The Demon Lords-Chapter 726 - 154 Lone Smoke Straight_1

For an isolated army, the most important thing is hope. Of course, the Shengle Army's situation wasn't as dire as that of a traditional "isolated army," as the wild people opposing them hadn't applied much significant pressure recently. The siege defense had slowly begun to feel like a routine government office check-in. Sometimes, when sheer boredom set in, they would deliberately create an opening to let some wild people in for a bit of sport, even enthusiastically offering them lodging for the night.

However, when news of the wild people's collapsing front line arrived, the atmosphere within Shengle City surged with excitement. Everyone knew why they were defending this place and understood the rewards and merits their General Zheng would gain after the final victory. Consequently, cheers erupted along the city walls, rising and falling in waves.

Liang Cheng, however, remained vigilant. He didn't leave the city walls at night, continuing his patrols to prevent the wild people from launching a desperate, all-out assault. After coming so far, to stumble at the dawn of victory would be a truly devastating loss.

Zheng Fan, on the other hand, had come down from the walls early. In high spirits, he even had someone prepare hot water for him to enjoy a thorough bath. Because the demon kings were diligently shouldering the burdens outside, General Zheng could, at this moment, peacefully enjoy some tranquility.

After his bath, Zheng Fan felt reinvigorated. However, he was too excited to sleep, so he simply left his room and went out into the streets. A Ming and over twenty armored soldiers stood at the doorway, ensuring General Zheng's safety.

There were quite a few people on the streets. During the wild people's first siege, many Jin people slaves had been driven here. Due to the wild people's own blunders, these slaves had played little part in the attack. Later, under Zheng Fan's orders, the adult women and children from among the Jin people slaves outside the city walls were allowed into the city, while the elderly and adult men were denied entry.

Some who didn't meet the criteria tried to force their way in when the gate opened, only to be shot dead by the defenders on the walls. Thus, within Snow Sea Gate, there were now many women and children. They had fashioned makeshift tents from whatever they could find and were allocated just enough daily rations to keep starvation at bay.

War allowed for little compassion; this was the greatest extent of kindness Zheng Fan felt he could offer.

The elderly? Let them die. They've lived long enough; the chance of survival should go to the young.

Adult men? Who knows if spies from the wild people lurk among them? After all, it wasn't unheard of for the wild people's king to use Jin people traitors.

As for women... well, even if there were notorious female spies among them, General Zheng supposed he would have to accept that.

So, that night outside the city walls presented a poignant scene: most husbands and fathers tearfully sent their wives and children into the pass, while they themselves huddled in the corners of the walls, enduring hunger and cold. When the wild people attacked again the next day, some indeed remained dazed and listless. Many others, however, actively snatched weapons from the corpses of fallen wild people and charged into the fray. Though their efforts yielded little in terms of battle results, they at least acted courageously before their deaths. Perhaps they believed their defiance and dying in battle might secure a chance, a right to survive, for the wives and children already safe within the pass.

Snow Sea Gate still held a considerable amount of grain, a legacy of the wild people's past hoarding. However, rationing had been implemented early on, as no one knew how long the battle on the front lines would last or when the main Yan Army forces, led by Lord Jingnan, would arrive. Thus, it was crucial to plan ahead and conserve resources. These women and children had grown terribly thin in recent days, their faces etched with signs of malnutrition.

Tonight, however, extra food was distributed. The rout of the wild people's army had begun, signaling that the Yan Army under Lord Jingnan had achieved victory on the main front. The time they needed to hold out here would be significantly shortened, so such strict frugality was no longer necessary.

Armored soldiers arrived with buckets of porridge and began distributing it. Unlike before, this batch was quite thick. The women and children queued up to receive their share. Those who disobeyed orders were killed. This wasn't mere cruelty; in such critical times, leniency towards a few would be irresponsibility towards all.

Why did General Zheng require A Ming and a squad of armored soldiers to stand guard even when he was merely taking a bath in his quarters? It was because on a previous occasion, after returning to slack off and take an afternoon nap, he had been ambushed upon waking. A woman, using an arrowhead she had concealed somewhere, had attempted to assassinate him. Fortunately, General Zheng always wore his armor when he stepped out; he wouldn't dare wander a battlefield environment in casual attire, no matter how much he was slacking. Besides, General Zheng was, after all, a Seventh Rank martial practitioner. He had easily kicked the woman away himself, before Mo Wan even needed to intervene.

The woman was executed, and her child along with her. During the interrogation before her death, the woman explained her motive for the assassination attempt: Zheng Fan had not allowed her parents and husband into the city, which led to their deaths outside the walls. She wasn't a spy for the wild people; her attempt on Zheng Fan's life stemmed purely from this hatred. More precisely, she blamed Zheng Fan for her loss.

Zheng Fan felt no particular remorse over this, nor did he believe his kindness had been repaid with malice. Having experienced a great deal, he understood that most people in this world found it difficult to remain perfectly calm, or to clearly distinguish love from hate, in every situation.