The scene immediately descended into chaos. Hemp ropes flew through the air, winding layer upon layer.
One elite iron cavalryman after another was tightly trussed up, bound so securely that they could not move an inch.
The thousand-man formation that had been clamorous and fired up just moments ago had, in the blink of an eye, all become prisoners beneath the steps!
Only strategist Wu Yong and the three captains remained, their faces deathly pale and their bodies ice-cold as the ominous foreboding in their hearts became reality.
On the high platform in the square, Zhou Cheng slowly stepped forward, his face cold.
Not a trace remained of the gentleness he had shown his soldiers yesterday.
His voice was loud and merciless, ringing through the entire square:
"Everyone! Sorry, but I deceived you!"
That single sentence made every bound soldier freeze, their faces filled with horror.
"The people in the city were never some reclusive imperial prince!"
"The so-called imperial prince rewarding the army was nothing but my well-intentioned lie!"
The entire square erupted. Everyone's pupils constricted sharply, their hearts shaken to the core.
"The true great figure stationed in Gaoye City and controlling everything—is Lord Wang Yuan, the Mysterious Abyss Daoist Heir of Cloud Province's Kaoshan Sect!"
Their minds exploded with a roar, leaving them blank.
So from beginning to end, it had all been a scam.
A massive trap set specifically to capture their thousand iron cavalrymen.
Zhou Cheng swept his gaze over the terrified and furious soldiers beneath him, his voice growing ever colder:
"Why did I deceive you?"
"Because the Great Yin Imperial Court abandoned you long ago!"
"Border soldiers shed blood to guard the frontier, enduring bitter cold year after year, surviving nine deaths for every one life.
"The Imperial Court neither hears nor cares,