CHAPTER 545: CHAPTER 545. THE SITUATION OF THE WORLD

A few days passed after the coronation. The original plan for Huang San after he became king was to do a grand tour around Echos. He was to visit each of Echos’ largest settlements to exert his presence as the new king and socialize with the local officials and influential clan leaders.

Unfortunately, the news of the invasion meant he no longer had the luxury to go on this grand tour.

During the last few days, all efforts were made to secure information. Zong Hua was now in charge of the kingdom’s intelligence network, but she also utilized her merchant network to gather additional information.

The highest kingdom officials were now gathered in the throne room to listen to the report after an extensive investigation into the situation.

"Zong Hua, please tell us what you have found," Huang San said as he gave Zong Hua the floor.

Zong Hua came forward and started her report.

"Your Majesty, we are still piecing the information together, but I will convey the ones we have confirmed. Cinder Ash Town and Bright Rock City are indeed currently under the enemy’s occupation. They are believed to be the forces from Farghous and Khode, respectively. However, we haven’t gotten any confirmation from those two countries. We have sent transmissions to both countries but haven’t received a reply. A delegate had been sent to each country, but it will be some time before we know the result."

"Most likely they will be turned away," Hua Rong said.

"Or even attacked on sight," Ha Gild added.

"If that is their response, it confirms it is indeed their forces who invade us," Lao Zen added.

"But why would they attack us? We hadn’t done anything to wrong them, did we?" Ha Gild asked.

"No, we have always been careful in our relationship with the other countries," Huang Er said. "Nothing in my knowledge should have warranted such aggression."

Huang Er turned to her side when she spoke. Huang Ti and Zhu Yao were sitting beside her. Zhu Yao responded to her, "No. We didn’t do anything to those two countries."

"What about the forces inside the two occupied cities?" Huang San asked Zong Hua.

"The armies that occupy the cities close the gates and refuse contact with the outside world," Zong Hua answered. "Any attempt at contact has been refused. Any attempt to enter the city has been met with violence."

Huang San turned to Jiang Tong and asked, "What are our measures to retake the two cities?"

"Reporting, Your Majesty. We are mobilizing the troops as we speak. Together with the army inside the Grand Barrack, we should have enough to retake the two cities."

"What about our armies at the Southeastern and Western borders?" Huang San asked. "To invade us, Farghous and Khode had to pass through them. Have they been destroyed?"

Jiang Tong displayed a complicated expression upon the question. "We have tried contacting the two armies in those border forts. However, we haven’t received any reply. There is a chance they have indeed been destroyed."

"How could our armies get destroyed so swiftly like that? Even with an ambush, they should at least send us a warning about the invasion," Huang Er uttered.

Jiang Tong again had difficulty answering. "... We are also still investigating this matter."

"Regardless of the method, it appears that this turmoil is not only limited to our kingdom," Zong Hua said.

"What do you mean by that?" Huang San asked.

"As I gather information about this invasion, my merchant network also brought in information about the outside world. Apparently, Gyleth Marx had also performed an invasion of Kazhan and Oredolia."

"Really? Then what are Farghous invading us for?" Ha Gild uttered. "Aren’t they Oredialia’s puppet country? They should be joining hands with Kazhan and Oredolia to fight Gyleth Marx instead of picking a fight with us."

Zong Hua shook her head. "This is the part we are still unsure about," she said. "My agents are still gathering information as we speak. There are a lot of things we still cannot explain."

"Nevertheless, our most urgent matter is to reclaim our cities and chase away the invaders," Jiang Tong stated. "I expect that in another two days, our army will finish rallying in this capital and will be ready to march. Your Majesty, please give us the order!"

Huang San turned to his father.

"You are the king now. You decide," Huang Ti uttered.

Huang San turned back to Jiang Tong and asked. "How many soldiers can we mobilize?"

"The grand barrack has thirty thousand elite soldiers. With the incoming soldiers levied from all over the kingdom, we should have close to a hundred thousand soldiers ready to be mobilized," Jiang Tong answered. "Unfortunately, we can’t mobilize the troops at our other borders. If we do, we will weaken those borders."

"I agree," Zhong Hua said. "With the volatile situation of the world, we can’t tell what the other countries might do if we leave our remaining borders unprotected."

"The occupied cities are in two opposite locations. How do you think we should proceed?" Huang Er asked Huang San.

After pondering for a while, Huang San decreed, "Split the troops in half. First-class General Jiang Tong, you will lead the first half of the troops and reclaim Bright Rock City. As for the other half, Prime Minister Huang Er will be the commander. She will be in charge of retaking Cinder Ash Town."

Jiang Tong and Huang Er responded with a salute. "We will not let you down."

Huang San nodded. He turned to Zong Hua next, "Senior Minister Zong Hua, continue to gather intelligence about the invasion, especially what happened to our troops that guard the borders to Khode and Farghous. Also, find out more about the conflicts among the other countries."

"I will not stop until I get a clear picture, Your Majesty," Zong Hua promised.

Next, he turned to Amon, who remained silent throughout the meeting. He asked, "General Amon, do you have any counsel?"

Amon came forward. He calmly said, "Your Majesty, from what I gather, the two forces who occupy our cities are working together."

"Preposterous," Jiang Tong uttered. "Farghous and Khode are as far apart as they can be, both geographically and culturally. They couldn’t be any more different. To think that they cooperate against us is absurd."

"That’s true, Amon," Lao Zen said. "Farghous is like us, a feudal society ruled by a king. It has even embraced theocracy and made the teachings from the Temple of Divinity the basis of its laws. As for Khode, it rejects religions and relies only on logical judgments. Khode was also famous for shutting off association with other countries. Its borders are extremely protected and almost impossible to breach."

"Then how do you explain the two of them hitting us with such precise timing?" Amon asked, which caused the others to turn silent. "Both forces hit us from opposite sides at the same time, and both used a method that caught us off-guard and probably wiped out our border armies without them being able to send us a warning. Are you going to say this is a coincidence?"

"It’s not only that they attacked at the same time, but they also attacked when the crown is being passed on," Lao Zen remarked.

"On the surface, it might appear that way, but I don’t think the changing of this kingdom’s ruler was the factor they considered to decide the timing of the attack."

"Why do you say so?" Lao Zen asked.

Instead of answering directly, Amon said, "There is one thing that Senior Minister Zong Hua failed to mention in her report."

Zong Hua turned to Amon with a puzzling expression.

"She mentioned Gyleth Marx invading Kazhan and Oredolia, but she didn’t mention when it happened," Amon said.

Everyone turned to Zong Hua, and Huang San asked, "When?"

"Um... my agents reported that both Kazhan and Oredolia learned about the invasion only three days ago," Zong Hua answered.

The others understood what Amon was implying after hearing that.

"It was the same time as when we learned we were invaded," Huang San said.

"Precisely," Amon said. "I believe there is a party that pulls the string and either causes or instructs these countries to invade."

"I can’t imagine any party having an influence capable enough to make the countries take such drastic measures against each other," Zhu Yao said.

"Which is what makes them so dangerous," Amon said.

"If such a party does exist, it is indeed something we need to be concerned about," Lao Zen remarked.

"But to what end? What is the point of making us attack each other?" Ha Gild asked.

"Both the party’s existence and its motives are difficult to comprehend," Huang Er said.

"I am certain about their existence. I can’t say the same about their motive," Amon said.

"What do you suggest?" Huang San asked Amon.

"Obviously, we need to get to the bottom of this," Amon replied. "However, there is not much we can do except continue our investigation. Our immediate concern right now is, as First-class General Jiang Tong pointed out, to liberate our captured cities. I, however, have a proposal that might help us get a clearer picture of the nature of the shadowy mastermind, if it indeed exists. For that, I request permission to mobilize the First Demon Army."

"What do you plan to do with your army?" Huang San asked.

"I’m going to invade Khode," Amon answered with a grin.