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Sikong Zun, while fending off attacks from crossbows and formations, roared angrily, “Ling Xiao, stop talking nonsense. It was Ji Ning who destroyed unity, ambushed me, and then had people attack my Beimo Pass. That allowed the Black Crow Army to exploit the gap, resulting in tens of thousands of soldiers dying miserably. If anyone is to be blamed, Ji Ning bears the greatest guilt!”
Hearing this sophistry, the killing intent in Ling Xiao’s eyes grew even stronger.
This despicable and shameless fellow had set up a Hongmen Banquet, under the name of alliance, yet allowed people from the Black Crow Empire to infiltrate the banquet.
Then he injured himself, but caused Ji Ning to be ambushed and hit by a poisoned arrow.
Not only that, he even instructed his subordinates to secretly kill him, Ling Xiao, and Ji Ning.
If not for An Ci’s meritorious service, the two of them would probably have become unjust ghosts by now.
It was this shameless fellow again who, clearly seeing the Black Crow Army approaching, ignored advice and insisted on mobilising all troops to pursue and kill the Beimo Army.
Ultimately, this led to the Imperial City Camp being surrounded like dumplings, and under a rain of arrows, more than half were killed or wounded.
It was still this shameless fellow who, when the Black Crow Army attacked Beimo Pass, sneaked away, causing Feng Qingyan and Lü Chenglong, along with thousands of soldiers, to be captured alive.
This man’s crimes were simply too numerous to record, yet now he dared to turn the tables and dump the blame on Ji Ning’s head.
He was utterly shameless to the extreme!
“Utter rubbish!”
Ling Xiao angrily rebuked, “If I were you, I would have committed seppuku on the battlefield long ago. How dare you still have the face to stand here distorting black and white?
As the commander-in-chief, disregarding the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers, you stubbornly abandoned Beimo Pass, this barrier, and charged out to deal with the Beimo Army that had already given up fighting.
This led to rivers of blood and countless deaths and injuries!
In the battle of Beimo Pass, deputy commanders Lü Chenglong and Feng Qingyan fought fiercely and were captured. They are heroes, but what about you? You sneaked away? What face do you have to shout here?
If you had participated in the battle, how could a mere Mutu possibly capture you alive?
And you still dare to say you have no secret dealings with the Black Crow Empire?
Beimo City has stood firm in the northern border for over a decade without falling, but after you arrived, it became a complete mess. Even General Ji Ning was poisoned and remains unconscious, yet you have the audacity to shamelessly dump the blame on his head?
You say General Ji Ning colluded with the Black Crow Empire?
That’s hilarious. General Ji Ning has achieved countless merits over more than a decade, killing innumerable warriors from the Black Crow Empire. Do you think he would gain anything good by defecting to the Black Crow Empire?
And you? You have no achievements to your name, yet caused the deaths of countless soldiers. What is wrong with me saying you were flirting with that Jiumo Zhi?”
Ling Xiao’s words were heart-piercing, each one like a sharp sword stabbing into Sikong Zun.
Even the Beimo Army soldiers who had some doubts earlier now completely understood.
Ling Xiao was actually speaking for them to hear.
“You have no evidence. What is the point of saying these things.”
Sikong Zun hid beyond shooting range and said with a cold laugh.
“Heh heh, when we return to the imperial city, you will know whether I have evidence or not! Unless you roll back to your True Demon Empire or hide in the Black Crow Empire, otherwise, I will definitely expose the true face of this ambitious traitor in front of everyone in the imperial city.”
Although Ling Xiao had some evidence, it was not sufficient, but An Ci was still intensively investigating.
He would absolutely not let this old dog Sikong Zun off!
“Good, then let us see who will be put on public trial and who will die sooner!”
Sikong Zun said with a cold laugh, “I will be waiting for you in the imperial city. I hope you do not die prematurely at the hands of the Black Crow Army, hahaha.”
“Rest assured, I will not die, because I need to keep this life to take your dog head. And your proud True Demon Empire, I will completely raze it to the ground!”
Ling Xiao dared to say this today, and he would dare to do it in the future. He had never let go of anyone he wanted to kill.
It was just a matter of sooner or later.
Dealing with Sikong Zun was a relatively difficult task, but he was not afraid. With this motivation, he could grow faster.
“Qin Huo, tonight is the moment of reversal. From now on, no matter what happens outside the city, no matter how many groups they kill, endure it for me!”
Ling Xiao took a deep breath.
The most difficult moment was now, but as long as they could hold on, they would win!
…
In the first hour, one hundred captives were killed.
The people from the Black Crow Empire not only killed them, but also deliberately erected tall poles and hung their corpses there, so that the people in Beimo City could see them at all times.
In the second hour, another hundred captives were killed.
Finally, at this time, the first incident occurred in Beimo City. A subordinate of Zhang Yufei was executed by Ling Xiao under military orders for spreading surrender rhetoric.
Although this matter was temporarily suppressed, panic among the people in the city was inevitable.
To break the enemy, Ling Xiao gathered all the major and minor generals in the conference hall to arrange combat strategies.
However, at this moment, Zhang Yufei roared angrily, “What is there to arrange? If this continues, not only will all the captives outside be killed, even our own people will be killed by you!
The defending troops in the city now number just over thirty thousand, and morale is low with panicked hearts, while the Black Crow Empire has high morale and united hearts. How can we possibly win? Do you want to harm the civilians in the city?”
Ling Xiao did not get angry, but asked coldly, “Then what do you plan to do?”
“Humph, what my dead subordinate said was right. Since the Black Crow Empire promised not to harm a hair in autumn, even for the sake of the civilians in the city, we should surrender. Personal honour and disgrace mean nothing; the civilians are the key. This is also the general’s will.”
Zhang Yufei said with a cold hum.
“Slap!”
Hearing these words, Ling Xiao slammed his palm on the table and roared angrily, “Zhang Yufei, I said before, anyone who shakes military morale will be killed without mercy! You boost others’ ambitions and destroy our own prestige, not only shaking military morale, but your heart is punishable. Come, drag Zhang Yufei out and behead him in public to serve as a warning!”
“You dare!”
Zhang Yufei roared angrily, “When I followed the general in campaigns north and south, you were still somewhere wetting your pants. How dare you kill me?”
“What are you all standing there for? Are my orders useless? This man not only shakes military morale, but also boldly defies superiors. His crime is unforgivable. Drag him out and execute him immediately!”
Ling Xiao was extremely furious.
At this time, Zhuge Ming stepped forward and said, “Inspector, General Zhang was just speaking in anger. Please do not take it to heart. He only has the civilians at heart and absolutely does not want to betray.”
“He is not wrong? Does that mean this commander is wrong? Come, beat Zhuge Ming out with sticks. Anyone who pleads for mercy shares the same crime!”
Ling Xiao almost roared it out.
Zhuge Ming was driven out of the conference hall by An Ci’s soldiers.
“Please, Inspector, show mercy.”
At this time, dozens of generals, led by Li Ruguang, knelt down to plead for Zhang Yufei.
Even Qin Huo said, “Commander, General Zhang is the general’s old minister. Killing him might cause military morale to fluctuate even more and make it harder to manage.”
