Chapter182

In the distance.

On the mountain path trapped between two mountain peaks.

The highest commander in charge of this southern campaign was Hugo, the heir of the Yan family, who had only been granted his title by Lord Gregory two days ago.

With the Edelweiss emperor's handwritten secret letter and promise of support, Lord Gregory and the Zhu, Yan, and Lin families under his command all understood that this assault on Marigold City was already the final and most crucial battle.

As long as they won, the entire nation could be renamed and reshaped.

They could finally live in that grand and luxurious palace and become the true rulers of the land both in name and in reality. From then on, there would be no more obstacles, only endless wealth and pleasure.

Originally, because no useful messages had been secretly returned from the south for several months, even though Lord Gregory had planted many hidden agents in Marigold City and its surroundings, every report they sent back was filled with trivial nonsense. This caused the naturally suspicious Lord Gregory to hesitate. He originally intended to delay the attack until he could send more people to investigate the southern situation.

But once even the emperor of Edelweiss, the most powerful nation in the nearby region, personally wrote to urge them to attack and promised support in unifying the land and claiming the throne

Lord Gregory's hesitation was shaken.

This was one of the strongest third-tier kingdoms in the southwestern corner of the continent.

With Edelweiss willing to step in, how could a mere country stand in their way? Why wouldn't Lord Gregory and the others conquer it and ascend to the throne?

So after respectfully asking Edelweiss about the reason behind the secret letter and confirming their agreement, and under the relentless excitement and urging of the Zhu, Yan, and Lin families, Lord Gregory finally decided two days ago to secretly lead his troops southward and take Marigold City in one strike. That would complete their deal with the Edelweiss emperor and replace the ruling regime once and for all.

In the eyes of Lord Gregory and his followers, this battle was practically the same as a founding war.

So the Zhu, Yan, and Lin families all sent their most important heirs to the battlefield, preparing to gain recognition through this battle they believed was already won. That way, they could earn founding honors and claim promotions and noble ranks more justifiably in the future.

Each family had their own clever schemes, and they were all convinced that this was already a certain victory thanks to Edelweiss's help.

And so, the current scene unfolded at the front of the mountain pass.

"Master Yan! I observed the area ahead is wedged between two steep mountains. The slopes on both sides are too high and steep to climb. If enemy troops ambush us from both sides while we pass through we'd be trapped!"

These words were spoken by one of the few generals in this army who had actually seen real battle.

The Zhu, Yan, and Lin families had long held power in the court, and as Lord Gregory's enforcers, they had oppressed or eliminated many truly capable civil and military officials over the years.

After gaining control of power and position, the three families hoarded wealth and amassed enormous fortunes. They were truly rich enough to rival nations.

In such a situation, how could the heirs of the Zhu, Yan, and Lin families, raised in schemes and corruption from an early age, possess any true ability?

"Rotten from the top down" didn't even begin to describe it. It was more like "outdoing their fathers in wickedness."

The heirs of the Zhu, Yan, and Lin families had already revealed in secret their even darker greed and cruelty compared to the older generation in power.

For example, upon hearing this rare piece of honest advice, Hugo's first reaction was to slap his thick round belly and shout angrily, "How dare you! What did you just call me?"

The general who had spoken was immediately frightened and dropped to his knees. "Forgive me, Commander! I misspoke and await punishment!"

Hugo let out a cold snort. "Remember! I am now a third-rank general and supreme commander. If you call me wrong again, I'll chop off your head."

After saying that, he sat back down on his sedan chair carried by eight soldiers and lazily waved his hand. "March on, keep going!"

The general still kneeling on the ground broke out in a cold sweat. As he looked toward the narrow pass up ahead, a growing unease took root in his heart.

It was a rare instinct developed through his limited time on real battlefields.

He only felt this kind of dread before major events, terrible events, were about to occur.

Under increasing panic, the general who had just gotten up from the ground risked being beheaded and carefully walked to Hugo's side again, whispering his advice.

Hugo was annoyed. He had been used to indulgence since childhood. This time, he had lowered himself to come to the chaotic and dirty battlefield because his father had forced him. Now, seeing this persistent "fly" buzzing by his ear, he really wanted to cut this man down with one strike.

But he remembered his father had repeatedly stressed before leaving that this man had battlefield experience and some skill, so he must not be lightly provoked.

Hugo suppressed his impatience and decided to listen to him casually.

"So, what do you suggest?"

The sweating general saw hope and quickly gave his suggestion.

"Report to the commander, the narrow path between the two mountains ahead is extremely dangerous. I suggest the general orders the army to go around the mountains. Though it will take more time, it is safer and avoids getting trapped."

As soon as he finished, Hugo sitting on the eight-bearer sedan chair stared at him wide-eyed. With his short fat hand holding a fan, he pointed sharply at the steep high mountains on both sides and shouted,

"You want me to go around these two mountains? Do you want to tire me to death?"

The sweating general was shocked and looked up in disbelief. "N-no, that's not what I mean, how could I dare…"

But Hugo no longer wanted to talk to him.

He had been pampered since childhood. Even though he had been riding the eight-bearer sedan chair all the way south, his whole fat body was sore and tired.

Now, this man actually dared to suggest he take the longer mountain path.

Was this a death sentence?

Ignoring the general's shouts behind him, Hugo ordered to arrest the man and lay back in the sedan chair. He commanded the army to continue moving slowly.

Thus, the entire army of over one hundred thousand men slowly entered the narrow mountain path between the two mountains.

The mountain path was deep and long.

Once the whole army was inside the narrow gorge, the forest seemed even quieter and deeper, as if it was a trick of the mind.

The general who had just been arrested was trembling all over with fear, barely able to breathe.

Just as he tried to calm himself with a deep breath, a dark shadow suddenly fell from the dim and long cliff above!

Before he could see clearly, one shadow after another fell in clusters!

Boom! Boom! Crash! Crash!

The sound of huge rocks hitting each other came from above. The general looked up and saw the sky in the mountain pass, once visible, was now blocked by a cluster of huge stones!

A heavy rain of stones fell from the sky!

Screams and howls mixed with the sounds of flesh and bones being crushed under the stones filled the air!

The previously slow-moving army, as if on a leisure stroll, instantly fell into chaos!

The ambush was sudden, direct, and fierce!

The attack seemed aimed to kill everyone in the mountain pass!

The army lost all order under the falling stones. Their commander was a useless man who only knew how to enjoy himself. Though the army was large, Hugo and the others had always trained them in secret places and never sent them to a real battlefield. They had never faced such danger before.

Hugo's round fat body and the eight-bearer sedan chair did not last even five minutes before collapsing in the stone attack!

A huge rock hit right beside him, smashing the sedan chair into pieces! Several soldiers carrying the chair were crushed into meat paste!

Hugo was stunned!

He had the command, but it was useless now!

His greasy fat body could not even get up in the chaos. After regaining consciousness, he screamed like a pig.