vstars Chapter 390: The First Warlord of Kusha
Chapter 390: The First Warlord of Kusha
In the Murcia Palace, a solemn atmosphere enveloped the entire hall. John sat firmly on the throne, his eyes as sharp as a hawk, staring at the Kusha envoy kneeling below. His voice was emotionless as he asked:
"What's your name and what's your position?"
The messenger felt his heart tighten under John's pressure. On each side of him, there was a soldier with a sword drawn, and the long sword was stained with coagulated blood. It was obvious that the two men had just killed at least one Kushan soldier.
He hesitated for a moment, and finally answered:
"My name is Khalid bin Walid, and I serve as a general under His Majesty the Khalishika."
Hearing this, John continued to ask:
"How many men are there in the Calixtian army, and where are they now?"
"This……"
Khalid glanced nervously at the soldier holding the long sword, and his anxiety gradually rose. He took a deep breath and finally chose to be honest:
"His Majesty Galixica had just pacified the north, and he ordered me to lead the army to the south. I estimate that we will arrive here within a month. As for the army heading south, I am not sure, but there are at least 300,000 people."
After getting the information he wanted, John waved his hand and ordered someone to take Khalid down to rest, while he began to think about how to deal with the Kushan army that was about to arrive.
John sat on the throne, his mind churning with thoughts. The first thing he considered was whether Murcia was still necessary to defend. At first, he envisioned using Murcia to block Galicia for a while, hoping to gain some breathing space in the upcoming conflict, but after thinking about it carefully, this idea seemed to be just better than nothing and almost useless.
He considered the troops he could mobilize, including those from his territory, and the garrisons in Murcia and Acre, which totaled no more than 50,000. Facing the hundreds of thousands of troops of Galicia, the numerical disadvantage was obvious. John understood that if such a limited force was dispersed and stationed in Murcia, Galicia would most likely leave some of its troops in Murcia for siege, while the main force continued to march towards Acre.
"Rather than taking the risk of defending this city, it is better to retreat directly to Acre."
John pondered secretly, and gradually made up his mind. Acre itself was a fortress city with relatively complete defense facilities, which would surely provide him with a more reliable shelter.
Moreover, as the headquarters of the King's Office, there are sufficient supplies there, plus there is a popular base, he can mobilize the people and mercenaries to gather another 20,000 to 30,000 troops. In this way, even if the army of Galixica attacks directly, he will be able to defend with some confidence.
Even if the city could not be defended, John could take a boat to the nearby Celilius Island, or retreat directly westward to the waters of the Yoda Empire.
At the critical moment when John was about to evacuate Murcia with his army, a luxurious banquet was being held in a palace in a city further north. The bright candlelight illuminated the magnificent hall, reflecting the delicate decorations and intricate carvings, as if telling the luxury of this place.
In the center of the hall, dozens of women in gorgeous saris danced like flowers, their light skirts swaying gently to the beat of the music, like a flowing painting. Their dancing postures were sometimes elegant and sometimes unrestrained, attracting the attention of many Kusha generals present, while the men sat around them, drinking, chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere was warm and joyful.
However, in this noisy jubilation, the middle-aged man on the throne was like a towering mountain, emitting an irresistible pressure. He was tall and strong, with an extraordinary demeanor, wearing a golden crown, and a thick beard covering his resolute face. His eyes were as deep as autumn water, revealing an elusive majesty, and he seemed to be completely uninterested in the excitement around him.
At this moment, just sitting there, he already exuded a fearful aura. The Kusha generals present stole glances at him from time to time. If they accidentally met his eyes that were like solidified thunder, they would immediately feel a palpitation and turn their eyes away.
At this moment, a Kusha soldier in golden armor slowly stepped forward, his face full of tension and awe. He knelt down in front of the throne and said in a respectful but trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, General Khalid has failed in his attack on Murcia and has now been captured by the enemy."
As soon as these words came out, the originally lively hall fell into a dead silence, and the air seemed to freeze. As the music stopped abruptly, the laughter also disappeared in an instant, and all eyes were cast on the man on the throne, with their hearts full of tension and anxiety. The expressions of the Kusha generals were different. Some were shocked and shocked by this unfortunate news; while others were secretly speculating on the reaction of the king on the throne, fearing that they would displease him.
The middle-aged man on the throne remained silent. His thick beard looked even thicker under the candlelight, and his eyes were as deep as the abyss. There was no fluctuation on his face, and he seemed not to be too surprised by the news. However, the generals around him could feel the undercurrent surging in his heart. Everyone held their breath, waiting for his next move, fearing that a careless word would anger this terrifying ruler.
The man on the throne just waved his hand slightly, and the dancers, musicians and waiters in the hall reacted instantly and stepped aside, leaving a wide space.
With sharp eyes, he slowly asked the soldiers below: "Who is the enemy's general?" His voice was low but carried an authority that could not be ignored.
The soldier trembled slightly and immediately answered: "It is a pagan general named John. He should be from the city of Acre in the south."
Hearing this name, the man frowned slightly, then turned to the general beside him and asked:
"Aibu, since you were captured by the French King's Office and taken to the pagan country, you should stay in his territory. What do you think?"
The Kusha general who was called stood up reluctantly. Although he was a little nervous, he knew that he had to express his opinion. After thinking for a while, he slowly said:
"As for him, I feel like he doesn't seem to care about religious issues. He is a little different from us, but he keeps his word. When I was sent back to Kusha before, he really fulfilled his promise and sent me back safely."
He paused and continued:
"I heard that he is very powerful in military affairs. The territory he holds was seized from the Yoda Empire, and it is not just this one piece of land."
After listening to Aibu's description, the man on the throne turned his head slightly and his eyes fell on the thin and shriveled old man who was smoking a hookah next to him.
"Daiba, what do you think of this guy?"
Daiba put down the hookah in his hand, blew out a smoke ring leisurely, and said slowly:
"This is not a problem for you. No matter who it is, no one can stop you from unifying Kusha."
After hearing this, the man's expression brightened slightly, revealing a hint of satisfaction.
"Well."
He responded briefly, then stood up and looked down at the generals below from his high vantage point.
"In that case."
He announced in a slightly arrogant tone:
"Then today's banquet will end here. After we capture Acre, I, Gabriel, will celebrate with all the generals in the palace there."