Keyboard Immortal - Chapter 2837

Chapter 1350: Fallen Goddess

Zu’an hurriedly began to mobilize his troops, trying to extricate himself from this predicament. However, he knew in his heart that the situation was already hopeless, and the enemy would not allow him to take the main force away.

Sure enough, not long after, the Qing army in the encirclement also realized his intentions and launched a general offensive.

Seeing the Qing army’s signal, the Sixth Elder in the city simply stopped pretending and led the city’s troops to attack the Ming army. The

power emanating from each of his men was no longer the power of order, but a strong aura of annihilation.

The Ming army was completely confused. Just a moment ago they had the advantage, and after so many years of suppression, they were about to turn defeat into victory and annihilate the main force of the Manchu Tartars. How could the situation have changed so suddenly?

They also couldn’t understand why their allies in Jinzhou City had suddenly turned against them.

After all, Commander Sun was the supreme commander outside the Great Wall. Everyone used to obey his orders. Who would have thought that he would betray them?

Zu’an led his army to maneuver and evade, but the traps that the Qing army and Naraku had already set up would not allow them to escape so easily.

Several times they seemed poised to break through, but were blocked by the Qing general Dorgon and his men.

Under the Qing army’s banner, a large, fat man in a yellow robe watched the fierce battle in the distance and couldn’t help but sigh, “This Hong Chengchou is truly a peerless talent. If it weren’t for Naraku’s inside help, with his command and training abilities, we probably wouldn’t have been able to win.”

He was none other than the current Great Khan of the Manchu Qing, Huang Taiji. The annihilating power emanating from him was almost tangible, causing those around him to tremble from the depths of their souls.

“According to intelligence, this Hong Chengchou should also be a participant in the Order Ceremony, but he is not a member of the Universal Merchant Guild; rather, he is the messenger of memory,” replied the strategist Fan Wencheng beside him.

“Oh? Then how did he join the Order’s camp?” Huang Taiji asked, somewhat puzzled.

“It seems he’s pursuing Isabella, the young lady of the Universal Merchant Guild, perhaps to help the guild.”

“Haha, so he’s a lecherous fellow. That makes things easier. Pass down the order: I want him captured alive.”

“Yes!”

…

Zu An tried his best, but ultimately couldn’t reverse the defeat.

In large-scale battles like this, individual strength plays a negligible role.

These weren’t ordinary feudal armies; they were believers imbued with the power of true gods, including powerful figures from countless worlds.

His army was eventually surrounded on a mountain, their supply lines and water cut off. Everyone knew defeat was only a matter of time.

Zu An’s mind raced, searching for a way to break the deadlock.

He knew that the Ming army had suffered heavy losses, and even if he could break out, the Ming Empire, beset by internal and external troubles, was doomed.

Would everything really end up like in history? Hong Chengchou was defeated and captured, becoming a notorious traitor, and ultimately fared poorly in the Qing Dynasty, listed in the biographies of traitors.

The Ming Empire couldn’t hold out either, and ultimately Li Zicheng’s peasant army breached the capital.

Finally, the Qing army entered the pass, defeated Li Zicheng, and unified the country…

Wait, I’m not only the messenger of memory, but also the messenger of chaos and mystery.

Even if history is predetermined, how it unfolds is left to chance.

Thinking this, his eyes gradually brightened.

…

In the Battle of Songjin, the Ming Empire suffered a crushing defeat, its main force annihilated, and its commander-in-chief killed. When the news reached the capital, the nation was in turmoil. Isabella was heartbroken and repeatedly considered searching for her brother Zu An outside the pass, only to be desperately stopped by several elders.

Meanwhile, Zu An was in the Qing army camp. It turned out that in that battle, he had been captured after “fighting valiantly but being defeated.”

During this time, high-ranking officials like Fan Wencheng and Dorgon repeatedly tried to persuade him to surrender, but he remained unmoved.

Even when Huang Taiji arrived personally, he remained unmoved. Huang Taiji laughed, “You’re not from the Order faction. We’re not natural enemies, so why tie yourself to them and wait to die?”

Zu’an remained silent, secretly alarmed. He wondered which Annihilation God Envoy Huang Taiji was; his strength was truly terrifying. No wonder even a powerful figure like Augustus had died at his hands.

Huang Taiji continued, “You’re probably here for Isabella from the Merchant Guild, aren’t you? A true man doesn’t worry about not having a wife. Whatever kind of beauty you want, I can find you one, guaranteed to be no less beautiful than her.”

“Is that so? I don’t think anyone can compare to her,” Zu’an replied casually.

“That’s not necessarily true.” Huang Taiji smiled, said nothing more, and walked out.

Zu’an had been pondering why the Annihilation faction kept trying to recruit him.

Logically, they already held a significant advantage over the Order faction; his presence or absence made no difference.

Unless… something unexpected had forced them to seek his help.

What could it be?

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Zu An was puzzled. He was just a prisoner; why did he need to knock?

“Da Yu’er requests an audience with Governor Hong,” a cold voice called out, devoid of emotion yet undeniably pleasant.

Zu An was taken aback. Historically, there were indeed rumors that Huang Taiji had his woman seduce Hong Chengchou, successfully winning him over. But why would the other side need to go to such lengths?

He didn’t believe the envoy of the Annihilation God needed to sacrifice his wife to win him over.

But why did that voice sound so familiar?

“Please come in.”

He’d see what was going on first. A tall woman entered, carrying wine. She wore the attire of a foreign woman, most notably her long, black-stockinged legs.

The combination of modern black stockings and ancient feudal dynasty clothing was strange and bizarre, yet on her, it looked perfect, a harmonious blend of fashion and classicism.

The beautiful woman, who had initially been cold-faced, froze upon seeing Zu An, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Zu An was also stunned, for the person before him was none other than Jiang Luofu, whom he had not seen for so long.

He knew that back in the secret realm, Jiang Luofu’s desire to save Xiao Xi had been so strong that it caught the attention of a true god, who then summoned her away with divine power, and they hadn’t heard from each other since. He never expected to meet her again here.

He reacted quickly, hurriedly saying, “Miss Dayu’er, what brings you here?”

A smile appeared in Jiang Luofu’s eyes, and she quickly replied, “I heard that the Grand Coordinator has been on a hunger strike for many days, so the Great Khan specially sent me to bring you something.”

“Why do you think that just because you brought me something, I have to eat it?”

“I hope the Grand Coordinator will have mercy on me. If you don’t eat, and the Great Khan blames me, I will only face death.”

Zu An then noticed that there was no fluctuation of power in her body and secretly inquired about what was going on.

“I’m a prisoner now, just like you.” Jiang Luofu’s originally cold eyes now held a hint of joy. “I am the messenger of order. I was just captured by them. They want me to fall into depravity and seduce the people in this house. I originally wanted to find an opportunity to end my own life, but I never expected to run into you!”