Chapter 866 - 409: Alas, Zhi Li! When the wall falls, the masses push!_2
Indeed, Zhi Li could only fight to the end; either he became king, or he turned outlaw.
But Duke Turing Tuo was different; he could switch sides and pledge loyalty to Zhi Yan. When the time came, he would still be the first man of the Commander-in-chief’s Office, still the top military figure of the Rage Wave Kingdom.
After Zhi Yan’s ascension to the throne, as the Regent Royal Consort, Suo Lun would not compete with Duke Turing Tuo for position. For Duke Turing Tuo, the only discomfort was the prospect of living under Suo Lun’s influence from then on.
Moreover, if Duke Turing Tuo cast his lot with Zhi Li in a desperate gamble, not to mention the possibility of losing.
Even if they emerged victorious in the end, the main force of his Dragon Guard Army would have suffered countless casualties. It’s important to note that today at Tianlang Pass, the Southwestern Legion of one hundred thousand had already lost sixty thousand. If the Dragon Guard Army also suffered heavy losses, how many troops would the Turing Clan still be able to muster?
The troops were the foundation of Duke Turing Tuo’s wealth and glory. If he lost all his troops, what would he have left to resist Zhi Li when "The birds are all gone; the bow is at rest"?
This was precisely why Duke Turing Tuo sent his son to negotiate with Zhi Yan.
In comparison, at this moment, his betrayal of Zhi Li in favor of Zhi Yan held the greatest benefit.
All of a sudden, Turing Chen solemnly lifted his robe and knelt before Zhi Yan Princess, saying, "Your Highness, this is a civil war; those dying are our sons and soldiers of the Rage Wave Kingdom, and it’s draining the vitality of the Rage Wave Kingdom. In the decisive battle to come, no matter who wins or loses, the casualties will exceed several hundred thousand. If Zhi Li’s side wins, because of his special relationship with the Dragon Temple, perhaps the Flame Empire and the Xiliang Kingdom might not take the opportunity to strike..."
Turing Chen looked up and gazed at the exquisite face of Zhi Yan Princess, continuing, "But if it’s you who win, the casualties on both sides will only be greater. Once Your Highness ascends to the throne, it’s well known that the Dragon Temple has always been reluctant to let the secular royal power break tradition by allowing a woman to ascend. At that point, the kingdom will have completely lost the protection of the Dragon Temple, and both the Xiliang Kingdom and the Flame Empire will surely seize the opportunity to strike. After all, this civil war has cost us four or five hundred thousand casualties, and the kingdom’s army has lost half its strength. Then, how will we withstand the fierce onslaught from the armies of the Xiliang Kingdom and the Flame Empire?"
What Turing Chen said was not without reason.