A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Facing Huang Ce's gaze, Zhang Huai lowered his head with some guilt, but he still didn't change his mind; he really didn't want to die.

He felt that as long as Huang Ce could take the blame, he would have a chance to survive.

However, this was just his arrogance. Even the other eight military governors who had surrendered beforehand could not escape death, let alone him!

As for saying he wasn't the mastermind and Huang Ce was, are you kidding me? Do you think everyone's an idiot?

Huang Ce closed his eyes, thinking that this was the last thing he would do for Zhang Huai. Zhang Huai had saved his life back then, and now he was returning that life to Zhang Huai, so that they would be even from now on.

"That's right, I was the mastermind behind this. Zhang Huai was just forced into it by me."

"I used Zhang Huai's family as leverage to order him to become my puppet. I have been in charge of everything in Yunzhou City all these years. Zhang Huai is just a puppet in name only. I orchestrated everything. I am the mastermind behind this."

"I was the one who stockpiled the grain supplies in Yunzhou, I was the one who forged the weapons in Yunzhou, I was the one who recruited the soldiers in Yunzhou, I was the one who trained the troops in Yunzhou, and it was my idea to form an alliance to rebel that came about. I confess my guilt."

"When I passed the imperial examination, I was impersonated by someone from a powerful family. From that moment on, I hated the corrupt court. From that moment on, I began to plan how to overthrow the corrupt dynasty."

"I simply can't stand this court, I can't stand this world being controlled by powerful clans and aristocratic families. I want to change this world!"

"I wonder if, when I put a knife to the throats of those powerful families, their necks will be as stubborn as their mouths!"

"And those princes, nobles, and imperial relatives—I'll show them the power of a commoner's rage!"

"So I planned to contact Zhang Huai, support him to become the military governor of Yunzhou, and then use Yunzhou as a base to develop military power. Now, with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I will join forces with the other eight military governors in the northern frontier to rebel."

"If it weren't for those two incompetent officials, An Lushan and Shi Siming, it should have been the eleven military governors who marched south together and took Luoyang!"

"This is all my planning and scheme. Come on, kill me. If I, Huang Ce, even flinch, I'm no hero!"

After Huang Ce finished speaking, he straightened his back, raised his head and looked at Ge Shuhan with a righteous and awe-inspiring expression.

A hint of appreciation flashed in Geshuhan's eyes. Although Huang Ce was a rebel, both Huang Ce's abilities and his loyalty impressed Geshuhan.

Unfortunately, we have different paths and cannot work together.

He and Huang Ce were destined to be enemies, and he felt sympathy for Huang Ce's plight.

But he couldn't change any of this; how could he possibly shake the world single-handedly?!

That idea is too naive!

"Men, take the bandit leader Zhang Huai away!"

"I can't believe it," said Ge Shuhan in a cold voice, expressing his utter contempt for someone like Zhang Huai.

Even as he faced death, he shifted all the blame onto his subordinates in an attempt to absolve himself of guilt.

He felt ashamed that he had lost to such a scoundrel.

"Geshu Han, you can't do this to me! Huang Ce is the real ringleader! I want to see His Majesty! I'm innocent!"

"Geshu Han, you're taking this opportunity to settle a personal score! You're unworthy of being a general of the imperial court!"

"Without me, this million-strong allied army would inevitably collapse, scattering to various places and turning into a war that disrupts several surrounding areas. All the civilians who die as a result are the fault of you, Geshu Han!"

"Geshuhan! Just because I defeated you once, you treat me like this? In the future, when you close your eyes to sleep, you will see those people who died because of you standing there."

"Geshuhan! You'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Seeing that Geshu Han remained unmoved and that soft tactics were ineffective, Zhang Huai prepared to resort to hard tactics and began to threaten him.

Geshu Han waved his hand, and the soldiers around him quickly subdued Zhang Huai.

Geshuhan looked at the other eight military governors around him and said, "I guarantee with my life that the decrees of the court are still valid. Please rest assured."

Du Hong and the others were indeed worried. Now that the allied forces had been defeated and Zhang Huai had been captured, they were no longer in a position to negotiate with the court. They were somewhat afraid that the court would break its word and settle scores later.

Even if they possess imperial edicts, they are of little use if the court truly refuses to comply.

Now that they had Geshuhan's assurance, although it wasn't from the emperor, they felt a little better; at least their inner panic was temporarily calmed.

"Thank you, General Geshu. We would be extremely grateful if you could put in a good word for our family before His Majesty."

The military governors bowed their heads and pleaded with Geshu Han.

Geshuhan nodded. These military governors deserve much credit for their ability to wipe out the million-strong rebel army in one fell swoop.

Moreover, he needed these military governors to help him subdue the defeated rebel soldiers; otherwise, things might really turn out as Zhang Huai described, and if the people in the surrounding areas were harmed as a result, the blame would fall on him.

Soon, Geshu Han ordered his men to take Zhang Huai and the others back to Luoyang, while he remained in Liyang to suppress and subdue the rebels.

In Luoyang, Li Heng and the others received a battle report sent by Geshu Han. After learning that Geshu Han had successfully defeated the rebel army and captured the leader, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Order Geshuhan to lead an army of 50 northwards, capture Yunzhou City and Zhenbei City, and then garrison the northern border."

The other eight military governors have already surrendered, so there is no need to go to great lengths to pacify the prefectures and counties where they are located; they can be pacified simply by issuing a proclamation.

"The ringleader, Zhang Huai, will be beheaded and his entire family executed in three days at the East Gate Market!"

"Huang Ce, the traitor, will be beheaded and his entire family executed in three days at the East Gate Market!"

"The disgraced officials Du Hong and others, having realized their mistakes and returned to the right path, assisted the court in quelling the rebellion. After three months, they were not executed, and their families were no longer implicated."

Li Heng kept his promise and did not pursue the responsibility of Du Hong and his family.

Du Hong and the others quickly accepted the imperial decree and expressed their gratitude.

At night, a figure suddenly appeared in the shadows of the prison.

The figure was hidden in the shadows; unless one looked closely, no one would be able to see that there was someone standing there.

Do you regret it?

The figure suddenly spoke and asked.

Huang Ce was startled awake by the sound and quickly opened his eyes, looking in the direction from which the sound came.

He will never forget that voice!

If Zhang Huai had saved his life back then, then that person would have ignited direction for him on his lost path in life, which was far more important than saving his physical body.

"Teacher, it really is you!"

Huang Ce said excitedly, never expecting that he would be able to see his teacher one last time before he died.

"This disciple has no regrets."

He knew that his teacher was not following Zhang Huai, but was determined to overthrow the imperial court.