"Want to leave? Not that easy!"
Yue Fei said as he unleashed his might, his staff in a reverse swing knocking down two assassins again.
The staff in his hand was like a dragon, piercing straight towards Yelü Cha's chest, dragging him into the battle.
This time, Yelü Cha couldn't leave even if he wanted to.
With the commotion here escalating so rapidly, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the pursuers had already surrounded the area tightly.
"Drop your weapons, or face death!"
Seeing that they were completely surrounded by his soldiers, an old general with white hair and beard stepped forward, flicking his horsewhip and speaking.
"Zhong Shidao!"
Yelü Cha only glanced at him and immediately recognized Zhong Shidao on horseback.
The Song and Liao dynasties had been enemies for many years.
Since Yelü Cha was sent to Song for this mission, he was naturally well-acquainted with the famous generals of Song.
"Since you recognize me, there's no need for me to repeat myself. Lay down your weapons and surrender, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Zhong Shidao was not surprised at all that the other party recognized him.
His reputation was forged on the battlefield, through every saber and every spear. It was not strange for these Liao people to know him.
"Greetings, Old General Zhong!"
Seeing that the situation was under Zhong Shidao's control, Jiang Yan and Yue Fei took a few steps back, both cupping their fists in greeting to Zhong Shidao.
"Take them back with me!"
After sizing up the two men, Zhong Shidao nonchalantly instructed his subordinates.
"Yes!"
With the expedition to the Liao territory imminent, Zhong Shidao was accompanied by the elites of the Zhong family army.
He had always maintained strict military discipline, and these men naturally did not dare to hesitate in obeying his orders.
"Old General Zhong, wait!"
Just as Zhong Shidao was about to leave, Yelü Cha suddenly spoke.
"What? Do you have something else to say?"
"Old General Zhong, although the Song and Liao dynasties are now at loggerheads, I respect you as a renowned general and do not wish to implicate you. If you were to lead your men away now, I would pretend I never saw you today, how about it?"
"Hahaha! Are you out of your mind? Since you know that the Song and Liao dynasties are now at loggerheads, why would you say such a thing? Do you really take me, Zhong Shidao, for a three-year-old child?"
At this moment, the lives of these people were in Zhong Shidao's hands, yet this fellow dared to say such a thing, which truly surprised Zhong Shidao.
"Old General, if that is how you see it, then I have nothing more to say. However, I ask that you remember my words today. If you get involved in this matter, it will not be long before you suffer misfortune!"
"Take him away!"
Zhong Shidao paid no heed to his half-hearted threat.
Yue Fei and Jiang Yan exchanged glances. Neither of them resisted, allowing the soldiers to bind them hand and foot and escort them back to the military camp.
"Who are you two? Why did you lead me there!"
Upon their return to the military camp, after a brief period of rest, Zhong Shidao immediately began to interrogate Yue Fei and Jiang Yan.
"I request that the Old General dismiss everyone else!"
Glancing at the soldiers standing on both sides of the tent, Jiang Yan said boldly.
"You may all withdraw!"
Zhong Shidao's pupils contracted. He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers beside him to leave.
"General, you absolutely must not! The martial arts of these two are extraordinary. What if they..."
Hearing Zhong Shidao's words, his accompanying subordinates immediately objected.
"It's fine. If they truly had malicious intent towards me, they wouldn't have led us there in the first place! Besides, they are bound like this now. Do you think they can still make a move against me?"
Seeing Zhong Shidao's persistence, his deputy generals could only comply and retreat one after another.
"Alright, you can speak now!"
After the footsteps of those men had faded away, Zhong Shidao then gestured to Jiang Yan.
"Jiang Yan, Captain of the Tiger Killing Camp of the Zhe Family Army, pays his respects to Old General Zhong!"
"You are from the Zhe Family's Tiger Killing Camp?"
Zhong Shidao himself was from a military family and had experienced many battles over the years, fighting against the Western Xia alongside the Zhe family in the northwest.
He was naturally well-acquainted with the Zhe Family Army.
Apart from the soldiers registered in the Ministry of War, Zhe Kezun also commanded a Tiger Killing Camp of about 300 men.
These were essentially the elite assassins raised by the Zhe family, specifically responsible for assassinating Western Xia generals on the battlefield.
Similar forces were actually maintained in secret by other military families.
The only difference lay in the numbers.
For the Zhe Family's Tiger Killing Camp, ordinary people not only rarely saw its soldiers but even heard of its name, and those who had were few and far between.
"Indeed!"
"Do you have any proof?"
After all, this matter was of great importance, and Jiang Yan and Yue Fei were apprehended along with those Liao spies.
If their identities could not be confirmed, Zhong Shidao truly had no way to release them.
"The Zhe family's young lady is currently in Neihuang County. The Old General can send someone to inquire about our identities from her!"
"Neihuang County? This old fellow is truly willing to spend money for his son-in-law!"
Upon hearing the words "Neihuang County," Zhong Shidao immediately believed them by eight-tenths.
After all, everyone in the world knew that the Zhe family's daughter was married to the Han family's top scholar.
Moreover, if one were to trace it back, due to Zhong Yanchong's relationship, it was also plausible to consider Han Mo as Zhong Shidao's junior.
"Neihuang County is a complicated place, and my general naturally needs to take precautions..."
Jiang Yan could not respond to this statement and could only laugh sheepishly.
"Enough, no need to flatter that scoundrel. In my life, I have never admired him in anything, but when it comes to choosing a son-in-law, this old rascal indeed has good judgment! Hahaha!"
Having confirmed that they were not Liao army spies, Zhong Shidao immediately burst into laughter.
If anyone else dared to call Ke Cun a scoundrel, Jiang Yan would have likely drawn his sword by now.
However, coming from Zhong Shidao, even if he said something more offensive than "scoundrel," he could only endure it at this moment.
"Guards, release them and prepare wine and food!"
Since their identities were confirmed, and it was indeed Jiang Yan who led them there, they could no longer be kept bound.
"Wine and food are secondary, but I trouble the Old General to send a message back to my lord for us!"