Chapter 146: They Can No Longer Win

Chapter 146

As far as the eye could see, there were at least tens of thousands!

How did this wretched Plague City suddenly amass such a large army?

"Everyone, charge with me!"

"Kill!" Zhou Qichen, not one for idle talk, shouted once before riding straight towards General Guan.

The soldiers of Plague City, trained in modern tactics, also cried out as they charged towards the imperial troops.

"Kill them all!"

"Slaughter more imperial soldiers, I want to achieve great deeds!"

"To hell with the imperial court! Kill these lapdogs!"

The trained special forces and elite soldiers mingled among the regular troops, ready to ambush and deliver fatal blows to the imperial officers at any moment.

Seeing the dense mass of Plague City soldiers, General Guan was first stunned for a few seconds, then his face finally changed drastically.

How could there be so many soldiers?!

Weren't they supposed to be just a few thousand ragtag troops?

Weren't they supposed to be unable to recruit soldiers?

Clearly, during their last confrontation, Plague City didn't have this many troops. What had happened in these few short months?

He had been deceived!

"Quick, form ranks! Don't panic! Don't be afraid..." General Guan was about to give commands when he saw Zhou Qichen charging towards him with a murderous look.

General Guan quickly shut his mouth, not daring to be distracted, and focused on engaging Zhou Qichen in combat.

As the two sides clashed, Zhou Qichen proved to be superior. He thrust his long spear directly into General Guan's shoulder!

"Squelch—"

General Guan let out a muffled groan of pain, his eyes quickly scanning the battlefield. His heart sank.

How could the imperial elite troops be losing to the Elder Princess's motley crew?

How was this possible!

What terrifying training method had Zhou Qichen used? How could it be so formidable!

This battle couldn't continue!

"Retreat! Fall back!"

"Zhou Qichen, you just wait! Next time, I'll have your head!" General Guan made a snap decision, turning his horse to flee, not forgetting to hurl threats at Zhou Qichen.

Seeing their leader fleeing, the imperial troops panicked, abandoning their armor and weapons as they ran for their lives.

"General Qin."

"So you've indeed been placed under guard. I told you this wasn't necessary, didn't I?"

"General Guan is a ruthless and vicious man. He will surely find an opportunity to harm you. Do you think you need me to ask the Elder Princess to rescue you?"

Gu Sang sat in a brightly lit room by the window, while Qin Vice General was confined in a tent under guard, waiting to be sent back to the capital for questioning.

Regarding General Qin's predicament, Gu Sang's face showed neither mockery nor sympathy, only an expressionless inquiry about whether he needed help.

Qin Vice General's face revealed a self-mocking expression.

He saw through it and said, "Last time when you and the Elder Princess let me return, you already knew this would happen, didn't you!"

"Any commander would be suspicious if they saw their subordinate captured by the enemy, only to be released without any conditions. They would definitely think there was a plot."

"In General Guan's eyes, from the moment I returned, I had already secretly pledged allegiance to the Elder Princess. I am a traitor to the imperial court."

Gu Sang shook her head and said with a sigh, "The Elder Princess absolutely doesn't think that way!"

"She admires you because when the late Emperor was alive, he once said you were both wise and brave, a good general capable of leading troops into battle."

"On one hand, the Elder Princess values talent, and on the other hand, although we serve different masters, we are ultimately all children of the Central Plains."

"No matter how the rulers fight among themselves, it has nothing to do with you officers and soldiers. You are innocent!"

Hearing these words, Qin Vice General was deeply moved, and a glimmer of confusion appeared in his eyes.

No matter how the rulers fight, the officers and soldiers below are innocent.

The Elder Princess, a woman, understood this principle.

But the current Emperor had blamed this defeat on him.

He despaired at this injustice, this corruption that permeated everything from top to bottom.

But he was powerless to change it, and could only despairingly accept the doctrine that if the ruler wants a subject to die, the subject must die.

"Enough."

Qin Vice General closed his eyes and laughed weakly, "Miss Gu, don't try to persuade me anymore. Even if I die unjustly, I will never change my allegiance."

Seeing Qin Vice General treat life and death so lightly.

Gu Sang hadn't expected Qin Vice General to possess such loyal integrity, which only strengthened her resolve to convince him.

She noticed the bitterness and sorrow deep in Qin Vice General's eyes.

After a brief moment of contemplation, she spoke slowly and deliberately: "Qin Vice General, I have just one question for you. When you've been campaigning east and west, those numerous times you've faced death on the battlefield, what was truly in your heart?"

"Is your real purpose for going to war simply to achieve glory and merit? Or is it out of loyalty to the Pei Family alone?"

"Search your conscience and tell me, what's your genuine motivation for preventing the Xiongnu from invading the Central Plains?"