Upon hearing this, the Jiaozhou soldiers surrounding Xiao Chang fell silent.
After a long pause, someone finally raised their arms and shouted, "Kill all the Tian Ri tribe, and avenge our comrades!!"
In an instant, the mountains and plains were filled with the furious roars of the Jiaozhou soldiers.
Nearly two hundred thousand Jiaozhou troops charged towards the Tian Ri tribe's camp.
Caught off guard, the Tian Ri tribe's forces were submerged by the fully armed and enraged Jiaozhou soldiers.
In a moment, another internal slaughter unfolded within the mountain range.
"Dugu Qun, look at the mess you've made!" Xiao Che grabbed Dugu Qun by his collar and roared.
Dugu Qun was also stunned. "These Jiaozhou soldiers must have been swayed by the slogans of the Great Qian army outside. The Southern King..."
Xiao Chang had no time to pay attention to anyone else. He rushed to restrain them, but found it impossible. He made a decisive choice.
"Why not support them in killing all the Tian Ri tribe and completely stabilize their hearts!"
Thus, Xiao Chang personally led the fierce assault.
The Tian Ri tribe's ballistas in the mountains were too slow to react.
Xiao Chang specifically ascended a high platform and sent an envoy to inform the soldiers, "The Prince has ordered the extermination of the Tian Ri tribe!"
Hannibal, who was in a hasty command of resistance, realized he had been betrayed and cursed furiously, but it was too late.
This mountain range was not small, and the Great Qian scouts in the Jiangnan region were familiar with the terrain, allowing them to reconnoiter the periphery.
The Great Qian scouts outside the mountains frantically ran back to the military camp to report what they had seen and heard to Liang Xiao.
"Marshal's brilliant strategy! The enemy army has indeed fallen into internal strife!" The generals, with faces full of joy, cupped their fists towards Liang Xiao.
Whether it was the Huihui cannon, the Shenwu cannon, the three-bow trebuchet, or the Shenbi bow, their power was greatly diminished within the mountains. A forced assault would only lead to heavy casualties for the Great Qian soldiers. Laying siege without attacking was the best strategy; even if they were besieged for half a year, they could endure.
But now, they did not need to waste time here!
Liang Xiao was also bewildered. "The enemy's provisions should not have been depleted yet. Why did they fall into internal strife so quickly? Something must have happened! Immediately send soldiers to recruit surrender outside the mountains, do not stop!"
The Great Qian's messengers were spread throughout the mountain range, relaying information rapidly.
The Great Qian armies on all four sides successively received urgent reports from messengers along the way and began to call for surrender outside the mountains in unison.
The slaughter within the mountains intensified, and eventually, the remaining twenty thousand Tian Ri soldiers were all beheaded by the Jiaozhou soldiers.
Even Hannibal was beaten into a daze and tied up like a human stick.
Hannibal was brought before Xiao Chang, who said urgently, "Search his mouth, he might have hidden poison!"
Everyone checked and found nothing unusual in Hannibal's mouth, which, however, startled him awake.
"Xiao Chang! Xiao Che! The people of this land are indeed untrustworthy!"
"As if you are trustworthy. What's the point of competing in being the worst," Xiao Chang retorted coldly.
Hannibal was taken aback.
What he said seemed to have some truth to it.
Xiao Chang drew his sword and walked towards Hannibal, declaring loudly, "Let the two hundred thousand Jiaozhou soldiers witness! The culprit is none other than the Tian Ri tribe's marshal, Hannibal! Today, this king avenges the five thousand souls!"
Regardless of Hannibal's pleas, Xiao Che, Dugu Qun, and the others turned a deaf ear, watching with cold eyes.
"Spare me, and the Tian Ri tribe can compensate the families of those five thousand people!" Hannibal could only beg Xiao Chang.
"If this king wants you dead today, who dares to keep you until tomorrow..."
Before Xiao Chang could finish speaking, some Jiaozhou soldiers suddenly blocked Hannibal, pushing Xiao Chang back.
"What is the meaning of this, sirs?" Xiao Chang, still hoping the Jiaozhou troops would cover his retreat back to Yanzhou, maintained absolute patience.
The leading general smiled, "We've thought it over. We'll send this person to the Marquis of Anguo for judgment, perhaps we can even get some reward money!"
"Send him away, and perhaps... wait!" Xiao Chang responded absentmindedly, then suddenly came to his senses. "Marquis of Anguo? What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? We have now achieved great enlightenment. Only the Great Qian's Holy Emperor and the Marquis of Anguo can truly treat us Jiaozhou soldiers and civilians well, just as they treat the soldiers and civilians of Xichuan and Nan Zhong!" The soldiers responded indignantly.
"Hahaha! Xiao Chang, you are simply seeking your own destruction!" At the brink of death, Hannibal instead laughed to the sky, only to be dazed by a slap from a general.
"You must not believe the rumors from outside, that is all false intelligence..."
Xiao Chang looked at the soldiers on the mountainside shouting "Surrender to Great Qian," filled with shock and anger.
However, having witnessed the true colors of Xiao Chang and the others, the soldiers were resolute in their decision to surrender.
"Southern King, we have eaten your rice and received your salary. We have heard the saying, 'To eat the king's rice, one must serve the king.' But now, His Majesty and the Marquis of Anguo are the destined rulers. You should look after yourself!"
The generals smiled and captured everyone present except Xiao Chang.
"Presumptuous! I am the Prefect of Jiaozhou, your superior!" Xiao Che still attempted to resist, but was knocked unconscious by a swift-moving general.
Dugu Qun, Gongyang Qiu, and He Wanli stared blankly at everything unfolding before them, rubbing their eyes, unwilling to believe it was real.
Why would the two hundred thousand Jiaozhou soldiers rebel!
Xiao Chang was placed under house arrest in his military tent, crying and laughing.
There were no weapons in the tent, and all sturdy objects were removed to prevent Xiao Chang from harming himself by impact.
"Grand ambitions and imperial plans, all reduced to bubbles?"
Xiao Chang slumped to the ground, muttering, then removed his outer robe, revealing the dragon robe underneath.
"I am the one destined by heaven, the legitimate successor of Great Qian!!"
Liang Xiao personally led the soldiers, waiting to the east of the mountain range.
Until a troop of Jiaozhou soldiers rushed out from within, publicly discarded their weapons, carried the heads of the Tian Ri people, and escorted Hannibal to the front of the formation.
"All the Tian Ri tribe in the mountains have been annihilated. We humbly request to surrender to Great Qian!"
The Jiaozhou soldiers kowtowed repeatedly, their voices sincere.
Liang Xiao, looking at the heads, was also shocked.
He had underestimated the ferocity of these lands.
"Marshal Marquis of Anguo has issued an order: all Jiaozhou soldiers who surrender voluntarily will be rewarded with one tael of gold. For officers, ten taels will be added for each higher rank according to their original official position!"
As the news spread, the Jiaozhou soldiers finally felt relieved, with some weeping with gratitude and others laughing with joy, displaying a myriad of emotions.
Xiao Che stared blankly at the young man walking towards him, a look of fear on his face, then suddenly he smiled.
"Seeing is believing, Liang Xiao. If you did not exist, the one sitting on the emperor's throne in the capital now would undoubtedly be me..."
"Even at this critical juncture, you are still dreaming." Liang Xiao shook his head. He ordered his men to take down this group of rebels.
"Where is the Southern King?" Liang Xiao asked urgently.
Half an hour later, Xiao Chang was brought into the camp, bound hand and foot.
At this moment, Xiao Chang laughed wildly, appearing deranged.
"I am the legitimate successor of Great Qian, destined by heaven! You are all rebels!"
After muttering for a moment, Xiao Chang stared at Liang Xiao, his face contorted with anger.
"My ancestors have been working towards ascending the throne for generations. In my generation, my wings were full, and everything was ready! Originally, I had the advantage of time, place, and people, but you, Liang Xiao, repeatedly disrupted my grand ambition!"
"The winner becomes king, the loser becomes a bandit! I have nothing to say. After all, I am a royal descendant. Liang Xiao, if you are a true hero, grant me a quick death!"
Liang Xiao sneered, "You're suddenly so tough, I'm not used to it. The generals were just discussing whether or not to spare your life."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chang, who had lost all hope, his old eyes suddenly brightened, and he immediately fell to his knees.
"Marquis of Anguo... considering that I am also a royal descendant, spare my life. I will immediately notify my son to lead the Jiaozhou army and civilians to surrender to Great Qian, and never rebel again. From now on, I will only be a wealthy commoner, supervised for generations, and will never interfere in state affairs..."