Xiao Luo led his men back to the city wall. Logically, the people inside the city should have opened the gates to let them in, but the city gate showed no signs of opening!
"Young General, no one is opening the city gates!"
Xiao Luo looked up at the city wall. It was quiet above, with not a soul in sight. He immediately understood that there were spies from Yun Qi within the city, and a mutiny had occurred!
"Go!" Without hesitation, Xiao Luo led his subordinates to retreat outside Yang Guan. If they couldn't enter the city, their only option was to head into the nearby mountains. With the complex terrain, they might stand a chance against the enemy. If they stayed, they would surely perish!
Du Gu Ming Yu was waiting in the city, and he knew what to do if things went awry. Once he had handled matters within the city, he would surely find a way to rescue them.
Seeing that no one was there to receive Xiao Luo within Yang Guan, Xia Hou Ying finally understood where the Emperor's contingency plan lay – inside Yang Guan!
However, Xiao Luo had controlled Yun Zhong City for many years, and they had no way to infiltrate it. How had His Majesty managed to sway the generals of Yun Zhong City?
Xia Hou Ying couldn't ponder further. His orders were to capture Xiao Luo, and all he could do was pursue. He immediately led his men to chase Xiao Luo into the mountain forest outside Yang Guan.
Inside Yang Guan, the two remaining generals were restrained. An old man sat in a room, leisurely brewing tea, with Fan Sheng standing beside him.
"Fan Sheng, are you betraying the country?"
"Why must you two generals be so agitated? You have guarded Yun Zhong City for many years, are you truly willing to be subservient to a mere brat?" the old man said slowly. "Don't you wish to be the commander of Yun Zhong City?"
"Who are you?"
"Blind fool!" Fan Sheng berated. "This is His Highness, the Prince of Yan."
"Prince of Yan?" The two exchanged glances. The Prince of Yan had always remained outside the political arena. Why would he suddenly meddle in the military and political affairs of Yun Zhong City and leave the Young General outside the city? This was clearly an attempt to destroy the foundation of Yu Sheng's empire!
"May I ask why His Highness, the Prince of Yan, has come to Yang Guan?" General Zhao, a seasoned veteran of officialdom, immediately adopted a fawning smile. "The commander of Yun Zhong City was appointed by His Majesty; we are helpless."
"General Zhao, Xiao Luo has initiated war with Yun Qi without authorization and used you as a pawn. Are you not angry?" the old Prince of Yan asked softly.
General Zhao's eyes darted around. "Of course, I'm angry. But a higher rank crushes a lower one. This subordinate can only express anger but dare not speak. Your Highness, if the Young General dies in battle, I fear we will not escape blame. The Grand General in the Imperial Capital might..."
"Xiao Zhen, that old rascal... Worry not. Even if Xiao Luo dies, it will be due to his misfortune, not your involvement." The Prince of Yan poured two cups of tea and pushed them toward the two generals. "If you two generals are wise, you will be the lords of a city in the future."
General Zhao smiled cordially. "Thank you, Your Highness, for thinking so highly of this subordinate. However, this sword..."
The Prince of Yan glanced at his guards, and one immediately moved the sword from General Zhao's neck. General Zhao picked up the tea and drank it in one gulp. "This subordinate has never had great ambitions. I merely wish for a stable official post. I wonder if Your Highness..."
"It's easily arranged. Once this matter is concluded, I will certainly secure a satisfactory position for you."
"This subordinate thanks Your Highness."
"Zhao Xu, you scoundrel, the Young General treated you well, and you dare..." General Zhao picked up his teacup and poured it directly into General Bai's mouth. "Old Bai, the wise adapt to circumstances. Who says we betrayed the Young General? We haven't done anything!"
General Bai was so angry he was about to spit blood. You are colluding with a tiger, and you say you've done nothing! Yet, General Zhao gave him no chance to speak.
"Does General Bai not wish to cooperate with me?"
"He does, doesn't he, Old Bai!" General Zhao pressed General Bai's head, forcing him to nod vigorously. "Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely persuade him to join Your Highness!"
General Bai glared at General Zhao with murderous eyes. If looks could kill, General Zhao would have been dismembered long ago!
"Since that is the case, please escort General Bai to the prison for a few days."
"Take him away."
"How dare you conspire to harm a pillar of the court like this! You will die a terrible death!" General Bai cursed furiously. The guards immediately covered his mouth and dragged him away.
General Zhao smiled obsequiously, rubbing his hands. "Your Highness, what can this subordinate do for you?"
The Prince of Yan looked at the ingratiating General Zhao, despising such a person in his heart. A fence-sitter, he swayed whichever way the wind blew. Such people were useless, yet at critical moments, they could accomplish things.
"You don't need to do anything. Just watch the show quietly."
"Alright, Your Highness, whatever you command, this subordinate will do." General Zhao obsequiously stepped forward to help the Prince of Yan up, his eagerness even surpassing that of a loyal dog. Fan Sheng looked on with disdain. He, who appeared so righteous in normal times, was merely a coward clinging to survival.
"Have you found Du Gu Ming Yu?"
"That brat is very cunning. The moment he realized something was wrong, he ran. We haven't found him yet, but he is definitely in the city."
"Search for him, turn the place upside down! When the time comes, he will be our bargaining chip when we negotiate with Yun Qi." The old Prince of Yan said slowly, "Xiao Zhen, your daughter killed my son and left the Prince of Yan's lineage extinct. I will also ensure your Xiao family's lineage is severed to appease my hatred."
Xue Meng disguised herself as an ordinary person and mingled in the marketplace to gather information, then quietly went to the slums in the south of the city. "Brother Ming Yu, there are soldiers searching everywhere outside. I'm afraid we can't leave."
"Have you gathered any other information?"
"The Young General has been captured outside the city and was forced into the mountains beyond Yang Guan. His fate is unknown."
Du Gu Ming Yu frowned. He had initially thought that Yun Qi's new commander was their greatest concern, but he never expected that internal spies would be the true threat. And they had been caught completely off guard by their own people.
"Have you managed to send out any news?"
"It's impossible to get any out. Yang Guan is not allowing anyone to enter or leave." Xue Meng scratched her head.
"Right, have you found He Ye?"
"No. When we escaped, that brat got separated from us. We don't know where he is now." Xue Meng showed worry. Although he usually clashed with He Ye, they had a life-or-death bond. If something happened to him, he would still be concerned.
"He's always been alert. We can't be rash now. Let's wait for the opportunity. If we can use this chance to eradicate the spies in the army, it would be a good thing." Du Gu Ming Yu's expression was calm. Xiao Luo had asked him to stay behind precisely to prevent changes in the rear. It was just that his reaction was too slow, and he still fell into someone's trap.
"Brother Ming Yu, I also found out some news..." Xue Meng hesitated, unsure if she should say it.
"What news?"
"General Zhao has also defected."