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The development of the battle was exactly as Qin Tian had anticipated. Five days later, East State’s Luo City fell, and apart from those who died in combat, all ten thousand garrison troops surrendered!

At this moment, only then did Wu Tao in Sea City start to feel a bit panicked.

This fellow was a fool. His previous calculation was that Luo City’s ten thousand garrison troops and the Dragon Clan’s army, also numbering ten thousand, would obliterate each other, leaving the Dragon Clan severely weakened.

At that point, he could easily lead his own ten thousand troops to sweep the battlefield and claim credit.

However, what he hadn’t considered was that when the Dragon Clan captured Luo City, the garrison surrendered, creating a combined force of at least fifteen thousand between the Dragon Clan and the surrendered troops.

Moreover, it’s rumored that the Dragon Clan’s main forces are still behind.

”Oh dear, oh dear... What to do now? If I had known this would happen, I should have united with Luo City five days ago to crush the Dragon Clan completely... Alas, Luo City’s people have no backbone, surrendering like that!”

Wu Tao was flustered during the military meeting, visibly at odds. This guy was nothing but a spoiled brat - a playboy in the Imperial City who later came to the East Capital, through some maneuvering within the family, managed to become a Commander, despite his cultivation only at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage; he couldn’t fight, didn’t understand military strategy... Apart from fooling around with over a hundred concubines, apparently, he was useless in other regards.

Thus, during this military meeting, the Centurions were watching Wu Tao anxiously while they themselves were calm.

With such a superior commander, leading ten thousand out, a slight oversight might lead everyone to their graves alongside him.

Therefore, these Centurions were quite shrewd, as Wu Tao began to panic, suggesting to him one by one, ”Retreat, retreat.”

Anyway, if they retreated, it was Wu Tao who the City Guard Army Governor Xiao Zhan would punish, and not them.

Along with Wu Tao’s strong connections, even if Xiao Zhan wanted to punish him, it likely wouldn’t be life-threatening.

This being the case, retreat became their only way to save themselves.

After all, since the Dragon Clan took Luo City, their morale was high, their numbers were many, and they had reinforcements.

Moreover, Sea City is located on a plain, easy to attack but difficult to defend, barely defendable with a mere ten thousand.

So, as the timid and death-fearing Wu Tao hesitated, he clapped his hands: ”Retreat! Retreat!”

But almost the instant Wu Tao clapped his hands to make the decision, Sea City soldiers quickly reported—Dragon Clan’s army was already at the city’s doorsteps, ready to attack Sea City!

Wu Tao was so scared his legs trembled, and he directly cried out ”wah,” shouting, ”I’m done, I’m done. I don’t want to die here, I want to go back!”

This guy was quite willful, saying he was done and indeed was done; leading his Personal Soldiers, he took advantage of the fact that the Dragon Clan hadn’t completely surrounded Sea City yet, escaping with a few hundred on Sword Flight.

Of course, several hundred were shot dead by the Dragon Clan during the escape.

The leader abandoned the main force and ran, leaving the whole city leaderless and panicked.

”What to do, what to do, Wu Commander has run away, should we also run?”

”Yes, the Dragon Clan army plus the surrendered troops have more than ten thousand; how can we possibly win? If we delay, when the reinforcements from the Dragon Clan arrive, we’re surely dead!”

”But now the Dragon Clan army has surrounded Sea City, we cannot escape even if we wanted to, right?”

”With so many of us, abandoning the city and fleeing, breaking through in one direction, the Dragon Clan army certainly can’t stop us.”

”Alright, it’s decided. Everyone listen to me -- that brat Wu Tao has already run; we follow him out, even if we’re blamed later, they should blame Wu Tao first. We escape through the West Gate; the Dragon Clan won’t be able to stop us!”

A group of Centurions began discussing escape plans.

Liu Weihao saw these people one by one not thinking of fighting the enemy but plotting to flee, he shook his head and stepped out.

Liu Weihao returned to the camp and convened a meeting with Qin Tian and other Centurions, discussing Wu Tao’s escape and the plan of many to break through back to the East Capital.

”Humph, humph, the City Guard Army is too cowardly this time, running thousands of miles and fleeing without fighting; I can’t swallow this anger!”

Liu Weihao expressed his discontent first, ”But if everyone wants to leave, I, Liu Weihao, am powerless! Alas!”

”What are your thoughts?” Liu Weihao asked the ten Centurions.

”Liu Sir, I know you’re passionate, but there’s no choice. The battle is as such, I think we should leave.”

”Yes, if everyone leaves and we stay alone, we will surely be slaughtered.”

All expressed the intention to flee with the crowd; Liu Weihao frowned slightly upon hearing this, hesitating.

”We cannot leave!”

At this moment, Qin Tian’s voice reached Liu Weihao’s ears, making Liu Weihao’s eyes light up as he looked at Qin Tian: ”Qin Tian, you say we cannot leave?”

”Yes.” Qin Tian nodded.

”Not leaving means death...”

”If you want to die, we don’t want to accompany you...”

Two Centurions muttered softly.

Liu Weihao, however, didn’t take his eyes off Qin Tian, asking, ”Tell us why not leave? Even if we stay, we cannot stop them from seizing the city.”

Qin Tian looked at Liu Weihao’s eyes; it was evident he didn’t want to leave. This was a very righteous Centurion, though the situation was dire, and he was hesitant.

Qin Tian stared at Liu Weihao and said, ”Sea City is an essential granary and medicine warehouse for the East Capital. If it falls into the Dragon Clan’s hands, the aftermath will be disastrous. We cannot leave.”

Thinking Qin Tian had something to say, he ended up saying something everyone knew, leaving Liu Weihao shaking his head and said, ”Meeting ends here. Today, no one is allowed to remove armor; await my orders anytime!”

With that, Liu Weihao walked out with frustration.

Amidst chatter, Qin Tian quickly exited the camp and caught up with Liu Weihao, saying, ”Sir Liu, are you disappointed with my reasons?”

Liu Weihao replied with a gentle smile, ”Yes, not with you, but with those who want to leave. East State men protect East State lands, preferring battle death over retreat. Humph, humph, the Tianyuan Dynasty has been peaceful for a decade; most feel they can’t fight anymore... Alas.”

”Sir Liu, believe me, don’t leave, stand firm at Sea City.”

When they reached a place with no one around, Qin Tian repeated his plea.

Liu Weihao smiled, ”Sea City is indeed a granary and medicine warehouse, but we truly can’t hold it; staying means a dead end...”

”Leaving is also a dead end!”

Before Liu Weihao could finish, Qin Tian interrupted, stating firmly, making Liu Weihao startle, turning to glare at Qin Tian, ”How could leaving be a dead end? We still have an opportunity to break out.”

Qin Tian smiled, ”Even if we break out, it will still lead to... death.”