Chapter 322: How to persuade a loyal person to surrender
It's true!
Leng Shi was right!
So, there really is a group of people secretly supporting the Fourth Princess.
Tong San and his men, trapped and surrounded by the army, had fallen into despair.
But the appearance of Liu Yi'an and his team instantly reignited the flame of hope in their hearts. These were innate masters!
...
Huangfu Yue's face changed drastically, and she shouted, "Mr. Liu, why would you sacrifice your bright future for a fallen princess?"
Du Ge, looking down from above, interrupted her, "Huangfu Yue, everyone has something they pursue in life. Some for ideals, some for beliefs, some for loyalty and righteousness. This is our driving force to move forward.
It's also why we stepped into Yutang Pass, knowing it might be a trap. Because we don't want to disappoint those who follow us. Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, we must fight for it..."
Huangfu Yue was stunned.But then, memories of the vile things Du Ge had done to her flashed in her mind, making her shiver with disgust. The momentary touch in her heart vanished, replaced by anger. "Shameless scoundrel, how dare you talk about fighting for women's status..."
Before Du Ge could speak, Luo Shuang's face had already darkened. "Huangfu Yue, my patience with you is limited. Everyone knows Mr. Du's character. If you slander him again, I'll be the first to kill you."
"You..." Huangfu Yue looked at the naive Luo Shuang, wanting to tell her what Du Ge had just done, to expose his beastly behavior and prevent Luo Shuang from being misled. But she opened her mouth twice, her face turning red, unable to speak out. In the end, she could only curse in her heart—lecher.
"What is it?"
Du Ge glanced at Huangfu Yue with a smile, naturally knowing the root of her grievance.
But this was exactly the effect he wanted!
The image of the imperial teacher must not be tarnished...
Didn't he want to win honorably with magic?
But the Sea God body infused with the Power of Poseidon was left in the Simulation Field.
The Power of Poseidon his soul carried was limited. His mental power had to upgrade to tens of thousands before he gained his current water control ability.
If he had brought out that Sea God body, he could have caused a tsunami in the ocean, and his attributes would have skyrocketed in no time. Why would he need to use water streams to mess with a few people...
...
Du Ge, with Luo Shuang, gracefully leaped down from the city wall.
Where their feet landed, the accumulated water parted to the sides, like a miracle.
Liu Yi'an glanced at Du Ge's feet, his pupils subconsciously shrinking before returning to normal. "Mr. He’s magic is indeed brilliant."
"Mr. Liu, you're too kind. Your agility is also impressive." Du Ge nodded, standing in front of Huangfu Yue. "General Huangfu, surrender! Let us build a nation of gender equality together. In that nation, you can become a real general, one of the three top ministers, not just a minor officer relying on ancestral favor, stuck in a dead-end position for life..."
"Never, I will not betray Chongming Kingdom." Huangfu Yue shouted angrily, "Especially not to work with a despicable person like you."
Luo Shuang glared at her.
Du Ge smiled, unbothered by her offense, and continued, "General Huangfu, are you really willing to let your talents and martial skills go to waste, spending your life as a housewife?"
"..." Huangfu Yue was stunned, a struggle flashing in her eyes.
Du Ge stared at her, "Miss Yue, you look over twenty. It must have been tough resisting marriage all this time, right?"
"..." Huangfu Yue.
Du Ge smiled, "Leading troops on this long journey, you must have been full of ambition, hoping to achieve great feats and earn your father's recognition, ultimately getting a real chance to command troops, right?"
"..." Huangfu Yue subconsciously looked towards Huangfu Xing's camp, licking her lips, her eyes flickering.
"In the long nights, you must have fantasized about being a man, so you could fight on the battlefield like your father and brothers." Du Ge sighed lightly, "These days, you must have read the stories of Liang Hongyu and Hua Mulan countless times."
Liu Yi'an looked at Du Ge, his face full of surprise.
"Don't talk nonsense, I haven't. Victory or defeat, just kill me!" Huangfu Yue trembled all over, closing her eyes to hide the panic in them.
She couldn't bear having her inner thoughts seen through by a lecher, but her slightly quickened heartbeat showed she wasn't as stubborn as she appeared.
"The Fourth Princess is right here. Why not give yourself a chance?" Du Ge sighed again, "You've closed your eyes. Why not imagine that beautiful country, where women can enter schools, take exams, become officials, do business, fight on the battlefield, even decide their own marriages, finding a like-minded husband..."
Luo Shuang quietly licked her lips, sneaking a glance at Du Ge, her pretty face suddenly turning red.
At this moment, she should have been the one to recruit Huangfu Yue, but she completely forgot.
With Du Ge's description, Huangfu Yue's eyelashes trembled, her heartbeat quickening, her breathing becoming more rapid. But suddenly, she opened her eyes, "Evil scoundrel, stop trying to deceive me. I won't betray my father and brothers."
"Father and brothers?" Du Ge chuckled, looking at Liu Yi'an, "Mr. Liu, with such thorough preparations, I suppose Huangfu Xing won't be returning?"
"That's right." Liu Yi'an nodded.
"..." Huangfu Yue's eyes widened, "You all?"
"Huangfu Yue, everyone in Chongming Kingdom knows you've betrayed the kingdom for the Fourth Princess. With Huangfu Xing dead, who will clear your name?" Du Ge chuckled, "The Chongming emperor? The prime minister? Even if they try, it will be seen as a ploy. We might even spread rumors that you killed Huangfu Xing for your ideals, cementing your place as a traitor..."
"You..." Huangfu Yue's eyes filled with rage, her chest heaving as she struggled violently, "Evil scoundrel, how can you be so shameless? I'll fight you to the death."
"If you die, no one will clear your family's name, and no one will save your father." Du Ge looked at her, speaking earnestly, "Loyalty and righteousness are judged by the world, not by your own belief."
Pfft!
Huangfu Yue, overwhelmed with anger, spat a mouthful of blood, "You... how can you be so vicious?"
"All's fair in war. On the battlefield, as long as we win, who cares about the means?" Du Ge said, "General Huangfu used the princess's kindness to lure us here. Isn't that vicious? If the princess and I died at Yutang Pass, Miss Yue, you'd probably celebrate with your father, mocking the princess's foolishness."
"..." Huangfu Yue was speechless again.
"Huangfu Yue, whatever you do, you must bear the consequences." Du Ge looked at her, "Actually, you still have a chance to save everything. Send someone to General Huangfu's camp, invite him over, and surrender to the Fourth Princess together.
This way, when the princess ascends the throne, your family will be honored ministers;
If the princess fails, you and your father can kill the princess, continuing your plan. The prime minister won't mind a slight deviation in the plan and will gladly clear your name..."
Huangfu Yue stared at Du Ge, unable to say a word.
"Mr. Liu, release her." Du Ge signaled to Liu Yi'an, who released his hold on her.
"Huangfu Yue, time is running out." Du Ge turned to look at Huangfu Xing's camp, a confident expression on his face, "Make your decision quickly."
Huangfu Yue's hand holding the spear trembled slightly, "I..."
"Miss Yue, don't you want to personally eliminate me, this despicable person? If I, such a vile person, lead the Fourth Princess to establish a nation of gender equality, how much harm would it cause? If not for yourself, shouldn't you consider the people? You seem like a righteous person!" Du Ge smiled, shaking his head, "If you die, it's all over."
He blinked, and a stream of water slipped into her boot, coiling around her calf like a water snake. Huangfu Yue's eyes widened again, her spear reflexively pointing at Du Ge.
Luo Shuang stepped forward, blocking Du Ge, "Huangfu Yue, my patience is limited. Don't be too presumptuous."
The water retreated quietly. Huangfu Yue glanced at Luo Shuang, who was defending Du Ge, then at Du Ge's mocking smile. She threw her spear forcefully, embedding it in the city wall, gritting her teeth, "Fine, I'll send a message to my father."
"Miss Huangfu." A guard beside her exclaimed.
As soon as he spoke.
Liu Yi'an's sword pierced his throat, "Those who speak too much, die."
Huangfu Yue clenched her fists tightly, glancing at Liu Yi'an, "Pass the order, all soldiers, line up and surrender to the Fourth Princess."
The accumulated water on the city wall had mostly drained, leaving only a slippery surface. Huangfu Yue's heart felt just as empty. She turned to look at Liu Yi'an and the others, silently clenching her fists. It wasn't her fault!
If Liu Yi'an and the others hadn't defected, she wouldn't have ended up like this...
She was unwilling!