My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 151

"...Isn't this just making things worse?"

In Yang Hao's understanding, urban warfare is the most brutal and longest-lasting form of warfare. If there is anything more detestable than urban warfare, it is definitely the addition of underground tunnel warfare on top of that.

Whether it's the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam or tunnel systems elsewhere, tunnel warfare is undeniably difficult. It's time-consuming, labor-intensive, and most importantly, casualties can be substantial... Yang Hao figured he might not be able to expect His Majesty the Emperor to arrive with support anytime soon. Sigh.

So, is it possible to rely solely on our own soldiers for defense?

He was extremely worried, thinking that he really didn't have enough soldiers on his side...

The original 20,000 regular troops.

The Sarkaz mercenaries number 1.

Then, if you include the scattered militia and troops undergoing training, there are about 1 people here.

What about the Duchy of Nikolai?

Over 6 to 8 soldiers who were already delirious, along with [living rations], an unknown number of flesh and blood puppets, a mobile city used as a ritual site, numerous ascendants or near-ascendants, and countless strange monsters lurking in the shadows...

Ugh.

He sighed, and just as he was pondering something, Koschche suddenly said thoughtfully, "What should Hela do now?"

“Hela... I need to get her to collect [souls] before I know what to do. But I don’t know how she collects souls... so we’ll have to wait until the enemy is at the gates to find out how she’ll collect them, the maximum area she can collect, and how long it will take to meet our needs.”

“If her abilities are as you say, she can indeed resolve our crisis... but wouldn’t Hela be very fragile? She looks like a twelve-year-old child.”

"That's why I'm worried... I don't dare let her go out alone, even though Hela keeps telling me she wants to go out and help..."

Yang Hao muttered something to himself, then gently grabbed the tip of his wife's swaying tail and closed his eyes, feeling a little sleepy.

"If only I had asked Miss Elegy how strong Hela really was that day..." he muttered to himself, before opening his eyes again and throwing himself into his work.

He decided to do what he could first.

"Koschche, I'm planning to do this..."

"What does this mean?"

"Declare a state of general mobilization for the city."

"Are you sure? Now?"

"If we don't make sure soon, it will be too late. And if we confirm that we're in a state of general mobilization, our caravans can set off immediately to purchase supplies... Besides, haven't we already accepted most of the refugees? Our city can still move a distance to the west, so let's delay for a few more days."

"...Okay then."

Faced with the impending crisis, Yang Hao decided to put the Dukedom of Koschche into a state of "general mobilization." He needed to mobilize everything available throughout the duchy—although he really didn't want young people under the age of 18 to join the army, if there was truly no other way... then this was the only option.

In any case, if the Duchy of Kosiché is indeed infiltrated by aliens, those young men will die anyway. Rather than letting them die meaninglessly or even contribute to the enemy, it's better to let them join the army and contribute their strength before they die.

Furthermore, besides the issue of troop recruitment, matters concerning people's livelihoods and supplies also indeed require a state of "general mobilization" before deployment can be made. Originally, Yang Hao and Kosiché planned to wait a few more days before conducting general mobilization, but considering Duke Nikolai's increasingly aggressive actions...

The sooner the better. And once we start, we need to see it through to the end.

He ruffled his hair, took another deep breath, and, reassured by Koschche, activated his [Puppet Stage] ability. He wanted to make his territory as [efficient] as possible during this period. So, his first action was to deploy all the idle workers to reinforce the city's perimeter walls. After designating all the long-neglected areas for [repair], he said:

"By the way, Koschche... now it's time we needed to use everything, right?"

“Yes.” The black snake, holding the back of his hand, nodded. “So, what are you planning to do?”

"Infected person".

"Infected person?"

"Yes... I plan to open up the military policy for infected individuals—although we still can't provide them with sufficient military equipment, we can still distribute weapons to everyone."

"You intend to use them as cannon fodder?"

"No, not cannon fodder."

Yang Hao shook his head, looking at the policies concerning various races on the [Puppet Stage], and said with a wry smile:

"If, in the end, they become mincemeat in the meat grinder just like our most elite troops—they are warriors we should remember and be grateful to, even though it seems like we haven't done much for them...something they deserve to give everything for?"

"Because we did so much more for them, they risked everything for us. Darling, don't blame yourself—no one on this earth did a better job than us when it came to treating those infected."

"...Thanks."

He paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded. He loved his people very much, but...

He loved his soldiers like his own children; only then could victory be achieved. He couldn't simply love them without sending them to the battlefield.

Now, it's time.

He pressed the button labeled "General Mobilization".

Chapter 77

...

Noon on August 3rd.

As the government of the Duchy of Kosiché declared a state of "general mobilization" for the entire city, concentrating all its resources for a decisive battle against the mad Duke Nikolai, a group of severely infected middle-aged and elderly people gathered outside the bar closest to the checkpoint in the infected area exchanged glances before returning to their respective homes.

When they regrouped at the entrance of the bar, these critically ill patients had taken off their workers' clothes and put on military uniforms that looked decades out of date. The old officer in the lead, with graying temples, even had a rusty but well-preserved saber at his waist.

These taciturn, critically infected individuals were former soldiers of the Ursus Empire. They became infected for various reasons and then settled in the Koschei Duchy for various reasons. They may have their own children and families, but after the Koschei Duchy government declared a state of general mobilization for the entire city, these veterans only showed a serious and calm expression that said, "The time has come."

They went home and put on their old military uniforms. They took everything they could, and those with families left their illegible handwriting on the dining table. Of course, many illiterate veterans asked their neighbors to tell their families, but they inadvertently learned that their neighbors also planned to serve the Duke.

“My son already has a stable job and family here. If I, this old codger, were to disturb their lives again, my wife, who has been dead for who knows how many years, would definitely be very unhappy!”

"It's good that your wife is dead. If my wife hadn't been so frail, she would have come with me long ago. Sigh, old age brings a lot of ailments. I should have died on the battlefield back then."

"Come on! You damn fool! Who was it that grabbed my leg and insisted I drag you out? Haha!"

The infected veterans, some old and some still relatively young, lined up in neat rows, joking with each other. The officer at the head, a saber at his waist, blew a whistle and glared, and the mischievous old men immediately quieted down, their faces serious as they adjusted the ranks according to the officer's instructions.

Those with weapons stood at the front, those without weapons but strong and healthy stood in the middle, and those who had no weapons and were too old to go to the battlefield stood at the back.

"When you're all eliminated, you can just go home and retire!" The old officer laughed heartily at the old folks in the last two rows.

He then led his former men toward a nearby checkpoint—the only place he knew that might report their situation to the Duke's mansion.

The veterans marched in perfect unison, watched from afar by the residents who were originally part of the infected population of the Duke of Koschche. Some young men put down their work and quickly joined the ranks, carrying wrenches or hammers.

The refugees and homeless people who had recently joined—they didn't understand what these people were doing, and having finally found work and shelter, they had no intention of risking leaving this safe place. They huddled together, pointing and whispering about the growing group, and then, someone said something...

“We just escaped from Duke Nikolai’s place. What if they really take this place too? Are we just going to stand by and watch?”

That person's words transformed the once noisy market into a silent church. The newly arrived infected looked at each other, and finally, they all lowered their heads in shame—most of these people still had wives and children; they were still young, and their wives and children needed care. They... dared not, they really dared not.

Meanwhile, some bachelors who were already alone or had fled here simply joined the group with their work – since they had nothing to begin with, they weren't worried about what would happen to their families if they were to die on the battlefield.

There were also some Sarkaz mercenaries who had come from the Sarkaz settlement and were resting, watching the actions of these infected people with surprise: as people from Kazdel, they really couldn't imagine such strange emotions... but it wasn't that they couldn't understand it—if the infected people's "For the Duke" were changed to "For the Crimson Gold".

In this way, the group grew from a few dozen people to several thousand in a distance of less than two kilometers. More and more people joined the crowd, and the number of infected onlookers also increased. Eventually, even the police officers patrolling the streets rushed over. These officers, who were also infected, learned what the group was up to and, while expressing their envy, made way for them, offering them their highest respect. These officers knew they couldn't leave their posts, and even with passionate fervor, they had to remain steadfast in their duties.

And so, the column continued toward the checkpoint not far away, watched by the police. Along the way, it's unclear which mischievous old fellow started it, but first one person began singing an Ursus military song, then two, then a row, then a column, and finally everyone who knew the song joined in, singing in their own loud or hoarse voices. Their singing resounded through the air; if this were the wilderness instead of a city, if they were carrying military flags—perhaps the surrounding people would have thought this was a spirited Ursus army marching toward their destination.

Finally, the long procession of infected individuals stopped about 200 meters from the entrance to the checkpoint. There, the stationed soldiers and police set up a makeshift roadblock.

The old officer waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop and quiet down. He then strode forward with steady steps, finally stopping in front of a soldier who was taller and stronger than him.

"—Sir, let us fight the war, and you are still—"

The soldier glanced at the old officer's thin thighs, which were thinner than his own arms, and then at the saber tucked at his waist. He opened his mouth, but could only manage to utter one sentence: he wanted to advise these untrained infected people, who were nothing but hot-blooded fervor, to go home as soon as possible.

“Child, when I was fighting, you were just a puddle of milk in your father’s balls!” The old officer patted the soldier’s shoulder armor, then grinned, revealing a mouthful of old teeth, and pointed to the infected behind him: “We infected have received so much care from His Excellency the Duke. Now that this city is facing a life-or-death situation, no one can shirk their responsibility. No one.”

"But you can go to the factories to produce supplies for us, and if all else fails, we can do it after the war—"

“Child, what if we lose the war? What if we lose the war because of the lack of effort of dozens, hundreds, or thousands of people? The Duke has issued a general mobilization order. The factories in the infected areas are already overcrowded. Even in the normal communities outside, there are no extra factories for us to work in. Even construction workers are complaining that even though there are more and more construction sites recently, they can finish the construction as quickly as possible. All we old folks can do is waste food and die for the country!”

"But—" The soldier was speechless. He racked his brains trying to explain something, trying to get these infected people, these people who should be protected by them, to go home and stay there, but he found that he couldn't say anything.

Just as the soldiers were considering whether to request reinforcements from their superiors to prevent the chaos from escalating further...

"Soldiers, stand back. I have brought the latest orders from the Duke's mansion."

A burly Wendigo with antlers and a mask appeared behind him with heavy steps. The soldier swallowed hard, saluted the Wendigo captain, and stepped back several paces, handing over his duties to the battle-hardened Sarkaz.

After taking over the soldiers' duties, Wendigo Chief Bozokas looked down at the thin infected officer in front of him, and the infected behind him who were silent but nervously waiting for their conversation to end.

"...Sergeant, this time you go out, you may never come home again."

The antler-like monster opened its mouth, its voice booming and deep, but the old man—the old, antique sergeant—just laughed and patted the saber at his waist.

"We never intended to go home alive, but at least we can carve out a future for young people—I'm referring to my men, the young people who came here on their own... Haha, who knows?"

Bozokasti remained silent for a moment. He genuinely doubted whether that rusty saber was still capable of fighting on the battlefield, but...

He still gave an affirmative answer.

"Because of your influence, those young people who could have been content with their jobs are now going to the battlefield out of sheer passion. You have a responsibility to manage them."

"Of course I understand—but Captain, aren't you going to stop us?"

Faced with Bozokasti's reply, the old sergeant was first surprised, then nodded with a serious expression.

"Because I have brought the latest order from the Duke's Palace: from now on, the Duchy of Kosiché is on a state of general mobilization. Everyone, including those in areas where infected people have gathered, can join the army to defend their homeland."

Bozokastie simply replied, then stated that from now on, this militia composed of infected individuals would be under his command.

...... ......

[Event: The first militia squad of infected individuals.]

After the order to mobilize was issued, the infected in the cluster area were in high spirits, and the first infected militia squad was soon spontaneously formed: this militia, composed of retired veterans and ordinary infected, did not have much combat power, but fortunately they could be trained, and it should not be a problem to teach them how to use weapons in a few days.

More and more infected people will spontaneously join the army to defend their homes and country. I hope you can at least ensure that each of them can be given a military knife or a spear - otherwise these militiamen will really only be able to go to the battlefield with wrenches or hammers.

'...It seems my people have not abandoned their homeland.' Effect: Gain two infantry divisions composed of infected individuals. The maximum strength of this type of infantry division is 3000 men.

As Yang Hao accompanied Kosiché in handling the work of the duchy and worried about the next movement route and the progress of repairing the defensive facilities, a new event popped up in front of him.

After learning that the event log was actually typed out by Miss Wange herself, he felt as if Miss Wange was playing a trick on him... Putting this inexplicable feeling aside for the time being, Yang Hao told his wife the good news while also looking forward to the appearance of more militiamen under the "general mobilization" to fill the gaps in the front line and to cover the losses that would occur in the upcoming war.

"Sigh, when it comes to war, I think of the blasphemous rituals performed by the nobles at the Sherlock Holmes nightclub... Seeing so many young people or old guys going to the battlefield, I can't help but think that Ursus may need decades to recover in the future."

"After all, the actions of those nobles in slaughtering their own people... population decline and population gap are definitely the most important crises we are about to face, but it doesn't matter, Kosicherry. As long as Ursus can win this civil war and gain benefits from the upcoming events in Kazimir... Ursus will recover."

Yang Hao touched Koschich's ear. He comforted his wife and also made arrangements for his upcoming work.

After enjoying her husband's affection for a while to compose herself, Koschitch sighed:

"In short—you're thinking about Hela right now, aren't you?"

Yes. I need her.

“She’ll be happy. But the problem is… she’s really, really vulnerable.”

"So I have to have the Gauls and the remaining Serpent Scales protect her during her first round of tests related to the [soul]... I remember... we still have some naughty children locked up in our cell?"

"Correct."

"Use them for experiments. And Kosichelle, if Duke Nikolai were to target you for assassination..."

“I have no problem. But what about you? I have an heir who can inherit at any time... If something happens to you, then something really happens.”

Kosiché looked at Yang Hao with concern, and then she said that Yang Hao would need at least two people to protect him from now on.

Monica is a definite nominee, so who are the remaining candidates?

Paul has already gone out to work, Theresa is in the hospital, and Mr. Napoleon has to command his troops, so in other words...

"Don't worry, Sonia's abilities are trustworthy. It's just that she and Monica..."

"What happened?"

"How do you think Monica would view a mature woman who intends to turn me into a useless person?"

"Ha...I understand. Don't worry, Monica knows what she's doing."

"Hopefully."

The couple fell silent without saying a word. Just as they were about to rest and prepare for the afternoon's work, Monica returned with Hela.

Hela excitedly grabbed her scythe and ran around, seemingly prepared for everything.

Chapter 78, Section 8.5.3