Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 654: Chapter 654. Pick Up the Pace

”Let’s not jump to conclusions...,” Lao Zen uttered.

”Yes. He probably has a good reason...,” Ha Gild added.

”There is no reason good enough for insubordination,” Xa Jien stated.

Huang San wore a deep frown. He was also dissatisfied with Amon’s refusal to return. He knew Amon was a wild card, but he had hoped that their cooperation during the struggle for Echos’ crown had meant something. Perhaps Amon had finally thrown away all pretenses and decided to rebel.

While he was still pondering his options, he heard a baby crying. He looked toward the entrance and saw Yang Li walk in with a baby in her arms. All his worries seemed to evaporate when he gazed at the small child.

”My queen,” Lao Zen bowed. ”Forgive me, but we are having an important discussion. It is not appropriate to bring the prince here at this time.”

Huang San agreed. Yet, he couldn’t stop himself from rising from his throne and approaching Yang Li. With a soothing sound, he tried to calm the crying baby, ”Huang Bei, what’s wrong? Don’t be afraid. Father is here.”

He turned to Yang Li and asked affectionately, ”Is something wrong, dear?”

”Nothing’s wrong. I’m here to deliver a message,” Yang Li replied. She handed Huang San a message talisman.

”A message?” Huang San asked with raised brows.

”From Amon,” Yang Li answered.

The others looked at each other. They had just been discussing him and wondering about his purpose. Huang San was similarly curious. He took the message talisman from Yang Li and read its content. The others waited patiently. Huang San’s frown returned as he read the message.

After he was done, he handed the message talisman to Lao Zen. He remained silent and sat back on his throne.

”What does it say?” Ha Gild asked. He was standing beside Lao Zen. The talisman was not large. The message was long, so the words were small. Ha Gild had trouble reading it from the side.

”This... It is slightly difficult to believe,” Lao Zen said after he finished reading. ”General Amon claimed that Farghous and Khode attacked Echos to stop us from interfering with the war between Gyleth Marx and Oredolia. The reason why the three countries banded together was to defeat the Temple of Eternity. If the temple is not defeated, it will bring forth a calamity that destroys everything in the world but itself. He is attacking Kazhan to stop it from interfering with Gyleth Marx. He asks us not to attack Farghous so they can assist Gyleth Marx.”

”For real?” Ha Gild took the message talisman from Lao Zen’s hand and read it himself.

”That is absurd!” Xa Jien exclaimed. ”What nonsense is this about a calamity? Does he have proof of all that nonsense?”

”He doesn’t say so in his message,” Lao Zen replied.

”General Amon wouldn’t have taken this action if he weren’t sure,” Yang Li said.

”My queen, please forgive me if I consider your opinion of the general slightly biased,” Xa Jien said.

”Frankly, I think his decision to act without consulting us is unreasonable,” Lao Zen said. ”Yet, if he was truly convinced that the world could end if he didn’t act... Perhaps that’s why he chose to act before asking for permission.”

”Even if he believes the calamity is real, which I strongly believe it is not, he still went out of line,” Xa Jien said. ”We are currently on the same side as Kazhan. Striking them when they are on the front line facing Gyleth Marx is a low blow. That will smear Echos’ reputation. He should have returned first as he had been commanded. If his claim proves to be true, we can advance on Oredolia properly.”

”Reputation doesn’t win us the war,” Yang Li said. ”If we can win with a low blow, I say we take it.”

Xa Jien wanted to say that it is reasonable to expect a low-born like her to think that way, but he stopped himself when he remembered the low-born woman was now his queen.

Huang San finally spoke, ”Dear, Huang Bei keeps crying. He is uncomfortable here. If you have no more messages to deliver, please return to our chamber with our son to rest.”

Yang Li knew she was being told politely to leave the room. She didn’t object. She performed a slight curtsy, which she was forced to learn before the marriage, before leaving the room with Huang Bei still crying.

After she left, Lao Zen turned to Huang San and asked, ”What should we do, Your Majesty?”

”No matter the reason, we have a pact with Oredolia and Kazhan in this war. They can be considered our allies. To ambush our allies without provocation is wrong,” Huang San said. ”Send an order to Huang Er. She is to march with her army into Kazhan and stop General Amon before he goes too far.”

”She will need to move fast,” Zong Hua said. ”From the news I received, I estimate they will arrive in Bulo City in around six more days.”

”What if General Amon doesn’t listen to Princess Huang Er?” Xa Jien asked.

”I don’t think he will go that far, won’t he...?” Ha Gild asked.

No one could answer that question.

”We will cross that bridge when we come to it,” Huang San said. ”My sister is a good diplomat. I believe she can make Amon see sense.”

”What about Farghous, Your Majesty?” Lao Zen asked.

”Yes. If we don’t do anything, I’m pretty sure Oredolia will send its envoys again soon,” Xa Jien said. ”They will demand we honor the pact and either attack Farghous or help them defend their territory.”

”Have Jiang Tong’s army on standby near our border between Farghous and Oredolia, but do not make any movement yet. I want to settle the situation in Kazhan first before deciding how to proceed with those two countries.”

---------------

”Love letter?” Fen Nu asked.

Amon was reading a message talisman from Yang Li. She informed him that she had delivered his message, but she didn’t know what Huang San’s response was. She was chased out of the discussion room. She said she would try asking again when Huang San returned to their chamber.

”Mm...” Amon ignored Fen Nu’s tease. He was pondering the situation. Since Huang San didn’t let Yang Li join the discussion, he doubted Huang San would divulge it to her later. It seemed he had begun to wear the king’s trust. That was understandable. He did push it a little far this time.

”Do you have a wife or a love interest waiting for you back in Echos?” Fen Nu asked again, not letting the matter go.

”I don’t have time for those,” Amon replied.

”Sad. Well, if you are interested. I am single,” Fen Nu said.

”Single, my ass,” Xan Chi uttered. ”Don’t you keep a few pet husbands back in your tribe?”

”They are just my playthings. They don’t count,” Fen Nu said.

”We should hurry,” Amon said. ”By now, the Kazhan army on the front line should have received the news about us. We must occupy Bulo City before they return. The real battle will be against that army. We must be in control of the terrain when the battle begins.”Xan Chi said.

”I agree. I will tell everyone to pick up the pace,” Xan Chi said. He then looked behind before adding, ”Can your army keep up? Fast marching is Kazhan’s specialty. It is your army that I’m afraid can’t follow our pace.”

”We will keep up,” Amon assured.

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Inside Gyleth Marx’s territory, near the border with Kazhan, two large forces were colliding. The battleground was on a vast grassland. The battle was spread along a long line, allowing almost every soldier to engage in confrontation.

The two forces were Gyleth Marx and Kazhan’s army. Most of the time, the two engaged in small skirmishes. Large-scale battles like this were rare because after a long war, neither side was keen on engaging unless the odds were good.

The big battle today was because the main figures of both countries were on the field. They usually stayed back and directed the battle from behind the scenes.

These two figures were now high up in the sky, away from the battle between their followers. The two were the King of Kazhan, Shou Zou, and the Empress of Gyleth Marx, Hou Huang.

Perpetual shockwaves erupted every time they clashed. Shou Zou wielded a large stone axe while Hou Huang used a crimson whip. Water streams and metal blades swirled and collided around them. Any other Martial Realm soldiers who accidentally came near them were blasted by the destructive power the two produced.

”Not bad, woman!” Shou Zou exclaimed. ”You have surpassed even your father. He will be proud of you. Let me send you to his side so he can talk to you directly.”

”Do not patronize me, old man!” Hou Huang returned. ”If anyone should visit my late father, it should be you! You are way past your prime already.”

”Tough talk, woman. I will let you see...”

Shou Zou’s speech was interrupted because of a retreat horn that sounded from Kazhan’s side. He looked down and didn’t see that their army was in trouble. Why sounded the retreat horn?