Duke Dodge watched the battle atop the fortress with a grim expression.
The situation was extremely unfavorable. The defenders were clearly being suppressed by the rebels.
After careful consideration, he ordered, "Send out the reserve force and cover the soldiers ahead as they withdraw into the Inner Wall."
The bugler beside him immediately raised his horn and began blowing a special rhythm.
Old Duke said to an officer behind him, "Bring out our secret weapon."
The officer was shocked. "My lord, that's our final trump card! We can't use it unless absolutely necessary!"
Duke Dodge gave a bitter laugh. "Can't you see? It's already absolutely necessary. Or rather, if we don't reveal this trump card soon, we won't survive until it becomes absolutely necessary."
A bitter look spread across the officer's face. He nodded and replied, "Yes, my lord."
Then he turned and sprinted away.
"Withdraw into the Inner Wall!"
"Withdraw into the Inner Wall!"
The officers fighting alongside the soldiers atop the fortress's Outer Wall relayed the order to their troops.
The defending soldiers immediately gathered around their respective commanders and covered one another as they moved toward the Inner Wall.
As a complete defensive fortress, Thorn Fortress had two layers of walls. The distance between the Outer Wall and the Inner Wall was fifteen to twenty meters. The Inner Wall was higher and thicker than the Outer Wall, making it even more difficult to breach.
The rebel soldiers who had climbed onto the wall pursued them relentlessly. They could not stop to rest now. If the defenders were allowed to withdraw into the Inner Wall, it would cause plenty of trouble. The battlements on the inner side of the Outer Wall were short and narrow, offering very little protection against arrows fired from the Inner Wall.
But