127: Chapter 127 I'm so frustrated

On the open ground outside the East City Gate, ten thousand people were already lined up in perfect order.

Rows were horizontal, columns were vertical; their armor was neat, and their weapons glinted with cold light in the morning sun.

Those standing in the front row were expressionless, staring straight ahead, their posture so upright they looked as if they had grown from the ground.

Dawn had just broken.

"Animals..." the latecomers couldn't help but exclaim.

"Truly animals! Dawn just broke, when did this bunch even get here?!"

"I'm afraid they probably didn't even leave last night, did they?"

On the city wall, Lei Lie, fully clad in plate armor, stood behind the crenellations, looking down at the phalanx outside the East City Gate.

The morning breeze whipped his cloak, making it snap loudly.

He took a deep breath, his voice thundering:

"Now, you who stand before me are the warriors that the City Lord will personally select for tomorrow's decisive battle!"

The ten thousand people remained motionless.

"I hope you will bring your best state and strongest combat power when the time comes!" Lei Lie's gaze swept from left to right, his tone resounding, "Do not embarrass Flower City, and do not embarrass the City Lord!"

"Yes!!"

Ten thousand people shouted in unison, the wave of sound rushing up to the city tower, shaking the flags on the city wall until they rattled.

Lei Lie nodded heavily and turned to leave the city wall.

But the ten thousand people outside the East City Gate did not move.

The formation remained perfectly neat; not a single person moved a step.

The city residents who arrived later looked at each other in confusion.

Someone couldn't help but go up and ask: "What are you doing? The Minister has already left, who are you still standing for?"

A warrior in the formation didn't even lift his eyelids, glancing at him sideways: "Do you think the Minister can clearly remember all ten thousand of our faces?"

"Well, he certainly can't."

"So? If I leave, what if someone steals my spot when the City Lord calls the roll?"

The newcomer was stunned for a moment, then his face changed drastically.

That's right!

This realization spread through the crowd like wildfire.

Those city residents who hadn't been selected started to become restless; some paced in circles, some scratched their heads, and some looked around for familiar faces.

I don't know who started it, but voices began to rise in the crowd as people struck up conversations.

"Brother Er Niu? Brother Er Niu?"

"What is it?"

"That... could you let me have your spot for the battle? You know, I just became a Professional and don't have much experience, it would be great to go and gain some..."

"What kind of battlefield are you going to with no experience? Stay obediently in the city!"

On the other side.

"Third Uncle! You've always been the best to me since I was little! Let me go in your place this time, consider it as me showing my filial piety to you, how about it?"

"Heh, you really are filial."

"Hehe..."

"Still laughing? Watch me kick you!"

Further away, a sturdy man held the hand of a tall female Professional next to him, his face full of smiles:

"Wife! We're family, no need to be formal! If you give me your spot today, you'll be the Queen at home from now on! And I'll be the eunuch!"

The woman looked her husband up and down.

"I don't like eunuchs."

A burst of laughter erupted around them.

Outside the East City Gate, it was chaotic, a mess of shouting, bargaining, laughter, and swearing, even livelier than a marketplace.

On the other side of the city tower, Minister Wang Fugui leaned against the wall, watching the commotion for a long time, then turned and asked Strategist Zhu Ge, who was in a wheelchair next to him, with a smile:

"What are they doing? Fighting to go to the battlefield? Do they really think it's something fun?"

Strategist Zhu Ge waved his feather fan, his gaze falling on the people below the city wall who were arguing until they were red in the face, the curve of his mouth faint, but deep.

"It's not fun."

He paused.

"They are just pent up."

Qing City. City Lord's Mansion Hall.

A dozen chairs were lined up on both sides, filled with people.

Civil officials sat on the left, military generals on the right; everyone sat upright, looking straight ahead, with varying expressions.

Old Dao sat at the end of the right side, the old scar on his face from his eyebrow to his chin looking particularly deep in the candlelight.

Wang Shuai sat in the main seat in the center, wearing a brocade robe, jade hanging at his waist, his posture composed.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, looked around, and spoke:

"Tomorrow is the decisive battle. Discuss how the spots will be decided."

As his voice fell, the hall was so quiet that one could hear the candle wick popping.

A dozen people lowered their heads in unison; some stared at their boot tips, some studied the wood grain on the table, some closed their eyes to rest.

No one spoke.

Wang Shuai's gaze slowly swept across both sides; the curve of his mouth was still maintained, but the temperature in his eyes was already dropping.

"Why is no one speaking?" He put down his teacup, the porcelain base clinking sharply against the table, "Such a big matter, prepared for so long, and no one has a plan to put forward?"

Still, no one spoke.

Someone shrank their neck even further.

Wang Shuai's brow twitched.

He raised his hand and pointed directly at the first person on the left—a middle-aged civil official with a short beard and a thin build.

"You are the Chief Administrator, you speak first."

The Chief Administrator was named, his body visibly stiffened, and he hurriedly stood up, cupping his hands and saying: "Reporting to the City Lord, I... I believe that Flower City is powerful, so we need... need..."

"What are you whispering about?"

Wang Shuai's eyes widened, his voice suddenly rising.

The Chief Administrator's face turned pale instantly, his mouth opening and closing, opening and closing.

"Who told you Flower City is powerful?" Wang Shuai stared at him, asking word by word, "Where is it powerful?"

"This subordinate spoke out of turn! This subordinate spoke out of turn!" The Chief Administrator repeatedly cupped his hands, sweat rolling down his forehead, and hurriedly sat back down, wishing he could stuff himself into the cracks of the chair.

Wang Shuai snorted coldly and turned his gaze to the first person on the right—a burly middle-aged military general in neat armor.

"You are the Minister of Military Affairs. This is your duty, you speak."

The Minister of Military Affairs stood up abruptly.

Completely different from the Chief Administrator, he stood straight, chest out and head held high, staring straight ahead, his voice as loud as if he were shouting commands on the drill ground:

"I believe! Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit! We should send the whole army, go all out, and must not be careless!"

Wang Shuai's eyes lit up.

He stood up from the main seat, clapping and laughing: "Beautiful! Well said!"

He walked around the table to the Minister of Military Affairs, reached out and patted the other's shoulder armor, his face full of approval: "As expected of my Minister of Military Affairs, you truly have insight!"

The Minister of Military Affairs accepted the pat without moving, his chin held even higher.

"But!"

The tone shifted.

"If all elite forces are sent out, the rear will be empty and unable to cope with emergencies!" The Minister of Military Affairs' voice remained loud, every word striking like iron, "As the Minister of Military Affairs, I am willing to lead a small portion of the army to stay behind and ensure the safety of the rear for the City Lord!"

Wang Shuai's hand on the shoulder armor froze.

The air in the hall seemed to be sucked away for a moment.

Wang Shuai's hand slowly retracted and hung by his side.

He looked at the Minister of Military Affairs, his eyes narrowing little by little.

"So your meaning is," he said, his speech very slow, "you are not participating in the battle?"