Xue Ye's Doubts

Xue Ye frowned. "Are you trying to make me bear the name of a foolish ruler? Lin Xiao is already the Imperial Tutor of our empire. Do you think it would be right for me to abandon him now?"

"But, Your Majesty, if we do not do this, we will offend an entire empire."

"Hmph!" Xue Ye snorted coldly. "I have a million mighty troops. What is there to fear from them?"

Prince Xue Xing stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, perhaps we have another option."

"What option?"

"Find Lin Xiao, bring him back, capture him, and hand him over to the Star Luo Empire for punishment. That way, perhaps we will no longer need to worry about damage to the empire's borders."

"This matter is not open for discussion." Xue Ye rejected it without a second thought. He had personally conferred the title of Imperial Tutor upon Lin Xiao. If he stripped Lin Xiao of that title now, it would prove that the Heaven Dou Empire feared the Star Luo Empire. He would be letting down his ancestors.

And he would be letting down every emperor the Heaven Dou Empire had ever had.

As the clashing sounds of armor rang out, several elderly men clad in golden armor slowly entered.

The leading old man in golden armor strode up to Xue Ye and deeply lowered his head.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

This man was none other than Marshal Ge Long, the foremost figure in the Heaven Dou Empire's military and an eighty-ninth-ranked peak Soul Douluo.

"Marshal Ge Long, weren't you guarding the military camp? Why have you suddenly returned?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I heard that the Star Luo Empire had crossed the border and attacked our cities, so I rushed here at once."

Xue Ye said solemnly, "This battle will likely be difficult. Wen Mo Douluo has announced to the world that unless Lin Xiao is killed, he will not rest. Anyone who stands in his way will be killed without mercy!"

As one of the empire's veteran figures, Marshal Ge Long had naturally heard of Wen Mo Douluo.

When he thought of that man attacking the Heaven Dou Empire at any cost, an inexplicable unease rose in his heart.

That was a Rank 96 Titled Douluo, incomparably powerful and the strongest expert most revered by the Star Luo Empire's royal family.

Moreover, his martial soul was the stuff of nightmares for any soul master, let alone ordinary soldiers.

The weight of a soul master on the battlefield was more terrifying than that of an ordinary hundred-man legion, because some of them possessed large-scale destructive soul skills that ordinary soldiers could not withstand.

Titled Douluo were even more crucial on the battlefield. As a control-system Titled Douluo, Wen Mo's mastery of his abilities was exceptionally strong. He might be somewhat lacking in a one-on-one fight, but in a large-scale battle, no one dared claim to be stronger than him.

"Your Majesty, I formulated a plan on my way here."

"The Star Luo Empire marched swiftly. They should only have the Light Cavalry Legion and soul master forces with them. Their Heavy Cavalry Legion and heavy weaponry are still behind them. Heavy rain has fallen recently, making it even more impossible for their heavily equipped legions to transport themselves here. This is our best opportunity."

"Once all our forces set out and strike with overwhelming force, we will certainly be able to crush the Star Luo Empire's Light Cavalry Legion in a single wave. At that point, the Star Luo Empire's army will undoubtedly be defeated."

Prince Xue Xing said blandly from the side, "Marshal Ge Long, are you saying that the Star Luo Empire only has the Light Cavalry Legion?"

"That is correct. I have already sent people to investigate thoroughly. They are stationed in a town fifty li beyond the Heaven Dou Empire's border, with approximately fifty thousand troops. The Star Luo Empire's heavily equipped legions are a hundred li away. It will take them three days to provide rapid reinforcements. I am confident I can wipe them out within those three days."

"Hmph." Prince Xue Xing snorted. "That is merely your speculation. What if it is an enemy scheme? If they lure our army out of the city and wipe us out in one stroke, can you bear responsibility for that?"

"This..." Marshal Ge Long paused. Prince Xue Xing's words were not without reason. If the Star Luo Empire truly had set a trap, then every man he sent out would be gone for good.

But if they missed such a fine opportunity, it would truly be gone.

Xue Ye tightened his grip on the scepter in his hand. Both sides made sense. If they did not attack and missed this opportunity, the empire's borders could very well fall into danger.

But if it was a trap, the Heaven Dou Empire would suffer grievous losses.

Xue Ye held his forehead, not knowing what he was thinking. He had not slept for days, and aside from pain, he could feel nothing else.

Only after a long while did he slowly speak.

"Marshal Ge Long, heed my command!"

"Your servant is here!" Marshal Ge Long dropped to one knee, his voice exceptionally loud.

"From this day onward, I order you to immediately stockpile provisions and military supplies, gather all military strength of the Heaven Dou Empire, and drive the Star Luo Empire's soldiers out at all costs!"

"For now, the surprise attack is called off. I will personally send people to investigate. Once the situation is confirmed, we will crush the Star Luo Empire's Light Cavalry Legion in one stroke."

"Your Majesty, this is a perfect opportunity. Once we miss it, we will truly have missed it."

Prince Xue Xing walked up to Marshal Ge Long with an arrogant expression.

"Marshal Ge Long, as a meritorious servant of the empire, you keep urging His Majesty to attack the Star Luo Empire. Yet the evidence is insufficient, and you nearly led our army into a desperate situation. What exactly are your intentions?"

The other ministers frowned and turned to look at Marshal Ge Long, who remained half-kneeling on the ground. It was as though they were all wondering whether Marshal Ge Long had leaked information and revealed the empire's deployment to the Star Luo Empire.

"Your Majesty, this is an injustice! Marshal Ge Long has always served only the empire and has no heart for treachery. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly."

The several golden-armored warriors brought by Marshal Ge Long all knelt down at once.

"Please see clearly, Your Majesty."

Xue Ye said in a deep voice, "Let it go this time. Marshal Ge Long, once I have defeated the Star Luo Empire, I will personally investigate whether you have colluded with the enemy."

Prince Xue Xing's words had thoroughly swayed Xue Ye. Apart from a few high-ranking generals, there were no deployment maps at the empire's border. Only Marshal Ge Long possessed one, making him the only possible suspect.

Marshal Ge Long stared blankly at Xue Ye. He had not expected His Majesty to choose to believe another's slander at such a critical moment rather than trust his advice.

"Your Majesty!"

"Enough, Marshal Ge Long. I have already spoken to you about this matter. I will investigate it thoroughly. Hand over military authority to Prince Xue Xing for now. You should go back and rest first."

An inexplicable pain filled Marshal Ge Long's heart. His Majesty would rather believe Prince Xue Xing than believe the man who had fought and risked his life for him.

Though he said nothing aloud, the seeds of resentment had quietly been planted in his heart. Prince Xue Xing's smug expression in particular left Marshal Ge Long so furious that he could not put it into words.

The Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, said solemnly, "Father, perhaps Marshal Ge Long's words are not wrong. We should gather intelligence first before making plans. Marshal Ge Long's standing in the military is second only to yours. If this provokes a mutiny, we will be defeated without even fighting."

Xue Ye's brows furrowed tightly. He had considered this as well, but if Marshal Ge Long gained control of the military and coordinated with the Star Luo Empire from within and without, the consequences would be unthinkable.