Chapter 827: Punishment and Mediation (4/4)

Chapter 827: Punishment and Mediation (4/4)

At the very moment General McCullen issued his orders, a massive battle erupted in the central region of Lion Province.

The attackers were the main force of the Heavenly King’s Army, led personally by Yanush, numbering about fifty thousand, though they boasted a million.

On the defensive side stood Grand Duke Sanjay, lord of Lion City, commanding a full forty thousand men—half of them serfs conscripted from various estates, the other half city garrison troops.

The numerical disparity was not vast; training, organization, and equipment were roughly equal, and Sanjay had even incorporated some newly trained noble officers from McCullen, so in theory the local forces should have held an advantage.

Yet when Yanush shouted the slogans of abolishing slavery and dividing the nobles’ lands and wealth, half of Sanjay’s army instantly collapsed.

Though the battle raged from dawn till dusk, the outcome was never in doubt.

In the end, Grand Duke Sanjay was caught during his flight by Yanush’s personal guard and shot dead.

After entering the city, Yanush not only slaughtered every noble of count rank and above in Lion City, along with their entire families, but also piled their heads at the city gate to build a tower.

Only the beautiful women were spared, kept for himself or given as rewards to his subordinates.

The bloody methods terrified everyone, and the whole of Lion City was gripped by panic.

Nor was it just Lion City.

The moment news of Sanjay’s defeat reached the Celestial Capital, the entire capital descended into chaos, with roads out of the city clogged by fleeing carriages.

Lion Province bordered Ox Province, and the Celestial Capital lay in Ox Province!

Worse still, the route from Lion City to the Celestial Capital was a flat, open plain, with no natural defenses to hold!

This time, Wutuo was utterly panicked.

He had never imagined that a band of rebellious slaves could stir up such a storm!

Inside the palace of the Celestial Capital.

Watching Wutuo, who was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan, Prince Dilip carefully wiped the sweat from his brow and timidly made a suggestion.

“Your Majesty… there’s no time left for hesitation. Please, you must move the court at once!”

Wutuo’s eyes bulged, and he roared in shock and fury.

“Move the court?! Where would you have me go? To the west, there are lions; to the south, starving wolves! That Alayan cannot be trusted! He is a wolf-man, of the same race as that Yanush!”

And I hear he was once his old subordinate! This whole affair might be his doing!

Wutuo trembled with rage, his beard quivering, his teeth clenched so hard he could have bitten his gums bloody, wishing he could chew up and swallow those backstabbing wretches.

All traitors!

Every last one!

Not a shred of loyalty!

Prince Dilip was equally anxious, for their fortunes were tied together—rise or fall as one.

If the royal house fell, his own fate would likely be no better than Wutuo’s.

“Snake Province, Tiger Province, Leopard Province, Bird Province, Horse Province… none can be trusted either. The local powers are restless; if you go to those places, leaving will be difficult.”

“Then what do you suggest?!” Wutuo bellowed.

Though he had done many foolish things in his life, when it came to matters of life and death, Prince Dilip finally had a moment of clarity and, in a flash of inspiration, thought of a place.

“…There is one place we could go.”

Wutuo asked hastily.

“Where?!”

“Golden Gallon Port…”

Seeing Wutuo stunned, Prince Dilip swallowed his saliva and continued cautiously, “It’s Alliance territory, but they follow the rules, and food won’t be a problem.”

“Right now, the Verlanders are furious… That might be the only place that can guarantee our safety.”