Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

"Here!"

That night, Liangzhou City was engulfed in the lights of the Qian army camp, as if trapped by a galaxy of countless stars. Cries of surrender, alternating between Chinese and the awkward Qiang dialect, pierced the night, like invisible shackles, tightly wrapped around the hearts of every Qiang soldier defending the city. Panic spread rapidly throughout the city.

The next morning, Qin Ming personally led the main force of his army to the gates of Liangzhou. The dark black dragon flags fluttered in the morning breeze, and tens of thousands of soldiers stood in awe, their swords and armor drawn, silently exerting immense pressure.

On the top of the city wall, the defenders were dead silent. Occasionally, officers could be seen shouting and whipping soldiers who showed fear.

Qin Ming rode out, arriving within a range of an arrow. His black armor and golden helmet gleamed in the morning sun, like a god descending from heaven. His gaze, like lightning, swept across the city walls.

"Wudun!" His voice was not loud, but it was sent out with his inner strength, and it echoed clearly above the city wall. "Come out and die!"

There was a commotion on the city walls. A moment later, a figure appeared from behind the battlements. It was Wudun. His armor was askew, his hair and beard were disheveled, and his eye sockets were sunken. His former arrogance was gone, leaving only the ferocity and despair of a desperate man at the end of his rope.

"Qin Ming!" Wu Dun roared hoarsely, "Don't be so arrogant! Liangzhou City is strong, attack if you dare! This Khan swears to live and die with Liangzhou!"

"Live and die together?" Qin Ming's lips curled up with a trace of cold sneer, "Relying on the thousands of defeated soldiers in your city, and... those people from Liangzhou who are held hostage by you?" He had already learned from the captives that after Wudun fled into Liangzhou, he forcibly recruited the young and strong men in the city to help defend it, and even drove the elderly, weak, women and children to the top of the city as human shields.

Wu Dun's face changed.

Qin Ming stopped looking at him and turned his gaze towards the other defenders on the city wall. His voice suddenly rose, like rolling thunder: "Listen carefully, soldiers and civilians in Liangzhou City! I, the Great Qian Emperor Qin Ming, am here! Wudun is at the end of his rope, why should you be buried with him? Immediately lay down your weapons and open the city walls. I will guarantee your lives! If you persist in your wrongdoings, after the city is captured, those who follow the rebellion will be slaughtered!"

The words "massacre" struck every defender like a hammer, hammering down on their hearts. A deathly silence fell on the city walls. Many Qiang soldiers wore expressions of fear, their eyes wandering, and some even quietly lowered their bows and arrows.

Wu Dun was furious upon seeing this. He drew his sword and killed a trembling soldier beside him, roaring, "No surrender! Anyone who dares to surrender will be killed without mercy! Shoot this Khan with arrows! Shoot him to death!"

However, there were few who responded. Only a few of his diehard followers shot a few arrows, which landed softly dozens of steps in front of Qin Ming's horse, posing no threat.

Qin Ming watched all this indifferently and slowly raised his hand.

Behind him, thousands of powerful crossbows were instantly raised, their cold arrows flashing with the cold light of death in the sunlight, aimed at the top of the city. Battering rams, ladders, and other equipment were also pushed forward, and the war machine was already stretched to its limit.

At this critical moment——

Suddenly, a burst of shouting and chaotic screams erupted from the west gate of Liangzhou City! Immediately afterwards, a thick cloud of smoke rose from the city gate tower!

"Report!" A galloping horse came from the west. "Your Majesty! The Han heroes and some of the coerced defenders in Liangzhou City have mutinied. They have seized the west gate and are now fighting with Wudun's personal guards!"

Qin Ming's eyes flashed! A godsend opportunity!

"All troops, listen!" The giant black iron sword roared towards Liangzhou City. "The west gate is open! Follow me—charge into the city, eliminate the main culprit, and pacify Liangzhou!"

"kill--!!!"

The long-simmering fighting spirit erupted with a bang! Like a torrent bursting through a dam, the Qian army surged primarily toward the open west gate! At the same time, armies in other directions intensified their feint attacks to contain the enemy!

Qin Ming led the charge, personally leading the black-armored cavalry, charging straight into the west gate like a sharp knife! At the city gate, hundreds of Liangzhou righteous men, dressed in various styles but armed with weapons, were fighting a desperate battle with the Qiang soldiers. Upon seeing the emperor's dragon flag, they immediately let out a thunderous cheer!

"Your Majesty! We, the common people, welcome the Royal Master!"

"Kill the Qiang dogs! Recover Liangzhou!"

Qin Ming swung his mighty sword, sending a charging Qiang centurion flying, armor and all, flying away. He shouted, "Thank you for your hard work, heroes! Follow me to quell the rebellion!"

"I will follow Your Majesty!"

The cavalry torrent instantly overwhelmed the resistance of the Qiang soldiers at the west gate and poured into the city! Street fighting erupted instantly! But the Qiang soldiers' morale had already collapsed, and under attack from both inside and outside, their resistance quickly collapsed. Wudun's diehards attempted to hold their ground, relying on barricades and government offices, but were overwhelmed by the surging Qian army and the angry citizens of Liangzhou.

Qin Ming had a clear goal and rushed straight to the city defender's residence - Wudun's temporary nest.

In front of the mansion, the last few hundred of Wudun's personal guards formed a dense array of spears, offering a final, stubborn resistance. Wudun himself stood on the steps, spear in hand, looking like a madman.

"Qin Ming! Come on! Fight to the death with this Khan!" he roared.

Qin Ming didn't bother to talk nonsense with him. He pointed his giant sword forward and said, "Ready your crossbows—fire!"

Om-!

A rain of arrows flew over, and a gap instantly appeared in the royal guards' formation!

"Iron Cavalry! Charge!"

The heavy cavalry in black armor rolled over like a tank, completely crushing the remaining gun array!

Qin Ming rode his horse, stepping over the corpses and wailing wounded soldiers on the ground, and walked towards the lonely Wudun on the steps.

Wudun roared wildly and thrust his spear forward! With great force and despair!

Qin Ming did not dodge or evade, and simply swept the black iron sword across!

clang--! ! !

With a deafening bang, the spear in Wudun's hand snapped! The immense force cracked his knuckles, and he stumbled back, a look of horror finally appearing in his eyes.

Qin Ming pressed on, and the second sword followed! Wu Dun hurriedly raised the half spear to block!

Click!

The spear shaft shattered! The sword's remaining force still clung to his golden armor!

The golden armor shattered, blood splattered, and Wu Dun fell to the ground with a scream.

Qin Ming looked down at him with the tip of his sword pointing at his throat.

"The Khan of the Qiang?" The voice was cold and full of contempt.

Wu Dun struggled to get up, blood foaming from his mouth, and cursed: "Qin Ming...you...uh..."

The sword flashed!

A head with matted hair and beard and wide-open eyes flew up, landed heavily on the ground, rolled a few times, and was covered with dust.

The world seemed to be quiet in an instant.

Qin Ming shook the blood from his sword and sheathed it. Behind him, deafening cheers of "Long live!" He slowly turned and looked at the mighty frontier city that had returned to the empire's embrace. The smoke of gunpowder still lingered, the blood still stained, but a new order had already been established beneath his feet.

Liangzhou, recovered.

On the walls of Liangzhou, the Qiang tribe's wolf-head banner was violently torn down and thrown into the dust. Amidst thunderous cheers, the dark black dragon flag slowly rose, fluttering in the wind. The sounds of fighting within the city had gradually subsided, with only scattered pockets of resistance still lingering in certain corners, only to be crushed by the surging tide and the cold blades of the enemy. The streets were awash with blood and corpses, the bodies of Qiang soldiers, rebels, and even civilians caught in the crossfire mingling together. The air was thick with the acrid stench of blood and gunpowder.