Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 624: Chapter 624. Requesting a Parley

After the last battle in Tusha Valley, no more large-scale battles happened in Khode in the following months. Skirmishes still occurred, but they were brief and scattered. This was because the Grand Militia had been disbanded. Skirmishes happened mostly between Echos’ army and the local resistance. They didn’t amount to much. At most, they were nuisances to the Echos Army.

The Echos Army continued to hold the strategic locations around Steam Water City, isolating the city and preventing anyone from sending help.

Time kept passing. Another half year slipped by. It had now been more than a year since the Echos Army entered Khode’s territory. Amon didn’t press forward. Instead, he kept Steam Water City under perpetual siege.

*

”Give me food!”

”I’ve only eaten once in the last two days!”

”I need to feed my children!!”

A massive crowd huddled around the city hall. Such an occurrence had been a common sight for the past month. Each day, the crowd continued to grow.

”What are you doing?” An Mei stopped her husband when he was about to go out.

”To talk with them, of course, as I always do,” Shi Zhang answered.

”Not today... They seemed more agitated than yesterday.”

”I still need to give them assurance,” Shi Zhang said.

”What assurance? There is no hope in this. There is no one coming to save us! The Grand Militia has been defeated. The Supreme Councilor remained in his ivory tower. He doesn’t care about us. He never cares about us! We are on our own!”

”Do you think I don’t know that?!” Zhi Zhang yelled.

The outburst surprised An Mei. Throughout the time he had known Shi Zhang, this was the first time he had ever raised his voice.

”I... I’m sorry,” Shi Zhang uttered, clearly realizing he had let his emotion get the better of him.

An Mei understood then that the situation had stressed her husband as much as her, if not more. Their food supply was dwindling. With their farms destroyed and a massive population to feed, it was only a matter of time. They started strict rationing to slow the decline. That was when the crowd began to protest.

”This rationing is just a delay, not a solution,” An Mei said.

Shi Zhang nodded. ”I know... That’s why I will go out to meet the Echos Army.”

”What did you say?” An Mei couldn’t believe what she heard.

”I’m going to parley with the enemy,” Shi Zhang answered.

”No! Send an envoy!” An Mei exclaimed.

”We already did. The enemy said they only want to talk to me. The second envoy we sent was killed before he even had the chance to speak.”

”This is a trap! They will kill you if you go out!”

”What choice do I have!” Shi Zhang raised his voice again. This time, he didn’t apologize.

He took a deep breath and said, ”I’ve already made up my mind.” He then stepped outside.

He spoke with the angry crowd, telling them that he intended to negotiate with the enemy outside. He promised them that he would get them out of this predicament. He asked them to remain patient and not to cause trouble. He told them that everyone was given the same rationing. That included his family and the government staff. Everyone was hungry, but he explained that the rationing was necessary. Without this restriction, their food supply would have run out in days.

The last part caused some people to become even more agitated. Shi Zhang continued to soothe them. After an hour, the crowd finally calmed down and started to disperse. Only after that did he fly toward the city wall.

Atop the wall, Zee Min and Xuang Chao were keeping watch.

”No movement?” Shi Zhang asked.

Zee Min shook her head. ”Just some of our people who couldn’t bear the rationing. They tried to sneak their way out. They failed. Those are their bodies.”

Shi Zhang looked out. Outside the city wall were many old, decomposed bodies. Those bodies were from the time when they tried to charge out to coordinate with the Grand Militia in Tusha Valley. They never had the chance to clear those bodies. The Echos Army did not allow it. Anyone who came out of the city wall was shot. Among those old bodies were a few fresh ones.

”At this point, I would be willing to shut down the barrier and invite them to come in. That way, we can swarm them with all the angry people inside this city,” Zee Min said.

”Maybe that’s why they resort to this siege... They want to wear us out,” Shi Zhang said.

”Curse those Echos scums!” Xuang Chao spat. ”If only not for those rifles and Yuanxu Cannons, we could overwhelm them with our numbers!”

”Yes. Those weapons are truly perfect to hold a line,” Zee Min sighed.

”I’m going out to talk with them,” Shi Zhang told them.

”What? No! It’s too dangerous,” Zee Min said.

”No talking to the enemy!” Xuang Chao exclaimed. He had received the report about Xuang Feng’s demise. He had almost charged out of the city when he received the news. Luckily, Zee Min stopped him.

Shi Zhang reasoned with them as he did with his wife. They could see that his mind was made up.

”In that case, I will accompany you,” Zee Min declared.

”Me too!” Xuang Chao exclaimed.

”No, the enemy told the first envoy that they would only speak to me,” Shi Zhang said.

”They never said that you must go alone,” Zee Min countered. She then turned to Xuang Chao and said sternly, ”And I will be the only one accompanying him!”

Xuang Chao was about to protest, but Zee Min cut him off, ”You are still emotional about your uncle’s death. You will just ruin the talk. Plus, I have my armor to protect me if things go south. I can carry Mayor Shi Zhang and protect him while retreating. It will be much more difficult if I must carry you as well.”

Xuang Chao was unhappy, but he didn’t debate her.

Shi Zhang shook his head. He preferred to take the risk alone, but Zee Min appeared adamant about accompanying him.

Shi Zhang floated above the city wall for a while, making sure he drew the attention of the Echos Army, who watched over the city. Zee Min floated beside him. He took out a white cloth and waved it around. After some time, he began flying forward slowly.

No one opened fire even after the two of them were halfway, which relieved Shi Zhang. Zee min, on the other hand, remained alert. She had one hand behind Shi Zhang, ready to yank him back if the enemy opened fire.

When they almost arrived at the line filled with Echos’ riflemen, one of Echos’ soldiers flew out to meet them. This soldier was Xin Wuming.

”Mayor Shi Zhang?” Xin Wuming asked. He had been given Shi Zhang’s description. That was the reason he had not given the order for the riflemen to fire.

”I am,” Shi Zhang answered. ”May I ask to parley?”

”Our commander is waiting for you,” Xin Wuming said. He glanced at Zee Min but didn’t say anything. He had seen her before in previous battles, so he knew who she was.

The three flew past the riflemen and the Yuanxu Cannons. Zee Min noticed that the number of soldiers and cannons in position was more than when they tried to break out the last time. This was understandable. Since they had defeated the Grand Militia, they no longer needed to station many troops at Tusha Valley. Hence, they could divert their power here.

Zee Min frowned at the thoughts. It would be even harder for them to break out of this siege.

They flew into a nearby army camp. Xin Wuming landed before a large tent in the middle of what looked like a field command center. He lifted the curtain that covered the tent’s entrance and indicated for the two to enter.

Zee Min was slightly surprised to learn that she was also allowed to enter. She had expected she would be told to wait outside.

Inside the tent, Amon was waiting behind a table. Two chairs opposite him were prepared. He gestured for his two guests to sit.

Zee Min looked around as they walked to the chairs. No one else was inside. Xin Wuming waited outside the tent. She thought Amon was overconfident to expose himself like this. She knew Amon was a capable combatant since they had fought briefly at Surly Gate Town, but she still had a higher cultivation level. If she decided to forsake her own safety to take down the enemy commander, she believed it was within the realm of possibility.

As if reading her thoughts, Amon stared directly into her eyes while saying, ”You are welcome to try to do something if you like, but know that there will be consequences. If you are willing to take the risks, then go ahead.”