Chapter 969 National War (V)

The rain never ceased, as if God was also going into hibernation, emptying everything out early to avoid getting up at night.

For the beings below, this was another kind of torment, made even more agonizing by the sudden realization that this was only the prelude.

A flock of crows flew over the walls of Guyue City, found a high point within the city, and landed.

On the city walls, neat and dense Chu soldiers still stood, firmly declaring the might of this military stronghold to the outside world.

However,

inside the city's military camps, few people could be seen.

The more important a city is militarily, the fewer ordinary people live within it.

Guyue City was a rear barrier, and in reality, there were basically no idle civilians living inside, only soldiers would be active there. Right now, the city was incredibly quiet, eerily so.

Even including the soldiers still standing guard on the city walls, this military stronghold was undeniably a… ghost town.

Xie Yuque walked along the city walls, patrolling. His hand gripped the hilt of his saber, already soaked with layers of sweat.

The day promised by the family head was already ten days past.

Logically, ten days ago, a royal guard should have been stationed here to take over the defense of Guyue City, but where were they?

At first, when the date was missed, Xie Yuque could still comfort himself, understanding that mistakes could happen during military deployments.

But… how could there be a ten-day mistake?

Xie Yuque turned his head and looked north.

The family head had already led the Xie family army north to pursue the Barbarian Army. According to the family head's instructions to everyone, in addition to the Xie family army, there would be 150,000 royal guards and 50,000 noble private soldiers, mainly from the Zhao family, flanking the Barbarian Army, to seize the opportunity to solve the Fan City problem once and for all, and reclaim the Mengshan defense line.

Messengers had come from the front to report that the Chu army had completed the encirclement of the Yan army, and the next step was annihilation.

But Xie Yuque didn't believe it.

Even though the messenger was his adoptive father's personal guard, he still didn't believe it.

It made no sense that while hundreds of thousands of troops were gathered at the front for an annihilation battle, they had no time to care about the almost empty Guyue City.

Wouldn't it be logical to transfer ten thousand… no, even just five thousand elite soldiers back to defend this place?

But why,

after waiting here for so many days,

had he not seen any reinforcements appear?

By this reasoning…

The encirclement in the north, the royal guards and the Zhao family soldiers,

had they,

really come?

…

"There are no reinforcements."

Xie Zhuyang said to the family generals and adopted sons kneeling before him.

Everyone was stunned.

Some of the more honest ones, those who were more like fierce generals, were more surprised.

Some who were stronger in strategy and better at observation could accept it a bit more.

In fact, various signs had already indicated it.

If there were really nearly 200,000 troops on the east and west sides, why hadn't they launched a final general offensive against the Barbarian Army?

Did they really have to wait for that Barbarian Army to lay down their weapons and surrender?

As a veteran general, he should know the principle of "a long night is fraught with dreams."

How could the Xie family head, the pillar of the Great Chu, make such a mistake?

"Everyone, I, your old man, am sorry to you."

Xie Zhuyang stood up,

placed his hand on his chest,

and bowed.

For a moment, the generals below were all a little uncomfortable. Some were kowtowing, and some were getting up to try to dissuade him.

The existence of family private soldiers was a very primitive structural composition. It might have all kinds of problems and shortcomings, but its existence was justified. Its greatest justification was… cohesion.

Right now,

the main force of the outer Yan army had arrived and completed the all-round encirclement of the Chu army.

In this situation, if there were reinforcements, everyone could still have a fighting chance. In the worst-case scenario, the army could fight and retreat, trying to return to Guyue City as much as possible.

This was based on the premise that there were nearly 200,000 troops on our flanks, but if those 200,000 troops didn't exist…

then this Xie family army would be swallowed up by the Yan army, which was several times larger than itself, leaving nothing behind!

Even more absurdly,

the Xie family army was now divided into north and south,

The Barbarian Army that had been previously surrounded had now become a baffle that perfectly separated the Xie family army into north and south.

This situation,

was simply as bad as it could get,

it could even be said that,

everyone present had almost been sentenced to… death.

If it were any other army, who would dare to deceive their subordinates like this, who would dare to lead everyone to their deaths like this, who would dare to actively send everyone's lives to the Yellow Springs;

If the superiors dared to do this,

the subordinates,

would dare to directly rebel!

But he was Xie Zhuyang, and his subordinates were the Xie family army.

The generals present were either members of the Xie clan or adopted sons. How could they rebel against the family head?

If the decline had been long-lasting, the power of the main clan had fallen into the hands of others, and the collateral lines had flourished, then in such a situation, replacing him would be fine.

But, unfortunately, that was not the case.

However,

everyone had deep doubts in their hearts,

why?

Xie Zhuyang took a few steps back and sat back in his command seat.

"For hundreds of years, although my Xie family has always held the position of one of the Four Pillars of the State, we have been unable to enter the ranks of the Four Great Clans. Why?

Because my Xie family is entrenched in southern Chu and allied with the Shanyue;

What the Prince of Ding did in Wutong County,

my Xie family,

had already been doing for a hundred years!

They say that my Xie family has rebellious intentions, so they are on guard against us in every possible way.

Yes,

yes,

yes!

I have such a smart son,

why can't my son,

sit on the Dragon Throne of Great Chu!

I am a father, and a father must naturally try his best to leave the best for his son.

But the problem is,

when the nest is overturned, are there any intact eggs?

The world of Great Chu is about to be completely trampled by the Yan people's iron hooves. What's the use of me wanting this Dragon Throne?

To let my son,

my Jia Yuyan,

become the son-emperor of the Yan people?

Three of the Four Pillars of the State are gone;

The Four Great Clans have all declined, leaving only our Xie family with the best-preserved strength.

Eight hundred years ago, my Xie family ancestors followed the Marquis of Chu to open up the Chu territory. How heroic!

Now,

my Great Chu's mountains and rivers are about to be shattered,

do we,

still have the honor and disgrace of our ancestors?

What did the Yan country rely on to rise?

It was their Prince Zhenbei who dismantled the ancestral foundation of a hundred years with his own hands;

It was their Prince Jingnan who annihilated his entire family and exiled himself;

They gave up first, and then they gained what they have today;

If the Yan barbarians can do it,

why can't we Chu people,

my Xie family,

my Xie Zhuyang,

do it!

Right now,

the main force of the Yan army has been transferred here,

Yuyan's side will be easier, and he will have a chance.

The key to the Yan-Chu National War,

is not here with us, not in this Guyue City, but in the Wei River, on the front lines of the Three Prefectures, in Shanggu Prefecture, at Zhennan Pass!

As long as they win there,

they can push the Yan people back to Jin territory in one fell swoop, and my Great Chu will stand up again!

In this struggle for supremacy among the Xia,

my Great Chu,

can still continue to sit at the table!

Whether you agree or not;

I'm just sitting here,

I just want to tell you clearly,

all of you,

have been sold by me;

no,

I've even sold myself.

Hahahaha,

whether you live or die,

you eat my Xie family's food, drink my Xie family's water, wear my Xie family's clothes,

and die for my Xie family…

Die!"

After saying these words, Xie Zhuyang, whose eyes were already red, pointed around, and finally pointed to himself:

"I'm just sitting here, anyone who wants to kill me for revenge, just come up, no one else is allowed to stop them.

Those who are willing to die with me,

go sharpen your sabers and feed your horses,

I, your old man,

will fight the Yan people for that last battle with you all!"

After a period of silence,

the generals stood up one after another and walked out of the tent.

"Gather the troops!"

"Assemble!"

"Prepare for battle!"

Outside, the sounds of military orders rose and fell.

"I'm very surprised, Family Head Xie, you've made me look at you in a new light." The girl child walked out from behind Xie Zhuyang again.

"You're laughing at me."

"No, to be honest, we were originally a group of stinky rats hiding in the corner, fantasizing about getting a share of something that might not belong to us.

A hero like you, maybe you can't beat me, but you'll always be higher than me."

"Thank you."

"No, we should be thanking you, for letting us see the hope of the general trend again. In fact, we haven't done anything, and we haven't been able to help.

However, now the two of us can make a promise, for the sake of your son, for the sake of your heroic spirit just now.

When the Yan army comes,

the two of us will try our best to protect you and help you escape."

"So, you don't understand us." Xie Zhuyang said, "You really don't understand."

"Oh?"

"There was once a governor in Sansuo Prefecture named Xu Weichang. He had the opportunity to leave in advance when the Yan people invaded, but he didn't.

Before he died, he wrote a letter, rebuking His Majesty for his faults, saying that His Majesty was too cautious and too calculating...

He won the political battle, but he almost lost the world.

He wasn't just scolding His Majesty alone,

he was scolding,

the entire Great Chu.

Why can the Yan people do what the Chu people can't? Why can the emperor of Yan share the world with the regent to achieve great things, but the Chu people can't?

Alas..."

"But you are very important, if you can avoid dying, then don't die."

"Of course, I know this principle."

Xie Zhuyang reached out and patted his forehead,

and smiled;

"But I was so passionate when I said those words just now. In fact, it wasn't just them who were fooled, it was me too.

Damn it,

I really didn't expect that,

I could have such a passionate and patriotic moment.

You guys escape,

and try to kill a few more Yan soldiers while escaping, taking advantage of every opportunity you can.

As for me,

I'll stay here,

and I won't shamelessly say anything about sacrificing myself for righteousness.

It's purely because I didn't study hard when I was young. Although I can read, I didn't read much.

I have to die,

if I don't die,

wouldn't I have wasted all the time and effort I spent these days coming up with this speech?

Oh,

there's one more sentence I haven't had time to shout yet, that's the essence!

Do you want to hear it?"

"We're all ears."

"When I'm heavily surrounded by the Yan army,

I'll stand up,

and shout,

'Zheng Fan, you little brat,

aren't you always bragging about what three-lacking-one,

come, come, come,

I'll offer you this head of mine, to make that damn thing complete!'"

———

The number of words in these chapters is small, not to make it easier to make up the number of chapters, but because this plot is not so easy to write in large chapters, and the expression effect is not good.

I'll continue to write, there will be more tomorrow morning.

Please also ask for the guaranteed monthly ticket for this month, hold on tight everyone!