Chapter 324 - - 322 How to persuade a loyal person to surrender_1

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It’s true!

What Leng Shi said was true!

It turned out that there really was a group of people secretly supporting the Fourth Princess.

Having fallen into a trap and surrounded by the army, Tong San and the others had been plunged into despair.

But the appearance of Liu Yian and his companions instantly ignited the flames of hope in their hearts, and everyone’s spirit was uplifted—after all, these were Innate Experts!

…

Huangfu Yue’s complexion changed dramatically, and she said urgently, “Mr. Liu, why bother with her, a daughter of a fallen country, forsaking a great future ahead…”

Duge interrupted her from a superior position, “Huangfu Yue, in one’s life, one always needs to pursue something. Some for ideals, some for beliefs, some for loyalty; that’s our motivation to charge forward.

That’s also why we stepped into Yutang Pass, even though we knew it to be very likely a trap, because we don’t want to let down those who follow us. Even if there’s a one in ten thousand chance, we have to strive for it…”

Huangfu Yue was suddenly stunned.

But then, the repulsive things that Duge had done to her flashed across her mind, causing goosebumps all over her body, and any touch of sympathy she might have felt vanished in an instant, replaced by anger: “You shameless scoundrel, how dare you speak of fighting for women’s status…”

Before Duge could speak, Luo Shuang’s face had already darkened, “Huangfu Yue, my patience with you is limited. The master’s character is well-known to everyone, if you continue to slander the master, I’ll be the first to kill you.”

“You…” Huangfu Yue looked at the naïve Luo Shuang, wanting to tell her what Duge had just done, to expose Duge’s beastly behavior and prevent Luo Shuang from going astray. But after trying to speak twice, her face turning beet red, she couldn’t get the words out and ended up simply cursing in her heart—bastard.

“You what?”

Duge looked at Huangfu Yue with a smile, naturally aware of the root of her unspeakable suffering.

But that was the effect he wanted!

The image of the Imperial Master must not be ruined at any cost…

Didn’t he want to win convincingly through Art Technique?

But the body imbued with the Sea God’s Power had been left in the simulation field.

The Divine Power in his soul was limited; it was only after his spiritual power had upgraded to over one hundred thousand that he had obtained his current ability to control water.

If he really brought out that body of the Sea God, and found an ocean to directly trigger a tsunami, the massive physical tides would skyrocket his statistics in minutes, why would he bother finding elaborate ways to torment a few people with water currents…

…

Duge, accompanied by Luo Shuang, gracefully leaped down from the city wall.

Where their feet landed, the accumulated water parted on both sides as if by a miracle.

Liu Yian glanced at Duge’s feet and his pupils contracted unconsciously, then quickly returned to normal: “Mr. He’s Art Technique is indeed profound.”

“You are too kind, Mr. Liu, your movement techniques are also very profound,” Duge nodded, standing in front of Huangfu Yue, “General Huangfu, surrender! Let us join hands to establish a nation of gender equality. In that nation, you can become a true general, the kind that presides over the Three Offices and Six Ministries, and not just have to rely on your ancestors’ shade to be a minor leader whose career ends right there…”

“I won’t hear of it, I won’t betray Chongming Country,” Huangfu Yue declared angrily, “especially not to work with a lowly person like you.”

Luo Shuang glared at her furiously.

Duge smiled, not minding her offense in the slightest, and continued, “General Huangfu, are you truly content to waste your talents and martial skills to just be a wife and mother, living a mediocre life?”

“…” Huangfu Yue froze, a struggle flickering in her eyes.

Duge looked at her intently, “Miss Yue, you must be in your twenties by now; it must have been difficult for you to fight until now without marrying, right?”

“…” Huangfu Yue.

Duge chuckled, “Leading your troops on a long march this time, you must have felt exhilarated, thinking of earning achievements and impressing your father so that he might finally give you a real chance to command soldiers, isn’t that so?”

“…” Huangfu Yue involuntarily looked in the direction of Huangfu Xing’s camp, licking her lips with a flickering gaze.

“On long nights, you must have also fantasized about being a man. Then, you could go to battle like your father and brothers,” Duge sighed lightly, “These days, you must have read the stories of Liang Hongyu and Hua Mulan over and over!”

Liu Yian watched Duge with a face full of surprise.

“Don’t talk nonsense, I don’t have it, to the victor go the spoils, just kill me!” Huangfu Yue’s body shivered, unable to help herself from closing her eyes so that Duge couldn’t see the panic in them.

She couldn’t bear having her innermost thoughts seen through by a lecher, but her slightly quickened heartbeat betrayed that she wasn’t as obstinate as she appeared to be.

“The Fourth Princess is right here, why not give yourself a chance?” Duge sighed again, “You’ve already closed your eyes, why not imagine that beautiful realm where women can enter schools just like men, participate in imperial examinations, become officials, engage in commerce, go to the battlefield to protect their country, and even free themselves from their parents to decide on their own marriage, to find a like-minded husband…”

Luo Shuang quietly licked her lips and stole a glance at Duge, her pretty face suddenly blushing.

It was her turn to speak to recruit Huangfu Yue, but she had completely forgotten.

As Duge described the vision, Huangfu Yue’s eyelashes trembled, her heartbeat quickened, her breathing grew more rapid, but suddenly, she opened her eyes: “Villain, don’t bewitch me, I won’t betray my father and brothers.”

“Father and brothers?” Duge chuckled lightly, looking towards Liu Yian, “Mr. Liu has prepared so thoroughly, I suppose Huangfu Xing can’t return either, can he?”

“That’s right.” Liu Yian nodded his head.

“…” Huangfu Yue’s eyes widened, “You?”

“Huangfu Yue, all the people of Chongming Country know that, for the sake of the Fourth Princess, you have already betrayed Chongming Country; with Huangfu Xing dead, who will reverse the verdict for you?” Duge laughed lightly, “The Emperor of Chongming Country? The Prime Minister? Even if they wanted to reverse the verdict, I’m afraid it would be treated as a divisive strategy! We might even spread rumors saying that you, for your ideals, personally killed Huangfu Xing, condemning you forever on the pillar of shame as a traitor…”

“You…” Huangfu Yue’s eyes almost split with anger, her chest heaving uncontrollably as she struggled violently, “Villain, how can you be so shameless, I’ll fight you.”

“If you die, then no one will be able to reverse the verdict for your family, no one will be able to save your father.” Duge looked at her, speaking with gravity, “Loyalty and righteousness are not your own beliefs; they are acknowledged by others.”

Pfft!

Huangfu Yue, overcome with rage, spat out a mouthful of blood: “You… how can you be so venomous?”

“In war, deceit is not frowned upon; on the battlefield, as long as you can achieve victory, who cares about the means used?” Duge said, “General Huangfu exploited the princess’s kind heart to set a trap for us, is that not venomous? If the princess and I were really to die at Yutang Pass, Miss Yue, you would probably be toasting your father, laughing at the princess’s stupidity!”

“…” Huangfu Yue was left speechless once more.

“Huangfu Yue, you have to bear the consequences of everything you do,” Duge said, looking at Huangfu Yue, “In fact, you still have a chance to save all this. Send someone to General Huangfu’s camp, and invite the general here to surrender along with the Fourth Princess.

In doing so, if the Fourth Princess ascends the throne in the future, the Huangfu Family will be meritorious ministers;

If the princess fails, you and your father together can execute the Fourth Princess and continue with your plans for today. I’m sure the Prime Minister won’t mind a little deviation in your plans, and would be more than willing to exonerate you…”

Huangfu Yue stared at Duge, unable to utter a single word.

“Mr. Liu, let her go!” Duge gave Liu Yian a look, and Liu Yian released his hold on her.

“Huangfu Yue, you don’t have much time left.” Duge turned to look at Huangfu Xing’s camp, with a master strategist’s demeanor, “Please make your decision quickly.”

Huangfu Yue’s hand holding the spear trembled slightly: “I…”

“Miss Yue, don’t you want to personally take down a despicable person like me? If such an ignoble person like me were to lead the princess in establishing a realm where men and women are equal, how great would the harm be? If you won’t consider for your own sake, don’t you also consider for the people of the world? Judging by your appearance, Miss Yue, you seem to be an upright person!” Duge smiled, turned towards her, and shook his head, “If you die, then that’s the end of everything.”

He blinked, and a stream of water slithered into her boots like a snake, coiling up her calf; Huangfu Yue’s eyes widened once again as the spear in her hand reflexively lifted and pointed straight at Duge.

Luo Shuang stepped forward, blocking in front of Duge: “Huangfu Yue, my patience has its limits, don’t be too presumptuous.”

The water flow quietly receded, and Huangfu Yue looked at Luo Shuang, who was defending Duge, then at the smiling Duge, and forcefully threw her spear into the city wall; she gritted her teeth: “Fine, I’ll send the letter to my father.”

“Miss Huangfu.” An escort beside her urgently said.

As soon as the words were spoken,

Liu Yian’s sword had already pierced through her throat: “The talkative die.”

Huangfu Yue clenched her fist tightly; she looked at Liu Yian and said, “Send the order down, all soldiers, line up, submit to the Fourth Princess.”

The water on the city wall was nearly all drained away, leaving only a wet and slippery surface; Huangfu Yue’s heart also emptied along with it. She turned her head to glance at Liu Yian and the others, silently clenching her fists, an injustice not born of battle!

If it weren’t for the betrayal of Liu Yian and the others, she would not have fallen to this point…

She could not accept it!

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