Pendor Calendar 355 November.
Li Ang is creating enemies here, and Bacchus Empire Emperor Marius is considering how to deal with the enemies created by Baxian himself.
Two months ago, Emperor Marius personally climbed onto the city wall of Siyuan City and began an arduous and long battle to defend the capital with the rebels of Sheila Yuzas.
His Majesty the Emperor personally stood on the city wall, which was a huge encouragement to the people of Siyuan City, and the morale of the soldiers in Siyuan City naturally doubled.
But this battle was still extremely difficult.
The military strength of the rebels has been increasing. The rebels of Sheila Yuzas and Demoshi Augustus probably gave up all their territories and devoted all their military forces to the battle to siege Siyuan City.
By the beginning of October, the rebel force even reached more than 6,000 people, three times the number of Siyuan City defenders.
Those were once the main force in the Imperial Legion.
More than a hundred Shadow Centurion led more than three thousand peasant soldiers as before the reform;
Six hundred Imperial Immortals formed a very strong attack force. The only good news is that almost no one in Imperial Guards rebelled;
Three hundred Imperial Knights brought with them a retinue of more than 2,000 people.
In addition, Olegaburg to the southeast of Siyuan City has been captured by Snake Worship Cult, and Snake Worship Cult's army of thousands of people also launched an attack on Siyuan City from the south.
If you add up the enemies on both sides, Siyuan City faces tens of thousands of enemies.
However, the current Siyuan City only has 1,200 people from the Empire Immortal Legion, plus the city garrison of more than a thousand people and some temporarily recruited militiamen, the total military strength is only 3,000, and there is no advantage in terms of elites.
Of course, Siyuan City is the capital after all, and all kinds of material reserves are very sufficient. Emperor Marius has always been confident in its command.
In Emperor Marius's view, the large number of enemy troops is not a problem. After all, when the number of enemies is large, it will be difficult to supply supplies. Sooner or later, the rebels will have food problems.
Moreover, it is always easier for the attacker to reveal flaws. As long as he holds on to Siyuan City, it shouldn't take long to find an opportunity to defeat the enemy with one blow.
And Siyuan City's various reserves are enough to last for more than a year, and there is no problem with people's support.
So he wasn't too worried at first. As long as he fought steadily and didn't make mistakes, the rebels would have to withdraw from the siege in less than a month.
But Emperor Marius encountered an unexpected situation again.
The siege actually lasted for more than two months. Not only did the rebels not withdraw from the siege, but they fought more vigorously, and there was no sign of lack of food and grass.
In more than two months, Sheila Youzas's rebels launched five large-scale attacks from the north, while Snake Worship Cult's army also attempted three times from the south.
Although the enemy's all-out attacks were repelled by Emperor Marius every time, it was not an option to continue like this.
October has passed, and the enemy may have already seized the newly harvested grain in the surrounding areas. It is impossible to expect the enemy to run out of grain.
On the contrary, Siyuan City has now been locked up and become an isolated city.
After all, you are encountering enemies on both sides and have little support, so it is really difficult to operate.
Emperor Marius tried to take Immortal Legion out of the city, attracting the rebels and Snake Worship Cult to the same battlefield.
But I don't know why, Snake Worship Cult's army always takes the initiative to retreat when encountering such a situation, as if they are deliberately restraining the troops from conflict with Sheila's rebels.
Emperor Marius's idea of making dog-eat-dog fight among enemies also came to nothing.
This is also a situation Emperor Marius has never encountered before - Snake Worship Cult These heretics have actually become wise?
The rebels also consciously restrained the team from conflicting with Snake Worship Cult. The enemies on both sides blocked Siyuan City from the south to the north.
Since the strong attack failed, the rebels and Snake Worship Cult almost coincidentally launched the exhaustion tactics.
In other words, it is not a coincidence - the rebels are making trouble during the day, and Snake Worship Cult is dispatched at night. In the siege, it is difficult to tell whether they are attacking by force or feinting. They always have to deal with it.
Therefore, Siyuan City's troops were also divided into three parts by Emperor Marius, and they went up to the city to defend themselves in three shifts. However, in this way, it would be difficult to defeat the enemy in one battle.
Siyuan City fell into a passive situation, and the battle has continued like this until now.
Although neither the rebels nor the heretics can break through Emperor Marius's defenses, Siyuan City can't even think of contacting the outside world.
The current layout in the Imperial Palace is completely like a frontline headquarters.
Emperor Marius stood in front of the map again.
But this time the map has been replaced by the defense map of Siyuan City.
"Alina, is there any information coming in recently?"
Emperor Marius looks quite bad now. The long battle to defend the city has made him quite tired. The soldiers can take turns to rest, but it is difficult for him to rest well.
Now he looks a bit thinner than two months ago, and his cheeks have sunken.
But his eyes remained firm and his face remained calm.
"Your Majesty, I haven't received any news from the outside world for nineteen days. But I can confirm the situation in the city..."
Alina is now wearing light armor, but she obviously doesn't know any martial arts. She doesn't even bring a sword, and only has a dagger on her waist.
It seems that the dagger was not meant to be used on the enemy...
"What does the Senate plan to do to me?"
Emperor Marius smiled sarcastically, "What else would those guys who only know how to eat, drink and have fun do besides waste time chattering on the podium? Do they really dare to kill me? If these bastards hadn't been holding them back..."
"They did a good thing a few days ago. They have hidden all the gangsters in the city these days... maybe they will change their appearance and become an army tomorrow..."
Alina walked to the map and pointed at an area behind the Imperial Palace.
"Hey, it seems that they have made progress and actually have the courage to use force... Sheila Youzas and Augustus have been harassing and causing fatigue these days. It seems that is for this, right? It seems that they don't know our plan... It's all thanks to you, thank you for your hard work, Alina."
Emperor Marius took the wine glass again and drank a glass of red wine and took a deep breath.
"The poisonous snakes have all returned to the Shadow Wolves tonight. It has been confirmed that they are ambushing behind the Imperial Palace, which is near the North City Gate. If nothing else happens, they will let those local ruffians change their defenses to the North City Gate tomorrow morning. I think they may attack Imperial Palace."
Alina looked at the tired Emperor Marius, shook his head and sighed, "Your Majesty, you'd better not drink so much, you've become so thin..."
"Oh, this is my only hobby, Alina. Don't worry, I won't fall until all the enemies are dead. Do you think we should wait for them to come, or should I lead my troops and go directly to them?"
Emperor Marius was walking to the metal jug and planned to pour another glass, but looking at Alina's worried eyes, he looked at the cup in his hand and sighed, and finally put the cup down.
"It would be too dangerous to wait for them to come. You'd better go to the city wall and be safer among the troops. I'm not sure if they have any other intentions. If they catch you, it will be all over... I will lead the shadow wolves to find them quietly - and no one will say anything to you."
Alina gathered up his hair, put on the hood of his cloak, and put a ferocious mask on his face.
The mask was painted with devilish paint, and beneath the mask, the soft eyes were bloodshot.
"Actually, I don't care who makes irresponsible remarks... You shouldn't be stained with blood, kid."
The sharp gaze in Marius's eyes turned into love at this time, and he shook his head at Alina.
"Of course I don't care in normal times, but now this city is surrounded. You can't be suspected at this time. I will deal with them. Bloody... Thousands of innocent people died because of my plan. I have already committed a lot of sins, so why should I be afraid of blood?"
After Alina finished speaking, he picked up a wolf head-shaped emblem from the table and left the Imperial Palace hall through the secret door behind the screen.
"Alina... sigh..."
Emperor Marius stretched out his hand and sighed, then subconsciously wanted to get the wine glass, but squeezed the glass and put it down.
"Come here! Follow me to the city wall!"
He picked up his sword, put on his crown helmet, and walked outside.
That night, His Majesty the Emperor had been directing the battle on the high tower of the inner city wall. Everyone could see him waving Royal Eagle Banner on the tower.
The brazier beside him stayed on all night.
That night, Imperial Palace was set on fire, and the entire palace burned to ashes.
Fortunately, the emperor fought hard on the city wall all night.
The next morning, bigger news came. Twenty-five noble lords were assassinated, several taverns north of the Imperial Palace were also set on fire, and a gladiator training camp was littered with corpses.
Emperor Marius immediately announced that there was a traitor in Siyuan City, and released the enemy's secret troops from a secret passage to infiltrate Siyuan City yesterday evening, killing many "loyal and brave men" in the Senate.
The dead included several members of the Senate, as well as about 20 senior officials, and their families.
Emperor Marius indicated that the enemy might still be in the city, and immediately launched a citywide cordon.
But at the time of the battle, a troop wearing gray and black equipment appeared near the North City Gate, suddenly killed the militia troops who came to change defenses, and then opened the North City Gate!
--Obviously, this is probably the 'secret force' that sneaked into the city!
The rebels outside the city also saw an excellent opportunity and swarmed forward with shouts of "Kill Marius". They showed great cooperation and seemed to have known that the north gate would be opened.
But just after the rebels entered the north gate, a large number of soldiers stood on the city wall, and the "secret force" suddenly attacked the rebels.
The effect of this battle was remarkable. Thousands of rebels died inside and outside the north gate. The remnants of the rebels were chased by the Immortal Legion. After being defeated, they overcame the siege line they had deployed in the north.
Emperor Marius waved his Sword of the Orator and chased him all the way, almost rushing in front of Sheila Yuzas.
Fortunately, Sheila Yuzas ran away after killing several immortals, otherwise the tired Emperor Marius might have been killed by this highly skilled rebel general...
In any case, the rebels were almost completely routed, and Emperor Marius won a brilliant victory.
However, this victory cannot be fully credited, because Siyuan City is still facing the Snake Worship Cult army in the south, and the troops cannot pursue it too far.
Although the rebels suffered heavy losses, they were not wiped out, but they would definitely not be able to siege the city again in a short time.
Siyuan City finally opened a way.
After returning to Siyuan City, Emperor Marius had thousands of captives and hundreds of prisoners in his hands.
"Child... are there really so many traitors in the Senate?"
Emperor Marius saw Alina waiting for him behind the screen in the Imperial Palace lobby.
"It depends on how you define 'traitor', Your Majesty. I can only say that the people I asked the Shadow Wolves to kill were either internal agents of the rebels or heretics who were involved with Snake Worship Cult. There are no innocent people."
Alina is still wearing a mask, his eyes are blood red.
"... They deserve to be judged, and so do those captives and prisoners..."
Emperor Marius finally held up his own glass of wine and took a deep sip.
"Your Majesty, I think they should be allowed to charge against Snake Worship Cult's army, otherwise their whole family will be made slaves... This is the usual method of the Senate, isn't it?"
Alina closed her eyes, and her expression could not be seen under the mask.
Marius said nothing.
After a moment of silence, Alina opened his eyes and said softly, "Your Majesty, when facing a terrifying and powerful enemy, it may be better for a wise emperor to exercise dictatorship..."
"No, Alina. Don't place your hopes on the emperor's wisdom. I will always die... A dictator may be able to maintain his family status, but he will definitely not consider the life, death and livelihood of the people."
Emperor Marius drank all the red wine in the glass and breathed out a breath of alcohol. "I have seen Lionheart Kingdom when he was in power by Mad King... I would rather not be the emperor than let the people of my country live in poverty in the future!"
"However, as long as the Senate still exists, you will always be constrained..."
Alina lowered his head and his voice became lower and lower.
"My child, the Senate may indeed be sick, but what we should do is to cure it, rather than deny the meaning of its existence. The emperor's power must be limited, otherwise it will only make people continue to chase the throne of the emperor, and no one will pay attention to the responsibilities and obligations of this profession."
Emperor Marius stepped forward and patted Alina's back gently. "Child, would you like to sit in that seat for a while..."
Alina shook his head. "I'm not happy to sit there... Your profession is too tiring, I'd rather be a librarian."
"Hahaha..."
Emperor Marius laughed loudly, "Kid, when I was your age, I was indeed a librarian... and I also said the same thing at that time - maybe dictatorship is better."
Alina was stunned.
"I really wish you were a boy... Then the resistance would be much smaller. I could easily make you a general and let you enter the parliament..."
Emperor Marius suddenly began to sigh.
"You have two sons, Your Majesty, and they are both men of noble character."
Alina's eyes widened obviously.
"But you don't like any of them, right? The eldest brother is upright and upright, and the second brother is brave and good at fighting. They are all good qualities. But the eldest brother doesn't know how to adapt, so he can only be a judge at most; the second brother has no responsibility, and can only be a general at most... If you let them become emperors, they will definitely die..."
Emperor Marius stared at Alina and smiled bitterly, "Only you, Luciana... you are what an emperor should be, but I can't let you enter the parliament, and my son is not worthy of you."
"Your Majesty... you probably drank too much."
Alina stepped forward and planned to take away Marius' wine cup.
"No, no, kid. I'm very sober, you know, I never get drunk... Go to Erudition City, Luciana, and take my guards with you. Your father will definitely need support."
Marius stopped Alina's hand, looked at Alina and smiled, "You will be in danger if you stay here. I found Snake Worship Cult's messenger at the rebel camp outside the city today."
"They took refuge in Snake Worship Cult? No wonder Shadow Wolf Pack is so cooperative... I can't leave, Your Majesty..."
Alina exclaimed in a low voice.
"No, it's not a surrender, but an alliance. That Snake Worship Cult messenger comes from the Fear Legion...Alina. If Fear Legion comes, I will I'm not sure I can protect you anymore. Let's go... leave Siyuan City and help your father. This is a task for you. After stabilizing Erudition City, ask your father to bring back those gladiator rebels."
Marius picked up his Sword of the Orator from the table. "Take my sword and do whatever you think you should do. If anyone dares to disobey, you will use my sword to judge him."
In mid-November, Emperor Marius organized a "death squad" of 1,500 people and took the initiative to attack the Snake Worship Cult army in the south.
There were a small number of deserters in the 'Death Squad', a small number of them rebelled on the battlefield, and most of them were almost all killed in the battle.
These so-called death squads actually don't dare to die. They are just prisoners captured from the rebels and the family members of some big figures in the city who died under assassination.
But these 1,500 people played a big role. Emperor Marius led the main army behind to force Snake Worship Cult's army back, and burned Snake Worship Cult's camp and luggage. The Snake Cult army had to retreat to Olegaburg.
At this time, Marshal Kairos, who had not been heard from for a long time, finally appeared with the group army.
He seized the opportunity of the Snake Worship Cult army's retreat and launched a surprise attack on their way back to Olegaburg. The Snake Cult army collapsed and Olegaburg was able to recover.
But bad news always comes with good news. Just the day after the group army led by Kairos had just recovered Olegaburg, the seaside village Qizha Village under Olegaburg was massacred, and a larger Snake Worship Cult army appeared on the coast of the Bacchus Empire.
That's Fear Legion.
"How many enemies are there?"
Emperor Marius looked at the messenger sent by Kairos, and for the first time there was some uneasiness on his face.
"It doesn't look like too many, about three thousand people, Your Majesty. But... eight of the ten scouts I led were killed by their five knights... None of them died."
The messenger who reported the message was Shadow Centurion, but at this time this experienced warrior seemed extremely nervous. "Your Majesty, I am definitely no match for those guys wearing horned viper armor..."
"Are there many horned viper warriors like this?"
Emperor Marius frowned.
"It won't be less than two hundred, and there are more than a thousand knights. They look much stronger than Imperial Knights... In fact, I think everyone in that army has the combat effectiveness of a knight, Your Majesty... Moreover, their horses..."
Shadow Centurion seems to have detected it very clearly. He is a very professional scout.
"What happened to the horse?"
"Their horses look like they're from the underworld! Five spear throws can't bring down a horse..."