Peerless! . . .
In the southern and eastern regions, things were progressing favorably for the Kingdom of Chen.
In the east, Su Dingguo stood his ground against Zhan Qianshan. As long as he avoided any grave errors, the situation in the east would undoubtedly remain under control.
Meanwhile, General Lan had the south well protected. The natural barrier of the fallen mountain shielded them, making it impossible for Yang Wanli, the vice-commander of the Kingdom of Tian-Yu, to pose a significant threat. The southern front was secure.
In essence, the Kingdom of Chen found itself free from immediate danger. This was the moment the king had been awaiting to address the internal discord within the kingdom.
Yet, as the officials contemplated the forthcoming discussions, a sense of unease began to take root. They wondered, "Perhaps we went too far in our actions."
Zuo Wuji was in the spotlight, having recommended Cha Eun Xiao to the court. The king, overwhelmed with joy, promptly rewarded Zuo Wuji with a three-step promotion, an advancement that was undoubtedly appreciated by Zuo Wuji.
Addressing the court, the king acknowledged Cha Eun Xiao's invaluable contributions to the kingdom's safety, declaring, "Commander Cha, Cha Eun Xiao, has stepped forward to protect our kingdom, saving us from imminent collapse. He deserves immense credit. When he returns, I will bestow upon him a great award."
The king also broached the matter of the recently reclaimed lands, seeking input from the officials on the appointment of suitable candidates to govern them. He turned to Prime Minister Zuo for his opinion.
Despite Zuo Wuji's several promotions, his position was still relatively low. It was evident that he wasn't yet qualified to govern a territory. However, the king allowed Prime Minister Zuo to recommend someone, thus providing an opportunity for Zuo Wuji to play a role in this endeavor.
Prime Minister Zuo, being both experienced and astute, recognized the potential to secure a brighter future for his grandson. This was a golden opportunity to nurture his own proteges under the king's blessing, and the officials looked on with envy.
In the eastern region, Zhan Qianshan received the same report, and his expression darkened. After a moment of silence, he slammed the report on the table, making a resounding noise. Then he sat back in his chair, not uttering a word.
The generals gathered around to read the report, and their shock mirrored that of their leader.
"Iron Peak, Wenren Jianyin suffers a massive loss!"
The Kingdom of Lan-Feng, with its one and a half million inhabitants, had less than three hundred thousand wounded soldiers left. Wenren Jianyin was on the brink of death, having spat out blood and fallen unconscious. He had not even regained consciousness when the report was dispatched.
The Kingdom of Chen had reclaimed its territories, and their forces were closing in on Sky Nerve City. In essence, the Kingdom of Chen was secure.
The next development was the movement of Cha Nantian's army. The Northern Army split into two groups, one heading east and the other west. Both sides now received reinforcements. With their newfound support, it was inconceivable for the Kingdom of Chen to lose.
The world had found its equilibrium.
Zhan Qianshan pondered in silence for a prolonged period before finally letting out a sigh of resignation.
"It is over. Matters have reached this point. Relay my orders. We shall retreat and return to our homeland," Zhan Qianshan sighed deeply. "A tremendous opportunity to defeat the Kingdom of Chen has slipped through our fingers. Has God truly favored them?
"We will not encounter such an opportunity again. Once the Kingdom of Chen consolidates its power, they will expand their territory, and that's when we will lament..."
He continued, "The world will fall into the grasp of the Kingdom of Chen. While I am alive, we might still be able to protect our kingdom, even if Cha Nantian comes to wage war. But after my time, I fear..."
That night, preparations for the retreat were set in motion.
Zhan Qianshan stood atop a mountain, gazing at Su Dingguo's camp. He remained there throughout the night.
The night was shrouded in darkness, concealing the tears that flowed down his face. Tears of sorrow and helplessness, as a lifetime of dreams for victory had now become an impossibility.
Nobody could grasp the implications of the upcoming events better than Cha Nantian. He knew that following this battle, the Kingdom of Chen would emerge as an indomitable force in the world, with unmatched wealth at its disposal.
The vast sum bestowed upon them by Feng Monarch had turned the Kingdom of Chen into an economic powerhouse. Despite fighting wars on four fronts, they had not dipped into the treasury. Even by the end of the Iron Peak war, the wealth from Feng Monarch remained untouched. In contrast, two other kingdoms, embroiled in a year-long conflict, had met defeat, undoubtedly resulting in a decline in their strength.
The writing on the wall was crystal clear: the Kingdom of Chen, having secured victory at Iron Peak, was poised to embark on a journey of world conquest.
The die was cast.
Cha Eun Xiao chose not to pursue the relentless onslaught to capture Sky Nerve City. It wasn't because he lacked the capability; he simply didn't see the need. He believed that defeating Wenren Jianyin had been achievement enough.
The warriors from the grasslands had been vanquished, and both the Kingdom of Lan-Feng and the Kingdom of Tian-Yu had reaped no rewards for the arduous conflict. In fact, their strength had diminished. For the Kingdom of Chen, all that remained was to maintain internal stability, and the world would inevitably fall under its dominion.
Cha Nantian, having fulfilled his promise, could now contemplate leaving this world. There was no longer any need to linger.
Moreover, Cha Eun Xiao had recognized that the ambient soul power in the air was more than sufficient. During the pursuit of Wenren Jianyin's forces, he had ceased collecting soul power. Brother Egg had absorbed an ample amount; there was no necessity for further slaughter.
This was why, after his forces had rested, Cha Eun Xiao performed a surprising action that astounded both sides. He ordered the war drums to be sounded and rallied his men in formation in front of Sky Nerve City.
They began to call out to the city, "I request an audience with Princess Chuchu of the Kingdom of Lan-Feng, please!"
The general within the city did not dare to emerge. He was adamant about avoiding an encounter with the Kingdom of Chen's forces at this moment. Upon hearing Cha Eun Xiao's message, he hurried to convey it to Wenren Chuchu.
Wenren Chuchu, standing atop the city's walls, was taken aback. "Commander Cha wishes to meet with me? What could he possibly want?" Her countenance appeared stern and aloof, but her eyes betrayed the complex emotions that churned within as she gazed at Cha Eun Xiao.