gnovel Chapter 165 The Self-Destruction of Wagang
Chapter 165 The Self-Destruction of Wagang
These words were spoken politely, yet they contained a hidden meaning.
It is a military custom to perform the full salute while still in armor, without dismounting.
Qin Qiong used this as an excuse to both perform the ceremony and save face.
Before Lü Xiao could speak, someone next to him burst out laughing.
Yuwen Chenglong rode out from the ranks, looking at Qin Qiong with a mocking expression: "General Qin, is it? Who said that wearing armor prevents one from performing the full ceremony?"
Before he finished speaking, he dismounted swiftly and cleanly.
Then he bent his knees and knelt down with a thud, respectfully kowtowing in the direction of Lü Xiao.
"This humble general, Yuwen Chenglong, in full armor, pays his respects to Your Highness! See, isn't this sufficient for a full court ceremony?"
His exaggerated movements and comical tone made the surrounding soldiers want to laugh but dare not.
Seeing this, Pei Yuanqing was unwilling to let Yuwen Chenglong steal the spotlight, so he quickly jumped off his horse and knelt down with a thud, even louder than Yuwen Chenglong.
"This humble general, Pei Yuanqing, also in full armor, pays his respects to Your Highness! My bow is even more elaborate!"
These two clowns, singing in unison, made the scene both awkward and comical.
Qin Qiong's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
He sat on his horse, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the reins bulging.
He had planned everything meticulously, but he hadn't anticipated that Lü Xiao had two such shameless individuals under his command.
Their kneeling was like putting him on the hot seat of a fire.
"General Qin, we can perform the full ceremony, but you cannot?"
Yuwen Chenglong knelt on the ground, turned his head and asked with a sincere expression.
Pei Yuanqing chimed in, "Yes, General Qin, do you look down on my lord?"
That's a really hurtful thing to say.
Qin Qiong closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When I opened my eyes again, they were completely calm.
He dismounted with a steady movement, knelt on one knee, and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "This humble general, Qin Qiong, pays his respects to Prince Shuo!"
This time, he made no excuses.
Lu Xiao sat upright on his horse, quietly watching this scene.
He did not immediately make Qin Qiong get up, but let him kneel there.
Time passes little by little.
Kneeling on the ground, Qin Qiong could feel countless gazes around him, some mocking, some pitying, and some gloating.
He lowered his head, staring at a withered blade of grass on the ground, his teeth clenched so tightly they almost bled.
Finally, Lü Xiao spoke, his voice calm: "No need for formalities, Second Brother Qin, no, General Qin, please rise."
That cry of "Second Brother Qin" was extremely grating.
It both reminded them of their past relationship and drew a clear line between them now.
Qin Qiong slowly stood up, his hands hanging at his sides: "Thank you, Your Highness."
He kept his head down and didn't look at Lü Xiao.
It's not that I dare not, it's that I'm unwilling.
Lu Xiao didn't seem to mind, and said calmly, "General Qin and the people of Wagang are sworn brothers. I wonder if this campaign against Wagang will be difficult?"
His question was tricky and meant to disgust Qin Qiong.
Answering with difficulty is tantamount to admitting that there is some resentment in one's heart.
Answering without difficulty would seem cold and heartless.
Qin Qiong remained silent for a moment before saying, "It is my duty to serve the court and annihilate the bandits."
"Very well," Lü Xiao nodded, "I'm looking forward to General Qin's performance on the battlefield."
Having said that, he gently squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs and slowly walked past Qin Qiong.
The army then set off, its iron hooves pounding the ground, raising clouds of dust.
Qin Qiong stood still, motionless.
Only after the army had completely passed did he slowly raise his head and gaze at their departing figures.
"General, they've already gone far ahead."
Qin Qiong mounted his horse and said, "Let's return to camp."
His voice was calm, but his hand holding the reins was trembling slightly.
A day later, the imperial army and the Yanshan cavalry joined forces and marched to the outskirts of Wagang Village.
This time, the scale of the operation was larger than ever before.
Lu Xiao's central army banner stood in the center, flanked by the Chixiao Army and the Yanshan Iron Cavalry on the left and right, respectively, with the remaining troops being the imperial army.
Thirty thousand troops lined up in front of Wagang Mountain, their swords and spears like a forest, their banners obscuring the sun, and their chilling aura soaring to the heavens.
On the wall of Wagang Village, Li Mi, Wang Bodang, and others looked at the densely packed military formations below the mountain, their faces extremely grim.
"Bodang, look..." Li Mi's voice was dry, "This time it seems they're serious."
Wang Bodang remained silent, staring intently at the generals in front of him.
Needless to say, Lü Xiao was accompanied by Qin Qiong, and the silver-armored general next to him was Luo Cheng.
In addition, Lü Xiao had many other fierce generals under his command.
Any one of these people would be enough to give Wagang a headache, but now they've all come together.
Just then, there was some commotion outside the village.
Lu Xiao looked at the walls of Wagang Village, then turned to Qin Qiong beside him: "General Qin, please?"
All eyes were on Qin Qiong.
This former general of Wagang is now the first to draw his sword against his old comrades.
"I'll do it!"
With a sharp shout, Luo Cheng spurred his horse and stood in front of Qin Qiong.
His silver armor and white robe gleamed in the sunlight, and his five-hooked, gleaming silver spear pointed diagonally at the ground, exuding an imposing aura.
"Who are you?"
Lu Xiao turned his head and asked.
"My name is Luo Cheng, the heir apparent of the Prince of Beiping." Luo Cheng raised his head and said, "I was unwell yesterday and was unable to greet Your Highness. Please forgive me."
These words were spoken politely, but the tone was harsh, showing no intention of apologizing.
Lü Xiao smiled and said, "Since you are unwell, you should rest and recuperate. Let General Qin handle these matters of charging into battle."
With a single sentence, he effortlessly shut Luo Cheng down.
"you!"
Luo Cheng's expression changed, and he suddenly raised his silver spear.
"Cousin." Qin Qiong reached out and pressed down on Luo Cheng's gun barrel, then shook his head.
He spurred his horse forward and came to Lü Xiao's side, saying, "This humble general is willing to go."
Lü Xiao nodded and said nothing more.
Qin Qiong took a deep breath, spurred his horse to the front of the two armies, and stopped about a hundred paces from the wall of Wagang Village.
He looked up at the familiar faces on the wall: Wang Bodang, Li Mi, and so on.
Once, they shared a bowl of wine and made a vow together.
"I am Qin Qiong, Qin Shubao!" Qin Qiong gathered his strength, his voice booming like thunder, echoing across the battlefield, "You traitors of Wagang, do you dare to fight me!"
The sound echoed through the valley, startling a flock of birds.
On the stockade wall, Wang Bodang closed his eyes.
After a long while, he opened his eyes and said to a general beside him, "Go, remember, come back after a few moves, don't fight to the death."
The general's face turned pale: "General Wang, Shubao, he..."
"He won't kill you," Wang Bo patted him on the shoulder. "Go on, be careful."
These words are both a consolation and a deception.
They had already received Qin Qiong's letter, and the next battle would have to be a real fight.
But who around here doesn't know Qin Qiong's skills?
If you were to send someone into battle, not one of them would be willing to die.
The only way to get people out to fight is to deceive them here.
The general gritted his teeth, picked up his spear, and left the city.
Before long, the gates of the stockade opened, and he rode out alone to the front of the battle.
Lu Xiao sat on his horse, watching quietly.
The real show has only just begun.