My Cultivation Starting from Archery-Chapter 255 - 148: Set the Stage, Obtain the Heavenly Book_6

"Have you made contact with those two Deputy Generals under Dong An’s command?"

Lu Ji tapped his fingers on the desk, "Tell them, this rebellion has nothing to do with them—it’s all Dong An’s responsibility. As long as they can abandon the dark and turn to the light, the court will not only refrain from pursuing their liabilities but will also promote them and reward them with resources."

"I’ve tried this before."

Nie Yuan said helplessly, "But those people are Dong An’s loyalists. Over the years, most of the court’s resources have gone to the Northwest Three States, leaving the military officers of Ming State lacking in resources, and harboring grievances. Their resolve to rebel is firm; otherwise, the chaos in Ming State wouldn’t have arisen."

"Getting them to turn their coats again is impossible, unless... unless Dong An dies violently. Otherwise, this war will last at least another year."

"I know, but we must try again. Even if just one of them is willing to turn, it would be of great help."

Lu Ji mused, "What about other movements?"

"Zhao Wuji’s remnants had only a few dozen people left last time they sent a message; now, we don’t know whether they are dead or alive."

Nie Yuan remarked, "There’s also our little Junior Brother, probably..."

"Cheep!"

Before he could finish,

a Hai Dongqing flew into the tent and landed on the Commander’s sturdy arm.

"Isn’t that the one Ninth Junior Sister gave to our little Junior Brother?"

Nie Yuan said incredulously, "After so long, he’s still alive? It’s hard to imagine. Boss, take a look. Let’s see where they have hidden themselves this time."

"Hmm."

Lu Ji took the message from the Hai Dongqing’s leg, opened it, and after reading it, the battle-hardened man known for his unparalleled bravery, was struck as if by lightning, unable to regain his composure for a long while.

"Boss?"

Nie Yuan asked puzzledly, "What happened? Did our little Junior Brother devise some incredible strategy that played the Enemy Army for fools?"

"Playing them for fools? It’s more than that!"

Lu Ji, with an expression that was no longer just astonishment but a mix of excitement, shock, worry, and even a trace of displeasure—all blending into a look beyond description—said with a slightly trembling voice:

"Our little Junior Brother not only survived the ordeal at the great pass but, after crossing the Hongze River four times, stormed the Wushui River and headed straight for Meishan Prefecture. He executed Liang Jinian and seized the Miracle Soldiers Heavenly Book! The situation in the South is settled!"

"What did you say?"

Nie Yuan snatched the message, scrutinizing it word by word repeatedly.

...

West Qi Kingdom’s military camp.

At almost the same time, Martial Saint Zhong Wuxin received a message near Meishan Prefecture.

He simply couldn’t believe the content: "Liang Jinian is dead? Who confirmed it! Even if they headed straight for Meishan Prefecture, there was only Chen Sansi left, a mere Hua Jin Cultivator. Didn’t Liang Jinian still hold the Heavenly Book? How could he die so easily? Absurd! Is this message real or fake?!"

"Commander, it’s... it’s true!"

"Ten days ago, the great pass received a distress letter from Liang Jinian, then no further messages. The scouts sent to the area around the Wushui River confirmed that Chen Sansi and his forces fought and decisively defeated the last of Meishan Prefecture’s forces near Linhe County."

"Now, Liang Jinian’s head hangs on the walls of Meishan Prefecture City for public display."

"There’s also a slogan, ’Chi Mei has no virtue, Heavenly Soldiers are here to settle,’ that has almost spread across the north and south banks of the Wushui River, known to all the common people."

"So... it must be true!"

...

Zhong Wuxin’s heart thundered, yet his face was as calm as a lake, his voice coldly saying: "Who would have thought, my Da Qi strategized for five years, supposedly a guaranteed victory, would be ruined by a mere Thousand Captain of the Sheng Dynasty, a disgrace so profound."

"Commander, what shall we do?"

"Don’t panic!"

Zhong Wuxin calmly said, "We still have a foundation in Ming State. We just need to abandon the South and East soon; immediately dispatch orders to Dong An, commanding him to lead his troops to retreat westward swiftly. We will concentrate all our military forces on the western front of Ming State and endure a prolonged war with Sheng Dynasty, able to attack Ming State, aiming for Liangzhou and Yan State, or retreat behind the Great Wall to the west!

"This war is not unwinnable; it’s just that we must be prepared to pay a grievous price."

"Moreover, Dong An’s eighty thousand troops from Ming State must be preserved!"

"Without these eighty thousand troops, there is really no need to continue this battle."

"I heard that this guy has been utterly dispirited since Chen Sansi crossed the river for the fourth time. We must stabilize him!"

"Yes! I will go and convey the orders to Dong An."

"..."

...

Yangchun Prefecture, rebel army camp.

For half a month, Dong An had barely left his bed, causing panic among the troops who didn’t know what had happened.

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"Report!"

A soldier entered the tent, knelt on one knee, opened his mouth, then hesitated and did not dare to speak.

"It’s intelligence from Meishan Prefecture, isn’t it?"

Dong An propped himself up to sit: "Read it."

"Yes!"

The soldier then read out the situation in detail, finally saying, "Liang Jinian’s head hangs on the city wall, and the Miracle Soldiers Heavenly Book most likely... has also fallen into Chen Sansi’s hands."

He still remembered how horrible the death of the soldier who had reported after letting the enemy escape following the previous major battle had been; as he spoke, he was sweating profusely, constantly swallowing saliva.

Unexpectedly, after hearing the report, Dong An was unusually calm, calm to the point of... resembling a dead pool of water. He just took the intelligence in his hand and said in a hoarse, weak voice, "I understand, you may leave."

"Report!"

"General Zhong Wuxin has sent a letter, saying he hopes the Commander will lead us to retreat west immediately!"

"You may leave as well."

"This..."

The two soldiers looked at each other and had no choice but to withdraw temporarily.

"Hehe~"

Dong An looked at the letter in his hand, revealing a miserable smile that contained despair as well as resignation. He gently released the paper, letting it slowly drift down, then stood up and walked toward the General’s Sword hanging behind the Commander’s seat.

...

"What has happened to the Commander?"

"It must be that he’s unable to get over the fact that a young newbie defeated him."

"Our Commander is good in every way, just a bit obstinate."

"Go and persuade him."

"At this critical moment, who dares to go?"

"But the West Qi Kingdom has ordered us to retreat west immediately!"

"If we don’t leave now, it will be too late."

"I’ll go!"

In the end, it was a Deputy General who mustered the courage to enter the tent.

"Commander—"

Then there was a startled shout.

The crowds rushed into the tent.

They saw Dong An, dressed in his undergarment, with disheveled hair sitting in the main seat, his head drooping lifelessly as he leaned on the General’s Sword, blood continuously dripping from his neck, pooling into a puddle of blood beneath his feet.

Dong An had committed suicide.