Chapter 223 Damn Dwarfs
Blackham has been somewhat uneasy lately. The Great Xia army outside the city is too quiet. Although the standoff in Ulan-Ude has lasted for nearly three years, neither side has been passive or lazy. Every few days, they send one or more armies to fight, so that their armies can always be kept in a state of war and not become complacent.
"Respected High Priest, the Xia people outside have started digging pits. We don't know what they're doing. Would you like to go and take a look?"
"Kanas, the Great Xia people always dig pits, either to reinforce their houses or to bury their comrades. What do you think they're doing this time? Are they stupid enough to dig another tunnel?"
Blackham stared speechlessly at the overseer of the city, Kanas, who was in charge of patrolling the city. He wanted to yell at him, but he held back. Kanas was a member of the Duskhammer clan, while Blackrock was a member of the Blackrock clan. Even though he was the highest-ranking leader of the orcs in Ulanwood, he still had to give Kogar some face.
“No, this time it’s completely different. The Great Xia people have mobilized at least tens of thousands of people, and they started digging at dusk and haven’t stopped even though it’s already past midnight.” Kanas was very stubborn. As the local beastman chieftain who had lost his homeland and territory, he harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Great Xia people and had never let his guard down against them.
"Alright! I hope your worries are unnecessary. I really don't want our people to go out to fight and attack in this kind of weather anymore. The people of Great Xia are almost turning their camps into cities."
There are many stars tonight, and from the city wall, one can vaguely see the movements of the Great Xia camp. The Great Xia people have built a sturdy wooden fortress a thousand paces away from the city wall, with a large number of chevaux-de-frise, deer antlers and other items forming a complete defensive system, like a city outside the city.
Looking at the shadowy figures behind the fortress opposite, Blackham finally understood the worries of Governor Canas. Although he didn't understand what the Great Xia people were doing, they had mobilized far too many people, at least 50,000. It was definitely not something as simple as digging pits, building houses, and burying corpses.
"Kanas, what do you think?" Blackham asked in a deep voice. Most of his kings were dead, and even though the warlords were the backbone, their opinions were still very important.
“We must launch a night raid to stop the Great Xia Rao’s actions,” Kanas replied firmly to Blackham.
"So, Canas, are you willing to lead the team in a charge?"
Carnaston's face flushed red with anger. "Lord Blackhammer," he said furiously, "the Twilighthammer Clan has already lost one Herius this year. Isn't that enough? Are the Thunder King Clan all cowards?"
"Enough, Kanas. Half of the Thunder King Clan is dead and on the verge of collapse. We are now in a city. Let's not dwell on past grudges."
Blackhan finally roared in anger. The Thunder King Clan, without a Great Shaman to guard the Far East, was marginalized everywhere. They had done 80% of the work of attacking the city during the protracted siege. Having lost a large number of men, the Thunder King Clan was already weary of war. As the leader of Ulan-Ude, Blackhan had to preserve this vital fighting force.
“Your Excellency, I have fulfilled my duty of patrolling the city. As for the decision, that is your business. Perhaps King Magles is capable of leading this night raid.” After bowing deeply to Blackham, Kanas turned and left, expressing his dissatisfaction with the Blackrock Clan’s preservation of their strength.
Blackham felt a deep sense of powerlessness. In three years, the orcs had been drained of their lifeblood in Ulan-Ude. The once-friendly people of Great Xia had become extremely fanatical and warlike. Waves of reinforcements continued to arrive in Ulan-Ude, but the orcs' focus was not on the Far East. His and Kogar's situation was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Vos, light the beacon fires and ask Kogar to come to our aid."
"Yes, sir."
Blackham's trusted lieutenant, Warden Worth, did not question anything and turned to head towards the beacon tower by the lake.
"General, the beast has lit the beacon fires; it must be a plea for help from the great shaman Irkuskogar."
Zhao Qirui frowned, then looked away. "He's cunning. Never mind him. Whether the temporary beacon tower on the North Sea can transmit the signal over there is another matter. Even if Kogar comes, it won't make a difference. This time, I'm not alone."
The Great Xia army has a garrison around Irkutsk on the other side of the North Sea, which has prevented Kogar from coming to Ulan-Ude to help Blackhan for a long time. The few times he did come, Zhao Qirui easily dealt with them, which only made the Great Xia army retreat temporarily!
The two sides fought back and forth for several years, each displaying their skills, with no clear victor. However, the orcs' rule over the North Sea region had come to an end, and large numbers of orcs began to migrate outside the city, while the Rakshasa began to surrender.
Dawn finally broke, and Blackham finally saw what treasures the Bactrians had dug up overnight.
The Daxia people dismantled the wooden stockade walls in five different locations and built many earthen platforms behind them, each with a dark iron pipe on it. It was incredibly arduous to dig out so much frozen soil, but Blackham, after looking at it for a while, still couldn't understand what those dark iron pipes were for.
The heavy infantry of the Great Xia army began to assemble in five locations, but the siege ladders did not appear. This strange phenomenon puzzled Blackham even more. Did they plan to climb the city walls by hand while wearing heavy iron armor?
A moment later, Blackham finally understood what the heavy infantrymen were doing; they were guarding those dark iron pipes.
The sound of rumbling thunder continued to ring out, and iron bullets whistled as they crashed against the walls of Ulan-Ude. Cracks began to appear on the solid bluestone, and the cracks grew deeper and larger until they finally broke apart, revealing the rammed earth inside.
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