The King of Yan watched Zhao Canjiang's retreating back and slowly said, "Fan Sheng, what do you think?"
"Zhao Xu is a slippery old fox. This subordinate cannot tell which of his words are true and which are false." Fan Sheng did not interact much with Zhao Xu on a daily basis. Zhao Xu was an old hand at avoiding trouble, always preferring to stay far behind the front lines. Many generals in the army looked down on his cowardly nature.
"Do you think he has the military tally?" the King of Yan asked faintly. The military tally was what he cared about. If the tally was not in his hands, it was a hidden danger.
"This subordinate believes it should not be with him. If the military tally were in Zhao Xu's possession, given his cowardly nature, he would have produced it long ago."
The King of Yan frowned. He had not been involved in court politics for many years. Although he had some connections, he did not understand the generals in the army. Moreover, Yunzhong City was the barrier of Yusheng, and Yangguan was of paramount importance. If Zhao Xu were truly incompetent, how could the Emperor have allowed him to guard Yunzhong City for so many years?
"Where are Zhao Xu's family?"
"Originally, Zhao Xu's wife was in Yangguan. A few days ago, the couple somehow had a falling out, and his wife, in a fit of anger, left home and has not returned since."
"Does Zhao Xu have no children?"
"I heard he has a daughter, and the daughter left with Mrs. Zhao."
"Meaning, Zhao Xu is now a solitary figure?" A strange feeling flickered in the King of Yan's heart, yet he could not pinpoint what was wrong. Everything seemed logical, but he felt something was amiss, yet he couldn't find it.
Fan Sheng thought for a moment. It seemed Zhao Xu was indeed alone. In the past, he had his wife, who was noisy and cursed Zhao Xu all day. Zhao Xu was notoriously henpecked, afraid of his wife, and greedy. Among the many generals, he had the most flaws and was the easiest to conquer.
"Your Highness, should we bring his wife back?"
"Go find her. It's best if you can find her. It's even better if you can capture his daughter," the King of Yan said in a low voice. "This man might not care about the women around him, but he will care about his own child."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The two continued their secret discussion until late at night. Fan Sheng returned to his room to rest. As soon as he lay down, he heard a commotion outside. His temper flared, "What is all this noise outside?"
"General Fan, it's bad! The army has surrounded the参将府 (Canjiang Fu)!"
"The army, where did the army come from?" Fan Sheng grabbed the collar of the young servant and berated him.
"The army from Yangguan has surrounded the 参将府 (Canjiang Fu)!"
Fan Sheng's face changed drastically. Just last night he had asked Zhao Canjiang where the military tally of Yangguan was, and before dawn, the Yangguan army had surrounded the 参将府 (Canjiang Fu). It seemed Zhao Xu truly did not have the military tally!
Fan Sheng immediately drew his sword and went to find the King of Yan. "Your Highness, it's bad! The Yangguan army has surrounded the 参将府 (Canjiang Fu)... Zhao Xu, why are you here?"
"General Fan, what can be done? The army... why has the army surrounded my 参将府 (Canjiang Fu)?" Zhao Xu appeared flustered and at a loss, which greatly annoyed them.
"Your Highness, this subordinate will go out and see what is happening."
"Good, you go," the King of Yan had initially thought that by having Xiao Luo confined outside the city and handed over to Yun Qi, Yangguan would be his domain. He never expected the army to surround them so quickly.
"Who is leading the army outside?"
"General, the one leading the army outside is Dugu Mingyu."
"Dugu Mingyu!" Fan Sheng gritted his teeth. "That traitor, to dare to stab me in the back!"
"Traitor Fan Sheng, colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, plotting to harm the commander-in-chief, your crimes are heinous. The young general is merciful and will only pursue the ringleader. All others who disarm and surrender will not be prosecuted."
"Little brat Dugu, what an arrogant tone!" Fan Sheng was furious. "You, a traitorous rebel, dare to frame this general here? Do you have any regard for Zhao Canjiang by leading the army to attack the 参将府 (Canjiang Fu)?"
"Fan Sheng, harming the commander-in-chief and holding the Canjiang hostage, this crime is enough to exterminate nine generations of your family," Dugu Mingyu's voice was cold. "Come out and surrender quickly. The young general is merciful and may spare you."
"The young general, who knows if the young general is still alive?" Fan Sheng looked at the King of Yan and Zhao Xu who had come out, and continued to shout, "Brothers outside, the one besieged inside is your Canjiang. Are you really going to obey this alien's orders? You must know that he has betrayed his country. Betrayal, once it happens, will happen again. He is a spy sent by the enemy country!"
Zhao Canjiang sneered inwardly. Who said Fan Sheng was a brainless brute? His ability to sow discord was quite good. He actually knew how to use Dugu Mingyu's identity to divide people's hearts, but Fan Sheng was still too naive.
"If you don't believe me, you can ask Zhao Canjiang!" Fan Sheng pushed Zhao Xu forward.
Zhao Xu was pulled to Fan Sheng's side, wearing a solicitous smile on his face.
"Zhao Canjiang, quickly tell the soldiers outside if Dugu Mingyu is a spy!"
Zhao Canjiang smiled brightly at Fan Sheng, but suddenly stabbed him in the abdomen. Fan Sheng, caught off guard, was hit directly.
"Zhao Xu! You old rascal, how dare you plot against me!"
"Don't move!" another voice called out. "Otherwise, the King of Yan's head will be gone."
Fan Sheng rushed forward with his sword, but stopped when he saw the King of Yan's neck had been cut. "Zhao Xu, harming royalty is a grave offense!"
Zhao Xu wiped the blood from his dagger and ordered people to open the main gate to let Dugu Mingyu in. "The King of Yan plotted to harm the commander-in-chief of Yunzhong City and imprisoned General Bai and this Canjiang. Fan Sheng colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, his crimes are heinous. Escort these two to prison. They will be dealt with after the young general returns."
"Yes."
"Zhao Xu, you were always feigning surrender!" The King of Yan never expected Zhao Xu to turn on him so quickly.
Zhao Xu put away his fawning smile. "No matter how much of a scoundrel I, Zhao Xu, am, I am still the defender of Yangguan. Anyone who dares to tamper with Yangguan is my enemy! As long as I, Zhao Xu, am here, no one will be allowed to cause chaos in Yangguan!"
"The military tally... the military tally was always in your hands!"
"Yes, the military tally has always been in my hands. When I was feigning surrender, I ordered someone to secretly take it to General Dugu." Zhao Xu said coldly, "Did you really think Yangguan was so easy to take? After suffering consecutive defeats, if we hadn't had any doubts, Yunzhong City would have changed hands long ago!"
"What do you mean?"
"We suspected there were spies in Yangguan long ago, but it was just a ruse to lure out the spies hidden within Yangguan! Take them away."
"Yes."
"General Zhao, this subordinate needs to lead men out of the city to meet the young general. Yangguan is entrusted to you."
"Go with peace of mind," Zhao Xu reminded Dugu Mingyu. "Lu Wei is a traitor, and the young general's situation is precarious. General Dugu, please, you must bring the young general back."
"General Zhao, rest assured, Mingyu will bring the young general back safely!"