Dominating Martial King
Chapter 515 - 515 261 Am I a Rebel

515: Chapter 261: Am I a Rebel?

(Please Subscribe)_3 515: Chapter 261: Am I a Rebel?

(Please Subscribe)_3 Sikong Chan glanced sideways upon hearing this, looking towards Shangguan Shen Hao beside him.

He saw that the man’s face was pale and cold, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, his eyes fixed intently on what lay before him.

With the corners of his lips slightly raised, Sikong Chan gave a chuckle tinged with mockery, “I didn’t expect Brother Shangguan to be so generous today.”

In the past, whenever he pressed these people for money to increase the bounty on Chu Xisheng and to gather more funds to operate in the Capital City, everyone would procrastinate and make all sorts of excuses.

“It’s just self-rescue!”

Shangguan Shen Hao’s expression was calm, “Given the current situation, I, along with the governor and all the scholars of the city, are grasshoppers on the same string, sharing life and death, and interconnected fortunes and misfortunes.

How could I not give it my all?

However, this is the last of the Shangguan family’s bottom line, hopefully providing some assistance to the sorcerers.”

Sikong Chan’s expression shifted subtly as he narrowed his eyes, “Brother Shangguan seems worried and not very optimistic?”

“It’s not like that,” Shangguan Shen Hao replied indifferently, hands clasped behind his back, “I actually don’t worry about the Iron Banner Gang.

The current momentum of the Iron Banner Gang seems fierce, like oil on a fiery blaze, blooming brilliantly, but in fact, their foundation is unstable, and their people’s hearts are restless.

What I’m afraid of now is Demon Battle Tower’s intervention.”

At that, Sikong Chan couldn’t help but think of Sikong Pan.

Three days ago, his own housekeeper died in Sheshui Town, along with the total annihilation of the Haiqing Gang headquarters.

This bloodbath that led to the tragic deaths of nearly three thousand people was said to be the work of ‘Swallowing the Ages’ Gu Qiansheng.

Sikong Chan couldn’t help but feel a sense of shock and doubt.

Is this elder from Demon Battle Tower intentionally aiding Chu Xisheng?

And has Chu Xisheng sold himself to Demon Battle Tower in exchange for the support of this Demon Dao Divine Sect?

Today, Daning’s military might is at its peak, and peace prevails everywhere.

As long as Governor Wang Sheng makes up his mind, he could easily eradicate the Iron Banner Gang with a flick of his wrist.

But if Demon Battle Tower gets involved, the situation would become entirely different.

Sikong Chan worried that the Iron Banner Gang would not be able to withstand the Imperial State Army and would instead attack and force their way into Xiushui County, dragging him and the Xiushui scholars to Huang Quan with them.

Sikong Chan couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

The Six Gates, Killing Tower, and Blood Bat Mountain had so many experts, yet after surrounding Taishan County for over ten days, they still couldn’t eliminate Chu Xisheng.

As long as this man lived, he could continue to stir up troubles.

At the same time, a sense of powerlessness began to grow within Sikong Chan.

Ever since the Iron Madman died so unexpectedly, his fortune seemed to have been on the decline day by day, his wife and trusted followers all gone.

Perhaps it was for this reason that upon leaving home today, he felt a persistent thumping in his heart, his emotions fluctuating and hard to calm.

Yet, Sikong Chan’s outward appearance showed no trace of this, as he said with composure, “If Chu Xisheng really is in cahoots with Demon Battle Tower, I would actually be pleased.

That boy might rely on the power of Demon Battle Tower to wreak havoc for a while, but he’s sure to be doomed beyond redemption!”

Behind Sikong Chan, the surrounding scholars were also discussing fervently.

“Xiushui City has been sealed off for so long, who knows what’s happened outside?”

“What on earth is the Iron Banner Gang thinking?

Tens of thousands surround us without attacking and they block all news, what do they aim to achieve?”

“Hmph!

They’re merely trying to shake the morale and spirit of our forces within the city, causing disorder amongst ourselves.

They dare not confront the Imperial Army head-on, and can only resort to such low tactics.”

“Surely Governor Wang Sheng’s Standard Army and Pingnan Army must have already headed south, right?”

“According to the timeline, they should have crossed Shangliu County by now, reaching the opposite bank of Shenxiu River to join forces with the Tianping Army, but how the hundred thousand troops will cross the river is a problem.

The Iron Banner Gang’s strength lies in their Navy, and currently, the Jiangnan County Navy Camp has been severely damaged.”

“Laughable!

The Iron Banner Gang may have a Navy of fifty thousand, but its members are mostly ship workers and laborers.

Once Mr.

Governor takes military action, it will be with the force of a Taishan thunderclap, irresistible.”

“Even if the Jiangnan County Navy Camp is gone, there is still the Naval Camp on Shazhou Island upstream, with twenty thousand troops and hundreds of warships.

That is an army organized by the court, well-trained and comprised entirely of Ninth Grade members; it’s said that they even have twenty Four-Armed Divine Slayer Crossbows!

Once they move in, the Iron Banner Gang can be annihilated with a snap of the fingers!”

Although there was concern on the faces of these scholars, their conversations were generally optimistic.

And not long after, the wind sweeping across the river suddenly increased in force, gathering the fog from the direction of the East City Pier and rolling it towards the Northwest.

Sikong Chan’s expression changed, knowing that the sorcerers within the city’s Sacrificial Altar were performing rituals to summon the fog.

Perhaps it was due to the advantages of “heaven’s timing and geographical convenience” being on the Xiushui County side.

The sorcerers from Iron Banner Gang struggled for about 15 minutes before their created mist was simply blown away.

At this moment, the entire scene at the East Pier and on the river was gradually becoming clear.

Everybody fixed their gaze intently, and to their astonishment, they found that all the warships of the Iron Banner Gang at the East Pier had disappeared without a trace.

On the surface of the Shenxiu River, however, were hundreds of large ships bearing the flags of the “Governor of East State’s Army,” “Tianping Army,” and “Pingnan Army,” presenting a grand spectacle of a thousand sails racing on the water.

Some of these ships had already approached the pier, preparing to land.

Sikong Chan and Shangguan Shen Hao’s pupils slightly dilated, and their faces involuntarily revealed a hint of elation.

The many scholars behind them were even more overjoyed.

“Those are the state troops!

The governor has sent troops to quell the rebellion.”

“The Tianping Army, the Pingnan Army, and the Standard Army have all gathered here.

Look across the river; there are large numbers of soldiers waiting to embark, and by the looks of it, there might be over a hundred thousand people—”

“What about the Iron Banner Gang’s navy?

Where are their warships?”

“Isn’t it obvious?

The Iron Banner Gang must have suffered a great defeat.

Otherwise, how could these hundred thousand or more state troops cross the river so peacefully?”

Sheen Zhou was even more uplifted and he cupped his fists, saying, “Prefectural Governor, I request permission to lead troops out of the city to slightly restrain the Iron Banner Gang’s soldiers and assist the state army in landing safely!”

Upon hearing this, Sikong Chan’s expression was indifferent, “With the military within the city being weak, we cannot act recklessly in battle.

Let’s wait a little while longer and see what happens.”

He knew that Sheen Zhou wanted to atone for his crimes through meritorious service, using this suppression of the rebellion to lessen his own charges.

The problem was that such an action entailed enormous risk, and Sikong Chan would not gain the slightest advantage from it.

It was at this moment that he saw a scene that he found unfathomable.

The ship workers and laborers at the East State Pier did not seem to fear the imperial army at all.

They stayed on the pier, skillfully securing the ropes to the warships, passing up the gangplanks, and assisting the soldiers to land and unload.

The soldiers from the Tianping and Pingnan Armies also turned a blind eye to these rebels from the Iron Banner Gang.

After landing, they marched in orderly steps toward Xiushui County.

At this time, atop the city walls of Xiushui, the many scholars had already sensed that something was amiss, exchanging glances with faces full of doubt and confusion.

Sikong Chan’s complexion was also slightly pale.

He clenched his fists tightly, his expression deeply perplexed.

What exactly were these state troops doing?

Could it be that all the laborers on the East Pier were rebels from the Iron Banner Gang?

Just then, he saw Wei Lai, the Guerrilla General of the Tianping Army, soaring through the air and alighting three miles away from the East Pier, in front of the camp built by the Iron Banner Gang, facing the city gates.

Upon witnessing this, Shangguan Shen Hao was momentarily stunned, his heart nearly stopping.

His lips turned pale as he suppressed the panic in his heart, and with cupped fists, he inquired, “General Wei, may I ask what you are doing?

Why are you letting the Iron Banner Gang rebels go?

By colluding with them, aren’t you afraid of the court’s punishment?”

Draped in Heavy Armor and carrying a heavy mace, Wei Lai was entirely encased in armor, even his face covered with a sturdy face mask, exuding an intimidating and murderous aura.

Hearing the question, he looked up.

His gaze, icy through the slits of his face mask, fixed on the people on the wall, led by Sikong Chan.

Wei Lai sneered, his voice resonating like a great bell, “By the orders of Mr.

Governor, it has been found that Sikong Chan, the Governor of Xiushui County, is one of the remnants of Crown Prince Li.

This man has been biding his time for many years, lurking in Xiushui County, conspiring with the Inner Court Eunuchs of East State and numerous scholars, amassing military equipment, accumulating wealth, colluding with demons, and secretly plotting rebellion!

This matter has been exposed and reported by Cao Xuan, the Thousand Households of Xiushui County’s Police Pool of Blood, and Xiahou Dong, the Prefecture Governor.

The evidence is irrefutable, solid as iron.

I am here with orders from the governor and the Ministry of War, leading the Tianping Army to suppress the rebellion—”

Upon hearing this, Sikong Chan was bewildered, not understanding what was happening, but he already sensed that Wei Lai’s words were mostly true.

But how could he possibly be a remnant of Crown Prince Li?

How could he be a rebel?

He suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his whole body shaking violently as he nearly staggered to the ground.

Behind him, led by Shangguan Shen Hao, the many scholars all turned deathly pale, drained of all color.