, she found it wasn't so bad.

Li Bing was a good man.

Ikalu smiled and pushed Li Bing away gently. "Promise me... never betray Ilyan, and never betray me."

Li Bing nodded firmly, and in the distance, the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon.

The two faces slowly drew closer, oblivious to the surprised looks from the nearby soldiers. But suddenly, the blaring sound of a horn broke the moment. Ikalu snapped out of her daze and, ignoring Li Bing's embarrassed face, happily exclaimed like a little girl receiving a birthday gift, "That's the horn of victory! We won! We won!"

Li Bing was so frustrated that he almost wanted to punch Charlemagne. Couldn't you slow down just a little bit? At least let me get a kiss first!

Li Bing raised his head, only to witness a bizarre sight.

The Crimson Blood Legion was bringing the 800 golden-armored knights toward the city. The knights were covered in mud, not blood, and their armor was all tightly bound. Yet, they rode their horses with pride. The horses, however, looked weak and exhausted, weighed down by the heavy armor. The knights' equipment was overwhelming—golden heavy armor, long lances, heavy swords, and giant iron shields. Even their horses were weighed down by heavy armor. Given the amount of gear, it was a wonder the horses could even move. How could these knights have any impact or mobility?

Among the captives, the only one not bound was a flag bearer. His armor and weapons were lighter than the others', but his horse was clearly suffering. He held a ten-meter long banner high, displaying a white dragon that seemed to roar at the world. The flag also bore the inscription, "Seventy-Seventh Holy Dragon Regiment." Seeing his somewhat handsome, even melancholic face, Li Bing felt that having him carry this banner was almost cruel.

"Damn it! They're nothing but a bunch of useless trash!" As soon as Charlemagne saw Li Bing, he couldn't help but laugh and report, pointing to the flag bearer, "These aren't soldiers of the Holy Dragon Kingdom. This battle was absurd. We surrounded them easily, and after they were surrounded, they just stood there like fools. Their horses couldn't even move! We shot a barrage of arrows, but their armor was so thick, most of them just fell off their horses into the mud. Then, we convinced them to surrender, and they actually did!"

Charlemagne was laughing harder the more he spoke, until the last one collapsed, laughing in agony against the wall.

"Excuse me! Who is in charge here? I need to speak with him!" The handsome flag bearer suddenly called up to the city wall.

"Bring him up," Li Bing said, eager to meet the leader of this ridiculous cavalry.

Soon, the flag bearer quickly ascended the tower. When he saw Li Bing and Ikalu, he suddenly began to sing dramatically, "Oh! God! They are like two pure springs, nourishing my withered soul…"

Li Bing and Ikalu were stunned, while the handsome man gave a respectful knight's salute and continued, "I am Luo An Best, the Crown Prince of the Phantom Flame Empire. I've come here with my personal guards, the Seventy-Seventh Holy Dragon Regiment, in response to the Ortega rebellion, the wildfire invasion, and the appearance of the undead army. But why are my enemies such beautiful young people... One as pure as the first snow, the other as mysterious as the deep spring. Oh, why must you be so cruel, God, to make me battle such beautiful people…"

The Crown Prince! The Crown Prince of the Phantom Flame Empire! Li Bing was stunned, and Ikalu whispered, "The Crown Prince Luo An of the Phantom Flame North Territory had been studying at the Holy Dragon Kingdom's academy. I heard he worships Holy Dragon King Totty and even plans to create his own dragon knights... He must be the Crown Prince."

Ikalu had already begun to treat Li Bing as the true leader of Lushui Territory, consulting him on everything. Li Bing quickly realized the problem with this ridiculous cavalry force was their mounts. If they were riding strong earth dragons, these 800 knights would be like 800 heavy tanks! But what kind of country would help another create such a powerful army? This Crown Prince's political sense was too naive.

Li Bing's mind raced, and he quickly put on a respectful expression, saying, "It's a misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! Someone, go untie the Crown Prince's men!"

Then, Li Bing made a sorrowful expression, "Ortega not only conspired to betray us, but even abandoned the teachings of God. He summoned the undead to assist him. I, Li Si Te Bing Gun, a distant relative of the Gun family, once lived in seclusion with my kin in a mountain valley. But one day, we heard the divine call. When I returned to the mortal world with the Crimson Blood Legion, our secluded valley disappeared, and we were transported to Lushui Territory. We drove away the undead army and defeated Ortega… Ortega, that scoundrel, even framed my cousin Ilyan as a demon, placing a magic-binding collar on her. Such a crime cannot be forgiven! We, the Crimson Blood Legion, have no home. We are willing to rejoin the Gun family and follow the great Phantom Flame King!"

Li Bing's passionate speech moved Crown Prince Luo An to tears, and he said with great emotion, "If there were more passionate young men like my friend Li Si Te, the revival of the Phantom Flame Empire would be just around the corner!"

"My friend!" Li Bing also shouted, though inwardly, he was feeling disgusted. The Crown Prince was acting like Liu Bei, pulling on his sleeves and shedding tears. Li Bing had the strong urge to slap him…