RWNEFE -Chapter 636 Facing Zhou Ruyuan in Battle

From childhood, Yuan Lang had been taught that “a woman’s virtue lies in lack of talent.” The people he sparred with had always been men, the ones seated at banquets discussing strategy had always been men, and deep in his heart was the belief that men were superior.

Women could be treated kindly, but to sit at the same table as equals—women simply did not have that qualification.

Now Jiang Wuya’s words overturned everything he had believed in the past.

Naturally, he was unwilling to admit it in his heart, yet he had to acknowledge that one thing Jiang Wuya said was correct:

If someone could let the people live and work in peace and prosperity, the people would never care whether the one sitting on the dragon throne was male or female.

“Does Guigu really not care that Shen Lanxi is a woman?” Yuan Lang asked.

Jiang Wuya raised the corners of his mouth. “That question doesn’t need anyone else to answer—I can answer it for you.”

“Guigu does not care that Shen Lanxi is a woman. Guigu only cares about ability.”

Yuan Lang was lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up.

“You’re from Guigu?”

Jiang Wuya merely smiled without answering. His expression alone was worth a thousand replies.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Lang asked, “If I pledge allegiance, what do you want me to do?”

Jiang Wuya smiled. “As expected of the Thatched Cottage successor—you go straight to the key point.”

Yuan Lang gave a bitter smile. “You were able to bring me here without a sound. That means you could also have taken Zhou Ruyuan’s life without a sound. Yet you didn’t. That means reclaiming Dongchuan and killing Zhou Ruyuan is not your ultimate goal.”

Once he understood this, everything suddenly became clear.

“In the past, I truly was like a frog at the bottom of a well.”

Jiang Wuya smiled. “It’s not too late that you understand now.”

With most of Great Zhou already in their hands, would His Majesty care about a single Jinmen?

With a mere flick of a finger, Jinmen could be destroyed. Yet some people remained obsessed, thinking His Majesty feared Zhou Ruyuan.

How laughable.

“I have one request,” Yuan Lang said. “No matter what you want me to do, as long as you fulfill this request, that will be enough.”

After saying it, he suddenly felt a sense of relief.

“Let’s hear it,” Jiang Wuya said. As long as it was reasonable, it could be discussed.

Yuan Lang said seriously, “I want to meet the successor of Guigu.”

Jiang Wuya laughed softly. “That can be arranged.”

---

Early the next morning, without alerting anyone, Yuan Lang quietly returned to Jinmen with his personal guards.

At noon, Zhou Yanxing and Zhou Ruyuan arrived at the battlefield one after the other.

“Imperial Uncle,” Zhou Ruyuan said, “you came in such haste that I had to hurry to catch up.”

Zhou Yanxing was not angered and replied with a smile, “As a minister, the foremost duty is to relieve Your Majesty’s worries.”

Zhou Ruyuan gave a cold laugh and shouted loudly: “I am the Son of Heaven by the Mandate of Heaven, the true master of Great Zhou!”

“If you lay down your weapons and surrender now, I will forgive all past offenses!”

“Whatever positions you held before, you shall hold afterward. I guarantee it here—if I go back on my word, may I be condemned forever and die without a burial place!”

The Eastern Expedition Army, led by Zhao Zheng, stood like an iron wall, unmoving.

“Zhou Ruyuan, do you recognize who we are?” A rider emerged on Zhao Zheng’s right.

Qian Feng, clad in silver armor, appeared before Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes.

Zhou Ruyuan found him somewhat familiar but could not recall who he was.

“Who are you?”

Qian Feng took out a Black Tiger Army token and flicked it upward with his spear, sending it into clear view.

At the same moment, Che Mingyuan, Zhao Zheng, and six others behind them all produced identical tokens, hanging them on their weapons.

A familiar scene suddenly struck Zhou Ruyuan’s mind.

His gaze fixed on Zhao Zheng as he said with certainty, “They are men of the Black Tiger Army. They are all former soldiers of the old Southwestern Army.”

After confirming it, Zhou Ruyuan suddenly laughed.

“So it’s you.”

He should have realized it earlier. He had never expected that Zhao Zheng—a cripple who had accomplished nothing—could rally the old Southwestern Army to serve him.

“In the past, I underestimated you,” Zhou Ruyuan said, somewhat regretful that when he took over the Southwestern Army, he had not exterminated its former soldiers completely.

Zhao Zheng immediately retorted, “In the past, I overestimated you.”

Without the glorious reputation of the Southwestern Army, where would his so-called title of War God have come from?

Was he truly worthy of it?

Thinking of the current situation, Zhou Ruyuan raised his voice: “If you bring your troops over to my side, when I march into the capital, the Southwestern Army will still be under your command.”

Zhao Zheng laughed at Zhou Ruyuan’s delusional words.

“Zhou Ruyuan, can’t you see the situation clearly yet?”

“If you surrender now and take your own life before the army, I can plead with His Majesty to have you buried together with your family.”

Zhou Ruyuan, at the height of his confidence, immediately gave the order upon hearing such stubborn defiance: “Today I will take your head to consecrate the battle flag, so that those who follow you will see the fate of anyone who dares oppose me!”

Zhao Zheng only smiled without speaking. Just as the great battle was about to erupt, the thunder of hooves suddenly rang out.

Someone shouted:

“His Majesty has arrived!”

“It’s His Majesty—”

“His Majesty is unharmed!”

The rumbling cavalry appeared like divine soldiers descending from the heavens before Zhou Ruyuan and the others’ disbelieving eyes.

Wasn’t Shen Lanxi dead?

Hadn’t she been mortally wounded?

How could she appear here unharmed?

Not good—they had been tricked!

By the time Zhou Ruyuan realized it, it was already too late.

In the blink of an eye, Shen Lanxi arrived before them. Zhao Zheng yielded the commander’s position, and the generals of the Eastern Expedition Army dismounted to pay homage.

“Greetings to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”

Shen Lanxi wore black armor and a red cloak, banners fluttering behind her, countless iron cavalry at her back.

She stood tall and vigorous, her complexion healthy, without the slightest sign of injury.

“All soldiers of Jinmen, hear this!” she declared. “If you surrender now, I will forgive all your past actions.”

She returned Zhou Ruyuan’s own words to him.

“Whatever positions you held before, you shall hold afterward. I will not pursue your responsibility afterward.”

“Though I cannot swear poisonous oaths as Zhou Ruyuan does, my word is worth a thousand pieces of gold.”

“I am the Son of Heaven of Great Zhou, ruler of the nation. You are soldiers, ministers, and people of Great Zhou. I understand that you followed orders before and that your actions were not of your own will. I too come from the ranks of soldiers and know what ‘military orders are absolute’ means.”

“If you lay down your weapons now, I will disperse and incorporate you into the various armies. Whatever treatment my soldiers receive, you will receive the same—there will be no discrimination.”

Seeing that some soldiers were truly wavering, Zhou Ruyuan immediately shouted:

“Do not listen to her deceptive words!”

“Shen Lanxi has committed treason and rebellion. She is a traitor. As a woman, she has defiled Great Zhou and overturned its order. Sooner or later, our dynasty will be destroyed in her hands!”

“Today I will execute this person, restore order, and use her head to purge the court of Great Zhou!”

Shen Lanxi let out a cold laugh and said disdainfully:

“Zhou Ruyuan, from your wedding night onward, every step you took was wrong. Time and again, you stumbled because of women. Now that your military strength is lacking, you resort to attacking my identity as a woman.”

“Other than relying on the fact that you are male, have you made even the slightest contribution to the people of Great Zhou?”