Fang Heng and Jiang Chengyuan led their blood-soaked troops to the city gate, then halted their steps.
No one knew who raised the torch, and the surroundings were as bright as daylight.
The panicking Northern Nomads fleeing, and the murderous Great Yu soldiers, stared at each other in this moment.
The numbers on both sides, as well as the state of the battle, were no longer shrouded in the darkness of night at this time, becoming the chips on the table.
"The Northern Nomads were truly determined to take Guanjin Line, they actually raised another hundred thousand troops." Jiang Yi's face was filled with lingering fear, "Luckily we set up an ambush early and damaged some of their manpower, otherwise if they really charged over it would have been terrible."
In fact, the Great Yu troops also numbered over a hundred thousand, only their number of horses was lacking. If it really came to battle they would be at a disadvantage.
Even during the pursuit, they only chased to the city gates then stopped appropriately —— the Northern Nomads were only startled by the ambush, their actual battle prowess was still present. The horses on the grasslands ensured that they could attack if they wished, and retreat if they wished.
Revealing both sides' numbers was more like a psychological tactic, it was an obvious deterrent.
"You......you ambushed us." Third Prince Anda was both startled and furious, "You vile and ugly Great Yu people!"
If you talked about ugly, sneak attacking and invading other people's homeland, injuring innocent lives, the Northern Nomads should still be ranked first.
Jiang Chengyuan and Fang Heng were too lazy to waste their breath because of this matter, turning their gazes to the two people by the Third Prince's side.
No matter how you turn traitor, no matter how you betray your country, your ethnicity and bloodlines would not change.
Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan were also "vile Great Yu people", so how were they treated?
After Third Prince Anda blurted that out, he also noticed the two. With the failure in attacking Guanjin Line at the front, and the night raid ambush at the back, the treasured battle formation map he regarded as a treasure did not display much use. He was already frustrated so it was inevitable he would vent his anger on them.
"You Great Yu people are all like this, if you can't beat us, you always like to use these strange kinds of methods." He shouted, "Can't we just have a fair and open battle?"
Zhu Changyu's lips trembled but he did not speak.
Fang Yuan turned his head to look, "Third Prince, was the night raid an open and fair method?"
Third Prince Anda was silenced. The strategist by his side stirred up trouble, "You vile Great Yu person, who knows if the damage today was part of your schemes, if you were the ones who sabotaged us."
"Yes yes yes, it was us who let you raid Guanjin Line at night." Fang Yuan was somewhat impatient, "It was also us who picked Guanjin Line."
The strategist was also silenced.
After they handed over the Fang family battle formations, because they were not trusted, they did not have any opportunity to direct things.
Guanjin Line was chosen by Third Prince Anda, raiding Guanjin Line at night was proposed by the strategists, in the end they only notified Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan.
"Alright alright, enough about that." The prince came forward to smooth things over, "We should still face the vile and hateful Great Yu people first."
With the night raid ending in failure, and being ambushed by the other side, even if the Northern Nomads still had some battle prowess, their morale had already been shattered.
The other side standing silently below the city gates made Third Prince Anda suspect that those sly and hateful Great Yu people had some other backup plan.
Things like a new ambush, or reinforcements.
"Great Yu people!" He raised his voice to call out, "You dared to ambush us, injuring and killing our brethren. I vow to take your heads in exchange!"
This was a common rhetorical device used to stir up morale. Both sides would provoke each other back and forth a few times, and it was very possible they would start fighting again.
But unexpectedly the two generals totally ignored him, still staring fixedly at Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan.
Those gazes contained scrutiny, blame, puzzlement and resentment.
Almost instantly, Zhu Changyu's face burned hotly, flushing to an unprecedented degree.
Looking at Fang Yuan, his face was also colorful, at a loss over what to do.
When people bet their lives to betray others, they would vow to live properly.
Personally witnessing the tragic state of their countrymen, their conscience would crawl out from between their bones, tormenting their hearts ceaselessly.
From day to night, from night to daybreak.
Countless soldiers who died tragically would squat in front of them, calling out one by one, questioning one by one, "Why...why?"
"Why?" This cry was no longer imaginary, it was Fang Heng in an imposing voice, "Second Prince, why?"
"Why betray your country and people, why harm innocent common citizens, why become the Northern Nomads' executioners, why abandon your own conscience?"
"Tell me, why?"
"Because this country was never good to me." Zhu Changyu finally raised his head. His brow and eyes faintly resembled that of the imperial family. "Because nobody was ever good to me. Because of unfairness. Because I wanted to live properly."
Usurping the throne was a method. Betraying the country was also a method.
The final aim was simply to let himself possess absolute power, absolute respect.
Fang Heng was silent for a moment. "They say if you have not suffered hardship yourself you should not tell others to be good. Second Prince, you said your life never had any light, but is that genuinely true?"
"Even though Imperial Concubine Yan was so aloof, she still helped drive away the little eunuchs for you. Even though Jiang Sheng was framed so badly, he was still willing to take you to a medical hall."
"And also that prince who even now still cares about you...."
His voice grew quiet. Jiang Chengyuan continued in a loud voice, "No matter what, it is not an excuse to betray your country. You betrayed the country that gave birth to you and raised you. Why don't you just be a carefree and wealthy prince? Why do you have to go to this extent?"
"Become a wealthy prince? How could that be possible." Zhu Changyu laughed. "I'm a treasonous person. I wanted to kill my two older brothers, indirectly causing the deaths of the Eldest Prince and Consort Ju. Who would spare me? Who would let me become a wealthy prince?"
From the day they decided to usurp the throne, they no longer had a way out.
To the soldiers of Great Yu, the two of them were traitors and rebels.
To Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan, they were only using some less honorable methods to achieve their goal, to save themselves.
The two sides had differing positions, so naturally their feelings and views were different.
Right now the common citizens of Great Yu would be furious and curse them, but as long as they stood at the highest point, held the lives of historians in their hands, history would naturally be written by the victor.
This was Zhu Changyu's final persistence, it was also the crux that allowed him to still stand firmly after being impacted by the war.
Jiang Chengyuan sighed and did not speak.
But Fang Heng laughed at this time, "Second Prince...who said that treason could only end in death?"
"Haven't you ever thought, why does the imperial clan insist that the position of emperor must be passed to the Crown Prince, and not other princes?"
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