World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 687 - 340: Zhi Li mourns! Air raid on Turing Tuo!_2

Chapter 687: 340: Zhi Li mourns! Air raid on Turing Tuo!_2

Now that the masks had been ripped off, Suo Lun’s crime of planning a rebellion could no longer be framed on anyone else, so he had no choice but to bury his head and pretend ignorance, and go directly to annihilate Tianshui City.

This course of action, without a doubt, was a tremendous destruction to Zhi Li’s prestige and the kingdom’s institutions.

How would all the lords and nobles under the heavens view him, Zhi Li?

By doing so, even if Zhi Li obliterated Suo Lun and ascended to the throne, the lords and nobles underneath would still disdain him in secret. And Duke Turing Tuo, without checks and balances, would become a powerful minister who could not be shaken off.

It could be said that launching an attack on Tianshui City without a just cause was a huge overextension of Zhi Li’s future prospects, planting a massive hidden danger for his reign as king.

Knowing all these disadvantages and still proceeding, because Zhi Li knew he had no choice but to eliminate Suo Lun.

If he didn’t eliminate Suo Lun, Zhi Li wouldn’t even be able to become king, let alone worry about the future.

The choice was still about choosing the lesser of two evils.

"Drink your medicine," Fang Qingzhuo said softly.

Zhi Li took over the medicine and drank it in one gulp, saying, "Go ask where the Tuling Tuo Army of two hundred thousand has reached? Are they about to attack Tianlang Pass soon? We shouldn’t lose this time, right?"

Li Chenglian said, "No, compared to Zhi Wei, Duke Turing Tuo is ten times stronger. The Dragon Guard Army is also much stronger than Zhi Wei’s Southeast Army. Most importantly, after Suo Lun wiped out Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand strong army, he was exhausted and unable to fight against the Tuling Tuo Army again. If he could fight Turing Tuo, he wouldn’t have needed to kill Zhi Wei. The consequences of killing Zhi Wei are clearer to him than to us."

Zhi Li said, "Right, that makes sense. It’s exactly because Suo Lun couldn’t fight Turing Tuo that he was forced to kill Zhi Wei, allowing Turing Tuo to become insubordinately dominant, confident enough to retreat his troops. By killing Zhi Wei today, he has planted seeds of resentment and misfortune in the hearts of Zhi Ting and Zhi Yan."

Li Chenglian said, "This man is truly filled with uncompromising loyalty; for Zhi Yan, he would go to any lengths."

Zhi Li said, "Send a falcon message to Turing Tuo, ordering him to quicken his advance and attack Tianshui City without delay."

Just then, a voice came from outside—Eunuch Li Zhu—saying, "Your Highness, there is an urgent secret message."

Zhi Li’s face changed slightly, and he said, "Bring it in."

Eunuch Li Zhu, holding a secret letter, came forward on his knees and handed it to Li Chenglian, who then passed it to Zhi Li.

Zhi Li opened the secret letter and looked at it.

Suddenly...

Zhi Li’s whole body shook once again, his face turned ashen, and cold sweat burst from his forehead.

Then, endless rage erupted from within Zhi Li.

"Ah... ah... ah..."

Then, he let out screams.

"Damned servants, damned servants..."

"Duke Turing Tuo, one day, I will tear you to pieces and exterminate your entire clan!"

Having roared, Zhi Li snatched another bowl of medicine meant for his wife and smashed it fiercely onto the ground.

Then, he suddenly rose from his bed, lifted his precious sword, and began to viciously hack everything in the room to pieces.

"Turing Tuo, Gui Xingfu, they’re all damned servants; none can be trusted, none can be spared!" he raged as he slashed and chopped.

Li Chenglian stepped forward and picked up the secret letter.

This falcon-delivered secret letter came from the Tuling Tuo Army, written by a confidant Zhi Li had planted within.

It stated that the Tuling Tuo Army of two hundred thousand, just three hundred miles from Tianshui City’s Tianlang Pass, had made camp and halted their advance.

When the officers asked why they had stopped, Turing Tuo said there was a sudden outbreak of disease in the army that needed urgent attention to prevent chaos.

But this so-called epidemic was nothing more than a few soldiers mysteriously coming down with fever and dying, hardly a reason to make a fuss.

Turing Tuo’s halt was nothing but naked ambition!

And he proceeded with this action, fully aware that Zhi Li would see through his intentions, revealing how arrogant he must be inside?

After Zhi Wei’s death, Turing Tuo’s attitude towards Zhi Li really did change immediately.

After venting, Zhi Li calmed down, gasping for breath, he sat on the bed with a pale face, starting to ponder the current situation.

After a moment, he spoke, "Send a falcon message to Turing Tuo, that I’ve heard he has a daughter, named Turing Mo, gentle, virtuous, intelligent, and charming. I greatly admire her and would like to welcome her as a concubine."

Upon hearing this, Fang Qingzhuo’s face visibly trembled, turning deathly pale.

The kings of the Rage Wave Kingdom had always had only one wife. Although Zhi Li was notorious for indulging in lust and liked to play with other men’s wives, and had numerous concubines, he truly married only her, Fang Qingzhuo.

And now, he actually intended to marry Turing Tuo’s third daughter.

This so-called concubine was only half a rank lower than the official wife, not some mere maid.

From now on, she, Fang Qingzhuo, would no longer be Zhi Li’s only wife. How could she not feel bitterness in her heart?

Li Chenglian bowed and kept his head down, not saying a word, because he believed that Zhi Li’s condition would not satisfy Turing Tuo’s ambition.

Zhi Li also knew this clearly, even fully aware of what Duke Turing Tuo really wanted.

What he wanted was too much, Zhi Li truly did not want to give, nor dare to give.

To give would be another substantial overextension and injury to his future majesty as king.

But in the current state of affairs, with the bow drawn and the arrow needing to be released, allowing Suo Lun to savor this great victory meant he would suddenly have tens of thousands of soldiers. By then, eliminating him would indeed be exceedingly difficult.

Zhi Li’s face twisted, nearly grinding his teeth until they bled, word by word he said, "Moreover, the late Duke Turing Fei, with his hard work and high contribution, has granted enormous grace and virtue to the royal family and the Rage Wave Kingdom. Once I ascend to the throne, I will posthumously confer the title of Prince upon Duke Turing Fei!"