Seeing Sauron and understanding the fate that awaited him as a prisoner, Duke Zhi Wei suddenly began to breathe in great gulps.
Then, a piercing agony shot through his chest.
Looking down, he saw his entire body wrapped like a mummy.
Sauron had buried tens of thousands of catties of gunpowder along his escape route. The heaven-shaking explosions caused a collapse that buried Zhi Wei, Zhi You, and over one hundred warriors.
Duke Zhi Wei had been desperately protected by his trusted warriors, so he did not die, but four of his ribs were broken.
He was first overcome with extreme agitation, gasping for breath as if to speak, but the pain from his broken ribs instantly calmed him.
Then, he discovered he had nothing to say.
Curse Sauron for his audacity?
It was Zhi Wei who had attacked Tianshui City first.
Gui Xingfu’s attack on Tianshui City was at least excusable, for he had the pretext of reclaiming Chaos Rock Island.
Moreover, Gui Xingfu had formally declared war after negotiations failed, and Tianshui City had formally accepted the challenge.
Duke Zhi Wei had attacked Tianshui City completely without reason.
Without the king’s decree, without even a formal decree from Zhi Li. As Governor of the Southeastern Province, to attack a royal vassal without authorisation was a heinous crime.
Sauron had merely counterattacked passively. Politically, he had committed no error.
After a long silence, Zhi Wei said indifferently, “Sauron, I cannot possibly surrender!”
Sauron said nothing, merely gazing quietly at Zhi Wei.
Surrender?
Sauron was indeed moved by the thought. If Zhi Wei surrendered and pledged allegiance to Zhi Yan, what tremendous shockwaves would that send through the realm?
But if he were publicly beheaded, the impact would also be tremendous, sufficient to awe the realm’s vassals and nobility.
You need not stand on my side, but do not make an enemy of me.
After a moment, Duke Zhi Wei said, “What of my son, Zhi You?”
“Captured,” Sauron said.
Zhi Wei repeated once more, “I cannot possibly surrender!”
“Understood,” Sauron said.
“Alas…” Duke Zhi Wei sighed, “Let all guilt be upon my shoulders. Can you spare my son’s life?”
Sauron said, “I can. I shall imprison him for life. You need to write a letter to Tu Lingtuo. Of course, you need not say anything else, merely convey the facts. Say that your one hundred and fifty thousand troops have been completely annihilated, and that you too have been captured in defeat.”
“Agreed,” Duke Zhi Wei said.
“Rest well. Farewell!” Sauron said.
Duke Zhi Wei lay back, closed his eyes, and wept as he sighed, “One incompetent general wastes the lives of a thousand soldiers.”
His voice was filled with boundless sorrow.
…
The next day!
Yan Yan led his troops to build pontoon bridges to cross the river, returning to the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
Meanwhile, Yan Naier dispatched civilian labourers and soldiers to begin constructing defensive works on the eastern bank of the Tianshui River.
Though Duke Tu Lingtuo’s army would not attack Tianshui City from the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, it was still a precaution. Temporary camps were built along the river to prevent Tu Lingtuo’s army from crossing.
In this temporary camp, several thousand soldiers were stationed, along with over a dozen giant trebuchets and several dozen medium trebuchets.
And trenches were dug day and night to resist any possible river crossing by Tu Lingtuo’s army.
The Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line remained under Yan Naier’s command, with ten thousand Tianshui City troops and Linhai City prisoners left to her.
The remaining fifty thousand troops were all assembled to march south, entering Heavenly Wolf Pass.
Queen Yan Chuoer, Princess Zhi Yan, Yan Yan, Ashi Liren, and Sauron all travelled south to Heavenly Wolf Pass together, bringing along the prisoners Gui Xingfu, Zhi Wei, Zhi You, and others.
Before marching south, Duke Zhi Wei personally wrote a letter, sent by falcon to Haidong County City, from which a messenger was dispatched to deliver it before Duke Tu Lingtuo.
After all, each falcon’s flight route was fixed. Tu Lingtuo’s army was constantly moving, so it was impossible to have a secret letter delivered directly into Duke Tu Lingtuo’s hands by falcon.
Forced march for two days and two nights!
Sauron led fifty thousand troops into Heavenly Wolf Pass.
By this time, Duke Tu Lingtuo’s two hundred thousand troops were merely over five hundred li from Heavenly Wolf Pass, and would arrive in four days.
…
Duke Tu Lingtuo’s temporary camp!
He stood before a map at this moment, contemplating the great battle in a few days’ time.
Suddenly, urgent sounds came from outside, shouting, “Secret letter from Duke Zhi Wei! Secret letter from Duke Zhi Wei!”
Then, a messenger rushed in and knelt, presenting a secret letter.
Tu Lingtuo’s brows furrowed tightly. He had not the slightest fondness for Duke Zhi Wei.
Ten days prior, when Duke Zhi Wei’s hundred thousand plus troops had attacked the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line prematurely, Duke Tu Lingtuo had been absolutely furious.
Zhi Wei was competing for merit, intending to destroy the Sauron clan of Tianshui City before Tu Lingtuo arrived. What did this make of Tu Lingtuo?
Very well, after I labourously arrive at Tianshui City, the great battle is already over. I, Tu Lingtuo, leading two hundred thousand troops, won’t even get a whiff of the action?
But Duke Zhi Wei had stated clearly in his heart that this was His Highness Zhi Li’s decree.
Because of the crisis at Linhai City, Gui Xingfu’s flight to the capital, and the possibility that Sauron might not be dead, Zhi Wei had been compelled to attack Tianshui City early to relieve the crisis at Linhai City.
This reason was perfectly sufficient, so Tu Lingtuo could do nothing but rage helplessly, hoping only that Sauron would prove resilient enough to stalemate Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand troops for a while longer. This way, Tu Lingtuo could still get a sip of the soup, rather than letting Zhi Wei snatch all the merit of destroying the Sauron clan.
As for the outcome of the battle, Tu Lingtuo dared not harbour any illusions.
Regarding Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand Southeastern troops, he had a fair understanding. Though not equal to the Dragon Guard Army, they were still considered an elite force.
One hundred and fifty thousand against Sauron’s fifty thousand plus troops, a threefold force besieging the city. Basically, the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line was certain to fall.
If Sauron could hold for half a month, that would already be remarkable.
After the battle began, Duke Zhi Wei had sent only one letter, stating that on the first day of the siege, they had suffered a minor setback, so they changed to besieging the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, awaiting Tu Lingtuo’s army’s arrival.
Receiving this letter, Duke Tu Lingtuo smiled triumphantly and coldly. Zhi Wei, vain and ambitious, wishing to monopolise the merit of destroying the Sauron clan, had attacked Tianshui City prematurely, only to suffer a loss. Truly, he deserved it.
On the first day of attacking the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, Zhi Wei’s army had lost over eighty thousand men, a complete crushing defeat. Yet in his letter to Tu Lingtuo, he had merely said they suffered a minor setback.
After that, Tu Lingtuo received several more secret letters from Duke Zhi Wei, all urging him to hasten his marching speed and reach Tianshui City as soon as possible, with no other content.
Later, the entire battlefield and its periphery were sealed off by Sauron, including the sky being blockaded by griffins. Any message became extremely difficult to send out.
So the previous secret letter from Zhi Wei was already five days past.
Now, receiving another secret letter from Duke Zhi Wei, Duke Tu Lingtuo’s brows twitched, and he said, “Please let it not be that the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line has already fallen, that Zhi Wei has already captured Tianshui main city. That would be too damned awful. My two hundred thousand troops will have marched thousands of li for nothing.”
Tu Lingchen remained silent at his side. This possibility did exist.
Ten days had passed. Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand troops had likely already broken through the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line. If so, it would be terrible news for the Tu Ling family.
Zhi Wei and Tu Lingtuo were Zhi Li’s left and right arms. Once Zhi Wei rose to prominence through great merit, Tu Lingtuo would surely be suppressed.
Opening the secret letter, he saw Duke Zhi Wei’s familiar handwriting.
Tu Lingtuo glanced at it, and instantly the hairs on his body stood on end, his scalp exploding, as if he could not believe his own eyes.
He rubbed his eyes forcefully.
On Zhi Wei’s secret letter, it was clearly written that his one hundred and fifty thousand troops had been completely annihilated, with over one hundred thousand dead and wounded, and forty thousand captured.
Duke Zhi Wei himself, as well as Lord Zhi You, had both been captured.
Duke Tu Lingtuo stared fixedly at this secret letter, unable to react for the longest time.
Then, his limbs began to tremble, and he hissed, “Impossible, impossible, completely impossible…”
Tu Lingchen said at his side, “Father, what is it? Has that old thief Zhi Wei already broken through the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line alone and destroyed Tianshui City?”
Tu Lingtuo said hoarsely, “The letter says that Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand troops were completely annihilated, and he himself has become Sauron’s prisoner.”
At these words, Tu Lingchen was also completely stunned and shaken, hissing, “Impossible, this… this is impossible!”
Zhi Wei had one hundred and fifty thousand troops. Sauron had at most fifty thousand plus.
No matter how they fought, it was impossible for Zhi Wei to be completely annihilated.
“Could this letter be fake?” Tu Lingchen said.
Tu Lingtuo examined it closely. From the handwriting to the tone, to the seal, to the fingerprints, everything matched Zhi Wei’s previous secret letters perfectly.
It seemed the events described in the letter were true.
One hundred and fifty thousand of Zhi Wei’s troops, completely annihilated!
Duke Tu Lingtuo only felt waves of cold air being drawn in.
He had wished to see Zhi Wei come to misfortune, but he had never imagined he would be completely annihilated.
Tu Lingchen said, “Father, what should we do now?”
Tu Lingtuo said, “What do you mean, what should we do?”
Tu Lingchen said, “Should we still continue attacking Tianshui City?”
Duke Tu Lingtuo said, “What else? We have a full two hundred thousand troops. Sauron has at most forty to fifty thousand. Added to that, he has already fought a ten-day battle with Zhi Wei. What strength does he have left?”
Then, Tu Lingtuo smiled coldly and said, “The reason Sauron had Zhi Wei write this letter is precisely because he wants me to withdraw. This shows Sauron is afraid, fierce of appearance but feeble of heart, mere petty tricks!”
Then, Tu Lingtuo roared, “Continue the advance! Full speed ahead! Attack Heavenly Wolf Pass as soon as possible!”
…
Inside Heavenly Wolf Pass!
“We still have many barrels of fire oil remaining, but the Heaven-Shaking Thunder (gunpowder packs) have been depleted by over eighty percent in the Wind Thunder Fortress great battle.”
“Heavenly Wolf Pass appears far more perilous than the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, but the walls are not as long, unable to accommodate too many siege engines.”
“Duke Tu Lingtuo’s two hundred thousand troops are the absolute main force of the Raging Wave Kingdom, far more elite than Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand troops. Moreover, Tu Lingtuo is a veteran of the battlefield, far more cunning and experienced than Zhi Wei.”
“In a battle against Tu Lingtuo, using fire oil barrels, using Heavenly Wolf Pass, fifty thousand against two hundred thousand, we have roughly a forty percent chance of victory. But even if we ultimately win, it will bring tremendous casualties. We now have over seventy thousand prisoners, needing time to digest and reorganise. At least two or three months are needed before they can become combat effective on our side.”
“So, in a battle against Tu Lingtuo, if we can avoid fighting, it is best not to fight.”
After discussion, Sauron and the others finally reached a unified opinion. Prepare for decisive battle, but it would be best to make Tu Lingtuo withdraw voluntarily.
Otherwise, even if they could win, it would be a pyrrhic victory.
At that time, with Sauron’s army suffering too many casualties, they would likely be unable to control the seventy thousand prisoners of Tianshui City, and the recently acquired Linhai City would probably also be impossible to hold.
For the present, the results Sauron had achieved were already too great. Next, he still needed to annex the entire Southeastern Province, all of which required massive numbers of troops.
He needed to spend a long time digesting these tremendous gains, so engaging in decisive battle with Tu Lingtuo at this time would bring a hundred harms and not a single benefit.
…
Tu Lingtuo’s army, four hundred li from Heavenly Wolf Pass!
Zhi Wei’s secret letter failed to shake Duke Tu Lingtuo’s resolve. He continued the advance, sworn to destroy Tianshui City.
Thus, Sauron was compelled to deploy his heart-striking tactic early.
Riding a griffin, he returned to Tianshui main city.
In a high-ranking prisoner of war camp, over one thousand officers were imprisoned.
There were officers from Linhai City, officers from the Southeastern Province, officers from Gui Xingfu’s allied army.
This series of great battles had captured nearly seventy thousand troops. All officers above the rank of centurion were gathered here.
Without these officers, the captured soldiers would be like scattered sand, incapable of causing significant harm.
At this moment, all the captured officers looked up towards the high platform.
There, an entire row of people knelt.
In the centre was the king’s younger brother, Duke Zhi Wei. Beside him were Lord Zhi You, Count Gui Xingfu, Lord Gui Qinbi, Lord Gui Qinqu, and Lord Gui Qinzhong.
All were top-level nobility, objects of reverence for these officers.
Now, all had become prisoners, kneeling upon the high platform before all the captured soldiers.
His Majesty the King’s trusted eunuch, Chief Steward Gao Yin of the Raging Wave Kingdom, was reading out the king’s decree.
“Duke Zhi Wei, attacking a royal vassal without decree, attempting to overturn the foundation of the kingdom’s stability, harbouring sinister intentions, wolf-hearted and dog-lunged, his crimes unforgivable, sentenced to execution by beheading!”
After Chief Eunuch Gao Yin finished reading the decree, all the captured officers trembled violently, completely unable to believe what they were witnessing.
Zhi Wei! The king’s own younger brother! Governor of the Southeastern Province! One of the top three nobles in the entire Raging Wave Kingdom.
The king had actually sentenced him to execution, actually ordered his head to be cut off?
All the captured officers present felt their entire bodies trembling, their hair standing on end.
And they were filled with absolute terror. If even Zhi Wei was to be beheaded, what of them, mere officers?
Gao Yin walked before Duke Zhi Wei and asked, “Zhi Wei, do you confess your guilt?”
“Your subject deserves ten thousand deaths. I confess my guilt!” Duke Zhi Wei kowtowed heavily.
He kowtowed for but one purpose: to ensure his son Zhi You would live.
Chief Eunuch Gao Yin looked towards Zhi Yan and asked, “Your Highness the Princess, shall the execution proceed?”
Princess Zhi Yan tossed down a golden plaque and said coldly, “Proceed!”
Sauron raised his greatsword, aimed at Duke Zhi Wei’s neck, and struck down fiercely.
Blood sprayed forth. Duke Zhi Wei’s head rolled to the ground.
Thus, the top noble of the Raging Wave Kingdom, the kingdom’s first duke, first governor, was beheaded before the masses, his life completely extinguished.