The news quickly reached the capital, and the emperor, upon learning of it,

He immediately resumed his habit of being a happy troublemaker.

The imperial edict was drafted that very evening, and arrived at the military camp the next day.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The border troubles have not yet subsided, and the enemy's forces are raging."

Han Shijie, as the commander-in-chief of an army of 200,000,

Their efforts in defending Pingliang Lake are invaluable.

However, with the nation in peril, I have decided to order you to lead your 200,000-strong army.

Fight a desperate battle with the enemy.

You should lead by example, break the enemy's spirit, and demonstrate the might of our nation.

If we achieve a great victory, I will reward those who have contributed, grant titles and honors to their wives and children, and ensure their names are recorded in history.

If anyone retreats or hesitates, causing the battle to turn against them, they will be severely punished.

I urge you to obey my imperial command, act swiftly and decisively, and not fail my trust.

"Do not fail the hopes of the people; this is the imperial decree!"

Military Supervisor Mei read the imperial edict aloud in his high-pitched voice, with an air of superiority.

Han Shijie, Ma Liangyu, and a group of generals knelt neatly on the ground.

They shouted in unison, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!"

Military Supervisor Mei looked at Han Shijie with a smug expression. "General Han, aren't you going to come and receive the imperial decree?"

His shrill voice was full of arrogance and haughtiness; his chin was held high.

He glanced at Han Shijie sideways, as if he were looking at an ant.

He was dressed in a magnificent but mismatched official robe, with a jewel-encrusted belt around his waist.

It looks particularly tacky.

His face was covered in thick makeup, but it couldn't hide his mean-spirited appearance.

His narrow eyes gleamed with a sinister light, and his thin lips curled up slightly, bearing a repulsive, fake smile.

Han Shijie suppressed his anger, clenching his fists tightly.

The knuckles turn white from exertion.

He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and slowly stood up.

Step by step, he approached Supervisor Mei.

Each step he took seemed to carry immense force, and the surrounding air seemed to become heavy because of his anger.

Han Shijie glared at Military Supervisor Mei, his eyes burning with a fury that seemed capable of incinerating the other man.

But forced by the emperor's command, he had no choice but to extend his hands and accept the imperial edict.

Seeing this, Supervisor Mei gave a disdainful snort and said in a sarcastic tone:

"General Han, this is the Emperor's decree; you must obey it."

Do not disappoint the Emperor's expectations!

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves, swaggered away, and left.

That arrogant demeanor made people grit their teeth in hatred.

A few days ago, those farmers were clearly spies sent by the Great Zhou army.

Their aim was to sow discord between the emperor and Han Shijie.

It's so simple and obvious; they could have just been arrested and interrogated severely.

But Supervisor Mei insisted on making his own decisions and even wanted to report it to the emperor.

This has led to the emperor issuing an edict forcing him to lead an army of 200,000.

In fighting against the Great Zhou army, their own forces were already inferior to the enemy's.

How could Han Shijie not be heartbroken when this troublesome emperor issued such a deadly order?

"General..." Ma Liangyu called out to him with a pained expression.

Then, with a look of regret, he said, "General, what about the Great Zhou enemy's provisions?"

They are almost exhausted; our army only needs to hold out for another ten days to half a month.

"Then the Great Zhou..." Before he could finish speaking, Han Shijie interrupted him.

"Liangyu, the imperial decree has arrived, and military orders are absolute; we have no choice but to obey!"

Han Shijie said, his heart breaking.

Ma Liangyu and his generals anxiously surrounded Han Shijie.

"General, going into battle now would be a recipe for disaster!"

This will only send our brothers to their deaths in vain, Commander. You should write to the Emperor.

"Please, Your Majesty, rescind your order!" a general pleaded urgently.

"Yes, Commander, we can't just stand by and watch our brothers go to their deaths!"

"If we lose this battle again, the consequences will be unimaginable!" Another general echoed.

The generals all spoke at once, expressing their dissatisfaction and concerns.

Han Shijie looked at the indignant faces before him.

I feel mixed emotions.

He sighed deeply and said, "Brothers, how could I not know the danger of going into battle at this time?"

But the emperor's decree was hard to disobey, so even if he wrote a letter to plead for mercy, what could he do?

The Emperor's mind is made up; how could he easily change it?

The generals fell silent, their faces filled with helplessness and indignation.

Han Shijie took a deep breath and looked at everyone with a firm gaze:

"But as a soldier, obeying orders is our duty."

Now that the imperial decree has been issued, we have no choice but to do our utmost. Issue my orders…

The entire army is ready for battle!

The generals looked at each other, unwilling but able only to reply in unison, "Yes!"

After learning that Han Shijie had been forced into battle, the Great Zhou army camp...

The military camp was filled with jubilation.

"Hahaha, the Emperor of Great Xia has indeed fallen for the strategist's divisive tactics!"

"Send the order down to the troops to prepare for battle; tomorrow we will annihilate Han Shijie's forces in one fell swoop."

Upon hearing the news, Su Zheng laughed heartily and said to the strategist with great joy.

The strategist humbly cupped his hands in greeting and said, "General, you flatter me."

This was a wise decision by the commander-in-chief; I merely used a small trick.

It is truly fortunate for our army that this incident has caused discord within the Great Xia.

However, Han Shijie is no ordinary man either. The commander-in-chief must proceed with caution in tomorrow's battle.

We must not let our guard down.

All the generals responded in unison, "Your subordinates will obey the commander-in-chief's orders!"

Su Zheng nodded in satisfaction, his gaze fixed firmly on the distance.

It was as if the dawn of victory could already be seen tomorrow.

He shouted, "Gentlemen, give the order to allow all soldiers to rest and recuperate!"

"Tomorrow we will make sure that the Great Xia army never returns!"

That night, the Great Zhou army camp was brightly lit, and the soldiers were busy preparing for tomorrow's battle.

Tense yet orderly.

The next day, the two armies faced off on the battlefield, with thunderous war drums and deafening battle cries.

Han Shijie took the lead and led an army of 200,000 men to fight bravely against the enemy.

His eyes burned with anger and determination, and every swing of his longsword was filled with boundless courage.

However, the enemy forces of the Great Zhou were, after all, numerous and well-equipped.

The battle lasted for several hours, and Han Shijie's army gradually found itself at a disadvantage.

Han Shijie was heartbroken as he watched the soldiers around him fall one by one.

To minimize unnecessary casualties, Han Shijie made a decisive decision and ordered a retreat.

He himself stayed behind with a small group of trusted men to cover the rear.

"General, please retreat with us!" Ma Liangyu cried out.

Han Shijie glared at Ma Liangyu and roared, "Get out of here! This is a military order!"

He brandished his military knife like an unshakeable war god.

Alone, he faced the surging enemy army.

His armor was stained with blood, and his body was covered in wounds.

But his steps remained firm, and his gaze remained piercing.

Enemy soldiers surged forward like a tide, and Han Shijie mustered his last ounce of strength.

They killed one enemy after another.

His sword was dulled, his strength was exhausted, but his will was as hard as steel.

Finally, a stray arrow pierced his chest, and he staggered, falling to one knee.

But he stubbornly stood up and, with his last strength, swung his saber once more.

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Hai snorted coldly, spurred his horse forward, and raised his broadsword to slash at the enemy.

Ouyang Hai's ferocious face was full of sinister ruthlessness, and his triangular eyes revealed cruelty and greed.

A smug yet wicked smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth.

It was as if Han Shijie's stubborn resistance was just a game he was playing for amusement.

He shouted loudly:

"Today is your death day, Han Shijie. This day next year will be your death anniversary!"

Han Shijie weakly raised his military knife to parry, but Ouyang Hai's long knife...

It still pierced his body, and Han Shijie collapsed instantly.

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