CHAPTER 827: CHAPTER 827: AT DEATH’S DOOR

The pit was about to be dug completely, and Gowenda thought he was surely doomed, but unexpectedly, at the last moment, there was a turn of events.

The Weilante people called for them to go to the port, saying they wanted to conduct some kind of fair trial, which immediately brought a ruddy glow to Gowenda’s ashen face.

Oh, Rat God above!

And also the Silver Moon Goddess, the Spirit of the Sand Sea, and the Great Antler God!

He finally awaited his savior!

"I have never killed a Weilante person!"

He proudly looked at the people around him, as if he had once again placed the right bet on the table of fate.

In stark contrast to his "kind-hearted" self, some men still digging the pit continued with ashen faces, as if the message of pardon had nothing to do with them, still shoveling red soil absentmindedly.

Their arms were wrapped with strips of cloth, implying that they owed many blood debts that night.

Gowenda secretly rejoiced in his heart, then despised this group of brainless thugs, unlike his clever and cunning self.

He returned the shovel to the wheelbarrow and followed the restless crowd, hastily leaving this place of trouble. As for those who hadn’t heard, the deaf joined the ranks after being taught a lesson with the gun butt.

On the way to the square, he walked with head held high, only shrinking a bit when passing by the Weilante soldiers, trying not to stand out too much.

However, those Weilante people couldn’t be bothered to give him a glance, merely holding their guns and watching over the crowd.

Finally arriving at the square, Gowenda saw that man smoking a cigar, his heart excited beyond words.

General Mclen wasted no time, merely signaling an officer beside him to announce the new "rules of the game."

Although it had been hinted at before coming here, the formal announcement of all the rules and details still caused a stir among the crowd.

Some understood people’s faces already filled with worry, though there were also those who were excited and those moved to tears.

For instance, Gowenda.

His "devotion" to the Weilante was written all over his face, hearing these "fair and just" rules, he almost wished to kowtow to this upright officer.

Standing next to General Mclen, Ross slightly furrowed his brows.

"Wouldn’t ten thousand be too few?"

Mclen’s expression remained unchanged, just turning his face slightly, speaking calmly and slowly.

"It’s merely bait to arouse their bloodlust so they don’t all point to one person to muddle through. I could even bet with you, in the end, more than ten thousand will die."

Saying this, he drew his gun and fired a shot into the sky with a "bang," looking at the frightened crowd, he shouted loudly.

"What are you waiting for? Waiting for me to help you choose who should die? This is your last chance! Bring out the thugs from that night; we will settle scores for grudges and take revenge for wrongs, only killing those who deserve it."

The air at the scene was quiet for a while; still, no one spoke.

Everyone looked at each other, seeing their friends as both allies and enemies, wanting to say something, yet fearing someone else might speak first.

Mclen wasted no time and simply gestured with his hand.

"If not, then go back and continue digging."

The sound was like a match thrown into an oil barrel, instantly igniting people’s will to survive.

The first to speak was a dark and thin man, his sunburnt reddish skin indicating he worked at the docks.

"I’ll say it! I’ll say it!"

The moment this was shouted out, his index finger immediately pointed at Gowenda beside him, who was "eager to try," and raised his voice, shouting loudly.

"This guy is from the Heavenly King’s army!"

Gowenda’s eyes widened, looking like a goldfish out of water, his eyeballs about to pop out from their sockets, his chest heaving violently, both cold sweat and hot sweat pouring out.

"You! You slander me! I swear by the Rat God! I have never killed a single Weilante person! Those with bandages forced guns into my hands, yet I didn’t kill a single one!"

Indeed, he wasn’t lying.

He spoke with a clear conscience.

He did bad things, like sleeping with a widow, but he really hadn’t killed a Weilante person.

After all, he was terrified seeing those big noses; how could he possibly aim a gun at them?

Indeed, he led the charge that evening under duress, but with his cowardly marksmanship, it was a miracle he didn’t hit his own people, let alone those guards stationed at the port.

If he remembered correctly, those people were blown away by an exploding truck.

Accusing him of being a thug was definitely wronging an innocent man!

However, the Weilante had no intention of intervening in the trial, merely watching them bite each other with amused eyes.

Even Ross, who previously thought the punishment was too light, couldn’t help but curl his lips into a faint sneer.

What a bunch of filthy scum.

Is Poluo Province full of such stuff?

Were it not for the ancient contract barring the army from expanding east of the Great Desert, with the Southern Legion’s colonies stopping at Evernight Harbor, this juicy piece of cake would never have been tasted by those laymen in the Civil Official Group.

The folks shouting paid no mind to Gowenda’s defense, instinctively distancing themselves from him, leaving a gap, staying far away from this disgrace.

They didn’t know this guy.

But not knowing him was just fine.

Having a stranger with no affiliation die would weigh least on their conscience.

However, not everyone didn’t know Gowenda; among the crowd, indeed, there were one or two of his former subordinates mixed in.

Suddenly, someone called out.

"Not only is he from the Heavenly King’s army, but he’s a Centurion!"

When this stern voice rang out, the crowd immediately erupted, even a few Weilante soldiers standing at the edge of the crowd gave Gowenda a few extra glances.

Meanwhile, Gowenda, who was originally arguing with the crowd, felt his heart suddenly stop on hearing that voice, his face turning deathly pale, even his tongue tied in knots.

Right...

He was a Centurion.

He almost forgot, yet someone helped him remember.

Looking at the port, which was like a marketplace, Mclen impatiently shouted a command.

"Loud noises, like what? Raise your hands to vote!"

Hands shot up unanimously. Some people originally didn’t want to raise their hands, but seeing everyone around them doing so, they silently muttered apologies and followed suit.

Not raising your hand now might get you targeted by others and become the next one to be knocked down.

Whether what he said is true or mixed with lies, risking your life for a scumbag is definitely not worth it.

Staying alive is the most important thing.

Almost everyone raising their hand was thinking this.

This time, Gowenda was utterly hopeless.

He didn’t resist, didn’t struggle, just stood there on the stage cleared by the rats, letting the Vellante soldier come over, grab and drag him away like a chick.

"Behave!" The Vellante glared at him fiercely, warning him not to escape.

Actually, there was no need to warn him.

Gowenda hadn’t even thought about escaping, just stood there soullessly.

He couldn’t understand why people would accuse him.

He certainly wasn’t a good person, but at least he’d fought for the survival of West Sail Port.

It’s quite strange why they obediently listened to the Vellantes, digging pits in the suburbs and identifying each other here, enduring humiliation.

Why couldn’t they unite again, unite and drive away those slave owners!

But saying this now was too late.

It’s all over...

No!

Wait! It’s not over!

Suddenly, Gowenda had a moment of realization, remembering he was a Centurion, and it was someone who reminded him!

How did he forget such an important thing?!

With a shred of hope, he looked at the Vellante soldiers monitoring them like clutching at straws, squeezing out a stiff smile from his face of despair.

"Wait, wait, sir! I-I also want to identify!"

"They said I’m a Centurion, it’s true, I am indeed a Centurion! But I swear to you, I’ve never touched a single Vellante from start to finish! I-I have an alibi evidence!"

"...But my twelve subordinates can’t be vouched for, I was forced into the group as a porter, couldn’t manage those real thugs. I’m an honest and decent person, but who knows what they did!"

Listening to him, Peter was stunned for a moment, almost dropping the cigarette from his mouth after hearing the speech.

Not sure how to handle it, Peter picked up the intercom to ask the higher-ups and then handed him a note and marker.

"Name, write it down."

Thinking he got an opportunity for leniency, Gowenda joyfully took the items but soon recalled he couldn’t write, so he nervously said.

"S-Sir, I can’t write... But-but they all live nearby, I know where their houses are!"

Peter with the cigarette in his mouth gave him a disdainful look, not bothering to talk, snatched back the paper and pen from his hand.

"Say it, I’ll write."

"Alright, alright! Thank you for your trouble." Without hesitation, Gowenda nodded obsequiously, but the raised corners of his mouth exposed his inner joy, as if the gun was back in his hands.

He wrote down all the names, not only the twelve in the team, but also others whose names he could call out, finding twenty in total.

These twenty were guaranteed scoundrels, should be enough to exchange for this honest man like him.

Gowenda thought to himself.

The soldier took the list to the port and handed it to General McLen.

Without even glancing at it, McLen instructed the soldier to follow the procedure and read the names aloud from the list.

Those whose names were called and were among the people here surely had acquaintances who would naturally dissociate from them and push them out from the crowd.

Then it was the public trial session according to the usual process, where everyone onsite decided whether they were guilty.

The final result was obvious, those people were all pulled out from the crowd by the Vellante, without exception.

Seeing those people brought out with panicked faces, Gowenda had a smile of gratification and glee on his face.

But soon he couldn’t laugh.

The Vellantes had no intention of letting him go, waited for long but didn’t hear of any release orders.

Could it be...

They would wait until just before execution to secretly release him?

The more Gowenda thought, the more anxious he became, but still comforted himself.

Release was certain, but timing and method were particular, and a proper explanation had to be given to those who identified him after all.

If he was let go in front of others, wouldn’t the established rules become a joke?

However, while he fantasized in his mind, a woman brought from the crowd instantly panicked him.

She was his "alibi"—the widow from the house opposite him!

The woman who always spoke in low whispers, with a light and soft voice, daring not to offend anyone, was now crying heart-rendingly.

Such sorrowful looks, unsure if it was for impending death or the chasing humiliation stripping her of her last shred of dignity.

"That darn woman, I recognize her! Her husband just died a few months ago, and she found a new lover!"

"Ugh! Shameless thing, and found those bandits with cloth on their arms!"

"I saw with my own eyes the Ten Thousand Leader of Heavenly King Soldiers going to her house!"

"It’s Gowenda, right, I saw him, I think he even gave her a Dinar as reward!"

"You were at the scene?"

"How could that be possible! I-I saw from outside the window! If you don’t believe, go search her place, definitely will find something!"

"Could be dirty money from the port!"

"Kill her! Avenge the dead Vellante!"

Avenge the Vellante...

At that moment.

Gowenda felt the world spinning, even forgetting to breathe.

Although still standing at this port, he suddenly felt as if he had been buried in the ground long, long ago...

...

Seeing the last 3000 people being pushed out, the far-sighted eagle was momentarily speechless.

Goodness gracious...

They directly eliminated ten percent of more than ten thousand people!

He was desperately negotiating for these people, while they were desperately killing their own.

The remaining 7000 shouldn’t have many who slipped through the net.

Hoping to escape this ridiculous trial through unity or some other means was simply delusional.

At this point, it wasn’t just about being from the Heavenly King’s faction; anyone who dared to stand out inevitably got targeted, and those who survived were those who stayed under the radar the entire time.

That is, they would raise their hand without hesitation when they should, stay silent without hesitation when they should, muttering to themselves that they were a dead person, fully blending into the surrounding crowd so as not to capture anyone’s attention, only then achieving survival from a dead-end.

The over 3000 people who were picked out, as he expected, were clearly victims of wrongful killings.

And quite a few at that.

For instance, some young lads just over twelve, and a widow in her twenties...

Seeing McCullen glance at him meaningfully, the far-sighted eagle paid no heed to his provocation, merely whispering "Amitabha" in his heart.

Three thousand is, after all, less than ten thousand.

Besides, this was originally a matter between the Army and the Empire; if anyone should be panicking, it should be the Empire.

Standing from an outsider’s perspective, he had done everything he could do.

In any case, the task was completed without any issues...

...

The Army’s landing at West Sail Port quickly spread throughout the Lion State, and the feat of killing thirty thousand people in three days quickly reached the ears of the various divisions of the Heavenly King’s army.

This news undoubtedly poured cold water over the heads of the Heavenly King’s soldiers who had just breached the city.

The Army had made a move!

Although most of the heavenly soldiers were just surprised and didn’t pay much attention, there were still some who panicked.

Like Udonuo.

He was of the Lion Clan, but not a noble, and due to his impoverished background, he was sold to a noble’s manor at a young age, thus losing his freedom.

Although he wasn’t assigned to pick cotton on the plantation due to his noble surname and was taught reading, writing, and noble etiquette by the noble lord, his childhood experiences still filled him with hatred for the unequal system of the West Winds Empire.

Later, he was recommended to join the academy established by the Army to aid the Empire, where he studied military knowledge under General McClen, further nurturing his ambition to overthrow the Empire.

It was precisely for this reason that when Anush called for the abolition of slavery and land redistribution, he almost without hesitation responded to the call, becoming one of the first local military officers to defect, striking a brutal blow against Grand Duke Sanjaya.

Although Anush, for some reason, didn’t trust those who switched allegiance halfway, this seemed to be an exception for him due to their "common teacher."

After joining the Heavenly King’s army, he not only became a Ten Thousand Leader in the military, but Anush also kept him by his side with the title of "military advisor."

However, just as he was filled with ambition, he heard the devastating news from the west.

As an officer trained by the Weilante people, he knew very well how strong the Army’s combat power was.

This strength manifested not only on the battlefield but beyond it as well.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Weilante people were a race born for war, and their system was designed for war.

With the Heavenly King’s army’s strength, which "did not even have a stable logistics supply line," encountering those guys was hopeless.

Recalling what the Heavenly King’s army did earlier at West Sail Port, Udonuo became increasingly fearful and finally couldn’t resist seeking Anush for advice on a solution.

However, after hearing his concerns, Anush merely laughed loudly and even comforted him a few words.

"Don’t be naive. Between countries, only interests matter; morality is a private affair. The people of West Sail Port are already dead; could they possibly come back to life?"

After a pause, he continued in a leisurely tone.

"Moreover, I’ve left West Sail Port for them to vent their anger. Even if it’s a hundred for one, hundreds of thousands would be more than enough to appease the Army’s wrath."

"At least for those big figures, giving an explanation to their supporters is already sufficient."

There was no surveillance that night, so shifting the blame to the dead wasn’t a difficult task.

Once everyone is dead, who would remember what he did?

Those who wanted to keep some Weilante people as hostages were the true cowards and fools!

Is there a difference between killing 1000 people and killing 3000?

At least in Anush’s view, there was no difference.

People who had to die would eventually die even if they didn’t dare provoke a fly, and those who didn’t want to die had to prove their value to live!

As long as they could replace the Empire and capture Tiandu, they would have the value of being wooed by the Army!

Keeping them as hostages?

What a colossal joke!

Is he in the business of kidnapping?

Objectively speaking, his subordinates were indeed filled with muddle-headed individuals, lacking a clear program and demands, but as the Heavenly King, he definitely had them!

What he wanted was rebellion!

Subversion!

Usurpation!

He had to use the dirtiest crimes to bind everyone to his chariot, forcing them to only gamble on their ultimate victory, or else nobody would survive!

As for history’s judgment and reckoning, that would be a matter after his New Empire’s demise.

Even West Winds was still holding on with a breath, so who else would have the turn to reckon with his problems!

Now was his time, the time for him to reckon with West Winds’ crimes, including the Empire’s persecution of the Moon Clan!

As long as they ultimately won, the uprising at West Sail Port would be a glorious revolution!

Upon hearing Anush’s words, a drop of cold sweat instantly rolled down Udonuo’s forehead.

He viewed Anush’s actions with one eye open and one eye closed, after all, where is there a revolution without bloodshed?

Yet, after hearing what this guy said, he couldn’t help but shiver in his heart.

This guy...

Had already planned from the beginning to bury those 600,000 to 700,000 people as companions for the over 3,000 Weilante residents!

In this guy’s eyes, what exactly are people?!

Lorem?!

The phrase "free the slaves of Poluo province" had actually come out of his mouth.

And everyone, including himself, actually believed it!

Udonuo finally remembered those things he had selectively forgotten.

Including the piles of bones stacked at the city gate, including those noble women who were taken into Anush’s tent for humiliation or gifted to his subordinates...

Suddenly aware of this, his back was drenched in sweat, and his voice began to tremble uncontrollably.

"But what if the interest of the Weilante people is for us all to die..."

Anush contemptuously curled his lip.

"That probability is not absent, but the Alliance and businesses, as well as the Academy, will not sit back and watch the Army expand east for any reason, that is the bottom line they established in the last war, even the Army has to seriously weigh the benefits and risks of crossing the red line."

"Moreover, you might as well guess why those Weilante people who landed did not advance further, is it that they can’t guess what we left for them? Even if they can’t guess, haven’t those softies of the city defense troops got their mouths?"

"I can even tell you for sure that definitely not just Centurions or leaders of thousands among the officers who landed this time, there must be a true big figure following along. That guy knows it well, he might have already started acting with the chips we left him."

He might even guess that this matter may not have been passed down to Triumph City but got withheld at some part along the way.

Someone is waiting for his outcome.

Although he didn’t know who that lord is, he is certain that to take down Tiandu is his only path to survival!

Judging that a day’s rest should be enough, Anush slapped his right hand on his knee, stood up from the seat in the city lord’s mansion, stared at his subordinate standing at the door and commanded.

"Pass on my order to have the Lion King, Horse King, Leopard King, Tiger King, and Bull King to assemble on the border of Cow State!"

"At the same time, order all units under my command to set off immediately! Attack Tiandu!"

"Yes!" The officer immediately saluted and rushed off in a hurry.

Walking to the side of the heavily sweating strategist, Anush showed a pleasant smile, gently patting his shoulder.

"... Lion City is in your hands, it is our great rear, you better hold it tight until we get the good news!"

Is this perhaps a pact of allegiance?

The Heavenly King’s army is not an ordinary army but an avalanche triggered by an earthquake.

This kind of army, there really isn’t any rear, the morale and supplies are all seized along the way!

As for Fierce Tiger City...

To put it nicely it’s called a great rear, harshly, it’s just a stone stuck at the Army’s feet.

They are like the city defense troops of West Sail Port, both left behind to "cover the retreat"!

The now clear-headed Udonuo, finally understood everything.

He should have guessed that this sly as a wolf guy wouldn’t trust him easily, and finally understood why he was elevated to Ten Thousand Leader.

This guy saw clearly that he had no retreat.

Just looking at those heads at the city gate, he cannot and has no chance to surrender.

With a difficult swallow of saliva, Udonuo, even with a heart full of unwillingness, could only nod with his stiff head, accepting this hot potato.

"Yes..."

...

At the same time the Heavenly King’s army moved east, the royal family of the West Winds Empire, after urgently "mobilizing" the conscripted soldiers of Lion State, hastily issued the "Northern Hunt" call.

The call was written sloppily and even perfunctorily.

Simply put, it was that the Heavens didn’t go stroll around the few northern states for a long time, wanted the grand dukes of North State to prepare the palaces and living costs of family and servants for the Heavens’ stay.

However, that’s how the call was written, but at such a military and chaotic juncture, anyone in Tiandu could see the real intention behind the decree.

The northern Dog, Sheep, and Bird states were thrown into chaos by the decree, never expecting the Emperor’s Majesty to come, they actually prepared legitimately.

As for the rich and powerful main forces in the east’s Tiger State and Leopard State, having their spies in Tiandu.

Upon hearing the decree, the local military factions immediately eagerly telegraphed the palace, with the message summarized as — "Majesty come here!", "Majesty, hurry to my side!"

Even those involved in a standoff with the Grey Wolf Army at Mammoth State joined the excitement, sending a telegram to Tiandu — "Majesty look at me, I have elephants here."

As for the southernmost Snake State, being at the bottom of the empire’s finances, knowing His Majesty wouldn’t come, thus remained silent.

The central Elephant State, although wealthy, was after all next to Cow State, and once Cow State fell it would be next, therefore, the nobles there also kept quiet.

In Lowell state’s areas managed by Tiger and Leopard state warlords, the nominal state capital still in Jinjaron Harbor without even a governor, hence also remained silent, continuing their seamstress work.

Witch Camel of course couldn’t be misled by those several military factions in the east but didn’t truly flee north, rather played a trick, making a move of "feigning north to strike east."

First dispatching a team to escort the crown prince and the harem concubines grandly out of the north gate.

As for himself, he took the Empress, beloved concubines, princes without inheritance rights as well as numerous servants and trusted aides, secretly slipped out of the east gate, boarded a waiting royal merchant ship by Everflow River.

Not placing all eggs in one basket, although relieved after leaving the palace, Witch Camel also made the worst plans with a tragic heart.

If he encounters misfortune or gets detained when passing through military faction territories, the crown prince truly going "Northern Hunt" would succeed the throne.

Luckily, the West Winds Empire still had a breath left and didn’t truly fall.

Even if the royal dignity was wiped out, this royal merchant ship flying the green dual sword flag and royal family emblem headed for Jinjaron Harbor, wasn’t stopped by anyone on the way.

Even in waters controlled by military factions.

Maybe those military factions hadn’t thought, their majesty would indeed sail their way.

Thus, after two days and nights of sailing, with a restless heart, Witch Camel finally and unsurprisingly slipped into that land brimming with humiliation as a "stowaway."

At this moment, most residents of Jinjaron Harbor still didn’t know, that their "honorable" emperor had come by boat to see them...