flstandardbreds Chapter 329 Persuading Surrender
Chapter 329 Persuading Surrender
After a night of flooding, Logronia presented a desolate scene in the morning sunlight. The rising tide of the river brought ruthless destruction, and the streets were full of debris and silt. The once vibrant city now looked in a mess.
The sun shines through the clouds, but it cannot cover the wounds left on the ground. The mottled marks left by mud and water are clearly visible on the exterior walls of the buildings, and some windows are broken and dim, revealing a dead silence. In front of the shops on both sides of the street, goods that have been hit by the flood are scattered, and wooden boxes and sundries are scattered all over the ground, telling the tragedy of last night.
The citizens of Rogronia walked out of their homes exhausted and lost. A flood directly caused them to lose their homes and jobs. At this moment, they could only rush back to their homes and search for the remaining items. As a result, the only sounds in the civilian area were crying and shouting, and various rummaging sounds.
"Hurry up and rescue the injured citizens!"
At this time, General Berenguer was standing on the streets of Logronia, his face full of solemnity. His uniform was soaked by rain, and the muddy ground reflected the chaotic scene around him. Soldiers were busy rescuing injured citizens. Despite the devastating impact of the flood, the soldiers were still working hard to rescue the trapped people.
Beside the general, the quartermaster looked anxious, holding a report in his hand, and reported to him in a trembling voice:
"General, the food, gunpowder and shells in the warehouse have all been damp and can no longer be used. Most of the other troops' supplies have either been damp or taken away by the flood!"
Berenguer's heart suddenly sank, and then he felt suffocated. He looked up at the clear sky and thought to himself:
"If the Midlanders take this opportunity to attack the city..."
The thought was like a chill wind that pierced his bones and made him shiver.
The Rogronia army was at its weakest after being soaked by a night of heavy rain, and the city did not have enough food and gunpowder to sustain a long siege. If the enemy took advantage of the situation and entered, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Woo!!!"
Just as General Berenguer was busy organizing a rescue, a shrill horn suddenly sounded in his ears, tearing the tranquility of the early morning.
The horn sounded like an alarm bell, and the general's heart suddenly tightened. He turned around quickly and led his soldiers to climb the city wall in a hurry, holding the rope tightly in his hands, and the metal sound of armor echoed in his hurried steps.
When they finally reached the top of the city wall, the sight before them made the general's heart sink to the bottom.
On the distant horizon, a dense army was approaching Logronia like a tide, and Midland's blue and white flag was flying high in the wind. Next to it, John's white-bottomed black eagle flag was also dancing in the wind, and below the flag was a large group of soldiers in black armor.
Berenguer stared through the telescope at the approaching army, his expression becoming increasingly serious. The Midland troops were lined up in an orderly manner, and seemed ready to charge at any time.
"Send the order quickly and prepare for battle with all your strength!"
The general's voice was loud and clear on the city wall, echoing in the soldiers' ears. All soldiers understood that this time it was not only to protect the city, but also to protect the lives of every citizen in the city.
Outside the city, John stood on a high ground, staring through a telescope at the soldiers on the city wall who were waiting in battle formation. Although his face was expressionless, he was secretly proud in his heart. When he saw those soldiers were wet, their clothes were in disarray, and many of them were not even wearing armor, he had already decided to take Logronia.
At this time, Logronia was in trouble due to the flood, and the soldiers were obviously in poor condition. It was the best time for him to take action.
John immediately ordered a cavalryman beside him:
"You go to the city with a loudspeaker and persuade those stubborn defenders to surrender, letting them know that surrender is the only way out."
Upon hearing the order, the cavalry immediately whipped out their whips and rode away. The sound of horse hooves exploded on the muddy road, splashing mud. John watched him go away, and was already thinking about the upcoming offensive. He believed that as long as he used reasonable temptation, the defenders in the city would definitely waver.
Soon the cavalryman stopped at the foot of the city wall and raised the loudspeaker. His voice was loud and clear, spreading all around:
"Defenders of Logronia! You are in trouble. Your General Schneider has been driven south by the flood! Surrender, and we will forgive you for what you have done before and save your lives and homes!"
When the news that General Schneider had left them behind and evacuated with the standing army spread quietly in the city, the tense atmosphere suddenly became more solemn. The soldiers stood on the city wall, their eyes blank, and whispers came from their ears. It seemed that this sudden news had stirred up waves in everyone's hearts.
"Is this true? Impossible. General Schneider has always said he wants to protect us!"
A young soldier's voice trembled, his face full of disbelief. He frowned, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner panic with reason.
"But...he hasn't come back yet."
Another soldier interrupted, his voice low and helpless. "We are isolated and have no help. Do we still have to hold on?"
Although several soldiers still firmly refuted, some claimed that it was just a rumor spread by the enemy, the morale of the city began to waver under the strong impact of the general's disappearance. Several hesitant eyes began to wander among their companions, and the atmosphere gradually changed from the initial tension to anxiety and fear.
"We can't just wait to die!"
A soldier slapped his sword handle angrily and looked straight ahead. "If Schneider really betrayed us, why should we work for him? Go out and surrender, maybe we can save our lives!"
These words were like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring up a resonance among many soldiers. Several young faces exchanged uneasy glances with each other, and the doubts in their hearts were like a raging flood, gradually seeping into their courage.
"Everyone! Stay calm!"
Another veteran finally stood up, looking a little excited:
"Whether General Schneider retreats or not, we must fight for this city! Our families and our land are here! If we give up, what will be waiting for us?"
However, this cry seemed a little fragile amid the turbulent tide of emotions. The soldiers' eyes wandered to the distance beyond the city wall, and the growing fear and suspicion made it difficult for them to focus.
"But...but how long can we really hold on?" Someone finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, with a hint of despair in his voice.
At this moment, the soldiers in the city seemed to be shrouded by an invisible shadow, with suspicion and panic intertwined, and the courage they had originally held on to seemed to collapse in an instant. They began to wonder if it was really as John said, that continuing to resist was just a futile struggle.
Berenguer frowned, his eyes scanning those wavering figures, and ripples of uneasiness appeared deep in his heart. He knew that this battle was not only an attack against the enemy, but also a test of their souls.
"Ignore him, defend the position, and prepare to resist the attack!" Berenguer turned around suddenly, and his voice was as high as the tide, encouraging the soldiers. At this moment, he realized that even in the storm, he must not let the enemy see the slightest fear.
Seeing the hesitation and fear on the soldiers' faces, Berenguer's heart tightened, but he knew he had to stand up at this moment and boost morale.
"Dear warriors!"
His voice was as loud as a bell, sonorous and powerful, like a flash of lightning that cut through the gloomy atmosphere.
"General Schneider's choice cannot define our destiny. Our choice is the real power that determines the future!"
Berenguer pumped his fist vigorously, his tone filled with unquestionable determination:
“Think about your hometown and your loved ones! We are not alone, because we have love for this land in our hearts. Everyone is a part of this city, and we cannot let it be destroyed in our hands!”
As he spoke passionately, the soldiers felt a long-lost sense of emotion and pride. Berenguer looked at them with a sharp gaze, took a deep breath, and continued:
"When the Midland army attacked us, they didn't know that we would meet this battle with our will and courage! We fought side by side and never backed down!"
The atmosphere changed in an instant. The originally hesitant soldiers began to respond in low voices, which then became louder and louder. Finally, all the soldiers rushed out like a tide:
"For Logronia! We will not surrender!"
These shouts erupted from deep within the heart, so powerful and strong that they shook the entire city wall.
"The fighting spirit is very high."
John listened to their shouts, so he took the megaphone and shouted to the soldiers below:
"Mitlan's soldiers, since the enemy won't appreciate our kindness, let's beat them until they surrender. Inform the artillery team to move all the artillery to the center of the team and bomb the Lana people on the city wall until they surrender!"