World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 665 - 331: Suo Lun’s Shocking Strategy!

Chapter 665: 331: Suo Lun’s Shocking Strategy!

"Your Highness, Princess, Liren, the two of you stay," Suo Lun said.

At once, everyone else withdrew, leaving only Princess Zhen Yan, Ashi Liren, Suo Lun, and Gui Xingfu in the room.

So there Gui Xingfu knelt on the ground, his forehead touching the sole of Suo Lun’s foot.

Suo Lun said, "Gui Xingfu, both you and your son Gui Qinqu are clever men; talking to you is effortless."

Gui Xingfu kowtowed deeply, remaining silent.

Suo Lun said, "Tell me, what do you think my next move is? And what value do you have in my plan?"

Gui Xingfu kowtowed once more before straightening up to speak, "Your plan is to support Gui Qinshao as the City Lord of Linhai City, then have her openly support Princess Zhen Yan. Next, use the fact that Zhi Li’s vitals have been cut to threaten him into retreating. Then, as the situation temporarily calms, you capture another city."

Suo Lun asked, "And where do you see your value?"

Gui Xingfu responded, "I can make your plan more justifiable. I can start by publicly admitting my mistakes, declaring my unjust war against Tianshui City. Then, I can declare my loyalty to Princess Zhen Yan and step down voluntarily, announcing Gui Qinshao as the new City Lord of Linhai."

Then, Gui Xingfu added, "And as for the shameful matter of Zhi Li’s vitals being cut, I can reveal it and cause even greater damage."

This snake was indeed vicious, willing to do anything to save his own skin.

Gui Xingfu was right; him personally declaring his loyalty to Princess Zhen Yan would be like stabbing a knife deep into Zhi Li’s chest, the damage far greater than if Gui Qinshao did the stabbing.

No doubt, that blow would cause Zhi Li so much pain he would convulse and vomit blood.

After all, Gui Xingfu was Zhi Li’s most direct and trusted supporter, even a loyal dog to him.

Him turning his back completely would send shockwaves unparalleled throughout the realm.

Suo Lun looked at Gui Xingfu for a long while and then said, "You do have value, but you underestimate me."

"Please enlighten me, Your Highness, the Regent King," Gui Xingfu said, bowing deeply.

Suo Lun stated, "You fetched chestnuts out of the fire for Zhi Li, creating such a commotion. In return, I strike back and end up with just Linhai City. Do you really think I would stop there?"

At those words, Gui Xingfu shuddered, his mind racing as he said, "Could it be that you also plan to take down Luan Yang City completely?"

Then his thoughts raced even further. The Count of Luan Yang City, Tuli Ming, had been imprisoned by Suo Lun, but Turing Duo had recently tried to assassinate him. Was there a deeper conspiracy behind that?

What if the one who was assassinated wasn’t the real Count Tuli Ming? What if the real Tuli Ming was still in Suo Lun’s hands?

If so, it would be easy for Suo Lun to take down Luan Yang City as well.

Suddenly, Gui Xingfu felt a profound reverence; Suo Lun was that kind of man, always thinking three steps ahead.

Zhi Li losing the loyalty of Linhai City and Luan Yang City in one night would be a deadly blow.

It would mean that among the lords of the land, four were loyal to Princess Zhen Yan. Moreover, the combined forces of these four lords accounted for a third of all the lords.

Instantly, Gui Xingfu bowed deeply and said, "Your Highness, the Regent King, your foresight and wisdom are unparalleled; I am in awe."

Suo Lun shook his head, "You are adept at manipulating hearts and excelling in the art of power, but your vision is too limited. Luan Yang City? Why would I flaunt a piece of meat I’ve already half consumed? I do not want Luan Yang City; I want the entire Southeast Province!"

As soon as these words were uttered, not just Gui Xingfu but also Princess Zhen Yan and Ashi Liren were completely stunned.

It was overwhelming.

Suo Lun declared, "I want to kill Zhi Wei, I want to be the Governor of the Southeastern Province."

His words struck like lightning, rendering everyone present dazed, staring at Suo Lun in disbelief.

Even Princess Zhen Yan could hardly believe her ears.

This war was a significant crisis for the Suo, a matter of life and death for the clan.

Suo Lun’s return and assistance in helping Tianshui City survive this dire threat would already be a win. Capturing Linhai City and taking prisoners like Gui Xingfu would be considered an incredible victory.

But to imagine that Suo Lun’s ambition extended to the entirety of the Southeast Province and even to killing Zhi Wei was unthinkable.

Who is Zhi Wei?

The brother of King Quo Bian, he had survived a battle for the throne twenty-some years ago.

Now he had ruled the Southeast Province for many years, his power immense, commanding over a hundred thousand troops. In the entire Rage Wave Kingdom, his status and power were among the top few.

Even in the presence of Gui Xingfu, Zhi Wei deserved the respect befitting a sovereign.

Not just Gui Xingfu, but nominally Suo Lun was also a vassal to Zhi Wei. Zhi Wei was one of the two lords managing the Southeast Province in the King’s stead, and conventionally, every year Suo Lun was required to visit his duke’s mansion to pay homage to his lord and offer tribute.

Zhi Li propped his reign with two pillars; one was Turing Tuo, commanding the four hundred thousand-strong Dragon Guard Army, and the other, Duke Zhi Wei.

And yet Suo Lun aimed to cut off one of Zhi Li’s arms!

If Suo Lun succeeded, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Gui Xingfu even trembled, and it was a tremble of excitement.

Such a thought had never crossed Gui Xingfu’s mind.

If Suo Lun really succeeded, what would be the outcome?

It would shock the world. Princess Zhen Yan could directly contend with Zhi Li. Moreover, with Suo Lun secretly in control of Luan Yang City and perhaps even more deeply entrenched,

the likelihood of Princess Zhen Yan ascending to the throne would no longer be a mere fantasy but a significant possibility.

Gui Xingfu trembled as he closed his eyes, realizing that despite Zhi Li’s seemingly dominant position, if Suo Lun’s plan came to fruition, Zhi Li would almost certainly face defeat.

It was terrifying!

Suo Lun continued, "Gui Xingfu, your value does not lie in helping me take Linhai City because that is already a meal on the plate. Everything I do next, every strategy I deploy, serves one purpose—to kill Zhi Wei and take the Southeast Province. If you want to live, you’ll need to prove your worth in this aspect."

"By your command..." Gui Xingfu bowed deeply.

Suo Lun commanded, "The first thing you’ll do is send a message to Zhi Li in the royal city immediately, informing him Linhai City is under siege, in imminent danger, and the forty thousand troops you led are entirely annihilated on Chaos Stone Island. Tell him you are en route to the royal city, fleeing for your life."

Gui Xingfu trembled and said, "You, you want to start a war with Zhi Wei and his army of over a hundred thousand?"

Suo Lun nodded and replied, "Yes!"

Gui Xingfu said, "Zhi Wei is adept at initiating combat. Couldn’t you simply use the Dragon King Staff to behead him?"

Suo Lun said, "I can’t cut it off anymore. Zhi Wei will definitely have countless experts by his side. Even with Gao Yin’s martial skills, it would be impossible to behead him on the spot. And if he openly defies the edict, then His Majesty the King’s decrees will become worthless. Therefore, to kill him, the only way is to defeat him on the battlefield, legitimately. Then issue a public decree to have him sliced at the waist!"

In ancient China, Cao Cao controlled the nobles by holding the emperor hostage.

At this moment, King Quo Bian was almost insensible, barely clinging to life.

The Dragon King Staff, the Jade Seal, etc., were all in Suo Lun’s hands; he completely held the power to propose and draft royal decrees on behalf of the King.

The King’s will is the sharpest weapon, and he must protect this weapon well, ensuring it doesn’t break.

Once Zhi Wei openly defies the edict and remains unscathed, the authoritative power of the King’s will would be utterly abandoned, leading to true chaos across the realm.

Therefore, Suo Lun had to ensure that every decree he issued was as sacred as the spoken word of the gods, a decision that could alter heaven and earth.

In this way, the decrees he drafted would become increasingly weighty and powerful.

The head of Zhi Wei, along with the blood of his army of over a hundred thousand, would just right to stain Suo Lun’s drafted decrees, giving them terrifying deterrent power and making them as heavy as ten thousand catties.

Zhi Yan said, "Husband, do you plan to battle against Zhi Wei at the Fenglei Fort Defense Line?"

Suo Lun nodded and replied, "Yes!"

Princess Zhen Yan asked, "How many troops do you plan to deploy?"

Suo Lun said, "Everything I have, an army of sixty thousand!"

After recapturing Tianshui City, Suo Lun had been recruiting soldiers and purchasing horses under the name of the princess’s estate, and now Tianshui City already had an army of over forty thousand.

Combined with the twenty thousand cavalry that Ashi Liren sent to help, plus another ten thousand or so troops that were persuaded to defect.

Suo Lun’s forces totaled over seventy thousand. He planned to use sixty thousand troops for a decisive battle against Duke Zhi Wei at the Fenglei Fort Defense Line, leaving only over ten thousand to defend Linhai City and the thousand miles of territory around Tianshui City. It was a gamble of all his resources.

Gui Xingfu suddenly asked, "How does the defense of the Fenglei Fort Defense Line compare to Chaos Stone Castle?"

Suo Lun glanced at him but didn’t bother to answer.

The Fenglei Fort Defense Line was many times stronger than Chaos Stone Castle.

Over the last two years, Suo Lun had invested at least several hundred thousand Gold Coins in the Fenglei Fort Defense Line.

Originally, Fenglei Fort was a medium-sized castle like Nanlin Fort, but it had transformed into a several-mile-long fortress defense line.

Suo Lun’s sixty thousand troops, against Duke Zhi Wei’s army of one hundred and fifty thousand.

With the strong Fenglei Fort Defense Line, astronomical numbers of fire oil bombs, gunpowder packets, and trebuchets.

This battle was certainly worth fighting!

Gui Xingfu’s army of forty thousand, besieging Chaos Stone Castle’s ten thousand troops, had suffered a miserable defeat.

Ashi Liren asked, "How many days until the Tuling Tuo Army reaches Tianshui City?"

"Nineteen days," replied Suo Lun.

The Tuling Tuo Army first headed south, then followed the southern border plains, advancing towards Tianlang Pass.

The two hundred thousand strong army, mostly consisting of infantry, had to travel thousands of miles, a journey that would take a long time.

Suo Lun said, "So we must finish the decisive battle with Duke Zhi Wei within half a month!"

Then, looking at Gui Xingfu, he ordered, "You will now write two secret letters, one to Zhi Li and one to Zhi Wei. Linhai City is surrounded, in imminent danger. Your forty thousand army has been completely annihilated and is now fleeing towards Zhi Du."

"As you command," Gui Xingfu bowed deeply and said.

Then, with utmost solemnity, he wrote two secret letters, affixing the seals, pressing fingerprints, and signing his name.

Suo Lun took the secret letters and handed them to Zhi Yan, saying, "Yan, make a trip yourself. Take these two secret letters to Izumo County and dispatch them via carrier bird to the royal city and Zhi Wei’s camp!"

"Alright," said Princess Zhen Yan as she tucked the two secret letters away and mounted a Griffin Beast, flying towards Izumo County.

The reason for sending out the secret letters from Izumo County was to convince Zhi Li and Zhi Wei, making them believe that Gui Xingfu had indeed fled there.

Suo Lun ordered, "Return to Tianshui City, relay orders to Linhai City, Chaos Stone Castle, Tianlang Pass — all elite units are to assemble at the Fenglei Fort Defense Line, awaiting the decisive battle with Zhi Wei!"

"At your command!"

...

After returning to Tianshui City!

Suo Lun immediately ordered Gui Xingfu to be imprisoned in a top-secret dungeon, not allowing him to meet with Gui Qinshao or Turing Si.

After bathing and changing clothes, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep!

Since rescuing Gui Qinshao, through his return to Tianshui City, going south to Tianlang Pass to meet Ashi Liren, heading north to battle for Linhai City, and east to capture Gui Xingfu, he hadn’t slept for several days and nights.

A greater battle was soon upon them; this time, they would face Duke Zhi Wei’s army of one hundred and fifty thousand.

This battle would truly determine the destinies of the Suo family and Princess Zhen Yan, as well as the destiny of the Rage Wave Kingdom.

This battle would be the most important and the largest one Suo Lun had ever faced since arriving in this world.

Duke Zhi Wei’s army of one hundred and fifty thousand was two hundred miles away from the Fenglei Fort Defense Line; these three days would be the calm before the storm, and the only time Suo Lun could sleep.

During this sleep, Suo Lun slumbered so soundly that it took him ten full hours to wake up.

...

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