116: Chapter 110: The Game Changer!

116: Chapter 110: The Game Changer!

Nanming Prefecture:

Unlike Lyuzhou, which had a sparse population but gradually stabilizing public sentiment, the current Jiangnan Capital, with approximately a million residents, was shrouded in dark clouds.

In just five or six days, morale had dissipated, and various panics spread throughout the city.

If not for the Commander’s iron-fisted suppression, there might have already been chaos.

At this moment, in the Government Office’s main hall, several generals under the Commander were discussing the upcoming city defense strategies.

Alongside them were Academic Commissioner Mu Hongqing and his apprentices, and of course, the Jiangnan Provincial Governor who was just there for show.

In just five days of defensive combat, Jiangnan’s most elite naval forces had lost over half of their numbers in the battle to protect Nanming Prefecture—a loss far from insignificant.

At this point, everyone at the meeting had grim expressions, and the atmosphere was as stiff as could be.

Their low spirits were hardly surprising, given the dire situation.

In the past few days, due to the extremely infectious nature of the living dead, they had at one point contracted their defensive line to within the city walls, daring not to venture out for field battles.

Unexpectedly, they found that as their efficiency in killing the living dead slowed, the number of new living dead rising from the river decreased.

By the fourth day, according to Mu Hongqing’s high-altitude observations, no more living dead were landing ashore!

This led them to believe, for a moment, that the living dead in the river might have run out, signaling a turn in the tide of events!

Therefore, the previous night, after numerous discussions, Zhou Hanyang and the others decided to take the initiative to strike back, deploying many strategies.

Even at the cost of losing a third of their soldiers, they managed to clear out several hundred thousand living dead outside the city.

But just when they were excitedly thinking that they had reached a turning point, that very night brought a despairing wave of attack right at them!

That night, an endless surge of living dead appeared, with numbers easily surpassing five hundred thousand, catching the already exhausted soldiers off guard.

Had it not been for the quick reactions of a few, who grimly held the line, Nanming Prefecture might have already fallen by now.

Though Nanming still held its ground, there were now less than ten thousand soldiers left under their command!

“How is the situation outside?” Zhou Hanyang asked Mu Hongqing, who had just returned, his voice hoarse with strain.

“It’s peculiar.

Although we’ve repelled the horde of living dead, the remaining number is unprecedentedly high.

However, for some reason, no new living dead are appearing from the river.” Mu Hongqing frowned.

“I’ve observed all night and can confirm there hasn’t been a single new one.”

“Do you think…

someone could be controlling those things?” Zhou Hanyang asked with bloodshot eyes.

Mu Hongqing sighed, “That’s possible, but if that’s the case, then the situation is even worse.”

Zhou Hanyang took a deep breath and then turned to another military general: “How about the soldiers we’ve quarantined?”

“The same…” The lieutenant shook his head.

“Anyone wounded, even if it’s just a scratch, gets infected.

The quarantined soldiers…

there’s no saving them!”

Bang!!

In a furious rage, Zhou Hanyang smashed the conference table to smithereens, startling the Provincial Governor and causing him to tumble to the ground.

Mu Hongqing frowned, “General, the safety of a million civilians in Nanming Prefecture rests on you.

You must keep your composure!”

“Keep my composure with what?” Zhou Hanyang gasped for air.

“Inside Nanming, chaos reigns supreme, and I still have to divert troops to suppress those ignorant citizens.

We have less than six thousand soldiers for city gate defense.

If we face another assault of yesterday’s magnitude, what are we supposed to defend with?”

Mu Hongqing sighed.

He wanted to argue that the unrest among the civilians was to be expected.

The Commander had used too simple and ruthless methods to quickly stop the spread of infection within the city.

Anyone injured, regardless of sex, age, or condition, was brutally killed and burned.

How could the civilians endure that?

If the measures had been gentler, more rational, the current chaos inside the city might not be happening.

However, now was not the time to discuss right or wrong.

If morale were to drop any further in this situation, they really would be beyond salvation.

“I think an attack of yesterday’s scale is unlikely to happen again.”

“Oh?” Zhou Hanyang and the others looked up eagerly: “Why so?”

“Observing the pattern of the past few days, the faster we clear them out, the more new living dead emerge from the river.

When we slow down, their numbers decrease.

Moreover, the living dead that attack the city do not launch a second assault; they scatter into the countryside…”

Mu Hongqing took a breath: “Actually, according to the General’s initial strategy of solid defenses and clearing the fields, we could hold out for a much longer time.”

Zhou Hanyang’s brows furrowed in deep thought; it did seem to be the case.

But then he said, “Even if this is true, we can’t remain in a deadlock indefinitely.

Who knows what other oddities lurk within that fog in the river?

The real solution now is to contact the Imperial Court and request reinforcements.

Mu DaRen, you have observed for several days, have you found a way through that fog?”

Upon hearing this, Mu Hongqing shook his head; “The fog is extremely strange, full of illusions so lifelike it’s eerie…

If this is a Formation, it’s truly a work stealing the essence of heaven…”

“Enough!

Enough!

I don’t want to hear all this!” Zhou Hanyang waved his hand, “Just tell me, is there a way or not?”

“There is!”

“Oh?” Zhou Hanyang’s expression changed instantly, and he broke into a grin, “I knew it, Master Mu is highly talented; you must have a way!”

His speed of changing expressions was so fast that the surrounding lieutenants couldn’t help but cover their faces, but evidently, they were used to their boss’s fronts and said nothing.

Mu Hongqing was too lazy to bother with the details and directly took out a mechanical wooden bird, saying, “I found that this mystic fog restricts living creatures from leaving, but not inanimate objects.

I used this wooden bird to try and contact Qizhou, the nearest place to us.

In less than half a day, the officials there actually replied!”

“Oh?

You have such news and you didn’t say so earlier!” Zhou Hanyang immediately became excited, “What’s the situation over there?”

“It’s relatively good.

There have been zombies flowing over, causing quite a bit of chaos, but the scale is nothing like what we’re dealing with here.

Plus, the Magistrate of Qizhou is a seasoned and hands-on official.

He quickly responded by joining forces with the local Commander to clear the fields and fortify defenses, temporarily stabilizing the situation.”

“Good, good, good!” Zhou Hanyang rubbed his hands together, “That’s good, that’s good!”

He was most afraid that the whole of Jiangnan would face a situation like that of Nanming Prefecture.

After all, other Provincial Government Offices didn’t have walls as tall and strong or defenders as elite as Nanming.

If things were as he feared, then Jiangnan’s population of over a hundred million might all turn into zombies.

Even if he had to do something against his will, he might still find it difficult to shirk the blame!

“Then, since the wooden bird can be sent out, you must quickly request reinforcements from the Imperial Court!”

Upon hearing this, the others also started to urge him eagerly.

Mu Hongqing sighed and said, “First of all, I am not from the Ministry of Works.

To be honest, I am…(not very skilled) in the arts of mechanics and wonders.

The wooden bird I made can only fly a limited distance—only close enough to possibly pass messages to the outside.

Then there’s another problem…”

“What problem?” Zhou Hanyang frowned, “With the current situation, of course we must try anything we can.

Who has time to worry about so much?

With Jiangnan being sealed off, such a momentous event, the Imperial Court must be making moves.

As long as your wooden bird can fly out of the fog, I believe the Imperial Court will definitely respond.”

“What I’m worried about is…

the ones replying to our message…

may not necessarily be the Imperial Court.”

“Ah?” Zhou Hanyang was taken aback, “What do you mean?”

“If this mystic fog is just a formation, then that’s one thing to discuss, but if there’s something else…” Mu Hongqing said in a ghostly tone, “Commander, can you tell if the one responding to our message is truly the Imperial Court or something else?”

Everyone: “…..”

———————————————–

“Report!!”

Outside the mystic fog, the Imperial Army, which had been sealing off Jiangnan for six days, was stuck in a deadlock.

Several Grand Sorcerers worked day and night to decipher the pattern within the fog to no avail.

Duke of Qin and others remained calm, but many subordinates were extremely impatient, each requesting to enter Jiangnan to provide support.

Regarding his subordinates’ requests, Duke of Qin refused all of them.

However, it wasn’t a solution to just continue the stalemate.

He was contemplating whether to use some radical measures when suddenly, good news arrived.

In the sealed-off area around the Huai River in Jiangnan, a wooden bird appeared.

The commanding officer responsible for that area immediately had his soldiers rush the message over after inspecting the letter.

“It’s a letter from Mu Hongqing!”

The one receiving the letter was Shen Yinian, the Minister of War who was temporarily assisting.

Recognizing the familiar handwriting and the unique seal of the Yin Yang Academy, Shen Yinian’s frown disappeared, “His Majesty’s insight is profound.

Mu Hongqing is indeed up to the task.

While several of us are at our wits’ end trying to break through this mystic formation, he was the first to guess that the formation doesn’t restrict inanimate objects—an extraordinary feat!”

At these words, the Grand Sorcerers nodded in agreement, but the expressions of Duke of Qin’s military generals were peculiar, as everyone knew that Mu Hongqing…

was the illegitimate son Duke of Qin had expelled from the family!

“That child has always been clever,” Duke of Qin said carelessly, smiling and nodding, “Indeed, His Majesty has a good eye.”

“Immediately request assistance from the Ministry of Works and construct a batch of emergency signal wooden birds for acquiring intelligence!” Shen Yinian quickly ordered.

“Yes!”

“Wait…” Suddenly, Duke of Qin spoke up, halting the order.

“Does Duke of Qin have any concerns?” Shen Yinian asked curiously.

Desperate for the communication channel, Shen Yinian was anxious to know the current situation of the Shen family.

“Are you sure…

this letter was sent out by Mu Hongqing?”

“Huh?” Everyone was baffled while Shen Yinian was the first to catch on, “Does Duke of Qin suspect a forgery?”

“Not certain…” Duke of Qin shook his head, “But there’s a possibility.

Handwriting and techniques can be imitated.

There must be other things in the fog, and no one can be sure if they might intercept our messages.

If the information is false, that’s not calling for reinforcements; it’s a trap!”

“Duke Qin is prudent indeed!” Shen Yinian agreed, thinking there indeed was such a possibility…

“But we can’t just do nothing because of this, can we?” Other generals were also anxious.

They finally found a possible solution to avoid this stalemate, but now it was off the table again?

“Not necessarily,” Duke of Qin said with a smile, “There’s someone right now who can help.

If this fog only targets living beings, then he is the most suitable for the current situation.

Of course, this depends on whether His Majesty is willing to let him leave the capital.”

“Oh?” Everyone was stunned, but Shen Yinian was the first to catch on, “Does Duke Qin mean…

the Deputy Director of the Judicial Court, Lord Wang Ye?”