Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 461 - 257: What Is There to Fear? (10,000-Word Update Asking for Monthly Votes)_6

Chapter 461: Chapter 257: What Is There to Fear? (10,000-Word Update Asking for Monthly Votes)_6

"Indeed, General, do you remember the scene when the army arrived at Zhuxian Town? The citizens lined the roads to welcome us, even the women and children brought food and drink to greet the imperial troops. But General, further north, those citizens are also subjects of our Great Qi!"

"The people of Jin have lost their courage, with heroes rising in both Hebei and River East. General, your ingenious strategies in connecting He Shuo have already paid off. If we do not strike decisively now, allowing the Jin to calm the Rebel Army behind them, recuperate and then turn southward, our Great Qi will be in danger!"

"General, let’s advance!"

Zhao Haiping, however, remained calm. In fact, when he had entered the second stage and started playing this role, he had already anticipated this scenario.

"I have long since submitted a memorial, objecting to His Majesty’s decision to order the withdrawal of the troops.

"’The heavy forces of the Jin invaders are assembled in Tokyo, repeatedly defeated and dispirited, causing internal and external shock. According to the spies, the enemy wishes to abandon their heavy supplies and hastily cross the river. Now, with the heroes aligned with the wind and soldiers committed to their duty, the differences in strength are clear, success is within reach, opportunity knocks but once, and should not be easily lost. I have pondered this day and night; it is up to His Majesty to consider.’ All these points have been made clear in the memorial."

The assembled officers quickly said, "Then what is the General hesitating for? It’s just one decree, and disobeying it once wouldn’t hurt.

"Perhaps His Majesty will come to realize his mistake afterward?"

Zhao Haiping shook his head: "It won’t be just one decree."

True to his words, before he had even finished speaking, a long shout came from outside the camp: "Imperial edict..."

A post rider hurried over, his eyes filled with respect for Zhao Haiping, but as he handed over a golden tablet and an imperial decree, Zhao Haiping instantly understood the content.

"Your servant, receives the decree."

Zhao Haiping took the imperial decree, and indeed, it was an order for him to immediately retreat and return to Privy Council for further consultations.

Within one day, numerous imperial decrees and golden tablets had been delivered.

The language of the decrees grew increasingly harsh, even containing phrases like "deceiving the emperor" and "plotting rebellion."

The expressions of the officers in the camp gradually turned cold.

One decree might be countered with "an officer has his prerogatives when abroad," but with the arrival of twelve golden tablets, all harshly worded, further resistance might equate to plotting rebellion.

No one dared persuade Zhao Haiping to disobey anymore.

Because everyone knew the consequences would be too severe to bear.

Zhao Haiping waved his hand: "You all go out, I need to think this over."

The officers looked at each other, their faces showing reluctance, but ultimately, they silently left the central military tent.

At that moment, the huge central tent was left with only Zhao Haiping and the spiritual presence of General Deng Yuanjing.

Zhao Haiping casually flipped through the imperial decree: "It seems... I can only retreat?"

General Deng Yuanjing was silent for a moment: "It seems... there is no other way.

"The troops have not yet moved, but the supplies must precede them. This army is not your private force, and the supplies and provisions all depend on support from the rear.

"If the decrees are defied, it’s equivalent to rebellion. The court can naturally cut off your supplies, then where would this great army find its rations?

"Plundering from the people? Or making peace with the Jin? Both are utterly impractical options.

"If the court then sends another decree condemning your rebellion, causing the morale in the army to collapse, with both Qi Army and Jin Army attacking from both sides...

"It would only lead to an even more tragic outcome."

Zhao Haiping silently sighed: "It seems, General Han Fuyue was in a similar situation back then."

"However," General Han Fuyue, at the time, had not guessed that the dog emperor and Qin Huizhi could be so heartless and crazy as to really kill him.

"And if I return to the court, although I would also follow the old path where General Han Fuyue was wrongfully murdered, this Trial Illusion ought to be considered as having been directly cleared."

General Deng Yuanjing remained silent.

In his days, he vanquished southern bandits and repelled northern barbarians without ever tasting defeat. But once there was a change in the court, even a renowned general could do nothing but end his days in frustration.

Thus, he felt utterly powerless in such a situation.

This was already a realm that military strategies couldn’t resolve.

However, Zhao Haiping simply threw the imperial edict onto the ground and stepped on it.

"Back then, General Han Fuyue had not predicted that the dog emperor and Qin Huizhi would be so shameless as to break political rules to wrongfully kill him. It can only be said that General Han’s loyal and brave heart makes one sigh with regret.

"But if I were to walk the same old path as General Han, how could I console his spirit in heaven?

"I am willing to risk failing this Trial, just to capture the dog emperor and Qin Huizhi and tear their bodies into ten thousand pieces!"

General Deng Yuanjing paused silently for a moment, "But... without logistic support, without the soldiers’ hearts, in the end, it’s..."

Zhao Haiping looked at him, "General Deng, the circumstances now are different from the era you lived in.

In your era, the Great Sheng Dynasty hadn’t ended, the whole world was unified, even if you were a famous general then, attempting to defy the heavens was ultimately impossible.

"But this era is different.

"Because there has been a living example before this."

General Deng Yuanjing appeared somewhat shocked, "Who?"

Zhao Haiping spoke coldly, "Emperor Taizu of Jin!

"The Jin people started with merely twenty-five hundred cavalry, yet in just a decade, they were able to attack and conquer seamlessly, creating countless legendary military achievements by causing two vast empires to flee helter-skelter.

"Indeed, if I now refuse to accept the imperial edict, the army will definitely crumble, and the court will cut off my supplies.

"But what of that? Even if only twenty-five hundred people remain to follow me, so what?

"Why when I wage war must I consider public support, logistic supply, political situation, and military strength, yet the Jin people could advance rapidly and accomplish the feat of swallowing the whole world without logistics, without territory, without the people’s support?

"Do the Jin not face logistic issues? Can they march on air and eat dirt? Fight however they wish?

"Why can’t their problems confine them, but mine can confine me?

"Is it possible that the Jin, who regularly slaughter entire cities, are the true bearers of heaven’s mandate, whereas my army, built on principles of ’not dismantling houses in freezing conditions, not plundering even in famine,’ is not blessed by heaven?

"Furthermore, the Jin’s elite, known as ’unbeatable when ten thousand strong’—how are they any concern?

"They are nothing but the vanquished under my command! Sent fleeing in total disarray!

"The dog emperor thinks of conspiring with the Jin to harm me?

"Hah, I should send him a message.

"I am the reincarnation of General Han Fuyue, with General Deng assisting me, the Jin and the dog emperor are merely a bunch of buffoons...

"Come at me together, what do I have to fear!"

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