ALL NOVEL
Chapter 513
The reason it is said not far away is that the two races are different. Even with the "surrendering battle formation map" trade, Anda Third Prince was still wary of the two people and barely allowed them to get close.
Today's incident happened for a reason. The Third Prince was particularly fond of watching the people of Great Yu fight each other. He took two steps forward and said stiffly in official language, "Second Prince, the Jiang Family Army has thick skin. It will take some time for the reinforcements to arrive. Why don't you let loose?"
What he said nicely was "letting loose". What he meant badly was that he wanted to watch dogs bite dogs.
Zhu Changyu lowered his eyelashes and his expression was unclear. His tone was pleasant as he said, "Many thanks to Third Prince for the opportunity. I will certainly scold these hypocritical people and vent all my anger."
Anda Third Prince laughed happily and gestured with his hand for them to come forward.
Just as he was about to take a step, Fang Yuan pulled him back. This former top scholar was pale as he slowly said, "Your Highness, do we really have to do this? Don't forget, you and I were once ambitious people ourselves. As long as the green hills last, we don't have to worry about running out of firewood."
"The green hills are already destroyed. Where can we find green smoke?" Zhu Changyu's expression was inscrutable. "There are no eggs left under an overturned nest. Ah Yuan, you have been blinded by desire, always thinking you were a god sent down to earth. You don't know calamity gods are still gods."
Fang Yuan's expression changed slightly and he slowly let go with his right hand.
The puzzled Anda Third Prince pulled his advisor over to ask, "What are those two mumbling about? It's a bit hard to understand."
"It seems to be a verse from the Central Plains, and they mentioned something about gods." The advisor thought for a moment. "It must be related to the struggle for the throne."
Only then did the Third Prince relax. He reached out and said, "Second Prince, please go ahead."
What he said sounded nice, but in reality several guards with knives followed closely behind, watching as Zhu Changyu stood under the city gate, watching him roll up his sleeves to scold and curse.
"Don't think you can move me with mere familial love, saying my life will be spared while actually confusing my mind. The historical records are held in your hands, for you to edit as you wish."
"We don't know what choice he will make until the last moment. We don't know if he will spare my life or not. Is it wrong for me to plan for myself? I just want to live, to live better."
"It's just... the fifty strings on the zither broke for no reason, making me think of prosperous years for each string and pillar."
He looked up, seemingly gazing at the fellow countrymen on the tower pointing swords at each other, or maybe he was reminiscing about his past self who was able to bravely move forward through hatred.
Indeed his heart was filled with hatred. His methods were dirty and despicable. He wanted to sit on that position but he also wanted to get revenge on this dynasty.
"You're right. A person without love sees everyone as black."
Zhu Changyu turned around and slowly walked towards the Northern Nomads.
On top of the city wall, Fang Heng was somewhat puzzled. "What's he doing? Why did he suddenly recite a verse?"
"I don't know." Jiang Chengyuan shook his head. "How long until the reinforcements arrive? Listening to them hurl abuse is really unbearable."
"They should arrive soon." Fang Heng gazed into the distance before withdrawing his eyes.
No one knew when Zhu Changyu had walked to Anda Third Prince's side. Sensing the vigilance of the guards, he immediately stopped and smiled bitterly, "Third Prince, I won't go over there. Your people are really too wary of us."
"But I won't go over to curse either. After all, that is my homeland."
He revealed a complex expression full of love and hate, too profound to describe in words.
Anda Third Prince relaxed. He guffawed and said, "If Second Prince doesn't wish to go then don't go. You still have an advisor by your side. Just make him go instead."
Fang Yuan's expression instantly froze. "Please spare me, Third Prince. Do you see that person above? He is my cousin."
He pointed at Fang Heng, with some nostalgia in his eyes. "Back then, we studied together with Grandfather. One pursued military strategy while the other went into civil service. He said he wanted to guard the borders and drive out the Northern Nomads while I said I wanted to safeguard imperial power and restrain the noble families. We planned to build a peaceful and prosperous era together."
Yet more than ten years later, one stood on top of the city wall defending against the Northern Nomads while the other stood below the city wall accompanying them.
"Third Prince, you are an understanding man. Please excuse this insignificant one." At some point Fang Yuan had sidled up to him, kowtowing and fawning. "How could this thick-skinned criminal possibly confront my own cousin?"
Anda Third Prince was enjoying himself but also felt they were too close, and was about to take two steps back.
In that split second, Fang Yuan suddenly stood up and kicked over the guard with a knife.
Not far away, Zhu Changyu swiftly looked up. In just a few steps he arrived to kick away another guard.
By the time Fang Yuan swiftly took care of the advisor, the only one still standing in the center of the army was Anda Third Prince.
"You... aren't you a civil servant?" He stammered haltingly, afraid to attack. "What are you two trying to do? The Anda Tribe is willing to befriend you and support you in ascending the throne. Do not act recklessly." "Can you really shake Great Yu's foundations?" Zhu Changyu was expressionless. "Even if you did shake it, could you hand imperial power over to me?"
Anda Third Prince had no words.
"The initial decision to choose you was forced by desperation. Great Yu Dynasty occupies the entire Central Plains. All around are either Japanese pirates or Northern Nomads without even a foothold."
"Admittedly, I did have thoughts of revenge. I hate this country, so I gave up the battle formation map."
"But my hatred has nothing to do with the innocent soldiers and civilians."
"I'm not enlightened and I haven't let go of my hatred either. I just... can't bear the torment of my conscience anymore. I don't know if Little Five truly wanted to spare my life or if he said it intentionally for me to hear, but it's not important anymore."
"A mistake is a mistake, the mistakes have already been made, this criminal Zhu Changyu has no face to meet Great Yu's citizens. I can only take Third Prince away."
"The historical records should not record me as a good person. I am guilty of unforgivable sins."
Just as his words ended, he pulled out a hairpin from his headdress and ground it into an even thinner blade to slice across Anda Third Prince's throat.
"No..." The Northern Nomads shrieked heartbreakingly, no longer hindered.
Countless spears pierced the hateful Great Yu people's chests before lifting both of them up and smashing them heavily onto the solid ground.
"Why did you have to go through this?" Fang Yuan spit out large mouthfuls of blood. "I'm just a criminal who stole others' achievements. My death means nothing, but you could have lived as a carefree prince."
"Didn't you also say you wanted to become a powerful minister, reigning in all the noble families and not allowing their arrogance anymore? It's a pity you took the wrong path and targeted the wrong people too." Zhu Changyu's breath was weak. "If we returned to seven years ago, would you still persecute General Fang's widow?"
"It wasn't something I could control..." Fang Yuan closed his eyes with a smile. "Some things are just too powerless."
In the distance, the Northern Nomads swarmed over. Discovering Third Prince had already lost his breath, their anger propelled them upwards again as they raised their spears, piercing every inch of the two people's flesh until their bodies were mangled without a shred of intact meat left.
But it was still not enough to quell their anger.
The saying goes catching the thief means catching the ringleader first. With the death of Third Prince who led the troops, morale was greatly shaken.
The Northern Nomads' eyes turned red as they raised the two mangled corpses high up and smashed them against the city wall like mud.
"No!" Fang Heng, who had watched the entire thing, shook his head. He almost jumped down.
Jiang Chengyuan yanked him back fiercely, using his ears to listen for sounds. "They're here, they're here! The reinforcements are here!"
Guanjin Line reinforcements: 50 thousand. Guyuan Line reinforcements: 50 thousand. Plus the 50 thousand Jiang Family Army secretly pulled back, totaling 150 thousand to surround and annihilate the Northern Nomads in turn.
Even if Third Prince was still alive, the situation would have been hard to salvage. Let alone now that he had left.
With the enemy leaderless, their side was like a broken bamboo.
This great battle would eventually be recorded in history.
The rights and wrongs, achievements and faults of the two traitors would be left for later generations to evaluate.