Chapter 1077: Chapter 703: The Country as the Betrothal Gift
In the Phoenix Calendar year 302, the Aus Empire declared a full-scale war against the Phoenix Country.
The chill of early spring had not yet fully faded when the iron giant of the Aus Empire, entrenched in the north, bared its blood-stained fangs menacingly at the fertile Phoenix Country to the south.
The war declaration, like a wind laden with ice shards, instantly froze the last fragile thread of peace between the two nations.
The massive wheel of war, with a crushing roar, began to turn.
Cruel, isn’t it?
Extremely cruel.
Tragic, isn’t it?
Almost unbearable to witness.
Yet, Tang Fei knew this was an inevitable choice.
From the moment Philip sought him out for cooperation, he knew the Aus Empire had set its sights on the bountiful land of the Phoenix Empire.
Just like the ’Hurricane’ war they initiated thirty years ago, this wasn’t the first time they had done such a thing.
Back then, the wolves were blocked by Tang Fei’s father, Tang Li, leading the brave warriors of Phoenix.
This time, Tang Fei decided to personally lead people to push them back.
The best solution is to make sure they can’t return...
Since war was bound to come sooner or later, let it start from this moment, from himself.
He couldn’t give the Aus Empire too much preparation time, just as the Aus Empire wouldn’t allow him real time for recovery and recuperation.
In the Phoenix Calendar year 307, the Lion King of the Aus Empire presented a surrender letter to Tang Fei at Fengming Palace.
After a grueling five-year war, this Lion King had to lower his proud head and voluntarily bow to Tang Fei.
The Aus Empire would also become a vassal state of the Phoenix Empire.
The Phoenix Empire would station troops in Aus Country, while Aus Country would have to pay tribute to the Phoenix Country for generations.
You can persuade a person, you can even subdue a group of people.
But you can only conquer a country through battle.
No other choice.
From ancient times to the present, there has been no respect and reverence between nations without reason.
After bowing and completing the courtly etiquette of the Aus Empire towards Tang Fei, King Lionheart seemed to age several decades at once.
His once vibrant golden mane became disheveled and mottled, as if fading from poor dye.
"You won." Prince Philip looked at Tang Fei with a gloomy expression, and said harshly.
Philip’s heart was filled with grievance and unwillingness, with the humiliation and resentment of being betrayed and abandoned.
In his eyes, for Tang Fei to defeat Shen Wuxiang and attain his current status and position, his, Philip’s, contributions were indispensable.
It was him, back then, who persuaded his father against all opposition to bet on the Tang Fei Army...
As a result, as soon as Tang Fei won, he chose to stab this close ally in the back.
He longed to eat his flesh raw and drink his blood.
Even though his father repeatedly instructed him before he came, urging him to endure again and again, the murderous intent in his heart still overflowed like flowing water.
Affection can’t be hidden, neither can hate.
Those who succeed become princes, those who fail become bandits.
He knew his end would be, even if he had the fortune to survive, he would only become a puppete without a soul.
At the mercy of others.
"My dearest friend..." Tang Fei patted his shoulder with a smile and said, "Cheer up, otherwise, I won’t be happy."
"..."
"You should know, I only did what you wanted to do to me, right?"
"..."
With the disastrous defeat of the Aus Empire, the Kaman Federation also sent people to Phoenix City for exchanges and visits, requesting to establish ’permanent friendly nations’ and ’non-aggression nations’.
Everyone could feel that the time was getting closer and closer for that overly young guy to ascend to that position.
Zhong Wushuang, the founding emperor of the Zhong Dynasty, was fifty-four years old when he achieved this great accomplishment.
Countless people were waiting, hoping.
Liyu Port.
The night was cool as water.
Tang Fei and Phoenix walked along the seaside, the breeze carrying the unique, slightly salty, and refreshing scent of the ocean, gently blowing past.
Moonlight generously cascaded down, cloaking the entire sea domain in a layer of nearly unreal, deep and pure silvery shards.
The moon was bright, the breeze clear, a beauty by his side, what a wonderful day this was.
If only there weren’t that glaringly bright group of lights behind them.
Thinking of this, Tang Fei called out irritably, "Bai Wuxin."
Bai Wuxin appeared ghost-like in front of Tang Fei, looking at him expressionlessly, with two big words visible in his eyes:
Need something?
Even today, only he dared to show such a ’dead face’ in front of Tang Fei.
Of course, it’s not pretending...
Born this way.
"Withdraw your people." Tang Fei said.
"No." Bai Wuxin refused, saying, "The duty of the Ghost is to ensure your safety."
"I’m the Great Grandmaster, do I still need your protection?"
"Shen Xinglan was a Great Grandmaster, Shen Wuxiang was a Great Grandmaster, Zhong Daoling was a Great Grandmaster..."
Out of respect for Tang Fei, he didn’t mention Xuanyuan Mingjing’s name and said, "They all died."
"Precisely because they all died, I am safe now. You following me around with so many people... makes me feel very troubled."
"Troubled about what?"
"..."
He actually asked what troubled him?
Could Tang Fei say he felt embarrassed to hug and kiss Phoenix in front of so many subordinates?
"Don’t worry about what troubles me, just withdraw the people, you leave too."
"No. That would be dereliction of duty."
"Not listening to me is dereliction of duty."
"Then relieve me of my duty."
"..."
"Are you leaving or not?"
"Not leaving."
"This Liyu Port is filled with our warships, who could harm me?"
"The assailant could possibly sneak over from the sea."
"Are they crazy?"
"Your current status is special, precautions can’t be neglected."
"..."
Phoenix was amused by Tang Fei’s embarrassed look, reaching this point, rarely does he encounter people or events that could trouble him anymore.
