Chapter 160: Bracing for battle, yet nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

The Jiangzhou City Prefect, face full of doubt, asked carefully, and a glint of cold light flashed in Sun Zhongquan's eyes.

"State affairs—how could a lowly prefect like you interfere? Take your men and get out, Your Highness!"

The Jiangzhou City Prefect trembled all over in fright, hurriedly rushed out and knelt on the ground.

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness; I'll immediately take my people and leave."

After kowtowing, the Jiangzhou City Prefect hastily fled the banquet hall, taking with him the dancers' attendants and servants, as well as other officials of Jiangzhou City, all of whom ran away.

The rest were those who had followed Sun Zhongquan from the capital; they looked at each other, wanting to speak but daring not to, only able to lower their heads and wait for Sun Zhongquan to speak.

"Lu Zhaoyuan and his hundred-thousand-strong army are gone, killed by a grandmaster—likely Shen Tianxing, whom Lu Zhaoyuan used to address in that way."

Sun Zhongquan said that expressionlessly; the generals who had followed him all turned grim, yet none dared to speak.

"Are you afraid? He should arrive at Jiangzhou City early tomorrow morning, aiming to eliminate me and my hundred-thousand army; dare you follow me to the death?"

Still no one spoke; they weren't fools. Shen Tianxing is a grandmaster who had easily wiped out a hundred-thousand army; no matter how strong they were, they could not defeat a grandmaster.

If they hadn't yet destroyed the hundred-thousand army, they might still have the courage to try, after all, even a grandmaster's strength can be exhausted.

First send the soldiers forward; at worst they all die, exhausting the grandmaster's strength before killing him—but since one person can already wipe out a hundred-thousand army, there's no difference.

Know that a grandmaster's might does not depend on your strength; in short, anyone below grandmaster level is like an ant, felled in a single move.

The only way those below grandmaster level can threaten a grandmaster is through numbers—specifically, by piling up lives to drain the grandmaster's internal force and stamina, then looking for a chance to kill him.

Of course, relying on the hundred-thousand army to kill an internal-force- and stamina-exhausted grandmaster is also impossible; they cannot break his defense, and only experts of eighth‑ninth grade stand a chance to slay a grandmaster in such circumstances.

"Your Highness, facing a grandmaster, who isn't afraid? Moreover, as you said, Shen Tianxing alone wiped out a hundred‑thousand army; what difference is there between fighting him and marching to our deaths?"

The one who stepped forward to speak was the old general Guo Yong, of eighth‑grade first‑layer strength, who had always followed Sun Zhongquan; only someone like him, an old veteran, would dare speak thus.

"That's true, but what choice do you have now? In tomorrow's battle, either let the army charge first, while all those of seventh grade and above follow me in the rear."

Whether we win or seize the opportunity depends on your abilities; you can still try to flee now, but remember—if I die, your families won't survive either.

Having come to this point, everyone knows there's no choice left; it's unrealistic to think escape will spare your families, so we can only fight.

"We will obey the Prince's orders and lay down our lives for him."

Sun Zhongquan then nodded in satisfaction, but did not let them leave; instead, he wanted to give them confidence.

"You need not worry overly; I have summoned all the assassins of the Black Shadow Tower, and I have also invited every ninth‑grade expert I can, plus the two grandmasters of our Great Zhou."

If they can all reach Shen Tianxing in time tomorrow, his death is certain. After all, with so many experts, a hundred‑thousand army holding the line, and two grandmasters, we are bound to win this battle.

Originally they indeed had little confidence, but hearing Sun Loyalty's words, everyone's confidence surged—though the clearer‑headed among them knew they were just fooling themselves.

The person who killed three grandmasters outside Humen Pass must be Shen Tianxing; if he can slay three grandmasters there, what use are two?

That night, few on Sun Zhongquan's side could sleep, while Shen Tianxing slept soundly—after keeping him busy for so long, he finally fell asleep holding Ru Yan.

Early the next morning, Shen Tianxing and Ru Yan had breakfast and set out for Jiangzhou, their destination being Jiangzhou City.

Sun Zhongquan also rose early to deploy troops; the army was stationed outside Jiangzhou City, and facing a single opponent there was no need to play at defending the city.

Everyone knows that today's battle is the final showdown to decide who will be the new emperor of Great Zhou; if Shen Tianxing wins, and wins alone, then all prefectures will surrender at once.

Even the civil and military officials in the capital would likely bring the young emperor's head to surrender.

Naturally, Shen Tianxing has already slain three grandmasters, so the grandmaster on Bu Yun Mountain will surely act again; whether Shen Tianxing can withstand it remains uncertain.

Everyone had been anxiously waiting, yet wishing time would pass more slowly; this contradictory mood made them feel especially tormented.

The Jiangzhou City Prefect kept wiping sweat there; he too wanted to flee, but since Sun Zhongquan didn't run, how could he have the courage to do so?

"You've worked hard; you must have been waiting a long time. Actually, it's unnecessary—if you had left, you wouldn't have died."

They waited until noon, when a languid voice drifted from afar, as if coming from the heavens; everyone looked up, and indeed two figures stood in the sky.

"How long has it been since we last met? You're a grandmaster now—or perhaps you always were? That so‑called Li Zhangsheng from back then was you."

Sun Zhongquan could guess that, and it wouldn't surprise Shen Tianxing; normally, it's impossible for someone starting at sixth‑seventh grade to reach grandmaster peak in such a short time.

"Your guess is correct, but unfortunately it's too late. Back then, not killing you wasn't because I didn't want your life—I just thought it would be more fun this way."

Sun Zhongquan's face fell grim; in fact, his reluctant compliance was merely a game played by Shen Tianxing from start to finish, in which he was nothing but a clown in Shen Tianxing's eyes. He was even foolish enough to let Shen Tianxing act as governor.

"In my life I have misjudged only two people: the deceased former emperor, and you. But it doesn't matter now—today either you die or I perish, and it's all the same."

"Your heroic‑to‑death pose is actually quite funny. I originally planned to take it slow, but you're in a hurry, so I won't waste time. After all, once I unify Great Zhou, there are still four other states to fight— for me it's just a way to pass the time."

Shen Tianxing's words left Sun Zhongquan stunned, but then he burst out laughing.

Haha... If anyone else said that, I'd call it foolish, but I believe what you say. Unfortunately I can't see it, but it doesn't matter—I will ultimately leave my mark in history.