Chapter 437: Melee

The entire crowd was shocked.

Without a single exception.

Especially Shama Zhuoyi and Naibao Rize; the two of them had thought that a violent conflict might occur at today's Duge Grand Gathering. But they had always believed that the initiative for such a conflict lay in their own hands. How could they have imagined that at this moment, the ones who could not wait were actually Huobu Quli and Aluba.

A trial!

And one pointed directly at their opium!

How did they dare?

Shama Zhuoyi had controlled Liangshan for many years and had always been overbearing; how could he tolerate others encroaching upon him? His face turned livid instantly, and he gritted his teeth: "Huobu Quli, what is the meaning of this?"

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became tense and ready for battle.

The group supporting Shama Zhuoyi acted as if facing a formidable enemy, drawing their blades to confront the others.

This turn of events...

Instead, it was the Liangshan commoners at the scene who were left dumbfounded. Hundreds of thousands of people were stunned simultaneously. They were a bit confused about the current situation. Today was the Torch Festival, the Duge Grand Gathering; how did a conflict suddenly break out?

Especially the group from the Zhongkujiao Tribe, who had just been following the crowd in shouting for the Son of the Black Dragon.

At this moment, whom should they support?

On one side was the newly risen faith of Liangshan...

On the other side was the Headman of their own tribe...

They were somewhat bewildered.

The brief confusion of these people made Shama Zhuoyi furious, and he roared: "What are you all thinking? Others are about to drive us out of Liangshan, what are you still waiting for? Drive this charlatan out for me! Liangshan does not need the Alu Clan! This is all the trickery of this Longyan person, don't believe it, everyone!"

Prompted by him, the people of the Zhongkujiao Tribe finally took out their weapons one by one and gathered around him.

The festive atmosphere of the Torch Festival instantly turned into one of swords drawn and bows bent.

Only then did Liu Zheng walk out slowly, holding the enfeoffment document. He gave a cold laugh and said loudly: "The Alu Clan, as the Zimo of Liangshan, is enfeoffed and protected by the Longyan imperial court! Shama Zhuoyi, for destroying the Alu Clan and driving them out of Liangshan, is guilty of a Great Evil. Colluding with Nanzhao, using Bone-Eating Poison as Divine Medicine, bewitching the people, and poisoning the subjects—the crimes are even more severe! He shall be executed!"

Once these words were spoken, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

The people of Liangshan had an innate sense of fear and submission toward the Longyan imperial court. If Aluba's trial did not count for much, then this official verdict from the imperial court was something no one dared to resist!

"Is this true?"

"That Divine Medicine is actually Bone-Eating Poison?"

"This..."

Many people looked at each other, discussing it in hushed tones.

"You're spouting nonsense..."

Shama Zhuoyi was enraged.

Huobu Quli shouted: "Take Shama Zhuoyi down for interrogation!"

How could Shama Zhuoyi submit without a fight? He leaped onto his horse and shouted: "The Liangshan of today is still governed by my tribe; how dare you?"

With a wave of his hand, the people of the Zhongkujiao Tribe behind him began to prepare for battle.

Huobu Quli gave a cold laugh: "Shama, the young and strong of your tribe have already been ruined by you; how many are left who can actually fight?"

After saying this, he looked at Naibao Rize, who had been silent beside Shama Zhuoyi: "Leader of the Horse Gang, is that what I should call you? No need to wait for your reinforcements... they have already been trapped in Butuo!"

"What?"

Naibao Rize's expression changed drastically for the first time.

At the same time.

The battle at the scene was on the verge of breaking out. The first to act were naturally the Warriors under Huobu Quli, who had been waiting in full battle gear for today's fight. Their goal was very clear: the two sinners of Liangshan, Shama Zhuoyi and Naibao Rize.

In an instant, the scene of the Torch Festival collapsed.

Following Huobu Quli's order, countless arrows flew in from all directions, targeting the Zhongkujiao Tribe!

The commoners participating in the Torch Festival ran away in a panic. But at the same time, many young and strong men picked up weapons on the spot, chose their side, and directly participated in the struggle.

It was chaotic.

The scene turned chaotic in an instant.

What made Shama Zhuoyi collapse was that he had thought he had absolute control over the Liangshan region by relying on opium. However, now... it seemed that more and more people were standing on the side of the Son of the Black Dragon, the descendant of the Zimo, Aluba. After Liu Zheng came to Liangshan, his series of actions had finally managed to control the hearts of most of the people in Liangshan through faith—this was normal. Under the slave society system of Liangshan, it should be said that ninety-nine percent of the people were not involved in any conflicts of interest at all... They were born as laborers, a situation actually more similar to that of India in later generations.

These people at the bottom were willing to accept their lowly status.

But...

This was because of faith.

Once faith began to collapse and rebuild, they would not care about the power struggles or the dirty dealings of these Headmen.

Whoever dared to offend their god, they would surely fight for their lives!

At this moment, coupled with the verdict from the Longyan officials, there were already quite a few people standing up to resist Shama Zhuoyi.

This was a real war.

A war taking place at Qionghai; hundreds of thousands of people, excluding the elderly and women, as long as they were the young and strong present, and even some underage children, all participated in it. In the Liangshan region, everyone was a soldier; they picked up tools and started fighting.

Some supported Shama Zhuoyi, some supported the Alu Clan.

A melee had thus begun.

Bows and arrows, Javelins, Curved Sabers, and Daggers filled the not-so-large space of Qionghai at this moment.

This was the first time Liu Zheng had seen such an intense melee.

In this kind of war, there seemed to be no strategy to speak of. The martial power of an individual or a tribe could easily determine the direction of the battle.

Sure enough.

The Zhongkujiao Tribe led by Shama Zhuoyi had very strong combat power at the beginning. They almost managed to control the situation at Qionghai with a crushing momentum. During this time, facing the fierce warriors under the influence of the Zhongkujiao's Divine Medicine, some people in Liangshan felt hesitation and doubt in their hearts.

Some smaller tribes even began to turn against them on the spot.

This left Liu Zheng somewhat unable to laugh or cry.

A rabble is, after all, just a rabble.

It thoroughly highlighted their duplicitous nature.

Fortunately.

At this moment, the Liangzhou Army, having long been itching for action, finally made their move.

In terms of numbers, the fifty thousand Liangzhou Army soldiers could not compare to these hundreds of thousands at all; yet in reality, the moment they appeared, they displayed a crushing superiority in Weaponry and Equipment, as well as in tactical formations.

The combat characteristic of the Liangzhou Army is that ten men can form a squad, a hundred men a company, a thousand men a formation, and ten thousand men a regiment.

Regardless of size, they are all combat units.

How could this group of Liangshan People, a mere rabble, compare to such a combat force?

The fifty thousand men appearing here were like a massive beast of war, and the pressure they exerted caused even a brief stagnation among the Liangshan People who were engaged in the chaotic melee.

"Is this the Liangzhou Army?"

Huobu Quli, standing beside Liu Zheng, gave a self-deprecating smile.

At this moment, he finally understood why Liu Zheng had always been so full of confidence.

With an army like this, where could they go that they wouldn't crush everything in their path?

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

The fifty thousand soldiers of the Liangzhou Army, who had been touring the mountains and waters while waiting at their ease for over a month, let out a fierce shout that shook the mountains and wilderness!

Shama Zhuoyi and the others immediately turned pale with fright.