Marshal Meng Has Arrived

Huang Lie rolled his eyes at this. Even ants clung to life, yet these people did not seek to live well—they sought death. He had no idea how to reason with such people and sighed. "My Marshal Meng, Niu Youdao sent the Prince back precisely because he did not want the Prince to fall into their hands. Yet now you are voluntarily delivering yourself to them. I will ask only one thing: would Niu Youdao agree to this?"

Shang Chaozong muttered, "Daoist Master said that he would not interfere with how the war was fought. I have full authority to decide!"

Those were Niu Youdao's words, though Niu Youdao had not told him personally. Guan Fangyi had relayed them.

"..." Huang Lie fell silent for a moment, then pointed at Meng Shanming again and demanded of Shang Chaozong, "Prince, can you bear it? With Marshal Meng's condition, can you truly bear to send him to his death?"

Shang Chaozong's cheeks tightened. "Sect Master Huang, with the war having reached this point, all sides must pull together if we are to have any chance of victory. The army's morale is unsteady now, and the various lords refuse to exert themselves. I fear they have already begun harboring other intentions. Someone capable of holding them down must go. And these lords were all once Marshal Meng's former subordinates. No one understands their capabilities better than Marshal Meng. Once Marshal Meng goes, they will not be able to fool him with their tricks of falsifying reports and shirking battle, nor will they dare fool around before him. I do not wish for Marshal Meng to suffer this either, but the situation is what it is. We can no longer afford to delay. Only if Marshal Meng goes can we possibly stabilize the situation