As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 287 When the Hero Remounts

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Your Majesty, are you going to drag the Blood-Clad Army down with you to the grave, Lord Wang?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.

Wang Liu's body has been brought back; there is no room for negotiation, she is indeed dead.

Mentioning Wang Liu at this critical juncture is undoubtedly like stabbing His Majesty in the heart.

Wang Huai suddenly raised his head, his eyebrows furrowed, and looked at the person who had spoken, his fierce and tyrannical aura overwhelming him.

Right is right, wrong is wrong, and impossible is impossible.

The person who shouted was quite persistent.

Realistically speaking, sending troops at this time would be disadvantageous for the Blood-Clad Army.

Surprisingly, Wang Huai remained calm, his eyes like a stagnant pool, still and unmoving, and his voice was calm: "Does my word no longer carry weight?"

Upon hearing this, the man shuddered.

"I dare not, but..."

Wang Huai simply said, "No, all of you, go down and do what you're supposed to do."

"Zhi!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Huai suddenly drew a large knife.

The glint of the blade was chilling and awe-inspiring.

Wang Huai, sword in hand, his eyes filled with murderous intent, sent chills down the spines of everyone present. His low, hoarse voice rang out: "The battle will begin tomorrow, and I will be the vanguard."

"This……"

"Your Majesty, it's too dangerous!"

"Your Majesty, you can't!"

The siege was extremely dangerous.

Those who went first faced an extremely high chance of survival.

Wang Huai is the supreme leader; if anything were to happen to him, the Blood-Clad Army would be in even worse shape.

Wang Huai didn't look at his subordinates below, but simply stroked the blade and said calmly, "Wasn't it just like this in the very beginning?"

"I have never changed."

Wang Huai's current status is not something he obtained through manipulation, intrigue, or scheming; it was earned through personally leading troops into battle and fighting his way through countless battles.

If you look at his military record, it's filled with accounts of being the first to capture flags. A spiritual leader of unparalleled stature, he always led from the front, charging into battle. His blood-stained uniform reflects his respect, for he was the strongest, the most valiant. Only extraordinary warriors can achieve extraordinary feats.

Now that the Blood-Clad Army is in a slump, it is up to him to step forward and use his unparalleled courage to turn the tide.

For a moment, the camp became quieter.

Some people wanted to say something, but the words stuck in their throats, and they didn't know how to say them.

Despite the current internal problems within Daqi, wherever Wang Huai is, he is the center of power, and his word is law.

Once a decision has been made, it cannot be changed.

Wang Huai waved his hand: "Go do what you're supposed to do."

"Yes!"

After everyone left, everything returned to calm.

Wang Huai put down his broadsword, looked at the scabbard lying quietly on the table, and murmured, "Xu Zhongling, you brat, you just want to provoke me, don't you?"

"as you wish!"

……

The next day,

For several days in a row, the sky was gloomy and it rained continuously.

Today, however, is a rare good day; the weather is sunny and bright.

The dark red vampire banner fluttered loudly.

A vast army of soldiers, their blood-stained clothes billowing in the wind, gathered together, meeting the gaze of the soldiers.

At the very front of the procession, Wang Huai rode a fine horse, clad in armor, wielding a large sword. His face was resolute, and just standing there, he exuded a majestic and imposing aura, commanding respect from all who beheld him.

"Gentlemen, today we will reclaim our lost territory and wipe out the villains. I, Wang Huai, will live and die with you."

Wang Huai raised his broadsword and spoke in a clear, resonant voice that carried far and wide.

"Are you willing to come with me?!"

The Blood-Clad Army is currently experiencing internal turmoil, but Wang Huai has not offered any explanation for the recent events.

The pre-battle mobilization speech was also very brief.

After the final words were spoken, the entire army seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Wang Huai lowered his eyes, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, and spurred his horse forward slowly.

He was the only one.

The tall figure looked lonely yet resolute, the horse's tail swaying gently.

It seems he has truly lost the faith and adoration he has always been so proud of.

In the next instant, a gentle breeze blew by, and behind them came the sounds of dragons roaring and tigers howling, as if thousands of troops were galloping.

Behind every solitary king, there are thousands upon thousands of believers who cheer and follow him.

"willing!"

"willing!"

"willing!"

"His Majesty!!"

"I am willing to die for the leader!"

Long live the Blood-Clad Army!

……

How are the various rumors circulating in the military?
How can suspicion and panic spread?

So what if morale is low?
When Wang Huai mounted his steed and stood before the soldiers, sword in hand, all confusion was dispelled by his unparalleled sharpness.

In a daze, those overlooked memories echoed in my mind.

The body acted before the will, involuntarily wanting to move forward, to follow, and to kill.

People once again recalled the brave warriors who raised their flags and shouted slogans in the midst of chaos.

People will always remember the heroes who led from the front and were brave and unparalleled.

People will remember him as Wang Huai, the leader of all of them, and their pillar of strength.

Battle after battle, fight after fight.

Wang Huai always stood at the forefront, always with them.

These are all true, etched in the deepest recesses of memory, and will not be obscured by rumors. Once awakened, they will make everyone's blood boil and inspire courage.

Even though he made many blunders and mistakes.

But a hero is a hero; his sincerity has never been forgotten, and what he did will never be forgotten.

Just as Mingchen had said to Wang Liu before during the season. No matter the outcome, their spirit of rebellion will live on forever, like a nail embedded in everyone's heart. They are heroes, and they will not be scorned.

When the hero mounts his horse again, brave warriors will follow him one after another.

"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

"I will don my armor with my blood, and sacrifice my life for peace!"

"I will don my armor with my blood, and sacrifice my life for peace!"

Wang Huai gradually increased his speed as he rode towards Xiaoyao City.

Behind him, his soldiers quickened their pace, rushing toward the fortified city not far away, kicking up clouds of dust.

That was their city.

Now, their leader is going to lead them to take it back.

"drive!"

A glint flashed in Wang Huai's eyes as he resolutely launched a charge towards Xiaoyao City.

He can accept his failures.

However, he absolutely could not accept that he had been defeated by someone like Xu Zhongling.

He also couldn't accept that everything he had was swallowed up by such a despicable person.

……

"coming!"

"coming!"

On the city walls of Xiaoyao City, soldiers stood ready, fully armed and in high spirits. However... upon closer inspection, their wrists gripping their weapons seemed to be trembling slightly.

Xu Zhongling, dressed in white mourning clothes, stood on the city wall, quietly gazing into the distance.

The sun rises high, and dust flies everywhere.

Thousands of troops charged forward alongside that incomparably valiant man, their momentum overwhelming and their battle cries deafening.

They were the most elite imperial guards of the Qi Dynasty, having conquered the entire land. They were brave, skilled in battle, and unparalleled in martial prowess.

A dark, ominous mass swept in, sending chills down one's spine at the mere sight of it. It felt as if an invisible sword had pierced one's chest.

With such a terrifying army, it's no wonder the defenders on the city walls trembled.

However, faced with such a military force...

Standing atop the high wall, Supreme Leader Xu Zhongling was somewhat excited. His eyes gleamed with anticipation, and he murmured with a smile, "It's finally here."

An angry beast is much easier to deal with than a shrewd hero.

The stalemate between the two sides may not necessarily be a good thing for Xu Zhongling.

Does Wang Huai currently have the conditions to attack the city?

After your brother died, you just went all in with me without a second thought?

You lack the right timing, location, and people.

If Wang Huai had kept quiet, Xu Zhongling might have thought more highly of him.

But he couldn't hold it in and became a slave to his emotions, and that's just how it is.

Xu Zhongling had been waiting for this day for a long time.

This battle will be a turning point in his fate.

He wanted to use this battle to step on Wang Huai's head, inherit his legacy, become famous throughout the world, and create a legend.

The warhorses neighed, and Xu Zhongling, with his excellent eyesight, spotted the most conspicuous and robust general in the vanguard at a glance.

Wang Huai!

He took the lead and personally went into battle.

Xu Zhongling was certainly aware of Wang Huai's characteristics.

All of Wang Huai's opponents knew about his characteristics in leading troops.

However, brute force can overcome any skill.

They simply couldn't defeat Wang Huai.

However, Xu Zhongling clearly did not believe that he was one of those people.

He snorted coldly: "You brute!"

Qi Yuan, dressed in a black robe, stood quietly beside him, his expression calm.

Neither fear nor joy.

He said in a hoarse voice, "The army's momentum is too strong. If I don't enter the battlefield, the Blood Warrior will be difficult to control and unable to fight."

Xu Zhongling simply waved his hand: "It's alright, bring me the bow." A guard behind him brought out a large, carved bow.

Xu Zhongling picked up the bow, drew it to its full extent, his eyes gleaming, the arrow tip sharp, and aimed at the valiant overlord at the forefront of the enemy army.

"Whoosh!"

The arrow pierced through the air.

Wang Huai seemed to sense something and turned his head to the side.

The arrow narrowly missed his cheek, leaving a clear bloodstain.

Wang Huai suddenly raised his head and precisely locked his gaze on the general on the city wall, who was dressed in white mourning clothes and had a white headband.

He looked handsome and imposing, with an extraordinary air about him, making it impossible to associate him with those dark things.

Their eyes met; it was as if kings were meeting kings.

Behind every single arrow, a barrage of thousands more will follow.

Not everyone is as lucky as Wang Huai.

As a dense rain of arrows flew in, soldiers fell one after another.

The attacking side is inherently at a disadvantage.

The shield bearers, holding their large shields, escorted the legion as they moved toward the city. People died every moment, and every step forward came at the cost of lives.

Arrows flew in, and the defenders on the city wall fell one by one.

"Humph!"

Xu Zhongling snorted coldly: "War cannot be won with just a surge of enthusiasm!"

Having beaten a bunch of terrible opponents, Wang Huai had won so many times that he was numb with winning and had forgotten how to lose.

In that situation, he's not far from losing.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate.

With their numerical and combat advantages, the Blood-Clad Army quickly pulled into the battle line and ran to the city wall.

They built ladders to climb the city walls.

They raised the battering ram and repeatedly pounded on the city gate.

The two sides entered a stalemate, with people dying every moment.

"General, the Blood-Clad Army is too ruthless!"

"At this rate, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on!"

"These people are absolutely insane."

Time passed slowly. One soldier rushed up the city wall, only to be knocked down. Then came the second, the third... and so on, as they continued to charge up.

They charged forward one after another, fearless and undaunted.

Even if all that's left are teeth, they'll still bite off a piece of flesh.

At this moment, Xu Zhongling truly witnessed the terrifying combat power of these Blood-Clad Army soldiers. The garrison finally understood why these grassroots rebel armies could occupy half of Qian Yuan's territory and overthrow the dynasty in such a short time.

They're a bunch of lunatics.

It's true that Xiaoyao City is a fortified city, but it couldn't withstand the reckless charge of these madmen.

The Blood-Clad Army with Wang Huai and the Blood-Clad Army without Wang Huai are two different armies.

Yueyang City was also a fortified city! Yet it was still captured by the Blood-Clad Army.

The guard, covered in blood, reported to Xu Zhongling in a somewhat panicked manner.

"General, something terrible has happened! There's been an uproar in Xiaoyao City!"

"The people gathered together to welcome back the Blood-Clad Army."

Before Xu Zhongling could respond.

Another subordinate strode over and called out to Xu Zhongling.

Despite all his careful planning, Xu Zhongling overlooked one thing.

Xiaoyao City is great everywhere.

The only downside is the lack of public support.

As time goes by, things will gradually calm down. As long as people live peacefully, they won't want to cause trouble.

That's what he thought.

But he forgot.

This is where the Blood-Clad Army originated. How many of those valiant soldiers outside were conscripted from here? How many of them were sons, husbands, and fathers of the city's people?
Hearing the sounds of battle outside, would the people in the city think of their departed families?

Their families were calling for them from outside the city; how could they not be anxious? Their sincere feelings were enough to make them risk their lives.

These things all seem to be bad news.

However, Xu Zhongling remained calm.

He felt a little itchy and scratched his arm until it bled.

He raised his hand to look at the sun in the dome.

War, peace... time is fair.

Time is passing by, and people are dying every minute and every second.

The Blood-Clad Army's madness was within his expectations.

After all, if you anger a wild beast, you must also bear the consequences of being torn apart by that ferocious beast.

As long as we can get through this wave, everything will be fine.

The battle raged fiercely on the city wall, but he paid no attention to it.

They simply turned their gaze to the distance.

"I've always been very lucky."

He looked up at the bright sun in the sky and murmured softly.

It's been cloudy for the past few days, with occasional light rain.

But today, the sun is shining brightly.

"That's about enough, it's time!"

Almost all of Wang Huai's army has arrived by now.

"Wang Huai... don't cling to a position that doesn't belong to you."

Logically speaking, with Xu Zhongling's current forces, even if Wang Huai's entire army were to unleash their full power, it would be impossible for them to capture Xiaoyao City in a short time, and it would be impossible for them to fall into a slump so quickly.

Why has this situation arisen?

He gazed silently into the distance, the last syllable of his self-talk fading away.

Just then, in the direction he was gazing, thick black smoke suddenly rose up, billowing and obscuring the sky; it could be seen from a great distance.

"hey-hey……"

"Hmph hmph hmph... Hahahahahaha~"

"I won!"

"I won!"

Upon seeing this scene, Xu Zhongling, who had always remained calm, gentle, and composed, suddenly raised the corners of his mouth and let out a series of eerie laughs. His handsome face became somewhat distorted, and his smile turned ferocious.

Checkmate!
Seeing Xu Zhongling's appearance, the subordinates around him couldn't help but feel a little frightened.

After General Chen Yue's death, General Xu took over the affairs of the army. He was quick-witted, calm and honest, and loyal. Even now, he still wears plain clothes to pay tribute to General Chen.

This was the first time these subordinates had seen Xu Zhongling like this.

Xu Zhongling suddenly clenched his fist and ordered his subordinates, "Send word to Xue Jingqi, he can send out troops now!"

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, soldiers from both sides saw billowing smoke in the distance.

Xu Zhongling's garrison was still somewhat confused.

However, the general of the Blood-Clad Army's expression changed drastically.

"That...that's the direction from the valley?"

"Oh no! Oh no! Ligu has been attacked!"

"What...what should we do?!"

"How to do?"

"His Majesty!"

……

On the battlefield, the soldiers fought fiercely, their fighting spirit sharp and intense. However, at this moment, they were filled with horror, and their courage to fight seemed to have been somewhat lost.

"Your Majesty, that's Li Valley! Li Valley is on fire! What should we do?!"

The general who fought alongside Wang Huai looked at the billowing smoke in the distance and was struck dumb. His face changed drastically, and he kept shouting at Wang Huai.

That direction leads to Ligu, where they store their grain and fodder.

If their food supplies are cut off, they are doomed.

How dare Xu Zhongling?

How did he do that?
When should we send troops to burn the grain supplies?

Now the Blood-Clad Army only has two paths: one is to fight to the death to capture the city, regardless of the cost, in this battle.

However, the army's morale was low, the city was easy to defend but difficult to attack, and they also had to be wary of the ambush troops sent out by Xu Zhongling turning around to attack from behind.

The chances of winning are extremely slim.

The other option is to withdraw troops and wait to die.

Both paths are dead ends.

At the same time, the morale of the Blood-Clad Army was low.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"With supplies cut off, the Great Qi is already showing signs of defeat!"

"Kill! Brothers! Follow me and kill the enemy!"

"Eliminate Wang Huai!"

"Destroy the Great Qi!"

"A reward of ten thousand coins will be given to anyone who kills Wang Huai."

Loud battle cries echoed through Xiaoyao City once again.

The city gates swung open, and a group of well-equipped soldiers, shouting loudly, charged back towards the Blood-Clad Army.

They were few in number, but they were like a sharp knife, piercing the heart of the Blood-Clad Army.

The sudden turn of events and the arrival of the army disrupted the morale and formation of the Blood-Clad Army.

"Do not……"

"There's an ambush!"

"don't want……"

"What, what should we do?"

"This is a trap; we've fallen for it."

"Run...run!"

"We can't win anymore!"

In a crisis, a person's first reaction is always to run away, always to hope to save their life. Even the fiercely motivated Bloodstained Army is no exception.

They can only fight if there is hope; if there is no hope, they cannot go against their instinct to survive.

Hearing the news that their retreat was cut off, and seeing the enemy army suddenly appear.

The once-mighty and indomitable attacking army was thrown into chaos.

(End of this chapter)