Chapter 42 Preparing To Attacking
Chapter 42 Preparing To Attacking
To save myself some trouble, I had not mentioned the Holy Dragon Knight Corps when I first returned to the Beastmen Territory. But now I said, “I recently confirmed something. The Dragon God Empire possesses a very secretive corps. I believe you are unaware of it.”
The Beastmen Emperor stared at me blankly. “A secret corps? What secret corps?”
Lowering my voice, I replied, “The Holy Dragon Knight Corps. It is composed of only seventeen members.”
“A corps of only seventeen people? What could they possibly accomplish? Even if all of them were Dragon Knights, it would only slightly increase the Dragon God Empire’s strength,” the Beastmen Emperor said.
I answered slowly, emphasizing every word. “They are not Dragon Knights. They are Dragon Generals.”
“What?” The Beastmen Emperor’s eyes widened in shock. “Dragon Generals? Are you saying there are seventeen additional Dragon Generals besides the Dragon God Empire’s Three Great Marshals?”
I nodded seriously.
“Seventeen Dragon Generals… seventeen Dragon Generals…” The Beastmen Emperor shook his head repeatedly. “Impossible. Do you understand how terrifying a Dragon General’s destructive power is? One of them alone could annihilate a thousand of our elite soldiers. If the Dragon God Empire truly possessed such strength, why haven’t they destroyed both us and the Demon Clan already?”
I smiled faintly. “That is exactly why this secret will allow us to confront the Demon Clan without fear. There is a reason the Dragon God Empire has not eliminated us.”
“The ancestors of the human race once received a divine decree from their god. According to that decree, every living being has the right to exist. Humans are forbidden from unleashing their full power to upset the balance of the world. If they do, divine punishment will follow.”
“For humans, that decree is absolute. No one dares to violate it. That is why the Dragon God Empire rarely launches full-scale attacks against either the Demon Clan or us. They have always taken a defensive stance. Because of this restriction, we have managed to retain a small corner of territory on this continent.”
The Beastmen Emperor’s eyes widened.
“So what you are saying is that even if we fight the Demon Clan, the Dragon God Empire will not take advantage of the situation to attack us?”
I nodded.
“Yes. Even if they intervene, they will not push matters too far. They would certainly leave us some room to survive. The Demon Clan is indeed stronger than we are, but if I were a marshal of the Dragon God Empire, I would at most send troops to harass the Demon Clan. The most likely strategy would be to observe the conflict and wait.”
By now the Beastmen Emperor had clearly been influenced by my confidence. Two cold glints flashed across his eyes.
“How do you intend to carry this out? Even without interference from the Dragon God Empire, the Demon Clan alone will not be easy to deal with.”
“I know,” I replied calmly. “My goal is not to launch a direct invasion of the Demon Clan. Instead, we will carry out a surprise strike. After all, the Beastmen and the Demon Clan maintain a cooperative relationship. We must not destroy that relationship completely. We only need to demonstrate our strength and make them understand that the Beastmen cannot be bullied at will.”
The Beastmen Emperor said, “Explain your plan in detail.”
I took out a map and spread it across the floor since the table had been destroyed.
Pointing to a long, narrow region along the border between the Beastmen Territory and the Demon Clan, I said, “Father Emperor, look here.”
The Beastmen Emperor crouched down beside me.
“This is Dunder Province of the Demon Clan. One side borders the Fengyan Territory of the Cheetahmen, and another borders the Fuwen Territory of the Bearmen. Because this province lies close to our territory, the two sides frequently conduct trade. It has become the largest commercial province of the Demon Clan.”
I nodded.
“Dunder Province has a very long border with our two territories. It is also inland, so it does not need to worry about attacks from the Dragon God Empire. That is why the region is prosperous and lightly defended.”
I pointed to a location inside the province.
“What I intend to do is capture the entire Dunder Province as quickly as possible and seize all its supplies and goods. Look here. This is Stanla City, the provincial capital. It is the largest commercial center of the Demon Clan.”
“Once we capture Stanla City, we can fortify it and negotiate with the Demon Clan. Since the entire province will fall into our hands, we can station troops in the surrounding cities and establish a strong defensive position.”
“We will not need supply lines. The resources we seize from the province will sustain the army. As long as we can hold the province for some time, the Demon Clan will be forced to negotiate. After all, they will not easily abandon such a prosperous region.”
“When that time comes, we will make them understand that the Beastmen Territory cannot be bullied.”
The Beastmen Emperor stood up and paced back and forth inside the Imperial Study.
Half an hour later he finally stopped.
“Are you absolutely confident in this plan?” he asked solemnly. “What if the Demon Clan launches a massive attack on our other territories while we are invading Dunder Province?”
“I have already considered that possibility,” I replied. “To prevent it, I hope you will gather the military forces from every territory and station them along the border with the Demon Clan.”
“If the Demon Emperor is focused on responding to our invasion, he will not risk sending an isolated army deep into our territory.”
The Beastmen Emperor smiled bitterly.
“Your thinking is too optimistic. We just sacrificed three hundred thousand soldiers in the war against the Dragon God Empire. Do you think the tribal chiefs will willingly send more troops to attack the Demon Clan? Those scoundrels will hide in their own territories.”
I smiled faintly.
“They will have no choice. First, we attack Dunder Province directly. Only after the attack begins will we inform the tribal chiefs to mobilize forces for defense.”
“The war itself does not require their troops. When you issue the order, simply warn them that the Demon Clan could invade at any moment. If they wish to preserve their power and authority, they will defend their territories.”
“These leaders are selfish, but each of them possesses elite troops. Unless they intend to betray the Beastmen, they will choose the option that benefits them most.”
The Beastmen Emperor stared at me silently for a long time.
“But this plan is extremely risky,” he said at last. “If we launch a war without consulting the tribal chiefs first, they may unite and accuse me of misconduct. And if we begin the invasion but they refuse to defend the rear, what will happen then?”
I shook my head.
“That will not happen. First, no one wants their homeland to fall into ruin. Second, the Demon Clan will not annihilate the Beastmen entirely. If we disappear, who would ally with them against the Dragon God Empire?”
“Our goal is not a full-scale war. We only need to deliver a powerful warning. As long as we allow the Demon Clan to preserve their dignity in the end, they will accept the outcome.”
“Even if your reasoning is correct,” the Beastmen Emperor said, “what forces do we have to attack Dunder Province if the tribal chiefs are not informed beforehand? Reports indicate that the province has at least fifty thousand defenders, led by a Fallen Angel.”
I rolled up the map and looked at him steadily.
“Father Emperor, if you want to win this war, you must grant me freedom of command. I ask for only one thing—trust.”
The Beastmen Emperor replied solemnly, “You are my son. How could I doubt you? Tell me your plan.”
A cold light flashed through my eyes.
“How many soldiers remain in the Wild Lion Corps?”
“More than three thousand,” the Beastmen Emperor replied. “However, they must also defend the royal palace, so I cannot give them all to you.”
“That is unnecessary,” I said. “I need only one thousand elite soldiers from the Wild Lion Corps, and another thousand from my father’s Behemoth Corps, commanded by my father.”
“Yuna Territory and Sasi Territory will also send elite warriors. With these forces we can capture Dunder Province quickly. But most importantly, these troops must be commanded by me, not by my father.”
The Beastmen Emperor frowned.
“I can give you the Wild Lion Corps, but you cannot use the Behemoth Corps. The Behemoth Corps represents the greatest military power of the Beastmen. They are as famous as the Dragon Knights and the Fallen Angels. If we deploy them, the Demon Clan will certainly send their Fallen Angels into battle.”
“That would make the war extremely dangerous.”
I shook my head.
“No. The Behemoth warriors are essential. This operation cannot succeed without their overwhelming assault power.”
“As for the Fallen Angel Legion, you need not worry. They may not be as great a threat as you think. Tell me—how many Fallen Angels does the Demon Clan currently possess?”
The Beastmen Emperor considered the question.
“At least thirty. They lost two during their attack on the Dragon God Empire, though they also killed two Dragon Knights.”
I nodded calmly.
“Then allow me to analyze the current situation.”
“The Fallen Angel Legion originally numbered thirty-eight. After the two deaths you mentioned, thirty-six remained. When we fought them in Sasi Territory, we killed four more, leaving thirty-two.”
“Furthermore, while I was in the Dragon God Empire, I learned that the Demon Clan has split into two factions. One faction supports the Demon Emperor and controls most of the Fallen Angels. The other faction controls about one-third of them.”
“The conflict between these two factions has already resulted in the deaths of four more Fallen Angels.”
“In other words, excluding the Demon Emperor and the guard commander who can transform into a four-winged Fallen Angel, only twenty-eight Fallen Angels remain.”
“Even if the Demon Emperor could mobilize all of them, he would not risk deploying them all.”
I looked directly at the Beastmen Emperor.
“After all, one thousand Behemoth warriors are not weak opponents.”
“Furthermore, we will have the Lernean Hydra Panzong, the Twin-Headed Wolf Sivin, my father, and myself. Together we can handle at least ten Fallen Angels.”
“Even if a four-winged Fallen Angel appears, my father can deal with it. With the support of the Behemoth warriors, the Fallen Angels would only be inviting disaster.”
Actually, those words were not entirely true. When I killed the Fallen Angels, I had been in my transformed state. But could I transform while leading the Beastmen into battle? Obviously not.
The Beastmen Emperor seemed clearly influenced by my argument. He asked, “Can you bring the two spiritual leaders of the Naga and Werewolf tribes to meet me?”
I nodded. “Of course. I know you need time to think about this matter. I will bring them to meet you tomorrow morning.”
I paused briefly.
“Father Emperor, you must make a decision quickly. Speed is the key to winning wars. If we want to minimize our losses, we must prepare as soon as possible. I understand that this operation carries risks, but the greater the risk, the greater the reward.”
“Very well. I understand,” the Beastmen Emperor replied wearily. “You may leave for now.”
I could see the fatigue on his face. This was an extremely difficult decision. A single mistake could make him the sinner of the entire Beastmen race. I did not want to pressure him further.
“Yes, Father Emperor. This son will take his leave. Please take care of your health.”
I was about to depart when the Beastmen Emperor suddenly called out.
“Wait a moment, Lei Xiang.”
I turned back. “Does Your Majesty have another order?”
“Since you have returned, you should visit your home,” he said. “Your father has not been in a good mood recently. After all, he is your real father.”
He continued thoughtfully.
“If you want to succeed in your attack on the Demon Clan, you must persuade him. Don’t you intend to bring the Behemoth warriors with you? Then you will need his approval.”
“I understand, Father Emperor.”
It really had been a long time since I had seen my father. I could not say I felt any closeness toward him. If anything, resentment filled my heart. Yet I could not completely ignore his place within it.
What son would not feel proud of his father’s strength? Who would not wish for his father to be a hero respected by all?
The Beastmen Emperor seemed to notice the conflict in my expression.
“Your mother is doing very well in the imperial palace,” he said. “Her changes have been remarkable. I visited her shortly after you left, and again a few days ago. In just a few months she has changed so much that I almost failed to recognize her.”
When he mentioned my mother, warmth spread through my heart.
“Father Emperor, thank you for taking care of my mother. I will visit her later.”
“Very well. You may go. I must think carefully about this matter.”
After I left, the Beastmen Emperor muttered to himself, “What exactly should I do?”
A shadow suddenly appeared beside him.
“Your Majesty, the child is correct,” the shadow said quietly. “This is an opportunity. If we endure humiliation without resistance, your prestige will decline further. Moreover, the Demon Clan will only worsen our situation.”
The Beastmen Emperor raised his hand, stopping him.
“Do you believe Lei Xiang can be trusted completely? If he succeeds, his prestige within the Beastmen Territory will rise greatly. And you heard what he said—he persuaded both the Naga and Werewolf tribes in such a short time. That makes me uneasy.”
The shadow replied calmly.
“Your Majesty, forgive my boldness, but I sense no hidden schemes in this child. In my experience observing people, Lei Xiang truly wishes to help the Beastmen from the bottom of his heart.”
“There is a saying: if you doubt a man, do not use him; if you use him, do not doubt him.”
He continued.
“Besides, his mother remains here in the palace. He would not dare act recklessly. More importantly, he does not even resemble a Beastman. How could he easily win the hearts of the people? You need not worry.”
The Beastmen Emperor slowly nodded.
“There is another saying: great merit can threaten the ruler. If that day truly comes, dealing with it will not be easy.”
He sighed.
“But you are right. I must use him. To be honest, I truly like that child. If only he were my real son.”
“You need not decide immediately,” the shadow advised. “When our men return, we can question them and confirm whether Lei Xiang is trustworthy.”
The Beastmen Emperor nodded again.
“Very well. We will discuss that matter later. As for the attack…”
At that moment a loud voice sounded from outside the Imperial Study.
“Report!”
The Beastmen Emperor frowned.
“Didn’t I say I did not want to be disturbed?”
The voice outside answered nervously, “Your Majesty, envoys from the Demon Clan have arrived. They insist on meeting you personally. That is why…”
“Envoys from the Demon Clan?” the Beastmen Emperor muttered.
He glared toward the door.
“Why have they come?”
The guard hesitated. “It seems… it seems…”
“Stop stammering. Speak.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The envoy appears to have come to demand payment.”
The Beastmen Emperor exploded with anger and leapt to his feet.
“Those scoundrels have no end! We have already lost more than they have, yet they still come to demand money!”
The shadow spoke quietly.
“You must still meet them, Your Majesty. Please calm yourself.”
The Beastmen Emperor took two deep breaths and gradually regained his composure.
“Bring him in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
By the time the guards moved to carry out the order, the shadow had already disappeared.
Grinding his teeth, the Beastmen Emperor adjusted his robes and walked toward the political hall.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Imperial Study, I could no longer suppress my desire to see my mother.
Taking the lightest carriage and the most familiar route, I hurried toward the garden where she lived.
The garden was peaceful and open. Not a single sound disturbed the air. The fragrance of flowers filled the space—my favorite scent. The scent of nature immediately calmed my mind.
Moving quietly, I concealed my presence and stepped inside.
Soon I saw my mother’s familiar figure from behind. She was crouching in the courtyard, carefully tending the flowers. Every movement of her hands was gentle and meticulous, as if she feared damaging even a single petal.
She wore a light pink dress, covered by a white cloak made from the fur of some unknown beast. Although the weather was clear, winter still carried its chill.
Her long black hair shimmered in the sunlight. A soft breeze occasionally lifted several strands into the air.
The moment I saw her, my blood surged.
Perhaps it was the bond of blood.
Not wanting to disturb her, I slowly approached her from behind.
However, I forgot that my tall body would cast a shadow.
As I stepped closer, my shadow suddenly covered the ground in front of her.
My mother reacted instantly. She leaped forward lightly and turned sharply.
“Who is there?”
I stepped forward and dropped to my knees.
“Mother… I have returned.”
Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.
She immediately helped me up.
“Son, why did you come back so soon? Stand up and let Mother look at you.”
A warm aura of vitality radiated from her body. The uncomfortable feeling that had lingered within me for days gradually faded. Perhaps it was the lingering effect of the turquoise gem.
My mother held my shoulders and examined me closely.
I looked at her as well.
Just as the Beastmen Emperor had said, she had changed greatly since the last time I saw her. Her hair had regained its deep black color, her skin looked smooth and radiant rather than dry, and the wrinkles on her face had faded. Her figure had regained a graceful fullness.
My mother had always been beautiful. Even though she was nearly forty and had once appeared prematurely aged, I could now see the elegance of a young woman returning to her.
She wiped away my tears gently.
“My child, you’ve grown thinner. You must have suffered while traveling.”
Of course I had grown thinner. For much of that journey I had spent time lying in bed recovering from injuries.
I held her hand and smiled.
“It’s nothing. How can someone gain anything without making sacrifices? But you… you are truly beautiful.”
A faint blush appeared on my mother’s cheeks, making her look even more radiant.
“You silly boy. What nonsense are you saying? Are you teasing your mother?”
I shook my head with a smile.
“How could I? Everything I said is true. Seeing you healthy makes me very happy.”
She held my hand and said warmly, “Come, let us talk inside.”
Inside the room she pressed me gently into a chair and sat beside me, her gaze never leaving my face.
“Child, when you first told me you could restore my appearance, I didn’t believe it. But after half a year of careful treatment, I don’t think it will even take three years to recover completely. Mother is truly grateful to you. You gave me the will to live again.”
Her voice trembled as tears gathered in her eyes.
“Mother…”
I stepped forward and knelt beside her.
She pulled my head into her arms. A powerful warmth flowed from her embrace into my body.
“My child, this is what a mother should do.”
I whispered softly, “You are already more beautiful than many women your age.”
She rested her cheek gently against my head.
“Really?”
“Of course. Have you forgotten? I once traveled to the Dragon God Empire.”
“Yes, you did,” she replied quietly. “But I do not know if I will ever have the chance to return.”
I answered firmly.
“You will. After I finish my affairs here, I will bring you back. The Duke will be very happy to see you.”
Mother said quietly, “If I truly return, I only wish to secretly look at him from a distance a few times. That will be enough. I do not want to destroy his family. Child, you must not tell him that I am still alive. Do you understand?”
I stood up and frowned.
“Mother, I don’t understand. Haven’t you waited a long time for this? Why don’t you want to see the Duke? I believe Uncle Linden is not the kind of person who would forget his old love.”
Mother smiled bitterly.
“I know he is not that kind of person. That is exactly why I do not want to see him. Do you understand? If we meet now, what would happen to his wife? He has daughters. He has a family. Even the hard-earned position he holds now would be threatened.”
She lowered her eyes.
“He already sacrificed a great deal because of me. I cannot allow him to suffer more. We have already been apart for so many years. Why should I bring him more trouble?”
She paused before asking,
“Have you decided what to do about his two daughters?”
When she mentioned Zi Yan and Zi Xue, a gentle look passed through my eyes. A wave of longing surged through my heart, leaving me speechless for a moment.
Mother laughed softly.
“Silly child. I can see from your eyes that you truly like them. But why can’t you simply choose one? Men always hope to have more wives and concubines.”
My face flushed red. I shook my head awkwardly.
“I don’t want to be that kind of person. I simply cannot control matters of the heart. Mother, I am not someone who changes his feelings lightly.”
Mother smiled warmly.
“It’s alright. Mother knows you are a good child. As long as you remain responsible and do not hurt the ones you love, then no matter how many wives you take, your mother will support you.”
I was deeply moved.
“Thank you, Mother.”
She asked, “When you left, didn’t you say it would take a long time before you returned? Why did you come back so soon?”
I sighed again.
“Several things happened, so I had no choice but to return early. Do you remember my escorts? Only Mink returned with me. Everyone else was killed.”
Mother was shocked.
“What? All of them died? Didn’t you say those escorts were highly skilled fighters?”
“They were,” I replied bitterly. “But they were no match for the Fallen Angels of the Demon Clan. Those despicable people used such methods to prevent the Beastmen Territory from developing.”
My voice hardened.
“I will not let this matter rest. That is why I returned—to discuss mobilizing troops with His Majesty.”
Mother frowned.
“Are you going to war again?”
I gently held her hands.
“Mother, I know you dislike fighting. But when enemies are already bullying you at your doorstep, shouldn’t you resist? After all, we must protect our home.”
Mother suddenly looked at me seriously.
“Ah Xiang, can you promise your mother something?”
I nodded immediately.
“Of course. Whether it is one thing, ten things, or even a hundred things—if you ask, I will do it.”
Mother looked relieved.
“Then promise me this: no matter what happens in the future, you will never lead the Beastmen army to war against the Dragon God Empire.”
I lowered my head and thought carefully.
“Mother, if everything goes smoothly, after we deal with the Demon Clan and the Beastmen Territory becomes stable again, I will take you back to the Dragon God Empire. I don’t think there will be any conflict between us and them in the future. Besides… the people I love most are still there.”
Mother’s expression darkened.
“I want a clear answer. Can you promise me or not?”
Seeing that she was becoming upset, I quickly replied,
“Alright. I, Lei Xiang, swear that I will never lead the Beastmen army into war against the Dragon God Empire. If I break this oath, may heaven punish me.”
Before I could finish speaking, Mother covered my mouth.
“I only asked for a promise. I didn’t ask you to swear such a harsh oath.”
Suddenly I remembered something.
“Mother, I still don’t know your real name. Can you tell me now?”
She smiled faintly.
“You only remembered to ask now? Listen carefully—your mother’s name is Ji Yun.”
I blinked in confusion.
“Isn’t it Ji Ling?”
“Silly child. Lingling is just my nickname. My real name is Ji Yun.”
“Ji Yun sounds beautiful as well.”
I suddenly remembered something else.
“Oh, Mother, I have sworn brotherhood with several Beastmen companions.”
“Oh? What kind of people are they?”
“There are four of us in total, including me. I am the fourth brother. The third brother is Mink, the only surviving escort.”
My voice lowered slightly.
“To be honest, I bear great responsibility for the deaths of the other escorts. If I had returned two days earlier, that tragedy would not have happened.”
Thinking about their deaths filled me with sorrow.
“That is why I will protect Mink from now on. I will never allow anyone to harm him again.”
I continued,
“As for the others, the second in seniority is a twin-headed wolf named Wolf God. He has two wolf heads and two brains.”
Mother looked surprised.
“Is there really such a race among the Beastmen? I have never heard of it before.”
I smiled bitterly.
“Not only you—until recently, I had never heard of it either. This time I even met a Lernean Hydra.”
I laughed quietly.
“Fortunately he only has one mind. Otherwise everything would be complete chaos.”
“The Lernean Hydra is our eldest brother. His name is Panzong. I was the one who gave him that name.”
Mother asked, “Where are they now?”
“I asked Third Brother to arrange accommodations for them. They didn’t come here with me.”
Mother shook her head.
“That was a mistake. Why didn’t you bring them home? There is plenty of space here. Even if dozens of people stayed, the Beastmen Emperor would not object.”
I suddenly realized she was right.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
Overjoyed, I hugged my mother tightly and kissed her cheek.
“You’re right, Mother. I’ll go find them immediately.”
After saying that, I rushed out the door.
Mother watched me leave with a gentle smile.
“This child…”