Fang Heng and Jiang Chengyuan led their blood-soaked army to the city gate, where they stopped in their tracks.
Someone raised a torch, and the surroundings became as bright as day.
The fleeing Tartars and the murderous soldiers of Dayu met each other at this moment.
The numbers on both sides and the state of the battle were no longer shrouded in darkness, but became a transparent bargaining chip.
"The Tartars are truly determined to take the Guan-Jin line; they've even mustered another 100,000 troops." Jiang Yi said, his face still filled with lingering fear. "Luckily, we laid an ambush beforehand, causing some of their men to be lost; otherwise, if they had really charged in, it would have been disastrous."
In fact, the Dayu army numbered over 100,000, but they lacked horses, which would put them at a disadvantage in a real battle.
Even the pursuit only reached the doorway before stopping—the Tartars were merely startled by the ambush; their actual fighting strength remained, and the horses on the grasslands ensured they could attack or defend as needed.
Revealing the numbers of both sides is more like a psychological warfare tactic, a blatant demonstration of power.
"You...you ambushed us!" Prince Anda was indeed both shocked and furious. "Hypocritical and ugly Dayu people!"
If we're really talking about ugliness, malicious retaliation, attacks on other people's homes, and harm to innocent lives, then the Tartars should be ranked at the top.
Jiang Chengyuan and Fang Heng were too lazy to waste their breath on this matter, and turned their attention to the two people beside the Third Prince.
No matter how one defectes to the enemy or betrays their country, their race and bloodline cannot be changed.
As fellow "ugly people of Chongqing," what should Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan do?
After the Third Prince of Anda blurted out his name, he also noticed the two of them. However, with the previous defeat in the attack on the Guan Jin line and the subsequent ambush in the night raid, the array diagram that he regarded as a treasure had not been of much use, so he couldn't help but feel angry.
"That's just how you people from Chongqing are. When you can't beat us, you always resort to weird and unorthodox methods," he roared. "Can't you just fight fair and square?"
Zhu Changyu's lips trembled, but he didn't speak.
Fang Yuan turned his head to look at him, "Third Prince, is a night raid some kind of honorable means?"
The Third Prince of Anda was speechless. His advisor, standing beside him, fanned the flames, saying, "You people of Dayu are truly wicked. Perhaps today's losses were part of your scheme, something you tricked and harmed."
“Yes, yes, we sent you to launch a night raid on the Guanjin line.” Fang Yuan said impatiently, “and we also chose the Guanjin line.”
The strategist was equally speechless.
After the two handed over the Fang family's formation diagram, they did not offer any instructions due to a lack of trust.
The Guan Jin route was chosen by the Third Prince of Anda, and the night raid on Guan Jin was devised by the strategists. In the end, Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan were only informed.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore," the Third Prince stepped in to smooth things over. "Let's face the ugly and despicable people of Dayu first."
The night raid failed, and they were ambushed. Even if the Tartars still had fighting power, their morale had been crushed.
The fact that the other party stood silently under the city gate made the Third Prince of Anda even more suspicious that the cunning and hateful Dayu people might have some hidden tricks up their sleeves.
For example, a new ambush, or reinforcements.
"People of Da Yu!" he called out in a raised voice, "You dared to ambush and kill my compatriots! I swear you will pay with your lives!"
This is a common tactic used to boost morale; after a few exchanges, the two sides are very likely to start fighting again.
But to everyone's surprise, the two young players completely ignored them and kept staring straight at Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan.
That gaze was filled with scrutiny, reproach, incomprehension, and resentment.
Almost instantly, Zhu Changyu's face burned, turning an intense red.
Looking at Fang Yuan, he too was dressed in a colorful array of colors, looking completely lost and helpless.
When a person betrays someone out of spite, they vow to live like a human being.
When you witness the tragic state of your compatriots, your conscience will seep out from the cracks in your bones, constantly tormenting your heart.
From day to night, from night to dawn.
Countless soldiers who had died tragically lay prostrate before him, calling out and questioning, "Why...why?"
"Why?" This time, the voice was no longer a figment of his imagination, but rather Fang Heng's full voice. "Second Prince, why?"
"Why betray your country and your home? Why harm innocent people? Why become the enemy's executioner? Why abandon your conscience?"
"Tell me, why?"
“Because this country has treated me badly.” Zhu Changyu finally raised his head, his features still vaguely resembling those of an emperor. “Because everyone has treated me badly, because of injustice, because I want to live a life worthy of being called human.”
"The imperial family has treated you badly, Consort Ju has treated you badly, the harem has treated you badly. You can hold a grudge, you can seize power, you can commit treason, but what have the soldiers on the frontier done to you? What have the innocent people done to offend you? Why do you betray the country? Why do you turn around and harm your own people!" Fang Heng shouted back sharply. "No matter how many people treat you badly, you still grew up eating the food of this country, didn't you?"
yes……
but……
Zhu Changyu clenched his fists, seemingly trying to convince himself or others. "My life has been shrouded in darkness, I have never seen any light. I want the right to pluck the sun from the sky, no matter what means I have to do."
Seizing power is a means, and so is betrayal.
Ultimately, their goal is simply to gain absolute power and absolute respect.
Fang Heng was silent for a moment, "They say you shouldn't advise others to be kind if you haven't experienced their suffering. You weren't lucky enough to meet Jiang Sheng either. But Your Highness, you said your life has no light at all. Is that really true?"
"Empress Yan, who was so self-centered, still helped you drive away the eunuch. Jiang Sheng, who was so easily schemed against, was still willing to take you to the clinic."
"And that Crown Prince who still thinks about you to this day..."
His voice trailed off, and Jiang Chengyuan took over loudly, “Second Prince, no matter what, it is not a reason to betray the country. You have betrayed the country that gave you birth and raised you, and you have also betrayed your race and your very being. Wouldn’t it be better to be a carefree and wealthy prince? Why did you have to go this far?”
“Become a wealthy prince? How could that be?” Zhu Changyu laughed. “I am a traitor. I killed my two brothers and indirectly caused the deaths of the First Prince and Consort Ju. Who would spare me? Who would let me become a wealthy prince?”
From the day they decided to seize power, they had no way out.
To the soldiers of the Dayu Dynasty, the two men were traitors and rebels.
For Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan, they were merely using some less-than-honorable means to achieve their goals and save their own lives.
The two sides have different positions, so their emotions and opinions will naturally differ.
Perhaps the people of Dayu are now resentful and may curse, but as long as they stand at the pinnacle and hold the lives of the historians in their hands, history will naturally be written by the victors.
This was Zhu Changyu's final act of perseverance, and the key to his inner strength remaining steadfast despite the impact of the war.
Jiang Chengyuan sighed and remained silent.
Fang Heng laughed at this moment, "Second Prince...who said that treason can only be punished by beheading?"
"Have you ever thought about why the imperial family insisted on passing the throne to His Highness the Crown Prince, and not one of the other princes?"
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