Out of Options

The elves did not launch an attack for an entire day.

But another kind of attack continued throughout the day.

The Dusk Warband dispatched numerous scout squads that moved swiftly around the city walls in a highly dispersed formation. They fired arrows at high angles from outside the defenders' range, not aiming to kill the enemy, but simply to get as many arrows into the city as possible. However, given the elves' archery skills and bow-making techniques, this was not difficult.

The engineering team and the supply train also rushed to produce a large number of simple crossbows and stone launchers. Their accuracy was poor; they only pursued range and did not aim to kill the enemy. Their only goal was to send some things into the city.

There are also mages.

In terms of spellcasting power, the elven mage army held an overwhelming advantage. During the previous siege, the mages of Valentan were unable to stop all the attacks, let alone now that it wasn't an attack.

Kang De sat atop the wall, gazing up at the sky. Since the start of the war, the skies of Valentan had been a mess, littered with all sorts of magical traces and chaotic elemental composition. Now, it even had a festive atmosphere.

A blue orb of light hurtled towards Valentan, then exploded, the condensed ice crystals and mist forming a line of large characters in the air.

"Innocent civilians of Valentan, save yourselves."

"Valentan, identify the real enemy."

Slogans and mottos of this kind.

Kang De even took the opportunity to attend a grammar class, learning several sentences and dozens of words.

A burst of flame shot up from the city, scattering the banner. However, this was only a temporary solution. After all, they weren't authorized users, so they could only let the elves bombard them with comments from the sky, deleting them as they were posted.

Kang De, seated on high ground, could see part of the city: city officials and their reserves were galloping on horseback, their shouts and roars faintly audible as they searched, collected, instructed, and proclaimed.

Because the elven cavalry were swift as the wind, they hurled long arrows with soft tips into the city.

Each arrow had a leaflet attached to it.

Ballistae and stone-throwing machines were both used for this purpose.

Of course, there was also magic. The elven mages displayed extremely high levels of spellcasting skills, using all sorts of tricks and methods to send large quantities of leaflets into the city.

For example, a wind spell can be divided into two spins: the outer spin is responsible for breaking into the city and using Brownian motion to avoid the enemy mage's interception, while the inner spin is responsible for rolling a large bundle of leaflets into a ball. Once it reaches the designated location, it will suddenly burst open, and the raging wind will blow a large stack of leaflets everywhere, into ordinary people's homes.

The content of the flyer is obvious without even thinking.

It's nothing more than distorting the truth, instigating and directing, telling the commoners and nobles that their suffering, being trapped in the city, living in constant fear, losing loved ones, and having their families forcibly conscripted, is all because the Taidariel Family is greedy for power and status. In order to protect their own wealth and glory, they order the innocent citizens of the entire country to fight to the death and endure suffering, gaining nothing but pain and death.

The Taidariel Family had already planned their escape route. Even if the country fell, they could flee to another country and take refuge there. The vast amount of wealth they carried would be enough to ensure their lifelong wealth and comfort, leaving only the people to wail and weep amidst the ruins. The pain brought by the war, all the separations and deaths, were all due to Teldrassil's selfish rule.

The best proof is that a member of the Taidariel Family in the city dismissed the elves' peace proposals, preferring to let the entire Valentan People die rather than accept the elves' conditions. He wanted to squeeze every last drop of blood from Valentan and stop the elves' advance as much as possible. The number of deaths was not his concern; after all, even if the city fell, he could easily escape.

This man is named Kang De, the husband of Tina-Taidariel. He is a Cathayan, so he has no regard for the lives of Goth People and will ruthlessly squeeze the last drop of blood from the Valentan People in exchange for a decisive advantage in the war, in order to preserve his and his wife's status and power, and to win the favor of Grand Duke Teldrassil.

The leaflets called upon the brave subjects of Valentan to take action, fight for their destiny, destroy the tyranny of Teldrassil, and for Goth to belong to the true Goth People.

And so on.

Kang De had Hong San read it aloud from beginning to end, and then listened to it again. It was damn well written.

Inciting class hatred, basing it on the inherent selfishness of human nature, using intimidation, enticement, and fear of death, and closely adhering to the universal spirit of racial discrimination, exploiting people's widespread Cathayan, further arousing public resentment towards Kang De, who was from China—all these methods and arguments are clearly structured and incisive. Even if Kang De himself were to lead the charge, he couldn't have done it any better...

--I'm a fucking Earthling, and I'm being treated like this by natives.

It's truly both laughable and frustrating.

"The elves are always thinking about this kind of thing. After all, they've lived for too long, and life has lost its passion. Only exciting things like politics, infighting, gossip, and war can get them going."

This is how Hong San explained it.

It means -- basic operation, sit.

Kang De looked at the busy municipal officials' cavalry in the distance and shook his head.

Nick's control over the city was beyond question, and his prestige was sufficient. After the incident, he immediately dispatched propaganda officers to clarify and explain the situation and to collect the leaflets. However, prestige is just prestige. The people are not slaves. They have their own thoughts, their own fears, and therefore their own selfish desires.

Moreover, the elf had taken a very cunning and malicious precaution.

The leaflet stated that regardless of whether they acted or not, after the city fell, anyone who possessed and showed this leaflet to the elven army would be spared death; each leaflet could only protect one person.

Those who possess the leaflets and can retell their main content will be exempt from conscription and taxes after the city falls. Those who actively spread the leaflets to their neighbors will be rewarded with gold or silver, and those who make significant contributions will be granted official positions.

Those who bravely step forward and take action will receive greater rewards and wealth.

Burning down granaries, creating chaos, burning down armories, persuading family members not to enlist, and even assassinating officers or soldiers are all rewarded. That's right, the head of your neighbor's conscripted soldier is worth a gold coin.

Of all the rewards, none was more enticing than that for the Cathayan Kang De.

The dead hold the title of Lord of Valentan; the living hold the rank of Elven knight, bestowed by the Queen.

Anyone can do it.

Even the current lord of Valentan could be chosen.

All war crimes will be pardoned if Kang De can be captured.

That's really well thought out; no wonder they're elves.

People from all walks of life in Valentan were taken care of—the weak and helpless could survive by hiding a single leaflet, and those who could protect their families would hide several. The elves even considered that these people might be illiterate, so they specially drew some simple and easy-to-understand sketches to explain, and even hinted in the pictures that if the illiterate wanted money, power, and women, they should ask someone what was written on it.

Those with a little ambition and some prestige in the neighborhood can go further and gain some small benefits; those who are ruthless can gain even more.

Those who truly held power, status, and ability offered more options and greater rewards; even Nick was extended an olive branch—which also served as an opportunity to sow discord among them.

They didn't spare Kang De, though.

"Anyone with a brain will understand after reading this how important I, Cathayan, am to the elves, and just how desperately they want me..."

Kang De said calmly, "Logically speaking, the more the elves desire something, the less they should be allowed to have it. That's how the Valentan People should think... Unfortunately, humans are always irrational, because humans always have attachments and selfish desires."

Several people stood under the house, all looking at Kang De with worried and uneasy expressions.

Kang De fanned himself with the leaflet in his hand, glanced down at the group, and chuckled, "I was wondering why the elves haven't attacked the city in so long. They've probably been busy copying leaflets. Poor thing, even if the whole army did it together, their hands would be sore from copying so many. I didn't even work this hard when I was doing my homework on the last day of my vacation."

The joke failed to elicit laughter from the group; they weren't even in the mood to correct Kang De's statement—it was clearly printed, not handwritten.

"Nick is definitely out of ideas."

Leona said irritably, "Since the elves are using such methods, they must have considered all the countermeasures in the city. When the city falls, this piece of paper will be a talisman. It's very cheap to hide. Why don't the civilians secretly hide one just in case? Even if Nick is as bold as he is, he wouldn't dare to let the soldiers search house to house."

"Even if they search, so what? If they find anything and don't punish them, it's the same as having no consequences. It just encourages civilians to hide freely. If they do punish them, would he dare? Even he wouldn't dare use strong punitive measures, otherwise the soldiers wouldn't obey orders..."

Kang De nodded. "That makes sense. Why don't we collect some too?"

Leona jumped up and said, "Hey! Do you even understand the situation?! The current situation is that the elves used this tactic, then intensified their siege, their army is pressing in, slowly eroding the morale of the Valentan People, gradually wearing down their will to resist... Don't you understand what will happen next?"

"Regardless of how many bastards might jump out during this time, the most dangerous moment for you will be when Valentan is about to fall. Even before the city falls, as long as the Valentan People is shaken to a certain extent, and as long as rumors begin during the most rapid and intense siege, the world will collapse..."

Kang De set the leaflet aside. "... So what are your thoughts?"

Leona sighed. "Go, go now. I've been urging you to leave. It's manly and loyal of you to stay. I've been contradicting you, which sounds cold-blooded and heartless, and you're probably tired of it, but even if you're annoyed, I have to say it—in this situation, you absolutely must leave!"

"This is just the beginning. Who can guess what methods or schemes the elves will use next? With this move, in principle, there aren't many people Valentan can trust anymore! In fact, very, very, very few!"

She tilted her head back and spoke with great effort, her tone anxious and her expression agitated. "Even, are you sure Nick can really be trusted? The elf said those things; if he finds out he can't keep his word, his whole family will be wiped out. To save his own life, to protect his family, would he really stick to his loyalty to the death?"

"Do you really think he wouldn't lay a hand on you? Nobles are loyal to their family first, and then to their country! That's the nature of nobles. On one hand, there's the preservation of their family, or even advancement; on the other, the complete annihilation of their entire family. The only price is to serve a different monarch. Is there any objection to this choice?"

Kang De glanced at the silent Hong San: "Is that what you think too?"

Leona's gaze was sharp as a knife. Hong San smiled bitterly and lowered his head, saying, "Sir, personally, I certainly hope you stay away from danger, after all, this time... sigh, it's all because of me. But from a military perspective, I'm a little suspicious."

--The knife was turned into an impact drill.

But Hong San still said, "The elf did a very good job today, you could say it was quite good, but it's precisely because it was so good that I find it strange."

Kang De changed his posture. "What's strange about it?"

Hong San pondered for a moment and said, "The strange thing is that when the elves used such methods, we realized you were in danger and would definitely advise you to leave. If you were even more indifferent, you might have decided to leave on your own. That would be very strange. Although the elves' actions could create chaos in the city and sow the seeds of unrest, they would also make you want to leave quickly. So..."

He held out both hands. "The elves used this strategy to take Valentan as quickly as possible, but the price is that you might escape. Between capturing a city a few days earlier and capturing Goth's son-in-law alive, which is more meritorious?"

"Moreover, the Dusk Warband suffered two defeats and significant losses, which is a major setback. Their commander must have a strong desire to capture you alive, because only by capturing you can they make up for their poor performance and heavy losses in this siege... In that case, we can't let you escape."

"So I think that although the elves' plan today was ingenious, it was too forceful and seemed strange, like..." Hong San hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "They've run out of tricks."

Kang De jumped down from the roof and stood before Hong San, asking, "Although the elves have suffered two setbacks, they are far from being crippled. In fact, one could say that the losses in Valentan were greater, and the balance of military power between the two sides has become even more unbalanced... Under such circumstances, how could the elves be without options?"

Hong San looked into Kang De's eyes and gave the only possible answer.

"Unless, this morning's shelling yielded unexpected and significant results."

At this very moment, in the orderly and solemn elven military camp, inside the commander's tent, Selendron put down his quill, carefully sealed the letter in his hand, processed it using the elven's strict and complex encryption method, and placed it aside. His majestic figure remained as upright as ever, but his lips were very pale.

His smile weakened, yet it still possessed a resilient and sharp strength.

"They must think I'm out of options..."

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PS1: Time for bed. The final story of Valentan is about to begin, and it's time for my favorite part: the massacre of entire families! Anyone want to guess the plot?