Accidentally dressed as an empress

Chapter 224: Quelling the Uprising

In the distance, Lin Zichen led a large army towards Mingxiao Mountain.

The sound of horse hooves roared like thunder, and billowing smoke and dust rose into the air behind the army, as if a winding dragon was rushing towards the battlefield with bared fangs and claws.

The soldiers were dressed in shiny armor, which gleamed coldly in the sunlight. They were lined up in neat rows, marching in unison, exuding a chilling and murderous aura, and their military flags fluttered in the wind.

Gu Zezhi was on the battlefield, wiping his bloodstained sword when he heard the earth-shaking sound of the march. He looked up and saw Lin Zichen leading the way, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his stern face revealing an innate majesty.

The person riding the chestnut horse next to Lin Zichen was Su Qing.

She was dressed in black, with her long hair tied up, and her figure was light yet exuded a sense of tenacity.

At that moment, Gu Zezhi felt his heart beat violently, and memories of the past flooded into his mind.

But when his eyes met Su Qing's slightly indifferent gaze, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and just nodded slightly as a greeting.

Su Qing also nodded. When she met Gu Zezhi again, there didn't seem to be much ripple in her heart.

She looked at Lin Ziqi beside her, and he leaned his head closer. "Someone you know?"

Su Qing's voice was flat, "That's Gu Zezhi, Master Gu. His Highness often sends me to deliver letters."

Lin Zichen dismounted and strode towards the crowd, his armor colliding with each other making a dull sound.

She first glanced around with a cold gaze, then said, "The situation is urgent now, and the enemy is coming with great force. We need to discuss countermeasures quickly."

Lin Zichen looked solemn as he leaned over the map. His fingers slowly traced the lines of mountains and rivers, and he said softly, "According to my observations, the enemy's main force is concentrated in the eastern valley. This area is easy to defend but difficult to attack, but their rear supply lines are long. If we can send a special force to bypass the rear and cut off their food and supplies, the enemy will be in chaos."

Lin Zichen nodded slightly, put his hand on his chin and thought for a moment, then said: "Although this plan is good, the road of surprise attack is difficult and dangerous, and it requires a strong and capable army to be competent."

Seeing this, Su Qing took a deep breath, walked forward, clasped her fists and said, "General Lin, I am willing to lead my troops there." She looked at Lin Zichen firmly, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at Gu Zezhi.

Gu Zezhi looked at Su Qing, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. Before he could speak, Lin Zichen said softly: "This trip is full of dangers, and we need to plan carefully."

Su Qing's heart warmed, and he responded, "General, please rest assured. I know what I am doing. Besides, for the sake of the overall situation, this little danger is nothing."

After a moment's contemplation, Lin Zichen decided, "Alright, Su Qing, you are very brave. You will lead the troops to go around the rear, but you must proceed with caution. I will lead the main force to contain the enemy from the front and coordinate with your actions."

After discussing some details, everyone dispersed to prepare.

Gu Zezhi stood there for a long time, looking at Su Qing's departing back. Finally, he sighed helplessly and turned around to devote himself to the intense pre-war preparations.

Following Gu Ze's order, the army quickly assembled. The soldiers all had serious expressions, their armor flashing coldly in the dim sunlight, and the sound of weapons clashing broke the original silence in the mountains.

Gu Zezhi was riding on his horse, looking at the team ready to go, feeling mixed emotions.

He knew that this battle was inevitable, but he also hoped that casualties could be minimized.

"In this operation, only the ringleaders will be punished. If any miners are willing to lay down their weapons and surrender, do not kill innocent people." Gu Zezhi loudly warned the soldiers, his voice echoing through the valley, revealing unquestionable majesty. The soldiers responded in unison and then marched steadily towards the mine.

At this time in the mine, the miners and prisoners were still planning for the next riot, and they did not know that danger was about to come.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps and shouts broke the noise of the mine, and the army led by Gu Zezhi poured in like a tide.

The miners were suddenly panicked. Some fled in all directions, while others, instigated by the prisoners, took up arms to resist.

The battlefield instantly fell into chaos, with flashes of swords and shadows, and shouts and screams intertwined.

Gu Zezhi galloped through the formation on his horse, his eyes sharp as a torch, trying to find the leader of the prisoners so that he could end the battle as soon as possible.

He shouted loudly: "The imperial army has arrived. If you continue to resist, you will only die! Lay down your weapons, and you will be shown a lighter punishment!" However, in this chaotic situation, his shouts were drowned out by the sound of fighting.

A prisoner leader brandished a machete and attacked the soldiers frantically, shouting, "Brothers, only by fighting can we survive!"

Seeing this, Lin Zichen immediately rode his horse forward, shook the spear in his hand, and fought with the prisoner leader.

After several rounds, Lin Zichen spotted the opponent's weakness and knocked him off his horse with a single shot. This scene shocked the surrounding miners and prisoners, and the momentum of resistance was slightly weakened.

The battle was still raging, and the mine soil was dyed red with blood.

During the fierce confrontation, Gu Zezhi keenly observed that although the miners were initially incited by the prisoners to resist, fear was more in their eyes. To quell this riot as quickly as possible, it was necessary not only to rely on force but also to psychologically dismantle the enemy's defenses.

So, while Gu Zezhi commanded the soldiers to advance in an orderly manner and control the situation, he shouted loudly: "Brother miners, you are originally good citizens, but you were bewitched by these prisoners and made mistakes. Now that the imperial army is here, it does not mean to kill you all. As long as you lay down your weapons and stop resisting, the court will definitely deal with you leniently and resolve the unfair treatment you have suffered!" His voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the mountains, penetrating the chaotic battlefield, and reaching the ears of every miner.

After hearing what Gu Zezhi said, the miners began to hesitate and gradually lowered their weapons.

The prisoners realized that the situation was not good and attacked the soldiers more frantically, trying to rekindle the miners' fighting spirit.

But how could Gu Zezhi give them a chance? He led the elite soldiers and rushed straight to the core area of ​​the prisoners, breaking their team into pieces.

The battlefield of Mingxiao Mountain was like purgatory, with strong winds carrying yellow sand. Under the dim sky, broken flags trembled among the broken walls and ruins, and the pungent smell of blood filled every inch of the air.

The shouts and cries of killing were so deafening that they hurt people's eardrums. Soldiers shuttled through the flashing swords and fell down, and blood seeped into the cracked ground.

Su Qing only felt a strong wind coming from behind. He dodged to the side and with a backhand, the attacker's weapon slipped out of his hand. The whole person was also knocked away by Su Qing's fierce attack and fell awkwardly several feet away.

Su Qing put away his sword, turned to look at Gu Zezhi, and asked, "Master Gu, are you okay?"

Gu Zezhi's hair was disheveled and his robe was torn in several places. He looked at Su Qing with eyes full of astonishment and gratitude. He said in a daze, "Thank you, Captain Su, for saving my life. I... I'm fine."

Lin Ziqi hurried over, his armor stained with blood. He quickly scanned the surroundings and, after confirming that it was temporarily safe, said to Lin San, "Lin San, your men must protect Lord Gu. If anything goes wrong, you will be beheaded!"

After saying that, his eyes softened instantly. He walked to Su Qing, gently took her hand, and said softly, "Sister Su, this place is dangerous. Come with me."

Su Qing looked at Lin Ziqi, then at Gu Zezhi, nodded slightly, and followed Lin Ziqi out.

Lin Ziqi had a barely perceptible smile on his face, and was secretly proud of himself: after going through so many things, his sister Su was finally moved by him.

The two figures walked away, leaving only Gu Zezhi standing there, looking in the direction they left for a long time without moving, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

As the prisoners' resistance gradually collapsed, more miners chose to surrender.

Gu Ze ordered the soldiers to gather the surrendered miners together, calm their emotions, and promise to ensure their safety and basic living needs.

At this time, the shouting and screaming on the battlefield gradually subsided, leaving only the groans of the wounded and the sound of soldiers cleaning up the battlefield.

Gu Zezhi looked at the devastated mine and knew that the suppression had only temporarily resolved the chaos. What he had to face next was how to restore the production order of the mine and how to make these miners truly willingly serve the court.