Three days earlier, at night.
“What a bunch of useless people. I spent nearly one hundred thousand gold coins to arm thirty thousand troops for you, yet in just one day they were completely defeated by Suo Han Yi.” The graceful woman in a black cloak entered the rebel camp in Tianshui City and coldly rebuked them.
Although she wore a veil, her distinctive voice immediately revealed that she was Princess Zhi Ning.
Originally, she had never met directly with these high level warrior lords who had rebelled. However, the miracle performed by Soren forced her to humble herself and come personally to Tianshui City.
Nuer Dan and the other high level warrior lords were stunned, then instinctively wanted to kneel, but Zhi Ning stopped them.
“My lord, we really did not know that Suo Han Yi had secretly hidden part of his army. Thirty thousand against his ten thousand, yet he still dared to hide his strength. After fighting fiercely for several hours during the day, we thought his troops were already exhausted, so we relaxed our guard and were successfully ambushed by him.” Nuer Dan said.
“Incompetence is incompetence. Do not make excuses.” Zhi Ning said coldly, “This time I have brought five thousand true elites, not like you bunch of useless people. If you cannot capture Tianshui City within three days, none of you need to live.”
So that very night, the five thousand secret elites brought by Zhi Ning mixed into the rebel army of Nuer Dan and the other high level warrior lords.
More than twenty thousand rebels assembled once again and set out for Tianshui City the next day, once again completely surrounding Tianshui City.
However, three days passed.
The main city of Tianshui still stood firm.
Zhi Ning had brought five thousand elites mixed into the rebel army. Over these three days they attacked relentlessly at all costs, crazily piling up human lives in an attempt to break through the city.
The secret elites she brought were extremely powerful and even charged onto the city walls several times.
But the death squads led by the two Dragon Warriors, Suo Han Yi and Yan Nu, were simply too valiant. The enemy elites charged onto the city walls five times, yet each time they were completely wiped out by the several hundred death squads led by them.
The first assault is fierce, the second weakens, and the third exhausts.
Over three days of fighting, both sides suffered countless casualties. The Tianshui City army led by Suo Han Yi was almost exhausted, with nearly half lost.
On the rebel side, even with Zhi Ning’s five thousand elites added, more than half had been lost.
The rebel army of the high level warrior lords now barely numbered around ten thousand. Zhi Ning’s secret elites were reduced to fewer than two thousand.
Both sides had almost used up their last bit of strength and shed their last drop of blood.
The rebels could no longer attack, and the defenders of Tianshui City were also unable to take a single step out of the city.
So both sides reached a stalemate. More than ten thousand rebels, plus the second and third line troops drawn from each high level warrior lord’s territory, totalled more than twenty thousand and completely surrounded Tianshui City, attempting to use siege tactics to force Suo Han Yi to compromise.
Over these two days, Zhi Ning had also sent three waves of assassins to kill Suo Han Yi.
However, only one wave of assassins returned. The rest all died under the swords of Suo Han Yi and Yan Nu.
Assassinating a Dragon Warrior is already extremely difficult. Not to mention that he had another Dragon Warrior, Yan Nu, by his side, and was guarded by many high level warriors.
So the scheming Zhi Ning was suddenly completely at a loss.
Tianshui City was surrounded once again, yet Suo Han Yi still did not take the rebels outside the city seriously at all.
Although the ratio of troops between the two sides was vastly different, time was on his side and not the enemy’s. The grain and fodder inside the main city of Tianshui were enough to last more than a year.
Moreover, the soldiers and civilians inside the city were united. Although exhausted, their morale was high.
Wherever Suo Han Yi went, he enjoyed complete popular support and commanded with perfect ease.
In contrast, the rebels outside could not afford to drag things out. They had no houses and could only live in tents. Their grain and fodder had to be transported from their respective territories.
Nineteen high level warrior lords could normally only support ten thousand troops. Yet they had drained the pond to catch the fish. From the beginning they had assembled twenty thousand troops, and now they had even summoned the militia from their territories to besiege the city. This was a huge drain on the finances of their territories.
So even with Princess Zhi Ning’s gold coins supporting them, the rebels outside could not hold out for long. Eventually they would either disperse or be defeated by Suo Han Yi once again.
Although he had not slept for two days and two nights, Suo Han Yi did not feel tired. Instead he was extremely excited.
As usual, he had just finished inspecting the troops and the city. Wherever he went, countless civilians cheered and all the soldiers saluted him, even kneeling.
This feeling of being the sole supreme ruler was really too good.
After returning to the city lord’s mansion, Suo Han Yi bathed and changed clothes, then sat on the city lord’s throne and closed his eyes to rest.
Without doubt, he, Suo Han Yi, was now the sole master of Tianshui City. Even if that useless Soren came, he would be of no use at all. Without his nod, Soren could not even command a single soldier.
What use was it for such a useless person to become city lord? Tianshui City would still be decided by him.
Although Suo Han Yi told himself this every time, his heart was still filled with unwillingness. Although he was the highest military commander of Tianshui City, he was after all not the city lord.
Earl of Tianshui and Lord of Tianshui City. These two titles were like magic, tempting him.
“My lord, outside there is someone claiming to be your friend seeking an audience.” A personal guard’s voice interrupted Suo Han Yi’s reverie.
“Friend? Male or female, old or young?” Suo Han Yi asked.
“It is a woman, with her face veiled.” The guard said.
Suo Han Yi’s heart skipped a beat. He vaguely guessed who the visitor was. He should not have met her, but as if possessed, he said, “Let her in. No one is to approach within a hundred paces of my study.”
“Yes.” The guard said.
A moment later, the woman in a black dress and veil appeared before Suo Han Yi. She directly lifted the veil from her face, revealing an extremely beautiful yet pale countenance.
She was of course Princess Zhi Ning. After spitting blood twice in succession, then travelling thousands of miles to Tianshui City and staying awake for two days and two nights, Zhi Ning at this moment was haggard and bloodless, having lost a full circle in weight.
“Princess, I trust you have been well.” Suo Han Yi sat boldly in his chair with no intention of saluting at all, full of the arrogance of a victor.
“Suo Han Yi, your days are numbered yet you do not realise it, and you are still complacent here. How ridiculous.” Zhi Ning said.
Suo Han Yi laughed loudly and said, “Days numbered? Just that rabble outside? It would be good if they could maintain the siege for a month. I already have victory in my grasp.”
Then Suo Han Yi looked down at Zhi Ning and clicked his tongue, “All of you together have a full thirty or forty thousand troops, yet you were defeated by me twice in succession. The secret elites you control are nothing special either.”
Zhi Ning inwardly loathed his attitude and said coldly, “Suo Han Yi, it is not that I want to kill you, but that Soren will kill you.”
“Soren? That spendthrift who is good for nothing.” Suo Han Yi said.
Zhi Ning said, “Suo Han Yi, you are indeed a military genius and a martial arts genius. However, in front of Soren you are nothing. Whether in literary talent, military strategy, or personal charm, you are not even half as good as Soren.”
Suo Han Yi laughed angrily and said, “That spendthrift? Apart from spending money on women, what else can he do? He is useless in civil matters and useless in martial arts, with no strength to truss a chicken. If he were not the adopted son of my foster father, he would have died by the roadside long ago.”
Previously, although Suo Han Yi looked down on Soren, he would never have spoken so harshly. Now, after two great victories and Zhi Ning repeatedly praising Soren, he could not help but voice his inner disdain.
Zhi Ning said, “In this graduation grand examination of the royal city academy, Soren obtained first place. At this moment he has smoothly inherited the title and officially become the Lord of Tianshui City. He will soon come to Tianshui City, and your good days are about to end.”
Suo Han Yi laughed loudly and said, “Absurd, impossible. Soren is ignorant and incompetent. He cannot even draw a bow weighing several tens of catties. Even if Your Highness the Princess wants to lie, you should make it more believable.”
Zhi Ning said, “In this graduation grand examination, I used every means to suppress him. Yet he first wrote a policy essay that shocked the entire cabinet and royal family. In the arts examination, I had all the examiners suppress him, but he played a piece of ‘Destiny’ that is unrivalled in a thousand years and completely conquered the great monk Byron of the Divine Dragon Holy Temple, turning my suppression into a complete joke. In the final archery grand examination, I directly blinded his eyes. Yet he performed a miracle, shooting blindly but hitting every target.”
“Impossible, absolutely impossible.” Suo Han Yi said hoarsely.
Zhi Ning said, “In front of him I suffered a crushing defeat, lost one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins, damaged my foundation, and was publicly humiliated and molested by him. So although I spat blood twice, I still had to travel thousands of miles without sleep or rest to come to Tianshui City, bringing five thousand elites to supervise the final assault. As the greatest loser, what reason do I have to lie?”
Only then did Suo Han Yi feel that Zhi Ning’s words were true. At once his heart was not only shaken but completely overturned.
When Soren was a useless playboy, although he cursed him every day, he was very happy to see this reality. Because if Soren were not useless, how could it highlight his own excellence?
So the more incompetent Soren was, the more loyal he, Suo Han Yi, was to the Suo clan.
But now Soren was not useless. He was a genius who had been pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger. Suo Han Yi simply could not accept this.
How could Soren be a genius? How could he be outstanding? In the Suo clan there could only be one talent, and that was him, Suo Han Yi.
Zhi Ning continued, “My brother Zhi Li thirsts for talent. Do you know what price he offered Soren?”
Suo Han Yi instinctively shook his head.
Zhi Ning said, “Future prime minister, plus future brother in law. That is to say, he wants to marry me to him.”
As soon as these words came out, Suo Han Yi was filled with incomparable jealousy and hatred.
Although Suo Han Yi spoke harshly and showed a superior attitude, in front of a royal noble like Princess Zhi Ning he still instinctively felt inferior.
Yet now Zhi Ning actually said that she was very likely to marry that spendthrift Soren.
“However, I know that Soren will definitely refuse.” Zhi Ning said, “I understand him too well. A man who is extremely proud and extremely fascinating to women will certainly not compromise. That is why I hurried thousands of miles to come here.”
“There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two masters for the people.” Zhi Ning continued, “Tianshui City has only one master. At this moment Soren has already caused a sensation throughout the royal city. His miracle will soon reach Tianshui City. Do you think a city lord who is such a genius and so outstanding will not receive the support of the people and the army?”
Suo Han Yi still had no words to reply.
Zhi Ning added, “If you, Suo Han Yi, are willing to submit to him, hand over military power, and wholeheartedly assist him, then naturally nothing will happen. However, will you be willing to do so? Once the two of you struggle against each other, I dare say that the one who dies will definitely be you.”
“Impossible…” Suo Han Yi said hoarsely, “That spendthrift, how could he be my opponent? Now all the soldiers and civilians in the entire Tianshui City regard me with reverence as if I were a god.”
“No.” Zhi Ning said, “Only after you learn of Soren’s miracles in the royal city will you know what it means to be possessed by a deity.”
Suo Han Yi extremely disliked hearing such words and said coldly, “If Your Highness the Princess has something to say, say it directly.”
“Kill Soren. You become the Lord of Tianshui City and marry Suo Ning Bing.” Zhi Ning said.
This sentence directly struck the hottest place in Suo Han Yi’s heart, causing his whole body to tremble uncontrollably.
Zhi Ning continued, “After you become the Lord of Tianshui City, you must agree to one condition from us. That is to allow our troops to be stationed there and turn Tianshui City into a military fortress for the kingdom’s offensive against the Southern Barbarian Plains.”
Suo Han Yi sneered coldly and said, “Once you station troops here, will Tianshui City still be mine?”
Zhi Ning said, “This Tianshui City was never yours to begin with. You are now openly the commander of the Tianshui City guards, but in reality you are merely a household slave of the Suo clan. Is one count title, one position as Lord of Tianshui City, and one Suo Ning Bing not enough to buy you?”
Suo Han Yi’s heart pounded wildly, almost unable to breathe. Then he remembered the slap Suo Ning Bing had given him.
Yes, on the surface he was the adopted son of the Suo clan, but in reality he was treated like a household slave.
At once Suo Han Yi said in a trembling voice, “Even if I become the Lord of Tianshui City at that time, I will only be a puppet of yours.”
Zhi Ning said, “You underestimate Prince Zhi Li’s broad mindedness. You possess such outstanding military talent. Then in the campaign against the Southern Barbarians, why worry about not establishing meritorious deeds? At that time you will command not just ten thousand troops, but one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand troops. Your future prospects will then be far more than just Lord of Tianshui City or just a count. There will even be a seat for you on the supreme command chair.”
At this moment Suo Han Yi really found it somewhat difficult to breathe.
“Why did Turing Tuo become a duke? It is because he established unparalleled meritorious deeds and because he is acclaimed as the god of war.” Zhi Ning said, “Your military talent, I believe you yourself fully understand it.”
Suo Han Yi said with difficulty, “But… but… Foster father has shown me boundless kindness.”
Zhi Ning said, “In this world there is no true loyalty. So called loyalty exists only because the price of betrayal is not high enough.”
Suo Han Yi said tremblingly, “If I betray the Suo clan, I will be denounced by thousands.”
“No, not only will you not be denounced by thousands, but you will instead become the saviour of the Suo clan.” Zhi Ning said, “You need to do three things. First, pretend to be assassinated and injured. We will take the opportunity to attack the city. You will suffer a great defeat and retreat, and Tianshui City will fall. Second, you will ambush Soren on the road and kill him as your certificate of allegiance to Prince Zhi Li. Third, you will lead your army to defeat the so called rebels, recapture Tianshui City, and stage a king’s return. Then you will legitimately become the Lord of Tianshui City.”
As soon as these words came out, Suo Han Yi laughed loudly and said, “Do you take me for a fool? Once I lose Tianshui City I will have no value at all. And once you expose that I killed Soren, my only fate will be to die without a burial place.”
Zhi Ning said, “Then why do you not directly announce your break from the Suo clan and declare yourself Lord of Tianshui City?”
Suo Han Yi said, “In that case I would be utterly discredited.”
Zhi Ning said, “This will not do, that will not do either. You are unwilling to be loyal to Soren and want to bring him to his death, yet you are also unwilling to get your own hands dirty. You want to be a whore yet still erect a memorial arch. How can there be such a simple thing in the world?”
Suo Han Yi said, “Stop dreaming. If I really do as you say, I will truly die without a burial place. What kind of thing would a poisonous snake like you not do?”
Zhi Ning said coldly, “If you do not agree, you will also die without a burial place. Moreover, it will be an open and upright execution.”
Suo Han Yi said, “Nonsense. It is only right and proper for me to defend Tianshui City. Who could blame me? If you could really execute me openly and uprightly, you would not need to secretly mix troops into the rebel army, nor come to negotiate with me.”
“I came to negotiate with you because you have value.” Zhi Ning said coldly, “Killing you openly and uprightly, I can do it at any time.”
“Dream on, absurd.” Suo Han Yi laughed.
Zhi Ning said, “Do you know who the woman you slept with in the royal city is?”
Suo Han Yi trembled, and at once remembered that magnificent night.
“Her name is Zhu Li’er. She is a noble admirer of yours from your time at the royal city academy.” Zhi Ning said, “Do you have an impression now?”
With this, Suo Han Yi immediately remembered. During his time at the royal city academy there was indeed such a noble girl with large eyes, a very soft and graceful figure, and an extremely gentle gaze. Although Suo Han Yi was in the commoner branch at the time, because of his outstanding results and handsome appearance he was very popular with girls, including this girl Zhu Li’er.
Zhi Ning said, “Do you know whose concubine this girl is now?”
Suo Han Yi immediately felt a surge of coldness.
“She is the concubine of Duke Zhi Ting.” Zhi Ning said coldly, “What kind of person is Zhi Ting? I believe you know better than I do. Moreover, Zhu Li’er is his most favoured woman. And this woman is now pregnant. But Duke Zhi Ting lost the ability to impregnate women long ago. So the child in her belly is yours. It is not obvious yet, but when her belly grows bigger, do you think Zhi Ting will go mad? Once he finds out that you have cuckolded him, will he kill you?”
At this moment Suo Han Yi felt as if he had completely fallen into an ice cave. His whole body had no warmth at all and he could not help but tremble all over.
Zhi Ning said, “Committing adultery with a royal family woman and cuckolding the king’s most beloved younger brother. Do you think that is enough to be beheaded ten times?”
Suo Han Yi trembled all over, then his eyes revealed incomparable ferocity. He said hoarsely, “It was you who harmed me, it was you who harmed me. I will kill you, I will kill you…”
Zhi Ning raised her neck and said, “If you kill me, I am a weak woman. You can kill me with a light pinch. However, do you dare?”
Indeed, Suo Han Yi did not dare. Even if given ten times the courage he would not dare.
“Wrong. Since you can use this matter to kill me, why did you not do so instead of sending assassins to kill me?” Suo Han Yi said.
“It is too slow. Using Duke Zhi Ting to kill you is too slow.” Zhi Ning said, “At most ten days and Soren will return to Tianshui City. Killing you at that time would be meaningless and would only benefit Soren.”
Yes, that was indeed the reason.
At once Suo Han Yi fell into complete despair. His life and death were truly in the hands of this woman who was as beautiful as peach and plum but with a heart like a snake and scorpion.
Zhi Ning said, “I can put you to death at any time, yet why have I not done so? It is because you have value. Come, join Prince Zhi Li’s command, future marquis, future marshal.”
Zhi Ning’s words seemed filled with dreams as she said, “You only need to do three things. First, pretend to be injured and retreat from Tianshui City. Second, kill Soren. Third, lead your army to fight back into Tianshui City. At that time you will become Suo Ning Bing’s only choice, the saviour of Tianshui City, and the hero of the Suo clan.”
“There are two paths before you. One is a dead end, the other is a broad and smooth road. How to choose is very clear to you.” Zhi Ning said.
Suo Han Yi said in a trembling voice, “I do not trust you. If I really do that, you can betray me at any time and put me to death at any time.”
Zhi Ning said, “Then it is very simple. From now on I will follow by your side at all times. If you feel that I intend to harm you, you can kill me immediately. With me as your hostage, you should be at ease.”
Suo Han Yi’s heart was greatly moved. This, this might be a foolproof plan.
Zhi Ning continued, “Only on the day when the royal family confers upon you the title of Earl of Tianshui and Lord of Tianshui City will I leave your side. How about that?”
This would be even more foolproof.
Suo Han Yi’s heart beat faster again, feeling infinite temptation.
“Bang!” At this moment a sound came from outside, as if a porcelain bowl had fallen to the ground and shattered.
“Who?” Suo Han Yi fearfully split open the door.
At once he saw his wife Yang Hong Yi standing outside the door, bloodless, her beautiful eyes filled with complete disbelief.
How much she worshipped Suo Han Yi and admired him? She thought that Suo Han Yi was only angry at Soren for not living up to expectations, but she had not expected him to be so heartless and ungrateful.
As a Dragon Warrior, Suo Han Yi could detect any sound within a hundred paces. However, earlier his mind had been greatly disturbed, and he had already ordered the guards not to let anyone approach within a hundred paces, so he was completely unaware that his wife was outside the door.
At this moment his ugliest side was exposed before his wife. He was immediately extremely alarmed and uneasy.
Yang Hong Yi took one last look at Suo Han Yi, then suddenly ran outside.
Zhi Ning said, “You know that once she runs out of the city lord’s mansion, you will truly be utterly discredited.”
Suo Han Yi said in alarm, “Then what do you want me to do? Do you want me to kill her? This is my wife, my childhood sweetheart and adopted younger sister.”
Zhi Ning said, “Assassins attack Suo Han Yi. His wife Yang Hong Yi blocks the sword with her body and dies from poisoning. It should be a good story that can move everyone.”
Suo Han Yi’s body shook.
Zhi Ning continued, “A great man need not worry about lacking a wife. Moreover, if she does not die, how will you marry Suo Ning Bing in the future? You cannot divorce her. Consider this your first certificate of allegiance to Prince Zhi Li.”
Suo Han Yi still stood dazed, as if struck by lightning.
Meanwhile Yang Hong Yi was still desperately running outward. Her first target was Yan Nu, then to have Yan Nu protect her as she left Tianshui City and head to the royal city at the fastest speed to tell Soren everything.
“Once she runs out of the city lord’s mansion, you will be utterly discredited and die without a burial place.” Zhi Ning said indifferently, “Even rushing out of this door, someone will see it and it will be impossible to recover.”
Suo Han Yi suddenly gritted his teeth. His figure shot out like lightning, then he fiercely struck down with his palm.
At once Yang Hong Yi’s delicate body flew out like a kite, blood spurting wildly. She desperately turned her head and looked at her husband with extreme pain.
“Big brother, you are lost. Wake up quickly, wake up quickly…”
After saying her last words, Yang Hong Yi closed her eyes and fell, unconscious. At this moment she was only one step away from that door.
Afterwards Suo Han Yi looked at his own hand in complete disbelief, rushed forward and held his wife Yang Hong Yi in his arms, with tears pouring out wildly.
“Do not blame me, do not blame me. It was you who forced me, it was you who forced me…”
From this moment on, as the saviour of Tianshui City and the pillar of the Suo clan, Suo Han Yi was completely… destroyed!
Zhi Ning watched everything expressionlessly, only a trace of desolation flashing quickly through her beautiful eyes.
“Next you must also eliminate one more person, the deputy commander of the Tianshui City guards, your master Yan Nu.” Zhi Ning said, “Although because of his niece Yan Nai’er’s matter Yan Nu fell out with Suo Long and nearly beat Soren to death, this person is upright and resolute yet still loyal to the Suo clan. If he does not die it will be difficult for you to completely control Tianshui City.”
Then Zhi Ning took out a jade bottle and said, “This is a bottle of supreme fine wine. Yan Nu has rendered great service through hard work. As his disciple it is only right for you to offer your master a cup of good wine. And this wine is very strong. After drinking it one collapses instantly and dies without any pain.”
At this moment Suo Han Yi looked at Zhi Ning as if he were not seeing a person but a gorgeous poisonous snake spitting its tongue there.
And he felt his whole body completely icy cold, with a dark abyss ten thousand feet deep around him. He kept falling, falling.
That same night, assassins from the冥社 employed by the rebels attacked the city lord’s mansion.
Deputy Commander Yan Nu of the Tianshui City guards was stabbed in the heart by an assassin and died.
Madam Yang Hong Yi, in order to save her husband, blocked the sword with her body, her life and death uncertain, unconscious.
Suo Han Yi of the Tianshui City guards, although he fought with all his might and killed three Dragon Warrior level assassins, was seriously injured and fell unconscious.
This bad news struck the entire Tianshui City like thunder.
The next day the rebels launched a full scale offensive. The Tianshui City guards, having lost their backbone, retreated step by step. After resisting for several hours the main city wall completely fell, and countless rebels poured into Tianshui City.
The loyal city guards protected the seriously injured Suo Han Yi and the unconscious Madam Yang Hong Yi and escaped from Tianshui City through the north gate.
From then on the main city of Tianshui completely fell. At this time it had been exactly half a month since Nuer Dan raised troops in rebellion.
Immediately after Tianshui City fell, dozens of messengers rode the fastest warhorses and galloped in two directions.
They carried the urgent battle report thousands of miles to the royal city, and also to the northern coastal city, that is, Soren’s future father in law, one of the kingdom’s feudal lords, the Lord of Coastal City Gui Xing Fu.
And at this time it was exactly the second day after Soren inherited the title and ascended as Lord of Tianshui City.
In the royal city, on the fourth day after Soren inherited the title.
Tomorrow the Internal Affairs Department would come to take back the Tianshui Earl’s Mansion. Everyone in the entire earl’s mansion was in a state of extreme excitement and anticipation.
Because they were about to go home, about to return to Tianshui City.
Only Soren was wholeheartedly preparing for the arrival of this day. He spent a large sum of money to purchase the best weapons and the best warhorses, fully arming all the family warriors.
Elder sister Suo Ning Bing was so excited that she could not sleep, waiting for tomorrow’s arrival, waiting for the day to return home.
That afternoon, an urgent battle report from the direction of Tianshui City arrived.
“Tianshui City has fallen. Suo Han Yi has been defeated and his fate is unknown.”
This battle report instantly plunged the entire excited earl’s mansion into hell.
Suo Ning Bing instantly lost all reaction. The entire earl’s mansion fell completely into despair.
Their home had fallen. Their Tianshui City had fallen. And the royal city earl’s mansion was about to be taken back by the royal family.
They were now completely homeless and had nothing at all.
Yet Soren became quiet.
Because the other boot upstairs had finally dropped.
Immediately afterwards a soaring fighting spirit surged up in him.
He had said that the Tianshui City he wanted was not bestowed by others, nor handed over by Suo Han Yi, and not even obtained by impersonating Soren’s identity.
Only what he seized himself would truly belong to him as Tianshui City.
Then it was as if he heard soaring war drums ringing beside his ears.
How much time did he still have? Five months. Yes, five months.
Because when the feudal lord is unable to suppress the rebellion, the royal family will send troops to suppress it and help the feudal lord recapture the territory. And once the royal family sends troops to recapture Tianshui City, Tianshui City will no longer belong to the Suo clan.
From having no strength to truss a chicken to obtaining first place in the graduation grand examination, he had taken less than five months.
Then this time it would still be five months. He would start completely from scratch and possess thousands of troops and horses to recapture Tianshui City.
He would once again go against heaven.
“Bang bang bang bang…” War drums resounded soaringly in Soren’s heart, beating faster and faster, faster and faster.
After King Zhi Bian received the intelligence that Tianshui City had fallen, he slightly paused the pen in his hand and smiled faintly.
Tianshui City had finally fallen. Zhi Ning had finally taken it.
Then he walked to the window and looked towards the north through the dark night.
His daughter Princess Zhi Yan would soon return. She was his only flesh and blood.
“This great chess game has finally begun.” Zhi Bian murmured to himself in a low voice, “Zhi Yan, my daughter, I have chosen a very outstanding man for you. I hope he will not disappoint you and will not disappoint me either.”
Then King Zhi Bian shrank his shoulders, pulled his cloak tighter, left the window, and walked towards the sleeping palace.
Although it was a late summer night, the wind had risen and there was still a bit of chill in the night.