Seeing Dai Mubai's shocked expression, the Star Luo Emperor walked up to him, his demeanor appearing extremely aged.
He sighed lightly.
Hands behind his back, he gazed up at the palace ceiling.
"Holy Leopard Count began training private soldiers a month ago, infiltrating them into the city defense forces."
"If not for intelligence personnel I had planted among the various nobles' private armies."
"Star Luo City's gates would have already been breached by the rebel forces."
Faced with this stark reality, Dai Mubai felt his mouth go dry. He opened his mouth but ultimately couldn't say anything.
"Mubai, remember this: the nobles within Star Luo City are not all loyal subjects."
"Sometimes, you must make an example to eliminate their ideas."
"Only then can the remaining forces in our hands be united."
"This son understands."
Dai Mubai's golden pupils still showed some dullness.
Father's iron-fisted methods completely aligned with the empire's interests.
But for some reason.
Dai Mubai felt somewhat breathless.
This was perhaps the difference between a crown prince and an emperor.
Examining his conscience.
He didn't have that resolve.
At the same time.
Dai Mubai felt secretly fortunate.
This powerful father still stood before him, shielding him from wind and rain.
But... such circumstances seemed unable to last much longer.
...
Outside the city.
Heavenly Strategy Army main camp.
Though only resting for one day.
The specifications of the Heavenly Strategy Army camp weren't lowered.
Completely following their usual camping protocol—walls, trenches, and horse barriers all present.
Several consecutive days of long-distance travel had indeed exhausted the Heavenly Strategy Army.
Yet there was no time to rest.
All battalions were burning the midnight oil, assembling standard weapons and distributing ammunition stored in spirit tools.
The entire process was extremely coordinated, with almost no verbal communication.
Firstly, everyone was very tired.
Secondly, everyone knew a major battle was coming.
Central command tent.
The high-ranking officers were also intensely discussing methods of attack.
Gu Yue Na's method was most direct. She raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms:
"With my level 99 strength, one full-force strike could definitely blast a large hole in a section of the city wall."
Sea Witch beside her chuckled. "Being strong really does let you do whatever you want."
"However, Yue Na, I must remind you—though Limit Douluo cultivation is powerful, there are still means to counter you."
"Oh." Gu Yue Na nodded lightly, her expression full of indifference.
On the entire continent, things that could threaten a level 99 Limit Douluo were extremely rare.
Even if there were, Gu Yue Na was confident she could easily handle them.
Bo Saixi smiled at Gu Yue Na and supplemented Sea Witch's words:
"The founding of the two great empires wasn't coincidental, but had the Mandate of Heaven involved."
"Mandate of Heaven?" Zhou Long at the side table laughed. "Isn't that just something the imperial families use to deceive people?"
"Not so." Bo Saixi shook her head. "I've served as a divine spokesperson for many years and have some understanding of this."
"The so-called Mandate of Heaven is the Douluo Continent's Heavenly Dao will's recognition of the empire."
"By that logic, this so-called Douluo Continent Heavenly Dao will isn't anything good. The two great empires hold their positions while accomplishing nothing, yet still receive recognition." Zhou Long scoffed.
Now it was Bo Saixi's turn to smile. She explained, "The Douluo Heavenly Dao will isn't a deity and has no intelligence. Gaining its recognition only shows that the empires rule over many living beings.
They've reached a level the Douluo will cannot ignore, and if these beings die, it would also produce extremely negative effects on the Douluo will."
"I see." Zhou Long seemed to understand somewhat.
Ye Tian was also extremely interested. This information was something he had never learned about.
"So what use is this so-called Mandate of Heaven?"
"It can serve as a source of power to activate divine artifacts."
Bo Saixi said seriously.
"Both great empires possess divine artifacts."
"In some periods, the imperial families had no Titled Douluo to rely on, yet still stood firm. This was actually the divine artifacts providing deterrence."
"As I know, the Star Luo Empire's divine artifact is called the White Tiger Seal, sufficient to counter a Limit Douluo."
"Good thing it can only counter one Limit Douluo." Gu Yue Na stuck out her tongue.
Seeing Gu Yue Na's eager appearance, Ye Tian felt rather helpless.
He couldn't stop her.
Moreover, the Heavenly Strategy Army indeed needed a high-end combat force to draw the Star Luo Empire's firepower.
"Young Master, I must remind you—Star Luo City's walls are over thirty meters thick. Howitzers probably can't blast through."
Zhou Long stared at Ye Tian and spoke.
These past days, he had been worrying about this problem.
Honestly, he always felt Young Master's actions were too risky.
But Young Master always said this was the best way to end the war quickly.
"No rush. Didn't I say we attack tomorrow?" Ye Tian smiled and waved his hand.
"Moreover, the Star Luo Empire's reinforcements can't arrive until four days later, right?"
"Just give me four days."
"If it doesn't work, even if you drag me away from Star Luo City, I won't have half an objection."
Ye Tian's fingers lightly tapped the table, his face full of smiles.
"Then the day after tomorrow, how do we attack?" Zhou Long stared at him.
Howitzers couldn't blast through the walls.
Surely they wouldn't use battering rams against the city gates?
Moreover, the capital's gates didn't seem poor enough in quality to be rammed open.
Seeing everyone's eyes turn toward him.
Ye Tian didn't play coy and pointed downward.
"Star Luo City is indeed impregnable, its defenses formidable."
"But beneath it, there's ultimately just earth."
"No matter how deep the moat, it's only a dozen meters or so."
"So from the start, I never planned to fight head-on."
"Tomorrow evening, have the five thousand Thorn Legion troops change into Heavenly Strategy Army uniforms and launch a feint attack from the front the day after."
"The Heavenly Strategy Army will enter the city through tunnels, heading straight for the palace!"
"So you'd already thought of a countermeasure!" Sea Witch had a look of sudden realization.
Xiao Bai also pursed her lips. "No wonder you always look so calm and composed."
"That said, you've already had people dig the tunnel?"
"No, this is the capital—many eyes and ears. Digging in advance would be easily discovered."
"Ah?" Xiao Bai looked somewhat stunned. "Then what about the day after tomorrow? The camp is at least five li from the Star Luo palace, right?"
"Can a five-li-long tunnel be completed in two days?"
Ye Tian smiled without speaking, winking at Xiao Bai, Sea Witch, and the others.
"Hmm?" Seeing Ye Tian's expression, Xiao Bai stepped back. "You're not planning to have me dig tunnels, are you?"
"Looking this pretty, if not you, then who?"
The Demon Spirit Great White Shark was at least a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast. Revealing her true form, piercing through earth would be easy.
Gu Yue Na could control elemental forces to stabilize the tunnel.
And Sea Witch's powerful mental strength made her perfect for detection.
The remaining Bo Saixi could perfectly handle tunnel water seepage.
Simply perfect!
Before the women could react, Ye Tian stood up first and bowed to them. "Whether the day after tomorrow's military operation succeeds depends on you all!"
"Hey, hey, hey! This is forced labor!" Xiao Bai protested loudly.
The women: "..."
(End of Chapter)