Chapter 415: Betrayal
Lieutenant General Zhang was also quite skilled. After dodging a move, he immediately changed his tactics, and the dagger still went straight for Mu Xuan's throat!
At this moment, an inconspicuous city guard suddenly took advantage of the momentum of the rush, pulled out a dagger, and stabbed Mu Xuan in the back!
Mu Xuan had some idea about Lieutenant General Zhang, and he was able to dodge the front attack, but he was caught off guard by the sudden attack from the rear!
"General!" The others shouted desperately again, and some of the timid ones even closed their eyes.
In the blink of an eye, the other two soldiers defending the city attacked like lightning, and in an instant they stopped the killing moves of Lieutenant General Zhang and the attacking soldier, and then slapped the two men on the chest with their palms.
Lieutenant General Zhang and the sneak attacking soldier both uttered a "grunt" sound, spitting out blood. They were thrown several feet away and fell heavily on the city wall.
This sudden change happened so quickly that everyone on the city wall was stunned.
Mu Xuan was still in shock, but he was the first to calm down. He looked up at the two soldiers who had just saved his life. They were faces he had never seen before.
However, he didn't speak. Instead, he covered the wound on his arm and walked over to Lieutenant General Zhang and the attacker. He said sadly, "Zhang Rong, you've fought with me for over thirty years. We've been through thick and thin together, sharing life and death. Our bond is deeper than that of brothers and fathers. Why... do you choose to betray me?"
Lieutenant General Zhang was still spitting blood from his mouth. Upon hearing this, he gave a cruel grin and then spoke in a halting voice, "Why? General, even now... don't you understand?"
Mu Xuan understood this in his heart. Even he had been angry and wavered before, hadn't he?
However, he didn't say anything. Instead, he looked at Lieutenant General Zhang and waited for him to continue.
Lieutenant General Zhang clutched his chest and coughed painfully for a moment before speaking: "General, it is I who am stupid. No matter how hard I try, I don't understand. Emperor Dayu has always regarded you as a member of the Crown Prince's party just because you once guarded Yanmen Pass with the Crown Prince and defeated the Northern Rong Army. Even though the Crown Prince is dead, he is still wary of you and takes precautions against you. A few days ago, he even demoted you three levels, stripped you of your generalship, and gave you only the rank of a captain. He even sent Chen Asan, who is unlearned and has always been your enemy, and was once your subordinate, to be the garrison general of Datong Prefecture. This is simply a humiliation to you. How can you tolerate it? It's not just me. Ask all the soldiers stationed at Yanmen Pass. Who wouldn't feel sorry for you? You've suffered so much, why is you still so... stubborn?"
Mu Xuan smiled bitterly: "Stubborn..."
Lieutenant General Zhang couldn't help but laugh bitterly when he heard him repeat the word. He whispered, "Isn't that just stubborn? Even if the general doesn't care about his own future, he should at least consider the future of the general and other soldiers who have followed him for many years. The general has been demoted three levels, and with him, we, his subordinates, have also been demoted three levels. Our ranks are even lower than those of the new recruits who have only been in the army for a few years in other prefectures and counties. When Chen Asan arrives, the general will be a thorn in Chen Asan's side. How can that villain not make things difficult for the general and his soldiers? We brothers have guarded the border for decades. Even if we have no merit, we have worked hard. Why should we suffer such injustice and harsh treatment in vain? Why? Is the general willing to watch the brothers who have followed him through life and death be bullied?"
Mu Xuan felt sad.
He knew very well that what Lieutenant General Zhang said was the truth.
These brothers did follow me and were treated unfairly.
"Ugh!" Lieutenant General Zhang suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood, then continued with a bitter laugh, "I... I just can't accept it! What's wrong with the Northern Rong's proposal? As long as we open Yanmen Pass and welcome the Northern Rong army in, and when the Northern Rong takes control of the Central Plains and ascends the throne, we will be founding heroes, and will be crowned kings and marquises in the future, enjoying endless wealth and glory! Isn't that a thousand times, ten thousand times better than our current situation of being bullied and humiliated?!"
Mu Xuan's heart was filled with grief and desolation. He said, "Zhang Rong, do you know that once Yanmen Pass is opened, countless people in Dayu will die at the hands of the Northern Rong cavalry? Countless people will be displaced, and the entire Dayu will be devastated, with no peace for a single day..."
Lieutenant General Zhang chuckled and said, "General, you care about the people of the world. That's why you're willing to sacrifice your life for them, even if it means suffering so much injustice, even at the cost of your own daughter's life. But I... I'm just an ordinary man. We're all born of parents. Why should I endure such injustice and humiliation, yet still risk my life to protect the people of the bastard emperor...?"
Mu Xuan interrupted him, saying sadly, "Zhang Rong, do you still remember the oath you made when I rescued you from the village that had been burned, slaughtered, and looted by the Northern Rong bandits, and promised you that you would stay in the army as a soldier?"
Lieutenant General Zhang was stunned, and his eyes, which were originally gloomy, angry and defiant, were suddenly covered with a layer of mist.
From now on, I will kill all the Beirong thieves and avenge my parents and fellow villagers!
How could he forget?
However... this happened decades ago. He killed so many Beirong villains and it's time to avenge his parents and fellow villagers. What's wrong with him... thinking more about himself?
Mu Xuan continued softly, "If we surrender and open Yanmen Pass, have you ever thought about how many young people would suffer the same fate as you did back then, their families torn apart and their lives ruined?"
Is he as young as he was back then?
Those originally dim and blurry memories suddenly became vivid and clear as if they happened yesterday because of these few words.
He was tightly protected by his parents' bodies, and his ears were filled with flames, thick smoke, and the unpleasant smell of burning, including... the smell of burning flesh and bones. When he thought of what was burning with this smell, he vomited uncontrollably.
His consciousness was becoming increasingly blurred. His parents risked their lives to protect him, blocking the Northern Rong bandits' swords to prevent them from hurting him. However... he couldn't escape either, and was afraid... he would still die in this sea of fire.
This way... it's good, their family can at least die together, it's good...
Suddenly, a voice was heard: "Put out the fire quickly! There are still people alive here..."
Lieutenant General Zhang burst into tears.
He coughed painfully again, vomited blood, and said intermittently:
"General... cough cough... General, I... it was Dayu... it was Dayu who let us down. I... Beirong... Beirong promised that once we entered Yanmen Pass... cough cough... we would never... would never kill innocent people... Otherwise... otherwise I... would also..."
After all, he didn't finish his last sentence. His head tilted, but his eyes remained open and tears fell from his eyes. He didn't know whether it was regret or grievance.
Mu Xuan walked over, raised his hand and gently closed his eyes.
"I know... I know everything..."
If the Beirong had not agreed to enter Yanmen Pass, they would never have killed innocent people indiscriminately, and Zhang Rong might not have agreed to rebel.
But... the cruelty of war is that any promise made by anyone is worthless in the face of swords and blood.
"General..."
Li Baifu knelt down and said, "I am not wrong. I didn't realize that someone in my own team was secretly communicating with the Northern Rong and betraying you!"
What he was talking about was the soldier guarding the city who had just cooperated with Lieutenant General Zhang to assassinate Mu Xuan.
Mu Xuan waved his hand and said, "It's not your fault. Bury Deputy Zhang... Zhang Rong and this soldier together. Just say that the two of them were out on patrol and encountered stragglers from the Northern Rong army. They were defeated and died for their country..."
That was all he could do.
In this way, at least Zhang Rong and the soldier's family will not be implicated.
Then he stood up and announced, "No one is allowed to say a word about what happened tonight, or you will be punished by military law. Also, post a notice: Anyone who makes a mistake in the army will be forgiven, but if you still want to make a move, don't blame me for not considering our long-standing relationship!"
Centurion Li and others agreed.
Mu Xuan was about to say something to the two soldiers guarding the city who had just subdued Lieutenant General Zhang and the soldier and saved his life, but the Beirong soldier who was forgotten on the side began to panic when he saw Lieutenant General Zhang's conspiracy was exposed and killed, and spoke in a trembling voice.
His whole body was shaking like a shuttle, and there was no trace of his previous arrogance.
"Mu... General Mu, you... you really won't reconsider. That... that person under the city wall is your own daughter... Ah!"
Before he could finish his words, his eyes suddenly became dull and lifeless.
Mu Xuan drew the sword from his waist and slashed his neck with one blow!
The Beirong soldiers fell in a pool of blood.
The small group of Beirong soldiers who were holding the woman hostage at the foot of the city wall couldn't help but feel anxious after seeing that there had been no movement for a long time, no new signals from their companions on the city wall, and no signs of the gate of Yanmen Pass being opened.
Suddenly, the Dayu defenders on the city wall were on full alert, with arrows pointed at them.
"What's going on? Doesn't this old man Mu Xuan care about his daughter's life or death?" They cursed in a low voice in Beirong language.
However, before he could finish his words, countless arrows continued to fall from the sky like raindrops!
“Hmm!”
"ah!"
This small group of Northern Rong soldiers suffered heavy casualties in an instant.
They hurriedly retreated behind the bushes and rocks. When they looked up, they saw that the woman they were holding hostage had been shot to death. In a rage, they abandoned the body and ran away.
Mu Xuan saw the woman on the city wall was hit by several arrows and even her body was abandoned. He vomited blood in an instant.
If... that woman is indeed Qing'er, his daughter...
"Ying'er, I... I'm sorry..."
When the soldiers defending the city wall saw that the Northern Rong soldiers had abandoned the woman's body and retreated to a safe area, they all listened to the arrows and looked at Mu Xuan uncomfortably.
"General... the Northern Rong soldiers have retreated. Why not... send someone out to get the princess... and bring the woman's body back to the city... She's so far away, the woman might just look like the princess, but she's definitely not the princess..." Captain Li said in a low voice.
Mu Xuan raised his hand slightly and said in a deep voice: "Pass the order down. No matter what happens, the gate must not be opened! Pass my order. All the defenders inside the gate are to enter a state of combat readiness! And..."
Mu Xuan suddenly turned around and looked at the two soldiers guarding the city who had just saved his life. He said, "Capture these two!"
Centurion Li was stunned for a moment before he quickly responded, "Yes!"
Although he really didn't understand why the general wanted to capture his soldiers. Jiang Xiaoer and Li Xiaoqi were both very trustworthy. They had just bravely saved the general...
However, just as Captain Li approached Jiang Xiaoer, Jiang Xiaoer pulled and pushed him. Captain Li was involuntarily taken two steps back and fell to the ground!
"Ouch! Jiang Xiaoer, you dare to resist..." Centurion Li was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly realized, "You... are not Jiang Xiaoer!"
Jiang Xiaoer's skills are not as good as his, so it is impossible for him to push him to the ground!
Jiang Xiaoer suddenly said, "General Mu, may I have a word with you?"
Mu Xuan looked at the two of them, pondered for a moment, and nodded.
Since these two people were willing to rescue him at the critical moment just now, they are definitely not spies from the Northern Rong.
But his intentions were puzzling. With war between the two countries imminent, he absolutely could not allow such a variable to remain in the army!
After the three of them entered the secret room, Mu Xuan spoke: "You two are both very skilled. Now is the time to reveal your true identities, right? And please tell me the truth about your coming to my army, disguising yourself as one of my soldiers, and your attempt to save my life!"
The two men looked at each other before removing the disguises from their faces.
Mu Xuan looked at them, his expression showing a frown of vigilance, then confusion, and finally shock and astonishment!
Li Xiaoqi threw away the human skin mask he had removed and smiled faintly, "I haven't seen you for a long time. General Mu is still upright and honest, and he cares about the people. This is very comforting to me."
Mu Xuan's lips trembled as he stared at Li Xiaoqi in amazement. After a long time, he stammered out a complete sentence.
"Your Highness? But... Your Highness has already..."
Xiao Yunshuo nodded slightly, not shy about it, and said with a smile: "If I am already dead, could it be that General Mu has seen a ghost now?"
These two people are naturally Xiao Yunshuo and Yuan Xu.
They traveled to Yanmen Pass overnight and sneaked into the garrison of Yanmen Pass. The reason they did not reveal their identities immediately was mainly to observe and test Mu Xuan's choice.
If he intends to rebel and surrender to the Northern Rong, then even if we can stop him from rebelling today, I'm afraid he will have other ideas in the future.
Xiao Yunshuo admitted that what he did had somewhat hurt the feelings of his loyal ministers.
It's just that people's hearts are fickle. As the crown prince of Dayu and the future emperor, he has to always doubt people's hearts and must never trust them too much.
As soon as these words were spoken, Mu Xuan suddenly fell to his knees and kowtowed, saying, "Your Highness... I, the veteran... kowtow to Your Highness! May Your Highness live a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"
Xiao Yunshuo hurriedly helped Mu Xuan up and said with a smile, "General Mu, please stand up quickly."
Mu Xuan stood up tremblingly, his eyes already filled with tears, and said in a trembling voice: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is still alive. It is truly a blessing for us, and the people of Dayu!"
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