RWNEFE -Chapter 637 Zhou Ruyuan Is Surrounded!

“I pacified Dongchuan, reclaimed the Northwest, unified the Southwest. I stabilized the capital, reduced taxes so the people could recuperate, built factories, constructed irrigation works, allowed the people under heaven to live and work in peace and contentment. Everyone has sufficient food and clothing; children no longer suffer from disease; the elderly can enjoy their later years in comfort. And you?”

Shen Lanxi’s voice was sharp and commanding.

“What achievements do you have?”

Zhou Ruyuan opened his mouth to respond, only to realize that although he had made many decisions supposedly beneficial to the country and the people, he lacked the confidence to speak them aloud.

“I am of imperial blood. I am rightful heir to the throne. If not for your rebellion, the realm would already be at peace!”

All the chaos now was caused by Shen Lanxi’s treason. If he had inherited the throne from the beginning, none of this would have happened.

Everything extra—was her fault.

Not only could Shen Lanxi not bear to listen, even the soldiers behind her could not endure it.

“Nonsense!”

“Twisting logic!”

“If you have no accomplishments, you hide behind that bit of blood in your veins!”

“I’ve seen shameless people, but never someone as shameless as you!”

“So what if you’re of imperial blood? There are plenty of imperial clansmen—parasites living off the people’s hard-earned wealth, doing nothing for them!”

“Are kings and nobles born superior?”

“Zhou Ruyuan, dismount and face death!”

“Surrender and you won’t be killed!”

Shen Lanxi raised her hand, and the shouting behind her immediately stopped.

“Zhou Ruyuan, even now you are still deceiving yourself!”

At this point, who cared about his imperial bloodline?

“I respect Heaven’s virtue of cherishing life. You are also people of Great Zhou. I offer you a word of advice.”

“No matter what choice you make—Zhou Ruyuan, I will kill.”

Her sharp gaze swept over the soldiers behind him.

“Think of your wives and children. Think of your parents. Think of your present situation, and how Zhou Ruyuan led you to it.”

“Is it worth risking your lives for such a man?”

Zhao Zheng immediately shouted, “Not worth it!”

The voices behind him echoed as one.

More and more of Zhou Ruyuan’s soldiers began to waver.

Clang!

A spear fell to the ground.

“I surrender! Can I go back to my hometown?” a soldier suddenly shouted.

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes turned bloodshot. He pointed at the man and roared, “Disrupting morale before battle—kill him!”

The soldier who had thrown down his spear screamed in terror and ran toward the Eastern Expedition Army.

Just as archers were about to take aim, a group of soldiers suddenly threw down their weapons and ran in the same direction.

Then even more followed.

The archers’ hands trembled.

“What are you doing? Draw your bows and shoot!”

“I can’t—the one who just ran over is my brother!”

“Squad leader, let’s run too. Shen Lanxi isn’t dead. We have no chance of winning!”

The archer dropped his bow and ran.

Seeing countless men running toward the Eastern Expedition Army, Zhou Ruyuan seemed to go mad, his eyes red with fury.

“Archers, fire!”

“Anyone who runs will be executed without mercy!”

“What are you waiting for? Go kill them!”

He urged the soldiers beside him, desperate to regain control.

But many of those soldiers had followed him from the Southwest. Quite a few could not bring themselves to strike.

Those who could kill a few were quickly overwhelmed by counterattacks.

Shen Lanxi gestured to Che Mingyuan.

He shouted loudly, “Whoever takes Zhou Ruyuan’s head will be immediately granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and a hundred mu of land!”

Shen Lanxi leapt off her warhorse and took down the Banyue Blade from her chariot.

The long blade gleamed as she pointed it directly at Zhou Ruyuan.

“Kill!”

As defections increased, Zhou Ruyuan began to panic.

Suddenly, Zhou Yanxing’s voice rang out in the distance:

“We were all deceived by Zhou Ruyuan! Kill Zhou Ruyuan, and I will take you back to your homes in Dongchuan!”

Zhou Ruyuan glared at Zhou Yanxing. He wanted to trade his life for wealth and safety? Impossible.

“Soldiers, do not listen to Shen Lanxi’s lies! Kill Shen Lanxi and I will grant you high rank and rich rewards, blessing your descendants!”

Just as Zhou Yanxing was feeling pleased with himself, he suddenly felt a chill on his back. In the next instant, a guard beside him stabbed him with a sword.

The guard withdrew the blade. Zhou Yanxing was already dead, eyes wide open.

“I didn’t take Zhou Ruyuan’s head—does Zhou Yanxing’s count?”

Shen Lanxi immediately raised her voice:

“It counts! In my eyes, Zhou Ruyuan and Zhou Yanxing are of the same kind—equal weight!”

The guard shouted joyfully:

“Brothers, join me in serving His Majesty!”

“I’ll be the Marquis of Ten Thousand Households—you’ll all be Centurions! We’ll divide the gold and land equally!”

In an instant, more than half of Zhou Yanxing’s men were gone.

With their commander dead, how could the battle continue?

His forces scattered—some fled, others surrendered. What had been a mighty force dissolved into loose sand.

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes burned with hatred and rage. Even as the situation collapsed, he refused to admit defeat.

“Soldiers, retreat with me back to Jinmen!”

Fortunately, he had already trained a navy. Once they retreated to Jinmen and boarded the warships, even Shen Lanxi’s powerful forces would be helpless.

“Your Majesty, shall we pursue?” Zhao Zheng asked, unwilling to let Zhou Ruyuan escape before his eyes.

Shen Lanxi smiled calmly. “Wait.”

Wait for what?

Shouldn’t they be giving chase?

They hadn’t even used a single soldier from the Eastern Expedition Army—Zhou Ruyuan’s men were destroying themselves.

Zhao Zheng was about to request permission to pursue when he caught sight of Che Mingyuan shaking his head lightly.

Why wasn’t the military advisor anxious either?

…

Just as Zhou Ruyuan turned his forces around and heard that Shen Lanxi had not ordered pursuit, he began to relax—only to see a dark mass of troops approaching from afar.

“Your Majesty, troops are coming from the direction of Jinmen.”

Zhou Ruyuan was delighted. It must be reinforcements.

“Advance and join them at once!”

“Yes!”

But halfway there, after seeing clearly who they were, Zhou Ruyuan sensed something was wrong.

“Stop. They don’t look like ours.”

Xiao Fang had already shouted, “Take Zhou Ruyuan’s head! His Majesty will reward you handsomely!”

Zhou Ruyuan’s face turned pale.

“They’re coming from Jinmen—how can they be Shen Lanxi’s men?”

He recognized Xiao Fang—one of Shen Lanxi’s generals.

“Your Majesty, why are they coming from Jinmen?” the general beside him cried anxiously.

If Shen Lanxi’s troops were coming from behind, there was only one explanation:

Jinmen had fallen.

It had been taken in one sweep.

“Shen Lanxi—!” Zhou Ruyuan let out a heart-rending roar toward her direction.

The clash of battle shook the heavens.

Zhou Ruyuan was completely surrounded—a turtle trapped in a jar.

Shen Lanxi raised her voice:

“Soldiers, the time to establish your merit has come!”

“It’s your turn to show your prowess!”

Zhao Zheng, Qian Feng, and the others charged toward Zhou Ruyuan at once.

“For the Southwest Army!”

“For the Black Tiger Army!”

“Father, today your son avenges you!”