I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 654 The Yellow Emperor's Demise! Paying Homage to the Emperor!

With the words "It is time to die, it is time to die," the warlord who single-handedly shook the more than two-thousand-year-old empire of the Dayong Ji clan perished, swallowing his last breath on earth.

This happened too fast and too suddenly.

It happened so fast that everyone was caught off guard.

Even Zhang Ji and Zhang Zong, whose cultivation had reached the pinnacle of human skill, were no exception.

He stood there, dazed and confused, embracing his elder brother's corpse, frozen on the city wall of Guangzong.

Meanwhile, at the foot of Guangzong City, Han Shao, who had just "sent off" Zhang Xian with a few words, also looked wistful.

In a sense, Zhang Xian was indeed a respectable idealist.

Unfortunately, they ultimately had different stances and paths, so even though his ultimate goal overlapped to some extent with Zhang Xian's, the two could not walk the same path and work together.

Looking at Guangzong City, which was covered with Yellow Heaven Banners, Han Shao sighed.

The so-called struggle over principles has always been like this.

It's a fight to the death; only one can survive.

"Siege!"

……

Throughout history, when great eras arrive, all pioneers seem unable to escape the destiny of leading the way for kings.

The fate of Guangzong City was actually sealed the moment the Great Teacher Zhang Xian fell.

The siege began.

The defensive formation that Zhang Ji had painstakingly built was instantly destroyed as if it were made of paper, with a single flick of Han Shao's finger.

The ensuing roar of the massive cannons caused every earthquake to be an extreme devastation for Guangzong City.

In just over half an hour, a corner of the southern part of the city was destroyed.

Just as countless Yellow Heavenly Mad Believers surged forth, trying to seal the breach with their own flesh and blood, a volcanic lava burst forth from the ground, capable of annihilating everything.

In almost an instant, countless Huang Tian Kuangxins were turned into ashes.

As it turned out, the Zhenliao Army, which had been besieging the city for days, had seemingly done nothing, but in reality, they had already secretly dug a tunnel leading directly to the city wall and successfully set up lava formations at key points.

Terrifying subterranean fires are raging.

As crimson lava erupted and flowed, the seemingly indestructible city walls melted like wax.

In just a short while, the entire city of Guangzong was transformed into an endless inferno.

Just as the powerful Huang Tiandao cultivators in the city successfully broke through the lava formation with their great magic and supernatural abilities, a black dragon head emerged from the clouds in the void and then spat out an extreme cold current that froze everything.

In an instant, the world changed from extreme heat to extreme cold.

Snow even fell, turning the Guangzong City below into a city of ice and snow in the sweltering summer heat.

Especially those frozen, terrifying lava rocks, after rapidly cooling, now displayed a dazzling array of iridescent colors under the intense sunlight.

Unfortunately, none of the Huangtian Army soldiers in Guangzong City had time to appreciate this magnificent sight.

They huddled together, barely clinging to life in the extreme cold, when they soon noticed the increasingly violent tremors beneath their feet.

Looking up through the huge gap in the city wall, all I could see was a dark patch in the distance getting closer and clearer.

The soldiers of Huangtian who witnessed this scene were horrified, their eyes filled with endless despair.

"It's the Zhen... Zhenliao Iron Cavalry!"

……

The Zhenliao Army was indeed an anomaly among all the armies in the world.

This can be seen from the tactics alone.

When people attack cities, they all use infantry.

Only the Zhenliao Army, when breaking through a city, has always preferred to use cavalry.

This also rendered many of the defenses' previous preparations futile, as the cavalry moved too quickly.

Once a breach appeared in the city wall, those terrifying beings, along with their warhorses covered in iron armor, had barely come into view when they were already upon them.

As the one being rammed, it had no time to react before being sent flying high into the air by the terrifying force, and then trampled into mud by countless flying hooves.

Soldiers positioned at the rear of the formation were often unaware of what was happening ahead when their armor was pierced by the high-speed lances that struck them.

Or perhaps their neck would be slashed and their body shattered by a subsequent sharp longsword.

In conclusion, even if the Yellow Heaven Army soldiers in the city, driven by their fervent faith in the Great Teacher, charged forward with boundless courage, it would all be in vain.

The city has fallen.

……

Above Guangzong City.

Han Shao, dressed in a magnificent imperial robe, stood with his hands behind his back.

Watching the black-armored torrent below storm into the city, sweeping away everything in its path.

Roars and screams of agony.

The sound of qi tearing through the air, the roar of supernatural powers and spells.

It has completely eroded the last vestige of tranquility in this ancient city that has existed for countless years.

"The war is raging. I ask Your Majesty to remain behind the scenes for now and leave this battle to your subject."

Hearing Li Jing's sudden remark, Han Shao chuckled.

Li Jing, are you trying to seize power?
Of course, this was just a joke.

Li Jing has followed him for so long, how could Han Shao not understand his thoughts?
Han Shao shook his head.

"It's alright, you can do whatever you want, don't worry about me."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing looked anxious.

Compared to their previous northward campaign to sweep across the grasslands, the Zhenliao Army's southward advance can be described as much more merciful.

They never kill indiscriminately unless absolutely necessary.

This was true of Yuan Feng's Youzhou army back then, and even in the later major battles against Huang Tian's army.

But Guangzong City is different.

The city of Guangzong was filled with Huang Tiandao's most loyal followers.

While other places might be able to recruit and accept defectors, this place is different.

If these loyal followers of Huang Tiandao are allowed to scatter throughout the world, countless troubles will surely arise in the future.

So even if he felt compassion, Li Jing had to be ruthless and choose to eliminate the threat completely!

However, his lord could not bear such a stigma, otherwise it would be a dereliction of duty for him as a subject, and even more so, disloyalty.

"Your Majesty—"

Han Shao shook his head and refused again.

"I understand your loyalty."

"Just go ahead and do it. I can handle this kind of smear and reputation, and I don't care."

This is not a lie.

Historical records clearly show that those whose posthumous titles or temple names contain the character "仁" (ren, meaning benevolence) were mostly incompetent and fame-seeking individuals.

Han Shaosu understood this point very well.

So he really doesn't care about any empty 'good reputation'.

Moreover, compared to the glorious era he wants to create in the future, what are these trivial matters?
Seeing Han Shao's resolute insistence, Li Jing could only sigh deeply.

To receive such mercy from one's lord, even to the point of bearing the disgrace himself.

As a subject, if I cannot repay this debt with ten thousand deaths, am I not a human being?

"attack!"

……

The fall of Guangzong City was too sudden.

Not only did the Yellow Heaven Path, scattered throughout the world, not anticipate this.

The entire Great Yong Dynasty was completely unprepared.

After all, putting everything else aside, Huang Tiandao, the great wise teacher and Heavenly General Zhang Xian, had just completed the heaven-defying feat of killing the emperor and slaying the dragon.

Nowadays, many people in the world even regard the thief Zhang Xian as being on the same level as the three old immortals of the three holy lands.

He secretly guessed that even if Huang Tiandao failed to achieve anything in the future, he would still succeed.

Finally, at the very least, they can take advantage of this opportunity for a change in humanity to become the fourth holy land in the world.

But reality slapped them in the face.

Since April, the Duke of Yan has been waging war again under the pretext of "avenging his sovereign".

By June, their troops had already reached the outskirts of Guangzong City, located in the heart of Huangtiandao.

Finally, the city was captured in a single battle.

With the fall of the three former leaders of the Yellow Heaven Path, the Great Teacher Zhang Xian, and now the three generals of the Yellow Heaven Army, all in Guangzong City, it can be said that this battle marked the de facto end of the Yellow Heaven Rebellion, which began in the sixtieth year of the reign of the late Emperor Taikang. Hurry!
It's so fast!

When many people suddenly heard this news, they thought it was just a joke made up by some commoner.

It wasn't until the end of June, when envoys from the Yan State government arrived in the capital with the heads of the three Zhang brothers, making a grand entrance to present their victory, that the world was forced to believe that this seemingly absurd news was indeed true.

For a time, everyone in the world was shocked and bewildered.

Only at this moment did they suddenly realize that even though they had repeatedly overestimated those barbarians from Youzhou, they had now underestimated them.

The most direct manifestation of this shock was that when the group of envoys from the Yan State government passed through the prefectures and counties along the way to the capital, not only did no one dare to show the slightest disrespect, but those once arrogant aristocratic families even showed some caution and obsequiousness.

They dispatched a large number of people and strong guards, both openly and secretly, for fear that if these envoys encountered any accidents on their territory, they would be implicated and suffer a great disaster.

And so, the shogunate envoy, who had enjoyed almost angelic treatment, finally arrived at the foot of the capital.

Despite the dust and grime of their journey, the envoys were all beaming with pride and high spirits.

"Haha, when we left the capital and headed north to Liaodong, everyone thought we were foolish. How could we have imagined this day?"

Unsurprisingly, the person speaking was the same minor official from the capital who had been tricked by Li He into going to Champion City years ago.

Now, things have changed, and I've returned to this familiar place.

The person is still the same, but their mindset is completely different now.

Especially when they saw the officials from the capital city approaching from afar, the surging emotions in everyone's hearts intensified.

Back in the day, even if they were to abandon their dignity and willingly become lackeys, these nobles of the capital would probably not even bother to glance at them.

But now?

Sun Zhang, the head of the Honglu Division, used his magic to hold up the brocade box containing the heads of Zhang Xian and the other two, and strode forward with his head held high.

"I have come to pay my respects to the Emperor on the orders of my sovereign."

"Lead the way!"

……

On the main hall of Weiyang Palace.

The room was filled with people dressed in red and purple, all remaining silent.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the three brocade boxes containing the severed heads, unable to look away.

However, some people, after regaining their senses, finally noticed the envoys who exuded an air of rusticity.

For some reason, they instinctively felt very uncomfortable looking at these envoys who were so different from them.

Especially when these people glance at them intentionally or unintentionally, it always makes them feel offended and embarrassed.

Before they could even react, the leader of the Yan officials bowed deeply to the throne.

"Your Majesty! The traitor Huang Tian has rebelled and plotted to murder the late Emperor!"

"My lord was enraged and raised an army to attack them! Now that we have obtained their head, we present it to His Majesty!"

"Please take a look, Your Majesty!"

Having said that, without waiting for Emperor Xingping's response from the throne, he casually waved his hand and directly opened the restrictions on the three brocade boxes.

In an instant, three heads—one calm, one furious, and one menacing—were displayed prominently before everyone in the Weiyang Palace.

Horrifying as it may be.

But what truly made everyone present turn pale was the terrifying residual power unleashed by those three severed heads.

The Ninth Realm Taiyi, the pinnacle of humanity, is known as the Heavenly Lord!

Even a single drop of blood can kill a powerful expert below the third realm.

Although it is now only the remains of a severed head, its remaining power and Daoist aura still make the entire hall of noblemen feel somewhat suffocated.

Upon seeing this, Shangguan Ding, standing beneath the emperor's throne, frowned slightly and waved his sleeve, suppressing the remaining power of the three forces.

A series of long, hoarse exhales echoed throughout the hall.

terrible!
terrible!

Especially the head in the middle, which must be the bandit leader Zhang Xian.

Its remaining power clearly exceeded the limit of the ninth realm Taiyi. Even now, with only its head remaining, it still gave people a sense of awe and made them dare not look directly at it.

Just as they were still feeling shaken, they heard someone in the hall chuckle.

Upon seeing that the person who had laughed was none other than the envoy from the Duke of Yan's staff, the assembled officials in the hall immediately understood that the other party had done this on purpose.

The goal is to embarrass them!

For a moment, everyone present was furious and embarrassed.

"Outrageous! How dare you behave so disrespectfully before His Majesty! Do you, a lowly subject, even have any regard for His Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhang glanced back at the hall filled with crimson and purple robes with great interest, and finally actually looked towards the direction of the emperor's throne.

Before the officials in the hall could reprimand him for his insolence, Sun Zhang smiled knowingly.

"It's not that I don't respect Your Majesty, it's just that... with the Prime Minister above me, I almost mistook you for someone else."

That statement was clearly intended to incite conflict.

But surprisingly, the people in the hall, all dressed in high rank, were at a loss for words.

At this moment, Shangguan Ding and Princess Yin of Xingping, who had remained silent until now, spoke up one after the other.

"nonsense!"

Shangguan Ding frowned.

"How can Your Majesty, sitting on the throne, admit your mistakes?"

Princess Yin of Xingping also looked furious.

"You audacious subject! How dare you speak so recklessly as to sow discord between me and the Prime Minister!"

"Who gave you the audacity! Was it Han Shao?"

"Could it be Han Shao...?"

At this moment, Emperor Xingping made no attempt to conceal his anger.

But just as he was about to turn the fire on Han Shao, he was interrupted by Shangguan Ding coughing lightly.

"Your Majesty, it was merely my ignorance; please do not implicate Duke Yan because of personal grudges..."

"The pillars of the Yan Kingdom have now rendered great service in suppressing the rebels, and should be richly rewarded."

Seeing that Shangguan Ding had casually dismissed the matter, Ji Yin's eyes flashed with disappointment, but on the surface he pretended to be suppressing his anger.

"What personal grudge do I have against him, Han... Duke of Yan!"

"Alright, I'll listen to the Prime Minister."

The two communicated telepathically during this conversation.

Just as Ji Yin was about to reward Han Shao for his contributions, Sun Zhang smiled faintly.

"When I arrived, my lord said..."

"He had repeatedly received the emperor's favor, and it was his duty to avenge the emperor and punish the traitors."

"Where my heart leads, and where my righteousness leads, I will not regret even if I die a hundred times."

"So he doesn't want this reward."

presumptuous!

What does "I don't want it anymore" mean?
Thunder and rain, all are the Emperor's grace!
How can you just give up something because you don't want it?
At this moment, everyone in the hall, regardless of rank or status, looked at the minor official from Liaodong with strange expressions.

But then, seemingly unintentionally, the minor official from Liaodong muttered something under his breath.

"Anyway, His Majesty can't make the decision..."

After saying this, he pretended to realize he had spoken out of turn, bowed and said...

"Now that the traitor's head has been presented, my mission is complete. I will not trouble you all and the Prime Minister any longer... oh, and Your Majesty as well."

"Your humble servant takes his leave."

After saying that, he turned and left without waiting for anyone's response.

After this scene, an eerie silence fell over the hall.

The noise only resumed after Sun Zhang and his group disappeared from the main hall.

"Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!"

"Does that Han fellow even have any respect for the Prime Minister? Does he even respect His Majesty?!"

"Such blatant disrespect for the Prime Minister! Such blatant disrespect for His Majesty! Truly absurd!"

It must be said that this outburst of empty curses, given that Han Shao's envoy had already left, looked utterly ridiculous.

The hall filled with people in crimson robes now resembled a pack of dogs, barking and howling incessantly.

Despite its loud bark and fierce appearance, it can easily become timid and whimpering with its tail between its legs with just a little intimidation.

It's funny.

……

(End of this chapter)