Chapter 528: Seeking Hope Again
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
He was signaling to Chiliarch Yang that Qin Silong had condemned him to death.
“Qin Silong, how dare you!”
Despite his extreme fluster, Chiliarch Yang maintained a defiant tone, believing he had a powerful supporter.
Qin Silong, however, brandished a sharp knife. “Do you think I dare?”
His words left no room for doubt. There was nothing he wouldn’t dare to do.
Just as the other three chiliarchs were poised to intercede, Qin Silong gave them a cold glance. “It’s futile no matter who pleads!”
“You all witnessed it. He’s undermining us. This battle is now deemed unwinnable!”
“If we spare such an individual, how can we rejuvenate our morale?”
With a nod, he signaled the two men to lift Chiliarch Yang. Swiftly, Qin Silong severed Chiliarch Yang’s carotid artery with lightning speed.
Chiliarch Yang, in his desperate state, didn’t even have time to scream before succumbing to death.
The two men laid Chiliarch Yang on the ground.
A profound silence enveloped the surrounding soldiers.
They now grasped the harsh reality of this battle.
Initially brimming with confidence, they perceived themselves as a disciplined army facing a disorganized adversary. Their absolute advantage had been reinforced by assurances from higher-ups, promising promotions for those who performed well.
However, before reaching the entrance of Three Flowers County, hushed conversations had already begun among the soldiers.
In Three Flowers County, a formidable force of over 15,000 armed troops awaited. The odds were stark—only 5,000 of them were regular troops, and the prospects of survival seemed grim.
Whispers circulated about numerous traps at the county entrance, making it a fortress easy to defend but challenging to assail. Those contemplating an assault were warned that returning might become an unattainable feat.
Speculation also veered toward a conspiracy against Qin Silong and Su Ping. As the second brother of Primus Su and Qin Silong’s brother-in-law, they were seemingly implicated by Primus Su’s clash with the Public House, leading to his demotion to Shanglin Prefecture. Offending the Public House meant inevitable doom for Primus Su’s family, making the killing of Qin Silong and Su Ping the initial steps in this sinister plot.
With Qin Silong refraining from ordering an immediate attack, rumors gained traction, suggesting that the tales of traps were valid. Some presumed Qin Silong’s reluctance to attack stemmed from a desire to prolong everyone’s lives or because he was strategizing.
During the initial assault, Su Ping was chosen as the vanguard, marking him as the primary target. Many knew that Deputy General Lin and Chiliarch Yang were affiliated with Old General Cheng and the Public House. Following Deputy General Lin’s demise, Chiliarch Yang sought to blame Su Ping, intending to make him a scapegoat.
However, Qin Silong, displaying his dominance, swiftly dispatched Chiliarch Yang. Witnessing the deadly confrontation confirmed the unsettling rumors. As soldiers grappled with the knowledge that disobedience to military orders could lead to inevitable death in the battles against Qin and Chiliarch Su, their spirits waned, and happiness seemed elusive.
However, Qin Silong’s ensuing words injected a renewed sense of hope among the soldiers.
“I’m aware that in recent days, rumors have been circulating within our ranks, suggesting that our 5,000 regular troops are destined for defeat against their
15,000 armed forces.”
“Some even claim this is a conspiracy against me and Chiliarch Su. They say that Old General Chen views us as a threat and seeks to exploit this situation to eliminate Chiliarch Su and me.”
“Let me make this unequivocally clear—these are all baseless rumors!” “There’s no factual basis to these claims!”
“Despite our numerical disadvantage with only 5,000 regular troops, remember, these are not just any troops. These are elite forces meticulously trained for combat.’
“Many among them can stand against ten opponents single-handedly, and at the very least, they can handle two with ease..”
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