World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 808 - 389: Plot to Murder Yan Mo!_2

Chapter 808: 389: Plot to Murder Yan Mo!_2

Suo Lun said, "How much grain does the Yan Mo have stored in the Thunder Archipelago?"

Haigang said, "Not little, but probably not much either. Yan Mo always prides himself on being unbeatable at sea, believing there will never be a shortage of food. When needed, he simply takes it by force, extorting those around or even receiving regular shipments of grain from merchant caravans to the Thunder Archipelago. Moreover, the archipelago is humid, making it unsuitable for storing grain."

Suo Lun said, "How much grain does he have, exactly?"

Haigang said, "With nearly a hundred thousand Yan Tribe people originally, he generally stored enough food for just over a month. After this battle and the significant defeat of the Yan Mo, only about fifty thousand of the elderly, weak, and Rock Pirates remain. Therefore, the stockpiled grain should last for about two months."

Suo Lun said, "I don’t have time to wait two months."

Haigang said, "There’s no need to wait two months. This time Yan Mo not only suffered defeat, but he also abandoned his comrades and lost all credibility; morale is at rock bottom. Once we besiege the Thunder Archipelago, the Yan Tribe will undoubtedly confront intensified internal conflicts when pressed into a corner. At that point, we can work on dividing them from within. Perhaps in less than half a month, Yan Mo will surely be doomed!"

Suo Lun gazed at Haigang.

Felt uneasy inside, Haigang said, "These are just my humble opinions. I will follow your command in all matters."

Suo Lun sighed. Haigang’s plan was unquestionably the best, neither aggressive nor risky, and very effective.

At this moment, Haigang appeared so wise and insightful. Then why, a moment ago, was the same Haigang so foolishly stupid?

Humans truly are very strange creatures. Once blinded by self-interest or swayed by emotions, they are capable of incredibly foolish acts.

"Alright, let’s do as you suggest," Suo Lun said.

"Yes!" Haigang replied.

...

Then, Haigang led his battered fleet north at full speed, in pursuit of Yan Mo.

He originally descended from the north with his fifty thousand-strong main fleet, vowing to annihilate Suo Lun and seize the greatest benefits.

Yet, after a little over an hour of close-quarter combat, his forces suffered heavy losses. Out of over four hundred warships, nearly half were damaged. Out of the fifty thousand sailors, only about thirty-five to thirty-six thousand remained.

Now, they were driven by the Suo Lun Fleet to chase down Yan Mo.

The Suo Lun Fleet was not advancing side by side with Haigang’s Fleet, but instead stayed a few hundred meters behind, ensuring that Haigang’s Fleet was always within firing range—putting them in a constant state of passively receiving punishment, with no room for reckless actions.

Returning to his own flagship, Haigang went straight to his cabin and lay on the bed, feeling as if he had aged a decade.

Instinctively wanting to call out for his children, he then remembered both of his sons and daughters had been sent as hostages to Suo Lun.

His son Hai Wuyan, though not very smart, was dutiful and concerned for his wellbeing.

Haigang, with a lifetime of glory, was now reduced to this—a man whose children were hostages and who must send his wife to warm another man’s bed, and whose fleet’s life and death were completely in Suo Lun’s hands.

With a long sigh, tears slipped from Haigang’s eyes.

Not once since taking charge of Yingzhou Island had he suffered such a massive defeat or humiliation.

At that moment, he remembered something Suo Lun had once said, "Haigang, you are too smart for your own good. If you had not raised any conditions when we first negotiated an alliance, I would have offered you much more, maybe even a promise."

Back then, Haigang had scorned the notion.

But now, he felt the weight of those words.

Had he been far-sighted and offered Suo Lun support during his time of need, the Hai Family would have been established as the leader of the Eastern Sea of the Continent, on equal footing with Suo Lun. They could’ve had a share in the profits from the Magic Mirror and the Chaos Stone Salt Field, or dictated the affairs of the Marine Guild.

Moreover, once Suo Lun supported Zhen Yan Princess to the throne and became the regent prince of the Rage Wave Kingdom, Yue Zhou Island’s standing could still rise along with the tides, reaping endless benefits.

Regretfully,

Now, he, Haigang, was still joining hands with Suo Lun to wipe out Yan Mo, except no longer as allies but as a whipped dog driven by Suo Lun. He had the chance to be a good ally, but chose instead to be a beaten cur.

It was too late for regrets, too late!

Next, Haigang considered another critical issue.

After Suo Lun’s great victory over Yan Mo, what would become of his struggle with Zhi Li?

The world was converging to attack Suo Lun, with eight hundred thousand troops assembling, soon to strike at Tianshui City.

Can Suo Lun withstand this onslaught?

Haigang didn’t know. Before, he would have thought for sure that Suo Lun was doomed.

But now, he could recall the instant when hundreds of Suo Lun’s cannons fired, their projectiles raining down with greater force than any bow or arrow.

And once those cannons were positioned atop the city walls, when Zhi Li’s tens of thousands of troops began their siege, entering within two to three hundred meters,

Then, boom, boom, boom...

With hundreds of Suo Lun’s cannons firing and tens of thousands of projectiles unleashing, what would be the consequence?

He knew that during a siege, soldiers charging were far denser than ships in battle.

That scenario would be akin to hell. That wouldn’t be warfare; it would be slaughter.

Not only that, but having defeated Yan Mo, Suo Lun now claimed dominion over the entire Eastern Sea of the Continent, unbeatable at sea. Even if he were defeated on land, he still had a retreat at sea, and now Zhi Li had no navy left.

Thus, Suo Lun was almost in an invincible position. What choice should Haigang make then?