Chapter 311 - 94: Issuing a Challenge (Part 2)

Chapter 311: Chapter 94: Issuing a Challenge (Part 2)

"We were ambushed from the rear. It wasn’t the court’s army," the Xin Bing said, gasping for breath.

’An ambush? Not the court’s army?’ The General was stunned for a moment, then immediately sneered. "So the Xie family has been raising a private army."

There hadn’t been any before. The ambush happened as soon as Xie Yanfang arrived. Who else could it be but the men he brought with him!

"They accuse our Prince and the Princely Heir of treason, but look at the sort of people in their court," the General jeered. "The Empress keeps a retinue of scoundrels, while the Imperial Uncle hides a private army. It’s hard to say who’s truly the one plotting treason."

The logic was sound, but as for the present moment—the Deputy General gave a wry smile. "General, let’s not talk about that. The people only recognize the Emperor."

Whatever the Emperor’s wife and uncle did was considered the righteous path.

"We should figure out what to do now."

The General sneered. "So what if Xie Yanfang has a private army? He kept it hidden until now. Does he think he can stop us? It won’t be that easy! The Prince has amassed power for decades; he has no reason to fear him. As for the Princely Heir—" He glanced at the main hall, remembering the Prince’s instruction to ’remain calm and not be rash’—

’If the Prince, his own father, could be calm and patient, what did they have to fear?’

’The Princely Heir has been captured, not our thirty-thousand-man vanguard, our seventy-thousand-man rearguard, or our one-hundred-thousand-man main army!’

’Though the Princely Heir led the troops here, true command of the army remained in the Prince’s hands.’

’Are those scoundrels trying to use the Princely Heir to end the war? They’ve only trapped themselves. They can’t kill him, and they can’t flee either.’

’They can hold the Princely Heir for ten days, twenty days, or three months. But can they keep him captive while they cower in hiding for a year or two?’

’Even with the Princely Heir captured, the war can go on!’

’As long as we kill that Xiao Emperor, no one will be able to stop the King of Zhongshan!’

"Beat the drums! To battle!" the General ordered. As his Deputy Generals were about to take their leave, he called them back with a savage grin. "And one more thing. Drive the people from the city out to greet the Emperor, especially those respected and powerful lords from the Aristocratic Families. Let them see if the Xiao Emperor is as compassionate as they say."

The Deputy Generals understood immediately, clapping their hands together. "Brilliant, brilliant! A fine welcoming gift for the Xiao Emperor."

With that, the men roared with laughter. Their laughter made the faces of the few nobles from Aristocratic Families, who were cowering in a corner of the corridor, turn ashen. ’A moment ago, they’d regretted running here to their deaths. Now, it was clear they would have been sent to die anyway.’

’When war breaks out and the realm is up for grabs, everyone, whether from an Aristocratic Family or the common folk, is no more than an ant.’

’Such misery—’

...

...

Cries and shouts echoed across the spring sky.

Due to several prior clashes, the sprouting green grass on the main road and in the fields had been trampled bare. Amidst the chaotic footsteps, dust billowed up as if to blot out the sky.

It would have been a mercy if the dust had truly blotted out the sun, so no one would have to see the masses of people: old and young, men and women, common folk and gentry in splendid robes.

Whatever their status, they were all currently rushing toward the Capital Soldiers’ position. Some ran fast, some ran slow; some stumbled and fell, others crawled. A single phrase was on all of their lips.

"Your Majesty, save us—"

No matter how faint each individual voice, shouted in unison by so many, the cry was like rolling thunder.

The Shield Armor Soldiers in the front line blocked the view, but they could not block out the sound.

Xie Yanfang reached out and covered Xiao Yu’s ears.

"Uncle." Xiao Yu looked up from his arms, his previously excited eyes now flickering with terror and distress. "Those people... what are we going to do about them?"

All along their journey, people had kowtowed in gratitude, thanking him for saving their lives. But he knew he hadn’t actually saved them from anything.

And now, more people were desperately shouting for him to save them. But he wouldn’t just be failing to save them; he would have to—kill them.

"Your Majesty, don’t look at them," Xie Yanfang said softly, helping Xiao Yu stand up on the back of his horse. "Look behind them."

Past the layers of army formations, past the people running across the wasteland, he could see what looked like an iron wall of soldiers. They advanced slowly, trailing the civilians from a distance, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight.

"This is a stratagem, a tactic," Xie Yanfang’s voice sounded in Xiao Yu’s ear. "They are using these people as shields, as battering rams, to lead their charge and to throw our ranks into disarray—"

Xiao Yu could see that the formations ahead were prepared to meet the enemy, but the approaching civilians had caused a slight commotion. The crossbowmen could not fire, the Shield Armor Soldiers’ formation was in minor disarray, and the drummers and flag bearers were shouting repeatedly, "Civilians, move aside! Civilians, move aside! Move aside at once—"

The people clearly wanted to move aside, and many tried to run to either flank. However, the King of Zhongshan’s troops behind them were like shepherds; the moment anyone strayed from the designated path forward, an arrow would shoot out, and the person trying to escape would collapse to the ground, dead—

Fleeing meant death, while not fleeing offered a chance at life. After all, that was His Majesty over there. That was their sovereign, come to save them!

Driven by the instinct to survive, the people surged toward them with even greater desperation.

"Any closer, and they will be within firing range of both armies," Xie Yanfang said softly. "Yu, I am about to kill."

He was a child who had experienced life and death; he knew what dying meant. He was also a child who had just experienced the people’s reverence, admiration, and cheers. In the blink of an eye, he would have to kill these same people who revered and admired him, who were crying out to him for salvation. Standing on the horse’s back, Xiao Yu trembled from head to toe, his voice a mere whisper. "No—"

Eunuch Qi, at their side, couldn’t bear to look. "Mr. Xie," he pleaded, "get His Majesty down from there! Don’t let him watch!"

’This is too cruel.’

"No. He must watch. Yu!" Xie Yanfang raised his voice again. "Look farther behind you—"

Trembling, Xiao Yu looked back.

"There are more civilians farther back. They are also waiting for you to protect them," Xie Yanfang said sharply. "If you do not kill these people, even more will die."

Xiao Yu gazed toward the rear, remembering the cheering crowds he had seen along the way. Slowly, his trembling stopped.

Xie Yanfang pulled him into an embrace, his voice gentle once more.

"Yu, to kill is also to save," he said. "You are the Emperor of Great Xia, the Son of Heaven to all people. You must look forward and you must look back, but never only at what is right before your eyes."

There was no better way to forge an Emperor than to have him face the brutal reality of war.

’An Emperor should be heartless. If he must have a heart, it must be as hard as iron. He must find cause for joy in sorrow, and cause for sorrow in joy. His moods must be mercurial, his grace and enmity unpredictable, his good and evil impossible to gauge.’

’That is a true Emperor.’

’And that, too, is what it means to be a son of the Xie family.’

’This time, he would use the King of Zhongshan to teach and forge an Emperor worthy of the Xie family.’

"Yu, I will lead you to slay the rebels, protect the living, and honor the dead," Xie Yanfang said, raising the long blade in his hand.

Leaning against him, Xiao Yu slowly nodded.

A faint smile touched the corners of Xie Yanfang’s lips. He swung his long blade down.

The war drums roared in unison.