503 His Demise (1/2)

Han Sanhe grinned with amusement at Fu Baoguo and spoke quietly, ”Marshal Fu, you and I both know that such a fortunate episode will never happen again. Why would you set this empty-city stratagem before me? Are you not afraid that this old man will be reckless and actually drag Yutang's eastern army as a burial sacrifice?”

Fu Baoguo could not help but blush at his words. But he pressed on for clarification, ”Marshal Han, what do you mean?”

Han Sanhe chuckled and replied, ”If the Nine Supremes can still attack, what happened just now would not have stopped or only lasted so shortly. If the Nine Supremes can still attack, why would they have given me time to reassemble my army? Marshal Fu, leave the Nine Supremes cheat code out of this.”

What Han Sanhe had just said was exactly what Fu Baoguo was worried about the most.

Upon hearing his worry being exposed by Han Sanhe, Fu Baoguo's expression soured slightly before he hurriedly replied, ”Marshal Han is indeed astute and levelheaded as well as having a sharp sense of reasoning. However, do you really expect us to reach a peaceful agreement just as you've dictated? In spite of Yutang being invaded without reason and having successfully retaliated, received no compensation in return? Does that mean that Yutang's people should just accept the cards they've been dealt? Furthermore, how can I be sure that Marshal Han's promise is genuine? The letter of a credence of peace can be easily scrapped in recent times, so how trustworthy is a mere verbal promise? ”

Towards the end of his statement, Fu Baoguo's tone was dripping with sarcasm, taking aim directly at the letter of credence that Han Sanhe had suggested prior and then violated after.

Han Sanhe's face flushed in spite of himself. He replied after a short pause, ”A promise can be rendered powerless depending on one's stance but some things can still be firmly assured. As long as Marshal Fu agrees to let three hundred thousand of my Dongxuan soldiers leave safely, I, Han Sanhe, am willing to behead myself on the spot – to offer my life as a guarantee to Yutang. This old man's life should be able to cover for the alleged lost credibility of a promise, no?”

Han Sanhe spoke those last words loud enough for Dongxuan's army to hear him.

Behind him, Zhan Ge and the others were shocked.

”Marshal, no!”

”Teacher, no! We haven't lost!”

”We'd rather die than to make such a compromise!”

Han Sanhe turned back abruptly towards his army and chided them sternly, ”I haven't died yet, all of you shut up!”

His stern gaze scanned everyone and he spoke with anger this time, ”Don't any of you realize what sort of situation we're in right now? Only by living can you continue to maintain some power for Dongxuan; if all of you die here in futility, what use would it be other than an insignificant moment of courage.

”I, Han Sanhe, am in my old age now. How many more years can I live even if I were to linger on earth? I've killed innumerable people in this lifetime, innocent souls who have died from my commands are in the hundreds of thousands. If I can redeem it with my life today, it would be like a dream come true.”

”My singular life in exchange for the safe return of three hundred thousand great men, what's there for me to regret? My mind is set, no one is to advise me otherwise; anyone who attempts to stop me will be penalized with military rule! I, Han Sanhe, do not hope to behead any of my comrades before I die!”

Han Sanhe turned away resolutely after he spoke, no longer looking at the Dongxuan army.

Because of that, he did not see the army tearing up, choking from sobbing.

Han Sanhe turned to face Fu Baoguo again and said calmly, ”I only have this one request and in return, I offer the greatest price that I am able to pay now. I wonder if Marshal Fu can fulfill this request for me?”

Han Sanhe had asked if Fu Baoguo could 'fulfill' his request and not 'promise' him; it was only one different word, but the meaning behind it was worth pondering upon.

At that moment, Fu Baoguo fully understood Han Sanhe's painstaking effort.

In spite of himself, he could not help but sigh in empathy for Han Sanhe.

This marshal who had intimidated the continent for decades, this unrivaled marshal who had paved his way as the God of War with battles and blood, had finally come to the most significant moment of his life.

”Marshal Han.” Fu Baoguo sighed in lamentation. ”I understand. I… am happy to fulfill it.”

He sucked in a deep breath and said, ”Marshal Han, as Tianxuan's God of War, you didn't lose to Yutang. You've lost to Dongxuan – not on the battlefield but by the manipulations of Dongxuan's imperial court. Therefore, your downfall has nothing to do with the battlefield – you are still the undefeatable God of War. The only thing I can do now is to fulfill this last wish of yours!”

Han Sanhe trained his gaze on Fu Baoguo and said softly, ”Marshal Fu, don't agree to it so easily. The implications of this matter are grim; you, as the direct litigant, have a huge responsibility to shoulder. Can you bear it?”

Fu Baoguo smiled in a carefree manner, ”I understand instinctively and I also don't want to see Marshal Han's end becoming any more forlorn. As a militant myself, this is the last respect I can pay to Marshal Han, the continent's God of War.”

”We are enemies and we stand against each other with opposing viewpoints, but in this matter, I, Fu Baoguo, will bear the consequences!”

Fu Baoguo's smile was sincere and filled with a sense of lamentation.

Han Sanhe watched him carefully. He sighed, ”Fu Baoguo, what a talent you are. As a general, you have the courage to act bravely and dare be held accountable, boldness to be decisive during a war, tactical skills to strategize and command, wisdom to be levelheaded and clear-minded, and ultimately, the way of life to advance and retreat appropriately. Fu Baoguo, you truly are an all-rounded talent!”

”Marshal Han, you flatter me with your words,” replied Fu Baoguo.

Han Sanhe sighed again gently and suddenly turned to look at Yun Yang, saying softly, ”Young Master Yun, if something should happen in the future… I ask Young Master Yun to look after the Han Family.”