The Demonic World I designed
Chapter 192 - 192 185 Seeking Survival in Despair!

192: Chapter 185: Seeking Survival in Despair!

192: Chapter 185: Seeking Survival in Despair!

Madness!

Zhou Hanyang and Xu Ming glanced at each other, both feeling the craziness in Mu Hongqing’s bold proposal!

Both men, not famous generals of the age but nonetheless experienced in leading troops for years, naturally understood each other’s meaning…

If we retreat, those reanimated corpses will rush into the city but may not dare to harm the civilians inside!

Because that would only increase the number of reanimated corpses, which would conflict with the riverside’s aim to release more of them.

It was a method of…

seeking life in the face of death!

Aren’t you asking the reanimated corpses to commit suicide?

Well, I’ll let you in, and then you decide whether to kill those civilians or not!

“This…this…” Even the usually aggressive Zhou Hanyang hesitated at this proposal.

This method was too risky!

Being a provincial governor with a duty to protect his land, he could justify abandoning the countryside as a consolidation of defense lines, but abandoning the city was inexcusable.

If Nanming Prefecture collapsed completely and all civilians were infected while he, together with his soldiers, fled, he would be charged with a crime worthy of beheading his entire family under the law!

“This is the only way!” Mu Hongqing asserted urgently as the situation deteriorated rapidly: “Just now, the soldiers reported that the new reanimated corpses at the riverside are fierce, but they clearly split into two groups, fiercely battling each other.

From this, it seems that the ordinary reanimated corpses at the city gate are also from two factions.

I surmise their goal is to take over Nanyang Prefecture!”

“Nanyang Prefecture is the heart of Jiangnan, connecting Capital City, the West Sea, and the interior of Jiangnan.

Its strategic location is extremely important.

The enemy may be demons, but with the number and level they possess, we can already calculate their gains from military strategy.

If the reanimated corpse forces in the sea are divided into several groups, then now, having the sufficient armed force, taking a favorable geographical position is of utmost importance for them!”

“And just now, the soldiers reported that the fighting at the riverside is fierce.

At this moment, whoever’s reanimated corpses can get ashore in greater numbers may gain the upper hand.

Under such circumstances, it is likely neither will dare to carelessly increase their number of low-level reanimated corpses!”

The two men were stunned, looking at Mu Hongqing with inexplicable expressions.

Mu Hongqing, the youngest Academic Commissioner, appeared to be faster in military analysis than these battle-hardened old generals!

“How do you determine that?” Xu Ming couldn’t help but ask: “According to the analysis from a couple of days ago, the array only releases new reanimated corpses when there are fewer outside.

How can you be sure that the new ones will definitely be from a particular faction?

If your reanimated corpses are fewer, I can just as well seize the opportunity to reinforce my position, and that changes everything!”

Zhou Hanyang nodded at his words: “Because if new reanimated corpses are released indiscriminately, then the side currently holding the advantage at the riverside might choose to slaughter the civilians en masse, to increase the number of reanimated corpses and limit the entrance of new ones!”

“No…” Mu Hongqing shook his head: “If that were the case, this fierce offensive wouldn’t have come so quickly, because if one side starts reducing the number of reanimated corpses and the other side also gains from it, then there would be little significance.

Instead, it might be more likely that they would initiate a mode of mutual slaughter.”

“This…” Both men found themselves unable to rebut, and they looked at each other, trapped in extreme indecision!

“We can’t delay any longer!” Mu Hongqing urged: “If we keep hesitating like this, we won’t be able to retreat even if we want to!”

“But…if we retreat, where can we go?” Xu Ming asked, frowning.

“Retreat from the west gate!” Mu Hongqing said decisively: “We’re not like the ordinary civilians; strong-bodied soldiers are the primary targets for the reanimated corpses to take over.

Once the reanimated corpses enter the city, there’s a high probability they won’t harm those civilians, but they certainly won’t spare us, especially the descendants of the Black Dragon Guard.

Therefore, we must escape to preserve our fighting force and seek an opportunity to counterattack later!”

Is there really a chance to counterattack?

The two men shared a bitter smile as they looked at the seemingly endless sea of reanimated corpses outside.

Without the protection of the city walls, this retreat meant that they probably would never have the chance to reclaim Nanyang Prefecture!

“Generals!!” Seeing the two still hadn’t moved, Mu Hongqing called out sternly once again!

“On my command!” Finally…

Xu Ming spoke first: “Everyone at the city gates, stay with me to cover the rear.

The rest, immediately escort Lord Mu Hongqing and all the important sons and daughters out of the west gate!”

“Old Xu, you!!” Zhou Hanyang’s eyes widened in shock: “What do you mean by this?”

“One of us must stay behind…” Xu Ming grinned and said, “First, it’s to give an account to the Imperial Court, and second, well, if both of us leave, how could the heirs, who stay to cover our retreat, be content?”

“But…

why you?”

“You’re younger than me…” Xu Ming clapped the other’s shoulder.

“I don’t have many years left to live.

The bloodline’s poison will erupt within five years at most.

Moreover, all my sons are capable of standing on their own now.

Without me, the Xu family will actually make His Majesty think twice before moving against us.

But it’s different for you; you have at least twenty good years left.

Not many of your Zhou family’s children are effective, and the two with some aptitude are still young and need your support…”

“I…” Zhou Hanyang choked up for a long time, but couldn’t muster a single forceful word.

Indeed, his Zhou family was just as described by the other, with a thin line of descendants where only he had reached the position of Governor-General.

The highest rank among other family members was a Fourth Rank general, and that too, an idle position.

The next generation was even less promising.

The Zhou family…

truly couldn’t do without him!

“Enough, quit dilly-dallying like an old woman!” Xu Ming turned and waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t ruin our families’ marriage arrangement, okay?

Although my youngest son is a bit of a good-for-nothing, he’s kind-hearted and is following the imperial examination route.

Your girl won’t be wronged marrying into my family.”

“I expect a handsome bridal gift!” Zhou Hanyang clenched his teeth and said.

“Haha, then you’d better prepare a generous dowry!”

With that, under the setting sun, Xu Ming’s somewhat aged figure was exceptionally upright.

Wielding a broadsword, he walked towards the horde of zombies.

It was clear they understood their plan, as they became exceedingly vicious.

Xu Ming wiped the blood off his face, laughed heartily, and leaped forward, his broad Tiger’s Mouth Broadsword cleaving dozens of zombies at the waist.

His ferocious might immediately boosted the morale of the soldiers at the front!

Upon witnessing this scene, Zhou Hanyang’s eyes filled with tears.

With reddened eyes, he performed a grand salute to Xu Ming and the guards around him.

Then, without further ado, as the decision had already been made, there could be no dragging one’s feet; that would only be wasting the opportunity bought with the lives of comrades!

“Retreat!!”

And so, the guards loyal to Zhou Hanyang’s faction began to retreat en masse, escorting the Provincial Governor and Mu Hongqing towards the city.

Suddenly, the distant zombies surged forward in madness.

Meanwhile, inside the city, the people hiding in their homes cautiously watched through the windows as a plethora of soldiers retreated toward the West Gate, prompting them to rush out into the streets in fear, though they could not keep pace with the horses and the Black Dragon Guards running with their bloodlines activated.

In an instant, it felt as if the sky and the earth were collapsing.

Nanming Prefecture had faced a crisis from zombies within the city before.

No one wanted to experience that terror again, yet now, the soldiers and high-ranking officials guarding the city gates had fled!

A crowd chased them for several miles, only to eventually lose sight of even the dust they had kicked up.

A multitude of people collapsed on the ground, wailing in despair.

The soldiers had run off…

They really had run off!

Now…

who could they count on?

————————————-

“Really quite clever, isn’t he?” Amidst the West Sea, Shen Fifth Master, observing Nanming Prefecture through a zombie’s eyes, couldn’t help but applaud with admiration.

“This bastard son of Duke Qin is truly exceptional.

In such a short span of time, he managed to analyze the situation and determine such a strategy, truly impressive!”

“Hmph!” The Princess Royale snorted coldly beside him.

“He is talented, but it’s a pity that Lumings looks down on him.

Such a capable scion; even if he dotes on his legitimate wife, he shouldn’t let the family relationship turn so sour for the sake of family interests.”

“Is it rumored that Duke Qin feels indebted to his legitimate wife and that’s why he tolerates her?” Shen Fifth Master asked curiously.

“Nonsense tolerance!” The Princess Royale scoffed.

“If he truly loved his wife, then why take concubines?

It’s not like he lacks offspring; his legitimate wife from the Xu family bore him four exceptional sons, more than all his concubines combined.

Both his eldest and second sons are quite accomplished.

And what of it?

Does that slow down his taking concubines?

Hypocritical man, lustful by nature; he’s in a position of power and can take concubines without opposition.

His wife can do nothing to stop him.

Yet he still acts this way to show his regard for his legitimate wife, truly disgusting.”

Shen Fifth Master nodded upon hearing this: “Your humans are indeed very complex, often making simple matters overly complicated.”

The Princess Royale smiled faintly.

When it came to the complexity of the human heart, there were plenty of examples, and he would find out soon enough.

“By the way, how are things in Nanyang City?”

“Not good…” Shen Fifth Master shook his head, his expression turning grave…