I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 172: Borders are Forever Secure, Peaceful and Prosperous

At dawn, Ren Xiaoyao, dressed in military uniform and with a long sword at his waist, walked out of the room with great vigor. General Sun was already waiting in the courtyard. The two men nodded to each other, then mounted their horses and galloped towards the city gate.

Amidst the dust and the clatter of horses' hooves, Ren Xiaoyao and General Sun arrived at the border at noon. While the border towns weren't as prosperous as the imperial capital, they were well-ordered, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.

"Xiaoyao, look at this city wall. Isn't it time to reinforce it?" General Sun pointed at the wall and said in a gruff voice, but with a hint of a smile on his face. He and Ren Xiaoyao had been friends for many years, and their conversation had become much more casual.

Ren Xiaoyao followed General Sun's gaze and saw that although the city wall was tall, cracks had appeared in some places after years of wind and sun.

"General Sun is right. The city wall does need to be reinforced, and we need to build more defensive fortifications." Ren Xiaoyao pondered for a moment. "Also, patrols should be strengthened to ensure timely detection of the enemy."

After some discussion, the two men began to develop a detailed plan for border defense. They interviewed veterans and civilians in the city to learn about the border's geography and enemy activity patterns. Based on this information, they created detailed maps and developed a corresponding defense strategy.

Over the next few days, Ren Xiaoyao and General Sun personally oversaw the construction of the fortifications. They meticulously inspected every brick, stone, and timber to ensure quality and progress. Seeing the generals' dedication, the soldiers were also energized, working day and night to accelerate the work.

"Brother Xiaoyao, how long do you think this peaceful life can last?" One evening, General Sun suddenly asked while looking at the setting sun in the distance.

Ren Xiaoyao was slightly startled. He knew what General Sun was referring to. The border seemed peaceful, but the ambitions of the neighboring countries had never disappeared, and the shadow of war always loomed over this land.

"No matter how long it takes, we must guard this land and protect the peace of the people." Ren Xiaoyao said in a firm tone, his eyes as sharp as torches.

"Report——"

In the distance, a soldier came riding at full speed, holding a letter high in his hand.

"General, urgent information!"

The soldier dismounted, knelt on one knee, and held the letter high above his head. Ren Xiaoyao took it, unfolded it, and examined it carefully, his brows furrowing slightly. The letter had been sent by Xia Lin, detailing the latest developments in the surrounding countries: one of them was assembling its troops for an attack on the border.

"It seems that the peaceful days are over." General Sun said on the side, with a hint of solemnity in his tone.

"Pass the order down, summon all the generals to the conference room for a meeting!" Ren Xiaoyao gave the order decisively, with a gleam in his eyes.

As night fell, the conference hall was brightly lit. A map was covered with flags representing the strength of both sides. Ren Xiaoyao pointed at the map and said in a deep voice, "Generals, according to the intelligence provided by Xia Lin, the enemy will attack us in three days. We must be fully prepared to keep the enemy at bay!"

"General, please give the order! We will defend our homeland to the death!" The generals responded in unison, their fighting spirit high.

Over the next few days, the entire border region was mobilized. Soldiers intensified their training, forged weapons, and repaired city defenses in preparation for the coming battle. Ren Xiaoyao and General Sun formulated a detailed battle plan based on the enemy and our respective troop deployments.

To improve the army's combat capabilities and emergency response speed, Ren Xiaoyao organized a large-scale military exercise. On the training ground, drums thundered, shouts of war shook the air, and under Ren Xiaoyao's command, the soldiers practiced various tactical formations, coordinating well and moving swiftly.

"Pass the order down to move all the people outside the city into the city and make sure they are resettled." Ren Xiaoyao said to the messenger beside him.

"Yes!" The messenger took the order and left.

"Xiaoyao, aren't you being too cautious? After all, the war hasn't started yet..." General Sun asked with some confusion.

Ren Xiaoyao shook his head and said with a deep look in his eyes: "It's better to be safe than sorry. We can't take risks with the lives of ordinary people. What's more..."

He paused, then continued, "I have a feeling that this war is not as simple as we imagined."

General Sun was about to ask more, but was interrupted by a soldier's report: "Report - There's a Taoist priest outside the city claiming to be the head of the Tianshan Sect who wants to see you. He wants to contribute to defending our country!"

Ren Xiaoyao and General Sun looked at each other and saw a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

"Please!"

The head of the Tianshan Sect was an old man with white hair and a youthful face, bearing the air of an immortal and possessing an extraordinary bearing. He explained his purpose to Ren Xiaoyao and expressed his willingness to call on his disciples to contribute to the fight against the invasion. Ren Xiaoyao was overjoyed and immediately expressed his gratitude. He then arranged for someone to receive the Tianshan disciples, providing them with food, lodging, and training facilities.

As word spread, many chivalrous men from the Jianghu joined the army. Ren Xiaoyao valued these martial arts masters highly, not only recruiting them into the army and teaching them military tactics and battle formations, but also inviting them to serve as instructors, imparting their own martial arts skills to the soldiers and improving the army's overall combat effectiveness. For a time, the barracks were ablaze with the flashing of swords and the roar of shouts, and a solemn atmosphere permeated the border.

Through a series of efforts, the border region's defenses were greatly strengthened. City walls were raised and reinforced, moats were deepened and widened, and all manner of fortifications were in place. Soldiers, with high morale, trained day and night, ready to repel any incoming enemy. People's lives gradually returned to normal, and they could once again be seen hard at work in the fields.

"Xiaoyao, it seems we've taken precautions this time." General Sun said with a smile as he watched the civilians coming and going outside the city. "Now that the border is secure and the people are living and working in peace, you've made the greatest contribution!"

"This is the result of everyone's joint efforts." Ren Xiaoyao looked into the distance with a deep gaze. "However, I always have a sense of unease in my heart. It seems that there are some dangers that we are not aware of lurking in the dark."

General Sun was about to say something when a soldier came running over and said, "Report—"

"What's the matter?" Ren Xiaoyao asked.

"Unidentified individuals were spotted outside the city. They seem..." The soldier paused, his tone hesitant, "They seem to be from..."

"from where?"

The soldier took a deep breath and said slowly, "From... the Demon Cult!"

"Demon Cult?!" Ren Xiaoyao and General Sun said in unison, their faces becoming solemn.

The Demon Cult, a name feared by the people of the Jianghu, a sinister sect responsible for countless bloodshed and darkness in the history of the empire. Over the years, the Demon Cult had vanished from view, and rumors of them had become increasingly rare, leading many to believe they were completely gone. However, their sudden appearance today at the border has led to suspicions about their motives.

"Is the news confirmed?" Ren Xiaoyao asked in a deep voice.

"Absolutely true!" the soldier said confidently. "I saw it with my own eyes. They were dressed in black, with scimitars at their waists and bronze masks on their faces. They looked exactly like the demon cultists in the legend!"

"It seems our previous guess was correct," Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with a gleam, "The Demon Cult has not disappeared. They have been lurking in the dark, waiting for the opportunity to make a comeback!"

"General, what should we do now?" asked General Sun.

"Pass the order down, all troops on alert, increase patrols, and strictly prevent the Demon Cult's spies from sneaking into the city!" Ren Xiaoyao ordered decisively, "Also, send someone to notify the court and request reinforcements!"

"Yes!" The soldier took the order and left.

"Xiaoyao, it looks like we have to get busy again." Xia Lin walked to Ren Xiaoyao and said softly.

"Yes," Ren Xiaoyao turned to look at Xia Lin, his eyes full of confidence, "However, no matter who the enemy is, as long as they dare to come, we will make sure they never return!"

In the days that followed, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin fought side by side, strengthening the border defenses and closely monitoring the movements of the Demon Cult. At the same time, they also went deep into the people, understood their sentiments, comforted the people, and stabilized their hearts.

A month later, the border area returned to its former tranquility. Wheat waves rolled in the fields, merchants gathered in the towns, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, with happy smiles on their faces.

"Xiaoyao, look, this is everything we are protecting." One evening, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin walked side by side on the city wall. Looking at the peaceful scene under the setting sun, Xia Lin sighed.

Ren Xiaoyao nodded, his heart filled with relief. For this moment, they had paid countless sweat and blood, but it was all worth it.

"I've decided to build a monument on the border," Ren Xiaoyao said firmly, gazing into the distance, "to commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed their lives defending the empire, so that future generations will remember their achievements forever!"

Charlene nodded in agreement. They all knew that peace was hard-won and required generations of people to protect it with their lives.

"Eunuch Qian is here!" At this moment, the voice of a guard came from the bottom of the city wall.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin looked at each other, both confused. Eunuch Qian was a favorite of the emperor, so why did he suddenly come to the border?

"Announce!" Ren Xiaoyao said loudly.

Eunuch Qian quickly walked up to the tower, saluted Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, and said with a smile, "I am here on the orders of His Majesty to express my condolences to the Protector General and Miss Xia Lin."

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin quickly expressed their gratitude.

"Your Majesty also sent me to bring the general a gift," Eunuch Qian said, pulling out a golden scroll from his sleeve. "This is information about a secret treasure of the martial arts world..."