Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 2283 They've rebelled!

Xue Huaide's continuous questioning struck like a heavy hammer into the hearts of the soldiers whose morale had already collapsed and who were contemplating desertion.

A noticeable commotion began to emerge in the ranks; some people lowered their heads, while others looked at each other in bewilderment.

Some people couldn't help but look at Su Tingmei, who was being held hostage, and then at Chu Xuan, who seemed to be going mad. The resistance and will to survive in their eyes became more and more obvious.

Chu Xuan was both shocked and furious, and interrupted sharply: "Xue Huaide! Stop trying to incite the army! Listen up, anyone who dares to waver will be executed without mercy!"

He brandished his sword, but his threat seemed pale and hollow in the face of Xue Huaide's more humane and impactful shouts.

Xue Huaide completely ignored him, his voice becoming even more earnest as he offered the most tempting promise:

"My lords of Youzhou! I, Xue Huaide, here today, with my decades of military reputation and my own head, guarantee this!"

"As long as you lay down your weapons right now, leave the rebel army, or stay where you are or walk towards our army's front lines, I guarantee that I will not harm you!"

"After the war, you will all be properly resettled. Those who wish to return home will be given travel expenses and will not be prosecuted."

"Those who wish to continue serving the country, after verification, may be incorporated into various ministries and treated equally!"

"His Majesty is benevolent and will only punish the ringleaders, and will not implicate you soldiers who have been deceived!"

His gaze was piercing, and his voice was resolute: "Think of your parents, wives, and children! Think of your homeland, Chu!"

"Lay down your weapons, and you will find a way to live, and a way to return home! To continue your obstinacy and be buried with this doomed rebel will only bring pain to your loved ones and joy to your enemies, and add a few more lonely souls to Luoyan Gorge. What good will it do?!"

"Think of Mr. Su Tingmei!"

Xue Huaide finally shifted the focus back to the hostages, his words filled with force: "You are all citizens of the Great Chu, how can you sit idly by and watch your national hero be coerced?"

"Put down your weapons, and you will cut off Chu Xuan's means of holding hostages and resisting stubbornly! You will save Mr. Su, and you will save yourselves!"

These words, which reasoned with them, appealed to their emotions, and tempted them with benefits, cleverly linked saving themselves with saving others, completely striking the softest and most realistic spot in the hearts of Chu Xuan's remaining soldiers.

The instinct for survival, the fear of meaningless death, the longing for their hometown and loved ones, and the dissatisfaction with Chu Xuan's crazy behavior, like a flood breaking through a dam, instantly washed away the last hesitation of many people.

Chu Xuan's countdown had long since stalled. He was horrified to discover that while his personal guards were still around, the outermost ranks of soldiers were showing clear signs of loosening and unrest.

Some people even began to slowly retreat, distancing themselves from the central area where he and Su Tingmei were.

He roared and threatened with all his might, even slashing down a soldier who tried to retreat, but fear and alienation spread like a plague.

"Stay calm! Everyone, stay calm for me!"

Chu Xuan's roar was filled with a desperate tremor.

He suddenly pulled Su Tingmei even tighter, the blade almost touching her neck, and roared in the direction of Xue Huaide and Ma Chao:

"Xue Huaide! If you dare to incite the army's morale again, I will kill you right now..."

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred!

Just as Chu Xuan's attention was drawn to Xue Huaide and his emotions were extremely agitated, a resolute glint suddenly flashed in the eyes of a middle-aged general beside him who had been silent all along and whose armor was stained with blood.

This person seemed to have already been swayed by Xue Huaide's words, or perhaps he had seen through the reality that there was no way out, and couldn't bear to see Su Tingmei really be harmed.

He suddenly sprang up, not to rush towards Chu Xuan, but with lightning speed, he slashed at the wrist of the arm that Chu Xuan was holding the sword and was holding Su Tingmei hostage!

At the same time, he shouted, "Protect Mr. Su! Capture the traitor!"

This unexpected turn of events caught everyone off guard!

"what--!"

Caught off guard, Chu Xuan felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and his longsword clattered out of his hand and fell to the ground.

He was terrified and before he could react, the general lunged at him and shoved him away.

At the same time, two other soldiers, who seemed to have a tacit understanding, quickly stepped forward, grabbed the still-shaken Su Tingmei from the left and right, and dragged her to a safe area to the side.

"You... have rebelled! Rebel!!"

Chu Xuan fell to the ground, his eyes bloodshot, struggling to get up, but was held down firmly by the defector general.

The guards around him were momentarily stunned, unsure whether to attack their comrades who had turned against them or to save Chu Xuan first.

Xue Huaide's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He knew that the long-awaited crucial moment to break the deadlock had arrived!

"All troops, listen to my command!"

Xue Huaide's aged yet authoritative voice boomed like thunder, overwhelming all the chaos.

"Chu Xuan has been captured! Those who lay down their weapons will be spared! Those who resist will be killed without mercy! General Ma Chao, cooperate in eliminating the remaining enemy forces and ensure Mr. Su's safety!"

"Order!"

Ma Chao's roar was filled with cathartic joy. The Xiliang cavalry and Xue Huaide's main force, like two long-awaited torrents, began to advance steadily forward to carry out the final cleanup and suppression.

Chu Xuan's remaining forces, under the multiple impacts of their lord being subdued, their promise of survival being made, and their inevitable defeat, finally collapsed completely, with the sounds of weapons falling to the ground echoing one after another.

The stalemate at Luoyan Gorge was suddenly broken in such a dramatic and internally disintegrating way.

Su Tingmei escaped with a vengeance, while Chu Xuan became a prisoner, and a potentially bloody and devastating annihilation was averted.

Xue Huaide's heartfelt words and promises on the battlefield played a crucial role in this success.

Xue Huaide's aged yet sharp gaze fell like a rock upon Chu Xuan, who was being held firmly to the ground.

The sounds of fighting around them were quickly subsiding, the clanging of weapons hitting the ground mingling with the shouts of the Xiliang and Chu infantry as they regrouped and gave orders to the surrendered soldiers.

Chu Xuan's struggles gradually weakened, replaced by a desolate stillness, with only his bloodshot eyes still staring unwillingly at the gloomy night sky.

"It's tied tightly."

Xue Huaide's voice was calm and even, yet every word carried immense weight.

Two burly bodyguards immediately stepped forward and used oil-soaked, thick, tough cowhide ropes to tie Chu Xuan's arms behind his back, binding him so that he could not move at all.

They checked his mouth and found no poison, then blindfolded him with a black cloth—a customary practice to prevent prisoners from memorizing paths or trying to find loopholes.

Xue Huaide then turned slightly to Su Tingmei, who had escaped danger and was undergoing a brief examination by the military medical officer, and nodded slightly:

"Mr. Su, you have been frightened. Please follow the central army. His Majesty will make arrangements after we return to the city."

Su Tingmei straightened her slightly disheveled blue scholar's robe. Though her face was pale, she remained calm and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"Thank you for your help, General Xue."

He glanced at Chu Xuan, who was bound like a dumpling, a complex sigh flashing in his eyes before disappearing.

After dealing with the most critical hostage, Xue Huaide was able to face the situation that was gradually being brought under control.