There can't be a Harvest Moon in the RimWorld.

In an instant, a shiny bald head passed by him, gave him an apologetic smile, and continued running, jumping into the crater.

...I'll endure it!

"They're here! Run!"

The shelling came swiftly. Just as the traitorous commander was about to continue his operation, a commotion and exclamations erupted behind him. Then, a crowd surged past him like a stampede of horses, leaving a trail of footprints on his body.

"We're doomed! It's too late!"

The traitorous commander underground in the crowd looked desperate, his heart turning cold. He never imagined that his well-intentioned warning would lead to his death here. He wished he could be mute in his next life, just babbling "Aba aba" all day long, so that even if he saw Godzilla attacking Tokyo Bay, he wouldn't utter a single word!

In his despairing gaze, amidst the tense atmosphere of fear that gripped the entire crowd, the shell descended from the sky, tracing a precise line across the heavens before... flying straight over the stunned crowd and resolutely landing outside the city walls!

A huge explosion rang out outside the city walls. Amidst the towering flames, the powerful shockwaves struck the city walls, causing cracks to continuously open in the earth. This eventually triggered a massive collapse, with sandstone bricks and rammed earth walls shifting and transforming into the foundation stones for a road. Just as Moses parted the sea, this created a glorious path to life!

Chapter 362 Since We're Here

That shot was excellent, brilliant, and absolutely necessary!

Without that final shot, even if I used my extraordinary abilities to save them from their suffering, these people would never have felt the joy of being alive.

As the saying goes, Buddha helps those who are destined to be helped. If these traitors haven't figured out what their inner choice is, then they will always retain a possibility in their hearts, fantasizing about returning to this territory and continuing their peaceful daily life.

But this bomb shattered their illusions. Amidst the overwhelming fear and the earth-shattering explosion, this terror would leave an indelible mark on their hearts, a constant reminder that this place offered them no more refuge. If they ever wanted to return, the only outcome would be a devastating death.

What was the most crucial thing in getting Lu Junyi to come up the mountain? Was it saving him from dire straits? Of course not!

Most importantly, after rescuing him, he was allowed to go home, making him realize firsthand that he had transformed from a wealthy landowner into a bandit and rebel. This powerful medicine had an effect that surpassed a thousand words in an instant.

So I must leave here in the most arrogant, spectacular, and flamboyant way, to give them a big surprise!

Of course, it would be a shame not to fire this shell, after all, it was the bunker turret's final act...

That's right! I casually dismantled the entire weapon section of the bunker turret, leaving nothing intact!

Unless the lord of the Loader's Domain can transform into the space battleship Yamato and fire shells by hand, he will have to say goodbye to watches forever.

"You moved three times just now. It seems your patience isn't enough."

I stopped swinging the halberd and placed one hand on his shoulder. Because he was taller than me, it looked like a guard and a center fighting for a rebound.

The lord's expression completely collapsed; his necrotic face trembled uncontrollably as he stammered, "You will pay the price..."

I nonchalantly smashed the turret's base with a single punch, shattering the concrete foundation into pieces. Turning back, I said, "Nobody really thinks I'll stop if they do what I say, right? Nobody? Nobody? Nobody?"

As I spoke, I kicked open the iron window of the bunker again, throwing all the messy iron parts on the ground down the lord's hall. They rolled down the hillside and disappeared into the corner where they could not be seen.

"Whether you rebuild this fort or abandon it, it's all after I'm gone. You can use larger caliber cannons and more powerful shells to try and restore its former glory... But I can guarantee that from today onwards, the faction you rely on will no longer support you as much. A safer, more harmless, and more ruthless force will take over this place and sweep you and all your efforts into the dustbin of history."

I pointed out the window and continued, “Look over there. That beautiful tapestry is poison, the tall buildings are festering sores, the guests coming and going are spreading viruses, and the people living inside are your invincible nemesis.”

The lord of the loader's territory stood silently in the middle of the room, looking at me with an uncertain expression. After a long while, his eyes, which were dull from the blow, occasionally darted around and looked at the scenery outside the window that I was pointing to.

There, in the territory, was a rather glamorous and respectable residential area for merchants.

…………

The cannon fire that shattered the city walls was like lightning in the sky, fleeting in an instant. Only the overwhelming and endless power lingered, still hovering in the hearts of these poor people, causing their attempts to escape to become severely distorted, like a group of animals that had just learned to walk on two legs, stumbling forward on the ground.

These are the aftereffects of an explosion. For inexperienced individuals, encountering an explosion is extremely dangerous. For example, the air shockwave generated during an explosion can shatter bones or even tear limbs, causing serious injury. Some organs are more vulnerable to the impact: the eardrum may rupture, ossicles may shift, and the inner ear may be damaged; the lungs may suffer from parenchymal hemorrhage, pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, and air embolism; critical organs such as the brain may be injured, and ruptured gastrointestinal organs may bleed—all of which are almost certainly fatal. Similarly, the pressure generated is relatively greater closer to the explosion's epicenter.

Therefore, those present who had witnessed artillery fire or even experienced combat firsthand were able to quickly find ways to take cover. For example, the traitorous commander and the fat warden immediately lay down with their feet facing the blast after hearing the explosion. At the same time, they placed one hand under their forehead and the other hand over the back of their heads to protect them. Keeping their bodies low to the ground not only minimized the damage from the explosion but also prevented the inhalation of excessive toxic fumes.

"Run...run!"

Even though the explosion occurred outside the city walls, the shockwave still covered the area, causing a huge impact on these people. However, driven by the will to survive, their bodies made an instant choice—they had to leave this place, leave this place that was using the most terrifying weapons to eliminate them!

From above, ant-like black dots rose from the ground, moving faster or slower, all heading toward the breach in the city wall. Their weak voices rose and fell, as if encouraging each other, or as if a group of people were talking to themselves.

The traitorous commander shook his throbbing head, turned around and looked around, finding that the person who had stood them up had completely disappeared. A premonition began to form in his heart, but he decided to keep it to himself for now. His immediate priority was to seize this opportunity to escape!

Just as the slaves and town guards were jubilantly climbing out of the breach in the city wall, preparing to plunge into the vast Gobi Desert and never return, the clamor and thunder of hooves, accompanied by the shouts of knights, came crashing down.

Those fleeing on the field looked up and saw a large cavalry force galloping towards them like a dark cloud, arriving in an instant. The moment the two forces met, silence fell instantly, and a standoff ensued, with both sides staring at each other intently.

The cavalry unit that had marched so quickly towards them was well-organized and fully equipped. Under the scorching sun, the horses were covered in sweat from their rapid run, and the riders' faces were a mixture of paint, sweat, and yellow dust. Their fierce demeanor was tinged with a hint of bewilderment, as if they had never expected their enemy to be such a force...

It's one thing for the slaves to run away, but why are these short-legged town guards running so energetically? Are they chasing the slaves? Impossible, the faster ones have already overtaken the slaves and are still running, looking even more eager to escape than the slaves themselves!

Could it be that the territory is secretly hosting a unique sports event today to encourage fitness for all, and that's why they've opened a side entrance here for everyone to come and play?

Nobody would believe that!

Chapter 363 King of Hengdian

The moment the traitorous commander saw this, he knew the enemy was unaware of his betrayal, which is why he didn't immediately launch a charge and slaughter them. However, this misunderstanding couldn't last long; if they didn't devise a countermeasure soon, they were doomed.

His quick wit kicked in, and he instantly switched into Oscar-worthy mode. He took a step forward, kicked the bewildered slave to the ground, and pressed one knee against his neck, shouting, "You damned bastards, how dare you try to escape in the chaos! Are you taking advantage of the warden's lack of manpower?!"

After saying that, he frantically winked at the fat guard. Fortunately, the fat man was a shrewd fellow and immediately understood. He continued in an arrogant tone, "Thanks, brothers! With us watching over you, you think you can run away? No way!"

At this moment, the town's guards, after being reminded, gradually got into character and began to imitate the commander's posture, skillfully pressing the slaves to the ground with one knee on their necks.

The cavalrymen were even more confused. The middle-aged one-eyed leader spoke up, "What are you doing here? You don't need so many people to capture slaves, do you?"

The one-eyed man wanted to ask more questions, but then he saw a person wearing shiny plate armor walk out from the crowd, carrying a piece of clothing on a halberd and waving it in front of him without any restraint.

"Since you're already here, why don't you have a fight before you leave?"

The one-eyed man's expression froze instantly, his face changing rapidly. Finally, he gritted his teeth, pulled on the reins, and shouted. The cavalry, who had come like the wind, left just like the wind.

…………

"They...they're gone already?!?"

The slaves and traitorous town guards present were inwardly roaring, completely bewildered by what had just happened. Why would the enemy, who had just made a long journey just to see them, then... just leave?! Can you believe it?!

Of all the people present, only the traitorous commander looked me over with a thoughtful expression, but remained silent.

Seeing the look in his eyes, I knew that this traitorous master had already guessed the truth, or was not far from it.

My appearance was not much different from before, except for the strange outer robe with the halberd hanging up, which was obviously made of an expensive material.

And this robe was on the lord just five minutes ago.

"My lord, was all of this part of your plan?!"

The traitorous commander was speechless for a long time, probably filling in countless details and guesses in his mind, and probably staging a grand drama of slaying Hua Xiong while the wine was still warm and pacifying the five roads. Only then did he say these words to me with great respect. The colonizer system even rang out a comical arpeggio and a notification message popped up in the corner of the field of vision.

"System notification: A colonist wishes to join the colony. Please process this request promptly."

Get out of here, I'm busy right now!

I immediately tossed that message aside. How did this person suddenly become a traitor? But after checking my current situation, I realized that everyone here is a traitor!

I looked around at the people standing around me. Whether they were lowly slaves I had tricked into coming or members of the town's guards who had just defected, they all looked at me with a fanatical and worshipful gaze. Their bodies trembled as if they had typhoid fever, but their eyes did not waver in the slightest. They were full of strong and ardent emotions, as if they would follow me to the ends of the earth as long as I gave the order!

The morale of the troops is high! The morale of the troops is high!

Seeing their performance, I nodded silently. Wasn't it impressive how I scared off that entire enemy army with just one sentence? Next time, I'll wear a hat with a speaker hidden inside; that would be even better with my own background music!

It wasn't for nothing that I ran all the way back from the Lord's Hall, tearing down walls, just to save these bastards.

While I was dismantling the house, I noticed that the lord of the Loader's Territory seemed to be acting strangely. His eyes kept glancing towards the lookout post, like a passenger waiting for a bus, as if expecting something to appear.

In an instant, it dawned on me that the cavalry unit I had forgotten must be waiting somewhere!

I remember when I first entered the lord's hall, this guy said he was sending that one-eyed man on a mission to the wasteland as punishment. At the time, I didn't believe it completely, and I couldn't confirm it. But now I'm certain that these cavalry units are definitely not in the territory. A hundred or so horses and soldiers couldn't possibly be hidden away silently in some corner like a core force.

The most likely explanation is that the lord has placed this vital force in the most advantageous positions. Just like Han Xin jungling and Lu Ban supporting, cavalry units excel at roaming the enemy jungle and racking up kills, so they'll definitely be waiting for me in the Gobi Desert…

The explosions had been resounding for miles, and even the blindest person could see that something had happened. The lord probably wanted to use the chaos to recall this ambush force and launch a surprise attack on the town's breach, thus ruining my entire plan.

Of course I don't know if the plan is the same as what I guessed, because the defection of the town's garrison was a very unexpected event. If it weren't for multiple factors, I wouldn't be able to replicate this coincidence even if I were given ten thousand chances.

However, cavalry units naturally suppress pure infantry town guard units in terms of strength. A full complement of cavalry can easily annihilate a garrison that is incomplete and almost entirely composed of archers in the back row.

The risk was too great, and I couldn't take it under any circumstances. So I abandoned my original plan to dismantle the shells and went straight back to the vicinity of the slave plantation, where I witnessed this awkward performance.

The reality was indeed somewhat different from my guess. The first difference was that the cavalry was more confused than I thought, failing to react even with the enemy right in front of them, thus wasting valuable time.

The second discrepancy was that the traitorous commander reacted too quickly, actually managing to amplify the misunderstanding, making the other side believe that they were in control of the situation, thus buying more time and demonstrating their power as the kings of Hengdian.

The third point of interest was the extraordinary loyalty of this cavalry unit. Could the one-eyed leader also be a die-hard fan of the lord? My quick thinking led them to immediately retreat, probably because they guessed there was trouble in the town and went back to defend the king—the funny thing is, the real rebel was right in front of them, and they didn't even notice.

"Come with me if you don't want to die!"

I shouted, and this time there was no one questioning me. The two groups quickly got up from the ground. Fortunately, the knee-to-neck press didn't last too long, and no one shouted that they couldn't breathe. Everyone happily formed a rather large team and followed me into the Gobi Desert.

Chapter 364 Transport Team Leader

The scorching afternoon sun beat down on the earth, seemingly trying to squeeze the last bit of life out of this already barren land. As far as the eye could see, apart from the silent, ancient boulders and the hillsides, there was nowhere to escape the blazing sun.

But on the surface of this desert and Gobi, there is an air of elegance and luxury, as if it were a dreamland where gold is everywhere. Once you fall into it, you will be intoxicated and lost, and you will never be able to escape.

Escape is the most pressing task at present.

"Boss, why aren't they coming after us?"

The bald man's head shone brightly, radiant like a celestial being descending to earth, yet there was not a trace of a smile on his face. Without the protection of his hair, he was actually the one most afraid of the sun, easily getting sunburned and suffering from heatstroke and dizziness. Therefore, he covered his head with the hood of his clothes and followed closely behind me.

I walked ahead under the blazing sun, glanced back at the dense mass of footprints on the sandbar, and demanded, "Why are they chasing us? Are they going to follow us into the depths of the desert so we can all die of thirst here?"

This should be the last card the lord of the Loader's Territory has to play. He tacitly allowed me to leave here with the traitors, clearly taking into account the unique environment of this Gobi Desert. We were marching aimlessly under the scorching sun, and most of us were weak slaves, so we would definitely not be able to leave alive.

In that way, he could subdue the enemy without a fight and render my efforts futile.

Although I guessed what he was thinking, I really couldn't bear to kill him. This guy is a pure person, a ruthless person, a person who has transcended base desires. He will definitely continue to attack me for his own benefit, not just to vent his anger.

The more resources he mobilizes, the more I can fleece. I can act as a qualified transport captain, just like Chiang Kai-shek, helping me transport guns and cannons and build houses for me. It would be such a pity if such a pure person died!

"Give the order: everyone rest for fifteen minutes under that boulder!"

I raised my halberd to signal the troops to stop, then turned and hid in the shadow of the boulder. The hundred or so men were completely silent.

These people are all native to the Gobi Desert and are very familiar with the taboos of the desert. They know that, for example, when they have to travel long distances during the day, they must talk less, do less things that waste their energy, and reduce water loss.

Given the slaves' equipment, their unkempt appearance and barely any clothing meant they would likely have perished as soon as they left the desert. However, the traitorous commander wisely ordered his men to strip his elite troops of all their clothes, hats, and equipment before leaving, ensuring nothing was left for the enemy.

Therefore, before leaving the city, the town's garrison troops had already removed their heavy armor, wearing only light undergarments and headscarves. Their heavy machetes had been replaced with assault rifles from elite troops, and the extra magazines were carried by the slaves.

The desert ghillie suits that were stripped off were also disassembled and distributed to the slaves present, ensuring that everyone had a piece of equipment to shield them from the sun.