All of these efforts were made for one sole purpose: Forward, forward, forward! Ever onward!

Then, with facts as hard as iron and lessons as stern as iron, they would declare resoundingly to those beasts still attempting to enslave the entire Human Race: The Human Race will never be slaves!

And as these people, having all cast aside their pasts, flocked to the ramparts of Quan State City in an unprecedented, unceasing wave, their eyes fell upon the No.12 cannon tower. Inside it, Jin Botao, whose arm had been shattered by the cannon's recoil, was finally forced to abandon his relentless efforts at the cannon and come to greet these arrivals—influential figures who, at least within Quan State, were capable of shaping the city's destiny.

Behind him, a stark contrast was evident. The very same people who had initially met his stubborn resolve with mockery and disdain, wishing to keep their distance, now regarded his departing figure with nothing but boundless admiration and respect. This was a State Governor truly worthy of the title, one who had never let down the people of Quan State.

In fact, were it not for the critical situation outside—an operation that had mobilized nearly ninety-nine percent of Quan State's forces—they even harbored a faint hope: that Jin Botao might stay and continue to forge miracles with them.

However, the Tower Commander—who had once chafed under Jin Botao's pressure and been forced to yield, yet was now filled with immense awe and admiration for Jin Botao's subsequent deeds—was far more clear-headed than these men. Moreover, standing nearby, the Tower Commander understood the situation more clearly. Although the time had been short, in that brief half-hour, Jin Botao had imparted his most crucial and practical experience to them. Now, it was their turn to rely on their own efforts to create new miracles.

So, after Jin Botao departed, while the Artillerymen were still saluting his retreating figure, the Tower Commander roared without delay to snap them back to their senses. "What are you looking at? The State Governor has far more critical matters to attend to! And you, the Federation's elite Artillery, have you lost the courage to create a miracle yourselves?!"

Instantly, everyone came to their senses. "Right, right, right! The State Governor isn't like us common Artillerymen! His importance is to all of Quan State City!"

In truth, all this was because, in merely half an hour, Jin Botao had utterly conquered their hearts, even fostering a budding sense of dependence within them. It was only when Jin Botao was compelled to leave that they remembered he was, first and foremost, a State Governor. He had stayed in the No.12 cannon tower because he possessed an inexhaustible wealth of experience in how the Human Race should combat the Beast Clans—experience that could significantly improve the battle outcomes of the No.12 cannon tower. Thus, when Jin Botao left, confident in their abilities, it signified their 'graduation'.

So, it was time for these 'graduates'—the Artillerymen of the No.12 cannon tower, men whom Jin Botao, an elder over sixty whose arm had also been brutally broken, had sheltered from start to finish—to step up and take command.

Therefore, when the Tower Commander roared again, "So, now! Immediately! Get back to your duties! This is our mission and our responsibility!"

At this, everyone roared in unison, "YES, SIR!"

However, it was clear the Tower Commander still hadn't grasped the true importance of these Artillerymen. He merely thought Jin Botao's involvement was a sudden whim, and their job was simply to continue manning the cannons. Consequently, it wasn't until Jin Botao had arranged everything and issued his orders that these soldiers, their minds somewhat rigid, could quickly shift their thinking and grasp his intentions.

Thus, it wasn't long before the Tower Commander finally received the news. A Military Order, delivered as if from the heavens to the No.12 cannon tower, left him drenched in a cold sweat, filled with shock and remorse. Only then did he connect all the preceding events and their consequences.

The Military Order read: "The Artillery team of eighteen in the No.12 cannon tower: Disband immediately! No room for discussion! A new Artillery company will arrive shortly to take command. Thereafter, all original members of the No.12 cannon tower are to proceed immediately to the other cannon towers for rotation. Assignment: One person to lead each tower, promoted to Temporary Tower Commander!"

Behind this Military Order, the objective was clear: to disseminate Jin Botao's Artillery combat experience to the greatest extent possible. Furthermore, to ensure this Military Order was executed flawlessly, someone had even appended a chilling sentence: "Any who disobey this order shall be executed without mercy!"

It was only then that the Tower Commander truly understood. Jin Botao was far more than a mere ace Artilleryman; he didn't have the leisure for that, especially with the battlefront so critical. For Jin Botao, his foremost identity and responsibility would always be that of State Governor of Quan State! The reason Jin Botao had issued this Military Order was evident: he believed these Artillerymen had taken the baton from his hand. They were to be like seeds—seeds that, under his hopes and attention, would rapidly and effectively take root in all eighteen cannon towers atop Quan State City's walls. Then, piece by piece, they would break the blockade of the flying beasts overhead.

As for the decree that disobedience would be met with death without mercy, it might seem like immense pressure. But in truth, to these veteran soldiers, such a threat was utterly superfluous. It was probably the bright idea of some self-important aide, some of them thought. After all, if they feared death, they would never have ascended the city wall in the first place!

Thus, when the order was finally delivered and all the Artillerymen had been briefed, these men—already prepared, yet their bodies trembling on the verge of collapse from sustained high tension—resolutely accepted the command. They immediately faced the direction of the State Government, saluted with profound respect, and then declared with utmost Solemnity:

"Corporal Yao Lin, 13th Platoon, Quan State Artillery Corps, acknowledges this order!"

"Corporal Zhang Gui, 13th Platoon, Quan State Artillery Corps, acknowledges this order!"

"Corporal Lin Daosen, 13th Platoon, Quan State Artillery Corps, acknowledges this order!"

They conducted themselves this way because, for a soldier, strength is never unearned. Since they were inheriting Jin Botao's experience, they were honor-bound to uphold his reputation. This was to prevent a repeat of the embarrassing situation where people, much like they themselves once had, would look upon Jin Botao with disdain and doubt.

And so, in that moment, the Military Order was as unshakeable as a mountain. In that moment, they steeled themselves to advance!

After Jin Botao's intensive, hands-on instruction, a spark had been lit in every cannon tower on Quan State City's wall—a spark ready to ignite a prairie fire. All this was one of the few, small efforts Jin Botao could make. Simultaneously, it represented one of the scarce, spontaneous acts of self-salvation that Quan State as a whole could muster.

「On the other side」

Before this Military Order was issued, Jin Botao, having hurried from the cannon tower, had successfully met with the group that had just arrived at the city wall with Fang Fang. However, to avoid disrupting the battle order on the city wall, these Martial Artists were prohibited from directly ascending it. After all, although they were also warriors, and terrifyingly powerful ones at that, in a battle of this magnitude, individual prowess, while useful, was not omnipotent. Therefore, if they were to rashly join the fray, they might bring more chaos than aid to Quan State. Because, given their exceptional strength and status, even the slightest intervention from any one of them could trigger a chain reaction, directly detonating the course of the battle. Worse still, if even one of them made a small error and fell in full view of everyone, it would instantly shatter the morale of all defenders. After all, if even such powerful Martial Artists were no match, what hope could the ordinary people, fighting with such fervent passion, possibly have?

Therefore, in a situation where they could not easily intervene, once Jin Botao learned of their arrival, he immediately issued instructions: they were all to obey commands and gather in a now-empty ammunition vault beneath the city wall to await orders.

Perhaps this ammunition vault, completely emptied in just two or three short hours of fighting on the wall above, could never have imagined that one day it would host a temporary congregation of nearly ten Martial Kings and over a hundred experts of the Grandmaster Realm.

What followed was a secret meeting, one that might influence many of Quan State's battles and would undoubtedly guide the entire state toward its ultimate Fate. If Quan State could still stand proudly upon the Federal Land in days to come, perhaps this very place would become a hallowed site for the Federal Human Race, a place to commemorate and retrace the steps of their ancestors.

By the time all the arriving reinforcements had gathered in the ammunition vault, about three or four minutes later, Jin Botao hurriedly appeared before them. His appearance, however, left the many powerful Martial Artists present utterly stunned. They shot to their feet instantly, their faces etched with urgency.

"State Governor…" one exclaimed.

"What happened to you?" another asked.

"Is the situation outside untenable? Should we old-timers go up now…?"

The reason for their shock was stark: Jin Botao's arm, shattered by the cannon's recoil in the No.12 cannon tower, was a grievous sight.

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