When Li Can heard that Zhou Xiang wanted to use Hou Jing's head as a sacrifice, his heart trembled. He hurriedly walked up to Zhou Xiang, whose face was full of anger.
"Your Highness, although Hou Jing was wrong, isn't it too cruel to use human heads as a sacrifice for the flag?"
Zhou Xiang snorted coldly, "Hou Jing dared to try to defect to Chen Zhennan last night, and now he has betrayed us. Why should I show him any mercy? The fate of a traitor is to be beheaded him as a sacrifice to the flag. This is the most benevolent and righteous thing I can do!"
Li Can felt a chill, as if pierced by Zhou Xiang's sharp gaze. Then, he thought of his past relationship with Hou Jing, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.
Just as he was about to try to persuade him again, Zhou Xiang saw right through him: "Li Can, do you also want to rebel?"
This question struck Li Can like a heavy hammer, leaving him speechless and his face bitter.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent, and a soldier rushed in, looking flustered and panting: "Your Majesty, in the middle of the night, all the lords were summoned by Chen Zhennan, but no one knows what they talked about."
"What?"
Zhou Xiang was furious, like an enraged lion, exuding a sense of oppression.
His face instantly turned grim, his fists clenched, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Summon all the lords to my camp!"
"yes!"
The soldier turned and left the tent to summon the various lords.
However, as time passed, Zhou Xiang's anger intensified, and the area outside the tent was quiet, as if even the air had frozen.
"Damn it! These so-called feudal lords dare to ignore me!" Zhou Xiang gritted his teeth, his voice low and thunderous.
The fact that these feudal lords didn't come already showed their attitude; Chen Zhennan must have said something to them last night.
"Li Can, order the three armies to rest immediately and attack Qingzhou City right after noon!"
Li Can frowned slightly. Zhou Xiang was clearly enraged. Ordering an attack on Qingzhou City at this moment was no different from courting death.
"Your Highness, the attitudes of the various lords are unclear. If they remain inactive, our army of over 200,000 may be completely annihilated."
Upon hearing Li Can's words, Zhou Xiang's face immediately turned cold, and he narrowed his eyes as he looked at him.
"Completely wiped out? My more than 200,000 troops have all fought their way up from Lingnan. How could they all be wiped out? Li Can, if you still have any fear of battle, then you can go to your grave with Hou Jing!"
Upon hearing Zhou Xiang's words, Li Can nodded slightly in agreement, then turned and silently walked out of the tent.
As Li Can stepped outside, he looked at the soldiers who hadn't rested all night and were in a daze, and a feeling of pity suddenly rose in his heart.
Zhou Xiang is unaware of the gravity of the situation. He doesn't even know how many defenders are in Qingzhou City. If he launches a rash attack, defeat is inevitable.
With a heavy heart, Li Can ordered the army to take a break and prepare for the next attack.
After giving the order, Li Can walked alone to the middle of the military camp, where there was a execution platform. Hou Jing was tied to a wooden frame and covered in blood.
Hou Jing groaned in pain, and only when he caught sight of Li Can approaching out of the corner of his eye did he lift his incredibly heavy head.
"Brother Li, are you here to kill me?"
Hou Jing's voice was filled with despair, but the smile on his face was very relaxed, as if it carried a sense of relief.
Li Can slowly walked up to him, reached out and took the water bottle from his waist, and fed Hou Jing some water.
"I'm not here to kill you, I'm here to save you."
Hou Jing coughed lightly twice, looking at Li Can with some confusion.
"Save me? How can you save me? Don't you want to live? I know I'm going to die, but you still have a chance to live."
As he spoke, Hou Jing looked around warily for a while, and only when he found that there was no one else around did he feel relieved.
"Brother Li, go find the commander. Following Zhou Xiang will surely lead to your death. You must have heard about what happened on the mountain last night. Zhou Xiang has no chance of winning. He's just courting death."
Upon hearing this, Li Can hurriedly reached out and covered Hou Jing's mouth, staring at him with a cold frown.
"You don't need to say anything, I know everything that happened last night. Just wait here quietly for a while, and I'll take you away."
"You're taking me away? What do you mean?" Hou Jing asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Of course I'm taking you to the commander-in-chief. Today, Zhou Xiang either dies or escapes; defeat is inevitable. However, he wants to use your head as a sacrifice for his flag. Brother Hou, you can't die here."
After saying that, Li Can slowly turned and left, leaving Hou Jing standing there with a bitter smile.
About half an hour later, Li Can, accompanied by five soldiers and a prison cart, slowly drove towards Xingtai.
"Put Hou Jing in a prison cart, transport him to the front of the army, and behead him at noon as a sacrifice to the flag!"
Two soldiers rushed forward and carefully untied the ropes binding Hou Jing. Hou Jing's face was pale, and his eyes flickered with complex emotions.
He was slowly helped into the prison van. Li Can walked to the side of the van and said in a low voice, "Brother Hou, don't worry. These five brothers know you well. We will get you out safely."
Li Can waved his hand slightly, and five soldiers drove the prison cart slowly toward the front of the army.
As Zhou Xiang's vanguard, Li Can naturally had no one dare to stop him along the way.
However, just as they were about to reach the front lines, suddenly, a troop of cavalry blocked their path like a dark cloud pressing down on the city. The cavalrymen's armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, like sharp blades, inspiring fear in all who saw them.
"Who dares to stop me!"
The cavalry slowly parted to make way, and Zhou Xiang, his face filled with murderous intent, rode out slowly, like a ferocious beast poised to pounce, sending chills down everyone's spine.
"Li Can, where are you taking Hou Jing?" Zhou Xiang's voice was deep, his eyes flashing with undisguised killing intent.
Li Can was nervous, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he tried to remain calm and make his voice sound as calm as possible.
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