I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 165: The Conflicted Marlowe

Onkandla, the city is now in hunger and panic. All government and public services have stopped, and hunger and panic are spreading.

The rich and powerful fled together with their wives, children, and gold and silver jewelry. Those who had old houses or relatives in the countryside also fled to the countryside in a panic.

The streets of the once prosperous city were now filled with fleeing residents, bringing their families with them and carrying their only remaining belongings, their eyes filled with confusion and fear.

The ruffians in the city took the opportunity to go out and rob passers-by in the streets and alleys. Some of them were even so daring as to break into houses and rape decent women.

Where did the city guards go at this time?
They were taken away by the congressmen who had fled early. The escape was not safe because of the Wallace rebels. The bigwigs needed guards. In addition to their own personal guards, they also used their authority to mobilize the army to protect themselves.

Therefore, now there is only a crippled garrison regiment left in Oncandra, and the security in the city has naturally gotten out of control.

The reason why this garrison regiment did not leave was not because the big man still had a conscience, but because Marlowe, who led this garrison regiment, refused to accept such an order.

The reason why such a tragedy happened is very simple...war.

The news of the defeat of the 3rd Infantry Regiment that attacked the Bolas Fortress had been brought back from the front line by the defeated soldiers, and the entire city instantly fell into unprecedented despair.

The already precarious situation collapsed completely because of this news. The last shred of hope in people's hearts was ruthlessly torn apart, replaced by endless fear and helplessness.

Those who did not have enough wealth to escape the city could only wander the streets, looking for any food to fill their stomachs. The cries of hungry children were heard one after another, while their parents could only hold them helplessly, watching their skinny bodies tremble in the cold and hunger.

On the outskirts of the city, some makeshift refugee camps are already overcrowded. The conditions there are extremely poor, with insufficient food, water and medical supplies, and diseases can spread among the crowd at any time.

However, these refugees have no choice but to huddle together, keep each other warm, and wait for an unknown future.

Marlowe, who had been promoted to major general, wore his old major's uniform and stood on the spire of the Church of Mother Earth in the city center, overlooking the chaotic city.

There was no expression on Marlowe's face, only deep fatigue and helplessness. His eyes passed through the chaotic streets, as if he could penetrate the fog and see the future of the city.

But he knew in his heart that the future was so dim and uncertain.

Outside the city, according to the scouts' reports, the enemy's vanguard... some heavy-armored, yet agile foot knights have appeared. Like a dark cloud, they are approaching Oncandra at an alarming speed.

These foot knights were undoubtedly the elite troops under Prince Chris's command. Their appearance meant that the prince's army was approaching. The shadow of war had already shrouded the city, and the residents of Oncandra were completely unprepared.

The fleeing councilors and dignitaries, concerned only with their own safety, had left the city and its people behind. Now, they could only rely on this battered garrison and its exhausted soldiers to resist the approaching enemy.

If possible, Major General Marlowe also wanted to escape, but the meaning of his pre-war promotion was essentially a very clear matter, because there was only one situation in which the promotion rules would be crossed like this... to die with honor in battle.

Marlowe turned and walked down the steeple, his steps heavy and firm. He knew he had to act now, but what and how?

Just after he came down, before the major general could figure out his plan, two messengers came back hurriedly, almost crawling from outside, bringing him bad news and good news.

"Sir, Wallace's rebels appeared in Kate Canyon. They ambushed the adults heading to Waterradnoy, defeated the accompanying guards, and killed all the adults and their families!"

"what!"

Marlowe froze.

What is the second news?
"Sir, according to the sentry report, the scouts of the pseudo-prince's army and the Wallace rebels outside the city have started fighting!"

The stunned Major General Marlowe immediately came back to life, full of energy, his face flushed and excited.

Good news, this is really one... no, two good news!

Those adults who abandoned the city and fled died at the right time!
The only downside was that the wealth and food they brought were all intercepted by Wallace's rebels, strengthening them. However, there is always a trade-off, and Marlowe found the rebels' fattening more palatable than the survival of those who escaped the disaster with power and wealth.

In addition, the pseudo-prince's men fought with Wallace's rebels, and the pseudo-prince's scouts outside the city fought with Wallace's rebels, which meant that the two hostile forces had clashed outside the city. It would be best if they could consume each other and die completely.

This means that... means that...

Marlowe fell into deep thought, and suddenly a question occurred to him.

After fighting between the two sides, there will always be a winner. Even if they are both defeated, can Oncandela be spared?
Impossible. The problem facing the city of Onkandla is food shortage, and a large amount of food shortage.

The emergence of Wallace's rebels prevented the transportation of food from the countryside and Minisia, or food could only be smuggled in little by little under the cover of night, causing long-term hunger among urban residents.

Including Marlow, who had finally broken through with the garrison regiment and returned to Oncandra, and the hundreds of soldiers left under his command, they had hardly ever had a full meal in a day.

In addition to the fact that the councilors did this on purpose to punish the garrison for its defeat, it was also because of the lack of food reserves in the city.

When those bigwigs abandoned the city and fled, they even called it "escorting military supplies to the Helgeland front" and looted every last bit of edible food in the Oncandra warehouse.

So even if the enemies outside the city retreated because both sides suffered losses, the hungry people in the city would not disappear out of thin air.

If Marlowe didn't want to die here and didn't want to eat human flesh, then he had to take the remaining soldiers of the garrison and escape from here, escape from Oncandra.

He even has to escape now.

Although it is too late, there is still a glimmer of hope if I run away now. If I wait any longer, things will be difficult to say.

Enemies outside the city, starving people inside the city, difficulties both inside and outside.

Marlowe knew about this, and his mind told him that he had to leave, but he was still conflicted and unwilling to run away.

There were many reasons why Major General Marlowe was so hesitant to stay in the city center. In addition to the fact that the Republic promoted him to general and forced him to die in Oncandra, it was also because of the glory and reputation of the Benson family.

The ancestors of the Benson family's kingdom knights only died on the battlefield, and no one has ever escaped from the battlefield. Now that Marlowe is asked to take the lead, he dare not.

For various reasons, Major General Marlowe is now in a dilemma staying in Oncandra.

He knew very well that if he wanted to organize the city defense, gather the refugees in the city and maintain order, he had to send out the soldiers of the garrison regiment under his command. Then, the most important thing was to provide food so that the refugees would not starve to death, so as to maintain order.

Marlowe didn't have much food, only enough to feed a few hundred people for a few days. If it was distributed to feed all the refugees in the city, it wouldn't even be enough for one meal.

This is Marlowe's current dilemma. He should also learn from those big guys and run away. Moreover, he has an army in his hands, so if he wants to run away, it will be easier and safer than the latter.

However, Marlowe's personal morality and sense of honor made him hold on to the last glimmer of hope and want to save Oncandra.

What is the key to saving Oncandra?
It's food!
As long as there is food, Marlowe can recruit young and middle-aged refugees to serve as militia and stabilize the situation.

"Report!!!"

Just as Marlowe waved his hand to let the two messengers go down, the third messenger ran in.

"Sir, the battle outside the city is over. The fake prince's knights have driven away Wallace's rebels!"

"What!?"

(End of this chapter)