After Li Yueyang and his men left, Wang Xiang still stood by the prefectural yamen with a livid face, lingering and unwilling to depart.
This sudden conflagration had completely disrupted all his plans. It was only now that he realized this brat, Han Mo, had a much stronger hold over Mingzhou City than he had imagined.
"My Lord, it is late. Perhaps you..."
After a long while, a confidant beside Wang Xiang asked softly.
"Let's go..."
It took Wang Xiang the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn before he finally spoke.
Without those clerks, Li Yueyang and his men had lost their final vulnerability.
Judging by Li Yueyang's attitude just now, if he wanted to sway the man in a short time, he would indeed have to put in extra effort.
However, to simply give up like this, his heart was still twelve thousand percent unwilling.
He had gone to great lengths to replace Han Mo in Zhao Zhen's favor.
Judging by the methods Han Mo was currently displaying, if Han Mo managed to overcome this hurdle, who knew what the future would hold...
"You all stay outside and keep watch. Without my orders, no one is to approach!"
Returning to the inn, Wang Xiang left everyone fifty paces away before directly pushing open the door and entering Han Mo's room.
"Looking at Lord Wang's travel-worn appearance, you wouldn't have just come from the prefectural yamen, would you?"
As soon as Wang Xiang entered, Han Mo couldn't help but say with a smile.
"As expected, a brilliant stratagem. I truly did not expect that even at this juncture, someone would still be willing to snatch chestnuts from the fire for you!"
Seeing Han Mo's face full of mockery, Wang Xiang snorted coldly and then said.
"It's merely a small tactic, you've made me look foolish, my lord!"
Han Mo said casually as he poured himself a cup of tea, unconcerned.
"Aren't you afraid I'll make a move tonight and cut off the roots?"
Seeing Han Mo's nonchalant demeanor, Wang Xiang became even more enraged.
He clearly held the upper hand, yet at this moment, the brat not only showed no fear but also maintained an air of condescension, which greatly displeased him.
Anyone unaware would think he was the Deputy Commissioner of the Six Southeast Routes!
"Do you have the guts?"
As Han Mo spoke, he cast another disdainful glance at him.
"Han Mo!"
Seeing his arrogant demeanor, Wang Xiang couldn't help but slam the table heavily.
"I say, Lord Wang, you're so old, why do you still get angry so easily? Anger harms the body, you must take good care of yourself, or if you can't take another breath, wouldn't that be benefiting me?"
"You!"
In an argument with Han Mo, Wang Xiang, the old scholar, was clearly no match.
"What 'you'? Stop bluffing. If you really had the guts to make a move against me, would you wait until now? Do you really think you can suppress the news of the Mingzhou Great Victory? Have you overlooked something?"
Seeing Wang Xiang's chest heaving, Han Mo's eyes darted, and he suddenly said with a sinister laugh.
"What do you mean?"
Hearing Han Mo's words, Wang Xiang's heart skipped a beat.
"Before I headed south, His Majesty granted me the right to submit confidential memorials..."
Indeed, as soon as Han Mo uttered these words, Wang Xiang's face turned pale.
"You directly..."
"That's right, when I reported the victory to Suzhou, I also directly wrote a memorial, sent straight to Bianliang!"
"Don't you know that reporting above your superior is a major taboo in officialdom?"
"Hahahaha, why is it that you can scheme against me, but I can't scheme against you? Lord Wang, to be frank, from the day Xin Xingzong headed south to rescue Mingzhou City, I knew there would be a day like this. It's just that I didn't expect your guts to be so big!"
"Truly a hero born young! However, don't you think it's not time to decide the victor yet? At least you are still in my hands. Li Yueyang will not betray you, but someone will surely betray you!"
After panting heavily, Wang Xiang said through gritted teeth.
"Then we'll see who's faster, you or me!"
Looking at Han Mo's nonchalant expression, Wang Xiang slammed the table heavily again and turned to leave.
"Leaving already? Let's chat a bit longer. I say, if you really don't want to chat, how about a young lady instead?"
"Dream on!"
Wang Xiang suddenly realized that this brat had a knack for infuriating people to death without taking responsibility.
If he stayed here any longer, he would probably be angered to death by this brat in no time.
"My Lord, General Xin Xingzong has already secured the northeast and west city gates of Mingzhou City!"
As Wang Xiang angrily walked out of Han Mo's courtyard, Chu Jianfeng, limping, quickly stepped forward.
"What about the south gate?"
Wang Xiang naturally saw through their low-level tactics very quickly.
"The captain guarding the south gate is named Li Bao. He says he only recognizes Wang Bing's military orders..."
"What are those knives in your hands for? Do I have to teach you such things?"
After listening to Chu Jianfeng's report, Wang Xiang was almost driven mad.
He had initially thought this brat was somewhat promising, but he never expected that when it mattered most, the brat couldn't even handle such a simple matter.
"That brat appeared out of nowhere, not only possessing immense strength but also incredibly skilled. In just a few rounds, he directly knocked Xin Xingzong off his horse..."
"What are you talking about?"
As soon as Chu Jianfeng finished speaking, Wang Xiang couldn't help but curse inwardly.
"General Xin, Xin Xingzong, was detained by them at the south gate..."
"You, you..."
Wang Xiang trembled with anger, truly at a loss for words at this moment.
He had originally thought that old fellow Xin Xingzong had stumbled accidentally, and helping him would be a gesture of goodwill towards Tong Guan, and this brat was also a minor asset.
But who would have thought that this was not a stumble at all!
This fellow was simply mud that couldn't be plastered on a wall, a hopeless case!
"My Lord, perhaps you should..."
"Let him die! Get lost, all of you, get out, all of you get out!"
Suffocated, Wang Xiang finally exploded. It was only now that he realized it wasn't that his opponents were too strong, but rather that everyone on his side was a complete idiot! Xin Xingzong, a general who commanded an army, being detained by a mere captain when tasked with taking over a city's defense—if this news got out, it would make people laugh their heads off...