World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 634 - 319: The War Begins! Rescue Gui Qinshe!

Chapter 634: 319: The War Begins! Rescue Gui Qinshe!

Gui Xingfu knew that the war launched against the Suo family in Tianshui City was less of a military conflict and more a political war.

Tianshui City was now like a headless dragon, isolated without support, and with five thousand Rock Pirates from the Yan Mo joining in, Gui Xingfu’s naval forces had swelled to a formidable forty thousand.

The naval forces of Tianshui City, on the other hand, remained at a mere ten thousand, so the outcome of the war was no longer in doubt.

That’s why Gui Xingfu was so intent on showing off, wishing the entire Human Kingdom knew that the Gui family of Linhai City had gone to war with the Suo family of Tianshui City. He was desperate for everyone to know his unmatched loyalty to Zhi Li, his readiness to be the first to rush into a burning house to rescue Zhi Li from a deadlock.

For this war was ostensibly against the Suo family of Tianshui City but, in essence, it was a slap in the face of the King’s prestige and dignity.

After nearly ten days, the Gui family of Linhai City’s declaration of war had finally reached every vassal and county city in the Rage Wave Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the royal decree from the King had finally arrived.

A senior eunuch from the Gao Faction, bearing the royal decree, went to Linhai City to denounce Gui Xingfu’s war efforts, stating that even if there were territorial disputes between Tianshui City and Linhai City, they should be resolved through negotiations, not by military means.

At the same time, an edict from Shaojun Qili was also issued, ordering Gui Xingfu and Suo Lun to start negotiations immediately. They were to try their best to settle the dispute through negotiation and to avoid war if possible.

The double emphasis on trying showed Qili’s intentions without a doubt.

Then, Shaojun Qili also issued an edict to Tianshui City, asking Count Tianshui Suo Lun to go to Wangcheng Zidu to cooperate with the investigation and clarify the assassination attempt on the prince within a time limit of half a month. Otherwise, he would bear the consequences.

What a tightly interlocking series of moves from the opponent.

First, using Gui Xingfu’s Linhai City as a test, they tried to keep the war confined within the scope of lordly territorial disputes.

If the King didn’t retaliate strongly, they would use the prince’s assassination case to frame Suo Lun with a crime of rebellion, and then send an army of one hundred thousand or even more into Tianshui City to completely eradicate the Suo family.

...

After receiving the decrees from the King and Zhi Li, Gui Xingfu also pretended to engage in negotiations.

The negotiation venue was set in the neutral location of Baiyun County.

At the negotiation table, to the left sat the representatives from Linhai City: Gui Xingfu, Gui Qinbi, and other dignitaries such as the Interior Historian of Linhai City.

To the right were Suo Ningbing, Yan Yan, and others.

Duke Zhi Wei of the Southeast Province presided over the negotiations.

"My conditions are very simple, unconditionally return Chaos Stone Island and compensate Linhai City with two hundred and thirty thousand Gold Coins," Gui Xingfu stated coldly. "With that, I can consider withdrawing troops!"

Suo Ningbing was genuinely curious what Gui Xingfu would do if she actually agreed to his terms.

In fact, if Tianshui City were to capitulate by returning Chaos Stone Island and paying the two hundred and thirty thousand Gold Coins of compensation.

Then it would be very simple for him to start a war. He could just kill a few dozen soldiers from Linhai City, and then frame Tianshui City for starting the war.

At this point, the Suo family of Tianshui City was no better than a dead dog, to be beaten as they wished.

"There is absolutely no way to return Chaos Stone Island, but we are willing to consider compensating Linhai City with thirty thousand Gold Coins for their losses," Suo Ningbing proposed.

After this, both sides engaged in a fierce tug-of-war, indulging in fruitless negotiation.

For Duke Zhi Wei had set the negotiation period to three days.

If no agreement was reached by the end of the three days, the negotiations would be deemed a failure.

The first day passed, then the second, and the third.

The negotiations completely broke down.

In front of Duke Zhi Wei, Gui Xingfu slammed a dagger onto the table in front of Suo Ningbing, and said coldly, "I’ll see you on the battlefield."

"I’ll see you on the battlefield!" Suo Ningbing replied icily.

Then, Gui Xingfu once again announced to the world that the negotiations between the Gui family of Linhai City and the Suo family of Tianshui City had officially failed.

The two sides could no longer settle their issues peacefully.

The envoys delivered the negotiation results to Wangcheng Zidu while the King remained silent, offering no response.

The mansion of Shaojun Qili expressed profound regret.

This expression of regret was almost tantamount to tacit approval of the war between the two sides.

Furthermore, the mansion of Shaojun Qili issued a final ultimatum to the Suo family of Tianshui City, ordering Count Tianshui, the City Lord Suo Lun, to enter Wangcheng immediately to aid in the investigation of the prince’s assassination. Only nine days were left until the deadline.

If he failed to arrive in Wangcheng Zidu by then, it would be tantamount to an admission of the assassination charges. Subsequently, he would be treated as a traitor.

It was clear to everyone that a noose was tightening around the neck of the Suo family of Tianshui City, growing tighter and tighter.

Upon receiving the edict of regret from Qili, Gui Xingfu once again sent a war declaration notice to the mansion of the City Lord of Tianshui City.

This time, Tianshui City accepted Gui Xingfu’s declaration of war.

Then, both parties officially announced to the world.

War had officially broken out between the Gui family of Linhai City and the Suo family of Tianshui City!

Meanwhile, the Dragon Guard Army of the kingdom was further mobilizing, ready to move to the battlefield to suppress the rebellion.

Duke Turing Tuo would officially become the commander of the Army of Reversal. The cavalries led by Jian Ning and Ling Ao, each comprising ten thousand riders, would also be incorporated into the Army of Reversal.

The army of hundreds of thousands under Duke Zhi Wei was also ready to move.

Gui Qinqu, leading fifteen thousand soldiers of the Linhai Army, began to march southward, preparing to enter Tianshui City.

The nearly forty thousand naval forces borrowed by Gui Xingfu started to converge from all directions towards the seas of Linhai City.

From land and sea, several hundreds of thousands of military forces would surround Tianshui City from northeast, south, and west, aiming to pulverize it into dust with overwhelming power.