Chapter 418
The Chao Kingdom had spent twenty years preparing for this attack. Unlike Da Xia, which was surrounded by predatory smaller kingdoms like Da Liang and Northern Qi, the Chao Kingdom had only one small kingdom to its north — nothing to fear — and its western border faced the sea. This meant it could throw its entire strength into attacking Da Xia. But Da Xia's main forces were split into two groups — the Qin family army and the Northwest army.
The Qin family army guarded the south, while the Northwest army guarded the north. The Chao Kingdom's strength matched Da Xia's. Facing an enemy force twice their size, no matter how formidable the Qin family army was, they couldn't drive them back in a short time.
Now the two armies were locked in a standoff, neither able to gain the upper hand. The fighting dragged on.
In early the eleventh month, the two armies clashed again beyond the border. Jiang Zhanying and Lu Zhenghe joined forces to advance.
Back when Qin Hengyi's mind wasn't clear, he'd seemed muddled and harmless. But now, with his brows slightly furrowed and his face cold and stern, he gave off an intimidating, oppressive aura. Even Lu Zhenghe felt somewhat intimidated talking to him.
"What, don't recognize me anymore?" Before the battle, Qin Hengyi asked Lu Zhenghe coldly. "You betrayed Da Xia and threw yourself under the enemy's banner. I originally thought the Chao Kingdom promised you the position of commander-in-chief. But now it seems you're just someone's running dog. Is it sweeter being a dog for the Chao Kingdom?"
To Jiang Zhanying's left was Lu Zhenghe, to his right was A-Zuo. A-You had been gravely wounded by Qin Hengyi in the canyon. Lu Zhenghe was now effectively serving as Jiang Zhanying's left hand—and even so, he was merely a deputy general.
Lu Zhenghe's face flushed red. "You..."
"Because of you, you beast, over two thousand of my Qin family soldiers died." That day when Qin Hengyi arrived, the valley was already littered with corpses, thick smoke billowing into the sky. The soldiers had died horribly, and his father lay gravely wounded and unconscious. All of it was thanks to Lu Zhenghe. Qin Hengyi ground his back teeth like a possessed villain, his voice dark and sinister, each word squeezed through clenched teeth. He asked Lu Zhenghe: "Had the Lu family been received?"
Lu Zhenghe's eyes flew wide open.
Qin Hengyi chuckled softly. He wasn't yet forty—just over thirty. Men at this age were at their most mature and charismatic. Now, in full armor, his figure and features were impeccable. Before, his eyes had always been full of flirtatious laughter, his face perpetually bright with smiles. He'd seemed carefree, without a worry in the world, radiant as the sun in the sky. But now his face was full of cold detachment, his eyes filled with loathing. He was a completely different person from twenty years ago. A-Zuo stared at him, momentarily dazed, his heart a tangled mess of emotions. When Qin Hengyi's icy gaze swept over, he hurriedly dropped his eyes, as if afraid to meet it.
He heard Qin Hengyi sneer: "The Emperor has issued a decree — the Lu family is to be executed to the nine clans. Don't worry, not a single one of them will escape."
Since ancient times, honor and ruin were shared alike.
When Lu Zhenghe served Da Xia, Da Xia granted the Lu family unparalleled wealth and glory. Lu Zhenghe betrayed Da Xia — the Lu family couldn't possibly have been unaware. Now, they were getting exactly what they deserved.
Jiang Zhanying laughed. "Lao Lu, I told you! The Qin family—these ingrates—aren't worth your service. People choose good friends to associate with; birds choose good trees to nest in. Now you've finally seen the light."
Qin Hengyi looked at him, then suddenly let out a derisive laugh. "A dog speaking human words." He said coldly, "Today has really been an eye-opener."
The Lu family had been delayed in reaching Qinzhou. Lu Zhenghe knew something must have happened to them. Now, with Qin Hengyi's words, Lu Zhenghe's eyes turned bloodshot with rage. He was the first to spur his horse and charge at Qin Hengyi.
"Second Young Master, the Lu family women are innocent! I fought for your Qin family and for Da Xia for decades. Now your Qin family disregards the friendship between our families, disregards righteousness—then don't blame me!"
Qin Hengyi said nothing and rode out to meet him.
He had no deputy general. To his left and right were Qin family private soldiers. Now Jiang Zhanying led his men to engage him. If they could capture Qin Hengyi, the Qin family army would be nothing to fear. Jiang Zhanying threw everything into it, and the fighting was fierce. But he had underestimated Qin Hengyi's abilities. Qin Hengyi had trained in martial arts under Old General Qin since he was three, inheriting his mantle. Capturing him in a short time would not be easy.
Jiang Zhanying glanced at A-Zuo. "A-Zuo."
He ordered coldly, "Take him down."
A-Zuo's eyes flickered, but he didn't resist.
Qin Hengyi's moves were all killing blows, aimed straight at vital points. It was clear he showed no mercy whatsoever.
When a spear thrust toward him, A-Zuo met Qin Hengyi's cold, detached eyes and couldn't help but freeze.
He wants me dead.
Last time too, and now again...
Realizing this, A-Zuo's face went deathly pale. His chest suddenly ached as if pierced by countless needles. His eyes filled with sorrow, and his eye rims reddened instantly.
Qin Hengyi didn't look at his eyes—not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't dare.
This person gave him a sense of familiarity from head to toe. Back then, he'd truly thought the other was his Yizhi. But after waking up, he realized it was impossible.
What was in that box back then was truly a human skin. He and his parents couldn't have been mistaken.
This person was Jiang Zhanying's son-in-law. Nothing more.
Qin Hengyi was no pushover. When he went berserk, he was a ruthless man. Jiang Zhanying saw that he was even harder to deal with than that old beast, and ground his teeth in frustration.
This little bastard—he couldn't have recovered at any other time, but had to recover now. What rotten luck. Why couldn't he have stayed simple-minded for a few more years?
When the Qin family soldiers saw Lu Zhenghe, they wanted nothing more than to flay him alive. They fought like men possessed, ferociously.
But outnumbered, the Qin family army was ultimately forced to retreat. When the news reached the rear, Old General Qin thought it over and decided to recuperate for a few more days before returning. With him there, at least Qin Hengyi wouldn't struggle so badly.
---
All exits from Shangyang and Xiayang were sealed off, and strict inspections were underway everywhere.
In a ruined temple outside Xiayang Mountain, the Lu family sat around a fire like stray dogs, every face drawn with worry, looking utterly bedraggled.
Several Chao soldiers assigned to receive them stood guard outside the temple gate.
The Lu family's eldest legitimate grandson was eight this year. He poked at the fire with a stick and asked resentfully, "Grandmother, why did Father and Grandfather defect?"
Everyone turned to look at Old Madam Lu.
Yes—why defect, for no good reason? Now they were like stray dogs, like rats crossing the street, hiding everywhere. Soldiers were out searching for them, and they didn't dare leave this place.
Fleeing east and hiding west, sleeping in the open—how could the women endure it? Especially the Lu family's youngest daughter-in-law. She had miscarried on the road and still lay unconscious.
Old Madam Lu's face was steeped in bitterness.
"Your father resented the Qin family. It wasn't sudden."
So it was long-premeditated. The Lu family members were all incredulous. The Qin family had treated them well all these years. Why resentment?
Old Madam Lu sighed. "Twenty years ago..."
The Chao Kingdom suddenly attacked Da Xia and easily broke through the defensive line because the Lu family's eldest son had neglected his duties.
He'd been in command of the defensive line. But for years things had been peaceful, and the two kingdoms had signed a treaty. During that time, Lu Wu grew lax. Life at the border was inevitably dull, so he often sent men to town to buy wine and then brought his subordinates together to carouse in the camp.
Like their superiors, the soldiers often drank themselves into a stupor. On the Double Ninth Festival, Lu Wu was drunk as usual. That night, the Chao Kingdom suddenly launched a full-scale attack. Lu Wu was caught completely off guard and naturally failed to hold the line. By the time Old General Qin got word, the Chao Kingdom had already massacred over a dozen villages.
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