Chapter 356: Five Murderous Poems, Overwhelming Killing Intent Shakes the Enemy Nation!
Prince Hamu was furious: “These rebellious people dare to mock me behind my back! After I’m done with my tasks, I will lead the army to exterminate you all! Kill every last one of you!”
The assassins were unreliable, and he didn’t want to send people to their deaths either.
Prince Hamu had no choice but to increase the rewards and continue military preparations. However, due to the departure of many nobles, there were vacancies in various positions, causing chaos in the country. Prince Hamu had to promote lesser nobles, officials, and respected individuals from the populace to fill the gaps.
Yet, with the influx of new officials, things became disordered and messy. Prince Hamu had to manage and educate them on how to handle affairs.
At the end of the day, Prince Hamu was exhausted and overwhelmed.
Not only did he feel lost, but the other officials also faced difficulties. Many of them abandoned their posts, leaving the situation in turmoil. Soldiers, aware of the impending confrontation with Lin Beifan, a formidable warlord, started fleeing as well.
As soon as one vacancy was filled, another position became vacant. Just as one unit was assembled, another one was disbanded. The number of people fleeing continued to increase, leaving Prince Hamu frustrated.
Finally, Prince Hamu erupted in anger: “Who’s running away? I’ll kill them all!”
This managed to control some of the situation, but the chaos in Darro continued. The commoners were agitated due to oppression, while officials and soldiers at higher ranks considered abandoning the country out of fear.
Meanwhile, Meanwhile, while Prince Hamu was dealing with these issues, Lin Beifan and his group leisurely arrived at Hua Prefecture by boat. Under the guidance of the local governor, they enjoyed the scenery and had a good time.
Hua Prefecture was 500 li away from Darro and known for its abundant chrysanthemums. When the chrysanthemums blossomed, the mountains were adorned with golden brilliance, creating a breathtaking view.
Lin Beifan’s mood brightened as well. The governor of Hua Prefecture asked a question, “Prime Minister, you’re on a distant expedition to Darro. Why take it easy and not rush?”
With a good mood, Lin Beifan smiled and replied, “Because Darro is already within my grasp! It can be stewed, roasted, steamed, or fried. I want to savor it slowly, preparing the most delicious flavor to enjoy!”
“I see!” nodded the governor.
“Just like this…” Lin Beifan picked a chrysanthemum and said, “I hope to arrive when the flowers are in full bloom. After I leave, they’ll wither and fade away with the wind. The beauty of life and its eventual decline, both captured in sight.”
Saying that, he crushed the chrysanthemum in his hand and exclaimed, “My poetic inspiration has struck, bring me a pen!”
With a pen in hand, Lin Beifan began to write vigorously on paper. After finishing, everyone gathered around and recited:
“As autumn arrives on the ninth day of September, after my flowers bloom, a massacre of hundreds of flowers!”
“A fragrant formation breaks through the sky in the city of Luo, the entire city clad in golden armor!”
The city of Luo referred to Darro’s capital. This poem conveyed a domineering and murderous atmosphere that everyone present felt, leading them to applaud and exclaim, “Great poem!”
This poem somehow spread to Darro rapidly, and its killing intent was communicated as well, sending shivers down their spines. “Prime Minister Lin Beifan of the Great Wu has composed a poem in Hua Prefecture: ‘As autumn arrives on the ninth day of September, after my flowers bloom…’ This is a declaration of attacking our Darro! Such strong killing intent! So domineering!”
“Hua Prefecture is more than 500 li away from here! It means that in just a few days, Prime Minister Lin Beifan will lead his troops over! He’s a military genius, invincible in battle. Can we stand against him?”
“What stand? We can’t possibly win, we should flee!”
Chaos broke out among Darro’s soldiers. Meanwhile, the border guards of Great Wu, upon learning that Prime Minister Lin Beifan was approaching, were filled with high morale. “Soldiers, Prime Minister is about to arrive. This is the time to achieve greatness! Put on your golden armor, arrange your formations, and prepare! As soon as the Prime Minister arrives, we’ll march into Darro and kill all the traitors!”
“Kill! Kill! Kill!” The army’s morale soared, and they shouted fervently. Donning their golden armor, they organized themselves meticulously, radiating an intimidating killing intent.
On the other side, Darro’s soldiers were left dumbfounded. They had never seen such a formation from Great Wu before.
The high fighting spirit and overwhelming killing intent made them tremble with fear, feeling like victory was out of reach. Consequently, more people began to flee.
Prince Hamu was so furious that he spat out blood and yelled, “Just one poem, and you’re all frightened like this? He hasn’t even arrived yet, what are you afraid of? Don’t panic and fall apart, all of you return to formation. Whoever runs will be killed!”
Meanwhile, in Zhou Prefecture, which was over 400 li away from Darro, Lin Beifan and his group received a warm welcome from the locals. Two individuals performed a graceful sword dance, combining both gentleness and strength in a uniquely beautiful manner.
With his poetic inspiration aflame, Lin Beifan composed another poem: “Slaughtering a million soldiers in Luo City, the treasure sword at my waist still reeks of blood!”
“Through a hundred battles, the golden armor pierces the sands, not until Darro is shattered will we return!”
The surging killing intent once again transmitted over the 400 li to Darro.
Darro’s soldiers were dumbfounded once more.
“Another poem filled with overwhelming killing intent!” “Such intense killing intent, it sends a chill down my spine and leaves me shivering!”
“Two terrifying murder poems in a row. Why is this Prime Minister exuding such a powerful killing intent towards us?”
“Quick, run away! It’ll be too late once he starts killing us!”
The morale of Great Wu’s soldiers, on the other hand, soared as they received another poem, driving them to new heights.
While clad in golden armor, they trained and shouted loudly.
“Kill all the million soldiers in Luo City, blood stains the sword at the waist!”
“Through countless battles, the golden armor pierces like yellow sand, Darro will not fall until it’s broken!”
Terrifying killing intent once again soared to the sky!
The soldiers of Darro ran even more. Prince Hamu was extremely infuriated, roaring, “It’s just a poem, what’s so terrifying about a poem? Everyone return to me immediately! Whoever doesn’t return will face military punishment, and their heads will roll!”
At this time, after a day and a night, Lin Beifan arrived at the next location.
This place was only over 300 li away from Darro. Lin Beifan was in high spirits and composed another poem. “A man must kill, killing without mercy! Leave behind an immortal legacy, achieved through killing!”
This poem was filled with stern killing intent and once again reached Darro.
The soldiers of Darro were dumbfounded again.
“Another poem filled with murderous intent!”
“This is the third one!”
“One poem a day, such intense desire to kill!”
“The more I read, the scarier it gets. We should flee!”
The morale of the soldiers of Great Wu surged, their fighting spirit soared as they practiced while chanting the poem!
Killing intent gathered, surging towards the sky, overwhelming Darro!
As a result, the soldiers of Darro began to flee once more.
Prince Hamu was once again so enraged that he coughed up blood, shouting, “Why are you all running? What’s so terrifying about a mere poem? All of you cowards, return to me! Return!”
In the end, he couldn’t stop the exodus…
Prince Hamu was infuriated to the point of turning black, glancing towards the direction of Great Wu with hatred. He said, “Creating chaotic verses to disrupt military morale, such shamelessness! I refuse to believe that you can come up with a fourth one!”
But on the second day, when they were around 200 li away from Darro, Lin Beifan’s poetic inspiration struck again, and he composed another poem.
Looking at the world over the past five years, where isn’t there a hero who kills?
We, hot-blooded young heroes, how can we let today’s generation be inferior to the ancients?
Another poem filled with soaring killing intent!
After hearing it, the soldiers of Great Wu once again surged in morale, their blood boiling. They trained with determination, and their spears pointed towards Darro. As long as the Prime Minister arrived, they would charge into Darro, achieve glory, and make their mark!
The soldiers of Darro were terrified, and more of them fled. Four consecutive poems filled with murderous intent had made them lose all resistance.
Prince Hamu was burning with rage, cursing furiously, “Lin Beifan, you treacherous scoundrel! What can you do without writing poems? If you’re capable, fight with real weapons, don’t play these petty tricks!”
The officials nearby were sweating profusely. “Your Highness, there have been four consecutive poems. Even if the opponent has great eloquence, their tricks are exhausted! We don’t need to consider them further. Let’s focus on fighting with all our strength!”
“You’re right! In warfare, it’s about true strength, not composing poems or creating art!” Prince Hamu nodded. However, when he thought about the chaotic situation in Darro, he once again had a headache.
Another day passed, and Lin Beifan took a boat to the next location, only 100 li away from Darro.
Once again, Lin Beifan couldn’t control his poetic inspiration and composed another murderous poem.
To kill one is a crime, to slaughter ten thousand is to be a hero!
Slaughter nine million, and you become the mightiest among heroes!
This poem filled with overwhelming killing intent once again spread, bolstering the morale of the soldiers of Great Wu and intimidating the soldiers of Darro. This time, even Prince Hamu felt a bit afraid. Slaughtering nine million implied wiping out all of them in Darro, it was excessively ruthless!
Because this poem had the strongest killing intent, the heaviest desire to kill!
At this moment, Lin Beifan was only a hundred li away from Darro. In two or three days, he could arrive, and then the war would begin. The situation was imminent, but even Prince Hamu found his confidence wavering.
Three-fourths of Darro’s nobles and court officials had already fled. Darro was barely maintaining its operations.
The most worrisome was the military. Darro originally had a force of 500,000 soldiers, but over 300,000 had fled, leaving only 200,000 struggling to hold on. They had to forcibly conscript 300,000 able-bodied men from the commoners to replenish their ranks.
However, these new recruits were inexperienced and didn’t even know how to stand in formation, let alone fight. “Can we win this battle…?” Prince Hamu was starting to doubt.
After all, they were facing Lin Beifan, who wasn’t just the Prime Minister of Great Wu but also a brilliant general known for his warfare expertise and undefeated record. Could these hastily gathered soldiers hold their own?
Prince Hamu was losing confidence and harbored a thought he could hardly believe: Should I flee as well?
“Let General A’wu lead the army to defend the city and prevent Great Wu from advancing!” Prince Hamu suggested.
“What about you, Your Highness?”
Prince Hamu coughed and said, “You’ve seen it too. The situation here is chaotic. Before we deal with external threats, we must secure internal stability. Therefore, I must stay behind, coordinate resources and supplies, and provide them with full support!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Two more days passed, and amidst great anticipation, Lin Beifan finally arrived at the border—Zhan Nan Pass!
