Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

"You seek allegiance elsewhere, without proper justification, risking being labeled as ungrateful."

"Aligning with the Eldest Princess is your sole way out."

Xu Zhongping: "Allow me to think it over."

Xu Zhongping arranged a tent for Duan Mingyue.

Huang An entered: "Great General."

Xu Zhongping said, "You heard what was just said."

Huang An nodded: "Yes."

Xu Zhongping glanced at him: "You too think I should ally with the Eldest Princess, don't you?"

"Great General, you've done enough for the Black Armor Army over the years. I know you don't want the Black Armor Army, which the Grand Marshal painstakingly established, to fall into others' hands... But what Master Duan said made sense, if the Black Armor Army doesn't choose a new allegiance soon, we might find no place to stand in Great Liang."

The Black Armor Army is a mighty force, a tiger and wolf army that is invincible and unbeatable, with countless victories against overwhelming odds.

But now they're on Liang Country's territory, where they have no advantage of timing, geography, or public support.

If the court of Liang Country expels them, it would be righteous and justified.

They are an army, not bandits.

"Back then we retreated to the Southwest because of the many powers here, unchecked by the court, who would have thought King Qin would crown himself emperor?"

Huang An sighed deeply, "Indeed, the world is unpredictable."

Xu Zhongping called over a trusted aide, instructing him to head to the North Canyon. After leaving the tent, he sat on a centuries-old tree stump by the stream.

Huang An followed.

Whenever Xu Zhongping needed to make a major decision, he would come here to count the rings on the tree stump.

He blindfolded himself and randomly touched a spot.

"Huang An,"

he said, "Counting outward from here, if it's an odd number, the Black Armor Army will emerge and support the Eldest Princess of Great Liang."

"Yes, General."

Huang An accepted and began to count the rings around his fingertip, one by one.

"One... Wait, Great General, should I count left or right?"

He asked.

"Either way."

Xu Zhongping replied.

Huang An hesitated for a moment, then began counting towards the higher number.

"One, two, three, four, five..."

He counted slowly, each sound clearly heard, like a heavy hammer striking against Xu Zhongping's eardrum.

"Count faster!"

Xu Zhongping impatiently said.

"Oh."

Huang An wiped away the tears from his eyes.

He felt pained.

The Great General must feel even more pained than him.

For the Great General who inherited the Grand Marshal's will, seeking allegiance elsewhere is more painful than cutting his flesh, right?

But to preserve the Black Armor Army, the Great General has no other choice.

Duan Mingyue's arrival merely accelerated this process.

With more and more forces coming to the camp, it clearly marks the end of their hidden days.

"Fifty-nine... Great General..."

Huang An's throat tightened, his voice choked with grief.

Xu Zhongping raised his hand and patted Huang An's shoulder: "To die on the battlefield is the fate of every Black Armor soldier. Huang An, are you afraid?"

Huang An wiped away his tears and snot, solemnly saying: "I am not afraid!"

Xu Zhongping's eyes were covered by a black cloth: "Then, tell me the answer."

Huang An looked at the remaining two rings, tears streaming like a fountain: "Great General..."

"Report—"

A trusted aide hurriedly rushed over, "Great General! There was no body of Chen Long found in the canyon!"

Xu Zhongping let out a long sigh skyward: "I held no hope anyway, let it be."

How could they find a body within the rubble of the collapsed mountain rocks?

The trusted aide shook his head hastily: "No, Great General, someone broke the formation and took Chen Long away!"

Xu Zhongping trembled all over!