novellk Chapter 40 This battle must be fought!
Chapter 40 This battle must be fought!
The golden sunlight still shone on the glazed tiles of the palace, but it could not dispel the nauseating smell of blood in the air.
In a secluded grove behind the palace gate, the once pristine grass was stained dark red by the blood left from Gu Xiaoxiao's severed wrist.
At this moment, Gu Xiaoxiao knelt on the ground, her face as pale as paper, and large beads of cold sweat rolled down her forehead.
At her right wrist, the empty sleeve fluttered gently in the wind, and although the wound had been simply bandaged, blood was still seeping out uncontrollably.
The pain surged like waves, almost completely overwhelming her consciousness.
Beside Gu Xiaoxiao, General Huo Zhong held a blood-dripping sword, looking at her expressionlessly, his eyes devoid of any pity, only filled with a cold scrutiny!
"Your Majesty, I was very rude just now!"
"But at this moment, I would like to offend Your Majesty once more!"
"Your Majesty, please order an operation to intercept Prince Su's Western Frontier army!"
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Huo Zhong's voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable air of authority—of course it was authoritative, because before speaking these words, to prevent Gu Xiaoxiao from refusing to cooperate, Huo Zhong first reached out his left hand to grab the back of Gu Xiaoxiao's collar, then lifted the young emperor up like a chick, and then slowly placed the sword blade against Gu Xiaoxiao's slender neck... before speaking these words!
The moment the cold blade touched Gu Xiaoxiao's skin, she couldn't help but shiver.
He instinctively wanted to question, to roar, to ask Huo Zhong, this traitor, what exactly he wanted to do.
Why?
Why did you cut off one of my hands?
Why would you rather use your army to ambush me than to protect my safety?
Why didn't you lead me to break through the siege, but instead forced me to face Prince Su's rebel army?
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Countless questions swirled in Gu Xiaoxiao's mind, almost bursting out of her throat.
But when she saw Huo Zhong's unfathomable, murderous eyes, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
She didn't dare ask!
It was only at this moment that Gu Xiaoxiao truly realized that the general she had always regarded as her pillar of strength might never have been as loyal as she had imagined.
At this moment, she saw no reverence from a subject in Huo Zhong's eyes, only... a kind of madness that would stop at nothing to achieve a certain goal!
"General..." Gu Xiaoxiao began with difficulty, her voice trembling, "Are you... planning a rebellion?"
"Rebellion?" Huo Zhong sneered, his sword slicing through the thin skin on Gu Xiaoxiao's neck with a slight pressure. "Your Majesty is joking! I am saving Your Majesty, and at the same time, I am saving the Great Liang!"
"Save me?" Gu Xiaoxiao glanced at her severed wrist, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. "Is this how you save me?"
"Does Your Majesty still not understand why I absolutely must fight this war?"
A hint of disappointment flashed in Huo Zhong's eyes.
After saying this, Huo Zhong didn't explain anything further. He simply shoved Gu Xiaoxiao hard, pushing her in front of the remnants of the army that was gathering!
"Send the order! All troops, listen up!"
Huo Zhong's voice suddenly rose as he pushed Gu Xiaoxiao forward, exploding in everyone's ears like thunder.
The Imperial Guards soldiers, who were already exhausted and demoralized, straightened their backs instinctively upon hearing the general's roar.
"His Majesty decrees that whoever can take the head of Prince Su will be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, and all others will be promoted five ranks!"
"If we can hold the Western Frontier army within the palace, and wait for reinforcements from other units to surround them, everyone will be promoted three ranks!"
"Gentlemen, follow His Majesty and I... into battle!"
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As soon as General Huo Zhong finished speaking, the morale of the remaining soldiers present was instantly boosted.
A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men. Soon, these soldiers, their fighting spirit rekindled, gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes filled with a desire for fame and fortune!
Meanwhile, Gu Xiaoxiao, who was being supported by several guards, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
He raised his head, looking at Huo Zhong, his voice hoarse with a hint of despair:
"Huo Zhong, have you gone mad?"
"The enemy is Prince Su's elite force. If we charge in, we'll only be throwing our lives away!"
"Since you don't want to leave the palace to escape, why don't you retreat back to the palace and hold your ground, waiting for reinforcements?"
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At this moment, General Huo Zhong, who had already mounted his precious steed, looked down at Gu Xiaoxiao. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared in an instant, replaced by his cold expression.
"Your Majesty, holding out and waiting for reinforcements is just as bad a strategy as fleeing the palace!"
Huo Zhong's deep voice clearly reached Gu Xiaoxiao's ears.
"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it!"
Gu Xiaoxiao looked at General Huo Zhong with a cold smile—she wanted to hear what this traitorous official had to say!
"Your Majesty, have you still not figured out why I would rather defy you and wage this war?"
At this moment, the look of disappointment in Huo Zhong's eyes as he looked at Gu Xiaoxiao was completely gone. Perhaps, without expectation, there is no disappointment?
"Your Majesty, you are the ruler of this nation, the very foundation of Great Liang. If you were to flee without a fight today, or be forced by Prince Su to cower in the palace, afraid to step out, where would the majesty of the imperial power be? Where would the authority of the Son of Heaven remain?"
At this moment, General Huo Zhong, who was riding on his horse and holding the reins, didn't even bother to glance at Gu Xiaoxiao. All his attention was focused on gazing into the distance, as if... he was looking at the entire Liang Dynasty.
Of course, while gazing into the distance, General Huo Zhong did not forget to explain to Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao his motivation for fighting this battle:
"If you flee today, or cower in one place too afraid to move, then I can assure you that the feudal lords and vassal kings everywhere will know that even the emperor is nothing more than this!"
"At that time, their reverence for the imperial court will vanish completely, and inevitably, a desire to challenge it will arise!"
"When that time comes, the Great Liang will soon be plunged into a chaotic world of warring states and numerous heroes rising up!"
"Therefore, you must fight this battle!"
"Moreover, we not only have to fight, we have to win!"
"Even if there's only a sliver of a chance of victory, we must fight with the majesty of the Emperor and the spirit of the imperial court!"
"Only in this way will the people of the world know that imperial power is inviolable and that rebellion is punishable by death!"
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