Xiao Xun's sole task now was to conserve his strength to face the terrifying opponents on the battlefield.
Many people lost sleep that night, including Duke Sancho. He was a man who valued money more than his life, and today, by treating the entire city to a play, he had suffered a significant loss.
Heartbroken, he couldn't sleep. Just as he finally drifted off before dawn, he dreamed of taking out money and woke up in pain again.
As dawn broke, a crowd of civilians was already queuing outside the military camp to sign up. Enlisting here was different from that other world; it wasn't just about having a strong physique. The most important thing was to possess a special skill. Those who could use magic were prioritized. If not, pharmacists or mechanics – any skill useful in warfare, even cooking, would secure a spot.
This eliminated a large number of farmers and merchants. However, Xiao Xun had requisitioned a large number of slaves. These individuals wouldn't desert, nor would they be used as "cannon fodder." Their purpose was to construct and maintain defensive towers and war fortresses.
Since Xiao Xun was unaware of the enemy's detailed situation, and the scouts he'd dispatched hadn't returned, he had to make thorough preparations.
It was possible that the troops he led would all be "written off" as soon as they engaged. After all, the Blazing Moon Kingdom was a major power that had fallen in less than a month, with its king self-immolating and the Archmage leading the prince to flee.
The situation looked grim. In the face of absolute power, no matter how brilliant one's strategy, it would be a joke.
He had only heard of it, never seen it. He wondered if it was the same as the Scourge Legion in the game. If so, the first leader of the Scourge Legion should have been an orc, and the second a human.
By the time the sky was fully bright, the Phoenix Army had expanded to one hundred thousand troops, including thirty thousand knights. The magic soldiers were all elementalists; no special-系的 mages were recruited. There were four thousand priests and six thousand logistical personnel.
These were data from three hours prior. By noon, people were still actively signing up to join the army.
Seeing how effective the opera had been for recruitment, Xiao Xun even considered having these actors embark on a nationwide tour.
Moreover, no pre-war mobilization was needed; everyone was united in their hatred for the enemy and swore to defend their homeland. These men who joined the army had received immense support and encouragement from their families. Those who weren't selected felt they had failed their families.
They all wished for the war to end quickly so they could return to their carefree lives.
After lunch, the army finished their field rations and prepared to march. Xiao Xun left behind a logistical unit to escort the grain and supplies, particularly to urge Sancho not to treat the gold coins that couldn't be eaten or chewed as heirlooms but to exchange them for food. Only by repelling the Scourge could they continue to live; otherwise, with the Scourge's arrival, they wouldn't even be able to eat yesterday's leftovers.
The grain requisitioning officer was a ruthless man, visiting Duke Sancho's castle five times a day. The Duke didn't dare to refuse entry. Daily, the requisitioning officer's harassment ruined his meals and sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the requisitioning officer's "deathly face," sitting motionlessly, demanding grain and supplies.
Furthermore, Duke Sancho's two sons had secretly fled the castle and joined the Phoenix Army. They believed this was what the Guangyan family should be doing.
The army marched in a vast procession towards the border. Xiao Xun ordered Bai Yang to deliver his overnight sketches and tokens to the border at the fastest possible speed, to build defensive fortifications at all costs. For long distances, spatial displacement was faster than speed.
Xiao Xun hoped that by the time he reached the border, a steel-like military fortress would have been erected, capable of both offense and defense.
Last night, Xiao Xun had spent the entire night studying the sand table. Duke Sancho's territory was located on a plain, offering no geographical advantage.
However, further ahead, within the territory of Midoa, a small country bordering Saint Roman, there was a mountain range. If a military defense could be constructed there, it would be a permanent solution, truly allowing for an advantageous position, capable of both offense and defense.
But the envoy sent back a letter stating that the opposing king believed their resistance against the Scourge Legion was a pretense and that their true intention was to invade his country.
Therefore, from a strategic perspective, Xiao Xun had to abandon that plain and establish a defensive base slightly further back, which became the Phoenix Headquarters.
The army advanced in a staggered formation. Three legions, with heavy armored soldiers in front, magic soldiers in the middle, and knights at the rear, advanced slowly. Although their marching speed was slow, it allowed them to respond well to unforeseen situations, as caution was always the wisest course.
Facing an unknown enemy, Xiao Xun dared not be too reckless or complacent.
Thus, after two days, the army had fully assembled at the Phoenix Headquarters. This location was in a hilly area. Although not as advantageous as the mountain range in the neighboring country, it could still form an enveloping formation, making it quite defensible.
Building a few more large defensive towers horizontally would ensure that within three hundred meters of height, no creature could fly over.
Xiao Xun was quite satisfied with the defensive position he had constructed, looking out at the boundless plain before him, the advantage clearly evident.
He thought, "If the Scourge Legion dares to come, I'll ensure they never return."
However, Xiao Xun overlooked one thing: this was a world of magic, not a conventional cold weapon era. Therefore, many fighting and defensive tactics were unusable.
Sancho looked at the bill for the ongoing war, his heart aching. He drank anti-inflammatory potions daily.
The Duchess comforted him, "Our two sons are on the front lines. The more we spend on building defensive towers, the safer our sons will be."
Sancho could only sigh and say to the Duchess, "Later, take more money and take our three daughters back to your maiden home!"
The Duchess was shocked. "My maiden home is on Yanqi Island, thousands of miles from here."
Sancho stated resolutely, "Yes, go there."
The Duchess frowned. "Do you think the front lines won't hold?"
Sancho roared in anger, "Of course, they won't hold! I don't think our Majesty intends to hold either. Who did he send? Some stinking brat from nowhere, leading a bunch of rebels who just besieged the capital. Isn't this clearly sending them to their deaths?"
He took a breath and continued, "Also, the Empress's ace, Vincent, was severely injured. Even a warrior like him was wounded by the Scourge people. How can these tens of thousands of people possibly hold the line?"
Upon hearing this, the Duchess also felt it made sense, so she quickly began packing with her daughters.
After packing for a whole day, she asked Sancho, "Aren't you planning to leave with us?"
Sancho stood up abruptly. "I am a member of the Guangyan family. This is my territory. I can only live and die here. There is no retreating."
The Duchess bowed and embraced Sancho tightly. After a long moment, she kissed his cheek and left with her three daughters in a carriage.
Xiao Xun walked along the defensive line, looking at the towering defensive towers.
He asked the three legion commanders who had been accompanying him, "Besides magic cannons, do we have any other long-range weapons?"
One of the legion commanders replied, "We originally had magic archers. However, the Emperor, upon someone's misguided advice, decreed that apart from border guards and the Royal Guard, other lords' armies were not allowed to be equipped with long-range weapons, and no sorcerers were to be present in the troops."
Xiao Xun pointed at the muzzles extending from the defensive towers. "Then what are these magic cannons?"
"Our Duke, that rebel Horton, secretly built them."
Xiao Xun looked at the three legion commanders. "Then, can we recreate magic archers and things like magic cannons?"
The three looked at each other. "Theoretically, yes."
Xiao Xun frowned, listening to their ambiguous response. "What do you mean theoretically? Are we lacking anything?"
The three nodded simultaneously. "The bows for magic archers require Xian Tong trees, and the steel used to cast magic cannons is also only available from the goblin tribes."
Xiao Xun was stunned. Xian Tong trees again. He couldn't avoid this item no matter where he was.
He looked at an open space in the distance and pointed to it. "Pass my order: build a munitions factory there immediately to produce those long-range weapons. Don't worry about the raw materials; I will write to the Emperor and ask her to solicit them from the entire nation and deliver them here."
The three legion commanders saluted in unison. "Yes!"
There were no defensive fortifications here before. There was a border army of several thousand men, but their equipment was poor, personnel were few, and training was lacking. The main reason was that Duke Sancho believed that since the surroundings were two small countries, they would never dare to act against Saint Roman. This border army of several thousand was a remnant of Duke Sancho's father's establishment, which was why Sancho hadn't disbanded it.
Xiao Xun ascended a high tower. Fortunately, there was a simple elevator driven by magic stones; otherwise, climbing it would take until tomorrow.