Sludge suction system

In the magnificent yet now shrouded in gloomy imperial palace of Fengyu Kingdom, Chu Xiao sat high on the dragon throne, his face ashen, exuding a chilling aura. In his hand, he tightly clutched a letter sent by Chu Li from Lincang Kingdom; the thin paper seemed to weigh a thousand pounds at this moment.

Chu Xiao's gaze was like a sharp blade, slicing across the letter inch by inch. When he saw the two conditions proposed by Lincang Kingdom, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, which were then filled with boundless rage. "Absurd! This is utterly absurd!" He suddenly exerted his strength, slamming the letter to the ground. The crisp sound echoed throughout the empty hall, causing the candlelight on both sides of the hall to flicker.

"Cease two cities? And you still dare to think you can keep Chu Li as a hostage? Does the Lincang Kingdom think I'm a pushover to be manipulated!" Chu Xiao's chest heaved violently, his face flushed red with anger, and the muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably.

The ministers below all bowed their heads, not daring to breathe. The hall was deathly silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Only Chu Xiao's heavy breathing echoed in the hall.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to quell your wrath. Our Phoenix Feather Kingdom is currently besieged by the Azure Kingdom's army, and our situation is extremely precarious. We are like a lone boat in a storm, on the verge of capsizing at any moment. The forces of the Lincang Kingdom are crucial to relieving our immediate crisis." Finally, Prime Minister Li Yong steeled himself and took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly with tension and awe.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiao's sharp gaze instantly pierced Li Yong, and he angrily rebuked, "Hmph, what? You actually want me to agree to such humiliating conditions? These two cities are the homes of countless people in my Phoenix Feather Kingdom, the foundation of our empire built by our ancestors through countless hardships. How can I easily hand them over?" He paused briefly, his tone softening slightly, yet still revealing an undeniable firmness, "As for Chu Li, although he is not the most favored among my many princes, he still carries the blood of my royal family. How can I bear to abandon him to suffer in an enemy country!"

Li Yong's legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed tightly to the ground. His voice was pleading: "Your Majesty is wise, and this old minister naturally understands the stakes involved. But if we do not agree to the request from Lincang Kingdom, they will certainly not send troops to help us. Without reinforcements, how can my Fengyu Kingdom resist the ferocious attacks of the Bilan Kingdom? At that time, the country will cease to exist, and all our glory, wealth, and the stability of our nation will vanish into nothingness."

Chu Xiao clenched his teeth, his expression shifting constantly, revealing his intense inner struggle. He was acutely aware of the dire situation. The army of the Azure Kingdom was like a surging, endless tide, completely surrounding the passes of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom. The country's military strength had been severely depleted in days of fierce fighting; the army was exhausted, and supplies were dwindling. Without reinforcements, the fall of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom might truly be only a matter of time.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should temporarily agree to the conditions of the Lincang Kingdom to alleviate the immediate crisis. After successfully defeating the Azure Kingdom, we can then devise a long-term plan to seize the city and rescue Prince Chu Li," a young military general couldn't contain himself and stepped forward to offer his advice.

"Hmph, you make it sound so easy!" Chu Xiao sneered, his eyes full of contempt and disdain. "Once you agree, those two cities will be like lambs falling into the tiger's mouth, with no chance of return. And if Chu Li stays in Lincang, they will definitely regard him as an important bargaining chip and make things difficult for him in every way. His life will be in danger at any time."

Silence fell once more in the hall. The ministers exchanged bewildered glances, unable to offer a better solution. Chu Xiao, gazing at the silent officials below, felt his anger flare, yet also a profound sense of powerlessness and despair. He slowly sat down on the dragon throne, his gaze blankly fixed on the hall's dome, his thoughts a tangled mess. How could he choose a path to lead the Phoenix Feather Kingdom out of this life-or-death predicament? His heart was filled with confusion and torment.

Suddenly, Chu Xiao's gaze sharpened, as if he had made up his mind. He abruptly stood up, scanned the assembled officials, and said in a deep voice, "The cession of cities is absolutely impossible! But... if Lincang insists on having a hostage, then let Chu Li stay for the time being. I will send elite secret guards to infiltrate Lincang and find an opportunity to rescue Chu Li. As for the current war, my beloved ministers, please discuss it carefully and come up with a good strategy to defend against the enemy. I refuse to believe that my Fengyu Kingdom will perish without the support of Lincang!" With that, he waved his sleeve, turned, and strode away, leaving the officials in the hall looking at each other, each pondering their own countermeasures.

On the border of Phoenix Feather Kingdom, howling winds swept across the land, swirling yellow sand and casting a hazy, yellowish hue over everything. The army of Azure Kingdom surged forth like an unstoppable, surging black tide, sweeping across the mountains and plains. Their black banners billowed wildly in the wind, like ferocious demons, their cries echoing through the air. Wherever they went, the land of Phoenix Feather Kingdom was mercilessly trampled.

Within a few short days, the Azure Kingdom, with its swift and fierce offensive, like a sharp blade, breached two of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom's supposedly impregnable cities. These two cities had always been the Phoenix Feather Kingdom's frontline fortresses against foreign enemies. Their tall and thick walls, originally bearing the hopes of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom's soldiers and civilians, stood majestically, seemingly capable of resisting any invading foe. But who could have imagined that, under the frenzied attacks of the Azure Kingdom's wolf-like, fearless soldiers, they would fall so quickly?

When the city fell, it instantly descended into a living hell. The soldiers of the Azure Kingdom, like ferocious beasts, slaughtered the city's inhabitants. Blades flashed, blood splattered, and blood flowed down the streets, a thick crimson spreading and staining the earth crimson. Those who survived, dragging their families along, cried out in terror and despair, fleeing for their lives. The elderly, their steps faltering, couldn't keep up with the procession; children were separated from their parents in the chaos. Cries and screams mingled together, creating a heart-wrenching lament. Along the way, abandoned clothing and scattered bundles told the cruelty of this disaster.

The Azure Kingdom's army showed no signs of respite; their initial victory had boosted their morale to new heights, making them even more arrogant. Their target was Phoenix City, the capital of the Phoenix Feather Kingdom to the south. The vanguard rode on strong, powerful horses, the soldiers on horseback wielding long spears that gleamed coldly. The horses galloped, raising clouds of dust, like a ferocious black dragon, rapidly advancing towards Phoenix City, causing the earth to tremble in their wake.

At this moment, the atmosphere in Fengcheng was extremely tense and oppressive, as if the air itself had frozen. On the city walls, the soldiers of Fengyu Kingdom all wore solemn expressions, their faces haggard yet forcing themselves to remain focused. Their hands, white from excessive exertion, gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes bloodshot as they stared intently at the approaching black shadow in the distance. They knew all too well that behind them lay their capital, the homes of countless people, the heart of Fengyu Kingdom; if it fell, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Within Fengcheng, the people were gripped by fear, and the entire city descended into chaos. The once bustling streets were now deserted, shops slammed shut, the hastily affixed seals to their doors seeming like a silent lament from the city. People panicked, hastily packing their valuables, stuffing them haphazardly into bundles; some didn't even have time to organize, carrying them on their backs, dragging their children along, ready to flee at any moment. The streets and alleys were filled with the shouts of adults, the cries of children, and the clatter of objects—a scene of utter chaos.

Inside the palace, Chu Xiao was extremely anxious, restless like an ant on a hot pan. His dragon robe was slightly disheveled, and some strands of his hair were loose, completely lacking his usual majestic demeanor.

Suddenly, the door to the imperial study was flung open with a bang, and a messenger, covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled, scrambled in and knelt on the ground with a thud. His voice trembled and choked with sobs: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Azure Kingdom's army is launching an overwhelming offensive. After the fall of Lin Yuan City and Wang Hai City, their vanguard has now reached Qing Yan Town, less than a hundred miles from Feng City. They are unstoppable, and our defenders are suffering defeat after defeat!"

Chu Xiao whirled around, his eyes wide with shock and rage, and roared, "How could this be! The walls of Lin Yuan City and Wang Hai City are strong, and there are many soldiers stationed there. Why were they breached so easily? What were you all doing?!"

The messenger trembled with fear, his head pressed tightly to the ground, and cried out, "Your Majesty, please forgive us! The Azure Kingdom has dispatched its elite troops this time, with superior siege equipment and soldiers who are fearless and charge wave after wave. Although our soldiers fought desperately, we were outnumbered."

Chu Xiao felt a sudden dizziness and almost lost his balance. He grabbed the dragon table to steady himself and gritted his teeth, saying, "Issue my decree: order the garrison troops in all regions to defend the passes at all costs and not allow the Azure Kingdom's army to set foot in Phoenix City!"

The messenger repeatedly agreed and hurriedly withdrew. Chu Xiao paced back and forth in the main hall, his steps rapid and heavy, the stone slabs beneath his feet seeming unable to bear his anxiety, emitting dull thuds. His brows were tightly furrowed into a deep "川" shape, his face filled with worry and anxiety.