Chapter 54 Art Of War
Feroza looked at Jani with a big satisfied smile, the latter was confused about why Canine Fists smiled at him.
"This achievement is worth celebrating but we don't have spare time on our hands. But you all did well, I am proud of supernovas." The former king praised.
Supernovas were moved, and the hero of the event 'downfall of the golden empire' and survivor of the noted biggest war of the continent applauded them.
"Thank you, your majesty." Supernovas bowed their heads.
"What about Tribbain Kingdom's power, how many martial masters they have and their level?" Feroza came back to the topic.
This time, Jani spoke. "We are unaware of them, your majesty. We had many skirmishes and small battles with Warborn but we never clashed with the Tribbain Kingdom. They only fought an economical battle against us, but I know for sure that they are much stronger than the Warborn Kingdom."
"How so?"
"Tribbain is a human race kingdom, all the humans who lived in Bloodfang Empire moved to the Tribbain Kingdom after the war. At that time, they were given the same number of cities as Warborn. But later, they conquered 2 more cities of Treelove Kingdom, a country of peaceful elves." Jani explained.
"Elves are not easy to be defeated, that proves Tribbain is powerful."
"Our main priority should be common men, we may outnumber them in martial masters. But they outnumber us in population and common troops." said Roch Whitefang.
"We must come up with a proper Idea."
"I have one." Jani said.
All who were present looked at him with questioning faces.
"Parley!" He said.
"Oh, Parley! The very word who saved royal bloodline 20 years ago, hmph" Feroza said and smiled, there were many bitter memories attached to this word. "What will be our negotiation points?"
Jani pondered for a second and spoke "I apologise but I haven't concluded them yet, that's why we are here."
"Martial Masters against Martial Masters." The werewolf prince uttered.
Quietness covered the meeting room before Helsin Ironskin spoke again. "Will they accept it, we have the advantage in martial masters."
Everyone nodded and waited for the prince to speak again.
Ezra took a deep breath and explained "Just like we don't know about Tribbain's actual power, they shouldn't know about us either. 6th-grade spirits, survival of grandfather and father's 8th-grade martial spirit. All these aspects are no less than a cheat, they'll only think that we got a backer in secret.
Once they'll declare an all-out war, all the backers will step back, because of Brownmane Empire. The Warborn soldiers in Bishnigam would have informed them about martial masters who disguised as Bloody Hyenas.
The only possible conclusion they'll come up with is that we received help from another empire to decrease the influence of the Brownmane Empire. So, they'll naturally receive help from Brownmane as well."
"Pretend to be weak and hit them off-guard... this might work." Jani commented.
Ezra added. "Appear weak when you are strong, appear strong when you are weak, let the enemies come to you when you are strong and when you are weak, avoid the conflict. Calculate your power and your enemies' power before fighting.
Know the terrain where you are going to fight, do not fight in entangled terrain when your opponent has equal strength. Fight where the ground is open and you and your enemy have a path to escape, a battle can turn to either side. There is no shame and respect in battle, there are only advantages and disadvantages.
Retreat when you see that you have become weak and there is no pride in letting the enemies go when you have the chance to hit them hard. Know your enemies, know their weakness and you will never be defeated."
The words of Ezra resounded in the listeners' minds like enlightenment. "Where did you read that, your majesty?" Jani asked.
"What do you mean, these are my words." Ezra replied.
The supernovas looked at him in awe, Canine Fists was no exception either. The quietness went on for a while when Ezra smirked. "Just kidding, these aren't my words, I read in a book called the art of war and memorized them."
Feroza Zephyr guffawed. "Hahaha, well where did you read that masterpiece grandson?"
"In a library, many years ago."
"What was the book's name, your majesty? I have read all the books related to the military in the library." Jani asked, being a strategist, his interest primed.
"I believe it's in the imperial library, only accessible to royalty." Ezra dodged the question.
Jani lowered his head in disappointment while Feroza looked and winked at Ezra because Feroza was aware that there was no such thing as the imperial library.
What Ezra said was half truth and half lie, he was true when he said these weren't his words. But he lied when he said he read them in a book, these were the words of Fenrir, the monstrous wolf of Norse.
The meeting progressed and they came up with the negotiation points, the darkness overlapped the sky. The tired martial masters stretched their beds as they fell asleep, for some reason the young martial masters slept without a worry. However, the old imperial guards couldn't close their eyes. They knew the terror of war which was approaching.
Time ran and with the chirps of countless birds, the sun shined and sunlight hit the city of Vily.
With the refreshing morning, the sound of a marching army came. But none people in the city panicked, rather, they jumped for joy.
It was the 100,000 fresh army of Bloodfang Kingdom, on the lead was the King of Bloodfang Kingdom, Mirza Zephyr himself and behind him was Chief Administrator Pollard Whitefang and Martial Sorcerer Bilal Coldbone.
The gates of the city were opened, and all officers came inside while the army remained outside.
"The subjects greet the King, may your reign last an eternity." The stationed soldiers saluted their king with the utmost respect.
Ezra Zephyr was there as well to welcome them, his eyes saw Mirza Zephyr, and the happiness forced him to hug his father. "Welcome in Vily, father." Ezra chuckled.
"You look handsome as always, my son." Replied with a warm smile as he dishevelled the prince's hair, just like he used to do when Ezra was a kid.
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