Darkstone Code

Chapter 1119 - 1117: No Honor in Warfare

Xiong Pass was once one of the important mountain passes of the Mariluo Dynasty, and also one of the crucial routes from the south to the North of Mariluo, as the terrain of Mariluo was filled with mountains and forests leading to many similar landscapes.

Often, three or five mountains piled up in layers, with only the road at the mountain’s foot as the path for transit.

In ancient times, to hold strategic routes, the Imperial Family would select a mountain road to keep and then block other paths by various means, while constructing, expanding, and building defenses around this accessible route.

The Mariluo people lived behind these passes in the central Imperial Court, while the Mariluo Warlords resided in all directions.

Local ancient legends spoke of "gods residing at the world’s center, while the commoners spread in all directions," a plan Mariluo people followed for national layout.

This strategy proved effective over the long term; though crossing the mountains to enter the core area of Mariluo was possible, it was only feasible for a few people and not suitable for large-scale troop movement.

Coupled with necessary patrols, no large-scale army could cross the mountain peaks to attack the Imperial Court.

This ensured Mariluo people’s reign encountered little resistance; ordinary commoners wishing to enter the core area had to apply in advance, stating reasons and then being adorned with something like a necklace.

It wasn’t a collar, but longer and larger, detailing when these people entered the country’s core area, for what reason, and approved by whom.

Mariluo people and Mariluo Warlords were easy to distinguish; if Mariluo Warlords appeared in the Imperial Court without wearing that identifier, anyone had the right to kill them!

Before the complete corruption and degradation of Mariluo rulers, it was never heard any significant mountain pass was attacked and conquered by Mariluo Warlords.

However, at this moment, what the northbound troops faced was such a formidable pass.

Approaching the pass, it was already visible those "houses" built on mountaintops or cliffs, reportedly built by former slaves.

Inside gathered a considerable number of archers and stone throwers; they only needed to shoot arrows or throw stones down through square-foot windows when enemies attacked, greatly reducing enemy numbers.

Further ahead, a faint glimpse of a wall over thirty meters high blocked the passage. Surrounding cliffs were full of hidden spots; some even hollowed out parts of the mountains.

Once seemingly impossible for humans to conquer frontally, the formidable pass now appeared somewhat helpless against modern weapons.

When the convoy moved closer, Ryan noticed the wall that had previously given him tremendous psychological pressure was already covered with cracks and blast marks from bullets and shells.

Surprisingly, it remained upright despite extensive shelling, demonstrating the meticulousness of its designers.

It hadn’t lost to anyone; it merely lost to time!

All the northbound convoys paused at a certain distance from the gate, with the Commander looking down at his wrist, apparently having nothing to instruct.

Soldiers showed signs of unrest; even equipped with modern weapons, conquering such a pass didn’t seem easy.

Ryan checked weapons and loaded bullets, though he felt it unlikely to sacrifice lives, yet, if needed, he would charge.

This was his most significant change; upon first arriving, he thought human life was immensely important.

After experiencing so much, he realized, compared to some things, the least valuable was human life itself.

Humans were merely consumables!

More sadly, most people hadn’t recognized this point!

Minutes later, the convoy began showing signs of unrest; just as some inquired what to do next, a rumbling sounded from behind.

Like a swarm of giant hornets hovering by ears, buzzing, it swept over.

Ryan stood up hurriedly, turning to look back, many followed suit.

Soon, smiles appeared on these people’s faces; they took off hats, waving at aircraft in the sky, shouting loudly.

It served no particular purpose, but they felt inexplicably compelled to do it!

The lead position pilot saw the ground’s soldiers; he opened the radio, laughing, "Seems they like us, so we better give them more help."

Then laughter came over the radio from other pilots, not showing worry at all; bullying kid-like tricks possibly were pilot’s favorites.

Flying up there, safe, well-protected, no worries of stray bullets or shells, untouchable unless overly close to the ground.

This was the Qi-II bomber model, having added a downward viewing window directly below the pilot’s feet.

Looking down, pilots could see the ground scenario through a glass pane equipped with sights.

During the previous bombing, some pilots suggested that to hit targets more accurately, they must lower their flight altitude, which is very dangerous.

Some planes already showed signs of metal fatigue and tearing during the dive and climb, powerful forces tore apart part of the fuselage.

The researchers at the institute advised against continuous dives and climbs, as frequently doing so could directly snap the wings during a climb.

Hence, they came up with a better approach, which is to allow bomber pilots to see the ground and provide them a rough sight.

In experiments, the sights were adjusted for different speeds and altitudes to accommodate more complex conditions.

At this moment, the bombing formation had already passed the convoy, and they began to lay eggs shortly after.

The Commander raised his wrist, looked at his watch, then said to his adjutant, "Two more rounds of bombing, tell the artillery we need them to open a path for us, but avoid the gate with the artillery fire..."

Soon, the field artillery began loading, and as the flag bearer waved his flag, the roar of artillery fire began to sound.

Ryan looked somewhat intoxicatedly at the distant city wall, smelling the gunpowder in the air, he seemed to have fallen in love with this kind of life.

He tried to return to the past, but he could no longer stand everything under a peaceful life.

Dead silent, it looked as if everyone was enjoying the happiness of peace, but he couldn’t stand it.

It wasn’t true peace, or rather it wasn’t true happiness, he desperately wanted to return to the battlefield, only here could he find his true self!

The shelling and bombing lasted for a long time, honestly, apart from occasionally seeing a few enemies, most soldiers were bewildered, they hadn’t even found where the enemy was!

Whether they could find them or not, these shellings, bombings, were necessary, this was Lynch’s "at all costs", no one could stop him and them!

With the shelling and bombing, a section of the city wall suddenly collapsed, and the Commander timely stopped the shelling.

The collapsed city wall was enough for soldiers to climb up the wall, they had to cross over, open the city gate from the inside, not everyone climbed over.

They had to carry supplies and continue north.

Half an hour later, the last round of bombing ended, the soldiers were mostly assembled, and with the Commander’s order, they began the offensive!

This was a dishonorable battle, but war has nothing to do with honor!

The engineers quickly climbed up and provided rope ladders for the soldiers below to quickly catch up to their speed, watching those soldiers quickly ascend to the parapet, listening to the constant gunfire that never fully coalesced, watching the city gate being opened, the Commander unemotionally ordered the entire army to follow up.

Ryan was panting heavily, he had two more partners, two non-retired company employees, they had received complete military training, it was their first time on the battlefield.

But they didn’t act like it was their first time on the battlefield, which confused Ryan a bit.

He stood by the door, holding a fragmentation grenade, and as his partner kicked the door open, he pulled the pin of the grenade, and instantly the wooden end of the grenade smoked, he threw it into the room.

Two or three seconds later, with a bang, several fragments shot out from the room, embedding into the opposite wall, the room became dead silent.

No, there was, only the sound of some dust falling softly, the four entered the room, started finishing off the corpses, a shot to the head, a shot to the chest, this was the company’s rule.

Someone once was fined a thousand bucks for missing a shot during finishing, since then no one dared to miss, only overshooting.

"You two ever been in combat?" Ryan tidying up asked casually.

The two newbies shook their heads, they knew what Ryan meant, one who talked a lot couldn’t help but begin, "The company’s new training process has changed."

"During training, people often shoot at us, it was pretty scary at first, but gradually we got used to it, now as long as the bullets don’t hit me, I basically don’t feel anything about those gunshots."

Ryan was stunned for a moment, "That’s a good idea, whose idea was it?"

"It’s said to be Mr. Lynch’s, he always has lots of ideas, quite magical!"

Ryan nodded, the four continued exploring inside the city wall, they must clean everything here thoroughly.

Gunshots, sounds of fighting, explosions, and some abruptly cut-off pleas and wails, inside the collapsed section of the city wall, seemed like hell in the human world!

More than two hours later, people blew up the city gate, ensuring it wouldn’t be closed again by anyone, after leaving a team of twenty, everyone continued north.

Just less than an hour after they left, all the Mariluo Warlords received a message—

The Federation does not follow the rules, launching an offensive during spring planting!