Chapter 41: I Will Take the Initiative

Sun Fei felt the gazes of everyone fixed on him.

He gave a reassuring smile to the anxious soldiers and civilians, then beckoned Brook and Pierce to come under the city gate watchtower. He ignored Prison Warden Oleg, who was trying hard to get his attention from a distance, and also ignored Herald Bazel standing not far behind him.

This was a very clear signal.

Even the most simple farmer could see that the two formerly powerful ministers, Bazel and Oleg, were likely to fall out of favor with His Majesty Alexander from now on.

“Brook, first tell me about the enemy’s movements during this time.”

Sun Fei stood before the battlement, gently touched the stone blocks covered with marks from swords and spears, looked at the dark mass of enemies outside the city, and asked quietly.

“Your Majesty, during the four hours you rested, for some reason, the enemy did not make any moves at all. They didn’t even carry out a single harassing feint attack, as if waiting for something. However…” At this point, Brook pointed into the distance and continued with a worried tone, “They moved their last three siege ladders and some other hastily made siege weapons onto the stone bridge. They are very well prepared and have committed a much larger force than in the previous three or four days. Once they launch an attack, we will face an unprecedented threat.”

Sun Fei followed Brook’s pointing finger and looked.

He saw that the formation of the black-armored soldiers had changed significantly—

The hundreds-strong tower shield phalanx was still at the very front of the entire troop, just a step away from the north bank of Shampoo City, like a giant black wall protecting the front of the army.

But behind the tower shield phalanx, the enemy’s formation had changed—

The javelin, throwing axe, and archer phalanxes that had closely followed the tower shield phalanx in the morning had pulled back slightly. Some black-armored light infantry soldiers were carrying three siege ladders, waiting there. Further back, there were four or five large temporary arrow-proof wooden walls pieced together from green, wet wood. Behind these wooden walls, some clearly stronger soldiers were guarding six giant stone catapults over twenty meters tall…

Seeing this, Sun Fei’s pupils contracted sharply.

Those six giant stone catapults were absolutely lethal siege weapons, far more threatening than the siege ladders. As long as those six monsters of war were pushed within two hundred meters of Shampoo City, no matter how strong the city walls were, they could definitely be blasted open. The less than one thousand defenders on the walls could be completely wiped out with just twenty simple shots.

The enemy commander had clearly invested heavily this time, determined to break through Shampoo City in one go.

“Those arrow-proof wooden walls were hastily made, the tree trunks still had green leaves, but the six giant stone catapults hadn’t appeared in the previous assaults. Could it be… the enemy has received reinforcements?”

Thinking this, Sun Fei subconsciously licked his lips.

If that was the case, there was almost no suspense in this battle. Once the enemy attacked, set up those wooden walls below the city to block Shampoo City’s not very fierce arrow attacks, and then positioned the giant stone catapults within range, Shampoo City would be finished.

This was simply an asymmetrical war.

Not only was there a huge disparity in strength, but their mysterious commander was also extremely careful and calculating, pinpointing Shampoo City’s weakness of insufficient troops, leaving Brook and the others almost no flaw to exploit to break this deadlock.

Sun Fei looked at the severe situation before him and slightly frowned.

Brook observed Sun Fei’s expression beside him, wanting to speak but hesitating.

“If you have something to say, say it. Being hesitant doesn’t suit the style of Shampoo City’s future great general.” Sun Fei noticed Brook’s expression and made a small joke.

Brook had to lean close to Sun Fei’s ear and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty… perhaps… Shampoo City might not hold. I am willing to stay with the soldiers on the city walls to delay for some time. Please let Lord Lampard and Pierce take a team of elite soldiers to escort you and Miss Angela to leave through the back of the city…”

“No!”

Sun Fei shook his head and interrupted Brook’s suggestion before he could finish.

He didn’t say any passionate words, but from his slow head-shake, both Brook and Pierce saw King Alexander’s determination. They immediately understood that no matter what, this young king would absolutely not retreat. This stance made them both excited and comforted, yet also anxious.

“We can’t keep waiting like this. I’ve decided to take the initiative and attack.”

Sun Fei gently tapped the stones of the city wall and suddenly declared.

This statement was like a thunderclap on a clear day, exploding in their ears.

“Take the initiative and attack?”

Brook and Pierce were shocked. Given the critical situation and the huge disparity in troop numbers and quality, what did taking the initiative to attack mean? It meant giving up Shampoo City’s geographical advantage, like hitting hard mountain rock with a soft apple cake… the outcome was predictable.

“Your Majesty, this… isn’t this too risky?” Brook tried to persuade Sun Fei to change his mind.

“There’s no time left.”

Sun Fei shook his head and said firmly, “If I guess correctly, the enemy will start attacking the city immediately after lunchtime… If we want to survive this war, we must take them by surprise and strike first. If we wait any longer, once the enemy initiates the fight, we only have a path to death.”

Saying this, Sun Fei’s gaze slowly swept over the two men.

Looking at the slightly puzzled expressions on the two tough guys’ faces, Sun Fei asked in a captivating tone, “So, my brave warriors, do you have the courage to charge out with me and send those cowardly bastards all for a bath in the Zuli River?”

A simple sentence, said as if asking a friend’s opinion.

But in that instant, Brook and Pierce felt their blood burning.

“Your Majesty, we are at your service.” Their voices trembled.

“Good. Now I need you two to do a few things… Brook, order the soldiers to rest immediately. Remember, only leave a few clever ones to watch the enemy’s movements… Also, quickly pick twenty reliable and loyal strong men and bring them to see me. Pierce, go prepare these things for me…”

Sun Fei whispered a few instructions into Pierce’s ear. The white-haired tough man turned and left, though puzzled.

After doing all this, Sun Fei stood quietly on the city wall for a while.

Only after carefully sorting out all the details and precautions for the upcoming action in his mind did he turn and leave.

Under the watching eyes of the soldiers along the way, Sun Fei came before Frank Lampard, Shampoo City’s top warrior who carried the black greatsword.

“Your Majesty the King!” Lampard gave a slight nod.

This top expert, who had been very cold toward Alexander initially, was finally willing to lower his stance and speak to Sun Fei proactively.

Sun Fei secretly felt pleased inside.

He knew that his previous series of actions had won the approval of this quiet ‘Brother Expert’. Sun Fei felt somewhat grateful toward this expert who, over the past few years, had almost single-handedly protected Shampoo City’s peace and the stability of the idiot King Alexander’s throne. It was said that Lampard was the closest friend of the deceased old king, so for Sun Fei, he could be considered an elder.

“Uncle Lampard, Alexander has a favor to ask of you.” Sun Fei spoke very politely.

Lampard looked at Sun Fei, then turned to look at the enemy gathered on the stone bridge outside the city like a black flood. After a brief silence, he asked, “Do you want me to help you destroy those few giant stone catapults? I only have a thirty to forty percent chance of success, maybe destroying two or three of them in a sneak attack…”

“Destroy the giant stone catapults?”

Sun Fei was stunned for a moment, then understood Lampard’s thought. He immediately shook his head and said seriously, “Uncle Lampard, the matter I want to ask you is not that… Well, it’s like this: I’m going to leave the city soon to take the initiative and counterattack. So I hope you can stay on the city wall to stabilize the situation here for me. If I unfortunately die in battle, I hope you can take care of Angela for me and protect her and Gemma to leave here safely.”