Dreaming for 10,000 years

Chapter 364 Order
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is ultimately just a fictional story, far removed from actual historical records, let alone the history of a civilization in another world.

Asa often frowned at the Records of the Grand Historian, and had to rummage through various annotated classics on Shi Fei's bookshelf. His fingertips were covered in ink, and his desk was piled high with scribbled drafts.

Shi Fei never inquired about his progress, but simply called him to eat breakfast every morning and then went to plant sea buckthorn.

Sometimes Asa would ponder a historical event all night long, until dawn broke. Other times, he would spend half a day lost in thought among the sea buckthorn bushes, leaving drafts scattered all over the ground.

Hatred may have been the initial motivation, but gradually, he was drawn to the words in those books themselves.

Asa's skin was tanned dark and shiny by the desert sun, but his eyes, honed by years of reading, possessed a scholarly tranquility. As he walked among the sea buckthorn, his steps still carried the steadiness of a warrior, but his every move exuded a more composed and dignified air.

On an ordinary morning, Shi Fei did not sense Asa's presence.

He pushed open Asa's door and found the bed neatly made and the oil lamp already extinguished. Beside the open copy of "Zizhi Tongjian" on the table, a cup of cold tea had a few grains of sand on its surface.

Asa awoke with a start, his forehead slamming heavily against the edge of the prayer altar. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the tent, casting dappled shadows on the ground. He looked around blankly, the eyes of the statue of holy light watching him with compassion.

“Your Highness?” Lieutenant Marcus’s voice brought him back to reality: “Should I carry out your orders?”

Asa's pupils contracted slightly. He remembered this moment, just before he knelt to pray, when the order to massacre had been issued.

The plague in Stratholme, Mal'Garnes's provocation, Uther and Jaina's departure... everything is still vivid in my mind, yet it feels like a lifetime ago.

“No,” Asa’s voice was somewhat hoarse, “the previous order is rescinded.”

Marcus looked up in surprise and saw the prince's profile outlined by the sunlight.

For some reason, the young prince suddenly possessed an unfamiliar air about him, much like... much like the demeanor of the old king when he convened a court meeting.

Not long ago, the prince issued an order for his troops to slaughter everyone in Stratholme. Although he knew that those people had been infected with a terrible plague, they should all be killed to prevent greater losses.

However, he still couldn't bear to do it! So he confirmed the order with Prince Arthas again.

If the prince really does this, then he will have no choice but to carry out the order.

His current composure is completely different from before; he is like a different person altogether.

Asa looked at the lieutenant in front of him and said, "Thank you for your loyalty, Lieutenant Marcus!"

“It is my honor to serve the King and the Prince!” Marcus said, head held high.

He was a lieutenant in the personal guard of Arthas, appointed by the King of Lordaeron, and was extremely loyal to the royal family.

“Now, our mentor Uther has left, taking the Knights of Light with him,” Aza said. “Only our own people are left. Facing the entire Stratholme, we are too few in number and our strength is too weak.”

"So..." he continued, "we must save ourselves!"

"Self-rescue?" Lieutenant Marcus didn't understand what that meant.

"Go and gather all the officers and soldiers here. We'll assign them tasks!" Asa stood up, his armor clanging crisply.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Marcus noticed the glint in the prince’s eyes.

It wasn't the impatience and anger of the past, but a well-considered decision. As Marcus led his soldiers to assemble, Asa was bent over his oak table, his quill pen drawing clear lines on parchment. The streets of Stratholme gradually took shape under his pen, even the location of the drainage ditches was meticulously marked.

“Gentlemen,” Asa straightened up, his armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. The soldiers noticed a calm and wise quality in the prince’s eyes.

"We are facing not only an enemy, but also a natural disaster that will devour souls."

His finger pointed to the majestic city gate in the distance, where sunlight gilded the stone walls with a golden hue, creating a peaceful scene with the smoke rising from the city's chimneys.

"Imagine a world where every window here hides a walking corpse, where bountiful wheat fields become graveyards teeming with rotting carcasses..."

The soldiers and officers paled at the thought of the horrific scene; it was an absolute nightmare.

“What’s even more terrifying is that if we can’t stop Stratholme, the plague there will spread and could affect the whole of Lordaeron.”

"At that time..." Asa paused, then said, "At that time, your families and my families may face the same terrible natural disaster."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers and officers couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Marcus stepped forward at the opportune moment, his sword sheath slamming heavily to the ground: "Your Highness, please give the order! We swear to serve Lordaeron to the death!"

The sound seemed to awaken everyone; the soldiers stood at attention in unison, and the clanging of armor resounded like a tidal wave.

They roared, "We swear allegiance to Lordaeron, to the death!"

Asa's gaze swept across every face. Most of these soldiers were older than him, yet at this moment they resembled children awaiting their father's instructions: "I don't need you to die! I need you to live! I need you to fight alongside me against this terrible natural disaster!"

"This is a war for all of us, a war against evil demons and harmful plagues! As long as you live, there is hope!"

"Now, obey my orders! Lieutenant Marcus, I need you to take over the entire city of Stratholme! Rivendell is a good friend of mine; you will receive my seal later, and he will help you!"

Asa pointed to the church and city hall in Stratholme and said, "The city is divided into three ring-shaped areas, with the church and city hall as the boundaries."

He pointed sharply at one spot with his fingernail: "This is where a quarantine station is set up; all patients will be treated centrally."

"At the same time, a street chief will be appointed in each street, and anyone who discovers an outbreak must report it. Those who are sick will be isolated and treated. I will send a letter to Dalaran to ask them to lend a helping hand."

"As for those who have had indirect contact, they need to stay alone in their own homes."

Then Asa methodically issued a series of orders:

"Lieutenant Farek, take this letter and ride a fast horse to Dalaran. We need more aid. We hope the mages of Dalaran can research a cure for this terrible plague. Our hopes are on you."

"And soldier Van Goghrey! You need to take my letter and ride quickly back to Lordaeron to tell my father that I need more reinforcements!"

"Soldier……"

The soldiers and officers before them each had clear orders, and following Asa's commands, they began to carry out actions that would change their own fate and that of Stratholme.

(End of this chapter)