The army marched through the mountains and wilderness.
Le Ye and Pan Ning followed behind the wicked husband, looking at his imposing back, their expressions hesitant and unsure of what to say.
The two hesitated for a long time without saying a word, while the wicked husband seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.
"You two should just say what you want to say, why be so girly?"
The two men exchanged a glance, and Yue Ye said, "General, isn't this punishment a bit too harsh?"
The wicked man smirked, "Do you know why the Qin army is known as the Tiger and Wolf Army?"
"Strict military discipline, orders must be obeyed!"
"Regardless of right or wrong, follow military orders!"
"I used the lives of Koreans to hone them, but how did they repay me?"
The question made the two of them realize something.
No wonder the wicked man, who hadn't ordered a massacre in a long time, suddenly ordered such a brutal and heinous act.
So it turns out... it was just about cultivating the temperament of the soldiers who surrendered to Wei!
"Commander, we have learned a great deal." The two said in unison.
The wicked man nodded slightly, then revealed a bitter smile and said, "This move... will surely subject me to a great deal of impeachment and public condemnation, and may even implicate the King."
"Upon returning to court, I fear I will have to apologize with a bundle of thorns on my back."
These words made Le Ye and Pan Ning feel even more guilty.
"General, we have failed to live up to your expectations," Yue Ye said respectfully.
Pan Ning nodded in agreement: "Yes, General...we...we..."
The wicked man waved his hand, a resolute glint in his eyes: "No need for further words. Now that I've made my decision, I won't regret it. But remember this: a merciful ruler cannot command an army, and a righteous man cannot manage finances!"
Le Ye and Pan Ning exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with respect and determination. They knew that the wicked man bore a burden far greater than they had imagined.
"Alright, let's hurry on our way. Also, send someone to spread the news of my massacre of Yiyang City, and strive to annihilate Han's main force in one battle."
"Yes, we obey..."
......
Xinzheng.
"Your Majesty, allow me to go and meet the enemy!"
"The Qin state has already destroyed the Wei state, and it will certainly not let our Han state go."
General Bao Yuan of the State of Han stared intently at King An of Han, his heart filled with disdain for his indecisiveness.
As a trusted minister of the late king, Bao Yuan was well aware of the precarious situation of the State of Han, and he understood the ambitions and strength of the State of Qin better than King An of Han.
The Qin army's iron hooves have already trampled the Wei state, and the next target is undoubtedly the Han state. If the Han state does not take decisive measures, then the same fate awaits them as the Wei state.
King Han An looked troubled. Although he understood Bao Yuan's loyalty and ability and knew that he was not exaggerating, he was filled with fear of war deep down.
He has only been on the throne for a short time. If war breaks out, South Korea will face enormous losses, its people will be displaced, and the country will descend into chaos.
If he wins, his prestige will soar; but if he loses... then South Korea may cease to exist.
He dares not gamble!
"General Baoyuan, do you know how many lives will be lost in the Han state once war breaks out?" King Han An's voice trembled slightly.
Bao Yuan took a deep breath. He knew that King Han An's concerns were not unfounded, but he was even more aware that surrendering without a fight would only make the future of Han more tragic.
"Your Majesty, war is indeed cruel, but if we surrender without a fight, the future of Han will be even more unimaginable. I am willing to lead the troops into battle and vow to defend Han to the death. Even if we fight to the last man, we will never let the Qin army set foot in Xinzheng."
King Han An fell silent, and all the officials' eyes were on him. Now, only King Han An could decide the fate of the country.
After a long while, King Han An finally nodded; he knew this was the only option. He stood up and looked at Bao Yuan with unwavering determination.
"General Baoyuan, I place all my hopes on you. Go ahead and do your best, and you will surely make the flag of Korea stand tall in the storm."
Bao Yuan bowed deeply and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the situation is urgent. I will mobilize the entire nation's forces to intercept the Qin army, leaving 100,000 men to guard Xinzheng."
"If possible... please, Your Majesty, send someone to the State of Chu to request aid!"
"Although there are frictions and mutual defenses between the State of Han and the State of Chu, trade is also well-developed. If the State of Chu sits idly by and cuts off trade with the State of Han... it will also severely damage them!"
Upon hearing this, King An of Han's eyes flashed with excitement, as if he had grasped at a lifeline.
Nowadays, the State of Zhao is definitely not a reliable option, and even if we could rely on its envoys, they wouldn't be able to enter Zhao. Only the State of Chu is a very convenient option.
As for the State of Qi, he didn't even consider it!
The State of Qi was far from the State of Qin, and the two states were related by marriage. This was evident in the last coalition against Qin, where Qi was the only state that did not participate, except for the target, Qin.
"Henglian, would you be willing to go to Chu to seek help?" King Han An turned his gaze to a middle-aged minister. This man was eloquent and adept at social maneuvering, making him the perfect choice for the mission.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"
Henglian walked to the center of the hall and knelt down, saying in a deep voice, "I am a Han citizen. How can I sit idly by and watch my country fall into ruin? Even if the Chu Kingdom takes my life, I will still ask to come and support you."
These words deeply moved King Han. He quickly rose and stepped down from the high platform, personally helping Henglian up. He then patted Bao Yuan on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "With a minister like you, what more could I ask for?"
"Whether the State of Han can defeat the Qin army... depends on the two of you!"
"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in my duty," Henglian replied firmly, her eyes gleaming with unyielding spirit.
King Han An nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.
Only Bao Yuan remained silent. He cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and walked out of the hall with firm and powerful steps.
"Your Majesty, if I am defeated, you...you should try your best to find a place to settle down and make a living!"
Bao Yuan walked to the entrance of the main hall, paused, and uttered a rather heavy sentence.
South Korea was the weakest of the seven kingdoms. If it weren't for its reputation for manufacturing military equipment, it would probably have been annexed long ago, not to mention its lack of talent.
Looking across the Korean court, he was the only military general who could be considered capable!
On the other hand, Qin, setting aside the recently rising young villain and wicked butcher, whether it was Meng Ao, the yet-to-be-discovered Wang Jian, or veteran generals like Huan Yi, did not have the confidence to win a battle.
This battle... is likely to be very difficult!
......
"Commander, there's something I'm not sure if I should say!"
On the march, Li Balang suddenly blurted out this sentence.
The wicked husband laughed and scolded, "You've been with me for so long, why have you suddenly become so reserved? Just say what you want to say."
Li Balang stroked his beard and said in a low voice, "The State of Han will surely seek help from the State of Chu. Why don't you, Commander-in-Chief, send a message to the King and request an imperial edict to order General Wang Jian to lead the army eastward to intercept the State of Chu?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
