Within Tu Lingtuo’s camp.
Ever since the incident of Gui Qinshao stabbing Zhi Li occurred, Ling Ao seemed to have become a different person.
Previously, Ling Ao had been like a sword drawn from its scabbard, arrogant and cold. Now he seemed completely broken at the waist, all his sharpness lost, silent all day long.
Moreover, after becoming commander of the third ten thousand cavalry, nothing had gone smoothly.
He could not command the proud and fierce soldiers beneath him at all. The officers of the third ten thousand cavalry completely sidelined Ling Ao, granting him not the slightest authority.
Facing this situation, Ling Ao had initially raged and erupted, but after being undermined several times, he was completely powerless.
After the Gui Qinshao incident, Ling Ao became even more like a mere painting within the Dragon Guard Army.
Previously, as Zhi Li’s attendant, he could remain by the young lord’s side at all times. Now, he scarcely had any opportunity to even meet Zhi Li.
This time, Tu Lingtuo led two hundred thousand troops to punish Tianshui City. As commander of the third ten thousand cavalry, Ling Ao marched with the army and was considered a high-ranking figure, yet he knew nothing of external affairs, as if everyone treated him as if he did not exist.
The trusted agent Zhi Li had planted within Tu Lingtuo’s army was undoubtedly the other young commander of ten thousand, Jian Ning, son of Marquis Jian Yong of the Royal Academy.
The one who had sent the secret letter to Zhi Li was this Jian Ning.
Speaking of which, Jian Ning and Sauron had some grievances and entanglements. At that time, to suppress Sauron, Jian Ning had not hesitated to poison his own wife Niya, tricking Sauron into coming to his marquis manor, attempting to cripple Sauron. In the end, Sauron escaped by strategy and saved Niya’s life.
From then on, Niya publicly divorced Jian Ning, completely severing their marital relationship.
Afterwards, Jian Ning sent people everywhere to spread rumours of an affair between Niya and Sauron, as if the reason for their divorce was entirely Sauron’s interference as a third party.
This man was truly the height of shamelessness. For the sake of power and wealth, he had tried to offer his wife Niya to Zhi Li for violation. Later, to curry favour with Zhi Ning in dealing with Sauron, he even poisoned his own wife, yet poured all the filth upon Sauron and Niya’s heads.
To avoid suspicion, Mentor Niya did not return to Sauron’s side either. Instead, she went to the northern monastery of the Divine Dragon Temple, serving as a medical practitioner while caring for the children in the orphanage, engaging in the most sacred work, living a very fulfilling life.
As fellow commanders of ten thousand in the Dragon Guard Army, Jian Ning was undoubtedly far more seasoned than Ling Ao. After several years of cultivation, though he could not say he had completely mastered the troops in his hands, he had at least become a nail planted by Zhi Li, firmly driven into Tu Lingtuo’s territory.
When Ling Ao first entered the Dragon Guard Army as Zhi Li’s trusted attendant, Jian Ning and Ling Ao had been on very good terms, even deliberately approaching and currying favour with him.
But after the Gui Qinshao incident, Jian Ning completely cold-shouldered Ling Ao, treating him as if he did not exist even when they met.
So in this short month, Ling Ao felt time pass with unbearable slowness.
As commander of ten thousand, he possessed a private tent. At this moment, he lay upon his bed, staring blankly at the tent ceiling.
A gust of wind stirred, and a tall figure entered.
It was actually Duke Tu Lingtuo?!
Ling Ao started up in alarm, saying in astonishment, “Foster father… Marshal!”
Previously, during the honeymoon period of the tripartite relationship between Gui Xingfu, Tu Lingtuo, and Zhi Li, Tu Lingtuo had greatly valued Ling Ao and taken him as a foster son.
But ever since the incident of Gui Qinshao stabbing Zhi Li, Tu Lingtuo had completely cold-shouldered Ling Ao.
In the month of marching, Duke Tu Lingtuo had never once summoned Ling Ao. He had never imagined that Tu Lingtuo would now come to see him of his own accord. Ling Ao was instantly at a loss.
Duke Tu Lingtuo sat down with imposing presence, saying, “Ling Ao, Gui Qinshao has already been rescued by Sauron.”
Ling Ao started, saying, “Did not Sauron die?”
Tu Lingtuo shook his head, saying, “Many people wished him dead, yet he simply would not die. Over half a month ago, he led men in a surprise attack on the young lord Zhi Li’s manor and rescued Gui Qinshao.”
Upon hearing this, Ling Ao’s emotions were incomparably complex.
He should have been happy that Gui Qinshao had been rescued, yet the one who rescued her was Sauron, the greatest enemy of his life.
Regarding the feelings between Gui Qinshao and Sauron, Ling Ao was not completely ignorant. He had merely been deceiving himself all along.
As her husband, he had sat by and watched his wife fall into Zhi Li’s evil clutches. Yet Sauron, an outsider, had risked everything to rescue Gui Qinshao. What tremendous irony.
Tu Lingtuo continued, “Sauron has already led troops to capture Linhai City. Gui Xingfu and his three sons have all been taken prisoner.”
At these words, Ling Ao’s expression changed dramatically.
How, how was this possible?
He clearly knew that his father-in-law Gui Xingfu had led forty thousand naval troops to attack Chaos Rock Island. How could a battle certain of victory possibly be lost?
Moreover, the father and four sons had all been captured? How was this possible?
Tu Lingtuo continued, “Not only that, Sauron also defeated Duke Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand troops and publicly beheaded the duke himself. Your father-in-law has completely surrendered to Sauron, broken with Zhi Li, and exposed the truth of the scandal that Zhi Li attempted to violate Gui Qinshao and was stabbed in return.”
At this moment, Ling Ao was completely stunned.
Each of these tidings struck like thunder and lightning.
Sauron had not only defeated Gui Xingfu, but also defeated Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand troops?
And publicly beheaded Duke Zhi Wei?
Had he eaten a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall?
Who was Zhi Wei? The king’s own brother, a top noble of the kingdom.
Ling Ao had always thought highly of himself, considering Sauron his greatest enemy and rival. And he had sworn that one day he would trample Sauron beneath his feet.
Only now did he deeply realise how absurd and laughable his thoughts had been.
He, Ling Ao, had risen to prominence by attaching himself to Gui Xingfu, to Zhi Li. His father-in-law Gui Xingfu had been like heaven itself in Ling Ao’s heart.
And now, this heaven-like father-in-law had actually surrendered to Sauron, becoming his loyal dog.
Duke Zhi Wei’s authority in the entire Raging Wave Kingdom was second only to His Highness Zhi Li, yet he had been publicly beheaded by Sauron.
Sauron’s opponent had always been Zhi Li. How could he possibly have any regard for Ling Ao’s existence? It was laughable that Ling Ao had always considered Sauron his greatest rival. Truly lacking in self-awareness.
Tu Lingtuo said, “Not only that, your father-in-law was also stripped of his noble title and position as City Lord of Linhai by Sauron. And Gui Qinshao was established as heir to the position of City Lord of Linhai.”
Qinshao? She became City Lord of Linhai? Ling Ao was stunned once more, feeling a sense of unreality.
Tu Lingtuo looked at Ling Ao, a trace of pity appearing in his eyes, saying, “Ling Ao, what path will you take from here?”
Ling Ao’s heart sank. Yes, what path should he take from here?
Gui Xingfu had always been his greatest support, and now this support had surrendered to Sauron. Was he to surrender to Sauron as well? This was impossible.
On Zhi Li’s side, there was no returning.
He, Ling Ao, had plummeted from the kingdom’s foremost young talent to a stray dog. The world was vast, yet there was nowhere for him to find refuge.
Previously, Zhi Li had repeatedly declared he would make Ling Ao the future foremost military commander of the kingdom. Now those words sounded utterly absurd.
Tu Lingtuo stepped forward and patted Ling Ao’s shoulder, saying, “Previously when you called me foster father, your heart was probably not sincere. Now, are you willing to call me foster father once more, and hereafter assist your elder brother Tu Lingchen?”
Ling Ao trembled, looking at Tu Lingtuo in disbelief.
Tu Lingtuo said, “I do not value your origins, nor do I value that you were once His Highness Zhi Li’s attendant. I value only your talent. I hope you will become Tu Lingchen’s left and right arm in the future. Are you willing?”
Ling Ao’s heart shook, then he knelt upon both knees, saying, “Your son pays respects to Foster Father!”
Tu Lingtuo laughed heartily, “Good. From this day forth, you are the true commander of the third ten thousand cavalry. Whoever dares to openly defy while secretly complying, I shall have his legs broken, hahaha…”
Then, Duke Tu Lingtuo added, “We are still over two hundred li from Heavenly Wolf Pass. The first thing after destroying Tianshui City will be to seize Gui Qinshao back for you.”
Ling Ao said in a trembling voice, “Many thanks, Foster Father. In the attack on Heavenly Wolf Pass, I am willing to lead the vanguard.”
“Good…” Tu Lingtuo said, “Sauron is mighty in all directions, having defeated your father-in-law Gui Xingfu and killed Zhi Wei. If he were to be defeated by you on the battlefield, you would truly rise to fame throughout the world.”
Ling Ao bowed once more, saying, “Willing to die for Foster Father!”
“I believe in you.” Duke Tu Lingtuo patted Ling Ao’s shoulder again, saying, “I await the day you beat Sauron into a complete rout on the battlefield.”
Having spoken, Duke Tu Lingtuo rose and walked out.
…
Escorted by over one hundred trusted warriors, Tu Lingtuo made his rounds within the camp.
Over two hundred li, still over two hundred li from Heavenly Wolf Pass. In two days, his great battle with Sauron would completely erupt.
Satisfied and triumphant, this was the sole description of his heart at this moment.
He truly had to thank Sauron for killing Zhi Wei, causing him to instantly lose his check and balance, becoming Zhi Li’s sole remaining pillar of support.
From this day forth, as long as he firmly grasped military power, even Zhi Li could not touch him.
Enfeoffment as a prince of the realm was within sight.
Though Sauron’s killing of Zhi Wei had done him a tremendous favour, Tu Lingtuo’s heart was still filled with contempt and disdain.
A yellow-haired child, using mere petty tricks to make him, Tu Lingtuo, withdraw. How absurd and laughable.
Regarding the great battle with Sauron, Tu Lingtuo harboured not the slightest worry.
He would not underestimate Sauron, but the Tianshui City army had fought for over ten days with Zhi Wei and was long since utterly exhausted. How many troops could they possibly have remaining?
Most importantly, to force his withdrawal, Sauron had even killed Zhi Wei. From this one could see his lack of confidence and inner weakness.
In his view, Zhi Wei had already expended ninety percent of the Sauron army’s strength, leaving only ten percent. It was truly like beating a dead tiger.
So this attack on Tianshui City, the destruction of the Sauron army, would be completely effortless.
“Sauron, you are destined to become the first stepping stone of my great enterprise of princedom.” Tu Lingtuo raised his head to the heavens, his spirit soaring.
Immediately after, he suddenly felt something strange in the sky above. Vaguely, it seemed something black was falling.
…
The fourteen griffins dispatched by Sauron reached the air above Tu Lingtuo’s camp in less than an hour, having flown over two hundred li.
Two hundred thousand troops encamped on the spot, stretching over ten li, a vast and overwhelming sight.
Once again targeting the cavalry camp, aiming at the densest concentration of warhorses, the gunpowder packs were dropped.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
Dozens of gunpowder packs, each weighing over one hundred catties, fell from four to five hundred metres in the sky.
Several seconds later.
All the gunpowder packs crashed fiercely into the ground, into the warhorse herds.
“BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM…”
Then, heaven-shaking explosions occurred.
The entire ground trembled. Dozens of fireballs shot into the sky.
At the centre of the explosions, large numbers of warhorses were directly blown to pieces, dying on the spot.
And even more warhorses were startled, completely losing control, running madly in all directions.
Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of warhorses ran amok, as if contagious.
Soon, countless warhorses surged like an angry tide, charging wildly through the camp.
Tu Lingtuo’s two hundred thousand troops dissolved into chaos.
Heaven knows how many soldiers were trampled into meat paste, their bones broken by the collisions.
Countless screams and cries of agony filled the air.
The entire military camp was ablaze with fire reaching the heavens.
At this moment, the previously satisfied and triumphant Duke Tu Lingtuo felt ice cold throughout his body, trembling uncontrollably.
Then, a series of orders were issued, commanding the officers to bring the situation under control in the shortest possible time.
…
By nearly dawn, the chaos throughout the army had finally quieted completely.
“Father Marshal, the investigation is complete. Last night, Sauron dispatched over ten griffins, dropping Heaven-Shaking Thunder from the air, causing the warhorses to panic and stampede.” Tu Lingchen reported.
“Heaven-Shaking Thunder…” Tu Lingtuo said, “Is this not what Sauron used to blow up Duke Lanshi of the Yelan Duchy? Is this thing not extremely precious? Why does he have so much of it?”
Tu Lingchen continued his report, “Last night, our warhorse casualties numbered two thousand three hundred. Soldier casualties exceeded seven thousand, most trampled and collided by warhorses.”
Tu Lingtuo closed his eyes in pain, saying, “Now I finally understand how Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand troops were completely annihilated. That old thief deserves death. In his letter to me, he did not mention Sauron’s Heaven-Shaking Thunder in even half a sentence.”
Taking a deep breath, Tu Lingtuo said with hatred, “Sauron is slapping my face, warning me and forcing me to withdraw.”
Tu Lingchen said, “Father Marshal, what should be done next? Withdraw, make camp on the spot, or continue advancing?”
Tu Lingtuo fell into silence.
Yes, what should be done next?
Instantly, Tu Lingtuo could not help but think of Zhi Wei. He must have faced a difficult choice as well.
Now it seemed that on the first day of battle between Zhi Wei and Sauron, it had certainly been a crushing defeat, not merely “suffering a small setback.”
After the crushing defeat, Zhi Wei had not retreated to defend Baiyun County City, but instead continued to hold position and besiege the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line. This had led to the tragedy of complete annihilation and ultimately being beheaded by Sauron.
Zhi Wei’s choice to hold position that day had been wrong. So what choice should Tu Lingtuo make today?
He was different from Zhi Wei. Zhi Wei could pour everything out for Zhi Li, fighting his army to the last man. He, Tu Lingtuo, could not.
Even if Zhi Wei lost all his troops, he remained a top duke of the kingdom.
But if Tu Lingtuo fought his army to the last man, he would die without a burial place.
To Zhi Li, Tu Lingtuo was an overmighty minister, an outsider.
But to withdraw like this, scared away by Sauron’s dozen or so griffins, Tu Lingtuo would likely become the laughingstock of the world.
Moreover, he firmly believed one thing. Sauron lacked the confidence to engage him in decisive battle, which was why he repeatedly tried to force his withdrawal.
So this aerial bombardment was merely Sauron’s bluff. Sauron, you little child, do not think you can extort me.
Instantly, Tu Lingtuo ordered in a cold voice, “The army shall rest for three hours, then continue advancing towards Tianshui City. I shall not rest until Sauron is destroyed.”