Chapter 675: Prepared in Advance

Once they enter the city, Hobson, the city's administrator, comes to receive them. They arrive at the administrative residence, where many people are already waiting.

Some are merchants, some are mercenaries, some are civil officials, and others are officers of the city guard.

They all share the same identity: planted assets Henwell personally placed here.

After saluting Arius, Hobson, the administrator at their head, looks toward Windson.

"Can you take responsibility for this?"

"You should know that we have activated too many covert lines. Once this is over, the surrounding powers will inevitably become uneasy."

Windson doesn't answer. He takes out a bundle filled with metal fragments, a few of which are still stained with blood.

A moment later, Windson assembles the fragments into a disk roughly thirty centimeters across.

Its delicate latch structure allows every fragment to fit together perfectly, forming a complete pattern.

Windson lifts the metal disk and shows it to everyone.

"On behalf of the chiefs of the twelve intelligence stations, I request the activation of Emergency Plan No. 4!"

Hobson steps forward, takes the disk, inspects it carefully, then passes it to the next person.

After everyone has examined it, they nod to one another and confirm that it is genuine.

Finally, Hobson returns it to Windson.

"Verification complete. Emergency Plan No. 4 is approved."

"From this moment on, all covert lines are activated."

"All seeds will sprout, all actors will return to the stage, and you will command the operation that follows."

Windson takes the metal disk. Sorrow flickers in his eyes as he looks at the blood on it.

To notify the chiefs of the sealed-off intelligence stations, he sacrificed several colleagues.

But this isn't the time for grief. Windson hands the disk to Arius.

"Your Highness, from this point on, all of us will accept your command."

"I hope our sacrifices bring enough benefit to Peace Haven."

"Don't disappoint those who have already died for this, or those who are about to die."

Arius solemnly accepts the token and gives everyone a military salute.

Everyone stands at attention and returns the salute.

Arius asks, "How many people do you have here? People who can fight."

Hobson replies, "They need to be gathered and activated. There are around thirteen hundred people in the city, but we can influence more than three thousand soldiers."

Arius nods. "Enough. That is already more than half the city defense force. I will persuade the rest. Is there anyone else?"

A man dressed as a mercenary guard steps forward.

"Albert greets Your Highness."

"Within a day, I can gather another six hundred warriors. They are all guards of Peace Haven."

A middle-aged man dressed as a merchant steps out.

"Weber, head of Peace Haven's Seventeenth Trade Office, greets Your Highness."

"By this time tomorrow, I can gather the guards of the nearby Peace Haven caravans. There will be seven hundred of them."

Another large man, dressed like a farmer, steps forward and gives a military salute.

"Archie of Peace Haven pays respect to Your Highness."

"There are four bandit groups nearby, all disguised by our people. They number eleven hundred, and they can arrive by tomorrow night."

Arius frowns. "No more?"

Windson says, "Light the blood-red beacon and summon everyone from the nearby demonstration zones."

"Those people have undergone basic military training. Their physical condition and obedience in battle are good enough."

Hobson immediately objects. "No. That will expose the entire demonstration zone to every side."

"It will have an enormous impact on the population recovery plan."

"In addition, many areas we have already built will be driven out, causing a major Peace Haven strategy to fail."

Windson argues back, "Do you still not understand the situation? After this matter, the kingdom will be reshuffled again."

"Even if we don't do this, the other sides will begin clearing away the feelers we have extended."

Arius looks at the two of them as they continue arguing, then chuckles.

"Enough. Stop acting. I am not a fool. If you have something to say, say it directly."

"As long as I survive and become the new king, I will promote Peace Haven's demonstration-zone policy across the whole country."

The two exchange a glance and stop their performance.

Arius then asks, "How many people can be gathered from the nearby demonstration zones?"

Hobson pauses, then tells the truth.

"Counting those within one to two days' travel, there are eleven demonstration zones in total."

"More than fourteen thousand people can be gathered, but most of them are serfs. They are in good physical condition and have received basic military training."

"However, they have never practiced battle formations, much less seen blood. Your Highness must keep that in mind."

Arius sighs inwardly. Peace Haven has silently seeded so much power here.

Then Arius frowns again.

"In that case, we will have more than twenty thousand people. That is enough to defend the city."

"But weapons and equipment for so many people will be a problem. The city defense force isn't large, only five thousand people."

"Even with reserve weapons, arming so many people will be difficult. And what about food?"

Hobson hesitates for a moment, then still chooses to step forward.

"Several wine cellars in the city have been modified. Some weapons and equipment are sealed inside, enough to arm one legion."

"As for food, there are stores as well. Since the Harvest Festival has just passed, the city's grain reserves are more than sufficient."

"In addition, many caravans are still in the city, and the warehouse district also has plenty of food and supplies."

Archie adds, "We still have a warband's worth of equipment at the mountain stronghold base."

The others speak up one after another, revealing several places where supplies are stored.

Arius looks around at them. These must all be high-level secrets of Peace Haven.

Judging from their reactions, only the managers here know of them, and they don't know that the others also have supply bases.

Next, Arius inspects each base through the night and discovers that the supplies stored here are terrifying.

There are even many war machines for both defending and attacking cities.

In addition, Arius sees the structural map of the entire city.

After studying it, Arius understands Henwell's plan.

Once Henwell decides to sweep across the entire kingdom, this place will be an very important forward base.

Arius sketches Henwell's entire strategic deployment in his mind.

The Phoenix family will move north, break through Marquess Descartes's defense zone, and cut into the flank of Duke Reyes's Iris City.

That way, when Peace Haven's main army marches out in full force to seize Cloud Tree City, it won't be harassed from the left flank.

Then Peace Haven's army will go straight north, cross the Yundu River, and occupy this important stronghold on the northern bank.

This city has already been transformed by Peace Haven into a fortress, and its massive stores of supplies can allow Peace Haven's army to continue north.

They can then lock the kingdom's southbound army into a standoff.

At that point, Duke Marcus will attack from the right flank, directly cutting off the kingdom army's connection to Silver Peak City.

Once Henwell swallows the kingdom's most elite southbound force, the entire war will basically be declared over.

Whether it is Duke Quinns, who keeps to the southeast, or Duke Lowel in the north, neither will have the strength to compete with Henwell anymore.

As for the Iron Wall Legion of the Western Regions and Duke Obiken, they will very likely turn directly to Henwell.

This city is the fatal trap Henwell laid for the kingdom long ago.