Chapter 1308 - 1263: Free-for-All (3)
Yuan Li finally escorted Yu Hong out the door. Outside, there was nothing but blood. His two trusted aides were confronting the people outside, and upon seeing them retreat, they stepped aside.
Zheng Zhi was surrounded and retreated to the courtyard, where both sides met, with the opposition having even more manpower.
With a flick of the cup, not only did people rush out from the adjacent hall, but also two or three dozen men surged out from the rooms on either side of the courtyard. Originally aiming to break into the room, they were instead blocked by the two trusted aides guarding the door.
Yu Hong moved out while persuading Yuan Li, "General Yuan, you’ve seen, we have so many people while you only have six. It’s still quite a distance to the main gate; you won’t be able to escape. Why don’t we all sit down and discuss properly?"
Yuan Li: "Discuss how to poison me and Grand Tutor Xun?"
Yu Hong: "No, it’s all a misunderstanding. I’m willing to submit; General Yuan can take me back to earn merits."
"The General’s reputation at court isn’t good; even if you kill me and produce detailed evidence, the ministers at court would still doubt you. Moreover, you don’t have concrete evidence against me," Yu Hong said. "Capturing me alive, however, is different; I am the evidence myself."
Yuan Li laughed aloud at this, grabbing him by the back of his shirt, and said, "Yu County Magistrate is indeed persuasive; you truly moved me."
If not for this, he could have kicked him to death inside the room. Would he have kept him alive?
Yuan Li still held the sword across Yu Hong’s neck, saying, "I agree, I’ll spare your life; let them lay down their arms."
"General Yuan should lay down his weapon first, then they will naturally follow."
"Hmm?" Yuan Li pressed the sword, and blood started seeping from Yu Hong’s previously sealed neck wound.
Yu Hong got frightened and hurriedly ordered, "Quick, lower your weapons!"
Zheng Quan was the first to drop his.
Everyone knew Zheng Quan was Yu Hong’s most trusted ally, so the Yu family’s servants and attendants followed suit, laying down their weapons.
Zheng Zhi, protected in the center by his men, couldn’t help stomping his feet, "Brother-in-law, you’re being foolish!"
"Assassinating the Angel is a crime punishable by clan extermination. Brother-in-law, the little nephew is only twelve, could you bear to take them away?" Zheng Zhi urged anxiously, "Kill them, and I’ll handle the aftermath. I’ll ensure everything is clean and discreet, and the nephew and niece could even have a father who died heroically in a relief mission."
Yu Hong was furious, thinking that it wasn’t his life on the line, right?
He hesitated briefly; Yuan Li did not stop Zheng Zhi, wanting to see if Yu Hong would sacrifice himself for his children. Yu Hong only hesitated for a moment, then closed his eyes and said, "That’s their fate!"
Besides, who said he would surely die?
First, find a way to survive; once he met Zhao Hanzhang, there would be a different conversation.
Seeing this, Yuan Li was somewhat disappointed. He glanced at Xun Fan without expression, hesitated briefly, but suppressed his dark thoughts. It was not the correct timing; knowing beforehand, he should not have captured Yu Hong, but rather Zheng Zhi as a hostage.
But who knew Zheng Zhi was so useless? Didn’t he say he brought four or fifty men from daily grain warehouse guards?
He thought all those men were under his command.
Yuan Li lifted his chin and instructed, "Arrest Zheng Zhi and escort them both to the capital."
Having said this, he was about to retreat with Yu Hong when suddenly Zhao Shen descended like a god, storming in with his guards. Seeing the array of people and weapons in the courtyard, he shouted loudly, "What are you doing?"
The family servants outside trying to stop Zhao Shen were stunned, and they cried out, "Lord!"
In that instant, Yuan Li had many thoughts. His sword in hand subtly shifted downward. Always tense and looking for a chance to escape, Yu Hong immediately seized the opportunity, elbowed backward, tucked his neck, twisted his body, and crashed toward Zheng Quan...
Zheng Quan was stunned, instinctively reaching out to catch him, and Yu Hong’s voice pierced the ears, "Pick up the knife, kill them—"
The servants rapidly picked up their knives, and the scene descended into chaos.
Zheng Zhi, who hadn’t been captured, got excited, jumped, shouting, "Kill them, kill them!"
Zhao Shen: ...
He realized that his unexpected arrival had instead disrupted Yuan Li’s plans. He couldn’t help but look at Yuan Li, and saw he was already separated by the charging men from Shi Si and others.
Shi Si and other trusted aides didn’t particularly care about Yuan Li when killing enemies; his skills were superior, his desire to kill was even greater, deadlier. With Zhao Shen’s reinforcements, there was no need for them to form a battle formation.
Instinctively wanting to protect the frail Xun Fan, they moved closer to him. Just then, a figure was kicked into the air, landing right in front of them, just blocking for a moment, placing Xun Fan among the enemy ranks, coincidentally in front of Zheng Zhi.
Zheng Zhi hated Xun Fan to death; if not for him inviting Yuan Li over, would they have ended up in this situation?
Without waiting for instructions, he raised his knife and struck towards Xun Fan...