Chapter 52: The Situation in Toudou

  Mercedes VII unfolded a map and pointed to it, saying: "This blue domain is the territory of our dynasty. To the southwest lies the vast Kanes Desert, which separates us from the Sunflower Empire, with endless dunes blocking the way, so we don't have much pressure on our southwestern border. To the south lies the 'Big Stick Dynasty', whose national strength is less than half of ours, and there's no need to be wary. And to the east are the oceans, with the North Sea in the north and the East Sea in the east, separating us from the eastern continent. As you can see, our country is vast and rich in resources, with external natural barriers isolating it, allowing for peaceful development, and it's only natural that we would become an empire! And indeed, this is the case, but our crisis also lies here! Duke Evil, look at this - this is the Great Day Empire."

  Li's gaze fell on the map, following Mercedes VII's pointing, the Great Day Empire was located on the eastern side of the Tudor Dynasty, with the East Sea and North Sea in between. The geographical location presented a reverse U shape. In the south, it was separated by oceans and some small countries, and if connected, the journey would be extremely long. However, in the north, there was a plain that connected them, making it unobstructed!

  "Mercedes VII continued: 'This plain is called the North Sea Plain. If the Great Day Empire wants to attack Dutton, taking the sea route would be risky due to storms and unpredictable weather on the sea, as well as powerful magical creatures that could send them straight to the bottom of the North or East Sea. Taking the southern route would require going around the Big Stick Dynasty and avoiding several smaller countries, making it impossible to launch a quick attack, but also risking being intercepted along the way, which is not suitable either. Therefore, their only viable attack route is the North Sea Plain, which we commonly refer to as 'Hokkaido', and leads directly to our country! Please take a look, Duke.'"

  Mercedes VII pointed north towards the territory of Tudor: "This is Rose City, to the left is Carnation City, and to the right is Daffodil City."

  Li Xie nodded, at the last night feast, Mercedes VII had already granted these three cities to Duke Rhein, Li Xie still remembered. From a geographical perspective, the three cities are arranged in a pin shape, connecting the North Sea Plain, simple and clear, these three cities are the front line of defense for the Great Day Dynasty.

  "These three cities are not only the front line of defense for the Great Day Dynasty, but also the most important checkpoints. Once the three cities fall, the Great Day Dynasty can use them as a springboard to take the Imperial Capital directly! Duke, please look."

  Mercedes VII pointed to the Tudor dynasty in the south: "This is your fief, near the Kanris Desert is Orchid City, on the right is Plum Blossom City, and it borders the Big Stick Dynasty. Located at the southernmost tip is Chrysanthemum City. Below Chrysanthemum City is the Big Stick Dynasty, and to the right of Chrysanthemum City, facing the Big Stick Dynasty and bordering the East Sea, is another major city in our country - Sunflower City!"

  "Your Majesty, let's get to the point. You're not going to ask me to go and fight against the Great Stick Dynasty, are you?" Li Xie felt a little apprehensive in his heart, he didn't know how to lead troops into battle!

  Zuo Xiang smiled and said, "Duke Ye has joked, the Da Bao dynasty is not enough to make my dynasty send troops. Your Majesty's intention is to let you understand our country's geographical situation on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is to talk about the distribution of the Pan Sen family's military strength!"

  Mercedes VII nodded and continued: "The Panson family has 200,000 hunting leopard troops in their hands. Among them, 100,000 are stationed in the north, in Peony City on the left side of Rose City. If the Great Day Dynasty attacks the northern border of Duke Rhein's territory, these 100,000 troops will be a dagger inserted into Duke Rhein's back! The other 100,000 hunting leopard troops are stationed in Sunflower City! Once the Great Day Dynasty attacks, these 100,000 troops will be a sharp blade inserted into the back of the Tudor Dynasty! Our dynasty has 300,000 mad lion troops in the north, and 100,000 imperial guards in the capital. If the Great Day Dynasty sends troops, our dynasty will indeed face enemies on both sides."

  Li Xie narrowed his eyes: "Your Majesty, I think I understand what you're getting at. The Sunflower City is next to my Chrysanthemum City, are you asking me to go and devour the 1 million-strong Leopard Army?"

  "Haha, Duke Xie is indeed a genius! He's so clever!" Mercedes VII drew on the map with his large hand: "As the lord of the three cities, Duke Xie can recruit 1.5 million soldiers! I want to ask Duke Xie to train these 1.5 million troops and suddenly devour the 1 million Leopard Troops in Sunflower City! At the same time, Duke Rhein will send troops to Peony City, devouring another 1 million Leopards, and with one move, quell the internal hidden dangers of our dynasty, then directly march on Daybreak!"

  After all, it's still a fight, I'm just a vagrant who picks up scraps, what do I know!

  Li Xie was about to decline, but Mercedes VII smiled and said: "As a reward, if Duke Xie helps me pacify the Sunflower City, the Sunflower City will become the fief of Duke Xie, and Duke Xie will also become the new commander of the Cheetah Legion!"

  Forget it, what's the point of sealing the land? I'm coming to do what? Fight a war? I don't understand that. One mistake and our whole family will be finished! No way!

  Li Xie wanted to push it away, and the left prime minister chuckled: "Our dynasty has 21 large and small cities. The small cities don't count profits, but the tax revenue of the big cities can exceed 1 billion gold coins per year!"

  Wow!

  Li's eyebrows jumped, 10 billion gold coins! No matter how much stuff you can buy, building a golden house is no problem! This guy thinks of money, the light in his eyes is just like Zeenath's sparkling jewels!

  "My three cities, Orchid, Plum Blossom and Chrysanthemum, which one is the big city and which one is the small city?" Li Xie hastily asked.

  "A small town." The left minister replied.

  "Sunflower City..."

  "Dacheng, apart from the Imperial Capital, Rose City and Sunflower City are the two major cities of our dynasty!"

  "Hehe......" Li Xie's right mouth corner rose, revealing a small white fang: "Sunflower City! I'll take it! 1 billion gold coins, mine!"

  Mercedes VII and Zuo Xiang were both stunned, this evil duke, really loves money!

  He has already spent a huge fortune and money is just a number to him, why does he still love it so much?

  If these two people knew Li Xie's past life, they would probably understand! The two of them who have never worried about food and clothing since childhood will not understand the feeling of Li Xie being excited to pick up a copper coin on the ground.

  "Since Duke Xie has promised..." Mercedes VII smiled and said: "Then please, Duke Xie, hurry to your fiefdom and prepare everything."

  "That's no problem, but I have some conditions." Li Xie said: "I want Van Dyke, and also need a legion commander, hmm... Duke Aiwei wants to go with me to Chrysanthemum City, I think, I may need her help."

  Since he promised, Li Xie would definitely do his best, not for anything else, but for the 1 billion gold coins!

  Besides, according to Li Xie's idea, he didn't know how to fight a war, but eating away the 100,000 troops didn't necessarily require fighting a war, there were other ways!

  And as for Vandyssel, the tenth-level Sword Saint, it's purely to enhance his own safety. As for the commander of the legion, the intention is clear. Kano is just in charge, but he may not be able to lead tens of thousands of soldiers. Besides, Kano follows Li Xie, and Li Xie thinks it's comfortable, so he doesn't want him to be tired from military affairs. That's why a general who can lead the army is needed! As for Duke Aiwier, that's just personal preference!

  Mercedes VII replied, "The first two conditions are no problem, as for Duke Avril... I still need her help with something, and it's not suitable for her to leave the Imperial City for now, lest some malicious people take advantage of her! Moreover, I know that Duke Evil has a crush on Duke Avril!"

  Wow!

  The illicit relationship was exposed, Li Xie's old face turned red, but immediately showed a furious expression, because he suddenly thought that Mercedes VII said this, could it be that she wanted to intervene and stop him?!

  Li Xie was still too young and inexperienced, his emotions were written all over his face. The two old foxes beside him saw right through what he was thinking. Mercedes VII hastily added: "I have something that can absolutely help Duke Li completely capture the heart of Duchess Aibelle!"

  Wow! Not blocking, but trying to help? Pushing the waves?!

  "Give it to me!" Li Xie immediately demanded!

  In fact, Li Xie was clear about his relationship with Duke Avril, and it was only because Duke Avril mistakenly thought he was a divine messenger that she had let her guard down against him!

  A woman who is completely unguarded and trusting of men is too easy to get!

  But after all, Li Xie was clear that he had the current relationship with Duke Evill because of misunderstandings and means. For this innocent and sentimental young man, there would inevitably be some resentment in his heart.

  If there's something that can completely capture Duke Everell's heart, how could Li Xie not want it?

  Mercedes VII smiled: "If Duke Evil takes down Sunflower City, this thing will be the reward!"

  Awesome! Mouth-watering!

  Li Xie raised an eyebrow, slightly skeptical: "This thing you're talking about, can it really capture the heart of Duke Evier?"

  "If she had that thing, she would love you with all her heart! I guarantee it with my honor as a king, if I use this item to propose, Duke Elvira will absolutely not refuse!"

  "Alright!" Li Xie clapped his hands: "It's settled then! I'm not leaving the capital until I've taken down Taiyang City!"

  Mercedes VII and Zuo Xiang exchanged a smile, Zuo Xiang smiled and said: "The procedures for the Evil Lord to take over the three cities have all been completed, please let the Evil Lord set off early to Chrysanthemum City."

  "I'll go prepare, and also, Your Majesty, please help me summon the Beast Minister, I have something to discuss with him." Seeing Mercedes VII speaking so casually, Li Xie didn't even bother to refer to himself as a humble subject anymore.

  "Mercedes VII frowned: 'My dear lord, I hope you can understand me. At present, we are facing internal and external troubles, and the resources of the demon beasts are scarce...'"

  Mercedes' concern is that Li Xie wants to collect his demon beast, and he is even more worried about Li Xie's collection methods!

  "No, no, I'm not looking for a monster, I just have some business with him."

  "Oh, that's good."

  Li Xie is looking for Skarmory? What's the point of having an Osric? Of course, it's to absorb the blood of magical beasts and increase his own strength! External protective forces can't be lacking, and one's own strength can't be lacking either!

  Soon, my beast minister was summoned to the imperial palace and was called onto a horse carriage by Li Xie. Following Li Xie's orders, he took Li Xie to the most important base of the Doudou Dynasty - the Imperial Capital North Beast Breeding Base.

  This is a zone where the forest and grassland meet, and the specific base is so large that Li Xie can't see the edge at a glance. On the grassland, many magical beasts are grazing. According to Skamord's introduction, there are 6,000 black scale horses, 5,000 fifth-level magical beasts, and 1,000 sixth-level ones, guarded by heavy troops and fed by special personnel.

  They are basically domesticated magical beasts and are not difficult to raise.

  "You immediately call people, all the magical beasts give Ben Gong a little blood, as much as possible, as long as they are not injured. Concentrate the blood." Li Xie didn't say much and immediately gave the order.

  Scammon followed Li Xie with a nervous and fearful attitude. For Li Xie's orders, he didn't even ask for the reason and immediately responded with "yes".

  Li Xie saw him like this and smiled: "You're very afraid of me?"