Chapter 422 Internal strife

Mu Xuan patiently explained, "Lord Zhao, Yanmen Pass is the most difficult pass for the Northern Rong to attack southward. Once breached, millions of our people will be ravaged and trampled upon by the Northern Rong, and their lives will be devastated. There is simply no way to save them!"

Zhao Xin heard this and shouted angrily, "Mu Xuan, you're just a mere captain. What right do you have to stop me from opening the city gates? I must get out of the way! Open the gates!"

However, no one moved.

The soldiers guarding the city all looked at Mu Xuan.

Zhao Xin was startled and looked at the soldiers around him before turning his gaze to Mu Xuan, staring at him with a sullen expression: "Mu Xuan! You...are you going to disobey orders, to rebel? Do you know that the one trapped in the enemy camp is the current Second Prince, the future..."

He didn't utter the word 'Crown Prince' out of fear that someone might have a hidden agenda. He coughed and continued, "Didn't you hear those Northern Rong thugs just now say that if Yanmen Pass isn't opened, His Royal Highness the Second Prince will be stabbed? If anything happens to His Royal Highness the Second Prince, any of you who dare to stop me from opening the gate will be beheaded!"

Mu Xuan looked at him sternly and said, "Master Zhao, I have just mentioned the importance of Yanmen Pass to Dayu. Today, let alone the Second Prince, even if it was the current Emperor who was captured..."

Mu Xuan was halfway through his speech when he realized something was wrong and abruptly evaded the question: "Even if it was someone else, there's no way they'd ask me to open the door!"

Seeing the determined expressions on the faces of Mu Xuan and the other soldiers defending the city, Zhao Xin felt a little uneasy for a moment, so he could only speak in a timid tone: "Mu Xuan, you are so bold! What you just said clearly means that if the current emperor was captured and trapped outside Yanmen Pass, you would never be able to open the gate, right? Isn't this clear evidence of your treason and intention to rebel? What are you still standing there for! Hurry and arrest this traitor who intends to rebel! Anyone who dares to disobey orders will be regarded as treason. When I return to the capital and report to the emperor, I will definitely punish you with the crime of exterminating all nine generations of your clan!"

After hearing this, everyone looked at each other in confusion.

However, the soldiers who came with Xiao Yuncong and Zhao Xin soon came to their senses, and a team of dozens of people surrounded Mu Xuan.

Seeing this, the original defenders of Yanmen Pass could not help but step forward and stop these people.

"My general... my captain is fighting for the country and the people of Dayu! I wonder who dares to arrest him today!"

"Well done! Mu Xuan! You instigated your own soldiers to resist capture and confront Dayu's army. Your wicked ambitions are evident! Today, I will execute you, the traitor..."

Zhao Xin shouted, but he was too timid to step forward. He only ordered his men, "What are you still standing there for! Go and kill that traitor Mu Xuan! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!"

In terms of numbers, the soldiers and generals who came with Xiao Yuncong and Zhao Xin naturally had an absolute advantage.

However, the soldiers who had been stationed at Yanmen Pass for many years were not bad either. Even after Zhao Xin issued a "killing order", they did not retreat, but just looked coldly at the people who surrounded them.

The situation suddenly became tense.

At this time, Mu Xuan said in a deep voice: "All of you retreat!"

"But General! You also heard that this Zhao man wants to kill you!" Centurion Li shouted unwillingly.

"Back off!" Mu Xuan shouted sternly, "With a hundred thousand Beirong troops approaching, we are facing a formidable enemy. How can we allow Dayu to engage in internal strife? Even if I die, you must defend the gates and never let a single Beirong thief set foot on Dayu's territory!"

"General!" everyone shouted in despair.

"Retreat! Military orders are as heavy as a mountain. Don't make me repeat the same order for the third time!" Mu Xuan scolded again.

Centurion Li and other soldiers were in a stalemate for a moment, but finally gave way reluctantly.

Zhao Xin was very pleased to see Mu Xuan's men compromise. Just as he was about to give an order, he heard a faint voice.

"If the general is slaughtered on the spot, who will take charge and insist on keeping the gates closed? Even the general's soldiers, if they are as uncompromising as the general, will be slaughtered like him. In that case, can the general rely on Lord Zhao, who advocated opening the gates, to guard the gates?"