Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 676 - 674

Chapter 676: 674

"I have devoted my life to the battlefield, always charging forward bravely. How can I surrender like a vile! I, as a general, would rather be wrapped in horsehide for my burial than surrender! It is, in fact, an honor for a soldier to die on the battlefield! Brothers, onward! We would rather die than submit!" After expressing his innermost feelings, General Li shouted to his soldiers.

Upon hearing General Li’s heartfelt words, the soldiers’ faint fears from the pincer attack all vanished!

Yes! As a competent soldier, how could one succumb to the disgrace of surrender?

After uttering just that one sentence, Shangguan Xuanyi fell silent. As a prince, his advice was already a concession. Saying more would only make it seem like he was begging them to surrender.

Shangguan Xuanyi might lament these former Imperial Court soldiers, but he would show no mercy to those who did not know their place.

The entire world is under royal rule, and all people within the state borders are subjects of the king. The country will never lack soldiers!

At this time, without any birth control policy, having many sons was considered a blessing, and with no evening activities, the people tried hard to procreate after the lights were out. Hence, many couples had numerous children.

Upon hearing General Li’s words, Di Shaowei sneered, "General Li, you truly have a bold spirit. However, you are also quite selfish! It’s one thing for you to die! After all, you are determined to rebel and face extermination for nine generations. But to expect your soldiers to accompany you in death! They have parents, wives, and children! What would happen to their families if they die?"

"The emperor and the sixth prince are merciful and have given them a chance to repent. Yet, you insisted that dying on the battlefield is the pride of a soldier, shaming them into not surrendering! Forcing them to die with you! Disregarding the feelings of their parents, wives, and children! I really don’t know why soldiers will still follow such a selfish man like you!"

"Furthermore, you’re not protecting our country, but committing an unforgivable act of treachery! What is so proud about dying on the battlefield for that? You deserve nothing but punishment!"

General Li’s face changed slightly upon hearing this.

The soldiers wavered when they heard these words. They were not orphans. They had families, old and young under their care, naturally, they would not wish to die on the battlefield.

If they died in rebellion, their families could not take pride in their sacrifice, but rather be unable to hold up their heads among their neighbors. Rebelling was not a glory-filled affair!

"General Di, you speak quite eloquently for such a young age. I admit that I am no match for you. My family, Li, is filled with loyal martyrs! My grandfather, father, uncles, all died for the country! No appreciation was shown by the Imperial Court. After Xiyue country was reclaimed, our family was purged! Does this not chill the hearts of the soldiers? How can a court like this deserve the protection of the soldiers!"

The soldiers from both sides put down their weapons to watch the two generals engage in a war of words.

Does winning an argument equate to winning the war? Does that mean they won’t have to fight and die?

"General Li, there’s no need to bamboozle these soldiers with flowery words! What nonsense about birds perished when the bow was stored! My family, Di, is also full of loyal martyrs! There is no conflict in the south now! The pirates dare not invade again! Why hasn’t the court eradicated my family, Di? There are laws for the country and rules for every household. Whoever breaks the law must be punished. Li family hoarded privately mined iron and made weapons clandestinely, clearly harboring rebellion! Such intentions are condemnable, the right way is loyalty to the emperor and the country!" Di Shaowei’s speech was forceful and his closing lines echoed through the field!

As Di Shaowei got carried away with his reprimand, Zhao Youhe felt his sense of justice rise and he couldn’t help but chime in, "General Li, it would have been enough for you alone to rebel using your powers and position. But you deceived these soldiers who trusted and fought with you, into taking part in this disloyal act. Throughout history, those who rebel are exterminated to the ninth degree. Fifty thousand soldiers, nearly fifty thousand families! Have you ever considered how many people will lose their lives due to your selfishness!"

Seeing the soldiers’ face change upon hearing his words, Di Shaowei continued to press, "Do you think you can follow General Li to die, and your families can still live peacefully within the Minze Country’s royal land? If so, you’re very much mistaken! Each of you was enlisted by the Imperial Court. Your names and birthplaces are all recorded in the court files. If you rebel, your families will not be spared! Over the years, how much resources has the Imperial Court invested in training you? These resources are not the private property of General Li!"

"Without the gratitude of the Imperial Court for your hard work in defending the homeland, would you have lived comfortably over the years? After General Li’s rebellion, think about how many days you’ve been starving since you last ate the court’s public grain! As humans, shouldn’t we differentiate the basic principles like loyalty, righteousness, integrity, and shame? Now, the Sixth Prince is offering you a chance to reform and return to the Imperial Court! Consider carefully!"

The soldiers glanced at each other upon hearing these words.

Dying alone takes courage; when it involves an entire family, it’s a different matter altogether.

The Imperial Court has the power to kill their families, but General Li lacks the means to protect his own.

Many soldiers felt somewhat shaken and thought about throwing down their weapons and surrendering.

People’s willpower tends to weaken when they are unable to meet basic needs, such as food and warmth.

They had been terrified of hunger and cold these past days.

This was the method of persuasion that Shangguan Xuanyi and Di Shaowei had considered for these soldiers.

General Li cast a glance at the distance, hoping that his fifty thousand new troops would arrive soon. Only then he would have a bargaining chip to convince the soldiers. However, currently facing an inevitable defeat, persuading the soldiers to fight would be akin to sending them to their deaths! The soldiers would definitely surrender without hesitation! He couldn’t afford to shatter the soldiers’ morale! They were his only hope.

Shangguan Xuanyi saw through General Li’s intentions and gave a subtle nod to Feng Xing.

Feng Xing instructed his men to bring forward Situ Junjie.

Li Zhining had committed suicide in defiance. The rest of the soldiers and generals had all died in battle. Only Situ Junjie, however, had managed to survive sneakily.

Seeing Situ Junjie brought forward in chains, General Li’s pupils contracted: so that’s it! He had been wondering how the Imperial Court had managed to mobilize so many troops. So, this was the reason!

The new troops had surrendered!

In this rebellion, his cause was not righteous and hence, failed to win public support.

Even the loyalty of the soldiers, who had fought alongside him for many years, wavered at the arguments put forth by Di Shaowei and others.

This time, there’s indeed no hope. Fang’er, Jun’er, I couldn’t avenge you! General Li thought with his eyes closed.

General Li was a man who could let go when necessary. Madam Li and Mrs. Li were well-protected. Knowing he couldn’t escape death today, surrender was not an option for him!

However, before dying, he couldn’t let his soldiers switch allegiance to the Imperial Court without any apprehension.

"Brothers, we have been companions in life and death for many years. Now, I, your general, am unable to turn the tide. I don’t wish to see you punished due to my actions, so go back to the Imperial Court!" After saying this, General Li took his own life.