Chapter 326 - - 324 The path of loyalty and righteousness is harder than death_1

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Liu Yian left that very night, but the Innate Experts he brought stayed behind under the pretext of protecting the princess.

Duge wasn’t concerned about the dozen or so Innate Experts Liu Yian had left, for before the Fourth Prince, Gu Shiming, gave a clear response, these people would not only refrain from touching Luo Shuang but would also ensure her safety.

Whenever that so-called Fourth Prince came to his senses and truly couldn’t control himself anymore, his power would not necessarily have increased by much, and by that time, they wouldn’t even be able to lay a finger on him.

Besides.

With his own ability to make friends, it might not be long before he could turn them to his side.

…

Huangfu Xing was tricked into coming here.

The deception was simple; Huangfu Yue sent a letter claiming that Luo Shuang had been captured, and without any doubt in his daughter, he immediately came to Yutang Pass with his personal guards.

He would never have imagined that an emperor’s own brother could be a traitor to the country.

Yutang Pass was such a critical place, and he did not trust it to the inexperienced Huangfu Yue to protect.

If it were not for the late hour, unsuitable for mobilizing an army, he would have marched his troops straight into Yutang Pass.

But.

There are no such things as “ifs”.

As soon as Huangfu Xing entered Yutang Pass, he was captured by more than a dozen Innate Experts.

When he saw Huangfu Yue standing beside Luo Shuang, he was so enraged that his beard bristled and he cursed loudly.

Huangfu Yue was both ashamed and aggrieved.

Unfortunately, in front of two armies, it wasn’t proper for her to explain to her father, fearing that Duge would really hurt her father.

Just as He Xu said, being alive, only by staying alive, is there a chance.

“Father, don’t blame your daughter. Chongming Country has been infiltrated by Qingwu Country like a sieve, even those around the Fourth Prince are secret spies from Qingwu Country. Father, surrender, it’s hopeless to follow Chongming Country…”

With tears streaming down her face, Huangfu Yue knelt and tried to persuade Huangfu Xing, while indirectly explaining the cause of their failure.

Liu Yian and Duge had talked far away.

Apart from Wu Chang, no one knew what they had discussed, and from beginning to end, Huangfu Yue always thought that Liu Yian and others’ identities were secret spies from Qingwu Country.

Huangfu Xing’s curses came to an abrupt halt; he looked at Huangfu Yue and indignantly said, “Even so, you should not have surrendered. The Huangfu Family has never had cowards that feared death and life; even if reduced to the last soldier, you should not have surrendered, and you certainly should not have deceived me into Yutang Pass. Oh, how pitiful that the Huangfu Family’s generations of reputation are all destroyed at the hands of a woman…”

“…” Huangfu Yue was at a loss for words, and tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she trembled violently, feeling increasingly ashamed.

“General Huangfu, do you also look down on women?” Duge glanced at Huangfu Yue and diverted the conflict with a single sentence.

“Capable of causing failure but not of achieving success,” Huangfu Xing said. “If she had died in battle, I would actually respect her, but under the current circumstances, I would rather I had never had such a daughter.”

Huangfu Yue jolted, stunned as she looked at Huangfu Xing, and her heart turned icy cold.

Huangfu Xing didn’t even glance at her, but said to Duge, “Now that you’ve captured me, do with me as you will. But if you want me to surrender, it is absolutely impossible.”

“General Huangfu is indeed loyal and righteous,” Duge admired him with a glance and waved to the few Innate Experts guarding him, “You all step back, I want to have a few words alone with General Huangfu.”

The men silently withdrew to the side. The order Liu Yian had left for them was to watch Duge and Luo Shuang’s every move, but now it was just about persuading to surrender.

They had previously witnessed Duge’s eloquence in persuading Huangfu Yue, so letting him display it once more didn’t seem amiss to them.

Before Liu Yian left, they were aware that Huangfu Xing would be deceived into coming here, and they were prepared for the possibility of the Huangfu Family being brought into the fold.

Duge looked at Huangfu Xing, gestured with his hand, and a stream of water from the moat swept them away from everyone else’s sight.

Wu Chang perked up his ears once again; previously, the mention of “Demon Star” had thrilled him, and he already admired Duge immensely. He was now even more eager to know how Duge would persuade Huangfu Xing. At this moment, Duge was like an inexhaustible treasure trove to him, worthy of emulation in every aspect.

“Speak if you have something to say, fart if you have to,” Huangfu Xing bellowed impatiently. “Grandpa Huangfu won’t fall for your persuasion tricks.”

“General Huangfu, haven’t you found anything strange from the very beginning?” Duge looked at him, shaking his head.

Ptui!

Huangfu Xing spat at Duge, intentionally trying to anger him.

Duge raised a curtain of water easily blocking the spit; he smiled nonchalantly and said, “General Huangfu, under what circumstances do you think Qingwu Country’s secret spies would penetrate the Fourth Prince’s circle so thoroughly, and with a group of people, no less, all of whom are Innate Experts?”

Huangfu Xing suddenly froze.

“Qingwu Country is already gone, yet this group of Innate Experts didn’t even consider their own safety. Instead, after seeing through the Prime Minister and the Prince’s strategies, they risked their lives to break into Yutang Pass, all to save Princess Luo Shuang. Don’t you find this very illogical?” Duge chuckled and went on, “General Huangfu has led the army for many years; by this point, he shouldn’t be unable to see the truth of the matter! In this regard, you’re not as perceptive as Huangfu Yue—who has already seen through everything.”

Huangfu Xing swallowed hard, “Are you saying…?”

“Exactly, as you’re thinking,” Duge looked at him and nodded, “Your Huangfu Family was a welcoming gift from the Fourth Prince to me. He sold you and your daughter out.”

The color drained from Huangfu Xing’s face in an instant.

“So, are you still holding onto what you call loyalty and honor?” Duge laughed lightly, his tone mocking, “Huangfu Yue wasn’t wrong—Chongming Country has indeed rotted to the core. It’s just that it wasn’t infiltrated by Qingwu Country; they rotted on their own.”

Pain flashed across Huangfu Xing’s face. He took a deep breath, “No matter what, I will not surrender.”

“Don’t you want to know why Gu Shiming gave me this welcoming gift?” Duge continued.

“There’s no need to tell me; I don’t want to know,” said Huangfu Xing, “Just kill me.”

“He wants to use me to stir trouble in Chongming Country, to create opportunities for himself,” Duge continued with a chuckle, “He wants to be the next Duke Dingguo.”

“…” Huangfu Xing looked at Duge, “Why tell me all this?”

“I have not yet agreed to his offer,” said Duge.

Huangfu Xing was stunned.

“Do not do unto others what you would not want done unto yourself. Qingwu Country perished because of Duke Dingguo, and Princess Luo Shuang was forced to seek refuge in another country,” Duge sighed, “I am deeply disgusted by this sort of treacherous usurpation. The princess’s father and brothers were usurped; should she aid another servant in usurping power for the sake of restoring her country, what would people think of the princess when word gets out?”

Huangfu Xing’s emotions stabilized significantly, and he looked at Duge with surprise: “What do you intend to do?”

“Pretend to agree with the Fourth Prince, deceive him into providing more grain and troops, and then counter-attack Qingwu Country, causing his conspiracy to fail,” chuckled Duge, “By the time we withdraw our forces from Chongming Country, the Fourth Prince will likely be left to swallow the bitter fruit alone, without daring to proclaim to the world that he financed us!

At that point, in the name of the princess, I shall send a letter to the emperor of Chongming Country, laying out all the reasons. No matter how he deals with the Fourth Prince then, it will look far better than a struggle between brothers…”

“Why are you telling me all this?” Huangfu Xing asked.

“Because in order to accomplish this, I must have your full support, father and daughter,” said Duge, “With General Huangfu dead, it would be difficult for me to take over the troops outside the city, but if General Huangfu is alive, it will be much easier for me to do so.”

Huangfu Xing frowned.

“General Huangfu, death is actually a very easy and relaxing affair,” Duge continued as he looked at him, “You don’t have to provoke me; I could take off your head with a single sword strike, honoring your loyalty. But ask yourself: is that really loyalty?”

Without waiting for Huangfu Xing to speak, Duge laughed, “That’s nothing more than an excuse to shirk your duty! To put it severely, it’s the act of a coward.”

Gulp!

Huangfu Xing swallowed hard again.

“If you die unwilling to cooperate with me, I might indeed resort to a desperate gamble and collaborate with the Fourth Prince, plunging Chongming Country into chaos and seeking an opportunity to reclaim Qingwu Country,” continued Duge, “Then, Chongming Country would truly be in a state of calamity.”

“You can’t do that,” Huangfu Xing said.

Duge laughed, “General Huangfu, true loyalty and honor mean bearing humiliation and heavy burdens, even at the cost of being misunderstood and cursed by everyone. Before the truth emerges, it will be painful, it will be torture—and not everyone can endure it… General Huangfu, are you willing to be that truly loyal and honorable person?”

Huangfu Xing looked at Duge and was silent once more.

“You might be thinking about finding an opportunity to kill me, to kill the princess, and then go back and expose the Fourth Prince’s conspiracy, ensuring peace throughout the land, right?” Duge said with a smile, looking at Huangfu Xing.

Huangfu Xing jerked in shock.

“You’re too naive,” Duge shook his head, “By killing us, you would be dead without evidence. Going before the emperor to accuse his own brother, your Huangfu family would truly be beyond redemption. Moreover, you might even inadvertently force the Fourth Prince into rebellion…”

Huangfu Xing closed his eyes, his brow tightened then relaxed, again and again, before he finally took a deep breath, “How should I cooperate with you?”

In this short while, his voice had already become hoarse.

“Just follow orders,” Duge said with a smile, “Using the resources provided by the Fourth Prince, once we’ve gathered enough forces, we’ll strike back at Qingwu Country. As long as we help Princess Luo Shuang reclaim her country, I assure you, I will have her personally send a letter to the emperor of Chongming Country, enclosing all evidence of her dealings with the Fourth Prince, and exonerate the Huangfu Family of all charges. Then, whether General Huangfu wishes to return to Chongming Country or remain in Qingwu Country, the choice will be yours.”

“How can I trust you?” asked Huangfu Xing.

“You only have this one path to trust in. I can’t offer you any other assurances, because the path that the princess and I are treading is also extremely difficult—we can’t even guarantee we’ll be able to restore the country,” Duge glanced at him, “That’s the painful truth about the path of loyalty and honor I’m offering you, because you might very well die a shameful death before the journey is over. It’s a difficult path. Whether you choose it or choose to die, He Xu can fulfill General Huangfu’s wishes…”

“It’s really very difficult indeed; a general should die on the battlefield and yet…” Huangfu Xing’s lips curled into a bitter smile, as if he had aged more than a decade in an instant. After a long pause, he said, “Alright, I will take the path you’ve offered.”

“General Huangfu, I will not disappoint you,” Duge said with a smile, “Liu Yian has gone to respond to the Fourth Prince, and maybe in a few days, he will return. Then, you can hear for yourself the evidence of the Fourth Prince’s treason.

But you must not publicize it. Currently, both Huangfu Yue and the princess are unaware of my secret planning with the Fourth Prince; they both still think Liu Yian and the others are Qingwu Country’s secret agents. I do not plan on letting them know about this.”

“Hmm,” Huangfu Xing looked at Duge, his expression complex, and at last nodded, “I understand.”

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