Beneath the Red Dragon

Fortunately, this depletion affects both sides of the war equally, with the nobility’s wealth and resources dwindling, alongside the might of the Golden Empire and the Kings.

Only when armored did Duke Lorne suppress his fury, and he asked, “How has the situation been across the Marino Defense Line these past two days, has anything occurred?”

Laro showed a somewhat troubled expression and said softly, “Duke, due to the prioritization of supplies to the duchy’s legions and the allied forces of the other nobility, those laborers and labor camps have been reduced from two meals a day to one, causing many to start complaining.”

“Just tonight before dark, two hundred slaves from the labor camps attempted to escape under the cover of night, fleeing towards the territory of the Hobis Empire, but all were captured by the Warriors of the Patrol Guard Corps!”

“According to the confessions of these slaves, many in the labor camps are planning to unite in rebellion, aiming to swear allegiance to the Hobis Empire!”

“Within Dorabi City, many citizens have seen the proclamations dropped by the Golden Empire and have begun secretly hiding their food; even if the Patrol Guard Corps hangs those people up, it’s difficult to collect much grain!”

“Wretches, truly a bunch of wretches,” Duke Lorne turned around with a face ashen and, unable to control his emotions any longer, was furious.

The countless notices scattered by the Golden Empire’s Aerial Knight Order, which he also saw, not only proclaimed the sinister deeds and plots of the Southern Nobles, but also indicated the Allied Kings Army’s intent to only punish evil leaders and eradicate the nobility.

Moreover, in the notice, it ‘kindly’ reminded the countless residents within Dorabi City to stock up on food and secure their homes as war approaches.

Though Karon Gogomola did not promise the Allied Kings Army would refrain from killing civilians during the war, since in Karon’s eyes, only the people of the Golden Empire count as his subjects.

And every loyal warrior of the Empire is far more valuable than others, and he would not sacrifice the Empire’s warriors’ battlefield prudence for the sake of a good reputation.

Yet the notices also stated that as long as civilians did not actively participate in the war, Golden Empire warriors would not intentionally harm them.

The struggle between the Southern Nobles and Northern Kings is of little concern to most people; they only care about their safety, thus these announcements by the Golden Empire have brought significant trouble to Duke Marino’s efforts to collect grain and labor.

“Why do these wretches turn against me?”

“These wretches, I let them live, I feed them, yet they dare to turn against me?” Duke Marino roared, “Kill, leave none alive, leave none alive!”

Laro showed a difficult expression and said in a low voice, “Duke, doing this would throw the entire Dorabi City into chaos.”

With fury, Duke Lorne glanced at his confidant in front of him; after a while, he spoke somewhat exhaustedly, “Forget it, execute all those slaves who planned to escape, and hang the troublemakers as punishment!”

“Come on, Laro, let’s go out together and inspect the city’s defenses.”

Dorabi City is not a hinterland city of Marino Duchy, but it is the most crucial pass of the Marino Defense Line, hence Duke Marino personally guards this city.

Dorabi City is built along the mountains, nestled within the gorge of the Dorabi Mountain Range, surrounded almost entirely by mountains.

The summit to the left rises from the plains, with an altitude of up to nine hundred and eighty meters, and the summit to the right has an altitude of up to eight hundred and seventy meters.

Dorabi City resides within a large basin between these two mountains, approximately twenty kilometers long and forty-two kilometers wide.

Tall walls are built upon steep peaks and cliffs, with walls standing eleven meters high and three meters wide.

There are three city gates set on the south, north, and east sides.

The south gate is naturally formed by the mountain basin’s pass, and outside the gate is a sizeable walled town.

The north gate is located at a lower part of the slope, also designed as a walled town but on a smaller scale.

The east gate is a concealed gate, very small in scale, mainly used for small legion’s road assaults.

Several watchtowers and firepower defense points are set around the mountain city, including the commanding heights on both mountain peaks and the highest points of outer peaks.

Due to sparse vegetation on this section of the mountain, the surrounding situation of the mountain city is plainly visible.

Within the Dorabi Mountain Range stretching east to west, other mountain segments are more treacherous than those surrounding the mountain city; flying apes cannot cross, enemy bypass attacks are nearly impossible.

Simply in terms of the strength of Dorabi City’s forts, it is virtually unmatched in the mortal world.

Moreover, Dorabi City, as the pass city connecting the Marino Duchy and the Hobis Empire, boasts relatively complete living facilities inside, with usable land surpassing twenty square kilometers, and a river flowing north to south through Dorabi City.

Alongside the river are several expansive reservoirs built for the daily life and production of the city’s inhabitants.

Additionally, there are wells, markets, warehouses, barracks, workshops, stone mining camps, cattle and sheep pens, and extensive farmland cleared on the gentle slopes within the city.

It is entirely a well-equipped medium to large city capable of supporting tens of thousands of people for long-term production and life.

Apart from the facilities inside the city, a vast area of plains outside has also been cultivated into fertile fields, and during times when war is absent, opening the city gates to go out and farm helps to enrich the city’s grain supplies.

During wartime, the city would be sealed off and hold steadily within; even Hobis Empire observing across the plain from the opposing mountain pass would have little thought of easily attacking Marino Duchy.