[529th year of the Empire]

[Guitu City Suburbs/South Bank of Delun River]

At dawn, an army slowly unfolded in the wilderness burned by the fire.

Thousands of super spears pointed to the sky, and swayed rhythmically with short and powerful drum beats.

In front of the forest-like super spear square array, green square flags from various provinces in front of the mountain, blue pennant flags symbolizing the country of galloping horses, and various flags representing the city-states of Venetta were proudly raised by the flag bearers, clamoring in the wind.

Ned Smith, riding a gray war horse, walked slowly past the front line, solemnly reviewing every military flag that is of great significance, and the soldiers standing proudly under the military flag - the Senes who rushed to the front of the mountain to participate in the war from all directions.

It has been three months since the imperialists' military front appeared outside Guitu City again.

In three months, under the emperor's personal supervision, the Imperial Army and the servants of each principality launched rounds of fierce attacks on the west and north walls of Guitu City, but they were never able to break the city defense fortifications armed by the defenders with fortresses, trenches, cannons and unyielding will.

After the Imperial Army soldiers were expelled from the blood-filled trench outside the Daffodil Castle, the emperor finally changed his strategy, stopped attacking and turned into siege, intending to let hunger and despair replace the weapons in the hands of the soldiers and defeat the stubborn Southern Rebel Party.

Guitu City is close to the sea and the Delun River, so the siege of the Imperial Army is also carried out on the sea and land at the same time.

The "big fleet" established by Richard III has blocked the estuary of the Delun River; and on the south bank of the Delun River, an elite imperial force has also successfully landed, intending to completely cut off the connection between Guitu City and the outside world.

Ned Smith looked at the young, hot faces of the warriors. He knew very well that when today ended, many people's eyes could never shine as brightly as they are now.

He looked at everyone carefully, remembering as much of the soldiers as possible.

Without a pre-war speech that inspired morale, Ned Smith ran straight towards the Central Army after reviewing the military flag.

Because of the importance of the upcoming battle, there is no need to tell people anymore.

Every warrior who came here understood what the victory or defeat of this battle meant, and also understood what they were going to face, but they still came to this wilderness without hesitation.

They are voluntary fighters, determined to fight, and they do not need others to inject courage into them - that kind of behavior is an insult to them.

Returning to the Chinese military formation and his own military flag, Ned Smith put on his helmet and prepared to order an advance.

But the moment before the order was given, he noticed that the knees of the young flag bearer who was in charge of his personal flag were shaking slightly.

"Are you scared?" Ned Smith's tone was gentle: "Taylor."

The young flag-holder Taylor immediately replied: "Don't be afraid!"

"It's okay, I'm afraid, too." Ned Smith said calmly: "But that doesn't prevent us from choosing to fight."

The young flag-holder swallowed his saliva, thought for a while, and asked tentatively: "General, can we sing?"

“What song.”

“That song.”

Ned Smith looked into the sky, which was dark black and blue, and the outline of Guitu City in the distance was still blurry, and there was still some time before the sun appeared on the horizon.

"Sing." Ned Smith encouraged: "Sing loudly."

Taylor, the flag-holder, cleared his throat and sang the first lyrics loudly:

"The sun and the stars make a sound!"

"The earth bursts with majestic singing!"

Guided by the singing of the flag-holder, the soldiers of the Chinese military formation also began to hum softly with the familiar melody:

"The hope of human nature sings loudly!"

"Show praises for the birth of the new world!"

Just like a flame that sparked a prairie fire, everyone's emotions were driven.

Songs came out one by one, and even Ned Smith sang along. In the inspiring songs, people temporarily forgot their fear of death, their uneasiness about the unknown, and sang with hope:

“The Great Alliance is moving forward!”

"The battle flag is flying high!"

"Fight side by side for victory!"

"A new world of freedom!"

Finally, everyone's singing gathered together, and the Senes roared together:

“All the oppressed people come together!”

"Rise up to resist the evil empire that enslaved you!"

"The roar of the people will be like rolling thunder!"

"Be as ruthless as the tide and time!"

The song is overwhelming, this song is composed by Dimitri Shostakovic, written by Harold Rome, and a war song sung by the Senas coalition. It is now straight to the sky and resounds across the banks of the Derren River:

“The Great Alliance is moving forward!”

"The battle flag is flying high!!"

"Fight side by side for victory!!!"

"A new world of freedom!!!"

...

At the same time, on the sea east of the mouth of the Delun River, a fleet that arrived here under the cover of night was also waiting for the order to attack.

Compared to the land rescue troops with a well-equipped army, this sea rescue fleet, which was also pieced together, seems strange:

Large ships, small boats, long boats, short boats, river boats, sea boats, sloops, three-masted boats, large sailboats, galleys... All types, styles, and eras can be found in it, and it can be called a hodgepodge of inland ship types.

This fleet that came to rescue Guitu City was not even worthy of being called the "Fleet" in a strict sense.

Because most of the ships in this "fleet" are arson ships transformed from small and medium-sized fishing boats and sampans.

And the naval forces with real experience, background and combat power are only thirty-three warships from Hailan and Baihua City and the sailors on them.

On the large sailing warship in the center of the fleet and the "Triumph" which is also the flagship of the fleet, a young captain wearing armor is reporting bad news to another old man wearing armor.

"General Pisani." The young man clenched his fists tightly and suppressed his grief and reluctance: "The masts of Frora and the Nasria have not appeared on sea levels so far, nor have the masts of the pirates of Tanirian, and they may not come."

"Traitor!" Another middle-aged captain beside the old man cursed in anger: "Brave-betrayed bastard! Their souls must be tortured forever in hell!"

The old man was quite calm: "I understand, thank you, Captain Nareshaw."

The deck of Triomphe was silent, and only the deep sound of waves slapping on the hulls was heard.

The sailors all heard the conversation that had just happened between the captain and the fleet commander. Although they were still silently staying on their posts, their uneasiness and despair were no longer controlled by the crew.

"General." After thinking about it, the middle-aged captain decided to speak: "The Frora and the Nasria did not come. It would be difficult for us to defeat the emperor's fleet alone. The warships in your hand are the foundation of the sea blue. If you lose them, other city-states will tear us apart."

He gritted his teeth and said with a risk, "Let's retreat! While the Royal Fleet hasn't discovered us yet, it may be too late. If it really doesn't work, you can use those mixed fish as bait to drag the Royal Fleet. Keep the warship, the future will be long."

"Captain Muss." The old man held his sword and said slowly: "The fleet that gathered here today is the largest fleet we can gather. Even if all the ocean fleets are recalled, we cannot dispatch a stronger force than we are now. There is no longer a long day, only chronic death. Therefore, whether the Frora and Nasrian masts will appear at sea level, we will lift the sea blockade of the Royal Fleet on Guitu City today."

After saying that, he put on his helmet and ordered majestic: "Rise my flag!"

Narexo ran into the cabin without saying a word, and soon took out a stacked red flag. A bare-bodied sailor with his upper body carried the red flag, used his hands and feet, climbed up the mast in a few strokes, and hung the personal flag of the commander of the Pisani fleet to the top of the mast.

The sea breeze spread out the stacked flags, smoothing the creases of the flag.

Where all sailors in the fleet could see, a huge red pennant fluttered in the wind.

"Captain Nareshaw, if I die." The old man said calmly: "You will take over the command. If you die, your first mate will take over the command. Even if all the warships sink, even if we only have sampans and small boats left, the battle must continue until victory."

Nareshaw's eyes were filled with tears and he replied heavily: "Yes!"

"Notify the fleet." The old man finally looked in the direction of Hailan, and then ordered without hesitation: "Rise the anchor!"

The winch turned "crunched" and the heavy anchor was pulled up from the seabed.

The sails rose, the long oars entered the water, with arson ships as the front drive, and the sea blue warships as the center. A fleet composed of all sailors on the inland sea who dared to resist the empire resolutely sailed towards the Royal Fleet anchored at the mouth of the Delun River.

Facing the early morning sea breeze, Captain Naresha suddenly yelled and sang the "ship song" that was also widely circulated among sailors:

"It's like the sun will surely be greeted in the early morning!"

"It's like a river will surely flow into the sea!"

On the deck of the Triumph, in the cabin, the sailors and civilians who were waiting to welcome the battle laughed and sang:

"A new day for the Senes people has arrived!"

"Our children will live proudly and freely!"

Soon, not just Triumph, but all warships, armed merchant ships, and fishing boats that heard the singing naturally joined the chorus:

“The Great Alliance is moving forward!”

"The mast flag flutters in the wind!"

"Fight side by side for victory!"

"A new world of freedom!"

The fleet's chorus even overwhelmed the sound of sails, covered the sound of oars, and was carried to all directions by the sea breeze.

At the same time, the sun emerged from the sea level in the east, and the sharp sword made of gold instantly dispelled the mist and darkness.

"It's like the sun will surely be greeted in the early morning!"
To be continued...