Chapter 1211: Killing Xie Chao

Xie Chao was tempted.

Meng Zan also had no objections.

Of course, the primary reason was that time waits for no one.

Right now, every Feudatory King of the entire Longyan was eyeing Jinghua!

Their Youzhou Army had arrived first!

Therefore, they had the opportunity to take the lead!

Speaking from the heart.

Given the current situation in Longyan and the situation in Jinghua, which Feudatory King would not want to enter the city if they encountered such a situation? Who would not want to imitate the Dong Zhuo of the past and go in to stir things up?

Especially those who already had opinions about Liu Zheng and did not look favorably upon constitutional monarchy.

Sometimes, history is just like this; hesitate for one step, and they will lose the entire world.

Over these past few days, the loyalist troops of the various Feudatory Kings have already been on the road.

Especially since it was heard that the Prince of Yong from Hanzhong and the Prince of Jin from Jinzhou, although they had already sent the majority of their forces to reinforce the Northwest war front, still each brought out fifty thousand troops to rush toward Jinghua.

Therefore.

Two problems were placed before them.

One, they did not want to fight; to fight would be true rebellion.

Two, time did not allow them to hesitate.

Furthermore, the Tiger Tally was already in Xie Chao's hands, and the Jinghua garrison commander, Zhao Yan, had also been tied up by Yu Qian. The city's garrison officers were all under Xie Chao's command, and the two hundred thousand-strong army outside the city was also sleeping with their weapons, ready for battle; if Yu Qian had any ill intentions, he could be wiped out in an instant!

Logically speaking, they held the upper hand.

For a moment.

Xie Chao fell silent.

Naturally, his heart was surging with waves.

As of now, what was laid out before him.

On one side was a smooth official career and the prospect of rising to power. On the other was total destruction. As long as Yu Qian's brain wasn't flooded with water, he should know how to choose.

And even if one took a step back and assumed Yu Qian was truly playing a trick to capture Xie Chao, it would not matter; after all, the Zhao lands already had a Crown Prince, so trying to use this as leverage was completely meaningless.

A person capable of leading twenty thousand troops to hold off one hundred thousand Mongol soldiers would not fail to think of even this.

Besides...

Among the scholars of Longyan, who wasn't raised learning some Thick Black Theory?

To put it bluntly...

They were all fence-sitters!

It had always been heard that Longyan soldiers would face death as if returning home.

A scholar who loved his country so much he didn't care about his life? That, one had truly never heard of.

"Your Highness, it is feasible."

Meng Zan nodded and continued to incite him from the side.

With Meng Zan's nod, Xie Chao felt much more at ease.

"Good, then this King will only take one hundred personal guards into the city. Military Advisor, the main army is entrusted to you."

In the end, Xie Chao made his decision.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Meng Zan hurriedly replied.

Soon, Xie Chao selected one hundred elite and fierce soldiers; these men were naturally fully armed, and they all used Longyan's most advanced Weaponry and Equipment!

During this period, a trend of Special Forces had emerged in Longyan.

These one hundred men were Xie Chao's Special Forces!

"Move out!"

Xie Chao was in high spirits and waved his hand.

Seeing Jinghua right before his eyes, about to fall into his hands, with his great cause about to be achieved, no one's heart could remain calm.

Xie Chao, one hundred guards.

Just like that, following Yu Qian, they slowly headed toward Jinghua City.

Although there was worry, there was even more excitement; today, upon entering and stationing in Jinghua, he would become the actual master of Jinghua City, and then by controlling the Emperor and controlling the parliament, this Longyan would be his alone!

Recruiting and training troops, controlling the Northeast, and then uniting with Mongolia and Tsarist Russia—whatever Qingzhou Army or Liangzhou Army, he could turn them into dust in a matter of seconds!

Xie Chao was dreaming the beautiful dream of ascending the throne and becoming Emperor.

But at this moment, the Jinghua city walls and the hidden troops on the streets had already aimed their bows and arrows at him.

They held their breath, not daring to let out a single loud gasp.

Because everyone knew that there was only one chance!

Zhao Hui's eyes were also fixed tightly on Xie Chao's side, not daring to blink even once.

Zhao Yan was already on the verge of death...

They had sacrificed so much for Jinghua, sacrificed so much for Longyan...

They were just waiting for their final strike.

This strike had to be foolproof!

Walking over, bit by bit.

Wait a little longer...

Wait a little longer...

Zhao Hui calculated the distance.

Xie Chao and Yu Qian were chatting and laughing along the way. The latter was telling him about the situation inside Jinghua, while the former was dreaming his imperial dreams, promising Yu Qian high official positions and generous salaries.

"Move!"

After everyone had entered the city, Yu Qian gave the order directly!

Suddenly, hundreds of arrows were shot at Xie Chao's guard unit in unison, and the guard unit suffered heavy casualties in an instant. At this moment, the ambush troops hidden on both sides swarmed out, and almost instantly, they subdued Xie Chao.

Almost there...

Finally, it was almost time!

Zhao Hui's eyes finally deigned to blink once.

"Move!"

He gave the order.

In an instant, thousands of arrows came down like a blanket covering the sky and earth.

"Ah!"

The one hundred guards did not react at all and many died miserably on the spot.

And those who were lying in ambush at the city gate also rushed over at the first opportunity.

Zhao Hui led the team and soon surrounded Xie Chao in the middle.

At this, Xie Chao's expression changed drastically, and he shouted angrily: "Yu Qian, what do you want to do!"

"Your Highness, please trouble yourself to climb the city tower and order your Youzhou Army to withdraw to the Zhao lands. If you do so, I, Yu Qian, will ensure you are unharmed. Otherwise, if the city falls and people die, I, Yu Qian, do not mind going to the Yellow Springs together with Your Highness."

Yu Qian slowly retreated outside the encirclement and said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"You are playing me!"

Xie Chao's eyes were about to split; Yu Qian had actually deceived him!

However...

He also knew how many bows and arrows were aimed at him right now. As long as he moved an inch, it was very likely he would be pierced by ten thousand swords!

But...

It was also very difficult for him to issue orders to the great army behind him.

"Please, Your Highness, go up the tower!"

Yu Qian bowed.

"Yu Qian, have you lost your mind? If I enter the city and take power, you could become the Minister of the Ministry of War, or even enter the cabinet and be appointed Chancellor! What good does it do you to capture me? You have been a Junior Official for more than ten years, which shows you have no background. Even if you win the Jinghua Defense War and perform great military exploits, it will be very difficult for you to be accepted by the imperial court; at most, you will be promoted to a third-rank Vice Minister!"

Xie Chao said angrily.

"Moreover, you don't really think that controlling me will make everything go smoothly, do you? If I do not pass on a message within half an hour, the two hundred thousand troops outside the city will immediately attack. In no time, my Youzhou Army will break through the city and enter. By then, this King will make all of you pay the price for your stupid actions right now!"

Xie Chao was not intimidating everyone; everyone knew it in their hearts, so when they heard this, some soldiers looked at each other with some fear.

They were just ordinary soldiers; they did not have the same resolve as Yu Qian, and they did not want to die.

The Jinghua garrison began to waver, and seeing this, Xie Chao smiled.

"Soldiers of the Jinghua garrison, I know you were all coerced by this thief into doing such stupid things. Put down your weapons and I will ensure you do not die. Otherwise, when the great army enters the city, I will surely make you wish for death but be unable to die!"

"Bold rebel! You dare to be arrogant even after falling into our hands? Someone, take him up to the city tower!"

Zhao Hui said angrily.

He absolutely would not allow

the morale of the army to waver.

Zhao Hui still had some prestige among the garrison. Once this order was given, many soldiers stepped forward one after another.

"Bold! Look at what this is!"

Xie Chao's expression changed greatly, and he raised the Tiger Tally in his hand.

The Tiger Tally!

To the soldiers of ancient times, the Tiger Tally was the highest order!

At this moment.

The atmosphere at the scene changed again, and these soldiers did not dare to step forward one by one.

"Soldiers, capture the thief Yu Qian for me, and I, Mandarin, will reward you for your merits!"

Xie Chao was excited and began to make promises.

The soldiers were actually hesitating...

After all, for them, they were now at an absolute disadvantage, and the city could definitely not be held. If they really acted against Xie Chao, they would surely die when the city was breached.

And...

The Tiger Tally was still in Xie Chao's hands.

They obeyed the Tiger Tally; that was absolutely correct.

"What are you doing! Why aren't you moving yet!"

Yu Qian's expression changed as he urged them.

It was obvious that he had not anticipated the change in these people's emotions either.

"Hahaha, Officer Yu, it seems your soldiers don't listen to you. Tell me, you worked so hard to sell your life for Liu Zheng, what for? Just to be killed by me at this moment, and then become dust that doesn't even get a stroke of ink in the history books? The opportunity to leave a name for eternity was given to you, but unfortunately, you didn't grasp it."

Xie Chao said triumphantly.

"Hmph, surrendering to a rebel like you will only leave a bad name for ten thousand years!"

Yu Qian said with disdain.

"Officer Yu, that is where you are wrong. You keep saying 'rebel' this and 'rebel' that, but who is the real rebel? My Youzhou Army only came to provide aid to the King; we are wholeheartedly serving the country, but you deceived us into coming in and then tried to kill us. To treat a Feudatory King with such despicable and vicious methods, Officer Yu, it is you who are the one acting against the law!"

"Someone, take this rebel who has committed treason and rebellion!"

Xie Chao said loudly.

Zhao Hui was also anxious.

Success was right before their eyes, yet these soldiers were hesitating one by one?

However, this was also normal.

Human nature is just like this...

Jinghua has been in a state of high pressure for so long that no one can guarantee that everyone's mental state is stable.

Seeking advantages and avoiding harm is human nature.

At this moment, Xie Chao possessed absolute strength and held the Tiger Tally, so there was no reason for them not to obey orders; furthermore, whether or not Xie Chao was rebelling actually had little to do with them.

Once the Mongolian Army retreated, they would be heroes who protected their home and country; Xie Chao was also a Longyan, and a member of the Longyan imperial clan at that, so his entry into the capital was merely changing the person who sat as Emperor. By obeying Xie Chao's orders, they could live on as national heroes; if they did not obey his orders, they would be killed under the label of "rebels."

For them, this was simply a matter that required no choice.

Of course...

The most important thing was that Yu Qian was a scholar.

In this era, there existed a phenomenon of mutual contempt between soldiers and scholars.

Even though Yu Qian had led them to repel the Mongol Army, they still did not submit to Yu Qian's leadership in their hearts.

Amidst the hesitation.

The soldiers raised the blades in their hands, ready to take action against Yu Qian.

Yu Qian's expression changed drastically; the thing he feared most had happened after all.

"Take him for the Mandarin!"

Xie Chao laughed heartily.

The situation reversed once again.

Yu Qian narrowed his eyes slightly.

But there were still a few guards who were protecting him with their lives at this moment.

To break is to build; at this moment, he had to burn his bridges.

"The traitor ruins the country! Soldiers, the great mansion is about to collapse, you must not hesitate!"

Yu

Qian shouted, snatched a blade from the hand of a nearby soldier without hesitation, and slashed it toward the smug Xie Chao.

"You..."

Xie Chao's expression changed; he had never expected such a weak scholar to take action. He was caught off guard and was slashed across the face by Yu Qian.

He had thought of many situations, many countermeasures...

But he never imagined that he would die at the hands of this frail scholar!

However...

Yu Qian's movements were too fast.

No one had reacted in time, let alone the person involved, Xie Chao.

Fresh blood spurted out.

Xie Chao died on the spot.

The whole scene was in an uproar!

Many people were frightened.

"Lord Yu, what are you doing! If you kill him, none of us will survive!"

The soldiers were stunned; Yu Qian was trying to drag them down as cushions before he died!

"Soldiers, to eat the ruler's salary is to be loyal to the ruler's affairs. Do you really intend to hand over Jinghua City to the Rebel Army?" Yu Qian asked sternly.

"But... Prince Zhao has not rebelled."

"Not rebelled? A massive army of two hundred thousand with Battering Rams and Scaling Ladders—tell me, what is he trying to do?"

Yu Qian asked angrily.

"This..."

The soldiers stammered, not knowing what to say. Indeed, Xie Chao's intentions were as obvious as Sima Zhao's—everyone knew them; they were merely comforting themselves.

Zhao Hui was once again filled with admiration for this scholar, Yu Qian.

Decisive in killing!

This was a great talent!

Seizing the opportunity, he shouted: "Brothers, Xie Chao is dead. Further talk is useless; go up to the city walls and defend!"

"Go up to the city walls and defend!"

Only then did the people react. The recent pop-ups are severe; you may click to download to avoid pop-ups.