After I died, my personal maid rebelled.

This was destined to be a tough and arduous battle. The Bone Dragon had indeed lost its ability to fly, but that did not mean it was at a disadvantage.

The undead's nature means that bone dragons have no concept of fatigue or injury; these terrifying creatures cannot be killed, only destroyed.

So as Thorne and his squad prepared to launch another attack, Baird turned around and gave them a calm look.

This one glance contained so much.

Thorne stopped in his tracks. Before him lay a shattered forest. Every adventurer and mage was on the front lines amidst the wind and rain. The radiance of magic mingled with the cold glint of weapons, and the power that erupted from them was awe-inspiring.

The battle continues, is he really going to back down now...?

Without a word, Annie mounted her horse and whipped it. Before leaving, she didn't forget to carry Maria, who was in the worst physical condition, away with her, and disappeared into the mountains without looking back.

Those who can become battlefield commanders always have a more accurate judgment of the situation than ordinary people. At this moment, it is not the bone dragon that is exhausted, but their side!

"She actually deserted?!"

Lilith was both shocked and furious. She did look down on Annie, but she never imagined that Annie would be so hypocritical and cowardly. She was a disgrace to them!

"We also..." Thorne hurriedly grabbed Lilith, but the battlefield suddenly changed in the next moment.

When the magic power within the mage was exhausted, and the moment the confined space collapsed, the bone dragon once again vanished from its original spot.

The whip whipped wildly, kicking up clouds of dust, and the two mages were instantly blown into a bloody mist, leaving no trace of their bodies.

Claws cleaved the earth, instantly crushing several adventurers into the mud, turning them into a pool of blood.

Sophia was the first to break away from the battle. She used her flight magic to take the last remaining mage into the air and quickly disappeared into the distance.

Before leaving, she didn't forget to use magic to whisper in Thorne's ear, "Escape while the dragon slayer still has the strength!"

Seeing Baird, wielding the demonic sword that had transformed into a black dragon, press down on the bone dragon, a fierce battle ensued once again.

Thorne recalled Baird's warning to them, and pulled Lilith away step by step, clenching his fists and quickening his pace.

A few seconds later, a blurry figure swept past them. It was Dane, who had even thrown away his weapon and was now only wearing half a pair of pants, covered in blood.

Dane had a gaping gash on his head, blood gushing down his face. He wiped the blood away, and as he passed the two men, he casually said, "Kid, scatter and run. We'll meet up at Twilight City!"

Thorne simply nodded numbly, and after crossing several mountain peaks, the aftershocks of the battle still echoed in the valley.

He didn't know what he was hoping for; he just suddenly turned around and saw endless flames bursting forth, the waves of the Red Sea obscuring his vision...

"Your Grace, the flood has been investigated and there were no casualties. The food has been distributed in time. However, the reconstruction of the village is very difficult to carry out."

Inside the Duke's mansion, Red worked tirelessly all day and finally managed to submit his report to Oswald before nightfall.

"I know they all live on the mudflats. The better-off ones have boats to stay in, while the worse-off ones just make do with a few planks of wood. That place... is not a suitable place for human habitation to begin with."

Oswald pondered for a moment, then waved for Reid to sit down on the sofa opposite him, crossed his legs, and took out his pipe for a few puffs.

He intended to move these hundreds of villagers to the rebuilt earldom, where there was a shortage of labor and large tracts of wasteland lying uncultivated.

Once the villagers went there, they were able to live and work in peace and contentment, no longer suffering from the damp and cold.

Oswald was unsure of the Southern Marquis's attitude toward this.

"Did the Marquis of Hughes say anything when you arrived?"

"I have already reported to Elena that before we left, the Marquis asked whether we would continue to purchase grain this autumn, and the specific amount of cotton the Duke needed to buy."

Reid picked up his glass and took a sip of water. "Elini said she would handle this matter, but the Marquis didn't mention the flood or the affected villagers at all."

"Thank you for your hard work. I'll handle this." Oswald gave Red an approving look. Red's combat skills were average, but he handled emergency work very well.

"Yes, Your Highness, is there anything else you require?"

"I will draw up a plan tomorrow. You can send militia to escort the disaster victims to the earldom. It's getting late, go back and rest."

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

After Reid left, Oswald lost interest in looking at the report. He put on his pipe and quickly fell into deep thought.

Marquis Hughes is a shrewd businessman, but he's not suited to be a lord. A man who only thinks about making money is better off as a merchant; if he were to govern a territory, he would only bring disaster to the people.

Once things are settled in the east, it's time to reshuffle the position of the Marquis of the South.

Rising and returning to his desk, Oswald continued working. The price of resting during the day was having to work overtime at night, and oil lamps were far more expensive than solar power…

In the stillness after the rain, Luna knocked on the office door and confidently handed Oswald her prepared strategic plan.

Oswald raised an eyebrow and put down his pen.

He didn't understand what was so great about having eight hundred elite cavalry charge against thousands of peasant soldiers. Why not just use arrows to harass them from a distance, constantly disrupt their formation with mobility, and then find an opportunity to charge in and finish them off?

However, this is Luna's first time leading an army into battle, so we should still take it seriously.

Oswald took Luna's deployment plan, quickly glanced through it, and couldn't help but gasp. His gaze towards Luna became more...complex.

"You have some capable people under you."

This is the only assessment Oswald could offer.

Four hundred light cavalrymen marched ostentatiously, while another four hundred heavy cavalrymen took a side road, hiding by day and moving by night, to outflank the enemy and launch a surprise attack on the city, capturing the enemy's families.

Then, before the decisive battle begins on the main battlefield, they drag the nobles' children to the front lines, forcing them to surrender. If they do not surrender, they kill them...

"Luna, come here." Oswald put down the plan, beckoned Luna, gently patted her head, and sighed softly as she looked at him with a puzzled expression.

As the sage said: "Govern the country with righteousness, wage war with unconventional tactics, and win the world through inaction."

"The righteous path refers to the right way, meaning uprightness and integrity, focusing on one thing and conforming to the Way. The unexpected refers to something unpredictable, not some conspiracy or trickery, but rather various techniques and methods."

"You're so unscrupulous, using other people's children as threats today. Who will dare to come to Harbin to see you tomorrow?"

Oswald knew that Luna couldn't have come up with such a plan; it must have been a scheme devised by his subordinates to avoid excessive bloodshed.

"Brother..." Luna thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case. If she really did that, would anyone still dare to trust her in the future?

"Nothing in the world is in opposition; the orthodox includes the unorthodox, and the unorthodox cannot be separated from the orthodox. The first part of your plan is very good; the flanking attack on the city is indeed a brilliant tactic, but the second half needs to be revised."

Oswald couldn't help but think of the historical Chu-Han Contention and the famous Feast at Hongmen.

People always say that Xiang Yu's decision not to kill Liu Bang was foolish and arrogant, but Oswald disagrees.

If Xiang Yu had actually killed Liu Bang at the Feast at Hongmen, he would never have become the Chu Overlord who left his mark on the annals of emperors for all time.

Even if you regret it later, winning and losing honorably is the demeanor of a true champion.

"You should personally lead the cavalry that raid the city. After capturing the city, defend it and cut off their retreat. The peasant army will naturally collapse without a fight before long."

Luna tilted her head, pondered for a moment, and said, "What if there's a rebellion within the city, and they coordinate an attack from within?"

Oswald chuckled, patted her head, and looked more serious than ever before.

"Then it depends on your abilities. You are the young lady of the Northern Territory. If you cannot truly gain the trust of the people in the city, what is the point of you participating in this war?"

Luna's heart skipped a beat; an invisible pressure weighed on her shoulders, making it almost impossible to breathe. This was a trial...

She left the office with a sense of unease and heaviness. Watching her small figure disappear into the distance, Oswald couldn't help but worry about her safety.

But alas, how can a bird held in the palm of one's hand soar through the sky? She must walk her own path.

Around midnight, Oswald finally finished all his work. He stretched, extinguished the oil lamp, and quietly left his office.

As soon as he stepped out of the house and through the corridor, the maid on duty for the night approached him with a lantern and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Lady Elene has instructed us to prepare a midnight snack for you. Would you like some?"

"Thank you for your hard work."

Since they had prepared for him, Oswald couldn't let them down.

When Oswald arrived at the restaurant, he discovered there was another guy who hadn't eaten dinner. The two looked at each other, speechless.

Sitting in the main seat, Oswald frowned when he saw an opened bottle of red wine.

Diana, who had just picked up her wine glass, suddenly felt an invisible chill.

Silently pouring himself a glass of wine, Oswald finally got his late-night snack: a bowl of oatmeal porridge with nuts, a plate of steamed fish, and the vegetable platter he least wanted to see.

If you're talking about health and wellness, then late-night snacks should be beer and barbecue!

Diana put down her wine glass and elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Duke, what have you thought about what I mentioned before?"

She probably thinks she's so smart... Oswald yawned, too lazy to bother with her, and felt a growing concern for the royal education in the capital.

"Even if we were to launch a war against the demons, it would be a matter for me and His Majesty the King to discuss. How could you, a princess, make such a crucial decision regarding the Northern Territory and the Central Region?"

Diana frowned. "This..."

Oswald continued cutting the fish with his knife and fork. "As for those virtuous ministers and generals you mentioned, if I may be so bold, they are nothing but a bunch of incompetents. And you think you are serving the country, but you have overlooked one thing."

"What is it? Please speak plainly, Duke."

Oswald picked up his wine glass, swirled the crimson liquid, and smirked coldly. "It's a simple matter, really, just a question of who sits on the throne."

Diana slammed her hand on the table, stood up angrily, and said, "Of course it's my brother, the King! What, does the Duke intend to rebel?"

"Rebellion, huh?" Oswald thought to himself, comparing the two, and even began to think that Luna was a smart and easy-going girl.

When it comes to rebelling against one's own brother, ten Lunas can't match one Diana.

"Princess, you jest. It seems there is someone else secretly cultivating their own power by winning over generals and ministers and making private contacts with local dukes."

"You!" Diana was furious. Oswald was actually turning the tables on her!

She did do these things, but her motivation was the stability of the kingdom and to prevent a repeat of the mistakes of the previous life.

To my surprise, despite my sincerity, Oswald remained incorrigible.

It seems she shouldn't have come here, much less have come to see this disgusting guy!