In the morning, the grassland looked as though its hair had been dyed gold. Its once-multicolored surface was steeped in orange-yellow, scattering dazzling rays of light.
The blazing sun hung high above the grassland, shooting scarlet light down onto the earth like rockets.
The ground seemed ablaze, reflecting seething flames that darted like weasels. It hurt-suffocating, scorching, unbearably stifling. It almost made the cells and fibers of the soldiers standing atop Jialing Pass tremble and burst.
"Your Majesty, these are militiamen from the surrounding cities. They formed their own units and came of their own accord to support us."
Snake Lance Douluo brought several people onto the walls of Jialing Pass.
"Militiamen?"
Su Chen was taken aback. He distinctly remembered never calling on ordinary civilians to enlist. He surveyed the six militiamen before him. Dressed in plain clothes and carrying pitchforks, they looked like farmers from head to toe, no matter how he examined them.
"We pay our respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise."
Su Chen stepped forward and personally helped the six elderly militiamen to their feet.
"Your Majesty, every common man bears responsibility for his nation's rise or fall. Cold Mountain City, thirteen thousand four hundred men."
"Mengxi City, nine thousand nine hundred and nineteen men."
"South Splendor City, ten thousand and ten men."
"Gusu City, fifteen thousand seven hundred men."
"Flying Cloud City, twenty-one thousand and ninety-one men."
"Fujiang City, twenty-three thousand and seventeen men."
"We stand ready to obey Your Majesty's commands."
The civilian representatives from six different cities near Jialing Pass all dropped to their knees before Su Chen.
Su Chen helped them up once more and said, "Everyone, I appreciate your kindness. But your battlefield lies in the fields, not at Jialing Pass. War is dangerous and cruel, and you are precious to me as