At this moment, Zhuli truly felt as if a thunderbolt had struck him, instantly losing all sensation.
“Your Highness, Your Highness…” Duke Tu Lingtuo beside him kept pushing him.
For quite a while, Prince Zhuli seemed to regain his senses, and sound finally reached his ears once more.
Then, what surged forth first was disbelief, absolute disbelief.
Over one hundred thousand troops, seventy thousand sailors, one thousand ships, a full ten times Sauron’s strength. Even a pig could win with such forces, let alone Count Tully Wen, Count Gui Xingfu, and other outstanding men.
This battle, even if the gods themselves aided Sauron, he could not win.
At this moment, Yan Mo’s fleet was drawing closer and closer to the docks.
Zhuli sneered, “Who might you be, to play such a jest with me?”
Then, he gradually made out the face of the speaker. It was actually seven parts similar to Sauron, only not as beautiful as Sauron, appearing more heroic and martial.
“Lord Yan Mo?” Zhuli asked.
He could not possibly call him King Yan Mo, for in the entire human kingdom, there were only four kings. The leader of a band of Rock Pirates, in Zhuli’s view, did not qualify to be called a king.
“It is I.” Yan Mo smiled, “Greetings, Prince Zhuli.”
Zhuli smiled, “I know that Young Master Wuyan once invited Lord Yan Mo to participate in the battle. I fear you are too late at this point. The naval battle at Tianshui City should have long since concluded.”
Yan Mo said, “Indeed too late, for your over one hundred thousand allied troops have already been completely annihilated.”
At this point, Zhuli could no longer contain his fury. “Lord Yan Mo, watch your words. Do not engage in such pointless conduct.”
Yan Mo sneered, spoke no further, but shrugged his shoulders, then waved his hand and said, “Come out.”
Instantly, Gui Xingfu and his son, and A Shi Zhuo emerged, and Gui Xingfu’s face was as if he had lost his parents.
Instantly, Zhuli’s heart lurched, and once again ice cold spread through his entire body. “Count Gui Xingfu, why are you aboard Lord Yan Mo’s ship? What is the situation of the battle at Tianshui City?”
Gui Xingfu directly knelt upon both knees and wailed, “Your Highness, our four-family allied army of one hundred and thirty thousand, one thousand ships, has been completely annihilated!”
In an instant…
True thunder struck down. Prince Zhuli once again lost all sensation throughout his body, his entire person completely numb, his mind a blank void.
Yan Mo might speak nonsense, but Gui Xingfu would not lie.
His over one hundred thousand troops, truly… truly completely annihilated?
“Impossible…” At this moment, Duke Tu Lingtuo behind him roared, “You had a full over one hundred thousand troops, seventy thousand sailors, ten times Sauron’s forces. Even if you were pigs and Sauron’s side were gods, you could not lose!”
Zhuli’s heart trembled.
Indeed impossible. With ten times the military strength, it would be difficult to lose even if one tried, let alone be completely annihilated.
Gui Xingfu knelt prostrate upon the deck, weeping as he said, “Absolutely true, my Prince! Sauron used himself and the Queen’s Island Fleet as bait to lure us into Devil’s Bay. And at that time, inside the bay, Sauron had deployed several tens of millions of jin of oil. Once ignited, the entire sea surface was burning, completely transformed into hell. Not a single ship could escape.”
Zhuli gritted his teeth and trembled, “Impossible… impossible. Even if Sauron bought up all the fish oil, all the whale oil, it would not reach one million jin. Where did several tens of millions of jin come from?”
Gui Xingfu wept, “I also do not know where he obtained this oil. But once it burned, it produced highly toxic smoke. Within mere minutes, one would be poisoned and suffocate to death.”
Zhuli’s entire body trembled, unable to believe it. “So… so you mean, of the over one hundred thousand troops, only the few of you escaped?”
Gui Xingfu said prostrate, “I do not know, but it should indeed be so!”
Zhuli’s heart convulsed with pain, then his head felt as if it would split apart.
At this moment, he still held the wine he had poured several days ago. Though this was strong wine and would not spoil in a few days, he felt that this cup of wine was mocking him.
This cup of wine was originally meant in the hope that Count Tully Wen and the others would fight a swift battle and achieve a swift victory, completely annihilating the Sauron family within a few days, using Sauron’s head as accompaniment.
And now, his over one hundred thousand troops had actually been completely annihilated.
Over one hundred thousand troops, completely annihilated by Sauron’s few thousand men…
This, was Sauron his nemesis?
He had actually lost to him again and again, time after time.
Last time, the thirty to forty thousand troops in Zhuning’s hands lost to Sauron’s fifteen thousand, and Tianshui City was lost.
Thus, Zhuning had no choice but to bear responsibility for the defeat and was imprisoned.
And now, the over one hundred thousand troops under his own, Zhuli’s, personal command had actually been completely annihilated, losing even more miserably than Zhuning.
Sauron, was Sauron actually a god?
“Ahh… ahh…”
Zhuli could not help but clutch his chest, for wave after wave of convulsive pain was completely unbearable.
Not only that, but his mind also swam with dizziness, and darkness flickered before his eyes.
Then, Zhuli felt a surge in his chest that he could not suppress.
“Pfft… pfft…”
A mouthful of blood, like a fountain, sprayed out wildly.
Then, a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him. Zhuli could endure no longer and directly collapsed, unconscious.
“Your Highness, Your Highness…”
Duke Tu Lingtuo rushed forward to support Zhuli.
But Li Chenglian was faster, instantly lifting Zhuli up, pressing his palm against his chest, and channelling dragon power to dissolve the obstruction.
At this moment, Tu Lingtuo discovered that he had not seen the figures of Tu Lingchen and the others at all, and could not help but turn to Gui Xingfu and say, “Where is my son?”
Gui Xingfu remained utterly silent, not answering.
Instantly, Tu Lingtuo too nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Tu Lingchen had not returned. There were only two possible outcomes. Either he was dead, or he had been captured.
…
At this time, the great fire in Devil’s Bay had long since extinguished.
The full over one thousand large ships had all been buried beneath the sea.
And along the coastline, the piled wreckage of ships formed mountains, along with countless bones.
Truly countless bones, beyond numbering!
For a long time, no one should dare come to this area.
In many ghost stories, this place would certainly become a classic haunted location.
Several thousand soldiers of Tianshui City were desperately dealing with the aftermath, piling all the ship wreckage and remains together, then burning them with a single fire!
Inside a castle near the Tianshui docks.
Sauron looked at his two captives, Luan Yang City Lord Tully Wen, and Tu Lingchen.
Count Tully Wen had already awakened by this point. Gazing at Sauron, he said, “Please state your ransom conditions. If they are not excessive, I will agree to them.”
According to the etiquette between feudal lords, the defeated party who was captured could be ransomed by their family.
Moreover, Sauron, as a fellow feudal lord, could not violate this etiquette. For if he refused Tully Wen’s ransom today, should Sauron himself be defeated and captured in the future, others would likewise not permit the Sauron family to ransom him.
Sauron shook his head and said, “This war was not a war between feudal lords. Rather, it was pirates raiding Tianshui City territory and being completely annihilated by me, is it not? And what do we feudal lords do once we capture pirates, Count Tully Wen knows very well.”
Once pirates were captured, there was only one result. They would be hanged!
“Therefore, you may rest assured in my dungeon.” Sauron said, “Perhaps one day I will release you, but absolutely not now. Perhaps, your families will believe you are already dead.”
Sauron waved his hand.
Instantly, several people stepped forward and poured a potion concocted by the sorceress Yao Meng into the mouths of Tully Wen and Tu Lingchen.
After drinking it, their entire bodies went limp, and they directly lost consciousness.
Then, they were directly placed into sacks, and transported together with cargo to the main city of Tianshui.
…
When news of the great victory reached the main city of Tianshui, the entire city lord’s mansion, the entire main city, fell into a boiling ocean.
Su Ningbing left the ancestral hall, a smile appearing upon her face.
Princess Zhiyan, upon hearing this news, was first startled, then her absolutely beautiful and ethereal face relaxed.
Then, a look of astonishment and joy appeared upon her face.
Sauron had actually accomplished it. This astonishing talent was truly too shocking.
At the same time, over a dozen carrier falcons flew in all directions with letters, three of them flying to the Nu Lang capital city of Zhudu, to inform King Zhubian of this news.
One day later!
Sauron escorted Tu Lingchen and Tully Wen back to the main city of Tianshui, then imprisoned the two of them in a top-secret dungeon.
“Though you told me you would win, and told me how you would fight, when the news arrived, I still found it hard to believe. You… truly leave one speechless with admiration.” Princess Zhiyan said, “What are your plans for the next step?”
Sauron said, “Two objectives. First, expand the army by one hundred thousand! Second, A Shi Liren!”
Instantly, the image of A Shi Liren floated into Sauron’s mind, this peerless beauty who was cold as ice and incomparably powerful. Wherever she went, the air would turn ice cold, suffused with a faint, bewitching fragrance.
This woman’s martial arts were unfathomably deep.
This person’s appearance was almost the only one capable of surpassing Yan Naier, Gui Qinshao, and Yan Zhuoer.
Sauron’s plan was to support A Shi Liren in becoming the city lord of Rouran, and to eliminate A Shi Luo. Then, using A Shi Liren’s natural identity as a female city lord, he would stand on Princess Zhiyan’s side.
This great battle had completely annihilated Zhuli’s over one hundred thousand allied troops, dealing him a devastating blow.
But it still had not changed the balance of power between the two sides. Zhuli still held absolute advantage. The nobles and feudal lords of the world still stood on his side.
The armies standing on the king’s side still consisted only of the palace imperial guard, the Sauron family army, and some scattered troops led by commoner generals.
The military strength standing on Zhuli’s side still exceeded one million when combined.
While those standing on the king’s side numbered merely over one hundred thousand combined. Moreover, the palace imperial guard could not be moved. The palace was the fundamental base, and absolutely must not be altered.
Rouran City was the greatest feudal lord in the world. Once it chose to pledge loyalty to Zhiyan, it would send a tremendous shock throughout the world, completely reversing Zhiyan’s absolutely passive situation.
Sauron’s victory in this great battle had already completely secured Tianshui City’s safety. It had made it impossible for Zhuli to use military means to resolve Tianshui City.
And the A Shi Liren plan represented Sauron’s complete shift from defence to offence!
As long as he successfully won over A Shi Liren, then Princess Zhiyan’s succession to the throne would be half accomplished.
…
Inside the palace!
Though the already paralysed King Zhubian showed no change in expression, the anxiety in his heart was something Chief Grand Eunuch Gao Yin of the palace could completely sense.
The great battle at Tianshui City should have been underway for several days already. If nothing unexpected occurred, the result should arrive within these few days.
This great battle, the disparity in strength between the two sides was incomparably vast. Yet it also determined the fate of the Sauron family and Zhiyan.
Once Sauron was defeated, Tianshui City would be reduced to ruins, and the Sauron family would be destroyed.
Then Zhiyan’s succession to the throne would become a mirage, and King Zhubian’s plans would also be completely extinguished.
For the sake of secrecy, the secret letters Zhiyan sent to the palace did not specifically detail Sauron’s tactical plans. But they vaguely mentioned that Sauron had a clever strategy, and the chances of victory were great.
Therefore, these past few days King Zhubian had almost kept his eyes wide open at all times, waiting for the carrier falcon’s letter to arrive.
Though he was filled with confidence in Sauron, after all, he had merely one-tenth of the enemy’s military strength. The disparity in strength between the two sides was truly too vast.
Therefore, King Zhubian was completely living each day as a year, incomparably anxious.
And just at this moment!
“Screech…” The cry of a carrier falcon came from outside.
The already paralysed King Zhubian nearly sat up abruptly, and said, “Gao Yin, quickly, quickly…”
A carrier falcon dove down from high in the sky, landing upon Gao Yin’s hand.
Gao Yin’s hands, as he removed the secret letter, trembled slightly. He opened it to look.
Though it was all coded gibberish, Gao Yin still immediately read the meaning within the secret letter.
“Sauron wins a great victory. Zhuli’s one hundred and thirty thousand allied troops completely annihilated!”
Gao Yin opened his mouth in astonishment, suddenly feeling a great thirst in his throat.
“What is it, speak quickly…” King Zhubian said in a strained voice, even his tone changing.
Gao Yin said hoarsely, “Sauron wins a great victory. Zhuli’s one hundred and thirty thousand allied troops completely annihilated!”
Instantly, King Zhubian felt wave after wave of dizziness.
Immense joy, immense happiness surged upon him fiercely, making him almost unable to bear it, forcing him to close his eyes and slowly recover. Otherwise, he truly felt he might faint.
Sauron had truly accomplished it.
A disparity in strength of one to ten, yet Sauron not only won, but also completely annihilated the enemy.
King Zhubian could not imagine how Sauron had accomplished it, but he had accomplished it.
This meant that whether Sauron or Zhiyan, neither was now in imminent peril, their survival uncertain from day to day.
Though the disparity in strength between Zhiyan and Zhuli was still very vast, at the very least, Zhuli’s ability to use military and martial means to resolve Tianshui City had become impossible.
This Sauron, was actually so formidable, so astonishingly talented.
From the graduation examination at the Royal Academy until now, how many miracles had he created?
Compared to his father, apart from martial arts, Sauron far surpassed him in everything else.
A supreme talent, a truly supreme talent, a genius completely capable of determining the fate of the world in a single move.
King Zhubian, opening his eyes once more, immediately said, “Quickly, have Gao Yu ride a griffin to Tianshui City, to transmit my decree.”
“What decree?” Gao Yin asked.
King Zhubian said, “Bestow marriage upon Sauron. Give Princess Zhiyan in marriage to Sauron. Once the mourning period for Marquis Suolong has passed, they shall immediately wed.”
Gao Yin said, “I fear there may be some issue, for Sauron already has a fiancée. This woman holds great kindness towards him, and her martial arts are powerful, her appearance absolutely beautiful. Her name is Yan Naier.”
King Zhubian said, “I know this child. I can adopt her as my daughter, make her a attendant to Zhiyan, and have her marry over together with Zhiyan.”
Gao Yin was startled, then nodded and said, “Yes!”
King Zhubian said, “Add one more oral decree. In the future, after Zhiyan succeeds to the throne, she shall appoint Sauron as Regent King!”
Gao Yin’s expression changed slightly, then he bowed and said, “Yes!”
The king was not merely making Sauron the queen’s husband, but also making him Regent King?