Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Surrender Without a Fight

The scene descended into dead silence. The army recognized only the Tiger Talisman. Did this mean Lou Shixun’s Tiger Talisman was real? Was that why the Great General had hesitated to deploy the troops—because he didn’t have it? But the Tiger Talisman had always been kept in the camp. How did it end up in Lou Shixun’s hands?

"It was her! She stole the Great General’s Tiger Talisman! She’s the only one allowed inside his main tent!" Zheng Si leaped to his feet, brandishing his blade as he charged forward. "You demoness! Why did you betray the Great General?!"

Wang Tingyue stepped in front of Liang Wan, shielding her. "This is His Majesty’s decree," he said sternly. "Do you intend to defy it?"

Intimidated by the imperial decree, a few nearby soldiers held Zheng Si back, though their eyes burned with the same indignant fury.

Zheng Si pointed an accusatory finger. "You expect this powdered fop to lead the army into battle?!"

Lou Shixun flew into a rage. "How dare you! You dare disrespect me? Seize him! Let him face martial law!"

Liang Wan shot Lou Shixun a cold glance. Stepping out from behind Wang Tingyue, she planted herself firmly in front of the crowd, no longer hovering on the periphery as she had before. Standing tall and unyielding, she spoke with icy authority.

"Whether General Lou is fit to lead the army is not for you to decide, nor is it for me. It is solely His Majesty’s decision!

"Under the wide heaven, all is the king’s land; within the sea-boundaries of the land, all are the king’s servants. We are all subjects of Daqi. For our entire lives, we can only pledge our loyalty to one person, and that is His Majesty.

"This Tiger Talisman was bestowed upon Lu Xiu by His Majesty in the past. Since it was given, it can be taken back. With an imperial decree present, how could Lu Xiu refuse to return it?

"It was precisely to prevent Lu Xiu from defying imperial orders and using his military power for treason that His Majesty ordered me to retrieve it in secret. I am merely following the imperial will. How can you call this theft or betrayal?

"Now that His Majesty suspects Lu Xiu of colluding with the enemy and committing treason, how could he possibly leave the Tiger Talisman in his hands? You defend him so fiercely—could it be that you are his accomplices?" She swept her gaze across the crowd, letting out a cold scoff. "Or perhaps, you all wish to rebel?"

She spoke with absolute conviction. Every word rang with undeniable force, a far cry from her usual soft-spoken demeanor. Lou Shixun stared at Liang Wan in astonishment, looking as if he didn’t recognize her at all. Wang Tingyue, paying no mind to anything else, simply shifted his gaze between Liang Wan and Lu Xiu, completely baffled by whatever was going on between them.

"Rebel? So what if we rebel?! We’ll kill you, you demoness, first! Whoever wants to fight this bullshit war can go right ahead—I quit!"

"Damn it, I’m out too! Going into battle under a useless sack of shit like that? We’d lose every single time!"

The same men who had been raising their arms and shouting battle cries just moments ago were now cursing as they stripped off their armor, bellowing demands for the demoness’s execution. Lou Shixun’s face turned a livid shade of green. He stormed to the front, pointing at the crowd as he berated them. "You—you’re defying the heavens! Lu Xiu, are you going to lead them in a rebellion?!" No one paid him any heed as the uproar continued. The scene devolved into utter chaos.

"Great General, we’ll help you take back the Tiger Talisman and present your case to His Majesty!"

"I’ll kill this demoness for you right now! They must be forging the decree!"

Terrified that Liang Wan would be hurt, Wang Tingyue shielded her behind his back. "Calm down, all of you! Grand Commandant, this decree is absolutely genuine! It is truly His Majesty’s will!"

"Seize them! Seize them all! Tie up the ringleaders and subject them to martial law!" Lou Shixun shrieked, poking his head out from behind his attendants.

Liang Wan’s lips twitched slightly. Her gaze drifted over shoulders and heads, landing on the man at the center of the fray. He stood like a pure white pear blossom amidst a violent storm—seemingly clinging stubbornly to the branch, but internally shattered, destined to soon be reduced to nothing but withered remains.

"Stop."

The voice was calm and steady, falling like weightless snowflakes. Compared to the deafening roars around him, it carried little physical volume, yet its chilling serenity managed to silence the riled-up crowd.

"Great General, there must be a misunderstanding! You would never collude with the enemy or betray the country!" Vice General Chen’s eyes were red as he spoke with fervent sincerity. "I am willing to escort you back to Jinye to present your case to His Majesty!"

"That’s right! I believe in you too! I’ll go with you!"

"Count me in, I’m willing too!"

"Me too, I’ll go!"

"And me!"

One by one, the men surrounding him raised their hands in resounding support.

Liang Wan watched him quietly, an intense ache gripping her chest. She took a few steadying breaths before gathering her resolve, walking toward him step by step.

"Awan—" Wang Tingyue grabbed her arm, his brow furrowed in deep concern, terrified that the soldiers would use her as an outlet for their rage.

Liang Wan smiled and shook her head, gently brushing his hand away. "I’m fine."

The soldiers glared at her with undisguised hatred. She hadn’t even made it halfway when Zheng Si lunged forward, his eyes bloodshot, and pressed his broadsword against her neck.

"You demoness! What are you trying to do?! I’ll kill you right now as a blood sacrifice for the city!" Amidst a chorus of gasps, he raised his blade.

The heavy sword was a hair’s breadth from cleaving downward when a hand suddenly caught it.

"Stop."

"Great General?" Zheng Si stumbled back as he was pushed away, glaring furiously at the man who had stopped him.

The crowd looked on in utter confusion.

"I said, this has nothing to do with her," Lu Xiu stated firmly.

"Why?! Can’t you see it? She betrayed you! She’s a demoness!"

"Betrayal?" Lu Xiu lowered his eyes and let out a faint chuckle before looking back at the crowd. "She is right. Within the sea-boundaries of the land, all are the king’s servants. You must obey the decree, otherwise you are committing treason. You may not fear death, but what about your families? They are still waiting for you to come home!

"Vice General Chen, when we left Jinye, your wife was several months pregnant. She has since given birth to a healthy son. Haven’t you been thinking of them every single day?

"Zheng Si, you are the only heir left in the Old Zheng Family. You have to go back to care for your mother in her old age and give her a proper burial.

"Lieutenant Zhao, your fiancée is still waiting for you to return and marry her..."

He looked at them one by one, addressing them individually. Slowly, the crowd’s burning resentment dissolved into profound sorrow. He was right. They couldn’t afford to rebel. They still had families.

Finally, Lu Xiu turned and walked toward Lou Shixun, offering no resistance. "I will go back with you."

"Great General—" Zheng Si choked back a sob. "You saved my life! If my mother knew that I stood by and did nothing while my benefactor was in peril, she would say I’m unfit to be a son of the Zheng family!

"It’s obvious they’re up to no good! You can’t go with them!"

Turning a deaf ear to their pleas, Lu Xiu’s expression darkened. He looked at Vice General Chen and commanded coldly, "None of you are permitted to rebel. This is a military order!" He paused for a moment before adding, "It is my final military order."

With that, he ignored their indignant protests. Lou Shixun immediately ordered his men to tie Lu Xiu up.

Liang Wan watched with red-rimmed eyes. The day she saw him choose to share life and death with these men, she had guessed he would do exactly this. She truly knew him too well. A faint smile touched her lips. No matter how rebellious the crowd felt, there was nothing more they could do.

Vice General Chen gritted his teeth. "May I ask General Lou—can you deploy the troops now? Are we going to take back Pingzhou?"

"Deploy the troops? Why would we deploy the troops?" Lou Shixun flicked his sleeves and puffed out his chest, his arrogant demeanor completely restored. "I have already sent envoys to the Zhou Army’s camp to negotiate peace and reach a swift agreement. Exchanging a single Pingzhou City for a ceasefire between our two nations—how is that not a monumental achievement?

"I know you have all suffered through this war for far too long, so I have come specifically to deliver you from your misery!"

The crowd erupted into an uproar.

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