CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 462: WARNING FROM HEAVEN

But it was clear that he was a standout among the vice generals.

So, he had to handle the difficult issues on his own.

Otherwise, if everything were left to Shi Daquan, the wrath of the Northwest Army would fall upon the Liangzhou Army.

No one was a fool about this.

Vice General Sha understood after hearing these words.

The knife had already been handed over from Shi Daquan, and Vice General Sha did not hesitate.

He took it and quietly walked out.

Relying on his understanding of this military camp’s patrol.

He went to the tents of the soldiers he deemed threatening.

With his knife raised and lowered, it was like cutting through melon and vegetables.

Swish, swish, and forty or fifty men lost their lives.

When the sky broke at dawn.

A slight scent of blood spread throughout the camp.

The subordinates of Vice General Sha unanimously supported him as the new commander of the Yan State Army.

And those past fathers and followers of Yan Yun all went to the Underworld to report to King Yama.

Thus, a silent power struggle within the army ended quietly.

Although actual power had already been grasped by Vice General Sha and others, most of the Yan State Army was still unaware.

Of course, this included people outside.

Shi Daquan and his close attendants rode and watched everything from a high vantage point.

A hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Let’s go, the Liangzhou Army cannot be without a leader for a day!"

"Yes!"

Then they spurred their horses and left along the path they had come.

Covered in dust, they rode back to the Liangzhou Army camp by morning two days later.

Meanwhile, the rumors outside grew more rampant.

Everyone was saying that this earthquake was a warning from the heavens.

Though opinions varied within these discussions.

Some said it was because the heavens knew the Northwest Army harbored different intentions, thus a divine thunder struck their encampment as punishment.

Others said it was because the heavens lamented the harm done to loyal ministers, hence it cursed the Northwest, warning all.

In summary, overall.

It was all just the rumor spread by Jiang Huanqing and Uncle Liu.

In the current situation, naturally, the two armies are at odds.

And the hearts of the people became crucial to their victory.

Except for the people of Ganzhou, everyone in the other five Northwestern provinces secretly considered migrating.

One reason being the fear of war flames burning over their heads.

Secondly, those who moved to the Central Plains, they all sang praises.

Naturally, this sparked curiosity in many to check it out.

Such actions reached the ears of the current Emperor of Dayu, Liu Qilin, and he had to ponder carefully.

Otherwise, although he slaughtered everywhere cheerfully.

When he returned, if the people were gone, wouldn’t it be a loss?

Therefore, Uncle Liu changed his previous style and began to treat the people with kindness likened to spring rain nurturing flowers.

After all, in the minds of the people, the Northwest Army’s image is still quite positive.

Thus for a moment, opinions shifted.

The people were reluctant to leave their homeland.

Consequently, when the thought of migration emerged, it quickly subsided.

Winter snow melted, grass grew, and birds flew.

The stalemate between the two sides continued, and the days reached late March.

In this month, the Anzhou Army had faced relentless attacks from the Great Yu Army over ten times.

It seemed that they could no longer hold ground.

If it weren’t for the Qingzhou Army and Sui State Army fighting desperately from both flanks, they would have been flattened earlier.

Inside the city of Liangzhou.

Liang Qingde’s face was black and gray, counting the days.

If the Imperial Armor Army does not arrive in three days, he won’t see another sunrise.

He couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Yet he never regretted his actions.

Because no one knew better than him how shameless the Great Yu Army had become!

On the surface, they treated people with kindness like spring rain.

But that was only for those within Ganzhou.

In areas under his protection in Anzhou, wherever the Great Yu Army iron cavalry arrived, the people were all wiped out.

No news spread out due to this.

Once people are gone, where would news go?

If he hadn’t arranged scouts to investigate, he wouldn’t have discovered the truth.

Their actions thoroughly enraged Liang Qingde.

The earthquake disregarded the lives of civilians, the war slaughtered ’eyesores.’

Today’s Great Yu Army is no longer the old Northwest Army.

Everyone was coerced into becoming heartless pawns.

Killing like a demon, truly fearsome.

But it also triggered rebellion among some soldiers and civilians.

The wind howled.

At this moment, Liang Qingde, severely defeated, along with the heavily damaged Anzhou Army, were resolute.

Even if they fight to the last man, they would never bow to Great Yu!

One day, two days, three days.

Outside the city was a field of corpses, and inside there was almost no one left.

Liang Qingde looked at the elderly, women, and children left behind joining the fight, tears mixed with blood rolled from his eyes.

In his life, he had fought against the Gold people and killed bandits.

He wasn’t a virtuous person, but neither was he an evil-hearted general.

He was grateful to receive such selfless help from the people.

He had no way to repay them.

Thus, he could only shout wordless, clutching the half-broken knife, and continue fighting.

Day gave way to night, the moon rose in the dark sky.

Unfortunately, even in his final moment, he saw no sign of the Imperial Armor Army.

The Liangzhou cityscape, which he had defended for days, ultimately fell.

"Charge!"

Watching the Great Yu Army howl and rush inward, Liang Qingde cried out to the sky.

"Heaven is abandoning my Da Wei!"

He was then struck through the heart by an arrow from the Divine Archer of the Great Yu Army.

Upon death, his armor had long loosened.

His body was covered with congealed bloodstains.

Especially his knife-wielding right hand, swollen with blood and battered.

Watching the sunset over Anzhou City, he was unwilling.

Unwilling that this magnificent land ground slipped into Great Yu’s hands!

Even though most of the city’s populace had been moved away by him beforehand.

He still felt pity, for those Anzhou Army soldiers who followed him all the way.

One by one, corpses lay in this internal strife.

As the afterglow spread, the yellow smoke rose gradually.

Leading the charge was Feng Qi!

He advanced with several thousand vanguards.

Shouting unceasingly.

"Imperial Armor Army arrived!"

"Royal Army arrived!"

Perhaps it was hearing these words that Liang Qingde finally relaxed his heart.

Then closed his eyes and fell backward, letting his body merge with the Anzhou City he had protected all his life.

He could thus answer his own conscience.

The Great Yu Army engaged in many days of standoff with the Anzhou Army, not exactly exhausted.

But after capturing the city, they relaxed a bit.

Unexpectedly, just as they settled with the newly conquered city, tension rose again.

"The Imperial Armor Army has arrived?"

"The Imperial Armor Army has arrived!"

The same words, heard by people on both sides, differed in expression.