Chapter 288 Toba Bloody Night
Business is not easy these days. After all, when delivering goods, you always have to be on guard against customers cheating you. Even if everything goes well, there will always be arrears when settling the final payment...
But in fact, Leon knew that Emil Xerxes would definitely not have any inappropriate thoughts - he didn't dare to offend him at this time.
It’s not because Emile Xerxes is timid, but because he currently needs the support of other forces too much.
——Kadan’s army is coming.
This is something that everyone can realize, and Emil is naturally aware of it as well.
In fact, if Leon hadn't taken him out of Singal, he and Brigi might not have dared to leave Ramon's hotel - Cardan was preparing an army in Singal at this time.
Cardan's preparation of a large army was naturally for the purpose of recovering lost territory, but the first territory he wanted to recover was definitely not Ashcoman, but his own old nest, Toba City.
Previously, Leon had the female soldiers of Eidis and Griffin Claw staged a scene in Toba City, which caused the Desha Wind Rider to misreport the situation. This made Cardan firmly believe that Brigi was a 'usurper' and had occupied Toba City.
If Bridge only intended to forcibly establish a "kingdom of God" in Toba City, then Kadan would definitely not be too worried, because the Desha people's belief in the god Wata is deeply rooted, and Bridge, the so-called "desert prophet", will not be able to form much influence in a short time, and the Desha people will not really follow him.
Bridge, the 'usurper', cannot actually usurp the throne by himself.
As long as Kadan can appear at the gates of Toba City with a large army in a short period of time, Toba City and the surrounding tribes will inevitably return to the banner of him, Bahad Khan.
But if Brigi and Emile Xerxes were combined, it would be a completely different story - Emile Xerxes is Cardan's biological brother.
Whether Brigi controlled Emile Xerxes or surrendered to him, the effect would be the same. As long as Emile Xerxes was there, he could really usurp the throne!
So Leon wanted to sell the city of Toba to Emile Xerxes just to confirm this "usurpation of the throne".
In fact, Emile Xerxes also knew that if he got the city of Toba, he would inevitably have to face Cardan’s crazy counterattack.
Because of this, Leon wanted to bring Emil Xerxes to meet Alina, so that Toba City and Aishkoman could help each other, otherwise Emil Xerxes would definitely not dare to buy it.
And now, Emile Xerxes made a reasonable request to Leon.
"Count Leon, I don't intend to default on my debt. I will definitely pay what I owe. I am even willing to sign an agreement with you to continue to provide you with horses and minerals in the future..."
Emile Xerxes said sincerely: "But I hope your army can stay outside Toba for a month. I can provide your army with pay and food - this is also to ensure that this transaction can be truly completed."
Leon looked at Emil Xerxes with some surprise and didn't say anything for a while.
And Emil, this ordinary-looking middle-aged man, also looked at Leon quietly.
In fact, this request is not excessive. Since it is a transaction, of course we should provide customers with some necessary after-sales service.
The after-sales service that Emile Xerxes wanted was for Leon to buy him a month so that he could fully control the city of Toba and prepare the supplies and manpower for defending the city.
And he didn't ask for anything random. All he wanted was one month, and he also offered to pay for the food and military pay.
But after a few seconds of silence, Li Ang shook his head and refused.
Emile wanted time, but Leon didn't have that much time - Eric had already reported to him about Eren and Fotherg, and Leon had to resolve the war in Desha as soon as possible and lead his troops back to Changhe Town.
"Emir Khan Xerxes, I know what you are worried about. But my troops cannot stay here. I have other things to do."
Li Ang's expression was also very sincere: "But I can still buy you at least one month... I guarantee that Toba City will not be attacked during this time."
"What guarantees do you have?"
Emile Xerxes' face fell.
"I can guarantee this with the real Bahad Khan throne! It seems that I must tell you my plan first..."
Li Ang suddenly laughed: "Emir, you have been claiming that you should also be Bahad Khan, but this statement is not recognized. Even if you defeat Kadan in Toba City, you will not become Bahad Khan. Because the real Bahad Khan needs to be nominated by all tribes, especially those tribes around Mount Ghazi. After all, the 'Messenger of God' must at least be recognized by the Holy Mountain Temple."
"I know all this... That's why I want to know how you are going to let me get the title of Bahadur Khan."
Emile Xerxes looked at Leon with some suspicion.
"More than 20 years ago, Kadan abandoned the nomadic tribes at the foot of Mount Ghazi and used hereditary positions to lure and coerce them into becoming Bahad Khan. And you should become the leader of the nomadic tribes abandoned by Kadan - I will let you get the title of Bahad Khan through tribal election, because this is the true tradition of Desha and the highest legal principle! Only in this way can you have the ability to compete with Kadan!"
Li Ang's voice gradually became excited: "So, my troops must go to the foot of Mount Ghazi immediately... I will join forces with the Bacchus to defeat those nomadic tribes and the temple on Mount Ghazi together!"
"As soon as Kadan gets the news, he will have to rescue Mount Ghazi. If the holy mountain falls, he will no longer be qualified to be Bahadur Khan!"
"But you, the honorable Emir Khan Xerxes, you will become the 'savior' of the Holy Mountain before Cardan! I can even let you single-handedly 'drive out' the combined forces of the Kingdom of Sarleon and the Bacchus from D'Shar..."
"And... I will burn down the temple on the Holy Mountain! That means you can do whatever you want with it in the future - you will rebuild the 'Holy Temple' yourself, and build a temple that completely suits your wishes!"
"In this way, you will gain a higher reputation than Cardan! At the same time, you will also surely gain the support of all tribes and the recognition of 'God'!"
"Then, while Cardan is still on his way, you can lead the tribes under the Holy Mountain back to Toba City - I believe that by then you will be able to confront Cardan head-on!"
"Well, Emir, what do you think of the service I provide? It's only two million dinars, isn't it a good deal?"
Li Ang's smile deepened.
These words are really all true, Li Ang really intends to do this.
Since Ramon's auction attracted most people's attention, and Cardan needed to organize an army in Sinjar, Cardan, Emile Xerxes and others did not know that General Agathon had burned Mount Ghazi.
In fact, there were people from Ghazi Mountain who came to Toba City to report the news, but without exception, they were all blocked by Leon's army - Ghazi Mountain is not far from Toba and Aishikeman, and the people who reported the news either went to Aishikeman or to Toba City.
But before that, Ashcoman was jointly controlled by the Bacchus Empire and Leon, and the city of Toba was also occupied by Leon. Naturally, all the people who reported the news became prisoners or corpses.
And now, Leon ordered the army to withdraw to Fangdar, in order to intercept all the Desha people coming out from the vicinity of Mount Ghazi and continue to block the information.
In other words, although Leon talked about a lot of plans, there is actually only one thing that Leon's troops need to solve at the moment - to defeat the Desha herdsmen who are besieging Agasson.
And this was what had to be done. Sigismund and Sarah were bringing a group of gladiators to help Agathon, and they were also surrounded on Mount Gazi.
They were all members of the Silver Hand, and Leon had to rescue them.
In other words, Lord, this is a business that you can do on your way to make two million...
"Huh... Count Leon, I have to say that your plan... is very reasonable."
Emile Xerxes had been listening to Leon's words, and even became a little excited. He nodded: "If everything is as you said, then I will definitely do as you wish!"
He even used 'you'.
"So... isn't it time for you to pay? One million, the final payment for Toba City; another one million, which is the advance payment for the title of Bahad Khan, so the total payment is two million now. Pay the final payment of one million after the matter is done - we will follow the rules and traditions for everything. Just like I will follow the rules and traditions to make you Bahad Khan..."
Li Ang was counting the money with a smile on his face: "I will only work after I get paid, you'd better hurry up..."
"It's already afternoon... Tomorrow morning, tomorrow morning I will give you two million dinars without a cent less."
Emile Xerxes looked at the sky, nodded to Leon, left the barracks and ran towards Toba City.
He looked quite impatient.
…
That night, everyone in Toba City could not sleep.
The four gates of the entire city were closed, and the noise coming from the city was even louder than during the war.
There were cries, curses, and screams all at once and they didn't stop all night long.
The huge noise was even heard several miles away, and Lisa Dilan and Leon, who had the best hearing, did not sleep all night.
"Sir, they...seem to be..."
Risa Dillan was well-informed and he realized what was happening in the city.
"I know. He wants to raise two million dinars overnight, so of course he has to do this. In fact, if he doesn't do it tonight, I will let you shoot him tomorrow..."
Li Ang said lightly.
“Sir, are you doing this so you can attack Desha again in the future?”
Lisadiran probably thought that Leon was aiming for future rule.
But Leon shook his head. "No, I told you, Lisadilan, I am a selfish person. I will only help my own people, but the D'Shar people will not become my own people... So I just want to squeeze the D'Shar dry, and use the wealth that the D'Shar people have robbed from other places to make the people in my own territory live a better life."
Leon's attitude towards the Bacchus and the Deshar was completely different.
When the Red Death broke out in the Bacchus Empire, he was really willing to help because the Bacchus people had been creating wealth through their labor.
But he would not sympathize with the Deshar people in Toba City - the Deshar people were not much different from the Jatu people, and their property was basically all robbed, especially these so-called "civilized people" living in the capital.
However, he couldn't do such a thing with his own hands. Once his hands were dirty, it would be difficult to wash them clean.
Probably no one in Toba City had expected that the army of the Kingdom of Serenity, which had been entrenched in Toba City for several days, had never harmed the city, but these Desha soldiers, who were their compatriots, had looted the city wantonly.
Moreover, this looting was completely indiscriminate - no matter nobles or commoners, even beggars were not spared.
The soldiers would search all the houses and take away all the valuables, and even tear off the gold and silver jewelry people were wearing.
If there is resistance, kill immediately.
This was truly a more thorough search than that of bandits, basically leaving nothing behind, even food and kitchen knives, not even metal spoons. This was exactly the same as what most Desha troops did when they arrived in towns in other countries.
In fact, this is also what the Deshar people in Toba City have done in Sarleon or Bacchus.
Of course, some soldiers will do some extra things...
Thus, blood-stained scimitars, hideous laughter, corpses lying all over the ground, naked women, crying children, and yellow sand soaked with blood together made up the first night that Emile Xerxes stayed in the city of Toba.
Perhaps at this time, the people of Toba City would rather this place be permanently occupied by Leon's army.
Although the beliefs and nationalities of the Sarleon Kingdom are different, it is at least much easier to accept than killing and looting...
Perhaps, for Emile Xerxes, this was what he had to do after arriving in Toba.
Not only did he have to raise funds for the war, but he also had to make sure that there were no more of Cardan's men in the city, and that the people of Toba were left without food or clothing, relying only on the 'favor' of Emir Xerxes.
It's not that Emile Xerxes doesn't know how to win the hearts of the people, but the current situation does not support him to slowly win over the hearts of the people in Toba. He wants to make sure that this city has only his voice as quickly as possible.
After making the people in the city lose all their property, ironware and food, Emile Xerxes can use the control of slaves to force the people of the city to temporarily obey, and Brige's methods can also come in handy.
This is also the reason why he previously proposed that it would take a month to prepare.
But since Emile Xerxes did this, there would no longer be any room for reconciliation between him and Cardan, or with the faction represented by Cardan.
The next morning, dozens of carriages drove out of Toba City and drove straight into the military camp where Li Ang was.
The carriage was loaded with gold, silver, jewelry and precious silk, but it was not packed in boxes - probably because there was not enough time.
Li Ang could even see that many cloths and jewelry were stained with blood.
"I don't know how much these things are worth, but they are definitely not less than two million dinars... Sir Leon, I am a law-abiding person. Now, let's go to Mount Ghazi."
Emile Xerxes' eyes were bloodshot, but his spirit was still strong.
"My troops are already there, just prepare your flags."
Leon nodded calmly to Emile Xerxes.
Then, Leon turned and went into the barracks, and told Eric: "Sort these things into categories. We will only keep the gold and silver, and pack the other things... Do you know where Malbert lives now?"
"Sir, Malbert has just been named Lord of Sava River Castle."
Eric keenly understood Leon's intentions.
"Very good... Divide the other things except the gold and silver into two parts. For the larger part, you can lead the caravan to circle around the Sava River Castle a few more times and wait for people to come and rob it. If no one comes, you can rob yourself... For the remaining small part, you can take the 'remnant soldiers' to Sarleon City and present it to King Ulric... You know what to do."
Leon patted Eric on the shoulder and said, "By the way, let the king give you a title."
"I do not want King Ulric's title... I know what to do, my lord, don't worry."
Eric rejected Leon's kindness again.
"Be careful, this mission is very dangerous, and Malbert is not someone to be trifled with."
Li Ang nodded, picked up a spear and walked out of the barracks: "Blow the horn! Get ready to go!"
