Minister Chu gave the order to the soldiers. He then crossed his hands behind his back, and watched as a total of 400,000 enemy soldiers surrendered.
It had been an effortless victory. The battle had ended with no blood on his men’s swords.
The enemy had obviously arrived at the dead end, and Minister Chu had been rather opportunistic at the right time. However, one simply can’t deny that there were no issues in Minister Chu’s strategies…
He had undertaken a very vigorous and resolute stance the moment he gained the command of the army. He had decided to deal with the war’s situation with authority, and so he had begun to send wave after wave of troops to harassment the enemy. This had pushed the enemy in a state of panic. It was similar to applying salt in their wounds.
Later, he had sent Wu Kuang Yun to persuade the enemy to surrender. This was an amazing move. Wu Kuang Yun had a special status in the army. And, he had personally come out to persuade Long Ao. So, Long Ao would’ve been despised had he not come out of his army formation as well. Moreover, Wu Kuang Yun’s in-person arrival for the ‘surrender’ talks also gave Long Ao a hint that there may be a scope for negotiations!
…That was because these two men occupied high-enough positions.
Moreover, Long Ao had been at the end of the line. So, Wu Kuang Yun’s arrival had given him a chance to save his face. He had no option but to get out of there. So, he had decided to try out his luck, and had come out to discuss his surrender.
However, Minister Chu had instructed Wu Kuang Yun that he was supposed to send Long Ao in wild rage… if not irritate him to death as long as he were to come out to talk! Wu Kuang Yun was obviously to ensure that Long Ao lost his prestige and honor in front of his entire army at the very least.
It was one thing to get agitated under usual circumstances. However, he had lost his prestige in such a life or death crisis… this was tantamount to being ‘finished’!
Long Ao had been instigated to commit suicide in the end… Hence, the remaining army of 400,000 soldiers had become similar to a headless dragon. Moreover, Long Ao had lost the trust of his subordinates before he died. In fact, they had started to despise him. This was coupled with the impasse they were in… so, how could they not surrender?
There were many Iron Cloud Generals who were dissatisfied with King of Hell Chu’s approach. They couldn’t help but think — ‘Even I could’ve achieved this victory!’
However, they took control of the enemy army, and found out that Long Ao had been building a large slope in secrecy. This meant that the enemy soldiers could’ve easily disappeared without a trace.
In fact, this slope would’ve been completed in half-a-days’ time at the most…
These generals would’ve waited for the enemy to starve themselves to death if Chu Yang hadn’t arrived in-time. And then, the 400,000 enemy soldiers would’ve escaped from right under their nose… this situation would’ve been similar to watching ‘a thoroughly cooked duck fly away’... It could be said that these generals would’ve had heart-attacks if things had really evolved that way...
Everyone was covered in cold sweat when they found out how the prisoners would be dealt with. In fact, the younger generals amongst the enemy’s ranks were so frightened that they pissed their pants.
Because… Minister Chu said — "Kill them all!"
Minister Chu was clad in a black robe when he had spoken these words. His face was hidden behind a black mask, but his eyes appeared cold and ominous. So much so, that it seemed as if they were completely devoid of any emotions!
The crowd was overwhelmed with shock and horror!
Tie Bu Tian — as the Emperor of Iron Cloud — pled for leniency because he believed that this act might enrage the heavens.
However, King of Hell Chu replied, "What’s wrong with this? Aren’t these only 400,000 people? Didn’t we crush those other 600,000 to death? So, why should these 400,000 get any preferential treatment?"
Everyone present there felt cramps throughout their body after they heard this sentence.
[So… those terrifying landslides that happened on that terrible day were caused by this King of Hell Chu? Holy crap… is he even human?]
The crowd was too scared to speak. And, Minister Chu was determined to kill them. He even said… "Let them dig a big pit on their own. Then, they can jump inside and bury themselves alive..."
Tie Bu Tian repeatedly pled for mercy. And, King of Hell Chu seemed rather helpless when he saw the Emperor of a nation beseech with such earnest. So, King of Hell Chu finally gave in. But, he still looked very unhappy, and spoke in a threatening manner — "I’m sparing you all today in order to give face of His Majesty. Otherwise, I would’ve killed you all! But…! If there’s any person among these prisoners who turns out to be dishonest, and tries to pull-off something… then, he shall be killed along with his entire team! And, all 400,000 prisoners shall be buried alive if even one team turns out to be dishonest!"
The surrendered enemy generals came out of the massive command-tent after this horrifying meeting was over. Their legs had turned limp. Their pale faces were covered in sweat. Many of them were so scared they had pissed their pants. They went back to their troops in such a miserable state, and issued the command — "No one is allowed to act rashly. Even one motherf*ker who tries something reckless will drag all of us down into the pits of hell along with himself!"
The generals then explained, "We must thank the benevolent Emperor of Iron Cloud. He strongly argued for what is right, and saved us from the King of Hell Chu’s butcher knife..."
One could easily imagine the response.
Chu Yang and Tie Bu Tian were obviously playing the ‘good cop, bad cop’ game to pacify the prisoners. The prisoners were then handed over to Wu Yi. Afterwards, 150,000 soldiers were left behind to guard the Heaven Splitting Mountain Pass. Whereas, Chu Yang and Tie Bu Tian led the remaining 300,000 of their soldiers, and returned to the main battlefield in triumph!
Both — the guarding generals as well as the surrendered enemy generals — were greatly relieved when they found out that King of Hell Chu had left. They couldn’t tell why… but they felt their psychological pressure lift all of a sudden. They had felt as if they were looking at a thick black cloud loom over the Heaven Splitting Mountain Pass whenever they’d see King of Hell Chu’s black robe. This had made them tremble with fear.
Tie Bu Tian was grinning from ear-to-ear while they were on the road. He said, "Minister Chu, your black face-mask is very effective! Even I was confused back then… I thought… why would you suddenly talk about ‘massacre’ when you were the one who had suggested that we must accept the enemy’s surrender…? Luckily my brain turned quickly."
Chu Yang tilted his head and looked at Tie Bu Tian with a strange look in his eyes, "Your Majesty thinks... I was kidding back then?"
Tie Bu Tian’s complexion changed as he stammered, "You… weren’t?"
Chu Yang smiled and replied in a cold and gloomy voice, "I think there’s no harm… in killing 400,000 trivial people. These prisoners are likely to become the biggest variable if Diwu Qing Rou remains undefeated and the war enters a stalemate. After all, this is the Heaven Splitting Mountain Pass! It would’ve been better to get rid of them once and for all since it would’ve avoided any future problems."
Tie Bu Tian was stunned. A long time passed before he came to himself, but only to realize that his entire body was covered in cold sweat.
[Four-hundred-thousand people…! Did he say ‘kill’... kill them all at once?]
"However, you will become the Lord of the whole world one day, and this whole ‘massacre thing’ would’ve left a stain on your reputation. So, when you pled for mercy… I took advantage of the situation and gave you face." Chu Yang calmly explained.
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