I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 163: Be prepared for battle

The towering city walls, bathed in the morning light, should have been solemn and majestic, but now they revealed an unconcealable sense of decay. Many of the walls were mottled, even showing obvious cracks, like an old man in his twilight years, unable to hold up. The soldiers on the towers were sparsely populated, many in dishevel, listless, and devoid of fighting spirit.

Ren Xiaoyao dismounted, his face grim. He quickly walked to the wall, examined it carefully, and then reached out to touch the alarming crack. His fingertips felt loose, as if it would collapse with a slight push.

"Is this the border fortress of our empire?" Ren Xiaoyao's voice was low and dangerous, like the calm before the storm.

General Sun looked embarrassed and quickly explained, "Reporting to the Grand Marshal, since the last war, the border has been relatively peaceful, so..."

"So you let your guard down and neglected your precautions?!" Ren Xiaoyao turned abruptly, his eyes piercing as he stared directly at General Sun. "You know, a thousand-mile dam can be breached by a single ant hole! If the enemy takes advantage of this, the consequences will be disastrous!"

General Sun was intimidated by Ren Xiaoyao's aura, sweat dripping down his forehead, and he dared not argue any further. He knew very well that this young national defense marshal was not just a name, he was decisive in killing and strict in military discipline, and would not tolerate any slackness.

"General Sun, pass on my orders!" Ren Xiaoyao said sternly, leaving no room for doubt. "Immediately dispatch an additional 50,000 elite troops to garrison the border. Strengthen patrols, day and night! Also, conscript civilians to repair the city walls and build fortifications. We must make the border impregnable in the shortest possible time!"

"I obey your command!" General Sun's heart trembled, and he quickly clasped his fists in response. He knew that a new storm was about to come, and they had to be fully prepared to meet the challenge.

In the evening, Ren Xiaoyao and General Sun stood on the newly built observation tower, gazing into the distance. The afterglow of the setting sun cast two long shadows on them.

"Report to the Grand Marshal, the scouts reported that a large number of suspicious people were found gathering less than a hundred miles from the border..." A soldier quickly ran up to the watchtower, knelt on one knee, and reported in a hurry.

Ren Xiaoyao and General Sun exchanged a glance, both of them feeling an ominous premonition...

"It seems our predictions were correct." Ren Xiaoyao's brows knitted slightly, but his tone remained remarkably calm, as if he had anticipated the coming of this storm. He turned, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Pass the order down, all troops, enter level one combat readiness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the rapid blast of a horn resounded through the sky, and the previously silent border suddenly became abuzz. The soldiers quickly assembled, and the sound of their orderly footsteps and the clinking of armor intertwined like an impassioned war song, echoing in the dusk sky.

At this moment, Xia Lin hurried over with the latest intelligence. Her face was pale, but her eyes were resolute. "Xiaoyao, my intelligence network has reported that the enemy is secretly gathering troops and preparing to launch a full-scale attack on us!"

"What's the scale? When will the attack happen?" Ren Xiaoyao asked in a deep voice, with a hint of solemnity in his tone.

"According to intelligence, the enemy has assembled at least 200,000 troops, led by their 'God of War' General Hawke himself. They are expected to launch an attack on us in three days." Xia Lin took a deep breath and said in a serious tone.

General Hawke, a renowned god of war in the enemy country, was known for his cunning as a fox and fierce as a tiger fighting style. He had led his army to invade the borders repeatedly and was a major threat to the empire.

"Three days..." Ren Xiaoyao repeated in a low voice, his gaze cast into the distance, as if he could penetrate the layers of fog and see the approaching enemy army. "Time is running out, we must be fully prepared!"

A gleam of brilliance flashed in his eyes, and he quickly marked several key locations on the map. His tone was decisive and confident: "Pass the order down. Command General Li to lead 30,000 elite cavalry to ambush the enemy in Black Wind Canyon. Once the enemy enters the canyon, attack from both sides and make sure to annihilate the enemy's vanguard!"

"Order General Zhao to lead 50,000 infantrymen to garrison the dangerous pass. Utilizing the terrain, they will launch a series of blockades to slow down the enemy's main attack!"

"Order General Sun..." Ren Xiaoyao issued orders in a clear and organized manner, and every word revealed calmness and confidence, as if he was a chess player with a confident plan, who had already anticipated every move of his opponent and was ready to respond.

"Yes!" The generals took the order and quickly passed it on. Suddenly, the entire border was in motion, and a murderous aura spread through the air...

As night fell, the border lights blazed brightly, and soldiers frantically prepared for battle. Ren Xiaoyao stood atop the city wall, gazing at the inky black sky beyond, his eyes gleaming with determination. He knew a major battle was imminent, and this was only the beginning... He took a deep breath and gave a solemn command: "Pass it down, we'll begin tomorrow..." "Pass it down, we'll begin a full-scale combat exercise tomorrow!" Ren Xiaoyao's voice echoed through the night sky, his tone brimming with undeniable authority.

He knew that facing a cunning and fierce opponent like Hawke, relying solely on geographical advantages and military strength was far from enough. More importantly, he needed to improve his soldiers' combat quality and ability to coordinate operations in order to seize the initiative on the battlefield and achieve the greatest victory at the lowest cost.

The next morning, barely dawning, the deafening sound of war drums echoed across the border. Hundreds of thousands of troops assembled on the vast parade grounds, banners obscuring the sun, swords and spears like a forest, and a solemn, murderous aura permeated the air.

Ren Xiaoyao, clad in silver armor and riding a tall horse, inspected the neatly-organized troops, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light. He personally formulated a rigorous training plan, simulating actual combat conditions, dividing the soldiers into multiple teams and conducting offensive and defensive drills.

"Shieldbearers, advance! Archers, prepare! Cavalry, make a detour and encircle!" Ren Xiaoyao's command echoed across the training grounds like rolling thunder. The soldiers sweated profusely under the scorching sun, training with all their might, striving for perfection in every movement, knowing that this wasn't just a drill; it was a fight for their lives, a fight for their country!

In addition to strengthening the training of soldiers, Ren Xiaoyao also made a bold decision - to recruit folk masters. He knew that there were many talented people with unique skills hidden in the martial arts world. If they could be recruited into the army, they would undoubtedly be a force that cannot be ignored.

His order quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys, attracting the attention of countless people in the martial arts world. For them, defending their country was also an unshirkable responsibility. In a short period of time, countless heroes and martial arts masters with unique skills flocked to the border, requesting to join the army to jointly resist the foreign enemies.

Ren Xiaoyao personally presided over the recruitment meeting. With his sharp eyes, he could tell the depth of the applicants at a glance. Under his selection, a group of martial arts masters with high skills and rich experience stood out and became a special force in the army.

As night fell, Ren Xiaoyao stood on the city wall, looking at the brightly lit military camp, his heart filled with hope. He knew that this war would be extremely cruel, but he also believed that with the bravery and wisdom of the soldiers, they would be able to achieve ultimate victory.

At this time, a soldier hurriedly ran up to the tower, knelt on one knee, and presented a letter with both hands: "General, there are people in the city who want to see you, and I am sending you this letter!"

Ren Xiaoyao raised his eyebrows slightly, took the letter, opened it, and his expression suddenly became solemn...

Ren Xiaoyao unfolded the letter, revealing densely packed small characters. Though the handwriting was sloppy, it was powerful enough to penetrate the paper, clearly the work of a weathered old man. In the letter, an elderly village chief recounted the border residents' determination to protect their homeland for generations, and his admiration and trust in the young general Ren Xiaoyao.

"General, the people along the border are outraged when they hear the enemy is coming!" the soldier delivering the letter said excitedly. "They say they've lived on this land for generations and won't allow any enemy to invade!"

After hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew that with the people's support, they would be invincible. He solemnly put the letter away and said to the soldiers, "Tell the villagers that I, Ren Xiaoyao, swear to defend the border and protect their homes at the cost of my life!"

To better organize the border residents, Ren Xiaoyao invited the experienced General Sun to discuss matters. General Sun, over fifty years old and a veteran of many battles, was well-versed in the borderlands. He suggested organizing the residents into different teams based on their strengths, tasked with patrolling, security, and logistical support.

"General, you're wise. This approach will not only leverage the strength of the border residents but also reduce the burden on the army." Charlene agreed. She had been gathering intelligence for some time and had a clear understanding of the relative strength of both sides. "According to the latest news, Hawke has assembled a large army and will attack soon."

"Okay, then let's do as General Sun and Miss Xia Lin suggest!" Ren Xiaoyao gave the order decisively.

Suddenly, the entire border region was mobilized. Men took up hoes and sickles, formed militias, and patrolled the border day and night. Women, at home, sewed clothes and prepared dry food, providing logistical support for the soldiers on the front lines.

Everything was ready, waiting for the enemy to invade. Ren Xiaoyao stood in front of the map, his eyes as sharp as a torch, as if he could see through thousands of mountains and rivers, and saw the fierce enemy army in the distance...

"Report!" a soldier's voice came hurriedly from outside the tent. "The enemy is less than fifty miles away from the border!"