Zhili’s eight hundred thousand troops were already far too many, and now there were an additional one hundred thousand Southeastern Rebel Annihilation Army troops.
Whether at the Heavenly Wolf Pass or the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, neither place could accommodate so many troops combined.
Thus, Zhili ordered his nine hundred thousand troops to launch a three-pronged assault on Tianshui City from the north in the direction of Linhai City, the west at the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, and the south at the Heavenly Wolf Pass!
Duke Tu Lingtuo led the central army of four hundred and fifty thousand, focusing the main assault on the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line. This army was primarily composed of the Dragon Guard Legion, the allied vassal armies, and the Young Lord’s residence troops.
Jian Ze, commander of the Southwestern Legion, led the right wing of two hundred thousand troops, focusing the main assault on the Heavenly Wolf Pass. This army was primarily composed of the Southwestern Legion and the one hundred thousand Southeastern Rebel Annihilation Army troops.
Chu Ye, commander of the Northern Legion, led the left wing of two hundred and fifty thousand troops, setting out directly from the Nu River Province to attack Linhai City. Once Linhai City was taken, they would proceed directly south from Linhai City, cross the Nu River, and attack Tianshui City. This army was primarily composed of the Northern Legion and the allied armies of ten provinces.
As for the troops in Suo Lun’s hands: the Silver Wolf Legion plus the Tianshui City garrison, expanded to over fifty thousand.
The Rouran City relief army led by A Shi Liren, over twenty thousand.
The Zhi Wei army captured in the previous campaign to annihilate Suo, and the Gui Xingfu allied army, reorganised into a new legion of over eighty thousand.
And the newly reorganised Yan pirate legion, over fifty thousand.
The fifty thousand relief troops from Haigang of Yingzhou Island.
The troops Suo Lun could directly command reached two hundred thousand. As for Haigang’s fifty thousand relief troops, Suo Lun still could not trust them sufficiently. All were converted from naval to land forces and sent to guard the Rocky Island salt fields.
Among these two hundred thousand troops, Suo Lun also had to allocate thirty thousand to maintain order at sea, after all he was the newly risen overlord of the Eastern Sea.
The troops Suo Lun could truly commit to battle were only one hundred and seventy thousand, less than one-fifth of Zhili’s army.
As for the defence of Tianshui main city, along with the numerous workshops, warehouses, and the like, they could only be maintained by thirty to forty thousand second-line civilian troops.
In this decisive battle, the total troops committed by both sides reached over one million and one hundred thousand. On the mere tens of thousands of square li of Tianshui City’s land, this exceeded more than twice the population of this territory.
…
In the previous great battle, the reason Zhi Wei’s Southeastern Legion was completely annihilated was largely because their retreat was cut off, the bridges on the Tianshui River were all destroyed, and the river defence camp was completely wiped out.
This time, Zhili would absolutely not make such a mistake.
He mobilised tens of thousands of manpower to literally pave the Tianshui River flat.
You read that correctly. The river surface, dozens of zhang wide and four li long, was directly paved flat!
How to pave it flat? By connecting countless wooden bridges in parallel, covering the entire river surface!
Thousands of thick trees were used as bridge piles, driven deep into the riverbed. Then trees dozens of zhang long were used as bridge beams. Three-cun thick wooden planks served as the bridge decking!
This was no longer a floating bridge. It was completely impregnable. Not to mention war horses passing through smoothly, even large siege engines could pass unhindered!
To pave flat this four-li stretch of river surface, Zhili’s tens of thousands spent over ten days, and several hundred people died.
Moreover, Zhili dispatched troops to build watchtowers on the mountaintops on both sides. Every watchtower had over a dozen top-tier archers!
If Suo Lun’s griffons dared to fly in to conduct aerial raids on the river bridges, they would absolutely die one by one.
Zhili also spent an astronomical sum to hire dozens of dragon archers from the Heavenly Star Hall and the Underworld Society of the Dragon God Temple, specifically to deal with the griffon beasts Suo Lun might send for aerial raids.
Furthermore, Zhili prepared dozens of wooden giant towers, each with a super heavy crossbow. These heavy crossbows had a range of six to seven hundred zhang. The giant arrows they fired would explode in mid-air, releasing poisonous smoke.
Even having gone to such extremes, Zhili was still not reassured. He borrowed five griffon beasts from the Hidden Continent, the Demon Continent, and the Dragon God Temple.
Though the number was not large, only one-third of Suo Lun’s, it was at least enough to prevent Suo Lun’s griffon beasts from coming and going freely.
In short, Zhili used every means at his disposal, sufficient to protect the entire army’s air superiority.
…
Previously, the reason Zhi Wei’s Southeastern Legion was completely annihilated was largely due to fire attacks.
Duke Tu Lingtuo’s tens of thousands of troops also perished in Suo Lun’s fire oil warfare.
As long as the grand army charged to the foot of the city, astronomical quantities of fire oil would be poured from the city walls. In every great battle, Suo Lun could mobilise over several million jin of fire oil.
And regarding Suo Lun’s fire oil tactics, Zhili also made preparations.
With loans from the Hidden Continent, Zhili purchased a massive quantity of fireproof cloaks from the Demon Continent!
Why these fireproof cloaks could resist fire, no one knew. But they were indeed miraculous. The cloaks looked no different from other fabrics, yet even when placed over fire, they would not burn.
This was the exclusive technology of the Demon Continent, and of course extremely expensive.
A single fireproof cloak cost three gold coins, equivalent to forty-five thousand yuan.
Zhili bought one hundred and thirty thousand fireproof cloaks in one go.
Of course, this quantity was still insufficient to equip the main legions. Therefore, Zhili also purchased a large quantity of heat-insulating shields, and astronomical amounts of fire-extinguishing powder.
Although this still could not completely withstand Suo Lun’s sea of fire tactics, presumably capturing Tianshui City would no longer be a problem, though casualties would be somewhat higher.
Of course, Zhili knew Suo Lun still had one secret weapon: the Heaven Shaking Thunder, that is, gunpowder.
This weapon was temporarily unsolvable!
But according to previous battle records, Suo Lun’s trebuchets had a very low firing frequency. Though the Heaven Shaking Thunder exploded with astonishing might, in terms of killing power it was far inferior to fire oil.
Judging from the battlefield at Gui Xingfu’s Rocky Island, and Zhi Wei’s Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, the casualties inflicted by the Heaven Shaking Thunder were merely one-fifth to one-tenth of those caused by fire oil.
Therefore, regarding Suo Lun’s Heaven Shaking Thunder, one could only cast aside fear in one’s heart and charge forward with a stiff scalp.
For this great battle, Zhili had already exhausted everything!
Signed by the cabinet, funded by the national treasury, the Royal City Gold House advanced over nine hundred thousand gold coins in military expenses, and the Hidden Origin Association loaned three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins.
Moreover, the Tu Ling family, the nineteen vassal families, and many nobles all contributed money from each household.
The Tuli family of Luanyang City exerted themselves to the utmost, contributing over one hundred thousand gold coins.
The previous generation’s king, expanding territory by thousands of li, had annual military expenses of merely over one million gold coins.
Zhili, to destroy a single Suo Lun, had raised three great wars. This great decisive battle alone directly cost one million eight hundred thousand gold coins.
…
Within Zhili’s central army camp!
For this campaign mobilising the entire nation, Zhili brought almost all high-ranking generals, all nobles above the rank of baron, all vassals and their heirs.
He intended to defeat Suo Lun before the eyes of all the ruling class of the world, and sever Suo Lun’s head! He wished to display his kingly dominance and glory before everyone!
At this moment, Zhili was as usual hosting a banquet for several hundred nobles, generals, and vassals.
“Report, left wing military intelligence, extremely urgent!”
Suddenly, a scout rushed in at flying speed, knelt on both knees, and said: “Reporting to Your Highness, left wing army commander Count Chu Ye has already conquered the entire Linhai City territory, advancing irresistibly, slaying countless enemies!”
At these words, the entire hall fell silent!
Zhili stood up and said: “Truly? I recall Count Chu Ye entering Linhai City from the Nu River Province merely four days ago, and he has already achieved a great victory?”
That scout said: “A complete victory. Linhai main city, and all high-ranking warrior territories, have all been captured by our army. Linhai City port has also fallen. In this battle, our army annihilated tens of thousands of enemies!”
“Excellent!” Zhili said with great joy: “Suo Lun’s army is quite strong, yet at this moment it is so utterly vulnerable. One can see that when a wall is about to collapse, everyone pushes it. How low their morale must be!”
The nobles and vassals present all bowed and saluted, saying: “Your Highness’s heavenly might is vast and mighty. Suo Lun’s rebel army sees it and flees like the wind!”
“Congratulations to Your Highness on reclaiming Linhai main city!”
“Congratulations to Your Highness on recovering lost territory!”
Instantly, all civil officials, military officers, vassals, and nobles offered flattery like a tidal wave.
Zhili was indeed immensely pleased!
Before his grand army had even arrived, the entire Southeastern Province had already changed banners, driving away all of Suo Lun’s troops. (Those shameless civil officials of the Southeastern Province put it this way: it was not that Suo Lun voluntarily yielded the Southeastern Province, but that they assembled their armies, defeated him in a great battle, and drove him away.)
Zhili knew the truth in his heart, but who would not wish to hear pleasant words?
Now, the entire Linhai City was completely recovered.
This great battle had not yet truly begun, and he had already won more than half.
And Suo Lun had vomited out all the chips he had previously won, blood and all. He had lost the Southeastern Province, and now even Linhai City was lost!
“Hahahaha…” Zhili laughed heartily and said: “I truly wish to know what Gui Xingfu is thinking in his heart? It is a pity for Gui Qinshao, enfeoffed as Linhai City lord by Suo Lun for barely a few days before I took it away.”
“Indeed…” Fu Qi said: “The throne of Linhai City lord, Gui Qinshao’s sexy and alluring great bottom had not warmed the seat for a few days before Your Highness took it away. She must regret beyond all measure following Suo Lun. Now that sexy and alluring bottom of hers sits empty. Does Your Highness not wish to satisfy it?”
These words were obscene, but at this moment, as long as one attacked Suo Lun, no matter how obscene it was politically correct.
Indeed, upon hearing this, Zhili laughed heartily.
Then, Zhili’s expression turned solemn, and he said: “Order Count Chu Ye to immediately proceed south from Linhai City, cross the Nu River, and attack Tianshui City!”
“Yes!” Instantly, a thousand-commander-level scout chief rode a griffon beast towards Linhai City.
Zhili then issued an order: “Now, the Tianshui River has been completely paved flat by me, as smooth as walking on flat ground. The grand army advances, and lays siege to the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line!”
“By your command!” The generals led by Duke Tu Lingtuo shouted in unison.
Two hours later!
Zhili’s central army of four hundred and fifty thousand troops, grand and magnificent, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, crossed the Tianshui River as smoothly as walking on flat ground.
They laid siege to the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line!
…
Had Linhai City truly fallen?
Indeed, it had truly fallen!
But Chu Ye’s claim of advancing irresistibly was also true, because there was simply no resistance whatsoever!
Linhai main city and all high-ranking warrior territories, Suo Lun had completely abandoned!
As for Chu Ye’s claim of slaying countless enemies, that was also true, but it was merely killing civilians to falsely claim military merit. He would casually gather a group of people, say you colluded with Suo Lun, you are Suo Lun’s army hidden in Linhai City, and then chop off their heads with a single blade!
Linhai City had been taken by Suo Lun several months ago, yet voices secretly opposing Suo Lun remained numerous.
Moreover, Suo Lun never deliberately sought to please or pacify the populace. Within Linhai City, the people still longed for the kingdom and resisted Suo Lun.
Therefore, when Zhili’s grand army arrived, Suo Lun not only abandoned the Southeastern Province, but also completely abandoned Linhai City.
So when Count Chu Ye entered Linhai City, he received treatment like a royal army. Many powerful clans and common people went forth to welcome him.
However, Count Chu Ye felt that taking Linhai City so easily was far too meaningless, and the merit was insufficient.
Thus, he directly called a stag a horse and severed over ten thousand heads.
He killed until the powerful clans and common people of Linhai City wailed like ghosts and howled like wolves, regretting beyond all measure.
Had they known earlier that Zhili’s royal army was so brutally merciless, they should have kept Suo Lun’s troops and supported Suo Lun from the very beginning.
Since Linhai City was abandoned, where then was Suo Lun’s northern defensive line?
On the southern bank of the Nu River, Suo Lun destroyed the suspension bridge, and within these two-plus months, constructed dozens of bunker clusters and dug countless trenches.
The entire Nu River defensive line stretched for over ten li, garrisoned by fifty thousand troops, countless heavy crossbows, ten griffon beasts, and over a hundred cannons.
He hoped to use this Nu River defensive line to withstand Chu Ye’s two hundred and fifty thousand troops, not allowing a single soldier to enter Tianshui City.
…
“Husband, I heard Linhai City has already fallen. I had not even been Linhai City lord for a few days.” Gui Qinshao nestled in Suo Lun’s embrace and said.
She was deliberately acting coquettish. After becoming city lord, she had not visited for a single day.
“This position, my bottom had not yet warmed the seat before it was lost. You must compensate me.” Gui Qinshao said as she straightened Suo Lun’s robe for him.
“How shall I compensate you?” Suo Lun said.
Gui Qinshao’s eyes turned seductive as she said, “You kiss my bottom once.”
“I might as well bite it.” Suo Lun said.
As a result, this woman truly gently lay down, lifted her skirt, and revealed her snowy full moon of condensed fat.
Suo Lun gently bit it once.
Gui Qinshao became emotional, turned around, and kissed Suo Lun’s mouth, saying: “Husband, after you win I will not go to Tianshui City either. I want to stay by your side every day. If you go to the royal city, I will go to the royal city too.”
Suo Lun gently stroked her slightly bulging belly, gazing at her breathtakingly beautiful face, now plump because of her pregnancy.
Some women become even more beautiful after pregnancy.
Gui Qinshao was such a woman. Originally she had been gorgeous as fire. Now, after pregnancy, she remained stunningly beautiful, yet with a few additional degrees of grace.
Suo Lun kissed her petal-like little mouth, then turned and walked out.
At this moment, behind the door Fu Yan’er gazed at him pitifully, like a child raised by a stepmother.
Previously she had shamelessly come to entangle Suo Lun. After becoming pregnant, she began to play the pitiful and wronged role.
Suo Lun stepped forward, gently embraced her in his arms, and kissed her forehead.
Instantly, Fu Yan’er was wildly overjoyed, and boundless, endless happiness rippled forth. This was still the first time Suo Lun had been intimate with her.
“Giggle…” Little Qin Qin at the side giggled upon seeing this.
Suo Lun squatted down, took Qin Qin’s soft little body into his arms, and kissed the top of her head.
As for elder sister Suo Ningbing, she had long since been praying in the meditation room.
Until the war ended, she would not leave.
“Take good care of Mummy, understand?” Suo Lun patted Qin Qin’s little face, then left the city lord’s residence, mounted a griffon beast, and flew towards the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line!
…
By the time Suo Lun’s griffon beast landed at the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
He just happened to see Zhili’s four hundred and fifty thousand main force troops advancing grandly towards the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
It was truly a heaven-shaking spectacle!
Over several dozen square li of ground was completely covered in black.
Four hundred and fifty thousand troops, truly boundless and endless, impossible for even birds to cross!
As the grand army advanced, it was truly like a massive black wave, about to submerge the tiny Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
This manner of warfare was actually unreasonable. How could so many troops be placed in such a small environment?
Four hundred and fifty thousand troops were nearly equivalent to the entire population of Tianshui City.
From the Tianshui River to the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line was merely several dozen li.
Yet, these several dozen li took a full six hours to traverse!
Finally, when night fell, Zhili’s four hundred and fifty thousand troops halted three li before the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line!
On this ground four li wide and thirty li long, it was completely filled with hundreds of thousands of troops.
Dozens of dragon archers ascended the mountaintops several hundred zhang high on both sides, using their spirit to monitor every stretch of airspace.
Four griffon beasts circled in the air, vigilant for the slightest stir.
Dozens of giant crossbow towers were erected, defending every stretch of airspace, absolutely not allowing a single griffon beast of Suo Lun’s to intrude above the grand army.
That night, silence reigned!
Suo Lun’s Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line made no movement.
Zhili’s four hundred and fifty thousand troops also made no movement.
The tranquillity before the great decisive battle!
The aerial raid Zhili worried about did not occur. Because griffon beasts were too rare and precious. Faced with such terrifying aerial defences, Suo Lun would not send griffons to their deaths.
…
Early the next morning, a passionate horn call sounded!
“Roar, roar, roar, roar…”
The ten thousand vengeance soldiers from Luanyang City, all dressed in white mourning garments, several hundred people pushing a massive high platform, moved towards the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
Finally, they stopped five hundred metres from the Wind Thunder Fortress city walls!
Then, a breathtakingly beautiful figure ascended the platform over ten zhang high. She was the widow of Tuli Yang, Tu Lingduo!
She was likewise dressed in mourning garments!
Upon the high platform, besides Tu Lingduo, there were also over two hundred coffins. These were all the Luanyang City warriors killed during the previous assassination of Tuli Yang.
Over two hundred coffins filled the entire high platform, a sight that made one’s hair stand on end.
And Tu Lingduo stood among these coffins.
Below the high platform, ten thousand vengeance soldiers surrounded it in tight protection!
“Suo Lun, you treacherous villain, come out here!” Tu Lingduo said fiercely. She used dragon power in her voice, resounding throughout the entire Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
Within Wind Thunder Fortress, Suo Lun stood upon the steps.
And behind him stood Tuli Yang and Tuli Wen.
Upon hearing Tu Lingduo’s voice, Tuli Yang’s body suddenly trembled violently, and he began to gasp for breath.
Tuli Wen stepped forward, gently patted the top of his son’s head, and said softly: “Foolish child, you must pass this trial.”
Tuli Yang nearly bit his teeth until they bled, and nodded forcefully.
“Suo Lun, you shameless treacherous villain, you killed my father-in-law, killed my husband, lusted after my beauty, so utterly deranged, lower than pigs and dogs. Dare to act but dare not own up to it? You do not even dare to confront me face to face?” Outside, Tu Lingduo said fiercely!
“Wretch, this wretch…” Tuli Yang hissed in a low voice.
“Ready? Then shall we go to meet this wretch?” Suo Lun smiled, then pushed open the door, walked out, and confronted Tu Lingduo face to face.