Chapter 647 - 647 644 Infamy for Thousands of Years_1

Chapter 647: Chapter 644: Infamy for Thousands of Years_1 Chapter 647: Chapter 644: Infamy for Thousands of Years_1 However, to truly have Liu Hong issue the order to kill these nearly twenty thousand soldiers himself, he really couldn’t bring himself to do it.

The Emperor said this matter was top secret and not to be disclosed, but how could such a big commotion really go unnoticed?

This time, killing the disarmed rebel army was different from Bai Qingyan burning and killing the Xiliang captives in Wengcheng. Bai Qingyan did that to protect the Jin Kingdom’s territory, a last resort in defeating the many with the few.

But for Liu Hong, as soon as he waved his hand, a myriad of arrows would rain down…killing their own Jin Kingdom soldiers.

In future historical records, Liu Hong’s name would probably be vilified for eternity.

Below the high walls, the rebel army of Nandu and the imperial guards were crowded together. Seeing the two layers of palace gates behind them already closed while Yongding Gate remained shut, trapping them in this confined space, they looked up toward the high walls. But the rain was so heavy that nothing could be seen clearly.

“General Liu, you can’t hesitate!” Liu Hong’s subordinate reminded him in a low voice, “If you delay any longer, there will be trouble. Eighteen thousand people are no small number. If someone catches on, there might be chaos! It’s best to act decisively!”

Liu Hong closed his eyes tightly, gritted his teeth hard, raised his hand, and shouted loudly, “Archers, ready!”

Liu Hong’s subordinate echoed loudly, “Archers, ready!”

The downpour couldn’t drown out the voices of Liu Hong and his subordinate.

The archers on the high walls immediately stepped forward, their arrowheads gleaming coldly as they aimed at the disarmed and surrendered soldiers of the rebel army and the imperial guards below, clad in white, unarmed.

“What are they going to do?!”

“They’re going to kill us!”

Some of the imperial guards realized what was happening.

“What?! They’re going to kill us?!”

Nearly eighteen thousand white-robed soldiers below the high walls instantly panicked and shouted toward the high walls.

“Princess of Zhen said, disarm and we won’t be killed! We’ve already surrendered! How can you kill us!”

“Damn it! Those bastards aren’t keeping their word!”

In the heavy rain, an imperial guard corporal, his face ashen, forced himself to stay calm, looked toward Yongding Gate, and shouted hoarsely, “Brothers! Yongding Gate is right in front of us! Staying here means certain death. Break through that gate, and we might have a chance to live! Charge!”

As his words fell, the corporal rushed toward Yongding Gate, using his body to ram the sealed gate.

Over eighteen thousand drenched white-robed soldiers below followed suit, like headless flies, using their bodies to ram the centuries-old solid and heavy gate of Yongding.

Those in front who rammed the gate fell into the rainwater, instantly being trampled on by the soldiers charging from behind, stepping over their bodies, their screams chilling.

“General!” Liu Hong’s subordinate, seeing the situation below in disarray, quickly turned and urged Liu Hong, “General, you must not hesitate any longer!”

Liu Hong gritted his teeth, looking at the chaos below, witnessing the white-robed captives being trampled to death, the ones who first rushed the gate being crushed by the crowd pressing forward…

Today, although Yongding Gate was quiet without battle, blood still flowed ceaselessly.

Rather than letting these people die like this, it would be better to grant them a death with some dignity. Liu Hong seemed to feel tears streaking down his face.

“Damn it! Charge! Otherwise, we’ll all die here!” one of the surrendered soldiers shouted below.

Bai Qingyan, with the Bai family guards, had just rushed up to the city tower, seeing Liu Hong with reddened eyes, raising his hand high…

“Hold your fire!” Bai Qingyan shouted loudly, “Hold your fire!”

The imperial guards who had drawn their bows and aimed heard this, quickly turning to salute Bai Qingyan, “Princess of Zhen!”

“Miss!” a Bai family guard raised his hand, pointing with wide eyes at Liu Hong, who was about to drop his hand, exclaiming, “It’s too far! General Liu can’t hear your voice!”

Bai Qingyan turned to the soldier beside her who had his bow drawn and aimed at the soldiers below the city tower. She grabbed the bow and arrows from his hand, supporting herself with a single hand on the city wall, and leapt up… enduring the intense pain in her arm, quickly drawing the bow. In the wind and rain, she steadied her trembling hand, and despite her arm’s weakness, she managed to shoot the arrow toward the distant Liu Hong.

The arrow pierced through the rain, in a blink arriving before Liu Hong’s eyes, grazing the wrist guard of his raised hand, then dropping to the ground.

Turning in shock, Liu Hong saw Bai Qingyan, drenched and holding a bow, standing on the city wall, her wet clothes fluttering in the wind. Liu Hong quickly withdrew his hand, his heartbeat pounding like thunder, with a hint of joy in his eyes. He rapidly ran towards Bai Qingyan!

The archers withdrew their arrows, saluting in Bai Qingyan’s direction.

The surrendered soldiers who were ramming the gate saw the slim figure standing on the city tower, their eyes widening, pointing up, “Look up there! It’s the Princess of Zhen!”

“The archers on the tower seem to have withdrawn their arrows!”

“Is the Princess of Zhen here to stop them from killing us?!”

“I think…she is! The Princess of Zhen said, disarm and we won’t be killed!”

The soldiers below the city wall gradually quieted down, looking up at the high walls, waiting for their ultimate fate.

Bai Qingyan saw Liu Hong coming towards her. Enduring the pain, she bit her lip, tossed the large bow to the imperial guards, jumped off the city wall, almost stumbled.

“Miss!” the Bai family guards supported Bai Qingyan, feeling her whole body trembling, her pale face dripping with rain or sweat… continuously falling.

Bai Qingyan had injured her arm when she raised King Xian’s body. Now, with all her strength, she managed to shoot an arrow, causing her arm to ache with every breath.

“I’m fine!” Bai Qingyan clenched her fist, enduring the immense pain, and walked steadily towards Liu Hong.

Liu Hong knew that the merit for this rescue lay with Bai Qingyan. When he heard she had killed King Xian and declared…disarm and we won’t be killed, he was certain Bai Qingyan had come in the rain to stop the massacre and rescue people!

Liu Hong was already unwilling to kill these imperial guards and Nandu soldiers. Seeing Bai Qingyan, how could he not be pleased?!

“Princess of Zhen!” Liu Hong hurriedly bowed deeply, “Is it the Emperor who commanded to hold fire?”

Bai Qingyan shook her head, “I’m afraid it might be too late if I first sought the Emperor’s decree. So I came to stop you first, Lord Liu. I’ll go to the Emperor’s bedchamber for the Imperial Edict now.”

Hearing this, the light in Liu Hong’s eyes gradually dimmed. “I have already tried to persuade him. The Emperor…was adamant, and even the Crown Prince…”

“I said, disarm and we won’t be killed. These soldiers…I’ll protect them!” Bai Qingyan said to Liu Hong, “Bai Qingyan will definitely get the Imperial Edict from the Emperor. Before I return, please ensure the safety of these surrendered soldiers. I’ll take all the blame alone.”

Liu Hong knew that the Emperor was wary of the Bai family and Bai Qingyan. If the Emperor wouldn’t listen to Liu Hong, why would he listen to Bai Qingyan? But Bai Qingyan was willing to try…there was still a sliver of hope.

Bai Qingyan’s newly changed clothes were soaked through, but rather than looking disheveled, she stood straight and tall, her eyes cold, dark, and profound.