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

Chapter 295 It's Better to Be Alive Than Dead

The city walls are mottled, the city towers are broken, and the bricks and stones are pitted and cratered by cannon fire. A few mottled bloodstains can still be vaguely seen.

In the midst of chaos, this resilient city withstood the test of history.

It was the source of the rise of heroic figures, and it changed hands several times and suffered the ravages of war.

This land is already exhausted, a place where ambitions and schemes intertwine.

Finally, the brand-new flag was raised on the city wall, fluttering freely and peacefully in the wind.

The two stood side by side, gazing silently into the distance.

"Mingchen, in this battle we killed 8,000 enemies and captured 23,000. Some others fled in all directions and could not be pursued."

"Thirty-one of our men were killed, ninety-two were slightly wounded, and sixteen were seriously wounded."

"The people in the city don't have much of a negative attitude towards us."

"But there are still some people who support the Great Qi."

After a busy period of time, Ling Yu finally finished sorting everything out.

Due to the limited time, she was unable to investigate the details and could only compile such a general figure.

Mingchen touched her face and said gently, "Yes, sister, thank you for your hard work."

Ling Yu simply shook her head: "It's my duty."

She was not only Mingchen's wife, but also Qianyuan's loyal and brave Marquis, and the soldiers' great general.

They should naturally assume responsibility and fulfill their obligations.

Mingchen joked with a smile, "After this battle, our military genius General Ling will be famous throughout the world again!"

They achieved a victory against overwhelming odds, with exaggerated casualties, and captured such a formidable city.

This battle was the first battle of Qian Yuan's eastward expansion, and it was fought brilliantly enough to shock the world.

In the future, when we march east to recover lost territory, we will surely strike fear into the enemy's heart and advance with unstoppable momentum.

Ling Yu shook her head: "This time I was just relying on the general trend, I didn't make any contribution."

Ling Yu's understanding is quite profound; she is not arrogant.

In fact, she didn't have much room to maneuver in this war; things were going too smoothly for her.

They pushed straight through.

Seven consecutive days of intimidation and threats, armed with cannons, and accompanied by a group of elite troops...

Behind her was a reliable and supportive rear area, built by Xiao Xinyue, providing a constant supply of resources.

Qian Yuan set the tone early, focused on development, had clear goals and plans, and had a long-term vision, which naturally made things easier for him, and the war was also resolved.

The siege was a psychological warfare tactic that demoralized the enemy, shattered their courage, and resulted in most of their casualties being caused by friendly fire fighting...

Even if it were Ling Yu leading the team personally, any other general, as long as they weren't incompetent, could have won.

This devastating war was not her achievement, but rather the achievement of the Qian Yuan nation.

"People in the world don't think about these things."

Mingchen did not deny Lingyu's modesty, but said with a smile, "They only know that my wife won again, that my wife has never lost, and that my wife has created another miraculous victory."

Mingchen is an outspoken person, unlike most people in this era who are humble and self-deprecating.

Ling Yu knew him well, but she just rolled her eyes at him: "Isn't my husband the same?"

"Hahaha~"

"That's right, we are geniuses."

Mingchen never puts on airs with those close to him.

It's exhausting to live with a mask on.

After they laughed for a while, Ling Yu asked, "What should we do next?"

"Returning in triumph? What about Xiaoyao City? What about these prisoners? And what about the Blood-Clad Army?"

Ling Yu is a pure military general; she is only responsible for fighting and winning wars.

Although he has insights into the current situation and a broad perspective.

But Mingchen was right beside her, so she didn't need to make those decisions.

She believed that Mingchen's choices were all correct.

Upon hearing this, Mingchen lowered his eyes and his smile faded.

He stayed here for two reasons: first, to sort out the current chaotic situation in Xiaoyao City, and second, because he was waiting for someone to come and find him.

This person's attitude determined the future course of the Qian Yuan dynasty and the fate of countless people.

"Take all the prisoners back and, based on their background, abilities, and past deeds, distribute them to different positions. Leave these matters to His Majesty."

If they have to worry about everything, they'll never finish even if they're exhausted. Let them take it back and argue with the people in the imperial court, or let the lower-level civil servants handle it.

Essentially, these prisoners were also Qian Yuan people, and their loyalty to Xu Zhongling was not high.

Fundamentally, they are not enemies.

Bringing back Qian Yuan to expand the population and distributing them to various corners of the land will eliminate any further threat.

Population is a resource; even if things are bad, doing some hard labor is still worthwhile.

Mingchen then glanced in the direction outside the city: "We'll go back in three days."

"Xiaoyao City...wait a little longer."

If my elder brother wants it, give it to him and exchange it for a few cities near Qian Yuan.

After all, Qian Yuan nominally sent troops to suppress the rebels, but after the battle, he occupied their city.

The common people didn't care, but it didn't sound good to the heroes of the land.

It's easy to be labeled a hypocrite.

Xiaoyao City is important to Daqi, but it does not have such a high strategic position for Qianyuan. Mingchen has long had his eye on several other better exchange locations.

If my older brother doesn't want it, that would be even better.

Ling Yu paused upon hearing this, then asked Ming Chen, "Ming Chen, Big Brother, the Blood-Clad Army... are you waiting for them to surrender?"

Before meeting him, Ling Yu had many guesses about Wang Huai.

A warlord in a chaotic era?

careerist?
Blood-Clad Overlord?
After meeting, some of my preconceived notions were unexpectedly shattered.

She felt that Wang Huai was a very sincere person.

To be recognized by Mingchen, one must possess some excellent qualities.

Ling Yu is very smart. Since they sleep in the same bed, she knows her man quite well.

Considering Mingchen's attitude and actions over the past few days, I had some guesses in my mind.

"Hey……"

If Sister Dai could see it, then Wang Huai must be able to see his purpose too.

Mingchen chuckled softly: "Ultimately, we're all from the same country, and our soldiers all come from the same source. If we can avoid it, why should we waste each other's resources..."

Ling Yu remained silent for a moment.

What makes us human is that we have desires and ambitions.

In the current situation, it is clear who is stronger and who is weaker.

But when it really happens to them, who would be willing to come down from the mountain?
Even if the Great Qi is at its worst, it still occupies half of the country and has countless soldiers.

After resolving the Xu Zhongling Rebellion, he consolidated his forces and marched south, eliminating all the bad elements and ignoring the rebellions of various factions in the east, settling down to become a large warlord.

Although it no longer enjoys the same glory as when it destroyed the Chen Kingdom, it is still a powerful force and can live a carefree life for some time.

If all else fails, it's not too late to surrender when you're facing certain death!
A powerful warlord with tens of thousands of troops and vast territory, surrendering would mean losing everything and his status plummeting, not to mention his life being in danger... From a personal perspective, this deal is not worth it at all.

Why were there so many warlords carving up the land during times of chaos?

Because everyone loves being a leader, loves to act arrogantly and enjoy wealth and luxury.

But... is Wang Huai that kind of person?
"What if our elder brother really surrenders?"

Ling Yu paused, then asked, "What should we do? What should His Majesty do? What should you and I do?"

Wang Huai and Da Qi are in a very awkward position now.

He was not an ordinary armed separatist force; he was the first rebel army to rise up. He declared himself emperor, destroyed the country, and swept away most of the land.

Such a person, even if he surrenders, is unlikely to have a good end.

First of all, Wang Huai had committed a series of misdeeds in the east, and his reputation was ruined.

The Blood-Clad Army gradually transformed from a righteous army into bandits, and could not be tolerated anywhere except in its southern origins.

Moreover, he is not alone; he has a whole group of subordinates under him!

Wang Huai has voted, so what will happen to the people below him?
Even if Wang Huai has ideological awareness, do the others have it?

Furthermore, no matter how wise and magnanimous Xiao Xinyue is, it will be difficult for her to tolerate Wang Huai.

Not to mention giving him official positions, rewards, and military strength... letting him manage prefectures and counties, and letting him lead troops into battle.

Claiming the title of emperor and not claiming the title of emperor are two completely different concepts.

The world cannot allow two kings to exist at the same time.

Even if the monarch can tolerate it, the subordinates and the basic infrastructure will not.

This man once declared himself emperor and destroyed a country; he's still alive. What does this mean? Who is the true legitimate ruler?
If you can forgive those who become emperors, then what is there that you, as a monarch, cannot forgive?
You, as a monarch, have absolutely no bottom line or dignity.

That's why Mingchen was so angry when Wang Huai rebelled and declared himself emperor.

This move not only exposes ambition and threatens one's own base, but also blocks one's own escape route.

The outcome was either becoming emperor or dying.

When you're the emperor, you've done everything; it's just the final choice.

Retaining your own options is a way to survive.

Otherwise, at this point, Wang Huai could have simply declared that Xiao Xinyue was the rightful ruler, brought his troops to surrender, and the rebel army would have turned from rebellion to rule.

It's not too late to invest now. Although you may not become the dominant power, you can still enjoy wealth and glory, and shine brightly in history.

However, Wang Huai is Wang Huai...

Even if he hadn't become emperor, he probably wouldn't have done such a thing.

Mingchen was silent for a moment, then said, "It's easy to survive." At the very least, he would ensure that Wang Huai and his family survive.

However, historical records about Wang Huai end there.

Wang Huai's subordinates were easy to deal with, after all, subjects and monarchs are completely different.

The mighty Blood-Clad Army thus faded from the stage of history.

Ling Yu lowered her eyes and said, "Living is no different from dying."

For some reason, she thought of the old man who had killed the girl when she first met Mingchen.

She could have healed the man, but Mingchen stopped her.

If you survive, you're just an empty shell; you have nothing left to look forward to, and it's no different from being dead.

Wang Huai's entire future revolved around the Great Qi Dynasty. With an uncertain future ahead, his resignation meant he was giving up on his own life.

You want to bring a leader who has been an emperor down from his pedestal, strip him of everything, and make him live like an ordinary person?
A person can go from poverty to wealth, but it is very difficult to go from wealth back to poverty.

Can he sit still?
What's the difference between this and being dead?
Mingchen shook his head, insisting, "Living is always better than dying."

He was quite hypocritical, showing completely different attitudes towards Wang Huai and the old man from before, as well as towards close friends and casual acquaintances.

Someone like Wang Huai, once he dies, will most likely leave his name in the Immortal Jade Record, and he will be no ordinary person at that, perhaps even possessing world-destroying power.

However... Mingchen never felt that all of this was a game quest achievement.

He always has a way to deal with immortals, demons, gods, and Buddhas. He doesn't need his elder brother to die in exchange for an unanswerable name and supernatural power on the Immortal Jade Record.

"My husband, are you alright?"

Ling Yu's eyes shone brightly as she looked at Ming Chen with some concern.

This time, she didn't call him by his name, but rather called him "husband" in a more intimate and gentle way.

The two were of one mind, and she could sense that Mingchen wasn't in a good mood.

Mingchen simply smiled and shook his head: "It's alright."

He felt somewhat indebted to his elder brother.

He inspired the other person's ideals and led him down this path.

In the end, however, he wanted to take everything away from him.

But Wang Huai always treated him with sincerity, trust, and closeness.

Mingchen always said he was a cold and heartless person, but at this moment he also felt a little lost.

With Xu Zhongling's forces destroyed, the dark clouds hanging over Xiaoyao City seemed to have dissipated.

The weather has been great these past few days, very sunny, with a clear blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

A gentle breeze caressed their faces, ruffling strands of hair, and the two enjoyed a brief moment of tranquility.

"Report!"

Suddenly, a messenger's shout broke the silence between the two: "General, an envoy from Qi has arrived. The Qi Emperor wishes to invite General Ming to the army camp for a discussion."

The two were taken aback and exchanged glances.

And so it came.

Mingchen smiled and said to his guards, "Alright."

……

Mingchen left without hesitation, and also brought a gift for Wang Huai.

The prison cart carried the once spirited General Xu all the way.

Xu Zhongling, who had previously performed a tearful act in the cage, was now silent and calm. His skin was covered in sores from his scratches, and he looked battered and miserable.

He's played all his cards; he's done everything he can.

However, Mingchen on the other side completely ignored him and was determined to hand him over to Wang Huai, leaving him with no choice.

Utterly despondent, he knew that death was the only outcome ahead.

The Great Qi's base was not far from Xiaoyao City, and they arrived quickly.

News of Xiaoyao City's fall to the Qian Yuan army had already reached us.

The arrival of Mingchen and his entourage also attracted curious glances from many soldiers.

What should the Great Qi do next?
Can they return to Xiaoyao City?

Some astute individuals might guess that their future might be decided by this young and handsome benefactor.

"Your subject Mingchen greets Your Majesty."

The news of their relationship spread, which was bad for both Mingchen and Wang Huai.

Therefore, in front of outsiders, Mingchen still acted like a minister of the Qian Yuan Dynasty, doing whatever he was supposed to do.

Wang Huai must not have been sleeping well these past few days, as his eyes were somewhat bloodshot.

He had several trusted subordinates around him.

He laughed heartily: "Hahaha."

"I heard that Qian Yuan has decisively defeated Xu Zhongling and has already captured Xiaoyao City?"

"A great reputation is well-deserved; they truly deserve to be called the Twin Jewels of Qian Yuan!"

They truly are his younger brother and sister-in-law!
There was a hint of pride in Wang Huai's eyes.

Mingchen smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Wang Huai: "Your Majesty flatters me. I am merely benefiting from your presence."

Wang Huai waved his hand: "No need to be modest."

His gaze swept across the area, and he immediately spotted the prison cart that Mingchen had brought not far away. His breath caught in his throat for a moment, then his smile vanished, and he asked, "Mingchen, what is the purpose of bringing this person here?"

"Your Majesty, this man is Xu Zhongling, the bandit leader of Xiaoyao City. I traveled in a hurry and didn't bring any gifts. I heard that Your Majesty has some grudge against him, so I brought him here..."

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!"

As soon as Mingchen finished speaking, the generals under Wang Huai exclaimed in surprise.

"Zhi!"

With a flash of light, Wang Huai suddenly drew out a large knife.

The invincible Qi Emperor on the battlefield had slain many people; his broadsword gleamed with a chilling light, terrifying the soul.

It carved a deep trench in the ground.

Disregarding the dignity and etiquette of an emperor, Wang Huai, carrying a large sword, flashed to Xu Zhongling's prison cart.

Now, there is only an enraged older brother here.

“Wang Huai…”

"You're lucky."

At the same time, Xu Zhongling also raised his head.

The person in the cage no longer showed any of the humble and pleading manner he had displayed in front of Mingchen.

Instead, he grinned, revealing gleaming white teeth and a cold, sinister smile.

After a lifetime of acting, he finally became his true self at this moment.

Their eyes met, a mixture of sinister indifference and shattered rage.

Xu Zhongling knew that he had reached the end of his life and that he was going to die.

The victor is king, the loser is villain; there's nothing more to say.

My failure, Xu Zhongling, is not my fault; it is fate.

He had done his best, and he didn't think he had done anything wrong.

He resented Mingchen and fate.

In another time and space, Xu Zhongling will surely achieve the great feat of becoming the ruler of the world!
Wang Huai said nothing.

He didn't yell or curse at Xu Zhongling, nor did he speak to him in a sarcastic or cold tone, nor did he question him.

He had no evidence, but he knew that his brother must have been killed by Xu Zhongling's men.

This is an irreconcilable feud!

His face was grim, his teeth were clenched, and two lines of bloody tears streamed down his face. His eyes were bloodshot, and he raised the large knife in his hand high.

"boom!"

The immense force struck, destroying the entire prison van.

"Puch!"

The broadsword continued its momentum, slicing through the neck. Amidst the splatter of blood, the hideous head flew high into the sky.

Crisp and neat.

As the monarch, Wang Huai personally took action and killed the enemy who killed his brother.

"Bang bang bang!"

Even after his head was severed, he continued his attack.

The powerful wind from the sword dance howled, and dust billowed up.

He kept hacking at the corpses on the ground.

Blood and bits of flesh splattered everywhere, and bones were crushed into powder.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

Several loyal subordinates rushed forward, calling out to him with concern.

He was afraid that Wang Huai would fly into a rage and hurt himself.

Wang Huaisheng slashed him hundreds of times before finally giving up.

The people around him had followed Wang Huai through thick and thin and had seen their share of great things, but they couldn't help but fall silent at the sight before them.

The scene was a complete mess; the ground had been plowed over and over again, and the prison van had been smashed to pieces.

The figures of those imprisoned are no longer recognizable as they were in life.

Blood spurted out, and fragments of internal organs, bones, and flesh... fused together into a bloody mess, splattering everywhere, leaving no intact limbs in sight.

(End of this chapter)