Game: Civilization Paradise

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Change of Command

"Qiansha’s command during the last major offensive was flawless, and he performed exceptionally well. However, the legions and the public now have issues with him. Public opinion is not in his favor. If he remains in command, he may not be able to rally everyone, which could easily lead to problems."

"Then what are you suggesting?"

City Lord Qian Luo asked calmly.

"My suggestion is to let me take command of this defense."

Qian Wu offered.

"Very well. It’s yours."

After careful consideration, City Lord Qian Luo finally agreed.

"Thank you, Father. I will not disappoint you."

Qian Wu replied, a faint smile on his face.

When Qian Wei saw his brother take command, he was secretly overjoyed. ’This time, we can finally show what we’re made of.’

Qian Ying, who was standing to the side, frowned slightly but said nothing to object.

"You may all leave. I’m a bit tired."

City Lord Qian Luo coughed violently.

"Yes!"

Qian Wu and Qian Wei then withdrew.

...

「At dawn.」

As the sun rose above the horizon, its light fell upon Long Ming and the others.

Long Ming had been sitting by the burnt-out fire, sleepless all night.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to sleep, but that none of them could.

Everyone was worried about the impending battle.

Although they all claimed they weren’t afraid—that the worst that could happen was death—the impending battle was like a mountain pressing down on them, suffocating them all.

Just then, Xiaoqi and a few others came over, pushing stainless steel food containers. They smiled broadly at Long Ming and his group and said,

"Have some hot porridge, everyone. Warm yourselves up."

"Thanks. The weather seems to be getting colder."

Jing Chuan and the others got up to get some porridge.

Xiaoqi, however, ladled a bowl of hot porridge and handed it to Long Ming.

"Long Ming, here you go."

"Thank you."

Long Ming took it and had a sip.

RUSH RUSH RUSH~

Just then, a surging sound came from the distance.

Hearing the noise, Long Ming and the others all stood up and looked in the direction of the sound.

They saw surging seawater flooding in through a channel.

"What is this?"

Long Ming looked at Luoxue in surprise.

"Looks like they’ve broken through. This is seawater being channeled from the coast to give Mountain City Mountain a moat! It’s true that Asike Sanctuary City overreached, throwing itself at the monster tide like an egg against a stone, but their sacrifice wasn’t pointless. At the very least, it gave us a new idea. Otherwise, mounting a complete defense of Mountain City Mountain would have been extremely difficult."

Luoxue explained to Long Ming.

"I see."

Long Ming nodded.

Just then, Mira hurried over and spoke to Luoxue.

"Commander Luoxue, Qiansha is holding an emergency combat briefing! We’re ordered to the open area in Zone B0 for the meeting immediately!"

"Let’s go!"

Hearing this, Luoxue put down her bowl and said to Long Ming and the others.

"Right!"

Long Ming and the others followed Luoxue.

Soon, they arrived at the Zone B0 defensive area. All the high-ranking officers from Mountain City Mountain’s four legions, as well as those from the smaller Sanctuary Cities that had been absorbed into their forces, were gathered there.

The atmosphere was heavy. Every face was tense, and no one spoke.

Just then, Qiansha walked onto the makeshift stage at the front, flanked by Alang and a few others. He scanned the crowd before speaking.

"Everyone, the battle is upon us. The monster tide is not far off and will be here soon. I know you are all facing unprecedented pressure, but I’m telling you, even though the tide is vast, we have Mountain City Mountain at our backs! We can—and will—crush the tide and achieve victory!"

"Lord Qiansha is mighty!"

The soldiers of the First Legion roared in response.

As for the other legions, their response was sparse and unenthusiastic.

"So much for a morale boost,"

Jing Chuan muttered to Long Ming.

"Considering the circumstances, it’s not bad,"

Long Ming replied nonchalantly.

Qiansha’s expression sank as he looked out at the crowd. Just as he was about to continue his speech...

...Qian Wu and Qian Wei entered the area, walking straight for the stage.

"Second Uncle?"

Qiansha immediately had a bad feeling when he saw Qian Wu take the stage, but he still greeted him.

"Qiansha, thank you for your hard work. From this moment on, I will be taking full command. You can leave things to me now."

Qian Wu was blunt, stripping Qiansha of his command right then and there.

Qiansha’s face darkened like charcoal. He then asked,

"Is this an order from the City Lord?"

"It is."

Qian Wu replied unequivocally.

"Fine. Let’s see what you can do."

Qiansha replied with resignation, then led Alang and his men off the stage.

Captain Alang was furious, complaining to Qiansha about the injustice of it all.

"Sir, isn’t this a classic case of getting rid of someone once they’ve served their purpose? To strip you of command at a time like this..."

"It doesn’t matter," Qiansha said, suppressing the fury in his heart. "I’m actually curious to see how well he can command."

"As you say, sir."

Captain Alang said, agreeing.

Qian Wu took a step forward, looking down from the stage at the crowd below. His expression was grim as he spoke.

"Listen up! Behind us is Mountain City Mountain. Right now, the entire Lower City District is packed with refugees—so crowded you can barely move through the streets. Don’t be fooled by the mountain’s size; only the Upper City District is protected by walls, and it can’t hold many people. That makes *us* the only thing standing between them and the tide. If we lose this fight, if the monster tide breaks into Mountain City Mountain, everyone dies. The city’s complete annihilation won’t be far behind."

As Qian Wu’s words sank in, the crowd lowered their heads. Morale plummeted.

"That means we have no path of retreat! This is a do-or-die battle!"

Qian Wu shouted at the crowd.

"Yes."

The officers’ response was weak, their morale at an all-time low.

"Now for redeployment. Zone B will remain under the First Legion’s command..."

Qian Wu glanced over the crowd and began to outline the new deployments.

At that moment, Jing Chuan and the others watched the somber scene unfold. He sighed and said,

"Sigh... changing commanders right before a battle? That’s a terrible omen."

Long Ming listened to Qian Wu’s orders and replied casually,

"Not necessarily. I think Qian Wu’s tactical adjustments are actually pretty good. It’s just a shame that morale has completely collapsed. In a situation this dire, morale is everything."

"Sigh... It would’ve been better to let Qiansha stay in command. We all knew his speech was full of empty promises, but at least it gave us a sliver of hope! After this display from Qian Wu, who has the confidence to fight anymore?"

Jing Chuan said to Long Ming, completely exasperated.

"You’re not wrong, but putting Qian Wu in command isn’t necessarily the wrong move."

"Why?"

"Did you notice? When Qian Wu replaced him, Qiansha didn’t put up much of a fight. If Qian Wu was truly incompetent, someone with Qiansha’s temperament would never have let it happen so easily,"

Long Ming said to Jing Chuan.

"Sigh... I hope you’re right."

Jing Chuan shook his head without saying anything more.

Soon, Qian Wu finished reorganizing the defenses. He then addressed the crowd in a stern voice.

"Everyone, I won’t waste your time with pretty speeches. We have no choice in this war. We fight even if we think we can’t win. We do this for Mountain City Mountain, and for the families behind us. We must give it our all!"

"Yes!"

The crowd responded in unison, their hearts heavy.

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