Who will be the MVP of the match in Chapter 85's Big Melee?
That's really quite outrageous.
How could a eunuch possibly imagine sitting in that position? At least Zheng He never thought of it, and even Zhao Gao, who called a deer a horse, wouldn't dare to harbor such ambition.
“You really are…” Zheng He pointed at Wei Zhongxian, before he could finish speaking.
"Outrageous and treasonous?"
Wei Zhongxian casually interrupted, knowing Zheng He would say something like this: "Lord Sanbao, when you said that, did you ever consider that those descendants of the Zhu family were born superior to others? In what way are they better than me, harming the people and being inhumane in their official duties?"
But who decided that Wei Zhongxian could only be a lowly eunuch, without even the slightest fantasy? Why?
Those princes and nobles talked about the divine right of kings, and the common people were fooled into thinking they were idiots. Take Zhu Dianyan, the Prince of Yi during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, for example. He abducted women from the common people and brought them into his mansion for his own pleasure. When the victims' families complained, they were tortured instead.
It was common for the princes of the Zhu family to abduct women, forcibly seize women, abuse servants, and levy exorbitant taxes. These were all the deeds of these princes and nobles. None of them were humane.
In what way is he more noble than Wei Zhongxian?
Wei Zhongxian put his hands behind his back, a benevolent expression on his face. His face was not yet used to such an expression, and the falseness in his eyes made him seem even more conflicted.
He had just donned the noble robes and hadn't yet adapted to the constant preaching of benevolence and morality, but this didn't stop him from condescendingly instructing Zheng He.
Zheng He wasn't fooled by Wei Zhongxian's words. He stared at Wei Zhongxian for a moment, then said, "You...aren't you also harming the people? What? You think you're a bodhisattva just because you protected the people once?"
Nobility and baseness are antonyms, but for most people, nobility and baseness coexist in their lives.
However, Wei Zhongxian was not like that.
He was often base, rarely noble.
If Zheng He hadn't pointed it out, Wei Zhongxian would have almost forgotten his indiscriminate killing of innocent people, forced labor, and literary inquisitions. Ah, there's no need to bring up the past again.
A prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold.
“Lord Sanbao, you have your broad road, and I have my narrow path. We…” Wei Zhongxian straightened his python robe, “and will not interfere with each other.”
He also needs to protect innocent civilians who might be implicated.
—
For the armies of various dynasties, a few thousand men were nothing more than practice.
Huo Qubing's ring-pommel sword drew a silver arc in the moonlight, and wherever it passed, the bandits fell like waves of wheat. Within a three-zhang radius of him, no one dared to approach—not because they didn't want to, but because they couldn't.
"Useless!" The young general sneered, the tip of his blade lifting a rolling head. "With this little skill, you dare to besiege a city?"
Blood dripped down the patterns on his silver armor, forming a crimson circle at his feet. Several bandit leaders in the distance trembled, their hands barely able to grip their machetes. They finally understood the true nature of the being they had provoked.
"Qubing! Leave a few alive!" Wei Qing's shout came from behind.
Huo Qubing curled his lip, then with a flick of his blade, used the back of the saber to knock out the last enemy soldier. He shook the blood off his blade and turned to look behind him—
Li Shimin drew his bow and nocked an arrow; three arrows pierced the air, pinning three bandit leaders who were trying to escape to a tree. Bai Qi's Qin army phalanx advanced like a meat grinder, leaving only severed limbs in its wake. Zhu Di's musket squad fired volleys in succession, and enemies fell in droves amidst the smoke and fire...
This is a battle whose outcome has already been decided.
"Boring," Huo Qubing muttered, then his eyes lit up.
In the shadows of the city wall, Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, while Meng Tian gripped his sword in one hand, vigilantly observing their surroundings. A glint of fighting spirit flashed in the young general's eyes: "This is getting interesting..."
Of all the generals in Songyang County, only Meng Tian ignited Huo Qubing's fighting spirit.
Huo Qubing sat on his horse, his ring-pommel sword pointing diagonally at the ground, blood dripping from its tip. He squinted at Meng Tian opposite him—wearing black armor and a dark cloak, a bronze sword at his waist, and a dark gate behind him.
"You're Meng Tian?" The young general raised his chin. "I heard you defeated the Xiongnu and kept them from invading south for ten years?"
Meng Tian's gaze swept over Huo Qubing's blood-stained silver armor, then glanced at the piles of enemy corpses in the distance, and nodded slightly: "You're not bad either."
The general who achieved the feat of sealing the wolf's lair and residing in the Xu state deserves praise.
Huo Qubing suddenly sheathed his sword: "Shall we have a match?"
Meng Tian raised an eyebrow: "How do we compare?"
"Simple!" The young general pointed to the fleeing remnants of the army in the distance. "Whoever captures the enemy commander first wins!"
Before anyone could answer, Huo Qubing had already spurred his horse and charged out. Meng Tian shook his head and chuckled, not forgetting to turn to Ying Zheng for instructions. Ying Zheng naturally agreed; they couldn't let the Han generals outdo them.
Meng Tian casually mounted a warhorse, lifted his waist, and gave chase. The sound of the horse's hooves stirred up a cloud of dust, but because it was late at night, it was like a veil over the hero, hazy and indistinct, creating a very artistic atmosphere.
Ying Zheng and Liu Che, who were watching the battle, narrowed their eyes at the same time: The Great Qin and Great Han will surely win!
King Zhaoxiang of Qin remained silent, narrowing his aged yet sharp eyes as he sized up the tall and imposing Ying Zheng before him—his brows were sharp as knives, and his entire being exuded an undeniable imperial aura.
"You..." King Zhaoxiang's voice was hoarse, his fingertips trembling slightly, "...unified the six kingdoms."
Ying Zheng calmly returned the gaze, his eyes unfathomable, and nodded slightly.
Seeing Ying Zheng nod, King Zhaoxiang of Qin couldn't help but smile: "Good! Good! My Great Qin has finally achieved this day!"
Ying Ji's life has been worthwhile.
Seeing this, Liu Che, dressed in the uniform of a soldier, couldn't help but imitate King Zhaoxiang of Qin's expression, his face scrunched up like a dumpling to be kneaded. He didn't want to be so sarcastic.
Why was Qin Shi Huang able to meet his great-grandfather?
He also missed his father very much, and wished his father could come.
After imitating for a while, no one paid attention to him, and Liu Che gradually got bored. But to be honest, Qin law was harsh and not as fair as the laws of the Han Dynasty. Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng was just so-so.
As the sun rose, the number of people on the battlefield dwindled. Those who were once alive became corpses, their blood gradually drying up. The outcome of the war was already decided.
Wang Laohu huddled behind the crowd. He wanted to go back. As long as he could escape back, he would have countless treasures and a life of wealth. He just wanted to go back.
unexpectedly.
"drive!"
A clear shout boomed like thunder. The young general leaped over the fleeing enemy soldiers, his chestnut horse's hooves nearly grazing the heads of the fleeing men. Huo Qubing twirled his ring-pommel sword, the back of the blade striking down three enemy soldiers blocking his path in quick succession, his movements fluid and graceful. Sunlight danced on his gleaming armor, making the breastplate on his chest shine like stars.
Wang Laohu's fat jiggled, and he turned to plunge into the chaotic army. But Huo Qubing suddenly leaped from his horse, lightly touching the shoulders of the fleeing soldiers with his toes, and pounced like a hawk. His black cloak fluttered in the morning breeze, like a soaring eagle spreading its wings.
"Bang!"
A powerful kick landed squarely on Wang Laohu's back, sending him sprawling into the mud like a tattered sack. Before he could even struggle to his feet, a cold blade pressed against his Adam's apple. The young general tossed a rope in front of him, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Tie him up." Huo Qubing's voice carried the cold hardness honed by the winds and sands of the frontier. He looked down at the trembling bandit leader with disdain in his eyes—such an opponent was someone whose sheath would be too dirty to be tied up by him himself.
When Meng Tian arrived on horseback with his personal guards, he saw the young general dragging Wang Laohu away like a dead dog by a rope. Meng Tian burst into laughter, his eyes filled with admiration: "A formidable young man indeed!"
Anyway, he won.
Huo Qubing waved his hand without turning his head, and Wang Laohu, at the other end of the rope, was dragged along, staggering. This fellow was quite clever; he not only tied himself up like a dumpling, but also tied a knot.
He's quite well-behaved.
The young general's mind was already on the system shop. The 50,000 coins offered by Magistrate Jiang were beckoning him. How should he spend this windfall? The "Chasing Wind" brand motorcycle he had seen last time reappeared in his mind: the shiny black metal shell, the gleaming brass horn, and the pedals that could send sparks flying...
Motorcycle, motorcycle, motorcycle.
Thinking of this, Huo Qubing unconsciously quickened his pace. He could almost hear the roar of the accelerator and see himself riding his iron horse across the battlefield—what Xiongnu cavalry could be faster than his "Wind Chaser"? He could easily make a sharp turn to shake off his pursuers, and then unleash a volley of arrows like a string of candied hawthorns. If anyone asked to borrow it, he'd only let his uncle ride it for a bit...
"General, spare my life!" Wang Laohu's pig-like howl interrupted his reverie. Huo Qubing frowned and tightened his grip on the rope, thinking that he would definitely try using a motorcycle to tow prisoners in the future, which would surely be much less strenuous than this.
Huo Qubing already considered the reward for the best team to be his for the Han Dynasty.
Who else but the Han Dynasty?
Django stood on the city wall, the cold wind carrying gunpowder smoke brushing against her temples. She looked down at the generals who were gathering below the city—Huo Qubing was dragging the bound and gagged Wang Laohu toward the city gate, Meng Tian was directing his soldiers to clear the battlefield, and further away, Zhuge Liang's troops were escorting batches of prisoners.
it's all over.
Jiang Yuanshan was pinned against the city wall by two Imperial Guards. His robes were filthy, his hair disheveled, and his face covered in dust and dried blood. He stared intently at the scene below, a hoarse gasp escaping his throat—it was all over. He had only intended to intimidate Jiang Ge, to force him to submit, but how had things turned out this way? The bandits, the outlaws, even the government troops who had infiltrated, were all bloodthirsty, and no one obeyed his orders.
Once a war begins, it is no longer under anyone's control.
At first, Jiang Yuanshan didn't care. Songyang County was sparsely populated, so even if there were many casualties, they would be limited. But who could have imagined that the war would spread so quickly? Bandits lured refugees, government troops took the opportunity to loot, and even unknown forces infiltrated the area... By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.
Now, he can't go back.
It wasn't just because of the defeat, but also because—almost all of the thousands of soldiers he had contacted had been wiped out. The Crown Prince wouldn't let him off the hook.
Treason? Negligence?
Or is it simply stupidity?
Either of these reasons would be enough to warrant the execution of his entire family.
"Jiang Ge!" Jiang Yuanshan suddenly struggled, blood seeping from his cracked lips, his voice sounding like it was being ground from gravel, "This is rebellion! Do you know what you're doing?!"
This sentence...
Jiang Ge closed his eyes slightly, a cold smile appearing on his lips.
--rebel?
She had heard those words countless times tonight.
From the moment the bandits besieged the city, from the moment the first rocket was fired at the city gate, from the moment she launched her counterattack...
"Rebellion?" Jiang Ge slowly turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Jiang Yuanshan. "Father, tell me, who exactly is rebelling?"
Jiang Yuanshan opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
If it weren't for Jiang Yuanshan, Jiang Ge wouldn't have caused such a commotion; if it weren't for these bandits, Jiang Ge would have just stayed put.
They survived until the city's infrastructure was completed.
“Isn’t this an invasion by bandits?” Jiang Ge turned around and smiled slightly, raising his eyebrows. “I was just doing my duty and eliminating a scourge for the people.”
She waved her hand, signaling the Imperial Guards to place Jiang Yuanshan under house arrest.
When the Imperial Guards grabbed Jiang Yuanshan, the eldest prince's men finally broke down and shouted, "Do you think the eldest prince will believe this? Do you think the officials of the court will believe this?!"
“They will believe it.” Jiang Ge smoothed out the wrinkles in his sleeves and turned to shout down to the city gate, “Thank you all for your hard work.”
The morning breeze carried the stench of blood, and also her final whisper: "After all, the dead...are the best at keeping secrets."
Unfortunately, Jiang Yuanshan only caught the gist of those words, but the Jinyiwei, who had been practicing martial arts for many years and had sharp ears and eyes, heard them clearly. Could it be that he was going to kill his father?
In his agitated state, he dared not show any strong emotions.
After all, before they came, Wei Zhongxian had told them not to be surprised by anything they heard or saw. Since they had chosen to be dogs, they should recognize their master.
Don't bark randomly.
After tidying herself up, Jiang Ge watched from the city wall all night. She had to admit that it was truly spectacular. Whether it was Huo Qubing's direct attack, Bai Qi's brilliant military strategy, or Li Shimin's unparalleled bravery, their actions could all be described in two words: beautiful!
So beautiful.
It was pure violent aesthetics; the blood and every movement seemed to possess a strange rhythm, with swords and blades flying like shadows.
Django lightly tapped the mottled bricks of the city wall with her fingertips, her gaze sweeping over the various heroes resting below. The evening breeze, carrying wisps of gunpowder smoke, brushed against her temples, bringing with it the distant, boisterous laughter of soldiers, which even roused Django's curiosity.
Which team will be the MVP?
Several teams were resting and regrouping below the city walls.
Bai Qi led the elite Qin army in a formidable array, their black battle banners fluttering in the twilight. The heavily armored warriors stood silently, each armor plate still stained with undried blood. They needed no commotion; their mere presence was enough to evoke the infamous reputation of the "Butcher of Men."
Not far away, Ying Zheng's imperial guards were polishing their weapons. The golden armor shimmered in the torchlight, but the most eye-catching figure was the emperor standing with his hands behind his back—even just standing there quietly, he exuded an aura of dominance over the world.
A hearty laugh echoed from afar. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing stood side by side, the young general still holding his specially made ring-pommel sword, several new nicks appearing on the back of the blade. Beside them, Han soldiers were passing around the spoils of war, occasionally bursting into cheers.
Suddenly, the sound of orderly hooves echoed from the east. Li Shimin's Xuanjia Army was returning in formation, their gleaming armor gleaming coldly in the setting sun. The young emperor at the head held a lance, his battle robe still stained with undried blood, yet it couldn't conceal the heroic spirit in his brows. Beside him, Yuchi Jingde was laughing heartily and patting Cheng Yaojin on the shoulder, clearly extremely satisfied with today's victory.
“Magistrate Jiang, please look over there!” Wei Zhongxian suddenly exclaimed.
Zhu Di's iron cavalry was returning in orderly steps. These warriors were all burly and imposing, their halberds gleaming coldly in the twilight. Zhu Di, at the head of the cavalry, wore a red battle robe, and the sword hanging at his waist swayed gently with the gait of his warhorse, the jewels inlaid on its scabbard gleaming in the firelight.
A melodious zither tune drifted from afar. Zhou Yu was playing the zither in front of a makeshift tent. His Jiangdong soldiers were either sitting or standing around him, some wiping their spears, others tidying their quivers.
In a quiet corner, Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, deep in thought as he gazed at the battlefield. Though the number of Shu soldiers beside him was small, each of them possessed a gleam of wisdom in their eyes.
"Which team do you think is the best, Magistrate Jiang?" Wei Zhongxian's effeminate voice rang out again.
Django's gaze swept over the legendary armies. She saw Li Shimin personally bandaging the wounds of his soldiers, Zhu Di inspecting the horseshoes of his warhorses, Zhou Yu's zither music soothing the weary troops, and Zhuge Liang handling the aftermath...
“They are all heroes of our time,” Django finally chuckled, “but as for the best player of the game…”
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Author's Note: [Melted][Melted][Melted][Melted] So anxious, please add this to your favorites! [Laughing]
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