World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 843 - 401: Questioning Turing Duo!_2

Chapter 843: 401: Questioning Turing Duo!_2

From the battles at Chaos Stone Island to Zhi Wei’s battleground at the Fenglei Fort Defense Line, the casualties caused by thunderous explosions were merely one fifth to one tenth of those caused by explosive oil.

Therefore, regarding Suo Lun’s thunderous explosions, one must cast aside the fear in one’s heart and boldly charge through.

For this war, Zhi Li had poured in everything!

Signed by the cabinet, funded by the national treasury, the royal bank advanced nearly nine hundred thousand Gold Coins for military expenses, and the Hidden Yuan Association loaned three hundred and fifty thousand Gold Coins.

Moreover, the Turing Clan, nineteen dukes, and many other nobles each contributed money.

The Tuli Family from Luan Yang City exhausted their resources, pouring out over a hundred thousand Gold Coins.

The previous King, who had expanded the kingdom’s territory by thousands of miles, only spent a bit more than a million Gold Coins on military expenses each year.

Zhi Li initiated three major wars to eradicate a single Suo Lun. This decisive battle alone cost one million eight hundred thousand Gold Coins.

...

Inside Zhi Li’s Central Military Camp!

For this nation-risking campaign, Zhi Li brought nearly all high-ranked generals, nobles of Viscount rank and above, all the vassals and heirs.

He intended to defeat Suo Lun and sever his head in front of all the world’s ruling classes! He wished to display his king’s domineering spirit and brilliance before everyone!

At this moment, Zhi Li, as usual, was hosting a banquet for hundreds of nobles, generals, and vassals.

"Report, urgent news from the left wing, utmost urgency!"

Suddenly, a Scout rushed in, knelt on both knees, and said, "Your Highness, Earl Chu Ye, the commander of the left wing army, has conquered the entire territory of Linhai City, unstoppable, slaying countless!"

At these words, the entire place fell silent.

Zhi Li stood up and said, "Really? I remember it took Earl Chu Ye only four days from Nujiang Province to Linhai City, and he has already achieved a resounding victory?"

The Scout replied, "A resounding victory, indeed. Linhai City and all the high-ranking Samurai’s territories have been captured by our army, and even Linhai City’s port has fallen. In this battle, our army annihilated tens of thousands of the enemy!"

"Good!" Zhi Li exclaimed with great joy, "Suo Lun’s army is indeed strong, but to be defeated so easily at this moment, isn’t this like the walls falling and everyone pushing? How low must their morale be?"

The nobles and vassals present all bowed and saluted, saying, "Your Highness’s might is boundless; the traitorous Suo Lun’s army flees at the mere sight!"

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on the recuperation of Linhai City!"

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on the recovery of the lost territory!"

Instantly, all the civil and military officers, vassals and nobles, flattered like the tide.

Zhi Li was indeed very pleased!

His army hadn’t even arrived, and the entire Southeast Province had already changed flags, driving away Suo Lun’s troops. (That’s what those shameless civil officers in the Southeast Province claimed, not that Suo Lun voluntarily gave up the province but that he was driven away after being routed by their gathered forces.)

Zhi Li had his own understanding, but who doesn’t like to hear good things?

Now, the entirety of Linhai City had been completely recaptured.

The war had not truly begun yet, and he had already won much of it.

And Suo Lun, having bled out all the chips he had previously won, had lost not only the Southeast Province but now Linhai City as well!

"Hahaha..." Zhi Li laughed heartily, "Right now, I would very much like to know what is going through Gui Xingfu’s mind? What a pity for Gui Qinshao, who had been ennobled by Suo Lun as City Lord of Linhai City for just a few days, only to have it snatched away by me."

"Indeed..." Fu Qi said, "City Lord Qin Shu had barely sat in her seat for a few days before it was taken by Your Highness. She must regret following Suo Lun now. Her bed must be so empty now, why doesn’t Your Highness go and comfort her?"

The remark was obscene, but in the current climate, as long as it was an attack on Suo Lun, even the most vulgar remark was politically correct.

Indeed, Zhi Li laughed heartily upon hearing it.

Then, Zhi Li’s expression turned solemn as he ordered, "Command Earl Chu Ye to immediately move south from Linhai City, cross the Nu River, and attack Tian Shui City!"

"Yes!" Immediately, a Scout leader on the rank of a Chiliarch, mounted on a Griffin Beast, set off for Linhai City.

Zhi Li continued to issue orders, "Now, the Tianshui River has been thoroughly leveled by me, as if walking on flat ground. The army advances and approaches the Fenglei Fort Defense Line!"

"By your command!" led by Duke Turing Tuo, the generals shouted in unison.

Four hours later!

Zhi Li’s Central Army of four hundred and fifty thousand men, vast and mighty, darkening the skies, crossed Tian Shui City like walking on flat ground.

The army approached the Fenglei Fort Defense Line!

...

Had Linhai City really fallen?

Yes, it truly had fallen!

But was Chu Ye’s claim of being ’invincible’ also true? Because there was utterly no resistance!

Linhai City and all the territories of high-ranking Samurai, Suo Lun had completely abandoned them all!

As for Chu Ye’s claim of slaying countless, that too was true, but it was simply killing innocents to claim credit. Round up a group of people, accuse them of colluding with Suo Lun, label them Suo Lun’s hidden forces in Linhai City, and then behead them at will!

Linhai City had fallen to Suo Lun several months ago, and there were still many voices of covert opposition.

Moreover, as Suo Lun never attempted to deliberately please or appease the populace, the internals of Linhai City still yearned for the kingdom and resisted Suo Lun.

Thus, when Zhi Li’s army arrived, not only had Suo Lun given up the Southeast Province, but he completely abandoned Linhai City as well.

So when Earl Chu Ye entered Linhai City, he was treated like a king’s army, and many local families and citizens went forth to welcome him.

However, Earl Chu Ye found it too uninteresting to take Linhai City in such a manner, and the credit was not enough.

Therefore, he willfully inverted right and wrong and beheaded tens of thousands.