Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 329 Escape from Desperate Situation: The Last Act of Dignity in the Rainy Night
After seeing the old cat off, Chen Mo opened his notebook in the study and quickly reviewed his work over the past few days. In a prominent position, he inserted this urgent matter that had been marked as a high priority.

The notebook clearly listed the lord's myriad thoughts and concerns.

Important and urgent—arrange for personnel to enter the White Deer Plain to directly communicate with the leader of the "White Deer Restoration Society," strive to meet and communicate with the "White Fang" priest, and try to obtain complete and systematic information about the gods.

I also gave it five stars!

Important, not urgent—Self-examination within the military and political lines of Han Hai Territory, against forming cliques, corruption, and falsification!

Urgent, not important—eliminate the remaining rebellious forces led by the Emperor of the Xiyue Federation, restore order to the Xiayue Alliance, and prepare for further war.

It is not urgent, nor is it of significant importance in the short term, but it has long-term significance—expanding cooperation with marine creatures, strengthening marine exploration, and finding more suitable island bases or landmasses in the sea!

This is only part of the core work; the detailed items listed below are even more numerous.

Further advancement and upgrading of the modern industrial system in the Vast Ocean; border defense preparations to counter the orcish "Autumn Hunt" army's invasion; reconstruction of intelligence networks against other neighboring human nations; further technological cooperation and trade with the Silver Duchy...

It's better not to comb it, because once you do, your scalp gets all irritated!

The alarm clock on my wristwatch went off. Oh right, I still need to practice!
That little girl next door plays mahjong and goes shopping every day, and she's leveled up one rank after another...

My life is so miserable... it's like living in hell. I have to run to the toilet!
Of all the matters, the first to yield results was the relatively minor battle that Xiyue was bringing to a close.

The loss of the capital was an absolutely fatal blow to the Xiyue Federation. Moreover, no one was a fool. Rumors were spreading everywhere that Prince Golden Hook Mondi had died for his country, and that His Majesty the Emperor of the capital had not fired a single arrow!
The alliance is making every effort to spread the word, while the Xiyue Federation is full of fleeing soldiers and citizens who escaped from the royal city. How can this news be kept secret?

Therefore, when His Majesty Emperor Gerhard Hein, surrounded by a group of civil and military officials and the inner court guards, hastily fled into the vast and desolate northern foothills, his series of earnest edicts bearing the imperial seal all sank without a trace, leaving only a desolate feeling of performing alone.

"Damn it! They're all a bunch of traitors! Traitors and rebels!"

His Majesty the Emperor of the Xiyue Federation, Gerhard Hein, once again smashed a fine teacup in a fit of rage. The sound of it shattering echoed several times in the simple cave, sounding particularly jarring.

Porcelain shards flew onto the robes of several kneeling ministers, but none of them dared to move an inch.

His Majesty the Emperor paced back and forth anxiously and angrily like a wild beast trapped in a cage, his voice sharp with agitation: "Where are the three legions? Where are the southern garrison? Not a single soldier has been seen yet. I think they would rather I die in this desolate wilderness!"

Emperor Xiyue's eyes were bloodshot, and his magnificent imperial robes were covered in mud stains. The cuffs were even torn open by thorns, revealing the trailing gold thread.

An old minister, his forehead pressed to the ground, said in a trembling voice, “Your Majesty, please calm down… Commander Huanguang sent an urgent report yesterday, saying that the Long Spear Tribe’s army suddenly attacked the gates, and he had to first settle the camp for defense…”

"Bullshit!" The emperor kicked over the low table in front of him, finally destroying the last batch of cups and saucers.

"They're all just excuses! They're all waiting for me to die so they can take my soldiers, my money, and my land to curry favor with their new master!"

"Your Majesty's words are too harsh!"

The person who came in from outside the cave was none other than Prince Ilotti Hein, the leader of the army. He picked up the broken half of the cup from the ground with some heartache and wiped it with his sleeve.

"These Thirteen Tribes Welcoming the Emperor Cups were made by the best craftsmen in the country over three years, who painstakingly carved, adjusted, colored, and enchanted them."

"When the late emperor was alive, he said this was a vessel to protect the nation, that it would nurture the moon's fortune for a thousand years within its cup, and that it would suppress all the villains of the Federation beneath its depths. How could you just smash it like that?"

Emperor Gerhard took a small half-step back, then stepped forward again, shouting hysterically, "So what if it's broken? I've already lost the capital and the country, what use is such a broken cup to me?"

Ilotti paused for a moment, then slowly placed the broken cup back on the ground before solemnly bowing deeply.

"Your Majesty, the fact that the various legions have not yet arrived does not necessarily mean they have rebellious intentions. There are many unavoidable reasons for this."

"The northern foothills where we are currently hiding have complex terrain and are sparsely populated. More importantly, there are no large granaries in the mountains. If tens of thousands of troops were to actually march here, even eating and resting would be a major problem. How can the commanders of each corps not consider this carefully?"

"Moreover, they are defending the city and still have some ability to resist. If they rashly leave the fortified city and get trapped at the foot of the mountain or surrounded on the mountain, they will be putting themselves in a desperate situation!"

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, as long as they haven't openly raised the banner of rebellion and haven't explicitly pledged allegiance to the elves or any of the thirteen tribes, they can still be considered loyal subjects of the Federation. Doesn't Your Majesty's evaluation make the soldiers feel disheartened?"

The emperor let out a mocking laugh.

"Heartbroken? Can their heartbreak be colder than mine?"

"When we fled the capital, Ilotti, my dear brother, what did you say to me? You said that as long as a decree to defend the capital was issued, armies from all directions would gather in response, and we would soon be able to make a comeback!"

"You say that the Summer Moon Alliance is only superficially united, and that conflicts are bound to arise between the elves and those tribal chiefs, leading to infighting soon!"

"You also said that the Green Pine Kingdom is our staunch ally, and that the Misty Moon Divine Court will not stand idly by and will definitely send reinforcements!"

"and then?"

"Then what?!!"

"Where are the Legion? Where are the Green Pine? Where is the Misty Moon? Even the mercenaries we hired with countless amounts of gold and silver? Where are they all?"

"They're all laughing at me! Watching me like a stray dog, being chased and forced to hide in these mountains! Is this the brilliant plan you, my strategist, my prince, devised for me?!"

Ilotti pursed her lips, speechless for a moment.

Well, this resourceful federal general still firmly believes that his strategy is correct and that he has made the best arrangements he could. However, unfortunately, the enemy's every move has not followed his plans.

For example, according to information from several intelligence sources, the sanctimonious alliance chairman has not taken a single penny or occupied an acre of land in Xiyue so far. He even pays his subordinates in Hanhai Territory for taking things from the common people!
Are they a bunch of lunatics? What about the glory of the nobility? What about the dignity of the professionals? What about the face of the upper class?
If you don't want anything, why are you hitting my Xiyue?
For example, he thought that as long as he took the royal city, the other party would be eager to sit on the dragon throne, raise the flag and declare himself emperor. But the guy only entered the city to take a nest core, and didn't even enter the imperial city. He turned around and went back to the north.

What he found even more unbelievable was that the thirteen tribes had reportedly agreed that the little guy should take all the large nest cores, but he only took the agreed-upon one and left the relic core he obtained from Fallen Feather Canyon in Stream Moon Royal City, which meant he took nothing at all.

Everything in the royal city has been handed over to the thirteen tribes and the elves for their own use. What conflicts could possibly exist within this alliance?
In short, the world outside the mountains is completely different from what Ilotti imagined. The fact that the various legions have not yet defected is not because they are loyal, but simply because the alliance refuses to budge and insists on conducting a war trial.

If that "pseudo-regiment" outside the mountains were to loosen its grip even slightly and agree to allow the major legions to surrender while retaining their original organization and noble treatment, Iloti had no doubt that those opportunists would change their allegiance in less than a second!

But it was precisely this resolute attitude of the alliance that made the major legions only dare to protect themselves and remain silent.

Why? Why don't you come to protect His Majesty the Emperor when it's obvious they don't accept you?
It took Ilotti a long time to understand this principle. From beginning to end, the Summer Moon Alliance has always shown the same attitude—keeping promises and abiding by the rules!

Yes, the alliance doesn't deceive or cheat, and it doesn't engage in any underhanded tactics. If you violate the alliance's rules, we will definitely pursue the matter. The reverse is also true: as long as you don't continue to oppose the alliance, the pursuit will end there and won't drag on indefinitely.

The same principle applies: no one wants to follow the rules, but everyone wants to deal with people who do.

In terms of "reputation", the emerging Summer Moon Alliance actually has a much better reputation than the Hein Royal Family, which has ruled Xiyue for hundreds of years!

Therefore, for the various legion commanders, the best option under the current circumstances is to firmly defend their own territory, try to make contact with the Summer Moon Alliance, and strive for a relatively favorable condition, rather than rashly rushing to protect this emperor whose credibility has been bankrupt and whose future is uncertain.

A long silence fell over the cave, broken only by the occasional crackling of the burning torches and the faint sound of the wind coming from outside.

Ilotti finally made up her mind, took a deep breath, sighed deeply, and said:
"Your Majesty, in the current situation, the only option is to continue stalling until other unforeseen events occur. Even if our ancestors were to be resurrected or the Martial Emperor were to be reincarnated, we fear we would still be unable to save the situation on our own!"

"You may leave!"

"While the enemy hasn't completely taken control of Xiyue, select a group of loyal warriors to escort you to Baiyin, then find a ship to Green Pine or Misty Moon, and wait for the changes to occur in Fanxing!"

"Now that the war has begun, it will not stop until one side falls. Qiyue and Wuyue will eventually have to decide the victor. If Wuyue wins, the restoration of the kingdom will be just a matter of a single thought from the Divine Court!"

Gerhard paused for a moment, then resumed his ferocious expression: "Go? How can I leave? Xiyue is my country..." "Enough, Your Majesty! There are no outsiders here, so there's no need to put on an act!" Ilotti suddenly raised her voice, interrupting the emperor without any politeness.

This sudden act of defiance left the kneeling civil and military officials around them completely astonished.

"Don't I, as your younger brother, know your temperament well enough?"

Ilotti's tone was weak and weary. "If you could run away once when the capital fell, you can run away again in these mountains. You've wanted to run away for a long time, and you wish you could sprout wings and fly away from this godforsaken place. You just need someone to help you make up your mind and even take the responsibility for you!"

"Just like last time, you fainted, and your younger brother carried you out!"

"But I, your younger brother, cannot do it!"

"To ensure Your Majesty's safe escape, someone must divert the enemy's attention. Your Majesty, I will now take Your Majesty's full entourage and contact the army to launch an attack from the mountains as bait. Your Majesty should hurry up and pursue the northern expedition!"

"If this drags on any longer, we might really be unable to leave!"

It must be said that the resoluteness shown by Ilotti at this moment temporarily quelled the madness in Emperor Gerhard's heart, giving him a moment of clarity.

Yes, go to the Misty Moon Divine Court. Even if you become an exiled emperor, it's better than being a prisoner. What if, what if, one day you restore your kingdom?

As for reputation...

I'm about to lose my life, so I really can't care about that anymore.

The next day, a procession carrying the full imperial regalia of Emperor Xiyue marched out of the Northern Mountain Range and headed towards Yongjing Pass, where the Black Butterfly Legion was stationed, which still maintained a degree of loyalty.

This army, with its banners waving, immediately attracted the attention of the Elf Rangers and the Thirteen Tribes of Yuanxiyue.

Large numbers of scouts, like hounds that have caught the scent of blood, converged from all directions, following from a distance. More troops, under the command of their commanders, began to move along the edge of the mountains, attempting to form an encirclement from all sides.

On the other side of the northern foothills, His Majesty the Emperor, accompanied by two guards, disguised himself as a wandering merchant and, under the cover of night, silently crossed the mountains and headed south.

This was also Iloti's arrangement; by bringing fewer people, they could avoid attracting the enemy's attention as much as possible. After all, it would be hard for anyone to imagine that the emperor of the dignified Xiyue Federation would only have two attendants by his side.

Of course, Emperor Gerhard did not completely trust his brother. Just before departure, he secretly replaced the two guards that Iloti had arranged for him with an inner court attendant who had served the royal family for many years and whom he considered absolutely loyal to the Hein family.

Meanwhile, he set off half a day earlier than Ilotti's original plan, and quietly adjusted his direction of travel from the southwest, which Ilotti had suggested, to about twenty degrees east of due south. He felt he had to keep a backup plan.

As it turned out, His Majesty's caution along the way proved very effective, and their journey went unexpectedly smoothly.

Although they encountered several checks by local militia or elven patrols along the way, their disguised identities, prepared explanations, and the inconspicuous goods they carried allowed them to successfully slip through the cracks.

Ironically, the series of decrees issued by the new Summer Moon Alliance prohibiting the oppression of civilians inadvertently provided a degree of protection for this disguised, fleeing emperor.

After enduring wind and rain, hiding and trekking for more than ten days, Gerhard and his two companions finally arrived at a desolate mountainous area on the border between the Creek Moon Federation and the Silver Duchy.

They found a dilapidated temple, the deity of the wilderness of which they did not know, and decided to stay there temporarily, waiting to cross the border at dawn.

As night deepened, a torrential downpour began outside the temple, the dense raindrops pounding against the broken tiles with a grating, unsettling sound.

Scattered, cold water droplets continuously dripped in from the numerous holes in the roof, creating small craters in the dust on the ground and bringing wave after wave of late autumn chill to this long-abandoned temple.

His Majesty the Emperor wrapped his coat tighter around himself and stared wide-eyed.

He couldn't sleep...

It wasn't just the noise of the downpour, nor just the biting autumn chill; he was anxiously waiting for dawn, waiting for the moment of complete liberation.

The long night was tough to get through.

Footsteps sounded at the door, and a tall, imposing figure entered.

"Your Majesty, it's time to set off!"

"Is it...is it dawn yet?"

Gerhard jolted awake, struggling to stand up. But having remained in one position for too long, and with his knees already stiff from the cold, he was unresponsive and stumbled as soon as he tried to get up. Just as he was about to fall forward, the honorific caught him.

Use your sword to hold on!

A standard longsword, the most common type used by the Xiyue mercenaries, pierced through the emperor's chest, exited through his back, and embedded itself directly in the pillar behind him, forcefully stopping the emperor's body from collapsing.

A surge of heat flowed from the blade, slightly warming His Majesty the Emperor's cold body.

"You...why did you..."

Gerhard asked half a question in a hoarse voice, then suddenly stopped, as if he had figured something out, and let out a few dry laughs.

"Hehe...heh...you're going to take my head...to collect your reward...alright...alright...it's...it's been hard for you to...to have come this far with me..."

"His Majesty!"

The royal attendant squatted down expressionlessly, ignoring the emperor's increasingly unfocused gaze. He deftly untied the emperor's bundle, took out the contents one by one, casually tossing aside the seal, badges, and parchment, and carefully pocketing every single one of the small, gleaming gold bars at the bottom.

"Your Majesty, I am also a citizen of Xiyue. I cannot do such a thing as selling you to the enemy!"

"Then you...then why..."

Gerhard felt as if his chest was filled with thick blood, making it increasingly difficult to breathe, to the point that he could only speak intermittently. Then, he heard the guard's cold reply.

"How can the emperor of Xiyue die on foreign soil?"

"This last shred of dignity... I must help the Xiyue royal family preserve it."

As expected...utterly loyal!

"puff--"

Gerhard choked on a mouthful of blood, seemingly wanting to say something, but after a few gurgling sounds, he ultimately said nothing.

The rain grew heavier, washing over the dilapidated roof of the temple. The leaking rainwater accumulated into murky puddles in front of the statue of some unknown wild god. Emperor Xiyue, Gerhard Hein, looked at his distorted reflection in the water and slowly lowered his head.

The royal priest watched silently as the emperor died, then walked out of the temple and dragged in the body of another priest he had killed, throwing it not far from the emperor's body. He then punched and smashed the few remaining supporting pillars.

The dilapidated temple groaned under its own weight, beams and pillars snapped, tiles fell in a flurry, and then collapsed with a deafening roar, covering the body of Emperor Xiyue like a thick blanket.

He shouldn't be cold anymore!
Once the dilapidated temple was completely reduced to ruins, the inner court priest respectfully performed a noble salute, then turned around without hesitation and strode across the unguarded border in the desolate mountains, his figure disappearing into the vast rain of the Silver Kingdom.

Strands of crimson blood slowly seeped from the cracks in the bricks and wood, only to be washed away by the seemingly endless torrential rain, merging into the muddy earth and leaving no trace.

It seems that the blood of His Majesty the Emperor is no different from the blood of the lowly people flowing all over the ground below Qingze City and along the Beilu River!
(End of this chapter)