Chapter 209

The reason Batu Mongke dispatched Ba Ya'er as deputy commander this time was precisely due to this political consideration.

Now it appears that Ba Ya'er is exceptionally capable and has fulfilled his expectations well.

Batu Mongke laughed and said to the people inside the tent:

This time, when Ba Ya'er returns, I intend to let him take command of the Kheshig army.

I, the Khan, am now old; in this lifetime I have no chance to lead you to restore the glory of our Great Yuan.

But fortunately Ba Ya'er has some talent; once he succeeds, he will surely lead you to achieve great deeds, contend with the Manchu Qing and Han Dynasty for the Central Plains, and revive the prestige of our Golden Clan!

Batu Mongke's words carried a sense of entrusting his legacy!

Everyone inside the tent felt a jolt, knowing that barring any mishap, Ba Ya'er was firmly the next Great Khan!

Ba Ya'er not only holds the title of heir apparent, but has also earned military merit and is about to take command of the Yuan's finest Kheshig forces—who else could the Khan be but him!

All present respectfully clasped their fists and said:

Khan, rest assured! We will surely follow in the heir's footsteps!

Batu Mongke nodded and said:

That's good! When Ba Ya'er returns, I will personally celebrate his victory...

Before his words finished, a report came from the guard outside the tent:

Report to the Khan! His Highness the Heir has returned, is outside the golden tent, and requests an audience!

The tent fell silent instantly!

The heir has returned at this time?

Batu Mongke frowned slightly and said:

I just sent a messenger back to report victory—how is he also returning now? Could it be that he captured Yu Lin Cheng and is returning to the court to report good news?

As deputy commander, not staying in the army but personally returning to report victory—this seems rather impatient!

Seeing Batu Mongke frown, the Right Chancellor Aru Tai said:

This must be the heir's filial devotion! He deliberately rushed back immediately to personally report the battle situation to the Khan!

The Left Chancellor Tuo Huan, his face flushed from drink, rose and laughed:

Khan! Please let the heir come in quickly! I also want to hear him say how his son slaughtered the Han Army until they lost control of their bowels!

Batu Mongke also didn't think much, nodded and said:

Let the heir come in!

Moments later, the tent flap was lifted.

Ba Ya'er entered with a somewhat strange expression, followed by two guards wearing sable caps and holding long spears.

Batu Mongke's expression grew slightly solemn, and he felt some doubt.

These two guards beside Ba Ya'er were strangers; he did not know them.

Moreover, how could Ba Ya'er arbitrarily bring people into the golden tent, even carrying weapons—this is utterly improper!

Could it be that he earned some merit at the front and has become arrogant due to favor?

Batu Mongke pointed at the two guards behind Ba Ya'er and asked, displeased:

Ba Ya'er, why aren't you at the front, arbitrarily returning to the court! Who are these two...

Before Batu Mongke could finish speaking, he froze, for he saw Ba Ya'er's eyes.

In those eyes there was no joy, pride, or elation after victory—only endless despair and fear, and a gloom as if his heart were dead ashes.

What is going on?

Ba Ya'er opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately only a single word burst from between his teeth:

"Father Khan! Surrender!"

At the moment Ba Ya'er spoke, Jia Jing behind him moved.

He had no idle chatter with the people in the tent, because he had no habit of wasting words on those about to die.

In that instant, Batu Mongke saw only a silver spear as thick as a child's arm shoot forth, breaking through the air.

The spear tip flashed cold light in the lamplight, aimed directly at Hui Shai; Jia Jing instantly recognized that this person present had the highest martial prowess.

And Hui Shai never expected that someone would suddenly emerge from behind the heir to attack him; he shouted angrily, grabbed the weapon of the guard behind him, and prepared to block.

But he was already drunk, and with Jia Jing's surprise attack, how could he possibly have a chance to block it?

The Bright Silver Dragon Gallbladder Spear surged like a bolt of lightning, a spear weighing over a hundred jin, propelled by immense power, came flying.

Only a 'bang!' was heard as Hui Shai was blown apart by the Bright Silver Spear.

His whole body exploded like fireworks into fragments, leaving only a mist of blood and a pile of broken bones and flesh where he stood.

Furthermore, after piercing Hui Shai, the force on the Bright Silver Spear had not yet spent; it slanted into the jade pillar supporting the top of the golden tent.

"Boom!"

A massive pillar, thick enough to be embraced by one person, shook violently, and a large crack split its body.

Then the entire golden tent was violently shaken by the tremendous force carried on the spear shaft.

A corner of the felt covering on the tent top fluttered down, cold wind rushed in, causing the candles inside to sway wildly.

The whole scene fell silent.

Batu Mongke, Tuo Huan, Aru Tai, and the others instantly sobered; the cold wind blowing into the tent made their bodies shudder violently.

One could not tell whether it was from cold or fright.

Each of them wore a look of bewilderment, standing dumbfounded, their minds blank!

What has happened? Where am I?

Suddenly, a person leapt out from behind Ba Ya'er and, with a single spear shot, killed Hui Shai!

And this happened inside the Khan's golden tent! He was blown apart outright!

What the hell is going on?

Could it be that the Crown Prince can't wait to seize power?

And how are the people brought by the Crown Prince so brave?

You should know that Huoshai is a renowned fierce general of the Northern Yuan, famed as the 'Grassland Tiger'!

He just died like that, unable to put up any resistance?

A hush fell over the golden tent, and everyone's minds were momentarily unable to react.

Jia Jing calmly drew the Bright Silver Dragon Gallbladder Spear from the pillar, its tip dragging a line of blood across the ground.

Jia Jing slammed the Bright Silver Dragon Gallbladder Spear into the ground with a muffled 'thud', the shaft sinking half a foot, standing firm at his side.

He then calmly unfastened his leather coat, revealing the Beast-faced Devouring Head Linked Armor beneath; the armor glowed with a cold light in the lamplight.

Jia Jing's gaze swept coldly over the people in the tent, his voice as harsh as a cold wind:

"No one may move recklessly; you have all been captured!"

Though his voice wasn't loud, each word seemed to strike the hearts of those in the tent, making them shiver again.

Tuohuan and Alutai were frightened by what had just happened, and for a moment they dared not speak.

Furthermore, the military officer Yibuchi was the first to react; from Jia Jing's Han attire and his Han Dynasty language he roughly understood the situation, and he shouted coldly:

"They're Han people! There's an assassin! Protect the Great Khan!"

Yibuchi is a Great General of the Northern Yuan, nine feet tall, tiger-backed and bear-waisted, having once killed a black bear barehanded.

At this moment his whole body trembled, not from fear but from anger.

Someone actually managed to fight their way straight to the royal court's golden tent, and it appears to be a Han.

He had just said that Han people were weak sheep to be bullied, yet this sheep turned around and bit them!

This is simply a tremendous disgrace!

Yibuchi looked at the corpse-less Huoshai, then at Zhu Que brandishing a spear and pressing toward Batu Mengke, his teeth grinding.

He took a deep breath and loudly said to the others:

"Cover the Great Khan and retreat first!"

Then Yibuchi let out a violent shout, snatched the sixty‑jin Flower‑patterned Great Axe from the guard behind him, and charged fiercely at Jia Jing.