General Geng Zhong remained silent, evidently struggling to make a decision in such a short time.
Although the northern Di soldiers were already at the city gates, no one could say exactly when they would attack. What if they attacked right after the horses were killed?
Keeping the warhorses provided a slim chance that some elite soldiers could break through, either to seek reinforcements or preserve some of their forces as a fallback option.
Killing the horses would indeed solve the food supply issue in the short term. But what if the Di soldiers besieged them for several more days? Then everyone would be trapped in the city without even a chance for a final breakout.
Zhao Haiping suggested this plan because he knew the timing of the Di army's assault.
Digging a well and splashing water would indeed have a psychological impact, but only if they could withstand the Di's first wave of attacks.
If the soldiers broke down from excessive hunger and thirst, splashing water would be useless; the northern Di soldiers weren't fools. Seeing the city about to fall, they wouldn't be easily frightened away.
So, they had to kill the horses now to keep the soldiers in their best fighting condition.
The Di's first assault would be repelled, and then, upon discovering the city had a water source, they might finally retreat.
Of course, Zhao Haiping couldn't outright say that the Di soldiers were about to attack—that would seem too suspicious.
So, he rephrased his appeal.
"General, the situation is urgent. We must decide now!
"Even if we keep the horses, when the city falls, only a fraction of us might escape. And even if they break through the Di encirclement, only a handful would survive!
"This city is already isolated. All surrounding cities have been taken by the Di. Seeking reinforcements is near impossible.
"Furthermore, if a few soldiers attempt a horseback escape, it would destroy morale among those left behind.
"Killing the horses has two benefits.
"First, it ensures that every soldier can fight in their best condition, inflicting maximum casualties on the Di; second, it demonstrates your commitment to stand or fall with the city, boosting morale!
"Then, when the well produces water, it will devastate the Di's morale and give us a glimmer of hope to survive!"
General Geng Zhong remained silent, but his expression grew resolute.
Finally, he slammed his hand on the table.
"Well said!
"Instead of a handful fleeing to survive, we'll all stand together and live or die with this city!
"As long as we, the Chu soldiers, have blood in our veins, we will defend our border for Chu to the last! We will not retreat!
"Order the horses killed! Dig the well!"
...
With the general's command, the Chu soldiers in the city sprang into action.
Tearfully, they killed their warhorses, long-time companions in battle, while the seventh well was dug with renewed vigor.
Bowls of horse meat were brought up to the walls, and the soldiers ate, weeping.
Yet as Zhao Haiping surveyed the walls, he could feel a palpable change in morale; the entire city was charged with energy, a stark contrast to the previous gloom.
Before, the soldiers were famished, thirsty, and unsure when the Di would attack. Some were considering fleeing on horseback, while others felt resigned to die; morale was fractured.
Now, with the general's order to kill the horses and share the meat, everyone knew they were to stand or fall with the city!
With their stomachs full, doubt and despair vanished, replaced by rekindled hatred for the Di.
In every soldier's heart, there was one thought:
Kill!!
Zhao Haiping accepted a chipped bowl of horse meat from a soldier. The meat was far from delicious, and without any seasoning, it was tough and gamey.
Still, it restored strength to his starved and thirsty body.
"So, this was the right solution.
"Even with my Endure Hunger talent, it only kept me from starving; it did nothing for the other soldiers.
"If I had stubbornly relied on it, the second phase would have turned into an endless cycle of failure.
"But now, with the soldiers' strength and morale revitalized, the city actually has a chance to hold!"
...
The sun set and quickly rose again.
Finally, the sound of war drums echoed from below the city.
The northern Di soldiers were attacking!
Zhao Haiping noticed the timing in this dungeon was dynamic. If he did nothing, time would fast-forward to the Di's attack. If he kept busy, he'd have a full day to prepare.
Now, the moment had arrived.
The well was already quite deep, but there was still no sign of water.
General Geng Zhong considered giving up, but Zhao Haiping insisted on continuing the dig, leaving only a few soldiers to work on it while most manned the walls.
The Di soldiers charged the city as before!
The few functional siege weapons hurled stones at them, but to little effect. Soon, the Di soldiers climbed the walls, and hand-to-hand combat ensued!
Zhao Haiping threw himself into the fray, fighting fiercely at the general's side.
He knew that no matter how many soldiers fell, General Geng Zhong could not die. His death would shatter morale, leading to a swift defeat.
This time, however, Zhao Haiping found the battle somewhat easier than before.
With everyone well-fed and morale high, the soldiers' combat strength was on a different level from before!
Moreover, Zhao Haiping, now an adjutant, commanded significant influence over the troops.
In the first phase, he often fought alone with little support. Now, wherever he charged, others followed, forming small groups around him, easing his burden and allowing him to engage more aggressively.
Zhao Haiping didn't know how long he fought. Eventually, he was almost on autopilot, narrowly avoiding death multiple times, saved by Chu soldiers who sacrificed themselves to shield him.
Finally, the last Di soldier on the wall fell to his blade.
Zhao Haiping, nearly exhausted, leaned on his sword, barely able to stand.
He looked back and saw General Geng Zhong, bloodied but unharmed, amid piles of corpses on the walls.
"We held them off?"
The relief was so overwhelming that Zhao Haiping was momentarily stunned.
But the dungeon did not end or advance to a third phase as he expected.
The war drums below the walls began to rumble again!
Startled, Zhao Haiping looked down to see the Di soldiers regrouping for another assault!
Though they had suffered heavy losses, they still believed the Chu soldiers were at their breaking point, willing to pay any price to launch a second attack.
Despair swept over the soldiers on the wall.
They were truly at their limit; another wave like this, and they wouldn't survive.
Just then, a soldier came running.
"General! The well produced water!"
General Geng Zhong's bloodstained face lit up with a glimmer of hope. "Quickly, bring the water to the walls!"
Barrel after barrel of water was carried up.
As the Di prepared to charge, General Geng Zhong ordered the water to be splashed over the walls.
Standing atop the walls, he laughed, "Northern Di! You cut off our water, but the heavens favor Chu!"
The soldiers joined in, laughing atop the walls.
Buckets of water were poured down, and the advancing Di soldiers halted, staring at each other in confusion.
Even the Di leaders hesitated.
Having attacked for so long with low morale, they had relied on cutting off the city's water supply to weaken the Chu soldiers. They believed time was on their side, only to see the Chu warriors stronger than ever, with fresh water within their walls.
Could this truly be divine intervention?
The Di soldiers' confidence shattered, and they finally began to retreat.
Zhao Haiping leaned against his sword, catching his breath.
If this were history, the Di should be retreating now.
But since this wasn't real history, who knew if the game would play fair.
He waited anxiously.
Finally, he saw the Di abandon their assault and retreat.
He sighed in relief, exhausted, and collapsed on the wall.
The second phase was finally over!
...
Mist filled his vision.
The exhaustion and pain disappeared.
But this wasn't good news to him; he knew it meant the dreaded third phase was real!
The mist cleared, and Zhao Haiping found himself back on the familiar city walls.
But this time, everything was different.
Snow covered every inch of the landscape, with large flakes falling and resting on the soldiers' shoulders.
The soldiers' heads were gray—not from snow, but from old age.
They were now in their seventies, their bodies hunched, their faces withered.
Zhao Haiping looked down and saw that his own body had aged, his armor tattered and broken.
Though still sturdy, his body was nowhere near its former strength.
A chill pierced through the gaps in his armor, freezing him to the bone.
Underneath, his padded clothing had lost its insulation, and he shivered in the bitter cold.
The other soldiers were even worse off.
And below the walls, the sound of Di war drums echoed once more.
Zhao Haiping sighed, his last hope crushed.
This game really had no mercy!
I suspected a third phase, and here it is?
All this for a beginner dungeon—how hard does it need to be?