Mist Lord

"Is it starting already?"

The hidden information is still very useful, listing basic information about both the attackers and defenders.

[Target of attack: Murakami Sousuke, male, Level 2 Lord of the Yingzhou Alliance, initial troop type: Tier 2 Skeleton Warrior, initial hero: Tier 3 Oni-Faced Samurai, complete defensive facilities, information on slave soldiers unknown...]

[Target to defend: Sokgar, male, Orc Tier 2 Lord, starting unit Tier 3 Frostwolf Riders, starting hero Tier 3 Peak, specializes in strong attacks...]

The known human alliances, besides the Yanxia Alliance, include the Mote Alliance, the Asian Alliance, the Persian Alliance, the Rus Alliance, the Tianzhu Alliance, the Nanyang Alliance, and the Yingzhou Alliance.

These alliances almost universally viewed the Yanxia Alliance with hostility, or at least considered it a competitor.

It's not just a cultural factor.

Those from the Nanyang Alliance and Yingzhou Alliance, which belong to the same Confucian cultural camp, are actually the most responsive to the sweltering summer heat.

They are both insecure and arrogant.

Besides humans, there are various other races such as orcs, half-orcs, goblins, dwarves, elves, insectoids, and trolls, most of whom also have little affection for humans.

The predicament of the Yanxia Alliance is self-evident.

Each Civilization Trial, especially among lower-level lords, does not involve a large-scale free-for-all between all factions. Instead, two or three factions are randomly selected to fight against each other.

"Isn't this deliberately inciting hatred?"

After round after round of these confrontations, there are no allies left; they are all enemies.

According to the principle of matching strength, whether you choose to attack or defend, you will be facing tough opponents.

Of course, as the attacking side, without any geographical advantage, the opponents they are matched with will be relatively weaker. Conversely, as the defending side, they will face slightly stronger opponents.

"Choose 1, be the attacker!"

Without much hesitation, Xia Yuan made his choice.

If we choose to defend, we'll be facing Tier 3 Frostwolf Riders, and the lord is a warlike orc. The wooden walls might not be enough to hold them off. Even if we manage to hold them, it will probably be a Pyrrhic victory.

Moreover, as the defending side, even if they win, they won't gain much except for a few prisoners of war.

It's different when you're on the offensive.

If the enemy's Blackrock Altar can be destroyed, then the population, resources, and everything else in the target territory will be spoils of war.

Risk and reward go hand in hand.

The key target of our attack is the lord of Japan, so why not go all out?

[Confirm selection, locked in, you have three days to prepare]

[Friendly reminder: As the attacker, when launching an attack, you can only bring territory troops, heroes, and contracted slave soldiers. You cannot bring uncontracted slave soldiers or other additional assistance...]

This didn't affect Xia Yuan much, since he didn't have any outside help.

.........

"That's the situation. Let's all share our thoughts on how to prepare."

The upgraded lord's cabin has been expanded from one room to three. The central room remains the main hall, the west room is Xia Yuan and Han Bao's bedroom, and the east room is temporarily occupied by the elves Satir and Elua.

As for Black Armor, after a long life as an undead, he was no longer accustomed to living indoors; death was his ultimate destiny. From the day he was recruited, he voluntarily moved to the western suburban cemetery to live alone.

The main hall was converted into a council chamber.

A throne and table were placed in the center, with four chairs symmetrically placed on each side below. Although somewhat rudimentary, it at least provided a basic framework for meetings. Even a makeshift group was still a group, unlike before when they could only hold meetings around a campfire.

Xia Yuan sat in the center.

Black Armor, as the territory's only hero and strongest bodyguard, was seated in the first position on the left. Satir, though born a slave, enjoyed Xia Yuan's deep trust and was seated in the first position on the right.

Next up are the first sword and shield wielder, and the newly arrived Elua.

Serfs like Wang Er and Zhang Tie were not yet qualified to participate in politics.

The council convened for the first time to discuss the Civilization Trial three days later. Although Xia Yuan was no mediocre talent, he lacked military strategy, and this battle was no small matter, so it was necessary to gather opinions from all sides.

"My sword and shield!"

It was the first time Blade & Shield One had sat in a chair. Its short legs couldn't even reach the ground. Although it felt like there were worms under its bottom and it really wanted to twist and turn, it stubbornly remained still, its back straight.

It looks quite plausible.

He's been acting all high and mighty these past few days, showing off his Hero's Helmet everywhere. With 15 new sword-and-shield dogs joining the team every day, his ranks are growing stronger, and as the leader of the sword-and-shield dogs, he certainly can't afford to lose face on such a solemn occasion.

When it comes to war, Blade & Shield One has only one reaction: Charge!!!

The rest is up to the owner to consider.

"The enemy archers, including the gate guards, can be safely handled by me and Elua."

Satir also chimed in at the opportune moment. As a third-tier elven archer, she was not only accurate but also fast and far-reaching. In small-scale battles with fewer opponents, she was an absolutely terrifying force, like a turret.

Moreover, with the addition of Elua, they become even more invincible.

"..."

Black Armor remained silent as always.

"The enemy's defenses are comparable to their territory. To win, the primary consideration is how to breach the city gates and storm the walls. Since the enemy has chosen to defend, they are unlikely to launch a preemptive strike."

The Civilization Trial has a time limit, so siege tactics are also unsuitable.

As a lord, Xia Yuan had his own thoughts. "To break through the city gates with minimal losses, it would be best to build a simple, detachable siege weapon within the next three days. The sword-and-shield dogs are small in size, powerful, and have shields for protection. Combined with the siege weapon, they are the perfect choice for siege warfare."

"My sword and shield!"

Sword and Shield No. 1 liked to hear this and immediately expressed his willingness to lead his troops as the vanguard in breaching the city.

"The construction of siege equipment will be overseen entirely by Satir, with the blacksmith shop, carpentry workshop, and leather workshop providing full support."

Xia Yuan didn't know how to build siege equipment.

Wang Er and Zhang Tie are both folk craftsmen, and most likely don't know much about it either. Fortunately, there is an expert like Satir.

"Yes, sir!"

And that's how it was settled.

As for Elua, who remained silent throughout, she sensibly positioned herself as Satir's second-in-command and generally refrained from offering opinions, instead focusing on listening attentively.

.........

As night falls, the chat group for newcomers, which usually opens on time, is no longer as relaxed as before, but rather filled with a sense of tension.

Everyone has made their choice.

I chose defense; surely no one would choose offense, right?

[Defense +1]

[Defense +777]

Almost all the new alliance lords, including Song Jing, chose the defensive side. After all, this was the first civilization trial, and naturally, preserving their territory was the top priority.

Offensive tactics are still too risky.

One wrong move and the whole team is wiped out, you might even lose your lives outside, it's not worth it at all.

Some people might wonder, with so many players choosing to defend, who is actually on offense?

First, the matching is done in batches.

The stronger the lord, the more priority they have in choosing. Once the higher-ranking lords have made their selections, the later lords will be forcibly matched into either attack or defense roles.

The weak don't even have the right to choose.

Of course, Gray Mist will also take into account the faction pairings, and will at least arrange a warlike faction, such as the Orcs this time.

Besides the alien races, there were also warmongers like the Ross Alliance, and bandits like the Asian Alliance and the Mote Alliance, whose very genes for burning, killing, and plundering flowed in their veins. Some were lords who chose to attack.

Xiang Yu: I chose the attacking side.

[Lü Quan: Are you crazy? I wouldn't dare take such a risk]

[Xiang Yu: What else can we do? If all of us ranked higher choose defense, then those ranked lower will be forced to attack. Wouldn't that just send them to their deaths?]

[Lü Quan: But that's how the trial mechanism works. Everyone has their own fate; who can look after others?]

Everyone else remained silent, clearly agreeing with Lü Quan's point of view, but just too embarrassed to express it openly.

[Xiang Yu: Choosing to attack isn't necessarily a bad thing]

The defense seems solid, but can a simple fence really stop an orc attack? If the enemy's strength exceeds expectations, the altar could very well fall, and families could be destroyed.

On the contrary, while an offensive may seem risky, it is actually the only way to truly advance or retreat. If the situation becomes unfavorable, one can choose to cut losses and retreat into the fog of war, deploying a portion of the forces to cover the rear.

Once you're out of combat, you can easily return to your territory.

Aside from a slight loss of troops, there were no other losses, and the territory remained unscathed.

In the early stages of territory development, troop losses are actually not a big deal, as they can be replenished quickly. Compared to having your territory completely destroyed, isn't that much better?

Ah, this…

Xiang Yu's analysis left the group of newcomers speechless.

That seems to make sense?

Reverse selection may seem unconventional, but it's actually quite suitable for level 1 territories. Unlike level 2 territories, upgrading wooden fences to wooden walls directly increases defensive capabilities by an order of magnitude.

[Lü Quan: That's just an ideal scenario. The defending side isn't stupid. What if they set up an ambush on the edge of the territory? They might fall into the trap before they even realize it, and it won't be time to retreat.]

[A defensive strategy isn't just about relying on wooden fences; it also involves digging trenches and setting up various traps. With a little ingenuity, they can always maximize their home-field advantage. If they still lose, then there's nothing more to say.]

Both sides held their own versions of events, and neither could convince the other.

Whether it's offense or defense, one thing is certain: thorough preparation is essential. It's foreseeable that weapons, armor, medicine, siege equipment, and even slave laborers in Yunyang City will experience another surge in prices; the only question is how many people will be able to afford them.

Those who have found a powerful backer can borrow money in emergencies, but those who haven't yet caught the eye of a major lord can only hope for the best. The Civilization Trials are never child's play; they are life-or-death tests.

Whether in offense or defense, there is never any absolute safety.

Death is the dominant theme.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, another bombshell announcement came from Yunyang City...