CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 173: THE WAR KING IS INNOCENT, I HAVE PROOF

The Capital Governor hurriedly said, "Emperor, this is the news that the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and I wanted to report to you this morning. In the past few days, besides that folk song, many of the War King’s deeds have been circulating in the Capital, and there’s even a faint sign of them spreading outward."

"Now, more and more commoners are coming to the Capital just to plead for the War King."

Then, he recounted the most famous stories.

Yan Haoxuan’s face looked grim. These stories were quite common, yet bore a heroic tint.

The one spreading these tales was clever, avoiding those stories that could be easily debunked.

Instead, they spread those that were extremely emotionally compelling.

That’s why so many people were being led.

However, today the War King must be executed, whether by the blade or otherwise, it cannot be delayed any longer.

Otherwise, the situation might become even more unpredictable.

There can be no tolerance for others to snore beside one’s bed, and Tang Peizhong, this heartache, must be eliminated.

The Emperor looked grim and finally spoke to Li Xide.

"The auspicious time has come, execute."

Li Xide announced the execution, and those people immediately knelt down in black waves again, their cries louder than before.

"Please, Emperor, rescind the decree, thoroughly investigate the War King’s corruption case."

"Emperor, you should not listen to the slanders of petty people."

At these words, the Emperor’s face grew even grimmer, being called a petty person, he shouted out.

"Execute!"

The commoners, upon hearing this, were tearful, and some even kowtowed with a bang — these were the people Pei Shu’er had arranged.

"Emperor, please rescind the decree."

Seeing this, the others were also moved, and they, too, began to kowtow.

The executioner, following the Emperor’s orders, had already raised the knife to strike down the War King.

At that moment, a man rode up on a black horse.

"The War King is innocent, I have evidence."

As he spoke, he scattered countless copied pieces of evidence into the air, and the commoners had them, the soldiers had them as well.

At this time, Li Xide shouted coldly, "Someone is interfering with the execution, shoot him."

But the arrows were dodged by the man — this must be the expert Pei Shu’er hired, there was no reason he couldn’t dodge such sparse arrows.

Once the man reached the crowd, Li Xide also had the archers cease firing.

If the commoners were harmed now, it would only make things worse.

At this point, Pei Shu’er spoke loudly.

"Emperor, we have found evidence that the War King has been wronged. Please review it, Emperor."

The Emperor, looking displeased, still had the evidence brought over and examined the items in his hand.

The evidence was a letter, showing that the corrupt person was not the War King, but the Minister of War under the Twelfth Prince.

But if this matter were pursued, it would surely implicate the Twelfth Prince.

Seeing this evidence, the Emperor’s face grew even darker, and Li Xide was furious.

"How dare you, to dare to forge such evidence, do you really take the Holy Emperor for someone without judgment?"

"Someone, seize this person for us."

"Execute!"

Pei Shu’er loudly read the letter, and the more she read, the more people’s expressions turned grim.

The commoners were also somewhat moved; they always believed the War God of Dayan couldn’t be such a petty person.

And those soldiers who had once firmly believed the War King was truly corrupt began to waver.

At this moment, Pei Shu’er also said, "For soldiers, the aim is to have a clear conscience and righteousness. How can we wrong such a great hero, are we still men of integrity?"

As she spoke, Pei Shu’er fiercely rebuked, quoting classics, while recounting the War King’s achievements until her voice grew hoarse before stopping.

The soldiers wavered, and they did not seriously resist the people.

Everyone hurriedly knelt to intercede for the War King.

Pei Shu’er said loudly, "Emperor, the evidence is conclusive, the War King has never embezzled military pay, do not let a hero’s heart grow cold. Otherwise, who will dare to fight for the Emperor in the future."

The soldiers looked at each other, they used to be under the War King’s command, and now they couldn’t bear to see him suffer such injustice.

They threw their weapons to the ground and also knelt before the Emperor, silently, but with a clear meaning, wanting the Emperor to rescind the decree.

More and more officials and soldiers knelt down, until eventually, there were no soldiers standing within sight.

This situation was unprecedented in a hundred years.

The Emperor staggered slightly; half an hour ago, he was full of confidence, the War King was already down.

But now, not only was the War King still standing, but his reputation had improved, and even the officials and soldiers sided with him.

Was it because of that folk song and those seemingly authentic tales?

Who was behind this, causing him to always feel suppressed?

He, was the Emperor of Dayan!

Seeing everyone kneeling, the Emperor could only shake his head, claiming it was false.

Eventually, the crowd grew more agitated, and everyone wanted to release the War King.

The Emperor’s face looked grim, and he quickly said, "Execute this for me!"

As long as the War King was killed, these people would not cause chaos.

The War King could have been quietly killed, but with so many eyes watching, there was not much room to maneuver.

Moreover, he had no desire to let the War King’s good reputation persist, which posed a significant threat to his imperial power.

In addition, the War King’s supporters also needed to be purged.

So he arranged for an imposter War King; even if they rescued someone, it wouldn’t be the real War King.

After he ordered the execution, the executioner raised the butcher’s knife high to strike the neck of the "War King."

At that moment, a young man in a masked black robe came flying, intending to rush the execution ground to save someone.

Pei Shu’er knew in her heart that this was Tang Zan.

She had previously entrusted the people of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to search for Tang Zan, but had never been able to find him.

If she could, she would have notified Tang Zan.

Behind Tang Zan were hundreds of men in black, all of whom had acquired inner strength.

Pei Shu’er called out to Tang Zan, but it was too noisy here, all the people knew was to kneel and beg the Emperor for mercy.

At this moment, Tang Zan rushed to the "War King’s" side.

With one slash, he broke the executioner’s knife and then cut through the War King’s shackles, pulling the "War King" to leave.

"Father, come with me, it’s not worth staying in Dayan!"

The "War King" was very weak, and upon being freed from the shackles, he staggered, and Tang Zan quickly went to help.

With a "pu-she" sound, Tang Zan’s chest was pierced. He looked at the person in front of him who looked exactly like his father, then his eyes turned fierce, and he kicked him heavily.

Imposter!

But this person was also quite skilled and engaged in a duel with Tang Zan.

His Blood Red Sword bore a tint of red, looking as if flowing with fresh blood.

He occasionally stabbed this imposter with a sword, the sword increasingly dyed red with blood.

And Tang Zan’s other subordinates were immediately surrounded by other officials, and there were some disguised experts as well.

Their numbers were about 1:3, coupled with Tang Zan’s severe injury, as long as the time dragged on, he would soon be defeated.