“It’s a son, it’s a son…” a matron holding the newborn baby said with tears of joy.
Zhi Ning was already utterly exhausted. Looking at the wailing, limbs struggling baby, love surged in her heart like a tidal wave. She wanted to reach out and stroke the baby, but she had not a bit of strength left, so she could only caress him with her gaze.
After cutting the umbilical cord, washing the baby clean, dressing him in the prepared small clothes, and placing him in the small cot beside her.
The little baby had just come out from mother’s belly, unfamiliar with and frightened of the outside environment. Having left the constant temperature environment, he was also a little cold, his tiny body slightly trembling.
“Princess, eight jin and three liang, eight jin and three liang!” the matron said, “Such a heavy little baby, no wonder the birth was so difficult!”
The little baby was born very smooth and already appeared fair and tender, not wrinkled and red like other babies just born.
After calming down, the baby tried to open his eyes, as if needing to use great effort, and opened them.
His eyes were large and round, the pitch black pupils dark and bright, like pure and flawless black jade, occupying more than half of the eyes.
The baby’s features resembled his mother, his face shape resembled his father, truly extremely beautiful.
Zhi Ning’s heart was full of soft happiness, filled with the feeling of wanting to cry.
After becoming pregnant, she knew her health was poor, and having been harmed by Sauron into vomiting blood several times, her body became even weaker. Adding the severe vomiting in early pregnancy, she was truly worried the baby would not have enough nutrition. So she had been making an effort to eat, making an effort to exercise, never expecting it would make the baby overweight. An eight jin plus baby, while her bone structure was on the smaller side, so the birth was truly difficult. There had been a brief period when she felt she was going to die.
Even during the birth process she had said, cut open my belly and take the baby out.
She truly would rather die herself than let the baby be born un safely.
But ultimately mother and child were both safe, too fortunate.
The little baby had cried loudly and fussed greatly when just born, but now instead lay quietly there, from time to time opening his large eyes to look at mother, then lazily closing them again.
“Come, baby suckle milk!” The matron picked up the baby, unfastened Zhi Ning’s bodice, revealing her magnificent and alluring snow white mounds.
Zhi Ning’s chest size had originally been merely decent, but after pregnancy it rapidly grew larger, and at this time was already quite spectacular.
The baby’s little mouth took mother’s nipple and began instinctively suckling, very diligently.
Of course, the milk would not come so quickly yet, but the baby still suckled diligently.
Zhi Ning looked at the baby’s closed eyes suckling appearance, feeling her heart truly melting. Whatever Zhi Li, whatever Sauron, all were thrown to the ninth heaven. Now her heart, her eyes, her entire world, only had this one little baby.
…
Tianshui City, Wind Thunder Fortress defence line battlefield, within Zhiwei’s great camp!
After several full hours, Duke Zhiwei finally awoke!
“Father, how do you feel?” Zhi You asked worriedly.
“I am fine!” Duke Zhiwei made an effort to sit up. His originally mighty face had also become somewhat aged and dispirited.
To have lost so disastrously, his Zhiwei’s half lifetime reputation would be destroyed in one go!
More than twenty years ago in that succession struggle, nearly all of the previous king’s sons were drawn into it, three of six princes died.
Only the final victor Zhibian remained, and Zhi Ting and Zhiwei who were relatively young and survived.
Zhiwei had been close to Crown Prince Zhilan since childhood, so after Zhibian ascended the throne, he was also completely cold shouldered, without power or influence.
But later, Zhibian’s relations with vassals and nobles became stiff, and since royal clan children had always been required to share the country’s worries and guard the borders.
So both Zhi Ting and Zhiwei were sent out to become provincial governors.
As a result, Zhi Ting was by nature dissolute, causing no small harm to the region, creating widespread anger and resentment, then being framed by local vassals and nobles. King Zhibian had no choice but to recall Zhi Ting to the royal capital Zhidu, making him an idle duke who only knew how to scrape for money all day.
And Zhiwei had continuously served as provincial governor, changing provinces three times over more than ten years.
Eight years ago, King Zhibian’s physical illness was completely exposed. He had been poisoned by a chronic deadly poison and could no longer produce children.
The matter of the king having no sons or heirs was finally confirmed and spread throughout the world.
From that time, everything changed. The Nu Lang Kingdom’s vassals and nobles began to subtly cold shoulder this king. At that time Duke Zhiwei had not yet expressed himself too obviously.
And when the late Crown Prince Zhilan’s son Zhi Li returned from Yanjing, and married Fang Qingzhuo, the legitimate daughter of the Hidden Continent’s ruler, bringing with him the support of the Dragon God Temple, Hidden Continent, and Demon Continent, his momentum was momentarily unmatched!
King Zhibian had always been promoting commoner elites and reducing the power of vassals and nobles.
So all along, the two sides’ relations were extremely hostile, only because of fear of the king, the nobles and vassals dared to be angry but dared not speak.
And when Zhi Li appeared, with the support of the Dragon God Temple, Hidden Continent and other colossal forces behind him, the vassals and nobles impatiently stood behind Zhi Li to oppose the king.
Duke Zhiwei had been close to Crown Prince Zhilan since childhood, seeing this situation, he also without hesitation stood on Zhi Li’s side.
From that time, Duke Zhiwei had continuously governed the Southeast Province, already eight years.
“I should not have been so eager for glory and achievement. I should have waited for Tu Lingtuo’s great army to arrive, then both sides opening battle together, that would have been certain victory.” Duke Zhiwei again felt bitter regret.
Crown Prince Zhi You said, “Father, this also cannot be blamed on you. In Prince Zhi Li’s decree, he also had you open battle early to save Linhai City.”
Zhiwei shook his head forcefully. It was still his own greed, wanting to monopolise the great merit of destroying Sauron, wanting to be promoted to Prince. That was why he hurriedly opened battle, and after arriving at the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line, without even setting up camp he directly began siege and battle, only then encountering such a disastrous defeat.
“The generals outside are all waiting, let them enter!” Zhiwei said.
“Yes!” Crown Prince Zhi You said, then he went out to summon them.
A moment later, several dozen high ranking generals entered the great tent, the lowest position being deputy commander of ten thousand troops.
The great army’s deputy commander bowed and said, “Your Grace, in the present situation should we retreat to defend Baiyun County, or should we continue to hold our positions? We beg your instruction.”
At this time, no one spoke of taking the initiative to besiege the city anymore, because this was impossible.
Duke Zhiwei asked, “At present, how many people do we still have?”
“More than sixty thousand.” the deputy commander said.
Duke Zhiwei closed his eyes. He still had more than sixty thousand great army in hand, Sauron’s side should be about the same, perhaps not even sixty thousand.
If for safety, they should retreat to defend Baiyun County city.
But once retreating to defend, that would undoubtedly be announcing to the world that Zhiwei had already been greatly defeated!
After thinking for a moment, Zhiwei said, “This great defeat was because I underestimated the enemy. I will ask forgiveness from the Young Lord. But retreating to defend Baiyun County is absolutely unacceptable. We still have sixty thousand great army, holding here, still maintaining the appearance of surrounding the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line. This can tie down Sauron’s great army’s main force, and thus Tu Lingtuo’s great army’s attack on Sky Wolf Pass will be effortless.”
At these words, everyone nodded one after another, approving of Zhiwei’s shrewdness.
If Zhiwei withdrew his troops at this time, it would be announcing to the world that he had completely failed. Then the great merit of destroying Sauron would all belong to Tu Lingtuo alone.
And if he did not withdraw his troops, still remaining on the positions, maintaining the appearance of a siege of the Wind Thunder Fortress. Then when Tu Lingtuo destroyed Tianshui City in the future, he Zhiwei would also have a share of the merit.
And thus, his daytime defeat would become a local setback of the entire war.
Overall great victory, local setback, in the final calculation, it would still be considered meritorious without fault.
He believed Zhi Li also did not wish for Duke Tu Lingtuo to monopolise the limelight, hoping Duke Zhiwei could balance the situation. Then Duke Zhiwei might still be enfeoffed as king, pressing above Tu Lingtuo.
And once retreating to defend Baiyun County, everything would turn to nothing.
“Then will Sauron’s great army come out of the city and engage us in field battle?” suddenly, the great army’s deputy commander said.
Zhiwei said, “Sauron at most has only forty to fifty thousand troops in hand. If he sits defending a strong city, he has all the advantages. But once he comes out for field battle, all advantages are completely lost. He will not be that foolish.”
Ultimately, Duke Zhiwei and the entire army’s generals decided to hold their positions, surround the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line, and wait for Duke Tu Lingtuo’s great army to arrive!
…
Within the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line!
Sauron’s great army was holding a military conference, surrounding a massive sand table.
This sand table was a model of the entire Tianshui City and half of Linhai City, with Sky Wolf Pass, with the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line.
“Zhiwei will certainly choose to hold his positions, he will not retreat to Baiyun County city.” Sauron said, “Tu Lingtuo’s great army is advancing at full speed, still about fourteen days from reaching Sky Wolf Pass. In these ten plus days, we must destroy Zhiwei’s great army!”
Pointing at the model of Zhiwei’s great army on the sand table, Sauron said, “We must completely annihilate them, especially Zhiwei, we cannot let them escape.”
Then, he pointed at a river on the sand table.
This was the Tianshui River, a branch of the Nu River, flowing from north to south, considered the natural boundary between Baiyun County and Tianshui City.
This river was more than twenty li from the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line, behind Zhiwei’s great army.
For the convenience of the great army’s coming and going, Duke Zhiwei not only built four stone bridges on the Tianshui River, but also erected several dozen floating bridges.
Sauron said, “Lord Yan Yan, you will lead eight thousand great army, taking a detour through Linhai City to behind Zhiwei’s great army, establishing positions on the west bank of the Tianshui River, cutting off Zhiwei’s great army’s retreat.”
“Yes!” Yan Yan said.
“Princess Zhiyan, once Lord Yan Yan has established positions on the west bank of the Tianshui River, you immediately take people riding griffin beasts to bomb and destroy all floating bridges and stone bridges on the Tianshui River.” Sauron said.
“Yes, husband.” Princess Zhiyan said.
Speaking of which, because her martial arts were too high, this dignified princess, future queen, was truly being used by Sauron as a jack of all trades.
One moment as an assassin, one moment going to rescue people, one moment going to capture people, now again going to bomb bridges.
She was clearly the highest sovereign, but she had no resistance to Sauron’s orders, doing whatever she was told.
This also put A Shi Liren and Yan Yan and others at ease, at least Princess Zhiyan had a very broad mind. After she ascended to the queen’s throne in the future, she would not do something like killing the hunting dog once the birds are gone.
A Shi Liren said, “City Lord Sauron, are you going to engage Zhiwei’s great army in field battle?”
“Yes!” Sauron said.
Liren said, “Lord Yan Yan is taking away eight thousand great army, we only have slightly more than fifty thousand remaining. Engaging in field battle against Zhiwei’s more than sixty thousand great army, do we have a chance of winning?”
“We have a chance of winning, effortlessly!” Sauron smiled.
His relaxed demeanour instantly filled everyone with confidence.
…
After the conference ended, Sauron stood at the high place of the castle, gazing at Duke Zhiwei’s great camp, and said coldly, “Zhiwei, you should not hold your positions, you should retreat to Baiyun County!”
And just at this moment, a fragrant breeze blew, his back went soft, and he was embraced by Zhiyan.
“Husband, seven days…” Zhiyan said resentfully.
Then, her small hand like a snake slipped into Sauron’s trousers.
“I, I haven’t bathed yet.” Sauron said.
“I have bathed, smell me, isn’t it fragrant?” Zhiyan said coquettishly.
Then, she supported herself on the battlements, bending down her delicate body, raising her pert buttocks.
Lifting her skirt, inside was completely empty with nothing worn, revealing her round, snowy white, smooth as jade **.
“Come, I am dying of discomfort!” Zhiyan said petulantly, “My cycle is not regular, every day could be an easy day to conceive, you must work hard!”
Sauron’s entire body burst into flames, but still retained his reason, saying, “Here?”
“It’s late at night, and this is the highest place of the castle, no one can see.” Zhiyan said.
“Then do not make noise.” Sauron said.
Zhiyan said cloyingly, “Rest assured, the sound I make is completely different from my usual speaking voice, no one can tell.”
Vixen, seductress!
Sauron let out a roar and pounced fiercely.
Once again eating the princess great white sheep alive into his belly.
But in his mind he thought of Zhi Ning far away in the Yan Empire.
During the day his heart had been full of uneasiness and apprehension, unable to calm down no matter what, and unrelated to the battlefield. But at this time, he had calmed down.
Zhi Ning should be about to give birth soon, or perhaps had already given birth.
…
Day and night without rest, two days and two nights.
Yan Yan led eight thousand great army, taking a detour through Linhai City, marching more than four hundred li, arriving at the west bank of the Tianshui River.
To protect the floating bridges and stone bridges on the Tianshui River, Duke Zhiwei had stationed two thousand troops on the west bank of the Tianshui River!
At night time, these two thousand river guarding troops were in deep sleep.
Yan Yan conducted a brief assembly, then immediately launched the attack.
Eight thousand attacking two thousand, although it was a tired army, but catching them unprepared, in a short half hour they achieved complete victory, annihilating all two thousand of Zhiwei’s defending Tianshui City soldiers and occupying the camp on the west bank of the Tianshui River.
At the same time, Zhiyan led Shadow Pavilion experts, riding griffins through the night over Zhiwei’s great army’s camp, using gunpowder packs to conduct aerial bombing of the stone bridges and floating bridges on the Tianshui River.
The narrowest place of the Tianshui River was only twenty metres wide, so sturdy stone bridges could be built.
But no matter how sturdy the stone bridges, they could not withstand the explosion of several hundred jin of gunpowder. In the first round of bombing, three stone bridges were completely destroyed.
As for the floating bridges, Zhiyan and others directly used great swords to destroy the floating bridge iron chains, turning them into a pile of rotten wood, washed clean by the river water.
Thus, Zhiwei’s great army’s retreat was completely cut off. A mere several dozen metres wide Tianshui River became a natural chasm!
Before them was the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line armed to the teeth, behind them was the Tianshui River with all crossing bridges destroyed, and on the west bank of the river was Yan Yan’s eight thousand great army.
His sixty thousand great army was completely trapped in this valley more than twenty li long and four li wide!
…
“Your Grace, the stone bridges and floating bridges on the Tianshui River have all been destroyed. The two thousand defending troops on the west bank were annihilated, the camp was completely occupied by several thousand of Sauron’s great army. Our escape route is gone.” a scout leader rushed into the great camp and said hoarsely!
After destroying the stone bridges and floating bridges, Zhiyan and others immediately rode the griffin beasts back to the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line.
Then, continuing to fly out in the night.
Only this time, what the griffin beasts carried were five hundred jin fire oil barrels.
And the target was Zhiwei’s great army’s grain and fodder great camp!
In the night, from several hundred metres high altitude, one fire oil barrel after another smashed down.
“Bang bang bang bang…”
The fire oil barrels suddenly shattered, the fire oil inside completely splashing out.
Finally, a small gunpowder pack dropped down, suddenly exploding.
“Boom…”
Instantly, several thousand jin of fire oil was ignited.
Great fire, rising from Zhiwei’s great army’s grain and fodder great camp.
At the same time, Zhiyan led several griffin beasts, trip after trip, trip after trip of aerial bombing.
Dropping several dozen to one hundred giant fire oil barrels onto Zhiwei’s great army’s grain and fodder great camp.
Adding oil to the fire.
Several tens of thousands of jin of fire oil, plus grain and fodder which easily burn.
Although countless soldiers desperately tried to extinguish the fire.
But, the entire grain and fodder great camp was still completely engulfed in roaring flames!
“Your Grace, our grain and fodder has been completely burned clean by a single great fire!”