"Reporting to the City Lord, the commander of the Qiongfeng Pass Legion has sent an urgent report that the Qianfeng Pass has fallen and the Qiongfeng Pass is short of troops. He requests that the City Lord send troops to support Qiongfeng Pass immediately."
Everyone in the entire cathedral was stunned.
Qianfeng Pass is the first line of defense for Qiongfeng Pass. In three days, Jinling City has reinforced Qiongfeng Pass with 100,000 troops. According to the report from the corps commander of Qiongfeng Pass, 10,000 elite troops, plus the remaining garrison at Qiongfeng Pass, a total of 40,000 soldiers, have been transferred to Zhongfeng Pass and Houfeng Pass to reinforce the city's defenses, while another 90,000 have all been mobilized to Qianfeng Pass.
Including these 90,000, a total of 200,000 soldiers have sacrificed their lives at the front pass.
"Still can't stop the skeleton army?"
The city lord of Jinling City, standing in a pool of blood, murmured something. After a moment, he looked up, his bloodshot eyes glaring fiercely at Hongyu.
Hongyu was so frightened that he took a step back.
"With the fall of Qianfeng Pass, I, the city lord, hereby order the Eastern Kingdom to enter a state of first-level combat readiness."
"Wait a minute, you are a traitor to Jinling City, what right do you have to issue this order?"
Hongyu stepped forward, refusing to back down.
"You want to take this opportunity to seize control of the Eastern Kingdom's military and political power? Don't even think about it!"
Hong Yu raised the sword in his hand.
"Enforcement team, heed my command! In the name of Prince He, I order you to apprehend this thief at once. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
"Enough!"
A reprimanding voice came from outside the church, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound. A figure slowly walked in, dressed in a white priest's robe and carrying a staff with a diamond-encrusted tip. Who else could it be but the Guardian Mingdu? Only this time, a large sword hung at his waist.
Upon seeing the scabbard of the large sword, the city lord of Jinling City narrowed his eyes, as if he were seeing Mingdu for the first time, and scanned his face back and forth.
"Hongyu, haven't you caused enough trouble? Do you want to watch Jinling City fall? To watch the entire Eastern Kingdom fall?"
Hongyu stared in disbelief at the broadsword at Mingdu's waist. Hearing his question, he was so frightened that he took several steps back.
"You, it was you! You were the one who told him about me accessing the energy crystal?"
"If you don't want anyone to know, then don't do it in the first place. Relying on the sword bestowed upon you by Prince He, you act recklessly and embezzle money in Jinling City. Aren't you afraid that Prince He will find out?"
Mingdu had already gripped the hilt of the broadsword with his right hand.
Hongyu's face turned deathly pale instantly, and beads of sweat began to trickle down his forehead.
"In order to avenge your nephew Dara, you have gone so far as to slander the lord of a city and attempt to overthrow the regime in Jinling. Aren't you afraid that Prince He will find out?"
Mingdu drew the large sword hanging from his waist.
"You...you...you're talking nonsense, this is slander, you..."
Hongyu's words ended there; he opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Mingdu had already severed his head. Blood gushed from his chest, staining his entire python robe crimson.
“I have already compiled a list of Hongyu’s crimes and reported it to Prince Yi. Today, Prince Yi has bestowed upon me a precious sword, ordering me to kill this scoundrel.”
The general raised his sword and continued speaking.
"By order of Prince Yi, Shi Ruien, the city lord of Jinling City, who is upright, dignified, law-abiding and good at governing, shall continue to serve as the city lord of Jinling City in the Haojie Domain."
Ignoring the bloodstains on his feet, the city lord of Jinling City descended to his knees in worship.
"As ordered by Prince Yi."
All the guards in the enforcement team immediately sheathed their swords, knelt down on one knee, and shouted in unison.
"As ordered by Prince Yi."
Mingdu then sheathed his sword.
The city lord of Jinling glanced at Hongyu's corpse, sighed, and then stood up again.
Where is the messenger?
"Your subordinate is here!"
Standing amidst the blood of his personal guards, the city lord of Jinling issued his first order.
"With the fall of Qianfeng Pass, I, the city lord, hereby order the Eastern Kingdom to enter a state of first-level combat readiness. Inform the entire kingdom immediately."
"yes!"
The messenger took the order and left.
"Where is the captain of the enforcement team?"
A guard stepped forward from the enforcement team and knelt on one knee to receive the order.
"Your subordinate is here!"
"From today onwards, the Enforcement Team will be renamed but not reorganized. One member of the Enforcement Team will be removed from the team and redesignated as the Inner Palace Group. All affairs of the Inner Palace Group will be handled by the Guardian, Mingdu."
Ming raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, sir!"
Is the special envoy present?
"Your subordinate is here!"
"The structure and designations of the four legions remain unchanged. Above the four legions, the Temple Legion will be added. The Temple Legion will be jointly established by the Guardian Mingdu and the four legion commanders, with the Guardian Mingdu as the commander. The Temple Legion will be in charge of all military operations during wartime. You must immediately inform the four legions of this message without fail."
"yes!"
Mingdu raised an eyebrow again; this time, it truly surprised him.
The city lord of Jinling City has relinquished all law enforcement authority and command of the four major legions. It's unclear what he intends to do.
"Where is the commander of the Royal Guard?"
The commander of the royal guard, clad in golden armor, felt uneasy and immediately knelt on one knee.
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Deliver this packet of energy crystal fragments to the legion commander at Qiongfeng Pass in one hour. If Zhongfeng Pass falls, you will bring your head to me!"
"Your subordinate will not fail in your mission!"
After receiving his orders, the commander of the guard strode out of the cathedral.
It's coming!
Mingdu's heart tightened, and he began to carefully observe the actions of the city lord of Jinling City.
"Jinling City One-Star Citizen Player, Lord of Hell, heed my command."
Jiang Hao was taken aback. He was enjoying the show, so why was he suddenly called out by the city lord?
Jiang Hao did not kneel down to receive the order like the previous guards, but instead took a step forward, which meant he understood.
"Player Lord of Hell entered the Energy Crystal Mine and obtained Bronze-grade Energy Crystal Fragments, Silver-grade Energy Crystal Small Pieces, Gold-grade Energy Crystals, and 78 Dark Gold-grade Energy Crystals."
Even Ming was somewhat dazed as he listened to the city lord of Jinling City recounting Jiang Hao's achievements.
This number... this number wasn't made up by the city lord of Jinling, was it?
Even the previous Guardian, Tal, who led so many guards and suffered countless casualties, never managed to defeat this many.
Is it really possible for a level 13 player to acquire so many energy crystals?
Ming rubbed his blurry eyes, and then he saw the city lord of Jinling City pulling out round, bulging cloth bags from his robes. The bags were open, revealing gleaming energy crystals inside, making him feel slightly dizzy.
"Player 'Lord of Hell' has rendered meritorious service in saving Jinling City and the Eastern Kingdom. He is hereby awarded the [Blade of Valor] and authorized to select warriors from the Jinling City Guard and all adventurers to form his own army. The army's designation will be..."
The city lord of Jinling looked at Jiang Hao with a questioning look in his eyes.
"Crusaders".
Jiang Hao blurted out the name of the city lord, who had previously been associated with both the Inner Palace and the Holy Temple.
"Yes, the army will be designated as the Crusaders. They will be responsible for all special operations inside and outside Nanjing."
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