Chapter 35

Ahui Nan's defection became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

When the news came that the Wumeng tribe's troops had turned around and were charging straight at the Tang army's main camp to "surrender," Mo Zhenian sank completely into despair.

He knew he was finished.

The Seventy-Two Caves Alliance had completely collapsed.

Those small tribes that had originally been wavering, under the double blow of the Luodian tribe being slaughtered and the Wumeng tribe's defection, fled faster than rabbits; overnight, the entire allied camp was left more than half empty.

Only a few thousand troops from his own unit remained, and a few tribes whose relationships were the most Iron Control, death‑loyal tribes, together totaling no more than ten thousand or so.

Opposite them were tens of thousands of wolf‑like, tiger‑vicious Tang troops under Zhang Jianzhi, and, having just "changed sides," eager to show loyalty to their new master, ten thousand elite Wumeng troops of Ahui Nan.

"Your Majesty! We're surrounded! The Tang army and that traitor Ahui Nan are closing in from east and west!"

The panicked report of the personal guards woke Mo Zhenian from his stupor.

He rushed out of the grand tent and saw, in the distance, banners fluttering and dust flying across the hills and plains.

One side bore a large flag embroidered with the character "Tang," its military bearing magnificent, its momentum like a rainbow.

The other side was the Wumeng tribe's wolf-head flag, equally bristling with killing intent.

Once allies, they had now become the deadliest enemy.

"Ahui Nan! I curse your ancestors!" Mo Zhenian, his eyes nearly bursting with rage, spat out a mouthful of blood.

He didn't understand how, despite clearly holding the advantages of timing, terrain, and harmony, he had step by step walked into this desperate situation.

He didn't know that, before his rebellion, Wang Jin had already submitted a memorial to the emperor on how to treat these natives, and after the rebellion, each of his steps was also in Wang Jin's calculations—after all, who wouldn't work out the process from the answer?

Moreover, the harmony he thought he had was as fragile as paper before greater interests.

"Your Majesty, we… we should break out!" a trusted leader said, trembling, "As long as the green hills remain, we need not worry about lack of firewood."

"Break out?" Mo Zhenian gave a bitter laugh, "Where to break out? In the whole southwest, is there still any place for us to hide?"

He knew that from the moment he raised his troops, there was no turning back; if successful, he could still negotiate terms with the Tang Dynasty, but if he failed, others might be spared, yet he, the leader, would surely be purged.

"Brothers!" Mo Zhenian drew the saber at his waist and let out his final roar, "The Tang people bully us too much! Ahui Nan betrayed trust and abandoned righteousness! Let's fight them to the death! Even if we die, we'll take a few down with us!"

The remaining rebel forces, in desperation, unleashed their final ferocity.

They abandoned their camp and, taking the initiative, launched a death‑defying charge against the relatively weak Wumeng troop formation.

In their view, even if they died, they had to first chop down that traitor!

The battle erupted instantly.

Cries of slaughter, clashes of weapons, and death‑filled screams echoed throughout the valley.

Ahui Nan never expected Mo Zhenian to go so berserk, recklessly coming to fight him to the death.

Although his troops were also elite, facing these red‑eyed desperadoes, they were momentarily beaten back again and again.

On the distant hillside, Zhang Jianzhi sat on his horse before the formation, watching this horrific scene, his brows furrowed.

"Your Lordship, should we send out troops?" Deputy Commander Li Duozo asked from the side.

Zhang Jianzhi glanced at the calm‑composed young man beside him.

Envoy Wang Ce, what do you think?

Wang Jin's gaze calmly rested on the battlefield below, as if he were watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

"Not yet, Your Lordship." His voice bore no ripple, "Let them fight a while longer. For the Tang Dynasty, barbarians fighting each other is beneficial and harmless."

Zhang Jianzhi, hearing this, gave Wang Jin a deep look.

This young man, hard‑hearted and ruthless in his methods, made even this old general, who had spent decades rolling in seas of corpses and blood, feel a little uneasy.

Zhang Jianzhi fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

He knew Wang Jin was right. From the Tang Dynasty's standpoint, this was the optimal solution, even if it lacked righteousness.

The fighting below had already entered the white‑hot stage.

Although Mo Zhenian's troops feared no death, they were ultimately outnumbered; after the Wumeng tribe suffered heavy casualties, they gradually could not hold on.

Mo Zhenian himself, amidst the melee, was tightly entangled by several of Ahui Nan's personal guards.

"Mo Zhenian! Your cause is lost—surrender!" Ahui Nan shouted at him under the protection of his personal guards.

"Pah! Ahui Nan, you treacherous, oath‑breaking villain! Even as a ghost I won't let you go!" Mo Zhenian, raving mad, swung his saber, cut down a guard, and lunged straight at Ahui Nan.

Ahui Nan's face changed; he hadn't expected him to be so brave.

At this critical moment.

"Whoosh—"

A feathered arrow, whistling through the air, shot swiftly from the distant Tang army's ranks and pierced Mo Zhenian's throat with precision.

Mo Zhenian's body stiffened abruptly; he covered his neck in disbelief, and the last sparkle in his eyes quickly faded.

"Plop," this rebel leader who had stirred up the entire southwest collapsed unwillingly to the ground.

On the hillside, Wang Jin slowly lowered the bow in his hand.

Zhang Jianzhi and the people around him stared at him in shock.

They never expected that this seemingly frail strategy envoy would possess such archery skill!

"The moment has come." Wang Jin rubbed his nose, breaking the silence, "Your Lordship, you may give the order."

Under Wang Xiu's control, Wang Jin's various qualities were no worse than those of veteran soldiers; besides, archery was originally one of the six arts of a gentleman, and Wang Jin had some foundation—of course, what he had just aimed at was actually the person behind Mo Zhenian—one of the guards besieging Mo Zhenian.

Zhang Jianzhi came to his senses, looking down at the rebel forces thrown into chaos by the death of their commander, and likewise at the Wumeng tribe, equally suffering heavy losses and with disordered formations.

He raised his command flag high.

"All troops, advance! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

"Kill—"

The Tang army, long poised to strike, surged down like a fierce tiger from the mountain, letting out a heaven‑shaking battle cry as it swept into the valley.

The situation was settled.

The rest was merely a harvest without any suspense.

Wang Xiu manipulated Wang Jin, gazing at the grand battlefield before him, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

He knew that from this moment on, the name Wang Jin would no longer be that of a mere logistics officer.

He would be the foremost meritorious official in pacifying the Southwest rebellion!

The game interface before him also went crazy, popping up prompts.

【Ding! Achievement "Pacifying the Yaozhou Rebellion" unlocked!】

【Family prestige greatly increased! Current prestige: 80/100 (Southwest-shaking)】

【Family influence greatly increased! Current influence: 35/100 (showing promise)】

【Family assets: specific numbers being tallied……】

【70】【Congratulations! You successfully quelled a war capable of shaking the foundations of the state at minimal cost; your strategy and tactics have already caught the attention of the highest echelons of the court. Your life is about to embark on a new chapter!】

Congratulations! You have successfully quelled a war capable of shaking the foundations of the state at the smallest cost, and your strategy and tactics have already drawn the attention of the highest echelons of the court. Your life is about to embark on a new chapter!