Chapter 1004: Unstable Morale

Translator: Atlas Studios    Editor: Atlas Studios

Nieng Duo’s expression immediately darkened. He raised his hand to stop his subordinates from cursing and raised his voice. “One’s strength on the battlefield is the real thing. If you’re quick-witted, what kind of hero are you?!” As soon as he finished speaking, he let go of his hand. “Move back 100 feet in the front row and let King Yue Fei take a good look at the big gift I’ve prepared for him.”

The warhorses in the front row immediately retreated a hundred feet, revealing rows of ragged Great Zhou Dynasty commoners kneeling in front of the formation with blood all over their bodies. Behind them were soldiers of the Northern Barbarians holding long whips.

There were four to five hundred people.

Immediately, a young general couldn’t take it anymore and shouted miserably, “Beasts.” He clamped his legs on the horse’s stomach and was about to rush up when Yin Huaixi stopped him in time.

The soldiers were furious, and their morale was low.

Nieng Duo had fought with the Great Zhou Dynasty for many years and knew very well that the soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty prided themselves on protecting the country and the people. To the soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the people were their sharp spears to charge into the battle and their fearless shields.

Therefore, he came up with this plan. He would make them use their own spear to attack their own shield. During the process of the two armies facing each other, he would attack the morale of the You army and make them wary.

This would provide the most advantageous opportunity for the cavalry of the Northern Barbarians to attack.

It was this plan that received the unanimous approval of the various branches of the Northern Barbarians. It also helped him gain the right to speak for the main battle faction and become the commander-in-chief of the attack on Zhou.

Meng Duo was extremely smug and laughed arrogantly. “Hahaha, how is it? King Yue Fei of the Great Zhou Dynasty, I wonder if you’re satisfied with the big gift that the Northern Barbarians has prepared for you?” The soldiers of the Northern Barbarians cheered and provoked.

“Hahaha…

“Are you satisfied…”

“Are you mute? Weren’t you very arrogant just now?! ”

“Come, come, come. Call me Grandpa. With every call, I’ll let one person go…”

Yin Huaixi’s expression was calm, but his hands secretly tightened on the reins of his horse. The other soldiers also gritted their teeth to prevent themselves from revealing anything unusual.

General Mingwei said in a low voice, “Your Highness, you have to calm down. Don’t fall into Meng Duo’s trap.”

Yin Huaixi said with difficulty, “The government office has a household registration management system. All citizens of the Great Zhou Dynasty have to go to the government office to register their household registration within a month of birth. Anyone who goes missing or dies has to go to the government office to remove their household registration to prevent them from continuing to bear personal taxes.”

“In the past year or two, there have been no large-scale disappearances at the border. However, because many refugees have surged into the North, in addition to the battles that happen at the border occasionally, there will occasionally be commoners who disappear. It’s impossible for Meng Duo to capture so many people in a year or two. It can be inferred that Meng Duo had long planned this and quietly captured the commoners of the Great Zhou Dynasty to raise them like livestock. It was all to shake the morale of our army today. His intentions are sinister. It’s simply heinous.”

General Ming Wei’s expression was a little solemn. “These commoners are in front. When our You army’s cavalry attacks the Northern Barbarians, we have to step on the bodies of the commoners of our dynasty. The soldiers of our Great Zhou are all great men who protect the country and the people. How can they bear to trample on the commoners of our dynasty? They will definitely be afraid and hold back. These commoners have become the most natural cover for the Northern Barbarians. They have created the best time for the Northern Barbarians to attack.”

Yin Huaixi’s expression remained calm.

After laughing enough, Meng Duo ordered someone to whip the commoners. The sound of the whip, accompanied by a shrill scream, screamed in the strong cold wind. Every time the whip was raised high and fell, it would always leave a line of blood that soared into the sky and splashed to the ground.

The blood stains on the ground were the blood of the soldiers that was gradually turning cold.

Immediately, some soldiers couldn’t take it anymore. They hugged their heads and squatted on the ground, their eyes red with anger.

The army was gloomy.

Meng Duo laughed wildly. “King Yue Fei of the Great Zhou Dynasty, take a look. These are all commoners of your Great Zhou Dynasty. Don’t you You soldiers pride yourself on protecting the country and the people? Hurry up and save them. How can you be a good man if you watch helplessly as your people suffer and are humiliated? Come, if you’re a man, rush up and fight us to the death…

General Ming Wei had never expected Meng Duo to be so despicable and shameless. As the commander-in-chief of an army, not only did he capture the commoners and place them in front of the formation, but he also tortured the innocent and weak commoners, intending to humiliate King Yue Fei and the soldiers of the Great Zhou.

These commoners had been raised by the Northern Barbarians like livestock for a long time. All of them had long been tortured until they were shapeless. They still had to suffer such tragic whipping. All of them were covered in blood and looked tragic.

Some of them couldn’t withstand the whip and died on the spot, but their eyes were wide open, as if they had died with remaining grievances. However, even so, the whip on their bodies did not stop.

The Great Zhou Dynasty emphasized the importance of the dead. Such an act of whipping the corpses was simply heartless and inhumane.

When the soldiers of the You army saw this tragic scene, their eyes turned red and they panicked. Under their protection, these commoners suffered inhumane torture. The soldiers’ high heads gradually lowered, and their straight backs were bent. Some shouted for His Highness, some scolded the Di people, while others held back their sobs and almost cried.

“F*ck, I’ll fight them to the death…” Finally, a young general couldn’t take it anymore and shouted without caring.

Immediately, someone chimed in, “Yes, let’s fight them…”

“I’ll risk it, I’ll risk it…

“I’ll risk it…

The soldiers had already lost their rationality and were shouting at the same time. Immediately, the hearts of the soldiers were in chaos, but Yin Huaixi remained calm.

However, General Ming Wei was a little anxious. “Your Highness, should we stop them? If this continues, the morale of the army will collapse before this battle is even fought.”

Yin Huaixi still did not say anything.

How could he stop them? They had already lost their morale. General Ming Wei’s expression turned ugly.

This was the effect that Meng Dup wanted. He raised his head and laughed. “King Yue Fei of the Great Zhou Dynasty, are you going to watch helplessly as your people are humiliated?!” He clicked his tongue a few times and turned to look at the soldiers beside him. His tone became even more arrogant. “Look, I knew it. The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty are all spineless cowards, worthless wretches, and toothless tigers. There’s nothing to be afraid of!”

He deliberately raised his voice.

Immediately, the Di people roared with laughter and shouted.

“Coward, coward…

“Come on, coward…

“Hahaha, spineless…”

Immediately, a You soldier couldn’t help but shout miserably, “Your Highness, what are you waiting for? Give the order to charge. We’re not afraid of death. They humiliated the citizens of our Great Zhou Dynasty. Even if we die today, we’ll fight them to the death.”

“Your Highness, quickly give the order. Didn’t you hear them call us cowards?”

“Your Highness, let’s fight them to the death. We’re not afraid…”

“Your Highness…”

“Shut up.” General Ming Wei was furious and suddenly raised his voice.

“Military orders are absolute… Without His Highness’s order, how can you disturb the morale of the army?”