Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 658: Chapter 658. Huang Er’s Visit

Near sunset, Huang Er’s army arrived outside Bulo City. She frowned upon seeing the capital. The banners that flew atop the city wall did not bear the standard Kazhan’s emblem. He spotted several Echos’ banners among those on the wall.

”We are too late,” Huang Er uttered.

Sima Fang and Hua Ling were beside Huang Er. Hua Ling Said, ”How can this be? The report mentioned that General Amon’s army was still on the march when we departed. This means he only spent one or two days occupying Bulo City?”

”General Amon is, as usual, terrifyingly efficient.” Sima Fang remarked. ”Even though Kazhan’s main force was not present, to occupy the capital in such a short time is exceedingly laudable. Wu Di, it seems I have lost the bet.”

Wu Di was there with them. After he returned to Echos, he was sent again to the front line. This time, to fight Farghous, which still occupied Cinder Ash Town and Ginger Mild City at the time. After Farghous retreated, and Huang San ordered Huang Er to enter Kazhan to prevent Amon from causing a political disaster, Huang Er recruited Wu Di to go with her. She figured that since Wu Di had served under Amon, he could offer useful insight into dealing with the man

Sima Fang handed Wu Di a pouch of aer stones, to which Wu Di responded, ”See, I told you. You shouldn’t have challenged me to a bet.”

”I don’t see much damage on the city wall, but there seem to be many workers doing a repair job,” Hua Ling said.

”They most probably are preparing for the coming conflict with Kazhan’s main force, which is on its way back here,” Sima Fang conjectured.

Hua Ling turned to Huang Er and asked, ”Princess, how should we handle the situation?”

”Perhaps we should listen to what the other side wants to say first,” Sima Fang pointed in the city’s direction.

A squad of riders exited the city and headed toward them. However, their attention was drawn more toward a large group of troops amassing before the city gate. These troops entered a line formation that barred the path into the city.

”Are they treating us as a hostile force?” Hua Ling asked.

”I don’t think General Amon will go that far...,” Huang Er said.

”I won’t be so sure about that,” Wu Di said.

Hua Ling turned to Wu Di and asked, ”What do you mean? Are you saying General Amon intends to rebel?”

Wu Di shook his head. ”Nah, I don’t think he will challenge Echos’ authority directly... At least for now. That said, I don’t think he truly sees anyone as an ally, even those who are working for him. They are just tools to him. As for anyone who is not under him, he might consider them somewhat hostile, which includes us. Still, I don’t think he will drop his pretense for now. Fighting us won’t be beneficial to him.”

”What a troublesome fellow,” Hua Ling remarked. ”I don’t know why King Huang San kept him around. He should have just chased this man away.”

”King Huang San owes Amon a big debt for helping him win the Ancient Ascension Trial,” Huang Er said. ”My brother is not the kind of man who throws away his moral debt, even if he knows it is for the best of the country. He already made a big concession by appointing me as the Prime Minister instead of Amon.”

”I am glad he did,” Hua Ling said.

”Me too,” Huang Er uttered.

When the approaching squad came close enough, they identified the person in the lead. He was Amon’s loyal follower, Lieutenant General Xin Wuming.

”Yo! How are you doing?” Wu Di greeted Xin Wuming.

Xin Wuming harrumphed in response but otherwise ignored Wu Di. He was unhappy when he heard the news that Wu Di had transferred away. He considered the action a defection.

”Yo, man. What’s your problem?” Wu Di could sense the hostility.

Xin Wuming continued to ignore Wu Di. He saluted Huang Er and said, ”Prime Minister Huang Er, welcome. We are surprised that Your Highness is coming to Kazhan. Your Highness should have notified us first so we could prepare an appropriate welcome.”

”That is unnecessary,” Huang Er replied. ”I wish to speak with General Amon.”

”Of course, General Amon is waiting for Your Highness inside Kazhan’s castle. Please follow me.”

Huang Er nodded. She moved forward. When the others also did the same, Xin Wuming halted them. ”General Amon will only meet Prime Minister Huang Er. Everyone else, please wait here.”

”What? Out of the question!” Hua Ling exclaimed. ”Her Highness’ safety is my responsibility. I won’t leave her side!”

”You will!” Xin Wuming refused to yield. ”We will guarantee Her Highness’ safety, or are you saying that you don’t trust us?”

”Of course, I...”

Huang Er gestured for Hua Ling to step back. She said, ”Don’t worry, General Amon is an officer of Echos. I’m sure he will protect me and treat me with respect.”

”That is without a question,” Xin Wuming bowed at Huang Er.

Hua Ling and the others stayed as Huang Er rode toward Bulo City, escorted by Xin Wuming and his squad.

”I don’t like this,” Hua Ling said.

”No need to worry too much,” Wu Di said. ”As I said, General Amon won’t show open hostility yet.”

”You keep saying, yet. That doesn’t sound too convincing,” Hua Ling said.

Wu Di shrugged in response.

Hua Ling turned to Sima Fang and asked, ”What do you think of this?”

Sima Fang didn’t answer. She pondered the situation, and her face was sullen. She, too, didn’t like the way things progressed.

*

”You are meeting Echos’ princess, aren’t you? Why did you call us here as well?” Xan Chi asked. He was inside the throne room with Amon and Fen Nu.

”She is not just a princess. She is also Echos’ Prime Minister. Show proper respect when she arrives,” Amon replied. ”As to your question, I have a feeling I will have to show the princess something. I don’t like repeating. I will show it to you two as well when I do.”

”Show what?” Xan Chi asked.

”You will see when the time comes,” Amon answered.

Not long after, Xin Wuming brought Huang Er into the throne room. He left after ushering her in.

”Your Highness,” Amon gave Huang Er a respectful bow. Xan Chi and Fen Nu addressed Huang Er with a slight bow of their heads.

”General Amon,” Huang returned Amon’s greeting.

”Let me introduce,” Amon gestured to his two companions. ”This is Tribe Chief Xan Chi and Tribe Chief Fen Nu, the members of Kazhan’s new conclave.”

Huang Er frowned at the statement. ”What do you mean? Kazhan is ruled by a royal court, with King Shou Zou at its head.”

”Not anymore,” Amon said. ”Kazhan’s populace demands otherwise. The feudal system is not working. They clamoured to return to the old ways, the way of the conclave. I have many influential tribes who currently reside in this capital who express such a desire, and they hired me to help them bring about the will of the people.”

”That is true, General Amon is a great friend of Kazhan for helping us with this revolution,” Xan Chi supported Amon’s claim.

”We are truly grateful to him,” Fen Nu added.

Huang Er’s frown turned deeper. Amon had seized the initiative before she even had the chance to demand his explanation.

”General Amon,” Huang Er stated. ”Even if this is the will of most of Kazhan’s people, it is another country’s internal issue. We have no right to interfere in the matter. Your action will put us in a difficult position with our allies.”

”Who exactly are our allies?” Amon returned. ”To my knowledge, we don’t have an official ally. What we have is a pact with the countries that happen to be assaulted by a faction that also assaulted us.”

”Even if it is just a pact, it is unethical to cause trouble to the country we have a pact with,” Huang Er argued.

”That is assuming if we are still on the same side of the pact. What if I told you that we have bet on the wrong horse in this war?”

”What are you trying to say?” Huang Er asked.

”What if, instead of fighting Farghous and Gyleth Marx, we should instead aid them?”

”What are you babbling about? Farghous invaded us. It doesn’t spell enemies better than that. Aiding them will be illogical.”

”I believe His Majesty hasn’t informed Your Highness regarding my reason for undertaking this campaign into Kazhan?” Amon asked.

”No... His Majesty just ordered me to come here and stop you from causing further political concerns,” Huang Er answered.

”That’s understandable,” Amon said. ”I informed His Majesty of my reasons, but I didn’t provide any proof.”

”What are you talking about?” Huang Er asked.

Amon turned to Xan Chi and Fen Nu. ”You asked me before what my interest is in stopping Kazhan’s army from disturbing Gyleth Marx. I will tell you now.”