Castle of Black Iron

In the same room of the highest tower in the center of Xuanyuan Fortress, Zhang Tie faced Zuoqiu Mingyue once again…

Sitting beside a teapoy, Zuoqiu Mingyue was holding his breath and slowly injecting hot water into a teacup full of ritual sense, causing a dense and elegant fragrance of tea leaves gradually fill the room…

Although having met this old man for many times, Zhang Tie still felt strange about Zuoqiu Mingyue.

The death of over 10 million civilians of Taixia Country outside the camp of demons, the whines and cries, the corps that covered over 600 miles two days ago didn’t leave any trace on the face of Zuoqiu Mingyue.

This old man still remained calm and nonchalant while performing the teaism¹ of Taixia Country consummately without shaking his hands.

However, sitting on the other side of the teapoy, Zhang Tie’s heart slowly sunk.

A cup of limpid and dark green tea water was pushed in front of Zhang Tie by Zuoqiu Mingyue. The tea cup’s porcelain was as white as the moon with the gentle and lubricating luster of moonlight. Some tea leaves were swiveling, rolling and pursuing each other in the water like tumbling and rising mist and cloud in mountain and the mysterious rule deduced by yin and yang. This cup of tea seemed to contain the entire universe.

“Sitting there, I pour cold water into a pot; watching the green matcha as fine as dust being boiled, I hold a cup of tea, sending this sentiment to the one who likes tea…” Zuoqiu Mingyue suddenly opened his mouth leisurely. Closely after that, he sipped it as he closed his eyes satisfactorily.

Watching the cup of tea water, Zhang Tie didn’t move. Even though being a famous earth knight, Zhang Tie still didn’t understand tea. No matter how qualified and rare the tea was, Zhang Tie would always feel lacking a bit pureness and sweat, which, although being cheap, was Zhang Tie’s favorite. At home, all of Zhang Tie’s family members knew that Zhang Tie liked to add sugar in his tea. This was the sear of one’s born which was hard to alter. Neither did Zhang Tie prepare to change it.

“Why…” Looking at Zuoqiu Mingyue’s calm face, Zhang Tie asked, “Why not save those innocent civilians instead of watching them dying in front of demons?”

“How?” Zuoqiu Mingyue let out a sigh as he put down his teacup and asked Zhang Tie calmly with abruptly sharp eye light, “Would I have human knights fight demons at the risk of their lives only to save those common civilians?” Zuoqiu Mingyue revealed a faint, genial yet cold smile as he continued, “I opine that all the civilians in the area occupied by demons had been dead the moment they were captured by demons. They’re now demon’s war resources and tools instead of being civilians of Taixia Country. The civilians of Taixia Country is in the east of Weishui River and Helan Mountain instead of in the west. Knights in Xuanyuan Fortress are for civilians in the east of Weishui River and Helan Mountain…”

“However, they’re not captured by demons voluntarily. Taixia’s army couldn’t protect them that they finally fell in the hand of demons…” Zhang Tie demurred out of excitement.

“The army of Taixia Country have already tried their best, including me. I’m the military god of Taixia country; instead of being a real deity. The army of Taixia Country is also comprised of a multitude of commoners. Undoubtedly, demons are powerful. It’s a holy war, not a court on morality!”

“You’ve long known that demons would have those civilians of Taixia Country clear mines?” Zhang Tie asked with his eyes close on Zuoqiu Mingyue.

“I’ve told you that everything could become their war resource and tool for demons. Facing Taixia’s new weapons and war pattern, demons would send these captives onto the battlefield without demur. It’s the same on the battlefield, whether they’re forced or voluntary!” Zuoqiu Mingyue watched Zhang Tie calmly as he said, “Demons have even done something more brutal in the last holy war. It’s nothing fresh at all. The difference between you and me is that you could be responsible for your conscience; however, I should be committed to more civilians and thousands of corps of Taixia Country in the theater of operations. I should not live up to their trust. In order to not turn more civilians of Taixia Country into slaves of demons, I would issue a decree to wipe out anyone who dare wallop the troops or line of defense of Taixia Country regardless of their identity and reason. I believe that each mine being detonated actually curtails the war potential of demons and contributes to Taixia Country in the holy war…”

Being silent, Zhang Tie felt a bit bitter in the mouth. Taking up a teacup, he raised his head and bottomed up the tea water. Closely after that, he put down his teacup and revealed a bitter smile, “It seems that I really don’t fit to be an officer…”

“Nobody is born fit to be an officer. Nobody is born to be hard-hearted. Nobody is born to be a butcher!” Zuoqiu Mingyue lowered his tone, “But we have no other choice…”

“Would the same tragedy happen again?”

“Over the past 1 month, demons were constantly transporting civilians of Taixia Country that they’ve captured to the camp of demons. It’s roughly estimated that the population of human captives being transported to the frontline has already reached 200 million. In the following days, as long as Weishui River becomes icy, demons would drive all of them onto the battlefield to wipe out the landmines that we’ve buried on both banks of Weishui River. By then, the large-scale war would come to a start…”

“If so, commander-in-chief would never allow them to pass Weishui River…”

“Yes!” Zuoqiu Mingyue put it straightforwardly, “I would never allow them to pass the line of defense in the east bank of Weishui River. As long as these captives pass the landmines in the west bank of Weishui River, I will order the troops of airships and bombers to tackle them…”

Zhang Tie knew that the word “tackle” mentioned by Zuoqiu Mingyue actually referred to eradication. As long as the airships and bombers could block those captives near Weishui River for 2 days, most of the Hua civilians would be starved or frozen to death.

Within imagination, the 200 million common civilians being moved to the frontline by demons had long been destined to die.

Zhang Tie seemed to have seen two banks of Weishui River being covered with corpses…

“I’ve already taken the office of Weiji General of the theater of operations for almost 1 year. During the past year, the production of grains and Fiery Oil have been basically stabilized. As long as everything goes smoothly, as usual, it would be fine. I couldn’t do anything more in this position…” Zhang Tie said as he put the seal and relevant tokens of Weiji General onto the desk in front of them, “Therefore, commander-in-chief, I officially propose to resign today!”

After looking at Zhang Tie for quite a while, Zuoqiu Mingyue let out a sigh, “You’ve made remarkable achievements in this position and you are too eye-catching. Even demons have sensed the threat and would like to assign a heavenly knight to kill you. If you were killed in Anxi City, the rear end of the Western Theater of Operations would be in great chaos for sure. If you resign at this time, it would not be bad for the entire theater of operations. All the provinces around Taixia Country have been preparing to establish an air cavalry army. I’ve already sent a proposal to Xuanyuan Hill lately. His Majesty has already agreed on it and named it Heavenly Army. In the future, the Heavenly Army would be on equal footing with the top 4 armies. I prepare to recommend you as the marshal of Heavenly Army with the awards of heavens suppression general and deputy commander-in-chief. You could leave the theater of operations and establish Heavenly Army in the rear end. By then, all the air cavalries of Taixia Country would be under your leadership. You could turn your innovative thoughts about air cavalries into reality no matter what it is. What do you think about it?”

If it was another person who sat in front of Zuoqiu Mingyue, this special treatment would definitely make his heart pound. Compared to the position of Weiji General, marshal of Heavenly Army, heavens suppression general and being able to be on the same footing with the other marshals of top 4 armies of Taixia Country in the near future was already able to drive people mad by its brilliance and privilege.

If Zhang Tie accepted this promotion, he would make great progress as his ability and meritorious services had been confirmed. To be honest, nobody else could match Zhang Tie in understanding air cavalries around Taixia country.

Zhang Tie had not imagined that the “gossip” that he received from the no. 46 air cavalry regiment 1 month ago was actually real.

It seemed that that “gossip” was either an insight of a wise person towards the trend or Zuoqiu Mingyue’s temptation.

Zuoqiu Mingyue’s recommendation of Zhang Tie as the marshal of Heavenly Army indicated his favor and protection about the latter.

“Thanks, commander-in-chief. But I clear that I’m not suitable to rule the army due to my limited ability and poor experience. Therefore, I dare not accept it! If commander-in-chief really favors me, please recover my freedom and enable me to be free in the theater of operations, even I could be a scout once again…” Zhang Tie declined…