After several years of construction, the straight road on the island has long connected the six towns, and a public post station has been set up. People from other towns who come to Town No. 1 for meetings can basically leave in the morning and return in the evening. Therefore, the content of the mobilization meeting in the conference room spread throughout the island early the next morning.

The news of joining the war made the islanders very excited. This excitement was no less than when they heard that Woolley had become Saint Lean's successor, because they believed that Lord Woolley was the most powerful man in the entire continent. With his wisdom and command ability, coupled with his army and those powerful firearms, he would surely be invincible.

Although the three-day preparation time seems tight, it is enough for Wu Lai. The various departments have already managed the entire island in an orderly manner, and there are already plans for things like expeditions. All he needs to do is follow the measures in the plan. Anyway, the whole island is united, and no matter what Wu Lai says or does, he will have full support.

The busiest place on the first day was West Point Military Academy. In addition to the 1,000 elite soldiers led by Malone to garrison Polang Town, all the troops on the island, including the Palace Guard, were concentrated. But these were not the main points of the busyness. The busyness was because thousands of islanders flocked to the straight road outside West Point Military Academy early in the morning and lined up - they all came to sign up for war.

Woolley was naturally happy to see the islanders' enthusiasm and passion, but he did not want the foundation of the island to be destroyed by war, so he asked Oddo to arrange some lieutenants to organize registration and screening, striving to ensure that more reserve forces were added to the West Point Military Academy without affecting the production cycle of the island.

Woolley himself led several generals into the small conference room. In addition to Oddo, Bailey, Vulture, Puya, and Sares, there was also Pu Tong who became a colonel again.

"Let's have a short meeting. Time is tight. After the meeting, everyone must be fully prepared and busy." Wu Lai waved his hand to signal everyone to sit down, and then continued, "I looked at the roster of soldiers in the military academy last night. At present, except for the soldiers who are injured and have to stay on the island, we have more than 6,700 soldiers available for the expedition."

"Our biggest difficulty and limitation at the moment is that we have a small number of troops. Therefore, we are unable to launch multiple attacks on the enemy, we are unable to confront the enemy in the plains, and we are also unable to launch a formal siege. It is no problem to break through the city gates and walls, but we cannot defend them. Again, our artillery and the Tianjuan Army's trolleys are both cutting-edge weapons, but they are not the decisive factors for victory."

"If we want to win, we need more troops, more people and more resources to support us. So, everyone, please remember two things. First, we must continue to grow stronger in the battle. We must strive for money, food, territory, and the support of the people."

"Secondly, from this time on, our army must implement a policy of leniency towards prisoners. I have said in my previous lectures that the way to use troops is to attack the heart first and then the city. We must be good at disintegrating the enemy from within, so as to win the victory, rather than blindly using force to solve the problem. In this regard, you can learn from the practice of the Tianjuan Empire. Their emperor used this tactic very well."

"The correct use of the policy of leniency towards prisoners can play an important role in undermining the enemy's will to resist. The enemy factions we are about to face are relatively complex. In addition to the Tianjuan people, there are also Hurlites and Kimo people. Among the latter two types of people, especially the lower-level officers and soldiers, they may not be willing to join the war. They are either vassals or followers of generals, or they serve in the army to support their families and have not received any decent benefits from the Tianjuan Empire. After capturing them, it is not difficult to reform these people. They are our potential troops and support..."

"…People want peace of mind. Most people in enemy-occupied areas are not keen on war. They care more about their own interests. Therefore, wherever our army goes, it only targets the enemy, not civilians. The soldiers under your command must strictly restrain themselves and must not harm civilians at all…"

"…Although we have a small number of people, we have to divide our forces into two routes, land and sea. We have more than 6,700 people, so we will divide them into six regiments. Odo, Vulture, and Puya are the first, second, and third regiments, and will march by land. Bailey, Sales, and Putong are the fourth, fifth, and sixth regiments, and will follow me by sea…"

"Officers and soldiers, we need to complete the allocation and organization today. Artillery, shells, weapons, armor, and military supplies must be distributed before tomorrow evening." Wu Lai waved his hand, "The meeting is adjourned."

"Yes!" Everyone stood up and responded immediately.

After everyone left, Wu Lai sat in the small conference room for a while, went over his initial battle plan again, and then walked out. When he looked up, he saw Hippo and Xia standing outside the door. When they saw him come out, they hurried to greet him.

"Master." Hippo and Shiai called out at the same time.

Wu Lai nodded: "Why did you two come to the military academy? Why doesn't Xi'e have to go to school today?"

"Master, Xi'e wants to go with you." Xibo pulled Xi'e, who was smiling shyly, and said, "Master, Xi'e grew up in the Grindel family. He was favored by you and was granted freedom early. Although this child is not good at talking, he never forgets your kindness. This time, when he heard that you were leading the army to go to war, he asked me to bring him to sign up. After I finished my work, I saw that there were too many people queuing, so I came to find you, Master."

Wu Lai laughed: "Xie is so young, he should be studying in school."

"Master, Xi'e is already thirteen years old." Xibo said quickly, "Look, he is taller than me and very strong. It would be nice for him to stay with you and be a messenger."

Thirteen years old? How fast it went by. Wu Lai shook his head involuntarily. He was also thirteen years old when he bought Hippo and Hié. In the blink of an eye, thirteen years had passed.

"Please, sir." Xi'e said with a red face, "I have practiced martial arts at home. I can charge into the battlefield, and I can also come back to study after the war."

"No, you stay on the island and don't go anywhere." Wu Lai's face was stern. Xiae was Xi Bo's favorite. He brought Xiae here today to ask him to join the army probably because he couldn't persuade Xiae. He went directly to him to beg him, so naturally he felt that it would be safer to stay with Wu Lai. If that was the case, wouldn't it be better for the mother to not have to worry at all?

Wu Lai guessed correctly. When he said this with a serious face, Xi Ai immediately lowered his head and pouted. Xi Bo was delighted and patted Xi Ai on the shoulder: "Did you hear what I said before? Study hard and you can help the master when you grow up."

Wu Lai smiled bitterly and shook his head, thinking that it was a good thing I guessed it.

After watching Hippo drag the reluctant Shie away, Wu Lai walked to the stable to saddle his horse. He had to go to the armory to get back the rifle he had sent for maintenance, and also take the gun oil and bullets with him.

…

In a small reception room in the Duncan mansion in Lovington, Qi Yuan sat upright on a large chair, frowning, and sizing up the "guest" in front of him with sharp eyes. His name was Lisel, he was in his early thirties, with a handsome face, and he was sitting calmly in the guest seat, looking calm and relaxed.

Lissel Qiyuan was very familiar with him. He was the eldest son of the former governor of Annan City. He had worked as a clerk under Qiyuan in the Assyrian Senate for a period of time. He was mainly responsible for trivial work such as copying and writing. He resigned on his own initiative before the war began.

Qi Yuan didn't expect that the messenger sent by Ye Renwu this time would be Li Sel.

After a long while, Qi Yuan raised his lips and shouted coldly: "Humph, Li Sel, it's ok for you to surrender to the enemy, but you dare to come here alone as a lobbyist, aren't you afraid of death?"

"Chief Qiyuan, I'm not afraid of death, but for the safety of my family and the continuation of the family. You know, in the long river of time, too many families have been destroyed by false reputations. Now, how many can be remembered?" Li Saier smiled and said, "Chief Qiyuan, I came to your door this time not to convince you of anything, but to tell you something you should know."

"Go ahead." Qi Yuan's brows relaxed a little. Needless to say, he was quite moved by what Li Sel had just said.

"Tulazhen died suddenly because he was poisoned by the snake saliva flower. I'm worried that if you, Chief Qiyuan, anger Tianjuan, they will also..." Li Sel was interrupted by Qiyuan before he could finish his words.

"Shut up. You want to poison me? That's not that easy." Qi Yuan smiled coldly. "The snake saliva flower poison is red. Unless you put it in fruit wine, huh, do you think the people around me will betray me?"

"But what if it was smeared on the tip of a sharp arrow that flew out from the dark?" Li Saier asked in return, "The snake saliva flower poison is fatal, and no one in the world can cure it. Isn't this something that Chief Qi Yuan should be worried about?"

Qi Yuan's eyes flashed with coldness: "Li Saier, do you think that once I die, the Duncan family will be disbanded?"

"Of course the Duncan family will not disband, but..." Li Saier frowned, "I'm worried that, except for Chief Qiyuan and General Weihuo, the other members of the Duncan family are not so resolute. By then..."

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Li Sel deliberately didn't finish his words in a dragging tone, but he knew Qi Yuan had understood.

Qi Yuan was silent as expected, because what Li Sel said was right. He could persist, and Wei Huo would also persist. However, if both he and Wei Huo were eliminated by the enemy using despicable means, the other members of the Duncan family might not have the courage to take up the banner of dividing the land and ruling separately from Tianjuan.

After pondering for a long time, Qi Yuan sighed softly and said, "Lisel, you didn't come here just to tell me what happened just now, did you?"

"Of course." Lisel smiled slightly, reached into his arms, and took out an envelope...

…

On the evening of the third day, in front of the temple on Grindo Island, more than ten large oil lamps illuminated the lawn as bright as day. The clergy led by Mikoyan and Pose lined up on the left, the military led by Odo and Vulture lined up on the right, and the "family team" led by Shelley and Lori and the heads of various departments and towns who came to watch the ceremony stood on the periphery.

Although there were a large number of people, there was no other sound except the chirping of insects and birds in the nearby woods.

The reason why it is so solemn is not only because tonight is the first time that Wu Lai officially appears as the high priest, but also it is the prelude to tomorrow's expedition ceremony.

The horn sounded melodiously, passing over the treetops and startling the birds...

The temple gate suddenly opened, and Wu Lai walked out slowly under the guard of eight knights.

Although it was his first time presiding over a ceremony as a high priest, he did not wear the high priest's holy robes, but instead wore a set of gorgeous priestly uniforms. The white robes with purple edges symbolized purity, integrity, and nobility. The gold thread decorations on the crimson silk sash showed his status as a high priest. He wore the uniforms with majesty, spirit, and arrogance...

The last six of the eight knights each held a long wooden box, which was plain and even a little crude...

After standing on the steps in front of the lawn, Wu Lai smiled and raised his hand, saying: "Many years ago, when I was still in Seneca, I forged seven swords, and gave the first one to Vulture. When I was forging them, I didn't expect this day to come. I just thought that these sword-forging materials were rare. Since I got them by chance, I would use them well. But at this moment, I believe that there is a plan in the dark..."

"Now, I will give the remaining six of the seven swords to the six civil and military officials of Grindor Island in the name of the Supreme God Amon, because I believe that they will be able to protect the territory and the people under the protection of God Amon."

"Bring the sword!" Wu Lai raised his hand and shouted, and a knight quickly stepped forward and respectfully presented the wooden box.

When the lid of the box was opened, an exquisite long sword was lying quietly in the box. The sword body was black, the blade was shining with silver white light, and a dove with outstretched wings was engraved on the copper guard.

Wu Lai grabbed the sword that was full of murderous intent and shouted loudly: "Odoritius!"

"Odo is here!" Odo puffed out his chest and stepped out...