272: Chapter 0272 Sharing the Worries

"You are Lin Xiao?"

Lu Sanchuan's eyes were complex. He found it hard to believe that this young man, who looked like a refined scholar, could be the iron-blooded god of war who stirred up the Northern Territory.

From an obscure soldier in the Border Army, he led three thousand remnants to repel ten thousand cavalry of the Northern Barbarians.

He subdued General Shi Yong, crushed the fifty thousand elites of Marshal Suhe, the Great Commander of the Northern Barbarians.

Then, with unstoppable momentum, he seized Cang Province, executed the Earl of Anyang, entered Sha Prefecture, took E Prefecture, and recruited the Cold Iron Guard...

Now, here he was in Gan Province, and before he even met him, he had been defeated by his Zhenbei Army!

Not to mention the various novel products of the Northern Trade Alliance, which were not only famous in the Northern Territory but also highly sought after by nobles throughout the Great Gan.

One after another, things that sounded more bizarre than a play were all accomplished by this young man, step by step!

"Lu Sanchuan, you have two choices."

Lin Xiao said straightforwardly: "One, be buried with Prince Bai. Two, submit to my Zhenbei Army. Life or death, choose for yourself."

Seeing Lin Xiao being so arrogant, his four highly skilled personal guards were indignant and prepared to step forward and fight.

But Lu Sanchuan held them back with his blade.

"If I die, how do you intend to deal with the one hundred and fifty thousand troops?" Lu Sanchuan asked.

"Those who submit will prosper; those who resist will perish!" Lin Xiao did not hesitate.

Lu Sanchuan's eyelids twitched as he felt an unprecedented, terrifying pressure.

This young man had clearly done nothing, just standing there, so why did he feel like a towering mountain, inspiring such awe?

Was he really only in his twenties?

Even General Mu Tiexin in his prime could not be compared to him at all!

"If I say I submit, aren't you worried... that I harbor evil intentions?" Lu Sanchuan asked skeptically.

Lin Xiao chuckled, "A lion does not care about the thoughts of sheep."

"How preposterous!"

"How dare he look down on our commander!?"

The four personal guards could no longer endure it; they drew their blades, intending to rush forward and risk their lives against Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao stood in place without moving a step, simply erupting with a wave of true energy!

"Hum!"

The four men were directly blasted back, vomiting blood, and two even fainted on the spot!

Lu Sanchuan felt as if his body had been struck by a heavy hammer. He gritted his teeth hard, relying on his master-level protective aura to withstand it.

His face was filled with shock and uncertainty—what kind of cultivation realm was this!?

"Lu Sanchuan, my father once said that you are someone who takes yourself too seriously."

"The reason you fell into Marshal Suhe's trap back then was because you were too arrogant, thinking that no hero in the world could compare to you."

"I didn't expect that even today, you would still be like this. Do you really think that without you, my husband couldn't handle those one hundred and fifty thousand troops?"

Mu Wanying said disdainfully: "You were merely leading troops for Prince Bai. Now that Prince Bai is dead, how many of those soldiers will fight to the death for you?"

"Believe it or not, as long as my husband gives the order, at least one hundred and forty thousand of those one hundred and fifty thousand troops will choose to submit to the Zhenbei Army?"

Lu Sanchuan's facial muscles twitched, revealing many emotions: reluctance, anger, humiliation, depression...

In the end, he grinned with self-deprecation: "General Mu Tiexin... that's how he evaluated me?"

"I am just speaking the truth. One of the main reasons you suffered a crushing defeat at Baixue Pass was your underestimation of the enemy."

Mu Wanying said: "If you hadn't brought so few troops, General Zhao wouldn't have gone straight to Yong Province, and you would have at least been able to delay us in Gan Province."

Lu Sanchuan sighed deeply, looked up, and said: "General Mu Tiexin, I couldn't beat you back then. I didn't expect that twenty years later, I would still be defeated by your daughter..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly swung his blade and cut towards his own hair!

"Commander!! —"

The two conscious personal guards shouted hoarsely.

Liao Meier and the others behind were also shocked. Was Lu Sanchuan really going to follow Prince Bai to the grave!?

"Swish! —"

A lock of hair was cut off.

Lu Sanchuan turned around, scattered the hair on the ground, and bowed remotely to Prince Bai's coffin.

"Your Highness, Sanchuan has not fulfilled his ambition and cannot follow you!"

"I cut my hair to show my resolve. In the afterlife, I hope you will forgive me!"

After speaking, Lu Sanchuan stood up, faced Lin Xiao, and knelt on one knee with cupped fists.

"Lu Sanchuan is willing to lead one hundred and fifty thousand troops to submit to the Zhenbei Army and await the orders of General Lin!"

Lin Xiao thought to himself, wouldn't it have been better if you had agreed earlier? Making such a scene, giving everyone a fright!

He had actually seen long ago that Lu Sanchuan was not a stubborn mule who would walk down a dead end; he should know how to assess the situation.

After all, this old guy looked rough, but he was definitely not stupid...

[Lu Sanchuan, 46 years old, former commander of the White Kings Army, Potential: Earth Grade]

[Cultivation Method: Biluo Nine Heavens (71 years of cultivation), top-tier blade technique of Blade Mountain, blade energy like the water of a heavenly river. Grade: Heaven Grade]

[Traits: Both civil and military skills (Special), Blade Master (Special), Clear as Fire (Special)]

The three special traits showed that Lu Sanchuan was indeed a talent.

In fact, if he hadn't met a transmigrator like himself who didn't play by the rules, he wouldn't have been defeated so miserably.

Compared to Zhao Yunting, he had another huge advantage, which was "youth"!

For a commander of a large army, he was still in his prime.

Lin Xiao stepped forward and personally helped him up.

"General Lu, I know that when you mentioned the one hundred and fifty thousand troops just now, you didn't intend to threaten me, but were afraid that I wouldn't treat these White Kings Army soldiers well."

"After all, our Zhenbei Army and the White Kings Army had previously formed a blood feud."

"If I suddenly incorporate the White Kings Army, many people will surely be disgusted, and conflicts are inevitable."

"Words are useless. How about this... within half a month, you will see my answer with your own eyes."

Lu Sanchuan looked puzzled. Although he knew Lin Xiao wouldn't lie to him, he was very curious about what Lin Xiao intended to do?

...

Capital City.

The news of Prince Bai's death and Lu Sanchuan's surrender was like a massive earthquake!

This meant that the "separatist" state of the North had ended!

The Prince of Nanling, the Prince of East Sea, the King of Baiyue, and others, one after another, quietly opened up trade routes.

Clearly, the Zhenbei Army had not only stabilized the Northern Territory but also intimidated the other regions!

The matter of the decree of bestowing favors was put aside for now; in any case, the attitude was already one of submission.

Emperor Hong's greatest crisis had also passed.

This Great Gan was still the empire of Li Sihong!

For a time, during the morning court session, various ministers who had originally claimed to be ill all flocked to the main hall.

Emperor Hong listened to the group of people below shouting "Long live," and the corners of his mouth couldn't stop rising.

"I believe all my beloved ministers have heard that the Zhenbei Army has recaptured Yong Province, and Prince Bai has confessed and been executed."

"This is certainly a great joy for the Great Gan, but the plague left behind by Prince Bai is still tormenting the people of the Northern Territory."

"My heart is uneasy. Is there any minister who can go on an inspection tour of the Northern Territory on my behalf to offer condolences to the disaster victims?"

The group of ministers were all clever people. They looked at each other privately, exchanged glances, and then all pretended to be deaf and dumb.

Are you kidding? Go to a place where the plague is rampant to inspect? Tired of living? Or just having a death wish?

Not to mention that Lin Xiao killed without blinking and it was unknown if he was easy to get along with.

Even if one really made a contribution and let the disaster victims feel the vastness of the imperial grace, that credit would be Emperor Hong's, not theirs!

And if the disaster worsened, it would be the problem of the imperial envoy, and Emperor Hong would definitely hold them accountable.

Pleasing Emperor Hong certainly had benefits, but the risk was too high and the return too low—it wasn't worth it!

"Father! This son is willing to share the burden for you!"

Crown Prince Li Chenghao, with a proud and upright posture, stood out.