Orders from Far Capital: The Third Prince Is to Be Put to Death!

Lin Junyu led every soldier of the Feather Forest Army in an unceasing battle against the demon race's Divine Guard.

At this point, it was a fight to the death for both sides. With the disparity in numbers, and infantry facing cavalry—

Even under the enhancement of the Valor Aura, fewer than three hundred of the six hundred Feather Forest Army soldiers remained.

Fortunately, they had finally held out until the main force arrived.

"Your Highness, I'm here to save you!"

After receiving the order for the general assault, Fang Hao realized that the enemy intended to drive all his units into one place.

He immediately ordered his men to assemble and charge into the enemy camp at the front lines, coordinating with the legion's main force to hunt down the retreating army.

Once he saw that the overall situation had been decided, he left fifty thousand Black Cavalry behind and personally led another fifty thousand to rescue the Third Prince.

Fortunately, he had arrived in time. Seeing the demon Divine Guard surrounding and attacking Lin Junyu, he immediately ordered his fifty thousand men to encircle and kill them.

Liked using numbers to bully the few? Then they could have a taste of it too.

Lin Junyu and the surviving Feather Forest Army soldiers all breathed a sigh of relief.

Having been surrounded, they knew nothing of the situation at the front.

But now that Fang Hao had the manpower to come to their aid, the outcome of the battle had clearly been decided. They had won.

The Southeast Legion cavalry had already gone mad with killing, chasing down the fleeing demon soldiers from every direction.

"Your Highness, you're incredible. I never thought you'd actually pull it off!"

Charging eight hundred men into an enemy formation of more than a hundred thousand and even beheading the enemy commander—this was a miracle!

Moreover, they had heard that the demon commander had been the demon race's second-strongest expert. Since His Highness had defeated him, that made him the Luminous Empire's second-strongest expert, second only to the Emperor.

Fang Hao's gaze upon Lin Junyu was now burning with fervor. He was still a prince, and with this performance and these achievements, he would surely receive the Emperor's reward.

If Fang Hao pledged his loyalty to him early, would he too earn the merit of supporting a future ruler?

Lin Junyu had no idea about Fang Hao's feverish thoughts. He led the surviving Feather Forest Army soldiers to collect the bodies of their fallen brothers, then returned to the city to rest and await further news. He would leave the rest to them.

After a day and night of encirclement and pursuit, the demon army had completely vanished from Butler Province.

In this decisive battle, the Southeast Legion lost a total of one hundred seventy thousand men, but killed six hundred ten thousand enemies. The remaining enemies fled through Valen Gorge toward the Far East.

From then on, the Empire had completely eliminated the demon race's forces from the Southeastern Plains and gained full control over the region. There would no longer be any obstacle to the Empire's eastern campaign.

"Hahaha, Your Highness, a great victory!"

"Yes, the victory report has already been rushed to Far Capital. The Emperor will surely be delighted when he learns of it!"

"Without Your Highness, how could this decisive battle possibly have been won so easily?"

"Your Highness is truly valiant. You really led only eight hundred men to break through the enemy formation and kill their commander. We are in awe!"

"As expected of someone Prince Lin trusts. On behalf of the entire Southeast Legion, this old man thanks Your Highness!"

In the council hall, everyone was tallying the results of the battle, and all of them were exhilarated. Yet the more excited they became, the more they admired and appreciated Lin Junyu.

If not for His Highness this time, the Southeast Legion would likely have suffered devastating losses.

Just as everyone was immersed in the victory of the battle that had just ended, a guard's report came from outside.

"Report! Your Highness the Third Prince, there is an army outside the city gates claiming to be the three hundred thousand Royal Legion troops sent as reinforcements!"

Lin Junyu's prestige within the Southeast Legion was now extremely high. After a single battle, everyone deeply respected this newly appointed legion commander.

"The Royal Legion? Who is leading them?"

"According to the messenger, it is the First Prince, the Second Prince, and Commander Liu Fengchuan!"

"Oh? I didn't expect all of them to come."

The three hundred thousand Royal Legion troops had traveled by water and swiftly arrived at Jiashan Fortress.

Seeing that Jiashan Fortress was still standing, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

They met Zichuan Shengxing and learned what the Third Prince had done.

Liu Fengchuan was greatly astonished and could not stop praising him. Another tiger had emerged in the Empire.

However, murderous intent had gradually begun to brew in the eyes of the two princes. They had never expected that the useless prince they had bullied since childhood had hidden himself so deeply. What was he trying to do?

At that moment, both men shared the same thought: such a formidable enemy absolutely could not be allowed to live!

Since Jiashan was no longer in danger, they led the Royal Legion to seek out the Empire's Southeast Legion. Curious about the situation at the front as well, Zichuan Shengxing gave out his orders and set off with them.

Yet when they led their army to Bartley City, where the Southeast Legion was stationed, they were all shocked by the sight across the wilderness.

Before Bartley City, the wilderness was covered in corpses piled like mountains. Tattered banners lay everywhere, blood flowed like rivers, and a flock of vultures circled overhead.

"Wh-what happened here? How could it have been so horrific?"

But as they proceeded along the way, they saw that most of the bodies on the ground belonged to demon soldiers. There were human corpses as well, but very few.

Everyone's expressions gradually eased. When they reached the city gates and saw the Empire's golden fleur-de-lis banner still flying from the walls, the heavy stone in their hearts finally fell away.

"Quickly report to your Prince Lin! We are the Royal Legion sent from Far Capital as reinforcements. Open the gates at once!"

Someone on the city wall shouted back.

"Prince Lin was assassinated by demons and has died. Our legion commander is now His Highness the Third Prince! If you wish to enter the city, we must report to His Highness. Wait patiently!"

"What?"

The First Prince, the Second Prince, Liu Fengchuan, and Zichuan Shengxing all cried out in shock.

Liu Fengchuan and Zichuan Shengxing were shocked that Prince Lin had actually died, while the two princes were stunned that their third brother had taken control of the 500,000-strong Southeast Legion. Their wariness and desire to kill Lin Junyu had reached their peak.

All four wore grim expressions. Liu Fengchuan and Zichuan Shengxing mourned the death of Prince Lin, the Empire's legendary war god, while the two princes were driven mad with jealousy.

However, the two princes seemed to think of something. They exchanged a glance, apparently reaching some agreement, and their expressions finally eased.

Bartley's city gates opened, and a force marched out.

"Your Highnesses, Commander Liu Feng, Commander Zichuan, the Third Prince invites you inside. However, the army must remain outside to help us clear and burn the battlefield corpses, to prevent an outbreak of plague!"

As the commander of the army, Liu Fengchuan naturally had no objections, but the two princes did.

After repeatedly insisting, they only left 200,000 men behind to help clear the battlefield.

Every soldier of the Royal Legion was dumbfounded. They were elites—they had come to fight, not collect corpses!

But they had arrived too late. Judging by the situation, the battle had only just ended. From the scale and devastation of the battlefield, it had been at least a million-man clash between legions.

And judging by the number of corpses, their Empire's side had won a crushing victory, which only made them feel even more miserable.

"Hahaha, Third Brother, your eldest brother and second brother have come to support you!"

When they arrived at the City Lord's Manor's council hall, the two princes immediately put on smiling faces as they looked at their third brother, who was no longer the same as before.

Liu Fengchuan and Zichuan Shengxing both looked at Lin Junyu with astonishment and mixed emotions. On the way to the City Lord's Manor's council hall, they had already learned from the soldiers guiding them about the course and outcome of the Battle of Bartley.

It was difficult to believe how such a young man had led eight hundred men in a charge against an enemy force of over a hundred thousand, and even slain their commander-in-chief.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you have traveled so far. You must be tired."

"Hahaha, Third Brother, we can't compare to you. You've truly become capable. I heard all about it on the way here!"

"That's right! We couldn't do something like defying military orders and forcing the troops at the crossing to obey us!"

The Second Prince, Lin Huiyu, said with a smile, uttering words that made everyone's expressions change.

"That's right, Third Brother. Do you know what order Father sent us to deliver to you?"

The First Prince, Lin Mingyu, chimed in from the side.

They had drawn their swords outright. It seemed his threat to them was enormous—they no longer even wanted to keep up the act.

"I do not know what order Father has sent for me."

Lin Junyu had already guessed, but he pretended not to know and asked anyway.

"Third Brother! Do you know your crime? You defied the royal decree and the marshal's orders, and mobilized the army without authorization. Father has issued an edict ordering you to die!"

"Third Brother, we pleaded for you as well, but we could not change Father's mind. We only hope you will not make things difficult for us!"

"If you do not believe us, ask General Liu Feng. He is the executor of the edict. And the military authority in your hands must also be surrendered. This is Father's order!"

"That's right, Third Brother. You do not intend to defy an imperial decree, do you? Do not bring ruin upon yourself. We have 100,000 troops within the city and 200,000 outside it. You had best think this through carefully."

Lin Junyu turned his gaze toward Liu Fengchuan. With a helpless expression, Liu Fengchuan admitted that such an order had indeed been issued.

Zichuan Shengxing stood there blankly. How could this be? Was the Emperor not afraid of chilling the hearts of the frontline soldiers by doing this?

"The Emperor must have been misled. Otherwise, he could never have issued such an order!"

And that was indeed the case. Lin Junyu's battles on the frontlines had moved too quickly, while information in the rear had lagged badly behind.

In a fit of rage, the Emperor issued this order at the urging of the two princes and the various ministers.

After all, in his eyes, his third son truly was worthless. If his death could ensure the Empire's stability, then it would be a worthy death.

If the Emperor had known that the third son he looked down upon had displayed such great power on the frontlines and turned the entire battle around, he would certainly have changed the order. He might even have lavishly rewarded him, perhaps even settled the matter of the heir in advance.

That was something the First Prince and Second Prince did not wish to see, so before the Emperor could realize what was happening, they had to swiftly use his order to eliminate this enemy.

"Commander Zichuan, that is the order. Are you going to defy it?"

"Third Brother, have you made your decision?"

The two princes were not entirely confident either. Their third brother's forces were at the height of their momentum. If they truly fought, the outcome would be difficult to predict.

Thus, they were exploiting the information gap and using righteousness to pressure him, hoping he would obey their father's command.

Otherwise, if he led the remaining 300,000-plus soldiers of the Southeast Legion in rebellion and dragged them down with him, it would hardly be worth it.

Lin Junyu was overjoyed inside. He had been lacking an opportunity to fake his death for the main quest, and now one had been delivered right to him.

Moreover, he had no real attachment to this Empire. His coldhearted, arrogant father had personally ordered him to die, severing the last thread of attachment in his heart.

He pretended to deliberate for a long time, forced a few tears from the corners of his eyes, then said sorrowfully, "When a ruler commands his subject to die, the subject cannot refuse. I only ask my two brothers to give me a little time to settle my final affairs. How about it?"

Hearing their third brother agree, the two elder brothers were secretly delighted. They had not expected it to work. It seemed their third brother really was rather foolish.

If they had this military authority and strength, they would have rebelled long ago and seized that position for themselves.

"Fine, fine, fine. Third Brother may have one day. However, the condition is that you hand over military command first!"

Still, they worried this was merely a stalling tactic. They had to strip him of his military authority first.

"My deputy commander, Zichuan Mingyue, displayed strong leadership during this campaign, directing the entire theater and planning every move. I hope to give her the legion command token Prince Lin gave me!"

"This..."

"Of course, Third Brother. Eldest Brother fully supports this decision!"

The Second Prince had just begun to speak when the Eldest Prince cut him off. The Eldest Prince was already overjoyed inside.

The Zichuan Clan had long since secretly pledged loyalty to him. If Zichuan Mingyue obtained military authority, wouldn't that be the same as him obtaining it?

"Second Brother, our most urgent task now is to placate Third Brother and strip him of military authority. Then, no matter what tricks he tries to play, we can handle him however we please!"

Noticing his Second Brother's displeasure, Lin Mingyu leaned close and whispered a few words into his ear, soothing him.

"Thank you, Eldest Brother! I'll head to the main camp and give her the legion command token at once!"

"Commander Zichuan, Commander Liu Fengchuan, accompany my Third Brother!"

The Eldest Prince ordered Zichuan Shengxing and Liu Fengchuan. With the two of them going along, he would feel more at ease.

"Your Highness the Third Prince, are you truly going to obey the imperial decree?"

"Yes, Third Prince. We can delay for a while. As long as His Majesty learns the true situation at the front lines, I believe he will surely rescind this order!"

The two veteran generals were filled with regret. A star of the Empire had already risen—a hope against the demon race. If he died to internal strife, what sort of disgrace would that be? Could this Empire still be saved?

"I understand the intentions of you two generals. Father has already issued his command. What else can I do?"

"If I stubbornly resist, the 300,000-strong Royal Legion and the 330,000-strong Southeast Legion, which has only just endured a great battle and needs time to recover, will inevitably clash. No matter the outcome, it will undoubtedly weaken our Empire's strength for the eastern campaign and give the demon race another opportunity."

"Everything I have worked so hard to accomplish on the front lines will become meaningless. That is not what I wish for."

"Commander Zichuan, I do not know how I may have offended you in the past. You have always refused to see me, and I held no grievance over it. But I hope your prejudice against me will not affect the soldiers of the Southeast Legion, whom I preserved at the cost of my life!"

"I am entrusting the legion to your daughter because I value her ability. I hope you will not rebuke her. There is no relationship whatsoever between her and me."

The Empire's two fierce generals were already overcome with shame, especially Zichuan Shengxing, who had always harbored prejudice against the Third Prince.

The Third Prince was good in every way—except that he understood righteousness too deeply. The Empire had treated him this way, yet he was still considering the Empire's interests.

The Third Prince's fate inevitably filled them with the sorrow of seeing a rabbit die and fearing the fox's fate.

If His Majesty truly drove the Empire's most brilliant prince to death, would their own families suffer the same fate in the future?

That profound question, like a seed, was thoroughly planted in the hearts of the two commanders.