Douluo: Law of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 1039 Killing the Goose to Get the Eggs

"What brings Lord Li Ai here?"

Despite his reluctance, Romanak had no choice but to receive him since he had come to see him. He led him into the office and poured him a glass of water. "It's a poor place in the countryside, so there's no good tea. I hope you don't mind."

Gazing at the steaming hot water, Li Ai's lips twitched, but she didn't drink it. Without keeping him in suspense, she said, "Lord Roman..."

"Hey, don't call me city lord. I've been dismissed from my post, and even my property belongs to Lord Li Ai. You are the true city lord of Notting City!"

Romana was sarcastic and unsettling.

Li Ai was ashamed and angry, but dared not make a move. She only said, "Do you know that the Red Society is already facing a great disaster!"

"What disaster?"

Romana was curious to see what Li Ai was up to when she came to him.

As for impending doom?

cut!
His own daughter is successful, and there's also Zhou Qing, whom he's already labeled as his son-in-law, whose strength is unfathomable!

Although the Red Society has grown and prospered to its current state and does not participate much in the affairs of the Soul Master world, its overall strength is not to be underestimated. How could it possibly cause any major disaster?
"hehe."

Li Ai sneered twice, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and grimaced from the heat. Seeing Romanack's mocking expression, he quickly put it down and said angrily, "Notting Academy didn't go to see His Majesty Tiandou after the competition!"

twice!

How can His Majesty maintain his dignity?

How do the Star Luo Empire and the Spirit Hall view the Heaven Dou Royal Family?

"Don't even mention that in recent years, the small towns and villages around the Fasno province have failed to pay taxes on time, causing the Tiandou Empire's treasury to be empty! If this area had suffered from droughts and floods year after year, it would be understandable. But with bumper harvests year after year and the people well-fed and clothed, they don't think about repaying the Empire, and can't even pay their due taxes. Could it be that they're planning a rebellion against the Empire?"

Don't make false accusations!

Romanack retorted, "Everyone pays! And on time and in the correct amount. How could anyone not pay? You must have embezzled it yourself!"

"No matter what you say, His Majesty has long disliked the Red Society, and now he has a reason to send troops to punish them—no, he has already sent troops! They will arrive outside the Fasno Province in a month!"

Li Ai stroked his mustache and said with a sinister smile, "I can tell you that I reported a lower tax rate than the one set by the higher-ups, deliberately making you pay less tax."

"you!"

Romanack was both shocked and furious. "Damn it! Don't you know how many people will be affected by this war? You completely disregard the suffering of the people!"

"The common people are like leeks; once one crop is cut, another will grow. As long as they don't starve to death, that's fine."

After Li Ai finished speaking, his eyes darkened, and he said fiercely, "On the contrary, the Red Society's ideology is truly treasonous and will affect the unease of the entire continent!"

Look at how many small towns and villages in Tiandou have been affected since those ideas were spread.
Commoner Soul Masters engaged in speculation and profiteering, inciting the ignorant masses and sparking a riot demanding their rights...

Just like in Nottingham City, when I became the city lord, members of the Red Society actually dared to hold a demonstration!
This is utterly absurd!

"Hmph, that's because you're holding a position without doing any work. Why didn't you see any public demonstrations when I was the city lord?" After saying that, Romanak was too lazy to continue the nonsense. "What exactly is your purpose in coming here? To persuade me to surrender? Absolutely not!"

I advise you to think it over carefully.

Li Ai slowly stood up and said leisurely, "Persuade your daughter to let the Red Society submit to the Heavenly Dou."

Although Zhou Qing and his group are indeed unparalleled in combat strength, how could they possibly protect everyone here?

If war really breaks out, how many residents here will be injured or killed? Even if they are training militia, how can the militia's fighting strength compare to my Heavenly Fighting Army?

If you can persuade him, you might even be granted a noble title or a king in the future.

Romanack sneered and uttered only one word: "Get lost!"

"Hmph! I don't know how to appreciate it!"

Li Ai flicked her sleeve and had just reached the door when she felt a chill on the back of her head.

Boom!
Romanack grabbed the coffee table and slammed it down on Li Ai's head, causing the unsuspecting Li Ai to stagger. Before Li Ai could activate his martial spirit, Romanack punched him in the lumbar spine, breaking it and blocking the flow of his soul power, rendering him unable to move even his lower body. "You!"

Ignoring the pain, Li Ai stared in disbelief at Romana, who was glaring at her fiercely, and quickly crawled towards the door using both hands.

"How could we let you escape?"

Romanack took a chain from the drawer, tied him up, and cursed, "I've put up with you for too long!"

"Do you know that in times of war, envoys are not to be killed?"

"What the hell are you talking about!"

After quickly tying Li Ai up, Romanaq roared, "Tian Dou has already sent troops, so they're the enemy now. How can we let you go back?"

"go!"

"Come with me to see Zhou Qing!"

Meanwhile, Zhou Qing already knew about the intelligence that Tian Dou had sent troops to the western border of the Star Dou Great Forest, which was the area around Notting City.

Are they here to cause trouble for the Red Society?
Zhou Qing didn't think so. After all, Emperor Xueye shouldn't have sent troops to attack him just because Notting Academy hadn't met with him twice.

If that were the case, it would be too petty.

Therefore, he believed that Emperor Xueye also sensed the atmosphere of war.

If the Star Luo Empire were to send troops, it would not choose the western border area of ​​the Star Dou Great Forest, but rather the flat and open land on the eastern side of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The reason is very simple: the plains are vast, the roads are flat, and it is convenient for marching.

If the expedition takes place in mountainous or basin areas—

It's totally asking for trouble.

However, the western border area of ​​the Starry Sky Forest should not be overlooked.

reason?

While armies are not suited to traverse such regions, teams composed of Soul Masters are. If the Star Luo Empire were to dispatch a team of several hundred Soul Masters to launch a surprise attack on this area, they might be able to capture many cities and expand the Star Luo Empire's borders.

After all, this area has many mountains and basins, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once the Xingluo Army establishes a firm foothold, it will not be easy for the Tiandou side to take it back.

However, the Red Society will not stand idly by if the Star Luo Army wants to take over this area.

However, Zhou Qing also believed that Tian Dou's military expedition this time was somewhat of a show of force, intended to intimidate the Red Society and, incidentally, also to intimidate the other kingdoms and duchies within its territory.

For example, the Kingdom of Barak borders the Province of Fasno and is located at the border of this area on the western side of the Starry Sky Forest.

Before fighting the outside world, you must first make peace with the inside.

This is the strategy employed on that snowy night...

But when they saw Romanac carrying Li Ai, whose spine was broken and whose lower body was paralyzed, Zhou Qing, Tang San, Romantina, Wang Sheng, Xiao Lan, and Xiao Wu, who were in a meeting to discuss how to get the people in the Red Society and its branch area to cheer up, were all stunned.

Then, Zhou Qing suddenly realized the worst possibility: "Emperor Xueye's military campaign this time is aimed at us!"

"why?"

Tang San couldn't understand it.

According to his calculations, Xueye couldn't possibly take action against Chihui so quickly, since they hadn't actually harmed the interests of the Tiandou Empire.

On the contrary, the increased taxes that Xueye deliberately imposed on their area were all paid in full, which can be said to have increased the income of the Heavenly Dou Empire!

Wang Sheng clenched his fists and shouted, "That guy is definitely trying to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs!"

(End of this chapter)