vstars Chapter 2322 Reckless and courting death!
Chapter 2322 Reckless and courting death!
Deng Hongwen raised his hand, pointing to the approaching white-horse cavalry, his voice suddenly turning sharp:
"Look! The White Horse Cavalry will be here in the blink of an eye! If you remain obstinate, once they charge, you will all be dead!"
"At that time, your corpses will be fed to wild dogs, and your families will be exterminated along with your entire extended family!"
"Think carefully! Will you lay down your weapons now to save your families, or resist to the end and bring about the deaths of your entire family?!"
Two senior cabinet ministers, one appealing to emotion and the other to reason, spoke with heartfelt sincerity, each word dripping with emotion and each sentence piercing the heart.
Those black-armored soldiers, who were already wavering, could no longer hold on.
Clang—
With a crisp sound, it was unclear who let go first, and the knife and spear fell to the ground.
Immediately following, like a chain reaction, the sounds of clanging and rattling rose and fell, creating a continuous cacophony.
One by one, the black-armored soldiers silently bent down and placed their weapons on the ground.
Some squatted on the ground, holding their heads in their hands, silently shedding tears.
Some knelt down and kowtowed heavily in Chu Ning's direction.
Some stood there blankly, as if all their strength had been drained away.
Chu Yun's face turned completely ashen.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.
The sword in his hand clattered to the ground, and he swayed precariously, as if his spine had been removed.
In the distance, the sound of white horse cavalry hooves was already close at hand, and the silvery torrent was about to sweep in.
The clanging of weapons hitting the ground echoed across the plains like the horns of defeat.
One by one, the black-armored soldiers laid down their weapons, squatted on the ground, covered their heads with their hands, and gave up resistance.
Chu Yun's face was ashen, he swayed precariously, and his eyes were filled with resentment and despair.
The ministers standing behind him also looked ashen-faced, as if they could already foresee their own tragic end.
At this critical juncture when the army was collapsing like a house of cards—
"Stop it, all of you!"
A heart-wrenching roar, like a thunderclap, drowned out all other sounds!
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Lu Xiuwen's originally refined and elegant face was now completely distorted, his eyes were bloodshot, and his face was ferocious, like a demon crawling out of hell!
He turned around abruptly and snatched the sword from the waist of a black-armored soldier next to him!
Caught off guard, before the soldier could react, the knife was already firmly gripped in Lü Xiuwen's hand!
Lu Xiuwen raised his long sword high, its blade gleaming coldly in the gloomy light.
His voice was sharp and frantic, carrying a desperate, hysterical madness:
"You think you can live by laying down your weapons?! You're so naive!"
He pointed sharply at Chu Ning inside the shield wall, roaring hoarsely, "He is the emperor! He is Chu Ning! What he hates most is betrayal!"
"You were pointing knives and guns at him just now. If you put down your weapons now, will he let you go?"
"Dream on! Once he catches his breath, everyone who laid down their weapons today will die! Your families will all die too!"
Those soldiers who had already laid down their weapons froze upon hearing these words.
Fear and uncertainty resurfaced in their eyes.
Lu Xiuwen continued to roar frantically: "But if we fight to the death, there is still a glimmer of hope!"
"As long as Chu Ning is killed! As long as that tyrant is killed! Prince Yun will be the emperor!"
"At that time, not only will you not die, but you will also be promoted and ennobled, and your wives and children will be granted titles and privileges! You will enjoy endless wealth and honor!"
He suddenly swung his longsword, the blade drawing a cold arc in the air:
"Your life or death hinges on this! You choose whether to kneel and await death or stand and beg for survival!"
Before he finished speaking, Lü Xiuwen suddenly rushed forward!
He was a civil official over fifty years old who usually only knew how to review memorials and compose poems. But now he was brandishing a long sword and charging towards the shield wall like a madman!
That gaunt figure, those crazed eyes, that wielding long sword—at this moment, there was an indescribable eeriness and terror about it!
Chu Yun's eyes, which had been filled with despair, suddenly burst forth with a final, frenzied light the moment he saw Lü Xiuwen rush out!
He knew this was his last chance!
Life or death, it all hinges on this!
He bent down abruptly, picked up his fallen sword, raised the blade high, and his voice, distorted by madness, became so shrill it seemed to tear his throat apart:
"Kill! Kill them all for me! Kill Chu Ning! I will grant him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households! A reward of ten thousand gold pieces! A hereditary title! Kill him for me!"
He wildly brandished his sword and, following Lü Xiuwen, charged toward the shield wall!
Two civil officials and princes who were usually pampered and powerless were now like madmen, brandishing their swords and charging towards the formidable shield wall!
The scene was bizarre and insane, yet it carried a tragic grandeur of desperation and recklessness!
Those black-armored soldiers who had already begun to waver and hesitate finally snapped the moment they saw Lü Xiuwen and Chu Yun rush out frantically!
Yes! Lü Xiuwen is right!
If you lay down your weapons, will you really be able to survive?
The emperor hates betrayal the most; how could he possibly let them go?
Rather than kneeling and waiting to die, we might as well fight to the death! Killing Chu Ning would give us a sliver of hope!
"kill--!"
It is unknown who first let out a frantic shout, and then, like a flash flood, like a burst dam, a torrent of water.
Most of the black-armored soldiers who had already laid down their weapons suddenly grabbed their swords and spears again and followed Lu Xiuwen and Chu Yun as they charged madly toward the shield wall!
The flashing of swords and the deafening shouts of battle filled the air!
Thousands of black-armored soldiers, like a black tide, surged forward in a final, frenzied charge against the thin shield wall!
Those few soldiers who remained crouched on the ground, trembling with fear at the frenzied atmosphere, were even trampled to the ground, their screams drowned out by the surging crowd.
Inside the shield wall, Zhao Yu coldly watched all of this.
His face showed no panic, only a cold contempt, as if looking at an ant struggling for its last breath.
"Humph."
He snorted coldly, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every Imperial Guard.
"act recklessly."
He abruptly raised his hand, his voice firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable authority:
"Protect His Majesty! Hold them off!"
"Yes!"
Hundreds of Imperial Guards roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens!
They gripped their shields tightly, making the shield wall even tighter and denser, like an indestructible iron wall!
Behind the shields, spears stood like a forest, and swords flashed. In the eyes of every Imperial Guard soldier burned a resolute determination to die for their cause and a contempt for the enemy!