When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 782: Defending Xialu City

As the hum of the bronze bell penetrated the stone walls of Summer Green City, old Laffer was changing the bandage on his thigh.

The bandage was boiled in boiling water and poured with a smelly garlic alchemical potion.

This alchemical potion is the product of allicin that has been purified through alchemy, and its anti-inflammatory effect is better than ordinary allicin.

In Horn's opinion, it is still not as good as penicillin, but in old Laffer's opinion, it is a miracle drug.

After all, it is the Holy Sun who cares about these ordinary soldiers.

Since these alchemical potions were delivered from the rear, the number of soldiers chopping off their hands and feet has decreased significantly.

After changing the bandage, he looked up towards the clock tower.

The setting sun shattered into gold foil on the parapet of the parapet, as if someone had scattered a handful of gold coins.

There were countless noisy voices behind the stone wall, as well as the soldiers' shouts of loyalty.

"Hurry up, hurry up!" A ceremonial officer rushed over and lifted up old Laffer. "The ceremony has begun. Don't keep the Grand Duke waiting."

Supported by a crutch, old Laffer staggered through the city gate corridor. The sound waves coming towards him made him take a half step back.

The dark crowd spread from the steps of the Town Hall to the bridge over the moat, and even barefoot teenagers were lying on the roof tiles.

He saw countless coarse silk and woolen sleeves fluttering in the wind, just like their burned Leia flags.

"In the name of the Holy Spirit and our ancestors—"

The sound of the horn cut through the din. Melia appeared at the top of the archway, her black armor making her white hair look like ice.

Old Lav noticed that she had replaced the ceremonial sword inlaid with purple crystals on her waist. The old sword was probably lost in the raid.

Twelve guards holding halberds marched down the steps to the beat of drums. The sound of their iron boots hitting the stone slabs reminded old Laffer of the roar of a clockwork cannon.

When the captain of the guard unfolded the parchment, he could see the emblem outlined in gold powder on it - a golden iris.

"Lafer Hunter Ironwater!" The guard's deep voice echoed in the square, "Step forward to be awarded the medal!"

Old Laffer's knees suddenly felt weak.

It was not the first time that he was awarded a medal, but in front of so many people, especially the plains people who hated the mountain people, he couldn't help but get nervous.

He saw the citizens in the front row standing on tiptoe, and a girl with brass earrings even climbed onto her mother's back.

"Nice to meet you again, Raph. You did a good job in Gravel Plains." Patting his shoulder, Meliati pinned a medal on his chest.

The despot still remembers his name?! Old Laffer's eyes widened.

The ceremonial officer beside him shouted loudly: "Grant 300 acres of paddy fields in Black Snake Bay, 3 bounties, and 100 acres of tax exemption!"

There was a sudden gasp in the crowd.

Although the reward of 300 acres of Black Snake Bay paddy fields was not as great as that of Qianhe Valley, it allowed him to leap from an ordinary soldier to a small landlord and squire.

"Your arrows have bought a respite for Xialu City. These fields will be reclaimed by the snake people and can be redeemed within two years." She suddenly lowered her voice, "If you don't want to, you can exchange them for stocks."

When the light yet heavy deed fell into his palm, the sudden cheers from the square startled the pigeons from the bell tower.

As the sun sets, soldiers are awarded medals one by one and boast about their achievements in public.

Even old Laffer, who wasn't very interested in this, couldn't help but straighten his chest at this moment.

When the last mountain knight stepped down, Meliati suddenly lifted her scarlet cloak and stepped onto the battlement.

Her figure seemed particularly thin on the wall, but her voice hit the crowd like a fire bomb thrown by a catapult:

"The failure of Gravel Plain is my shame!"

The noisy square suddenly became silent.

The previously noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

"I trusted other people's information and underestimated the cruelty of the Duke of Wing Nest." Meliati dug her nails into the moss on the parapet. "This is the war I started. I lost. I admit defeat. But that is another war. It is related to this war, but it is also unrelated to this war, because the Leia people standing here today-"

She suddenly waved her sword and pointed it to the north: "They don't want submission, they want to crush the wheat seedlings in every field! They want to kidnap your babies!"

The crowd began to stir and people started whispering to each other.

This news has been circulating in the streets for a long time. Pravda only mentioned it vaguely but did not provide any solid evidence.

But the rumor was everywhere: "After the Leia people led the plains people to kill the mountain people, they lost the protection of the mountain people and began to massacre the plains people again."

Although the rumor sounded convincing, no one dared to believe it until Meliati spoke up.

An old man wearing a scholar's square hat raised his hand tremblingly: "Sir, the messenger of the church said that as long as the King Killer is handed over..."

"Don't you have eyes? Look at the charred corpses floating on the river! How many are from the plains and how many are from the mountains?" The roar startled more birds, and Meliati turned the tip of her sword to the southwest, "There were twelve boys aged fifteen or sixteen in the grain transport team that was attacked three days ago. Lavr nailed them to the mast as flags.

We finally managed to get their bodies back. They are right at the dock. Can't you see them?"

Amid the screams, a peasant woman in the front row suddenly collapsed to the ground - her only son was a laborer in the grain transport team.

Several washerwomen in blue turbans began to cry, not knowing whether they were crying for their sons or brothers.

Then the monks began to chant requiem prayers in a low voice, and the sound quickly spread to half of the square.

Meliati inserted the ceremonial sword into the crack of the stone, stepped on the battlement and leaned forward: "Now I want to make it clear - I will defend this city for at least 3 months!

Those who want to leave can take their belongings, except for food, and leave through the South Gate.

I promise in the name of Grand Duke Hemashi that the arrow tower will not aim at your back within three days."

"But the ones who remain—" He drew his sword and pointed it at the sun, sparks flying from the blade, "If I find anyone slacking off on the city wall and not putting enough feathers on their arrows…"

She suddenly cut off half of the battlement with her backhand, and the broken stones fell into the moat with a crash: "I will build it into the city wall to stop the enemy! Hemashi never breaks his promise!"

The moment Meliati sheathed her sword, the crowd suddenly became excited.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! Please stay!"

"Your Highness, what do you want to do with those who stay?"

As the captain of the guard waved his halberd to disperse the crowd who wanted to ask questions, Meliati walked into the shadow of the capstan room behind him.

Rafael, who had been waiting for a long time, applauded and said, "Powerful speech, Your Highness."

Meliati frowned on her pale, stern face. "Didn't I specifically ask for Duvalon to come?"

Compared to Rafael, with whom she had little contact, she still preferred to interact with the relatively familiar Gulag children such as Du Valon.

Although Rafael was a Gulag veteran, he was not a member of the Boy Army.

"Your Majesty feels that Lord Duvalon is not suitable for such a complicated environment, so he asked me to cooperate with you." Rafael extended his hand to Meliati.

"Three days later." Meliati shook hands with him with her iron fist, "Xialv City will be placed under martial law."

"The loyal heirs will arrive tomorrow." Rafael put his hands behind his back, "With your help, we will definitely catch the traitor and spy."

"Well... starting from tomorrow, spread the word that the Leia people are not only massacring the mountain people. After killing the mountain people and losing their protection, they will kill the plains people." Meliati looked at Rafael deeply and left.

The city gate square was still bustling with excitement.

Traveling merchants wearing felt hats crowded at the side door of the city hall to apply for passes, and apprentices in the tailor shop wrestled with each other for seats in the carriage.

More people were still hesitating. They didn't want to believe Meliati, but they were afraid that they would be attacked by the Leia people if they left the city.

As the setting sun gilded the battlements of the Summer Green City with a bloody edge, the City Hall posted Meliati's latest order:

"Anyone who stays in the city must register with the centurion of each block within three days. This will affect the food ration quota, so please be sure to show up."

(End of this chapter)