Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 253: The Rebellion of the Western Qin Army

The setting sun was blood-red, casting a crimson hue over the desolate grasslands and mountains, stretching two hundred miles to the south of Xingling Prefecture.

General Jiang Gu'en, Jun Yichi, Tuoba Kedi, Zheteng Kun, Lin Haotian, and a group of young generals such as Jiang Man'er and Wei Chi Shuo, who had returned from the city after reporting their victory, rode swiftly with hundreds of guards.

After a moment, a dense army in black armor appeared ahead, with a large "Jiang" banner fluttering in the wind. Dozens of generals surrounded a figure in the middle. Although his appearance couldn't be clearly seen for the time being, an indescribable aura had already swept over.

The group of old generals couldn't help but slow down their horses. Jiang Gu'en looked at the boundless blue sky and sighed, "Have you all noticed something?"

Tuoba Kedi and Zheteng Kun exchanged glances, puzzled. Only Jun Yichi pondered for a moment and smiled, "It's different! The momentum of the forty thousand cavalry welcoming the Prince is different!"

"This is courage! This is confidence! This is momentum! Our Jiang family's Prince has never been mediocre. With youth, dominance, and the reputation of a genius, the Western Qin Army still has potential!"

Jiang Gu'en sighed again, raised his whip, and galloped forward.

The generals behind exchanged smiles and followed closely.

The large army ahead had already drawn near. The appearance of the young general in the middle could now be clearly seen. He was seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and straight, wearing the Nine-Winged Cicada Golden Armor of the feudal lords, a golden crown, and carrying a black iron spear. There was not much expression on his face, but his eyes carried a look that no one could understand.

The "Jiang" banner beside him shone brightly, matching the brilliance of the Jiang family's Prince.

Even the most unruly and experienced generals on the battlefield could only lower their heads at this moment.

"We, the subordinates, pay our respects to the Commander!"

The generals dismounted and knelt down on one knee to pay their respects. The Western Qin Prince was Jiang Yuqing's title, and the Commander of the military and political affairs of the three provinces and eighteen prefectures of the Western Regions, as well as the Grand General of the Divine Might Army, was his official position. The former was higher than the latter. When Jiang Sanye handed over the military power to him, he would truly become the commander-in-chief of the three armies.

The army came to a halt in an orderly manner. Xin Zhuo silently looked at the dozens of old generals. These people were staunch supporters of the Jiang family in the Western Qin region. At present, they were not overbearing, so he dismounted and helped each of them up one by one. "Respected generals, you have defended the border for the country and worked hard. There is no need for such a grand gesture. It embarrasses this junior!"

The generals secretly raised their heads and looked at the young Prince again. The more they looked, the more satisfied they were. He was extraordinary and exuded a fierce aura. As the saying goes, a benevolent person does not control the military, and a righteous person does not control wealth. He was a good seedling.

Wei Chi Shuo, Jiang Man'er, and a group of young male and female commanders exchanged a glance, but they felt that the young Prince was too beautiful, lacking a bit of fierceness.

After the generals stood up and mounted their horses again, the army returned to Xingling Prefecture.

"The Commander has traveled a long way and fought a great battle. I'm afraid he is already exhausted. It would be better to return to the mansion in the city and rest first."

"I think the Commander should inspect the three armies first. The fifteen thousand Western Qin soldiers have long awaited the Prince."

The old generals felt that the journey had been dull and awkward, so they made some small talk, trying to get closer and probe the temperament and temper of the young Prince, as well as to understand the future of the Western Qin Army.

But they saw the young Prince standing tall, looking straight ahead, remaining silent all the way. It wasn't until the prominent city of Xingling and the continuous military camps outside the city came into view that he glanced at the sky and suddenly swept his gaze towards everyone. "The Western Qin Army has rebelled. The Emperor's desire to destroy our Western Qin Army will not die, so I will destroy his heart for Great Zhou. Those who are unwilling to follow, hang up your seals tomorrow morning and leave!"

"Commander!"

The generals were instantly shocked and terrified. The Jiang family had been loyal to Great Zhou for three hundred years, producing countless talented and iron-blooded generals on the battlefield. Why did this young Prince, who had just arrived, show some tolerance and understanding, suddenly say such heart-wrenching words?

Wei Chi Shuo, Bai Xuanji, Jiang Man'er, Jiang Shisan, Jiang Yuxi, and others, a group of young generals, were equally pale.

Even Sheng Lingge, Xiong Zhang, and Sai Qingzhu were stunned.

Only Murong Xiu had his mouth open, rubbing the corners of his mouth.

Xin Zhuo smiled faintly, "The Southern Shen Ce Army is shrinking, and the Northern Front Army is shrinking. The court has done everything to undermine the plans of the Western Qin Army. What loyalty do we need? You have already been abandoned by the court, the Prime Minister, and the Emperor. Why be loyal to Da Zhou?"

"Our Western Qin Army will only have one voice from now on, only one master, me, Jiang Yuqing! If you want to stay, continue training as usual tomorrow. If you don't want to stay, retire early. If you have any doubts, you will be executed!"

The faces of dozens of generals turned pale, their bodies trembling slightly. They had been loyal to Da Zhou their whole lives, and now everything was changing overnight.

"How is my third uncle's health?"

Xin Zhuo seemed unwilling to mention it again, looking at the only excited face beside him, Jiang Shisan.

The latter immediately replied, "Third Master's health is worrying. He is currently recuperating, and the Elder of the Three Sects of the Western Regions will come in the morning to treat him!"

"Enter the city!"

Xin Zhuo only brought seven hundred Iron Floating Guards, along with his maids and subordinates, heading straight for the wide-open city gate.

Jiang Gu'en, Yu Chi Jun, and Tuoba Kedi, a group of old generals, silently accompanied them to the city gate, then stopped, their faces filled with deep sorrow.

The sound of thunderous cheers had already spread throughout the city. The people lined the streets to welcome the arrival of the Prince, as if the Prince could bring new life to the three provinces and eighteen prefectures.

"What is this Prince thinking? Why did he rebel as soon as he arrived? Even if he wanted to rebel, he should at least ask for our opinions, consult our thoughts. We have fought for the Western Qin Army our whole lives, this is too disrespectful."

Yu Chi Shuo sighed and looked at his good friend Bai Xuanji with difficulty. "Xuanji, what do you think our teacher is thinking?"

"I don't know either."

Bai Xuanji shook her head slightly. To be honest, she admired the Master, whether it was his knowledge, military strategy, or character. But... she was still a subject of Da Zhou, and her heart was filled with conflicting emotions.

...

Inside the city, a bustling avenue paved with marble, surrounded by numerous shops. However, being a border town, it still exuded a strong military atmosphere.

The people on both sides couldn't see the end, and wherever Xin Zhuo's group went, there was thunderous applause.

Sheng Lingge silently followed Xin Zhuo, watching him wave to the people with a smile. Unable to hold back any longer, he approached and asked in a low voice, "I don't understand why the Prince immediately mentioned rebellion as soon as he arrived?"

Xiong Zhang and Hong Shu quickly leaned in to listen.

Xin Zhuo waved to another group of merchants before turning back and saying, "They were already a pitiful bunch. By setting the tone first, they will come to their own realizations. It's better than slowly boiling a frog in warm water."

Sheng Lingge didn't quite understand what "setting the tone" meant, but he still asked in a heavy tone, "What if they don't want to and they run away with their troops?"

Xin Zhuo smiled, "The mark of the Jiang family is too deep on them. Even if they run away, they won't survive. The Emperor and the Prime Minister are too cunning. They might even suspect that they listened to me and deliberately stirred up trouble. Old Sheng, when doing things, you have to use your brain!"

"Yes!" Sheng Lingge stepped back with a constipated expression.

Xin Zhuo looked at the night sky. To reverse the situation, he had studied the Lunar Serenity Well all the way. The Western Qin Army of over a hundred thousand could completely refer to the secret chamber created by Tang Wuwo and his group. Only by leaving Da Zhou behind could they have a chance of successfully performing the ritual! As long as that dog Emperor was still around, the spirits of his 150,000 army would be in vain, and coming to the Western Regions would be meaningless.

(End of this chapter)