“Father, we could not find Turing Duo!” Turing Chen said with a bitter voice.
“What?” Duke Turingto’s voice rose sharply. “On the battlefield, she had always been by my side. How could she not be found?”
Turing Chen said, “I have already sent people to search everywhere and asked everyone. Truly, no one has seen her!”
Duke Turingto closed his eyes. Clearly, his daughter Turing Duo had known during the defeat that he would certainly offer her to Soren, so she had fled in advance.
Without Turing Duo, how could they negotiate with Soren?
If it were anyone else, it would not matter. But Soren was so obsessive that he might very well slam the door on negotiations for any random reason.
Taking a deep sigh, Duke Turingto said, “You still go and speak with Soren. Tell him that I shall certainly capture Turing Duo and deliver her to him in the future.”
Turing Chen said, “Father, then what is our bottom line in negotiations?”
Duke Turingto said, “I can forgo the position at the command headquarters. Leave me the position of Dragon Guard Legion Commander, and allow the Dragon Guard Legion to expand to three hundred and fifty thousand! For the rest, we want nothing.”
Turing Chen said, “I understand.”
Duke Turingto said, “Then do you know what we can offer?”
Turing Chen said, “Zhili’s leverage, the leverage that will make the Divine Dragon Temple completely abandon Zhili!”
Duke Turingto nodded and said, “Go!”
…
The Wind Thunder Fortress battlefield entered arduous mop-up operations.
The Zhili allied forces who surrendered this time numbered merely over thirty thousand.
Several tens of thousands of corpses were left upon the battlefield, with nearly one hundred thousand wounded. And in the time to come, a portion of these wounded would also die.
On Soren’s side, the Rock Pirate Legion suffered over eight thousand casualties, the Luanyang Revenge Army over five thousand, the Rouan cavalry over two thousand, and the Soren Clan City Guard Army over three thousand.
These casualties were all caused by the fierce fighting atop the walls.
The final statistics showed that during the daytime’s great battle, over sixty thousand of Zhili’s troops had charged onto the walls for hand-to-hand combat.
These over sixty thousand were basically completely annihilated.
That is to say, in hand-to-hand combat, Soren’s army of eighteen thousand casualties exchanged for Zhili’s sixty thousand casualties.
Undoubtedly, this was a glorious victory.
But this did not mean that Soren’s army had an absolute ability to defeat three enemies with one. Rather, because of the battlefield’s four layers of filtration and delay, the total number of Zhili troops attacking the walls had never exceeded six to seven thousand.
Soren’s defenders could always maintain a numerical advantage of more than double. This was the true reason for the悬殊伤亡对比.
And the Zhili army’s total casualties were around one hundred and fifty thousand. The remaining over ninety thousand casualties were all killed by cannon fire and gunpowder explosions.
The entire battle lasted no more than four hours. Soren’s several hundred cannons conducted seventy to eighty rounds of firing, launching tens of thousands of cannonballs.
Soren’s one hundred giant trebuchets conducted seventy to eighty rounds of launching. Several hundred scorpion trebuchets conducted over two hundred rounds of launching, in total firing several million jin of gunpowder.
As for flaming oil bombs, they were actually used less than in the previous great battle, but still amounted to several million jin.
Analysing from the distribution of corpses upon the battlefield, the ratio of those killed by cannon fire, gunpowder explosions, and flaming oil was approximately 4:4:2.
Several hundred cannons conducting long-range strikes displayed formidable power.
Although not as divine as Soren had imagined, as long as sufficient time for bombardment was given, cannons still became the利器 of warfare.
Moreover, the impact of artillery fire upon enemy morale was unmatched. When the Zhili army still had over two hundred thousand remaining, the reason they ultimately crumbled and collapsed was basically because of the cannons. They truly struck too far, and once hit, one died too horribly.
…
Within the wounded soldiers’ camp!
“At all costs, save our wounded soldiers. Even if crippled, save them,” Soren ordered the medical team.
This medical team numbered over a thousand people, half recruited by Soren with money, half forcibly brought from the Southeast Province, Pirate Harbour, and Yingzhou Island Province.
As for medicines, in the two months before the battle, Soren had purchased astronomical quantities of medicines from all coastal nations.
“What about those enemy wounded soldiers outside?” asked the leading medical cultivator.
“Do your best, but still devote most resources to our own people,” Soren said. “Whether Rock Pirate Legion, Rouan City, or Luanyang Revenge Army, exert every effort to save them.”
The chief medical cultivator nodded and said, “I understand.”
“Wow! This doctor is actually a great beauty. You had best hide carefully. Our pretty-faced lord is a lecher. Once he discovers you, your chastity will certainly not be preserved.” Suddenly, a Rock Pirate warrior’s voice rang out from ahead.
Soren was speechless and stepped forward directly to rebuke him. “Your mother’s, have I ravished your mother? Or your sister? Or your wife?”
This Rock Pirate centurion had three holes pierced through his body and a fractured left leg, yet his voice was still full of vigour as he flirted with a voluptuous, enchanting female doctor.
“Sorry, I was wrong,” the Rock Pirate centurion said completely unconcerned.
Soren said, “I shall tell your Rock Queen that your battlefield allowance and kill rewards for this battle are all forfeited!”
Immediately after, Soren was startled.
Because from the side, this female doctor’s face looked so familiar.
It was actually Mentor Niya. Her figure was still voluptuous, her face still elegant and gentle, with golden hair, enchanting deep blue eyes, and skin as white as milk.
Over two years ago, after rescuing her life from Count Jian Yong’s mansion, he had never seen her again.
Although she had promised that once Soren recaptured Tianshui City, she would come to serve him, whether as a medical cultivator, teacher, or artist.
But in the end she had not come, instead going to the northern military camp to serve as an army doctor, incidentally becoming a teacher at the orphanage.
“Mentor Niya, to meet you here, I am truly overjoyed,” Soren said with pleasant surprise.
Niya’s hands were covered in blood as she stitched the wound for this Rock Pirate centurion.
After carefully finishing the stitches, she stood up, her beautiful eyes turning towards Soren, and said softly, “One and a half months ago, I was practising medicine nearby when… your soldiers kidnapped me. After entering the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, I was tossed three gold coins.”
Soren was quite embarrassed. This was his order. When encountering outstanding doctors, the methods of inviting them could be somewhat varied.
“But, I also wanted to come,” Niya said. “Soren, long time no see.”
“Long time no see!” Soren said.
Although Niya said nothing, no words could describe the shock and emotion in her heart.
Two or three years ago, Soren was merely a good-for-nothing playboy who had lost his family’s territory, like a stray dog.
And now, he had already defeated Zhili and would soon become the Prince Consort Regent of the Kingdom of Nu Lang!
If previously Niya had still intended to have something happen with Soren, she truly no longer had this thought now, feeling that Soren was so distant.
At this time, the Rock Pirate centurion being treated by Niya sighed and said, “Finished, this beautiful doctor’s chastity was long since not preserved. My lord, is it true that all beautiful women have had a leg with you?”
Just now when Soren said he would confiscate all his rewards, he had appeared completely unconcerned. Now he still spoke without restraint.
Soren looked at his young face and said, “Married?”
The Rock Pirate centurion said, “Married, with two children already. One is from borrowed seed, one is my own.”
When speaking of his wife’s borrowed seed, this centurion showed not the slightest embarrassment.
Soren said, “Very well, I shall find an opportunity to visit your home and pay respects to your wife.”
At these words, the Rock Pirate centurion’s face turned pale with fright. He immediately slapped himself and said, “My lord, I was wrong, I was wrong! My mouth is stupid. Please do not take it to heart. Please do not visit my home, please do not sleep with my wife. If a Rock Pirate warrior’s wife is slept with by someone, either he must kill the other party or commit suicide. I cannot kill you, so I can only commit suicide.”
Rock Pirate warriors did not care about their wives’ previous borrowed seed behaviour, even considering it a great tradition. But after marriage, they greatly valued their wives’ chastity. Truly a very complex people.
Soren smiled and paid no more attention to this shameless fellow.
“Mentor Niya, while you are treating them, if anyone dares to lay hands on you, tell me and I shall chop off their hands. If anyone dares to flirt with you, I shall pull out their tongue,” Soren said.
“They would not dare,” Niya said, blushing shyly.
“My lord, Turing Chen has arrived,” Zhuang Zhixuan leaned forward and whispered in Soren’s ear.
As she leaned to the side, her explosive figure became even more exaggerated and sexy. Within the wounded soldiers’ camp arose a chorus of ghostly wails and wolfish howls.
“I guarantee this woman definitely has a leg with Lord Soren. Look at her bottom, so round and large. Who knows how many times it took to achieve this effect…” Another Rock Pirate warrior pointed behind Zhuang Zhixuan’s back, laughing in a low voice.
Soren’s gaze swept over like lightning.
“Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap…” Without another word, that Rock Pirate warrior directly slapped himself and said, “I was wrong, I was wrong. Although I am not yet married, please do not visit my home. I have a mother whose charm still remains, and a young, beautiful sister!”
At these words, the wounded soldiers’ camp erupted in laughter!
Facing this group of Rock Pirate Legion soldiers who feared neither death nor heaven, Soren truly had no way.
Soft methods would not work, hard methods would not work either!
However, after this battle, these Rock Pirate warriors’ impression of Soren had also greatly changed. Although they spoke teasingly, this was simply their nature. They had been the same with Yan Mo before.
Only towards the Rock Queen did they not dare to be disrespectful. But when speaking of the Rock Queen behind her back, they still frequently made jokes about her and Soren.
Soren smiled helplessly, then said to Niya, “Teacher, when you are finished, I shall treat you to a meal. If you are willing, I invite you to be my daughter’s teacher.”
Niya said, “Then I shall consider it further.”
Soren nodded and then walked out.
…
Returning to the castle and meeting Turing Chen, Soren’s first words were, “Where is Turing Duo?”
Without another word, Turing Chen directly knelt on both knees and said, “Greetings, Lord Soren!”
This shift from previous arrogance to present humility was truly quite obvious.
Last night, when he came to express allegiance, he had been swaggering and arrogant, directly casting Soren aside to speak with Zhiyan, and his posture had been extremely high, demanding the Southwest Legion, demanding to be enfeoffed as king, and even threatening to marry Suo Ningbing.
And now, seeing Soren and directly kneeling without a word, Turing Chen truly was a great man who could bend and stretch.
“Turing Duo has fled,” Turing Chen said bitterly.
“Fled?” Soren said furiously. “Since she has fled, what have you come for?”
Turing Chen said with difficulty, “Surely a mere Turing Duo cannot affect the overall situation between our two sides?”
“No,” Soren said. “If you wish to talk, no problem. Deliver Turing Duo. This is sincerity, and also a precondition!”
Turing Chen was pained. This bastard Soren was indeed as stubborn as his father had said, utterly unreasonable.
But now under another’s roof, one must bow one’s head!
“Lord Soren, Turing Duo’s flight was truly beyond our expectations,” Turing Chen said. “Otherwise, how could our Turing family begrudge a mere woman?”
Soren said, “You clearly knew I would demand Turing Duo. Why did you not control her from the start? Control her when you were about to be defeated. I do not believe she could have escaped!”
Turing Chen said, “The key is that Zhili fled too quickly, too suddenly. We were only paying attention to Zhili and momentarily neglected Turing Duo!”
Soren said, “I care not what the reason is. Deliver Turing Duo and then we shall talk. Otherwise there is no room for negotiation whatsoever. Go!”
After speaking, Soren directly took Zhiyan’s jade hand and entered the room, closing the door.
Very soon, Zhiyan Princess’s seductive moans could be heard.
“Young Master Turing, please return!” Zhuang Zhixuan stepped forward and said.
…
Within a large post station in Nujiang Province!
Zhili had been fleeing madly for sixteen hours, not knowing how many war horses had been ridden to death.
Of course, riding a griffin would be faster, but griffins were too few in number. Flying in the air like this was instead unsafe.
After fleeing over one hundred li, he abandoned the ten thousand Young Lord’s Mansion troops, directly protected by several dozen Dragon Warriors and nearly a thousand warriors, rushing day and night back to the royal capital.
And Turing Duo was indeed by Zhili’s side!
Yesterday, when Zhili fled, Turing Duo immediately melted into the crowd and fled together with Zhili.
At the critical moment, she would rather flee with her paramour than follow her father and brother.
Because she knew that her father Turingto would certainly compromise and negotiate with Soren, and would certainly offer her as a gift to Soren.
Only Zhili had no possibility of any collusion with Soren, so although Zhili was already a sinking ship, Turing Duo had no other choice.
At this moment, she had probably become the most shameless, most vicious, most unchaste woman in the entire Kingdom of Nu Lang.
Apart from Zhili’s side, there was no place in all the world for her to shelter!
…
After the defeat, Zhili was numb.
When a person faced blows of such extreme magnitude, they instead no longer felt pain, only numbness.
Even during over ten hours of flight, he had been completely numb.
Now resting in this post station, having eaten delicious food, drunk fine wine, and felt the softness of the bed, the infinite pain could no longer be resisted, surging into his heart.
Lost, utterly defeated, with nothing left!
Zhili clearly felt as if his body were plummeting into a ten thousand zhang abyss, falling uncontrollably, falling…
That coldness, pain, and darkness continuously assailed him, as if intending to completely devour him!
What to do next? There was already no road to take!
Once he had been so close to the throne. Just days ago, he had been supported by everyone, not king but surpassing king!
And now, he had nothing left!
Although he had temporarily fled the battlefield, temporarily escaped destruction!
But he seemed to feel that annihilation was like a dark great net, slowly enveloping him.
“Knock, knock…” A knocking sounded from outside, then Turing Duo’s voice rang out, “Your Highness, it is I!”
“Enter,” Zhili said.
The door opened and Turing Duo gracefully entered.
At this moment, she wore a tight skirt with a very high slit. Two snow-white long legs were faintly visible, appearing especially sexy.
But at this moment, Zhili had no interest whatsoever.
“Your Highness, we have not yet lost!” Turing Duo stepped forward and knelt prostrate upon Zhili’s knees, saying softly yet firmly, “We have not yet lost?”
“Hahaha…” Zhili laughed miserably. “I have already been utterly defeated. How can you say we have not lost?”
Turing Duo said, “According to Your Highness’s thoughts, what are your plans next?”
Zhili was startled. He truly had not thought about what path to take next. He truly did not wish to think about it.
“Lead an armed force into the Yan Empire, accept the protection of the Yan Emperor, and become his chess piece to restrain Soren,” Zhili said. “Then wait for the opportunity, hoping with the Yan Empire’s help to reclaim the throne!”
“No, you should not do this,” Turing Duo said. “You should conduct one final desperate gamble! There are still many cabinet officials, many aged nobles in the royal capital, are there not? You still have powerful armed forces at hand. We still have a chance!”
Zhili’s gaze trembled, looking at Turing Duo almost in disbelief.
“You should not enter the royal capital first, but publicly appear elsewhere,” Turing Duo said with fervent eyes. “At this time Gao Yin is not by the king’s side. You immediately dispatch the most elite martial forces into the palace to assassinate the king!”
“Assassinate the king?” Zhili hissed.
Turing Duo said, “After the king dies, you announce to the world that the king died of a serious illness. Then as the Young Lord, you directly ascend the throne as king!”
Zhili said, “Without the recognition of the world, what use is it even if I forcibly ascend the throne? Moreover, assassinating the king is absolutely a capital offence!”
“You are not in the royal capital. The king’s death has nothing to do with you,” Turing Duo said. “As long as the two Supremes of the Divine Dragon Temple are willing to recognise your throne, then it has use! Your actions must be swift, otherwise Soren will use the king’s decree to strip you of your position as Young Lord. Now, the world’s forces have not yet had time to surrender to Soren. Once you ascend the throne as king and receive the Divine Dragon Temple’s recognition, many nobles and feudal lords will certainly choose to wait and see again. At that time, the most likely scenario is the kingdom splitting, with you as king in the west and Zhiyan as queen in the east!”
Zhili said, “If I flee to the Yan Empire, at least my life and wealth are secure. But if I follow what you say and assassinate the king, forcibly ascending the throne, I very likely will die without a burial place, torn apart by five horses or executed by lingchi!”
Turing Duo said, “Greater risk, greater reward! At the very least, the Divine Dragon Temple absolutely stands on your side.”
Then Turing Duo’s gaze became incomparably vicious and said, “Do not forget, you still have the most important hostage in your hands, the son born to Soren and Zhiyan. Soren is most foolish, willing to give up everything for his family. Using his son’s life as leverage, you can act with impunity in many matters. He will certainly continuously retreat and compromise!”
Zhili fell into painful indecision.
If he followed what Turing Duo said, assassinating the king and forcibly ascending the throne, there was an eighty percent chance of dying without a burial place.
But to abandon everything and flee to the Yan Empire like this, he was truly unwilling!
Turing Duo said, “Your Highness, why did the decisive battle with Soren end in defeat? Because you did not truly go all-in at the critical moment. Otherwise you would have already won!”
Zhili remained silent, his face contorted.
“Your Highness, this is already your final chance,” Turing Duo’s voice twisted and said. “Listen to me. Go assassinate the king and forcibly ascend the throne. Use Soren’s son as a hostage to make him hesitate. You still have a final chance to turn the tables! Take a gamble, bet it all!”