The Tyrant of the Great Qian Dynasty: Not only will I refuse to arrange a marriage alliance, but I w

In the southern part of the capital city, inside an inconspicuous private residence.

Xu Liang, the former garrison commander of the West Gate, paced back and forth in the cramped room, each step heavy, stretching his shadow out of shape on the wall.

The floorboards creaked under his footsteps.

According to the original plan, he should have taken advantage of the chaos when the West Gate was breached to escape the capital and go far away.

But before he fled, he received a secret order left by Zhao Kang's confidant.

The secret order instructed him not to flee far, but to lie in wait within the city. Once the Northern Barbarian army breached the city, he would be recognized as a hero of the "rebellion," and, with the help of those inside and outside, welcome the Northern Barbarian army into the city.

By then, he would not only be blameless but also meritorious, and would at least be able to become a general in the new dynasty.

This enticing prospect led him to choose to stay.

But to his surprise, what he received was not news of the city's fall, but the astonishing battle report that Ninth Prince Su Zhe had killed Huyan Zhuo and annihilated 30,000 vanguard troops.

This completely threw him into a panic.

With Zhao Kang gone, his connection to the government also ended.

He huddled in the dark, gloomy house, and the slightest sound or movement could send chills down his spine.

"Tap, tap tap, tap."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door—three long knocks and two short knocks, the agreed-upon code.

Xu Liang's spirits lifted, thinking that Zhao Kang's former subordinates had brought new information or were going to help him escape from this dangerous situation.

He rushed forward and carefully unlatched the door.

When the door opened, he didn't see the people he had imagined.

The person standing outside the door had a cold and stern face, with sharp features that lacked any human warmth.

Commander of the Great Snow Dragon Riders, Chen Baipao!

Xu Liang felt all his strength drain away, and his hands and feet went numb.

His first instinct was to run!

He suddenly turned around and, without thinking, lunged toward the back window.

He had just turned around, but hadn't taken a step yet.

"puff!"

The window paper tore, and a spear tip pierced through, its sharp edge gleaming coldly, pressing firmly against his Adam's apple.

The sharp aura emanating from the tip of the spear sent shivers down his spine.

If he dares to move even once more, the tip of the spear will pierce his throat without hesitation.

A calm voice came from outside the door; it was Su Zhe.

"General Xu, why are you running?"

"I've come to you to ask you to be reinstated to your original position. Don't be ungrateful."

Xu Liang stood frozen in place, not daring to move an inch. Large beads of cold sweat slid down his forehead, soaking through the clothes on his back.

He's finished.

……

Xu Liang was "invited" to the city tower at the west gate by two soldiers of the Great Snow Dragon Riders.

This place has been completely transformed.

The fortifications on the city walls had been reinforced, and patrolling Snow Dragon Knights were everywhere. The glint of their weapons and the scraping of their armor created a chilling atmosphere.

Su Zhe was standing by the battlements, his hands behind his back, gazing down at the city below.

He pointed to the dark, imposing Northern Barbarian camp outside the city and said to Xu Liang, who was being brought before him:

"General Xu, you deserted your post in the face of battle. According to the military law of the Great Qian Dynasty, what should be done?"

Xu Liang's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "According to...according to the law, he should be executed."

"Very good, you still remember." Su Zhe nodded. "But I have always valued talent and am willing to give you a chance to redeem yourself."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light appeared in Xu Liang's dim eyes.

"Do you see that banner of the northern barbarians?"

Su Zhe pointed to the center of the enemy camp in the distance.

There, a black wolf-head flag fluttered in the wind, standing out conspicuously.

That is where the royal banner of the Great Chanyu of the Northern Barbarians is located.

"Tomorrow, I will send my main force to launch a feint attack on the east gate to draw the enemy's attention."

"You, take a group of men, sneak out of the city through the west gate, circle around to their rear, and cut down that flag for me."

Su Zhe's tone was calm and even, as if he were instructing a servant to fetch something.

"If you can do it, your crime of desertion in the face of battle will be wiped clean. I will even remember your great merit."

Xu Lianggang raised his head and then lowered it again, his face drained of all color.

How can this be considered atonement for a crime?

This is clearly sending him to his death!

Let him lead a small group of men, single-handedly, into the heart of an army of hundreds of thousands, to cut down the Chanyu's royal banner.

What's the difference between this and making him slit his own throat?

He kowtowed heavily with a thud, crying out, "Your Highness, spare me! Isn't this sending me to my death? This is an impossible mission!"

He cried out in tears, "I have an eighty-year-old mother to support and a three-year-old child to raise. I beg Your Highness to have mercy and spare my life!"

"You can choose not to go."

Su Zhe interrupted his wailing. His voice was not loud, but every word hit Xu Liang's heart, making him unable to have the slightest thought of resistance.

"Then I will cut off your head now and hang it on the west gate tower as a warning to others."

"Then, I will pack up your entire family and send them to the Northern Barbarian camp. I will tell Huyan Ba ​​that these are the family members of the traitor Xu Liang, and they can do whatever they want with them."

Su Zhe turned his head and looked into Xu Liang's eyes.

"The choice is yours. Do you gamble for that sliver of hope, or die now and let your family suffer the consequences?"

This kind of choice is more cruel than not giving anyone a choice at all.

Xu Liang completely broke down.

He slumped to the ground, his face ashen.

He had no doubt that the God of Slaughter before him could do what he said he would do.

Going there would be a near-certain death, but at least the family might be spared.

If I don't go, I'll die right now, and my family will suffer humiliation that's worse than death.

He had no choice.

He swayed, and with all his might, squeezed out a few words from his throat.

"This humble general... obeys."

Watching Xu Liang being dragged away, Su Zhe's face remained expressionless.

He turned to Chen Baipao and whispered the order:

"Find a hundred death row inmates in the prison, dress them in barbarian soldiers' clothes, and have him lead them around."

"Once he leaves the city, have the Shenji Battalion get ready. If he dares to turn his horse around and head towards the Northern Barbarian camp, don't wait for him to get close. Use the Shenbi crossbows to riddle him and his entire team with bullets."

"Consider it a 'gift' to the Northern Barbarians in advance to signal the start of war."

This is a trap.

It was both the final test of Xu Liang's loyalty and a trap prepared for him.

No matter what choice Xu Liang makes, his fate is already sealed.

Just then, the lookout on the city wall suddenly sounded a mournful horn!

"Waaah—waaah—"

The soldier pointed to the distant horizon, his voice trembling with extreme fear:

"Enemy attack—!"

"It's the main force of the Northern Barbarians! They...they're pressing forward with all their might!"

Su Zhe and Chen Baipao looked up at the same time.

On the distant horizon, a black tide was sweeping toward the capital at a speed visible to the naked eye!