"I'm coming!"
This was Zhan Beiye's unique, domineering way of notifying Meng Fuyao.
Meng Fuyao raised her head and looked at the fiery sky. She watched as the Azure Dragon disappeared into the clouds. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled.
After half a year of painstaking effort, from the Zhenwu Empire to the imperial court, she had slowly climbed up the ranks. Today, she had finally grasped one-third of the military power in the heart of Tiansha. She was close to Zhan Nancheng, and the vow she made when Zhan Beiye left would finally come true!
But now, she had more important things to do. How could she fail at the last step?
She went downstairs, changed her clothes, and was about to leave when someone said, "I'll go with you."
It was Yun Hen's voice.
Meng Fuyao turned around. In the distant firelight, the youth's eyes were clear and penetrating. He looked at her and said, "The Crown Prince is injured, and it's inconvenient for him to reveal his identity. It's also inconvenient for Mr. Zong, so he asked me to go with you."
Meng Fuyao was silent. Yun Hen continued, "The Taiyuan Family sent me a few letters, asking me to return. I didn't reply because I was waiting for this day. When you succeed, I can leave with peace of mind."
Meng Fuyao looked at him, not knowing what to say. She recalled that the few of them belonged to different countries and had their own careers. They had gathered in Tiansha for the True Martial Arts Meet, and when this matter was over, they would probably leave. Zong Yue, for example, was most likely the same as Yun Hen, staying until now because he was worried about the last battle. Ever since she met Xuanyuan Yun, he had become more and more mysterious, frequently sending messages. Sometimes, he would even go out at night to prepare for something. Meng Fuyao thought that life was like floating duckweed. In the end, everyone had their own path, and it was inevitable that they would be lonely on that path.
Seeing that she was lost in thought, the youth silently turned his head. The two of them stared at each other in silence amidst the rising red light and clamor. The red light illuminated their beautiful faces, but their eyes were somewhat dark. After a long time, Meng Fuyao let out a long sigh and said, "When you leave, don't sneak away. Let me send you."
Yun Hen grunted and went to change into a guard's uniform. While waiting for him, Meng Fuyao asked Tie Cheng, who had originally planned to follow her, to return. She then called Yao Xun over and gave him a few instructions.
She brought Yun Hen with her and headed straight for the imperial camp. According to the laws of the Tiansha Imperial Court, a general only had the authority to command troops, but not to mobilize them. She had to act according to the order. She hurried to the palace to meet Zhan Nancheng. At the palace gate, she met a panic-stricken eunuch who was leading a team out of the palace. The eunuch acted as if he had seen a savior and hurriedly pulled on her sleeve. "Commander Meng, please follow me into the palace …"
Meng Fuyao stared at his panicked expression. Her eyes flashed, and she pushed him away even more anxiously. "What time is it now? Why are you still entering the palace? Didn't His Majesty give me a transfer order? If there's no order, I'll go to the city myself! "
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and left. The eunuch panicked and grabbed her. In his panic, his voice even carried a sobbing tone. "Commander Meng, His Majesty, His Majesty, His Majesty, he …"
"Hmm?" Meng Fuyao turned around. "What's wrong with His Majesty?"
"My good commander, please follow me to take a look. I beg you!" The eunuch pulled on her sleeve. She nodded, and Yun Hen followed. The eunuch subconsciously wanted to stop them, but Meng Fuyao said, "Are you going to stop my trusted bodyguard? Who do you think you are? "
The eunuch withdrew his hand and quickly apologized. He led Meng Fuyao straight to Zhan Nancheng's palace, the Hall of Diligent Government. Meng Fuyao looked at the dark palace and frowned. "The three ministers of the Hall of Governmental Affairs are not here?"
The eunuch lowered his head in silence. All the noble ministers hated eunuchs, afraid that they would bewitch the Emperor and disrupt the court. Every time they saw them, they would look at them angrily. If there were no mistakes, they would find them and punish them. If there were any mistakes, they would die. As the eunuch in charge of the Hall of Diligent Government, the moment he informed the three ministers, he would definitely die. In desperation, he thought of Meng Fuyao. She was a young commander who was favored by the people. Every time she entered the palace, she was generous, and everyone in the palace had a good impression of her. With her around, they might be able to escape with their lives.
Meng Fuyao's lips curled into a smile. She had already understood the eunuch's selfish motives. 'Very well, the heavens are helping me.'
She quickly entered the palace and passed through the candlelight in the outer hall. Thick silk curtains hung down, blocking the hall from the light. The ground was covered with a thick yellow carpet. Meng Fuyao waved away the maze-like curtains, scratching and scratching like a nightmare that could not be brushed away. There was smoke in the corner of the hall, lulling one to sleep.
On the last floor of the inner hall, Zhan Nancheng was lying on his bed. His cheeks were pale, and his eyes were bloodshot. His breathing was heavy. When he saw Meng Fuyao enter, he immediately waved his hand in annoyance. "Put it down, put it down now!"
Meng Fuyao put her hand down and looked around the corners of the hall. There stood two guards, tall, silent, imposing, and loyal, guarding Zhan Nancheng's bed. They were the Zhan Family's slave guards, loyal, brave, and slow-witted. Zhan Nancheng used to think that they were troublesome and stupid, so he did not bring them along. Ever since he was kidnapped, they had never left his side. If Meng Fuyao's guess was right, there should be a trap on Zhan Nancheng's bed.
She was now Zhan Nancheng's favorite subject, but until now, she had not been able to take more than three steps in front of him. Now that Zhan Nancheng was sick, should she be more vigilant or let her guard down? Meng Fuyao took a tentative step forward. Zhan Nancheng turned his head and said, panting, "Step back, step back …"
Meng Fuyao stopped moving and respectfully took a step back. Zhan Nancheng said, "Outside … What's going on outside?"
Meng Fuyao's expression did not change. "Zhan Beiye is attacking the city."
Zhan Nancheng shuddered and tried his best to prop himself up. "Pass the decree … pass the decree …"
Meng Fuyao turned around and signaled the eunuch to bring a brush and paper. The eunuch was about to summon the minister on night duty in the Imperial Library. Meng Fuyao said coldly, "What time is it now? How dare you delay? Do I not know how to read? "
Zhan Nancheng said in annoyance, "Quiet … Quiet … Pass the decree … Xie Yu and you … lead the imperial guards and the imperial camp to defend the city … The imperial guards will be led by Kou Zhongshu to guard the palace … Get the three ministers of the Imperial Library here … Send someone to contact King Ping Jing in the Fu Capital …"
Meng Fuyao's brush moved like dragons and snakes as she wrote. "Your Majesty, please use the imperial treasure and bestow the Tiger Seal."
Zhan Nancheng trembled as he pressed on the armrest of the couch and took out a seal. Just as he was about to stamp it, his gaze swept across the room and he exclaimed, "You … Why did you write this …" He was about to remove his hand from the seal, but Meng Fuyao was already smiling as she grabbed his hand and stamped it on the imperial edict.
Zhan Nancheng's entire body trembled as he pointed at her. "You … You …"
The two slave guards turned around slowly. Zhan Nancheng's other hand was also quietly reaching under the pillow. Meng Fuyao smiled and did not move forward. Instead, she took a step back. The slave guards immediately stopped moving.
She then took out a small cup and a small pot of wine and gently poured the wine into the cup in front of Zhan Nancheng.
The sound of water.
The wine fell into the cup and made a pitter-patter sound. It was calm and serene. It did not sound murderous at all, but lingered for a long time.
However, for those who suffered from strange diseases, it was like a soul-stirring bell!
Zhan Nancheng's entire body suddenly jumped up half a meter high from the bed, and then fell heavily onto the bedding. He twitched, gasped, and struggled. Thin streaks of blood came out of the corners of his eyes and nostrils.
He struggled painfully on the bed, swimming like a dying fish or a spasming shrimp. The blood stained the beautiful bedding, mournful and beautiful.
The slave guards did not move. These slaves, whose normal consciousness had been destroyed since childhood, had received orders to kill anyone who approached His Majesty with the intention of attacking!
However, Meng Fuyao stood far away and only poured the wine.
She calmly poured the wine from the pot into the cup, and then poured the wine from the cup back into the pot. The cycle repeated endlessly.
Zhan Nancheng's pain was endless.
He rolled and screamed, "Don't … Don't …"
Meng Fuyao stopped and asked, "Where's the Tiger Tally?"
Zhan Nancheng raised his head and looked at her. He was so weak that he did not have the strength to open the mechanism. His head was full of sweat and the blood at the corner of his mouth. His eyes were full of hatred, like an evil spirit that had crawled out of hell and was ready to devour someone.
Meng Fuyao was unmoved. Anyone who had seen a comrade being eaten alive by ants and then dying tragically would not be able to face such a scene in this life.
Those who harmed others would be harmed themselves. That was all.
Seeing that Zhan Nancheng did not reply, Meng Fuyao took out a fire starter and moved closer to the pot of wine.
Zhan Nancheng's expression changed immediately. He stared at the fire starter in horror, as if there were 10,000 poisonous snakes in his bedding.
"Don't …" he shouted in a low voice.
Meng Fuyao immediately opened her palm to him.
Zhan Nancheng trembled and refused to speak for a long time. She tossed the torch in her palm and casually said, "Death isn't scary. What's scary is the torture before death. Do you prefer the latter, Your Majesty?"
Zhan Nancheng closed his eyes. He no longer had the strength to think or hate anything. He only vaguely felt that from the moment he had chased after Zhan Beiye at Chang Han Mountain, he had made a huge mistake that could not be undone. Then, he had fallen into a trap that had been planned far ahead of time. The True Martial Arts Assembly … the young champion … the half-wit commander who had been reduced to a male pet in Wuji … Bei Heng had been killed … His illness had acted up prematurely … It turned out that from the very beginning, he had fallen into someone else's trap.
He had failed to kill Zhan Beiye, so he would eventually lose his life.
And he … Who was he? He and Zhan Beiye. One had invaded his country, and the other had taken his life. He had lost terribly!
The smile of the youth in front of him was like a flower in the water, swaying in his vision. His eyes were glistening, as pure as snow, and as cold as a black butterfly on a glacier.
Zhan Nancheng was struck by the gaze. He was the most foolish one. He had actually believed the silent exchange between him and the Wuji Crown Prince. How could such bright and fierce eyes belong to a pet boy who had been wronged?
Zhan Nancheng finally closed his eyes. He raised his finger, which had been broken by the pain, and pointed at the ceiling.
She raised her head and saw that in two inconspicuous corners, there were two decorative beast heads. They opened their mouths slightly, and a golden light flashed.
She smiled and measured the positions of the beast heads. She chose the one on the left, and with a flick of her finger, a golden light fell.
She hefted the tiger tally and grabbed the imperial edict. Suddenly, there was a gust of wind behind her. She turned her hand to grab it, but the thing slid out of her hand. Without looking back, she slashed behind her with a flash of her saber. The fierce gust of the saber lifted the heavy curtains, but the thing still slid out of her saber.
Shocked, she quickly slid away, but the thing chased after her relentlessly. It was as fast as sound and light. You didn't realize it, but it had already arrived.
In a hurry, she turned around with her saber, intending to take it head-on. The moment she turned around, she could smell the stench of blood. A pair of deep purple eyes closed in on her, and with a blink, a stream of purple mucus shot out in all directions!
She had already swung her saber, and the liquid splashed out. Most of it was blocked by her Gang Qi, but a sliver, as thin as an eyelash, landed between her eyebrows.
Her heart turned cold. She had been too complacent, but she had been too careless!
"Chi …"
Suddenly, a sword pierced through!
It was a thin, long, and sharp sword with a silver glow. In an instant, it formed an arc in the darkness like a shooting star. Faster than sound and light, it stabbed toward Meng Fuyao's face, causing her hair to dance and her eyes to be unable to open. The cold light flickered, and it was extremely sharp.
Then, the sword stopped in an instant!
It stopped right in front of Meng Fuyao's eyebrows.
It came fast, but stopped even faster.
The silver glow of the sword flickered incessantly. It was so close to Meng Fuyao's face that it would have either blinded her eyes or pierced through her temples, but it did not even manage to cut off her eyelashes.
The sword stopped right in front of her eyebrows, and the purple liquid splashed onto it!
Dark room! Lightless! So close to her vitals! Filaments of venom.
What kind of astonishing wrist strength and eyesight did such an indescribably precise sword strike require?
"Chi …" The purple liquid spread in an instant, polluting the bright and clean surface of the sword into a murky black. The center of the liquid slowly corroded a hole … What a powerful poison!
Meng Fuyao heaved a sigh of relief and glanced gratefully at Yun Hen. You saved me again!
She immediately pulled out her sword to kill the purple monster. Yun Hen withdrew his sword, but it was difficult for him to use his strength. His wrist seemed to have been dislocated due to his excessive control. His back was drenched in cold sweat, and his shirt stuck tightly to his body like a rope.
That strike just now … was the best he had ever executed in his entire life.
At that critical moment, he, who had been waiting outside the curtain, felt that something was amiss. He lifted the curtain and entered, but he did not see anything except for the venom that was about to enter her eyebrows.
He didn't even think before he attacked. However, when he turned his head and thought back to that attack, he realized that he hadn't seen anything at all when the sword had stabbed out.
Given his skills, such a hasty strike would only have pierced a hole in her. So, how did he do it? How was he able to control that sword to such an exquisite degree? What kind of power was needed to achieve such a miraculous strike?
Yun Hen heaved a sigh of relief and closed his eyes in gratitude.
Behind him, Meng Fuyao strode over, wiping the blood off the tip of her sword. "I didn't expect the final Tiger Tally to be a linked mechanism. The monster is hidden in the beast head on the right." She looked at the bloody purple lump on the ground and said, "Yun Hen, your sword technique is getting better and better. Even I couldn't execute that strike."
Yun Hen smiled. Meng Fuyao looked at his face and asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you? Why are you sweating so much? " She took out a towel to wipe his sweat, but after some thought, she handed it over. "I'm clumsy, hehe …"
Yun Hen took it and stuffed it into his chest. Meng Fuyao blushed and pretended not to see it. Yun Hen looked at the unconscious Zhan Nancheng and said, "You're not going to kill him? A long night is fraught with trouble. "
"That's what I want to ask of you," Meng Fuyao said. "Zhan Nancheng can't be killed now. I've ordered all the civil and military officials to gather in the outer hall of the Hall of Diligent Government to trap the three ministers of the Hall of Governmental Affairs who have the authority to mobilize the army. They're old and will definitely barge in if they're anxious. Keeping Zhan Nancheng and Slave Wei alive can gain their trust and buy us some time. I'll have to ask you to act according to the situation and stand guard here as my bodyguard. If things change, please kill Zhan Nancheng. If it succeeds, please … kill him!"
Yun Hen was shaken. Meng Fuyao smiled helplessly. "Zhan Beiye is softhearted. He might not be able to kill his brother, but keeping Zhan Nancheng alive is definitely a malignant tumor … Let him be a clean emperor. I'll take the blame for killing his brother!"
She smiled openly. "In any case, I'm going to be the second Grand Preceptor Zhou and the first of the two ministers of Tiansha, haha."
Yun Hen looked deeply at her bright and fearless smile. After a while, he looked away and said, "Alright!"
Meng Fuyao beamed at him and handed over the Hidden Dragon Pouch that she had taken off Zhan Nancheng's body. "Holding the emperor to order the nobles is what a man should do!" She then passed him the wine cup and the water bottle. Yun Hen took it and asked in surprise, "What's wrong with Zhan Nancheng? Why is he so weird? He can't hear the sound of water and can't see the light?"
"I don't know either." Meng Fuyao shrugged. Before Zhan Beiheng died, he had told her about Zhan Nancheng's illness. When she returned, she had asked the Mongolian physician about it. He had asked about Zhan Nancheng's complexion and even the color of his nails. After a few days, he had given her some medicinal powder and asked her to apply it on the sleeves of her official robe. She did not need to do anything more than wave her sleeves. Zhan Nancheng usually did not allow anyone to get close to him, but when she was giving advice to the Golden Palace the day before yesterday, she had waved her hands and feet wildly. She reckoned that the unlucky emperor must have inhaled it. As for what exactly was wrong with Zhan Nancheng, she only felt that his fear of water and light was similar to rabies. However, it was not entirely the case. Rabies did not have a seasonal outbreak, and it had always been fatal once it flared up. It was most likely the Mongolian physician's doing. He had used some kind of nerve poison to aggravate Zhan Nancheng's original symptoms and damage his central nervous system, causing him to spasm.
Sigh … poor Zhan Nancheng. How many experts had schemed against him at the same time …
Meng Fuyao smiled at Yun Hen in relief. She lifted the curtain and grinned at the eunuch of the Hall of Diligent Government. "Did it feel good?"
The eunuch's face suddenly turned pale. He took a step back and knelt down, kowtowing with all his might. "Have mercy, Commander Meng. Have mercy …"
"Why would I kill you?" Meng Fuyao patted his shoulder with a smile and stuffed a pill into his mouth. "I'll give you some candy … Is it sweet? After you're done, pass the edict to me. "
The eunuch took the edict hesitantly, his fingers trembling uncontrollably. Meng Fuyao smiled and said, "Pass the edict properly. I'll reward you with candy when I return." Suddenly, her expression turned cold. "You know best what kind of person His Majesty is now, and what kind of person the Empire is now. Do you understand what you should do?"
The eunuch raised his eyes and peeked into the pitch-black inner hall. The faint and heavy breathing of the dying could be heard. Each sound was the final history of the seventh year of the Tiansha Dynasty. Even further away, outside the city gate, the young and brave generals were galloping on their horses … It was a predestined death, a predestined end. Who would be willing to sacrifice their entire future for such a bloody annihilation?
He bowed respectfully.
Meng Fuyao smiled and gestured with her hand. "Congratulations on becoming the first batch of His Majesty's ministers!"
The eunuch's eyes lit up, and he took small steps out. Meng Fuyao smiled coldly. Eunuchs were treacherous people. Because of their own miserable experiences, they were the most selfish and focused on personal benefits. She was not afraid that he would overturn the heavens if she threatened him and bribed him with glory.
She strode out of the hall and mounted her horse outside the palace gate. Tie Cheng and her guards had already rushed over with two carriages. Meng Fuyao nodded and headed for the imperial camp. The commander of the Flying Tiger Camp, Jian Shuangjin, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Upon seeing her, he hurried over and said, "Madam! Did you request for an order to mobilize the troops? "
Meng Fuyao shook her head and frowned. "His Majesty didn't see anyone. I didn't see anyone."
"How could this be?" Jian Shuangjin rubbed his hands. "The enemy's attack was fierce, but the 100,000 men of the imperial camp did not move. What … what is this?"
"Are you questioning His Majesty, Commander Jian?" Meng Fuyao squinted at him. "How can we guess His Majesty's wisdom?"
Jian Shuangjin was shocked and quickly lowered his head. "I don't dare …" Meng Fuyao snorted and returned to the meeting hall. Jian Shuangjin followed behind her and said in a low voice, "Madam, a general can't obey the emperor's orders. If His Majesty didn't issue an order, he could have asked the three ministers of the Hall of Governmental Affairs to sign it with one-third of their respective seals …"
'The seals of the three ministers of the Hall of Governmental Affairs?' Meng Fuyao's lips curled into a faint smile. 'Yao Xun should have completed his mission, right?' 'Godly Hands' wouldn't be needed for long. Now that he had stolen a big one, he must be very happy. 'I hope the three ministers still have some underwear to wear …'
She stopped and looked at the famous impetuous man in the imperial camp. 'It would be easy to kill him, but it would alert the enemy. Besides, he is brave and good at fighting. It would be good to leave him for Zhan Beiye in the future …' She turned around and said with a smile, "Commander Jian is right. Pandu is surrounded, and the situation is urgent. The generals of the imperial court should not be afraid to take on the responsibility of defending the city. If His Majesty doesn't issue an order, we will ask the three ministers. If they don't, we will take our own team to the top of the city wall! I will bear all the blame in the future! "
Her impassioned speech made Jian Shuangjin's blood boil and his eyes brimming with tears. He said loudly, "I won't let you bear all the blame alone. I will bear half of it!" He then said in a low voice, ashamed, "I … I am ashamed … I almost suspected you, Madam …"
Meng Fuyao patted his shoulder and looked into the distant sky. She said with deep emotion, "Strong grass is judged by strong wind, and loyal officials are judged by the board …"
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the sky, causing a tree to be scorched on the outside and tender on the inside …
Jian Shuangjin was still blaming himself when Meng Fuyao said gracefully, "Alright, the war is imminent. I will have to trouble Commander Jian to reorganize the battalions. Also, please summon the four deputy commanders, Yao, Liu, Wang, and Su. I have some detailed matters to discuss with them."
Jian Shuangjin left in a hurry, while Meng Fuyao waited in the meeting hall. After a while, the four deputy commanders came over. They had become friends with Meng Fuyao through playing dice and Pai Gow, so they were familiar with each other and did not stand on ceremony. The moment they entered, they smiled and said, "May I know what orders you have for us, Madam?"
Meng Fuyao sat on her high seat, slowly sipping on a cup of tea. She waved her hand, and the meeting hall's main door suddenly closed.
The four of them were stunned, but Meng Fuyao waved her hand again. Her personal guard brought two plates, one filled with thumb-sized pearls, and the other with a dagger.
The pearls dazzled in the dim meeting hall. The four of them had seen the world, but they had never seen so many high-quality pearls in one go. Their eyes shone brightly as they were illuminated by the pearls.
Satisfied with their reactions, Meng Fuyao calmly sipped her tea … These were the people she had specially chosen to befriend. They were the kind of people who would haggle over every penny and fight for every inch of money in the Commander-level dice-throwing and poker games. How could such people have a firm will and integrity?
Ever since she entered the imperial camp, she had been gambling every day, and it was not for nothing. Giving money to buy people's hearts was a small matter, but using the game of Pai Gow to gauge people's temperament was the most important thing.
The room was dark and the pearls were like snow. Just as their gazes and breaths became unstable from the pressure of the perfectly round treasure, Meng Fuyao put down her teacup. The clear sound of the porcelain hitting the rosewood table startled the four of them, causing them to raise their heads.
"I'm here to gift you with riches." Meng Fuyao pointed at the pearls.
Everyone looked puzzled, but Meng Fuyao pointed at the dagger.
"Or perhaps, a massacre."
= = =
A quarter of an hour later, the meeting hall's door slowly opened. Meng Fuyao was still smiling as she sat on her high seat. The pearls and dagger were gone. The four commanders sat below her, looking at her with nervous smiles. Even their sleeves felt heavy.
After a while, the other commanders received orders and came to the meeting hall. The imperial camp had three main camps, and each camp was assigned a commander and two deputy commanders. However, the quota was not full. For example, Meng Fuyao was the commander of the Flying Fox Camp. Other than her, Jian Shuangjin, who was in charge of patrolling the camp, and the four deputy commanders who had arrived earlier, the rest were the deputy commander of the imperial camp, the commander and deputy commander of the Flying Tiger Camp, the deputy commander of the Flying Fox Camp, and the deputy commander of the Flying Leopard Camp.
The deputy commander of the imperial camp, Zheng Hui, was the trusted aide of the former commander, Xie Yu. When Xie Yu was transferred to the Ministry of War, he thought that he had a chance to be promoted to commander. He did not expect His Majesty to give such an important position to Meng Fuyao, who was still wet behind the ears. Naturally, Zheng Hui was not convinced and had always been against Meng Fuyao.
At this moment, his pale face was pale, and his nose, which was longer and sharper than a normal person's, stood there like a sword. After sitting down, he rolled his eyes and looked at the sky. Meng Fuyao pressed her hands on her knees and looked at him with a smile. "Commanders, I just entered the palace to receive His Majesty's edict. We, the imperial camp, will take on the role of palace security and will switch with the royal guards later."
Everyone in the meeting hall was stunned. The deputy commander of the Flying Leopard Camp was stunned. "The imperial camp has always been the main force of the city defense. Now that the rebels are attacking the city, we should be sent to fight immediately. Why would we switch with the royal guards?"
Meng Fuyao put her hands on her knees and frowned. "This is His Majesty's decree, and I cannot defy it." She stood up and said, "Please prepare for the switch."
"Wait."
Meng Fuyao slowly turned to look at the seat of honor on the left. As expected, Zheng Hui opened his mouth. His eyelids drooped and his nose twitched. "Madam, the imperial camp is an army for war, not the royal guards who guard the gates of the princesses. How could you accept such an order without saying a word? Why didn't you argue with His Majesty? "
"May I ask, Sir Zheng, how should I argue with him?" Meng Fuyao smiled and asked him amiably. "Should I tell His Majesty? Aiya, Your Majesty, the royal guards aren't strong enough to guard the gates of the palace for so long that their blades have rusted? Why don't we go fight in the imperial camp instead?"
Zheng Hui choked. After a while, he said disdainfully, "If you don't say it, I will!" He stood up and left.
"Stop right there!"
The shout was like a sudden clap of thunder, shaking all the commanders in splendid armor in the hall. Their heads were buzzing, and a blue and white enamel vase on the Octagon Shelf fell to the ground, shattering into pieces with a "Pa Cha" sound. The blue porcelain shards flew everywhere, and a few deputy commanders shrunk their feet back in fear.
Zheng Hui was also shaken by this loud shout, and his heart beat like a drum. Only now did he remember that this famous idiot commander was the champion of this year's True Martial Arts Assembly. He wanted to leave, but he didn't dare. He stiffly stood there, and listened to the gentle and cheerful young commander suddenly burst into a thunderous rage. His imposing manner was like a violent storm, smashing down in an instant!
"Zheng Hui!"
Her words were like spring thunder, unable to restrain her anger. "I have to remind you that I'm giving you an order, not discussing it with you. If you think that you can't carry out my orders, it means that we are no longer superior and subordinate. There are two ways to solve this problem. First, I don't want to be the commander, and second, you don't want to be the deputy commander. I don't want to be the commander yet, so if you continue to resist my orders, I can only give you two options. One is for you to immediately lead the generals to carry out my orders, and the other is for me to immediately lead the generals …"
Zheng Hui's head was shaken by the thunderclap, and his heart was beating like a galloping horse. He was frozen in place, unsure of how to react. Subconsciously, he waited to hear her last sentence. Suddenly, she lifted her sleeves, stepped on the shattered porcelain, and pounced on him like an angry dragon or a goshawk.
"I'll kill you!"
When she pounced, the surging zhenqi rolled up the broken porcelain pieces on the ground and sent them flying in all directions. The commanders subconsciously raised their sleeves to cover their faces. Through the gaps of their sleeves, they could only see the dark black sleeves drawing a pitch-black blade-like arc in midair. In a flash, it cut through the heavy air. In another flash, she was already in front of Zheng Hui, who was standing stiffly. Her two fingers were like the head of a phoenix, pecking and pinching!
"Crack."
A very light sound, like the sound of a walnut being crushed, was heard.
Everyone was instantly nailed to their seats in shock.
The only one who moved was Zheng Hui. His Adam's apple, which had been crushed, surged strangely, and a strange sound came from his throat. His neck retracted, and his body fell straight down.
With a bang, he fell onto the ground full of broken porcelain, creating a muffled echo. Gradually, fine blood flowed out of his body. It was the blood that flowed out of his skin that had been cut by the broken porcelain. It was neither too much nor too thick. Like a snake, it slowly wriggled to the feet of the commanders.
The commanders wanted to retreat and escape, but they suddenly realized that they could not move. Just as they were shocked by Zheng Hui's death, they were secretly restrained by the few comrades that Meng Fuyao had bribed with the pearl.
They looked at Zheng Hui's corpse, then at their comrades, and remained silent for a long time. Not a single one of them resisted.
Meng Fuyao stood in front of Zheng Hui's corpse and smiled slowly.
Kill the least number of people, achieve the greatest effect. That was what Zhangsun Wuji had said.
With her preparation and ability, she could have killed all the commanders, but why go through so much trouble? Why did they have to force him to a dead end and cause unnecessary resistance to bring about variables? Wouldn't it be easier for them to give up and surrender after seeing their superiors die and their comrades betray them?
Humans have a herd mentality. Everyone is risking their lives. Bring me along to die! If everyone else surrenders, I won't be left out.
Meng Fuyao stood in the pool of blood, tiredly lifting her head to look at the top of the city wall. There was not enough time. She was a paratrooper who had only managed to obtain the position of the president at the last moment and occupy the commanding heights of power. It was not enough to completely establish her authority and make the entire imperial camp follow her in rebellion. All she could do was try her best to destroy the most crucial part of Pandu's strongest military force, the most ferocious snake that could twist people into pieces!
She ordered the four deputy commanders to go to the palace for a change of defense, while the others surrendered and were locked up with Jian Shuangjin. Meng Fuyao heaved a sigh of relief and left the imperial camp. Just as she walked out of the camp, she bumped into someone.
It was Xie Yu.
Meng Fuyao squinted at him, thinking, 'This kid actually didn't follow the imperial edict to attend the morning assembly at the Hall of Diligent Government? This is going to be troublesome. '
Xie Yu looked at her with a gloomy face. Just as he was about to speak, Meng Fuyao spoke first. She smiled and took out the tiger tally and the edict. "Assistant Minister Xie, you came at the right time. Are you going to accompany me to take over the imperial guards? His Majesty has assigned me to lead the imperial camp and imperial guards, in charge of the city's internal defense and defense. "
Xie Yu's eyebrows twitched when he saw the edict. He took it and read it carefully, especially the tiger tally. He had led troops for a long time, so he naturally recognized such things. His face turned pale, but he still said indifferently, "General Meng is still young, so I'm afraid you can't take on such a heavy responsibility. The three ministers of the Imperial Secretariat have just given me a transfer order to temporarily command the imperial guards and coordinate with General Meng in battle. What I mean is that His Majesty trusts you, so you should go to the palace to protect His Majesty. I'll handle the matters on the city wall."
"Oh?" Meng Fuyao raised her eyebrows and smiled. "The three ministers of the Imperial Secretariat have issued a transfer order? Can I take a look at it? "
Xie Yu hesitated for a while before he slowly took out a piece of edict and handed it to Meng Fuyao. She smiled when she saw it.
She pointed at the bottom of the edict, where there should have been a seal of three leaves, but there was only one. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Xie Yu with interest. "I've only heard of the order of three leaves to the central command, but never of a single leaf."
Xie Yu's face twitched. After a while, he said coldly, "This is Kou Zhongshu's order, and I will carry it out. If there are any crimes, Kou Zhongshu and I will accept it in front of His Majesty. Commander Meng, you'd better accept the order."
"There's no such thing." Meng Fuyao returned the edict to him and laughed coldly. "Assistant Minister Xie's request is absurd. You actually want to deprive me of His Majesty's Imperial Decree and the Tiger Seal just because you have a third of the Imperial Secretariat's transfer order? Do you think that Kou Zhongshu's order is more sacred than His Majesty's Imperial Decree and the Tiger Seal?"
Her words were harsh, but Xie Yu remained calm. "Kou Zhongshu has already led the Imperial Guards to fight against the enemy. He said that as a civil official, dying on the battlefield for His Majesty is better than dying of old age and riches. His words are the same for me. Since Commander Meng is unwilling to accept the order, I won't force you. I'll go talk to the soldiers of the imperial camp myself." Meng Fuyao's eyebrows twitched.
Xie Yu, that bastard, was actually a loyal follower of Zhan Nancheng. He had been in charge of the imperial camp for many years, and his conduct was firm and unyielding. His military discipline was strict, and he was loved and respected by the soldiers. Compared to her, a commander who had only been here for a month or two, his words carried more weight. Once he appeared, even if the commanders who had submitted to her no longer rebelled, the soldiers would still follow him. Then, all her efforts would be for naught.
This thought flashed through her mind, and then she smiled. She spread out her hands and said, "What are we fighting for? Isn't it all for the sake of the empire for generations to come? To die for His Majesty's authoritative rule? Assistant Minister Xie is an old general from Tiansha, wise and experienced. I'm young and inexperienced, so of course I'll follow your lead. "
Xie Yu's expression brightened. He looked her up and down before nodding. "That's for the best."
"But," Fuyao continued, "Assistant Minister Xie has an incomplete transfer order from the three ministers, while I have the imperial edict and the tiger seal. Assistant Minister Xie dares to defy the imperial edict, but I dare not. Assistant Minister Xie wants to die on the battlefield, while I want to be loyal to the emperor. How about this, let's compromise."
She turned around and pointed at the imperial camp. "Two-thirds of the imperial army will guard the palace, while the other one-third will follow me. They will follow Assistant Minister Xie and Kou Zhongshu's Imperial Guards to defend the city walls. If His Majesty blames me in the future, I'll ask Sir Kou and Sir Xie to mediate on my behalf. How about this?"
Xie Yu looked at the slippery 'jester' in disgust. After some thought, he said, "Alright."
He calculated in his heart. She only brought one-third of the imperial army up the city walls. No matter what, she wouldn't be able to do anything under his watch. With him around, would she be able to command the imperial camp? He didn't know what was going on with His Majesty, but he kept sending out random orders tonight. He and Kou Zhongshu resisted the edict with all their might just to save the city from danger. When Old Minister Xi saw His Majesty, he would persuade him not to place too much trust in Fuyao. He would just need to get the new edict to take back the entire imperial camp.
Pandu had strong walls and cannons, and the highest walls in the world. It had five layers of defenses, including a barbican, a rampart, and a drawbridge. There were also three trenches specially designed to deal with cavalry. The soldiers in the city were well-equipped, well-supplied, and well-armed. Compared to Zhan Beiye's long supply line, the exhausted soldiers who had traveled thousands of miles without rest, the advantage was self-evident. Xie Yu was confident that as long as he took back the imperial camp, he would definitely be able to kill Zhan Beiye!
He looked suspiciously at Fuyao, who was smiling calmly. Kou Zhongshu had repeatedly said that this kid had ulterior motives and had to be guarded against. Now that he was willing to hand over the military power, it might not be as Kou Zhongshu had said.
Meng Fuyao saw his expression and smiled. She pointed at the imperial camp, the Flying Fox Camp, and sped towards the city gate with Xie Yu. Xie Yu saw Tie Cheng behind her and looked at her in surprise. She said, "His Majesty has asked me to bring the families of the Jin, Yan, and Ming Lun Mansions to the top of the city wall. We will proceed according to the original plan."
Xie Yu's expression brightened and he nodded. At this time, the two of them had already reached the city gates. From afar, they could see the dazzling light of fire and the shouts of battle shaking the heavens. The guards in black and the imperial guards in purple were running up and down the city gates like ants. The crossbows on the turrets creaked as they spun three hundred and sixty degrees, releasing a dense rain of arrows. The two of them ascended the tower. Just as they reached the top, they saw Kou Zhongshu, with a grizzled beard and disheveled clothes, clumsily stab a Cang Long soldier in the face with his spear. The soldier sent him flying far away with a painful palm strike. Everyone hurriedly rushed up to pull him down, but Kou Zhongshu was still desperately struggling to climb up as he shouted: "Shoot! Shoot! Nightmare stones! Rolling logs! Hot oil! Sandbags! "
His voice was hoarse as he turned around to see Xie Yu and Meng Fuyao. Meng Fuyao, dressed in black, was quietly immersed in the bright red firelight, standing indifferently amidst the rain of arrows that filled the sky. Her face was a little pale, but her eyes were dark as she looked at him. That gaze made the loyal old official's heart skip a beat, but that feeling disappeared in an instant. In the next instant, Meng Fuyao was already smiling and welcoming him.
"Lord Kou is loyal to the country. As a civil official, you actually take the lead. I admire you!"
Kou Zhongshu panted and waved his hand. Meng Fuyao walked to the edge of the city wall and looked down.
Then, she saw Zhan Beiye!
Below the city, the field was wide and the fire was blazing. Among the infantry and cavalry, a figure dressed in black riding a black horse, followed by a team of fierce and fierce cavalry, galloped like an angry dragon in the formation. The golden pestle in his hand was heavy and bright, dancing in the night fire like a golden meteor. And when he occasionally raised his eyes and glanced over, even though he was so far away, he could still feel the hardness and strength of the pestle. It was as bright as a diamond, so bright and fierce that it broke the night sky, exploding the sky full of broken stars.
Wherever he passed, the people parted like waves. With him as a line of black light, he headed straight for the city wall. Large chunks of nightmare stones were like children's toys between his fingers, instantly crushed by the golden pestle. Amidst the continuous rumbling sounds, he even flung a piece of nightmare stone back to the city wall, smashing it into the thick wall filled with rice milk, creating a hole the size of a human head!
A true valiant general was valiant, fierce, and took the lead. His bravery was at the top of the army!
Zhan Beiye swung his pestle and looked up. Then, his whole body trembled.
He saw Meng Fuyao.
On the tall city wall, behind a battlement, stood a delicate and pretty young man in light armor. Her hands were on the battlement, and she looked down with a smile that was completely different from the nervous and intense soldiers around her. Her black robes and silver hairband fluttered in the air, looking carefree and at ease. Behind her was the silhouette of the huge imperial city.
Her tranquility, in the midst of the soldiers who were busy fighting in the bloody battle, seemed so calm and graceful, as if nothing could scare her.
She was unperturbed by anything.
Looking at her, Zhan Beiye felt as though his chest had been struck by a heavy blow. His hands went limp, and he almost dropped the pestle. He quickly clenched his fingers, only to realize that his palms were suddenly covered in sweat. It was so wet that he couldn't hold onto his weapon.
It had been half a year, and he had missed her day and night. That kind of yearning was so heavy that it stacked on top of each other until it was taller and thicker than the city wall in front of him. When he slept, he would see her shadow wherever he went. When he walked, he would think about the way she whipped her horse. When he drank, he would think about how she liked to drink hotter water. When he ate, he would think about how she ate. When he slept, he would think about how he looked at her back. She was beautiful and slender, like a crescent moon, so close yet so far away.
That kind of yearning … that kind of yearning. It was a yearning that he couldn't get rid of and couldn't escape from.
He had also thought about it countless times. Under what circumstances would they meet again? In the golden palace? On the streets? In their original residence? How would they be reunited? Would she welcome him with a smile, or would he welcome her with a smile?
There was even a time when he suddenly woke up from his dreams. His face was covered in cold sweat, and he wanted to gather his troops and charge back to Pandu, but was held back by his subordinates. That night, he dreamt that she was dead. She was covered in blood, squatting on the ground, drawing something in a pool of blood. Then, she collapsed.
He didn't sleep for the rest of the night. He sat in the courtyard, hugging his knees and gazing at the moon until dawn.
Another time, he dreamt that she didn't wait for him in Pandu and ran away. When he woke up, he thought to himself, 'Perhaps she would do such a thing. Should I go look for her after I conquer Pandu? Or should I just not fight anymore? '
However, the next day, he saw the Black Wind Cavalry and the one-armed Ji Yu. He was on his way again. Men had their responsibilities, and some things couldn't be done by themselves.
Now … he finally saw her again after half a year. The moment he saw her, he realized that his longing for her wasn't deep enough. The longing that he had been tormenting him day and night was as thin as a piece of paper compared to this moment. Seeing her was like being struck by lightning. Just looking at her made him want to run over. To him, her figure was like a traveler in a dying desert who had finally found an oasis of life. Even if he had to crawl, he had to crawl over — regardless of whether he lived or died.
Thus, he really went over, waving his golden pestle through the rain of arrows and blades.
But Meng Fuyao raised a finger at him.
Facing the distant but still incomparably blazing gaze, she raised her index finger and middle finger, making a scissors shape, and playfully straightened it.
"Victory!"
Zhan Beiye stopped and looked at her in shock. Meng Fuyao had already turned around and watched as Xie Yu brought the families of the two military governors up.
The frail women and youthful youths were all tied up and escorted to the top of the city wall by Meng Fuyao's guards.
Xie Yu grabbed one of the women and raised his shield, leaning out of the city wall to shout.
"Zhan Beiye, these are the families of the two military governors of the Jin Yan and Ming Lun Mansions!"
The soldiers who were attacking the city wall stopped abruptly and turned around in fear. Zhan Beiye's eyes turned as black as ebony as he slowly raised his palm.
A smile appeared at the corner of Xie Yu's lips, and he leaned out a bit more. "The two military governors were the first to follow you, and they fought thousands of miles with you. They didn't care about their lives, and they gave up their riches and honor to shed their blood for you. Right now, their families are on top of the city walls. If you give the order to attack the city one step further, I will immediately kill them. I will let you men of the Northern Lands see what kind of cold-blooded trash the traitor you so loyally followed is!"
The shouts gradually stopped. The wind was cold, and the moon was cold. Torches lit up the plains like countless stars, and the sound of burning could be heard faintly. Countless pairs of eyes looked at the center of the crowd, at the handsome man.
At this moment, the entire army was silent, waiting for a person to make a difficult decision.
Xie Yu placed his knife on the neck of a young woman and shouted, "Retreat!"
Zhan Beiye was silent, his cold gaze colliding with Xie Yu.
Xie Yu was unmoved, and the knife in his hand tightened.
"Retreat! Tie yourself to the city wall! Otherwise, you'll be a sinner condemned by everyone! "
Zhan Beiye slowly raised his head and looked at the top of the city wall. His black robe billowed in the wind, and his handsome face was like corundum under the light of the fire. He focused on the weak young woman on the city wall, and then looked at the calm Meng Fuyao. Finally, slowly, he took a step back.
This step back was like crossing a heavenly moat, like a thousand miles of soldiers being routed!
Xie Yu's eyes were filled with joy!
"Cha!"
The snow lit up.
It was like a snow-colored dragon piercing through the clouds from the Nine Heavens, rising from the clouds with its head held high, letting out a dragon's roar as it looked into the world, drinking its fill of fresh blood in an instant!
A ray of silver light was suddenly spat out from the mouth of the 'weak young woman of Jinyan's Residence'. It was fierce and brazen, fierce and swift, and in an instant, it disappeared between Xie Yu's eyebrows!
Fresh blood slowly flowed out from between his eyebrows, forming a straight line into the dust. Xie Yu's body was forever frozen on the city wall, outside the battlement.
His joy was forever frozen in the moment when Zhan Beiye took a step back. The expression on his face, half surprised and half happy, formed into a strange smile.
He slowly let go of his hand and took one last look at a person.
Meng Fuyao.
The young man stood on the side of the city wall with his hands clasped behind his back. In front of him and behind him were his guards, and they were smiling at him calmly, peacefully, warmly, and endlessly.
Before he died, he finally understood everything from those eyes.
In the end … he still lost …
The dynasty … was about to die.
That was the last thought in Xie Yu's life.
Then, he went limp and fell off the battlement, falling straight down from the highest city wall in the world. With a loud thud, he landed in front of Zhan Beiye's horse. When his corpse landed, it bounced up heavily, and the red and white skull, as well as the yellow soil and dust, rose five feet into the air.
At that moment.
The tens of thousands of miles of land stood solemnly, quietly watching the death of the last loyal general of the dynasty.
And under the cold moon, the army was silent.
Zhan Beiye slowly raised his head and looked at the smiling young man in black on top of the city wall. He looked at the mischievous gesture that did not match the solemn atmosphere and imposing manner at the moment, but could only belong to her alone.
Suddenly, his body froze.
On top of the city wall, behind the young man, a man dressed as a guard suddenly walked over slowly, quietly and inconspicuously standing by her side.
He stood by her side, in such a suitable position, from his gaze to his smile, it was just right to completely envelop her.
He glanced at her indifferently, his eyes sweeping down to the bottom of the city wall. His gaze was like a King's Incense.
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