Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 730: Chapter 730. Conquering the World

The one who had murdered our king is not located in Khode, but in Gyleth Marx,” Amon repeated what Zhong Hua had reported. ”As everyone demands, we will get our revenge. First Class General Jiang Tong, muster your army. Prepare to invade Gyleth Marx!”

All the officials went into a murmur after Amon’s declaration.

Lao Zen, who was among the court officials, spoke, ”Honored regent, we don’t have any bad blood with Gyleth Marx. Can’t we just ask for their cooperation to hand Lin Xiaolong to us?”

”We sent the request days ago. They said they are willing to cooperate, but our spies informed us that it was an empty promise. No large-scale manhunt was conducted. They didn’t take our request seriously.”

”I think it is because they are busy with their political issues. They had also recently lost their empress. I don’t think it is wise to go to war with another country simply because they didn’t comply with our demand immediately.”

”General Jiang Tong here was eager to go to war with Khode without even demanding anything.” Amon pointed at Jiang Tong. Jiang Tong was vexed by it.

Amon continued, ”Think about it this way. This was the perfect time to hit Gyleth Marx. They lost the most soldiers in the war with Oredolia, especially their Martial Realm soldiers. The protracted war also drained them of their morale. They no longer had their Lord Stage protectors. They are at their weakest. Now is the perfect time to strike and force them to capitulate to our demand. If you are still worried, know that we will be supported by the armies of Khode and Kazhan.”

”Why would they join this fight?” Lao Zen asked.

”Khode feels responsible for Lin Xiaolong. Hence, they want to help us bring him to justice. As for Kazhan, they have returned to their warlike tradition. Rather than fighting among themselves as they did in the past, they prefer to slug it out with another country. Their soldiers lost many comrades during their long battle with Gyleth Marx. They were eager to settle the scores.”

These were, of course, made-up reasons. The reason the two joined the fight was that they honored their pledge to mobilize their armies when Amon gave them a call to war.

”General Jiang Tong, prepare your army,” Amon repeated his command. ”You will lead Echos’ royal army, while Xin Wuming will lead the First Demon Army. Together with Khode and Kazhan, we will hit Gyleth Marx from four fronts. The details of these four fronts will be discussed after our mobilization is complete. I expect you have your army ready in one week.”

Some still had reservations about going to war with Gyleth Marx so soon after the last war ended, but they couldn’t think of any reasons to propose otherwise. Furthermore, Amon’s tone indicated that he was resolute with this decision.

”If there are no further issues, let’s conclude this meeting,” Amon announced when no one uttered any objection.

Everyone was dismissed, leaving only Amon, Yang Li, and Huang Bei in the throne room.

”You have done well,” Amon told Yang Li. ”As promised, you are free. You can continue to follow me if you choose to.”

”What if I choose not to?” Yang Li asked.

”I won’t blame you. But, of course, I hope we don’t become adversaries. You know that nothing ever ends well with my adversaries. My allies, on the other hand, will flourish.”

”Huang San used to be your allies,” Yang Li stated.

”Until he chose not to,” Amon replied.

”... Are you truly that power-hungry? Is Echos not enough for you? Do you have to make a move on Gyleth Marx? I know that Lin Xiaolong went hiding in that empire under your order.”

”Do you even have to ask that?” Amon asked in return. ”I won’t stop until the world is under my feet.”

”So... You will go after Farghous next, after Gyleth Marx?”

”Absolutely. Farghous still possesses a king who is a Lord Stage cultivator. But by the time I am finished with Gyleth Marx, I should have entered the Beginning Lord Stage. When that happens, I should have no problem facing Dim Loog.”

”You have it all figured out, don’t you...?” Yang Li asked. ”But what about the calamity? What’s the point of conquering the world if everything will turn to ash anyway?”

”Why? Because it’s in my nature. Simply because something will be gone doesn’t mean I don’t want it in my hands before it does. Furthermore, Mu Qin mentioned that the calamity is still years away. With the world in my command, I can better prepare, or at least marshal the entire world’s resources to find out more about this so-called calamity.”

Amon looked at Yang Li, who wore a melancholy expression. He asked, ”You don’t seem too keen about this. The Yang Li I know didn’t give a damn about the fate of the world. I hope you don’t get any funny ideas about disagreeing with my plan.”

Yang Li looked at Huang Bei in her arms. She sighed and said, ”I won’t oppose you. You can conquer the world, for all I care. But know this, if you endanger my son. I will fight you with every breath that I have.”

”People say that women change once they become mothers. Perhaps there is truth in those words. Then again, I have also witnessed many selfish mothers who sacrifice their offspring for their own gains... Do not worry, so long as you don’t oppose me, I won’t trouble you. You should know by now I don’t harm children. I will not even wrestle control over this kingdom from him. He can be Echos’ king, like he is meant to be, once he comes of age. At that time, I should have the entire world under my thumb. However, you’d better have taught him not to oppose me.”

Yang Li didn’t say anything in response. She simply nodded silently.

*

While Jiang Tong and Xin Wuming prepared the army, Amon worked to stabilize his position, politically and discreetly. He elevated those in favor of him. As for those who didn’t, he exposed their dirty laundry and demoted them. He had prepared this for a long time. His agents, both from the Demon Gang and the Lin Hei Sect, had been working on these officials when Amon was warring abroad.

Not every official was dirty, of course. Those whom Amon couldn’t remove with just cause disappeared without explanation. Not even their bodies were found. Some officials were suspicious of Amon for the disappearance of their colleagues, but they dared not accuse the most powerful person in the kingdom without concrete evidence.

This suspicion, without the ability to act on, became fear of Amon. They become much more docile to Amon’s every decision. This, in turn, solidified Amon’s grip on the court.

By the end of the week, everyone in a position of power already submitted to the fact that Amon was now the ruler of Echos. He was a king in every sense except in title.

The end of the week was also the deadline Amon gave Jiang Tong to prepare for the campaign to invade Gyleth Marx. Though Jiang Tong wasn’t happy about Amon taking the reins of Echos Kingdom, he remained a proud and loyal officer. He didn’t defy the court’s authority. He performed his duty and assembled the army in the same manner if Huang San were still the king.

The bulk of the assembled army gathered outside the capital. Next to Jiang Tong’s royal army was the First Demon Army. Both armies underwent mass recruitment after their losses during the war.

In the case of the First Demon Army, they were also bolstered by the human puppets. After becoming the regent, he confiscated all the prisoners all over Echos and turned them into human puppets for his army. As for his battle puppet army, he kept them all inside his black space ring.

While the army gathered outside, the high-ranking soldiers gathered inside the Royal Barracks’ courtyard. They were joined by court and military officials. They were attending a ceremony to bless the army before they marched to the battlefield.

The ceremony ended with a speech from Amon. He gave them a rousing speech that stoked their passion for avenging King Huang San. He framed it in a way that sounded as if Gyleth Marx intentionally harbored Lin Xiaolong. After hearing his speech, most soldiers couldn’t wait to rush over to Gyleth Marx and tear that empire apart.

Amon ended his speech by wishing everyone victory in the coming campaign. The gathered soldiers responded with a roaring war cry.

After the war cry subsided, loud Claps sounded from the side. Amon turned in the direction of the sounds with a frown. His speech was not a show to be clapped for. He was surprised when he saw the group.

The one who clapped was Xan Chi. The Kazhan’s Grand Chief was not alone. With him were several other prominent figures. Dim Loog, the king of Farghous. Zee Min, the high councilor Amon appointed for Khode’s new high council. Hou Bang and Sura Yao from Gyleth Marx. Xei Nuli, the secret clan head from the Xei Clan. Beside Dim Loog were two people wearing white robes with their faces covered by cloth masks.