Chapter 291: Hanshui Uprising

Chapter 291: The Han River Uprising

When the interleaving company of the Huaxia army set out for the battlefield that was theirs, it seemed that He Shuo, who had appeared detached from this war that belonged to everyone, was in fact never idle.

At this moment, he was perched with Zeng Yi on the hill north of Han River City, covertly watching every move of the Guardians of the Faith within the city.

Returning to familiar ground, a surge of memories rose unbidden in He Shuo's heart.

He surveyed the city through the telescopic module of his smart visor and spoke:

“Zeng Yi, do you know who chose our current position?”

Zeng Yi blinked, instinctively retorting:

“Who? The captain?”

“No.”

A faint, enigmatic smile tugged at the corner of He Shuo's mouth.

Then, without further teasing, he answered outright:

“In truth, that spot was selected by the Blood Skeleton outside Han River City long ago.”

“Back then a Blood Skeleton squad leader led a band of them to assault the city, bearing a cache of mortars shipped from Huadu.”

“It was there we slew that squad leader and seized the mortars.”

“Ah, the birthplace of the dream.”

“We once fought with whisper pistols; now anything below a 20 mm bore seems beneath our notice.”

Those words coaxed a faint laugh from Zeng Yi.

He lingered in recollection, then continued:

“I recall we had just arrived at Han River City, right?”

“In fact, Li Shi, Xie Liu, and I had already encountered the city's sentinels that very night you moved.”

“They instructed us to maintain a hostile stance toward you, leaving no room for debate.”

“To be frank, if you speak of wavering, it began at that moment.”

“The more reasonable their words seemed, the more unreasonable we felt.”

“Now it is evident that our choice was correct.”

“Alas, we did not awaken sooner.”

“It isn’t exactly late.”

He Shuo answered offhand, then pointed toward the distant Han River City:

“The Guardians are about to set out.”

“Their target should be the level‑four beast prowling on the city’s eastern side.”

“Do you think they stand a chance?”

“No chance at all.”

Zeng Yi shook his head without hesitation.

“Han River City has completely lost the aid of the Holy Blood Cathedral; the scouting force has vanished.”

“They will never regain an information advantage————.”

“The creature’s traits remain uncharted, yet they rush forth regardless.”

“Though they possess a few ‘heavy weapons,’ they utterly ignore the beast’s extraordinary mobility, unlike any other.”

“The most absurd part is that they chose to depart under cover of night.”

“Without night‑vision gear, do they truly believe they will have the upper hand in a nocturnal clash with the monster?”

“I cannot tell whether these Guardians have gone mad or what, but their actions are incomprehensible.”

“Their deeds are utterly baffling.”

“They are not mad.”

He Shuo gave a cold laugh.

“It is Zhang Tao who has lost his mind.”

“We had previously petitioned him for assistance, and he consented.”

“Thereafter he ordered the Guardians stationed in each city to launch assaults on the surrounding beasts.”

“It was a compulsory command; the Guardians had no choice.”

“In fact, the High Priest of the Mechanical Cult in Han River City—Li Xian—also had no choice.”

“Because the Sacred Legion’s detachment, representing the cathedral, was garrisoned near his residence; refusal would have meant his own death.”

.Understood.

Zeng Yi let out a long sigh and exhaled.

Then he asked:

“So, does Zhang Tao intend to send these Guardians to their deaths?”

“Not at all.”

He Shuo shook his head.

“He does wish to eradicate a portion of the beasts, but…”

“…beyond that aim, what he truly seeks is to purge the factions of Guardians who refuse his command across the lands.”

“The upheavals in Liangxi and Suzhou gave him that insight.”

“Having risen through betrayal and endured another round of treachery, he now finds himself in a world where every rustle sounds like an omen.”

“This is our opening.”

“I once contemplated how to wrest Han River City into our grasp, yet now it seems far less arduous.” “What is the concrete plan?”

Zeng Yi’s spirit surged instantly.

To him, each of He Shuo’s maneuvers was a priceless lesson; he needed not only to watch the process but to learn the reasoning.

That reasoning, from the moment the plan is conceived, threads through the entire operation.

“It is hard to convey with precise description.”

“But I once played a game about the expansion and conquest of civilizations.”

“In that game, if you launch a direct assault on a neutral nation’s city… ”

“…whether you capture it or not, it inevitably drags both sides into a state of war.”

“During a pivotal developmental phase, we certainly wish to avoid such an outcome.”

“Thus another method was devised.”

“First, lower the city’s loyalty until it rebels.”

“Once the city becomes a rebellious polis, we can seize it without triggering a war.”

“Now, what we must do is exactly the same.”

“Han River City’s loyalty has been driven to its limit; a gentle push will turn it into a free city‑state.”

“Very well, let us depart now.”

“The Guard of the Faith has already set out; now we go to find Li Xian.”

One hour later.

In a secluded dwelling of Han Shui City, Li Xian sat opposite He Shuo, his voice trembling with disbelief as he asked:

“You want me to annihilate the entire Holy Order—no, the Supreme Legion—that arrived from Jinling City?”

“Do you comprehend what that entails?”

“Treason.”

He Shuo replied with a casual shrug:

“I know what you intend to say—you’d argue that a betrayal now would inevitably summon the wrath of the Mechanical Cult and the Holy Order’s vengeance.”

“But I must tell you, what does retaliation matter? And what of its absence?”

“Sooner or later you will fall under the purge of the Supreme Legion; the few Guard of the Faith you command, and the citizens of Han Shui, will be swept clean by them.”

“If you defect now and gain our support, a chance still remains for you.”

“Refuse, and you merely await a slow, lingering death.”

As the words faded, Li Xian exhaled a long, weary breath.

“So, it is you who covet Han Shui City, then?”

“You require a second city, a backup for the New Jinling, and your final bastion.”

“If you desire it, why do you not seize it yourselves?”

“I will not resist in eliminating those Supreme Legion; I can compel the Guard of the Faith to surrender.”

“At worst, I can simply escort them away.”

“No.”

He Shuo shook his head.

“All we seek is Han Shui City, not war.”

“Thus, you must first eradicate those Supreme Legion, after which we shall ‘assist’ the Holy Order in crushing you.”

“It is a crucial order, one that must never be disrupted.”

“Why?”

Li Xian furrowed his brow.

“In the end, this city will still belong to you; the outcome remains the same.”

“No, it is entirely different.”

He Shuo interrupted Li Xian, then continued:

“By the method I propose, both sides win, and only the Holy Order suffers loss.”

“If we follow your way, we and the Holy Order both lose, and you gain nothing whatsoever.”

“Because the contingent of Guard of the Faith you hold will inevitably be exhausted in the unavoidable clash with us.”

“Do you understand now?”

“When Zhang Tao resolved to consolidate power in his own hands, the fate of Han Shui City was already sealed.”

“If you wish to survive, you must act.”

“You must rise in rebellion!”

(End of Chapter)