Søren looked at Tu Ningchen, while the latter's gaze fell on Princess Jung Yeon.
Tu Ningchen's attitude was not humble, but rather arrogant.
"In today's first battle, we suffered a terrible defeat," Tu Ningchen said, "However, there's a different piece of news from Sky Wolf Pass."
Søren said, "I saw it too. Jianze sent a main force of a hundred thousand men to attack Sky Wolf Pass, but he actually broke through."
Tu Ningchen said, "Your Excellency Søren, what's the name of that new weapon of yours?"
"Cannon," Søren said.
"Cannon? Good name! "Tu Ningchen said," It's powerful, but not great. Because the interval between each shot is too long. It's an invincible weapon on the sea, but on land, it's like … "
That was indeed the case. If they used human wave tactics and charged forward continuously, the power of the cannon would be greatly reduced.
Tu Ningchen continued, "Most of His Excellency Søren's troops are mercenaries. There's nothing wrong with their combat qualities, but their will to fight is too weak. So in terms of combat strength, they're probably not as strong as the Dragon Guards or the elites of the vassals. "
Søren nodded, admitting this point.
His army, other than the hardcore Silver Wolf Army, the earliest Suo Clan City Guards, and later the Rock Bandits Army, the rest were mostly mercenaries. They were all here for money.
Tu Ningchen continued, "Of course, you still have a large portion of the troops under your command. They were captured from Duke Meng Wei's southeastern army. I believe you can't overestimate their loyalty. If His Excellency Søren's battle goes smoothly, then everything is fine. If it doesn't, it's only natural for them to take advantage of the situation and stab you in the back. "
Søren didn't doubt this point at all.
He had risen too quickly, and the troops that truly belonged to him were too few. In this world, there was no such thing as reminiscing about bitterness over sweetness, and there was no way to brainwash people. That was why Søren was pessimistic about the loyalty of the mercenaries and the new soldiers.
Currently, the only ones he could trust were the Suo Family Army, the Silver Wolf Army, and the Rock Bandits. The former two combined had less than twenty thousand people, while the fifty thousand Rock Bandits were the absolute main force.
Of the 50,000 Rock Bandits, Søren allocated 20,000 to the Sky Wolf Pass battlefield, 5,000 to the Nu River battlefield in the north, and the remaining 25,000 to the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
Søren said, "Tu Ningchen, if you have something to say, just say it. Don't beat around the bush."
Tu Ningchen said, "Jian Ze has 200,000 troops under him, but only 100,000 of them are useful. The rest of the provincial allied forces are second-line troops, and most of them are ruffians without much combat power. In today's battle, Jian Ze had sent out the entire Southwest Legion. Moreover, he had left more than ten thousand people behind to supervise the battle. Anyone who retreated would die! That's why the eighty thousand men that were used to attack the Sky Wolf Pass were directly breached. "
"If you have something to say, spit it out." Søren said angrily. His patience had never been enough.
Tu Ningchen said, "And we still have 400,000 troops on hand, which is close to five times that of Jian Ze. Once we are like Jian Ze and stake everything on a single throw, using numbers to attack the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line. Do you think we can breach it? "
If they were to stake everything on a single throw, and use an endless stream of human lives to push up the wall …
The number of enemies that the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line had to withstand for every meter would exceed that of the Sky Wolf Pass today.
The key was that Jian Ze's army had attacked the city walls three times in the battle of Sky Wolf Pass. The last time, they breached it and occupied Sky Wolf Pass.
The Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line was different from the Sky Wolf Pass.
Behind the walls of Sky Wolf Pass, there were many castles and passes that could be used to defend.
After the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line was breached, there were only simple barracks left. Behind it was a flat road that led directly to the main city of Heavenly Water.
In other words, it didn't matter if the Sky Wolf Pass was breached, they could still take it back.
But if the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line was breached, the enemy would really surge towards Heavenly Water City with irresistible force. At that time, the entire Heavenly Water City would be like a powerless beauty that could be trampled on by anyone.
Once the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line was breached, it would basically mean defeat!
In that case, would the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line be breached under such a desperate human wave tactic?
Søren didn't know, but looking at the situation of the battle of Sky Wolf Pass today, it was very likely that the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line would be breached.
Because the power of cannons on land wasn't as great as imagined.
Perhaps, only after the arrival of high explosives, especially when the era of reloading cannons arrived, could cannons become the true god of war.
Tu Ningchen said, "If we stake everything on a single throw and send all our troops to attack the city. What do you think the probability of breaching the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line is? Is it 70%? "
70%, more or less!
Søren said, "Even if it's breached, how many of your men will die?"
Tu Ningchen said, "Yes, this is the key. Today, the southwest army suffered almost 60,000 casualties, which made my father's heart bleed. These troops are the foundation of our Turin Family's survival, and also the foundation of the Raging Wave Kingdom's prosperity and stability. His Highness Zhi Li is like a cornered beast that can only be reborn after death. He doesn't care even if he has to sacrifice his last soldier. As long as he can defeat you, he can ascend to the throne. He's facing a dead end. But my father isn't … "
That's right, Zhi Li could only fight to the end. He would either be king or a bandit.
But Turin Tuo was different. He could switch sides and pledge loyalty to Jung Yeon. At that time, he would still be the number one person in the Supreme Command, and the number one person in the Raging Wave Kingdom's military.
After Jung Yeon ascended to the throne, as the regent, Søren would not fight with Turin Tuo for the position. To Turin Tuo, the only unbearable thing was that he would have to rely on Søren in the future.
And if Turin Tuo followed Zhi Li and staked everything in one throw, not to mention the possibility of losing.
Even if they won in the end, his Dragon Guards would suffer heavy casualties. One had to know that in the battlefield at Sky Wolf Pass, 60,000 of the 100,000 soldiers in the southwest army had died. If the Dragon Guards also suffered heavy casualties, how many troops would the Turin Family have left?
The army was the foundation of Turin Tuo's wealth. If he lost all his troops, how could he resist Zhi Li in the future?
This was the reason why Duke Turin Tuo had sent his son to negotiate with Jung Yeon.
In comparison, betraying Zhi Li and switching sides to Jung Yeon was the most beneficial.
Suddenly, Tu Ningchen solemnly lifted his robe and knelt down in front of Princess Jung Yeon, "Your Highness, this is a civil war. Those who died are the soldiers of the Raging Wave Kingdom, and those who suffered damage are the vitality of the Raging Wave Kingdom. In the decisive battle in the future, no matter who wins or loses, there will be more than hundreds of thousands of casualties. If Zhi Li's side wins, because of his special relationship with the Dragon Temple, the Yan Empire and the Western Liang Kingdom may not dare to take advantage of the situation … "
Tu Ningchen raised his head and looked at Princess Jung Yeon's beautiful face, "But if you win, there will only be more casualties. Once the princess ascends the throne, as everyone knows, the Dragon Temple has always been unwilling to break the tradition and let a woman take the throne. At that time, the kingdom will completely lose the protection of the Dragon Temple, and the Western Liang Kingdom and the Yan Empire will definitely take advantage of the situation. Because of this civil war, we will lose four to five hundred thousand casualties, and half of the kingdom's army will be lost. At that time, how can we resist the tigers and wolves of the Western Liang Kingdom and the Yan Empire? "
Tu Ningchen's words were not without reason.
If Jung Yeon ascends the throne, the Dragon Temple will definitely be furious. At that time, the Western Liang Kingdom that was eyeing the Raging Wave Kingdom covetously will definitely not let go of this opportunity, and the Yan Empire will also take advantage of the situation.
The Raging Wave Kingdom that lost half of its army because of the civil war will indeed be in danger.
After saying that, Tu Ningchen solemnly kowtowed to Princess Jung Yeon and said, "Your Highness, please reconsider!"
At this time, Søren realized that Tu Lingtuo chose to negotiate with Jung Yeon, and not him, Søren!
Looking at Tu Ningchen's attitude, this negotiation was even going to throw Søren aside.
…
At this time, the entire Zhi Li's camp fell into a very strange silence.
Every night before this, Zhi Li would hold a big banquet with the officials.
And some of the feudal vassals, nobles, and high-ranking generals would seize the opportunity to stay in Zhi Li's camp every night to flatter and please him in all kinds of ways.
But tonight, after the war ended, after returning to the camp.
All the feudal vassals went straight into their own tents and never came out again.
Even the high-ranking officials and generals hid in their tents, as if they had directly fallen asleep.
The usually bustling Zhi Li's camp was as quiet as a ghost.
Zhi Li lay on the bed in sorrow. There was no light in the tent. He just stared into the darkness, feeling extremely absurd and desolate.
What a joke!
His wall had not collapsed yet, and there were already countless people ready to push it down.
This world was too realistic, too cold.
Today, he had only lost the first battle, and his camp was already deserted. It could be imagined that if he really lost, those who previously flattered him and flattered him would not hesitate to step on him ten thousand times.
Previously, when he was in the midst of hundreds of thousands of troops, he felt like he was a god, protected by the army, and everything was under his control.
But now, he was still in the midst of the army, but he felt like he was alone.
How many of these four hundred thousand troops were truly loyal to him, Zhi Li? Perhaps there were only ten thousand of them left!
The remaining hundreds of thousands of troops could turn into ferocious beasts at any time and bite Zhi Li until not even his bones remained.
…
In Tu Lingtuo's tent!
"Father, why?" Tu Lingtuo roared.
Her snow-white face looked especially ferocious, her eyes bloodshot.
"Why what?" Duke Turingtuo asked.
"Don't think I don't know where Tu Ningchen went." Tu Lingtuo said, "I know you too well. You saw that the situation was not good, so you prepared to betray His Highness Zhi Li and pledge loyalty to Søren."
Duke Turingtuo ignored him and continued to practice his calligraphy, waiting for Tu Ningchen's return.
"You are too childish, father. Do you think there is still room for reconciliation between us and Søren?" Tu Lingtuo shrieked, "Today at Sky Wolf Pass, Jian Ze already demonstrated it to us. As long as we stake everything and send hundreds of thousands of troops to attack the city, we will definitely break the Wind Thunder Fortress defense line. We have at least an eighty percent chance of winning!"
"That's right. If we stake everything and use lives, we do have a seventy to eighty percent chance of winning." Duke Turingtuo said, "And then? How many of us will die? "
"Who cares?" Tu Lingtuo said, "We won't be the ones dying anyway. What are those soldiers worth? If they die, they die. "
Turingtuo said angrily, "Idiot, those soldiers are the foundation of our Turingtuo family. Today, the Southwest Legion lost sixty thousand men. If we follow Zhi Li and stake everything, our Dragon Guards will lose at least a hundred to two hundred thousand men. At that time, how many soldiers will our Turingtuo family have left? After Feng Li ascended to the throne, what could I use to resist him when he had done all he could to me? Without the army, I'm nothing! Chu Ye of the Northern Legion has already led his troops back to Nanlin Fortress. He knows how to protect his troops. Once my troops are all dead, Chu Ye will become a ferocious tiger that will eat me and replace me. "
Tu Lingtuo said, "Even so, we cannot pledge loyalty to Søren. It is like asking a tiger for its skin. With his vengeful nature, how could he let us live? "
Duke Turingtuo said, "You are wrong. We are loyal to Princess Jung Yeon, not Søren."
Tu Lingtuo said, "That pair of male and female are one."
"No, not one," Duke Turingtuo said, "In the past, Princess Jung Yeon had no one to rely on. She and Søren are naturally one. But she is about to ascend to the throne, so the two will no longer be one. On the contrary, Søren's power is too great. Princess Jung Yeon needs someone to keep him in check, and the best candidate is me! "
Tu Lingtuo said, "Women are different from men. Once they fall in love, they will give everything. She will definitely let Søren do whatever he wants. Once we pledge our allegiance to Jung Yeon, we will definitely be killed by Søren. "
Duke Turingtuo said, "You have fallen in love too. Have you given everything?"
"I am different from other women. I am even more heartless," Tu Lingtuo said.
Duke Turingtuo smiled, "Believe me, Princess Jung Yeon is even more heartless than you. She is a heartless person!"
…
Inside Wind Thunder Fortress!
Princess Jung Yeon looked at Tu Ningchen and said, "Your father wants to pledge loyalty to me?"
"Yes!" Tu Ningchen said, "To protect the vitality of the Raging Wave Kingdom, my father is willing to break tradition and pledge loyalty to Your Highness Jung Yeon. He will also help you ascend to the throne!"
Tu Ningchen only looked at Jung Yeon. He didn't even look at Søren.
Just like what his father Turingtuo had said, they were loyal to Jung Yeon. It had nothing to do with Søren.
After Sauron smelled it, his eyes immediately turned cold. He silently took a few steps back and watched coldly from the sidelines.
"What are the conditions?" Princess Jung Yeon asked.
Tu Ningchen said, "My father will still be the First Marshal of the Supreme Command. He is already in charge of the Dragon Guards. I will serve in the Southwest Legion."
Such a big appetite. His Turingtuo Clan wanted two of the four great legions of the kingdom. The Northern Legion would be given to Chu Ye. The Southeast Legion would be given to Søren.
Zhi Li was not dead yet. He couldn't wait to get a slice of the cake.
"What else?" Princess Jung Yeon asked.
Tu Ningchen said, "His Highness Zhi Li promised on behalf of the royal family that he will confer the title of King to my deceased grandfather."
Confer the title of King with a different surname!
Not only did Turingtuo want to control two legions, he also wanted to be conferred the title of King!
Because after Jung Yeon ascended to the throne, Søren would definitely become the regent of the King's husband. And Turingtuo would also be promoted to King. He would be able to compete with Søren even more.
"What else?" Jung Yeon asked.
Tu Ningchen said, "Our Turingtuo Clan is willing to unite by marriage with the Suo Clan. Therefore, I want to marry Miss Suo Ningbing!"
This was too much!
Søren was instantly furious!
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