Chapter 30

"Please listen to my analysis. Brother Zhu has also seen Ronggu City, where the lack of rain has caused the rivers to dry up. Without that water dam, we would have no harvest this autumn, and we would be unable to provide any food to the Dongxu battlefield." Zheng Yu began to speak.

Zhu Minglang listened while observing the weather.

The weather was changing, and the unusual air pressure made people feel a tightness in their chests.

This tightness was often a sign of impending rain.

Teacher Duan Lan was already making the clouds gather and the rain fall.

"Even our fertile and well-irrigated Ronggu City is in such a state, so what about Wutu, which has a harsher environment and poorer soil?" Zheng Yu raised his gaze and looked into Zhu Minglang's eyes.

"We have no rain, and Wutu has no rain." Zhu Minglang said.

"Yes, Wutu has a primitive system, backward agriculture, and a savage populace. This autumn, there has not been a single drop of rain, and winter is about to set in..." Zheng Yu's words were suddenly interrupted by a loud thunderclap in the gray sky!

"Boom!!!!!!!!!!"

The thunder echoed, and the once clear sky had become dark and gloomy. A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky over Ronggu City, illuminating the ancient streets and the common people waiting for the rain.

Their faces were filled with anticipation and joy!

They could already smell the scent of the rain, the source of life.

At the entrance of the mansion, Zheng Yu did not move a step, maintaining his humble posture in front of Zhu Minglang.

Zhu Minglang looked at the young city lord, feeling a touch of emotion.

What moved him was not the thunder and the rain, but Zheng Yu's words.

It was the perspective from which he analyzed the situation.

"This war..." Zhu Minglang's heart was stirred.

"Will have only one outcome." Zheng Yu said solemnly.

Zhu Minglang looked eastward.

In fact, the dense clouds only covered this small valley, while the distant areas were still bathed in sunlight.

"Drip~"

A raindrop fell precisely on the back of Zhu Minglang's neck, cool and moist...

"Drip~"

"Drip drip drip~~~~~~"

More and more raindrops fell, hitting the ancient stone slabs of the road, producing a pleasant sound like piano keys.

From light and slow to rapid and intense, the melody gradually became passionate and high-pitched, and the mind was completely immersed in the beautiful symphony of the rain.

"It's raining!"

"It's raining!!!"

Cheers erupted on the streets, in the houses, and in the fields.

The rain was sweet, even to the smell.

The rain lifted the gloom in everyone's hearts.

The rain was like blood flowing through a withered body, bringing the valley and the city back to life!

People cheered from the bottom of their hearts, surpassing the joy of the New Year's celebration and the triumph of a victorious battle.

Listening to the rain nourishing all things and the joy of the entire city, Zhu Minglang stood under the eaves of the mansion, his sleeves and shoes wet from the rain.

Outside the eaves, City Lord Zheng Yu remained motionless, still maintaining his humility...

But the rain soaked his hair and his robe, and the raindrops clung to his face, making his gentle appearance look especially resolute. His eyes shone with a light of indomitable spirit.

"Why don't you laugh with your people? You delayed the time, making the rain fall. Even if you inform the two teachers of your actions now, you can say that this rain filled the reservoir." Zhu Minglang laughed, looking at the hypocritical city lord.

"Brother Zhu, how long have we been talking?" Zheng Yu asked sincerely.

"Only a few minutes."

"Do you know that before we met, a battle report had already arrived, a delayed report?" Zheng Yu continued.

Zhu Minglang's expression changed slightly.

A delayed battle report??

Zheng Yu had already analyzed the Wutu war, and Zhu Minglang fully agreed with Zheng Yu's words.

Yes, this war has only one outcome—defeat!

Why did the Zulong city-state lose?

They had excellent equipment, skilled commanders, and towering city walls and fortresses...

But what did that matter?

Wutu faced the greatest disaster.

Zhu Minglang had lived in Wutu and knew that most of the people there worked hard all year just to survive.

Their land was barren, and it was already difficult to fill their stomachs, let alone store food and clothes.

And now, since he left Wutu, there had been no rain. Even Ronggu City, which was irrigated by streams, faced a crisis of dry fields and dying livestock. How much worse must it be in Wutu!

No rain, the fields were barren, the fruit trees withered, and there was no food at all.

Winter was coming, and without cotton for clothing, how could they survive the harsh Wutu winter?

They were in a desperate situation!

They had no space to live!!

This was the origin of the rebellion.

The closer it got to the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the more Wutu people realized they would not survive to the next year.

It was not that the rebels coveted the fertile land of the Zulong city-state, but that they were being driven to the brink by a death called "winter." They had to break through the strong fortresses to have a slim chance of survival, or they would all die in Wutu!!

The quality of the soldiers and the ferocity of the dragon beasts were no longer important; the will to survive would make the Wutu people fight like moths drawn to a flame...

They fought to live.

The Zulong city fought for dignity and land.

Who would win, who would lose?

The outcome of this war was clear, and Zheng Yu knew it, and now Zhu Minglang knew it too.

So, the delayed battle report...

Ronggu City was only fifty miles from the front line.

And this city was in a valley, where even from a high vantage point, the outside plain could not be seen. The Wutu rebel army would soon reach here!

"Drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

The rain was loud.

The people celebrated.

As the city lord, Zheng Yu stood in the heavy rain, just one step away from the shelter of the eaves, but he did not move.

"The rain has come, and the city will fall." Zhu Minglang finally understood why Zheng Yu could not laugh.

"Brother Zhu, you can inform the two teachers now. Please tell them to leave with the students quickly. On behalf of Zheng, I thank the two teachers and the dragon trainers for their compassion." Zheng Yu bowed deeply to Zhu Minglang again.

The rain beat against his back, soaking his clothes and streaming down his face...

Zhu Minglang put aside his suspicions, clasped his hands tightly, and walked down the steps, letting the rain wash over him, bowing deeply.

"Brother Zhu, I am powerless. Take care." Zhu Minglang said.

After bidding farewell, Zhu Minglang ran in the rain, his heart heavy.

Zheng Yu did not abandon the city and flee.

He was determined to fight to the death against the rebels who had just broken through the fortresses.

He was determined to protect the people of Ronggu City, who had just received the rain.

...

The pseudo-dragons, with their leathery wings, rose slowly in the rain. They were descendants of pterodactyls, and the rain did not wet their feathers, only adding some resistance.

Thirteen students put on the leather raincoats they had prepared, and Teachers Duan Lan and Ke Bei stood on the backs of the eagle beasts.

They were slowly leaving Ronggu City. When they reached a height of two hundred meters, they could see the dense raindrops at the valley entrance, and a large crowd of people were rushing into the valley, heading for Ronggu City!

They were the Wutu rebels!!

Their shouts grew louder, even the heavy rain could not drown them out, like endless thunder approaching!!

On the ground, they might only see some figures, but from a high vantage point, the figures were endless, some even wearing armor they had taken from the city-state soldiers. They rushed into the rice fields that had just been watered by the rain and toward the city!

"Is the fortress really breached??" One of the dragon trainers could hardly believe what he saw, saying in a daze.

"Teacher Ke Bei, we are also citizens of the Zulong city-state. Can we just watch these rebels invade our city? We are dragon trainers, why should we fear these commoners!" Nan Ye said loudly.

As a member of the Nan family, he was also a royal relative of the Zulong city. Seeing his family's territory being trampled, how could he bear it!

With Teachers Duan Lan and Ke Bei, and thirteen students who had dragon companions, they should be able to slaughter these rebels!

"Once you enter the Dragon Training Academy, you must not participate in any wars unless it is to attack an evil city. Don't you understand this rule!" Teacher Ke Bei said sternly.

"But they are Wutu beasts, evil people. They have their own land, yet they invade the Zulong city-state. They do not deserve pity!" Nan Ye said excitedly.

Why not take action?

The two teachers could definitely stop the rebels, at least delay them until reinforcements arrived!

"They are not beasts; they are just fighting for survival..." Duan Lan's voice was already choked with emotion.

He had prayed for the rain to save the people, but he never expected that his dragon rain would only save the residents of this small valley, not the tragedy caused by the natural disaster.

Even without the explicit rules of the Dragon Training Academy, what should Duan Lan do?

Slaughter a group of men fighting for their families, or protect the people suffering from the drought?

He could do nothing.

Dragon trainers.

Beyond ordinary spirits, yet still small.

"Rumble Rumble Rumble~~~~~~~~~~~"

Suddenly, a series of loud booms came from deep within the valley. In the heavy rain, they could see a small stream being blocked by something ancient, with rocks and trees being violently stirred into the current, sweeping toward the entrance of the valley...

"Flood???"

Everyone was stunned. How could a flood be caused by this rain after such a long drought?

This rain could only moisten the forest, not cause such a violent flood.

The flood filled the stream, unstoppable, and poured over the fields of Ronggu City, flooding the narrow path into the valley!

The narrow path into Ronggu City was crowded with the Wutu rebels. Their long line of troops never imagined that a flood would come from the peaceful valley city...

A chorus of screams!

Countless Wutu people were swallowed by the flood, unable to retreat due to the narrow valley, leaving them no place to hide from the flood!

Thousands of people were devastated by the flood, smashed against rocks, drowned in the water, and washed into the river delta.

The once powerful rebel army, which had easily breached the city, was now shattered, with bodies and the flood flowing together.

Seeing this shocking scene from above, Zhu Minglang's heart was also stirred.

He remembered the polite and gentle scholar at the steps of the mansion.

He remembered the young city lord who stood firm in the rain.

His eyes shone with a resolute light in the gray rain.

The water was full, but he did not release it.

He would rather let the people suffer than open the floodgates.

"Before winter, the Dongxu fortress will be breached. If the city falls, Ronggu City will be devastated by the rebels, even to the point of being eaten and drank."

"The people can endure the winter with various methods, but they cannot do so without weapons to resist the invasion."

"I know their suffering, but compared to that, I hope they can survive in this chaotic world."

"Brother Zhu, take care."

The rain was loud in his ears, and the raincoat could not stop the rain. Zhu Minglang's mind was filled with the image of the thin figure in the rain, and his final deep bow was a silent expression of his unspoken words!

Zhu Minglang took a deep breath, inhaling the damp air, and looked at the swaying rain curtain and the desolate land. We are all mere mortals.

"More rebels are coming. Heaven, how many people have joined this rebellion in Wutu!" Li Shaoying suddenly exclaimed.

Leaving the valley, they could see the valley plain. It was unimaginable that outside the valley, there were thousands more rebels, and those entering Ronggu City were only a part of them!

The rebels were indeed heavily damaged, but their massive base was not affected!

The reservoir would eventually run dry, and the narrow path would reappear, and the rebel army would still flood into this valley granary city!

With the brutality of Wutu, the civilians of Ronggu City would find it hard to survive.

"The narrow path is low and seems to have been deliberately dug. The flood did not all flow away but formed a lake, flooding the valley road. The rebels must swim through the muddy lake to attack Ronggu City." Nan Ye said excitedly.

The lake was right at the only entrance to the valley, as if it had been designed.

The road was flooded, and the horses and beasts could not enter. The steep sides of the valley made climbing difficult, and after the rain, it was even easier to fall and die...

This lake became a natural barrier for Ronggu City, making it difficult for the rebels to enter in large numbers.

"By setting up a post at the other end of the lake and shooting arrows at the enemies who jump into the lake, a thousand men can block ten thousand. Is this a miracle flood sent by heaven to save Ronggu City??" A female student could not help but exclaim joyfully.

The rebels, who could not be stopped by the fortress, were now helpless against this small Ronggu City!

"Teacher Duan Lan, this rain saved all the people of Ronggu City. Even if the rebels clear the lake, it will take one or two days, by which time the reinforcements will have arrived..." The other students could not help but exclaim in amazement.

This flood was like a miracle!

But only Zhu Minglang knew that it all came from a gentle scholar.

He held the water back, preserving the last line of defense for Ronggu City. It was his wisdom and determination that saved the city and its people!

Brother Zheng, take care.

Please survive in this chaotic world.

Zhu Minglang stood on the back of the eagle beast and bowed deeply toward Ronggu City again.

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(Thinking about it, it's better to read this as a continuous story, so I've put all the drafts together. Please vote!~~~)