She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Several Deputy Generals also mounted their horses one after another, closely following in Song Yuanqing’s footsteps.

At this moment, Zhao Zun glanced back at Xiao Zhengfei’s column of trusted aides, giving them a signal. The aides nodded slightly.

Only then did Zhao Zun turn back, mount his horse, and ride swiftly to catch up with Song Yuanqing, galloping towards the front of the procession.

Along the way, Song Yuanqing’s face remained grim. He was deeply concerned about Li Gang’s dereliction of duty, and Mr. Meng’s words left him somewhat uneasy.

The orders from the Ministry of War indeed indicated a coalition of the three countries.

If the battle did not occur at Yong’an City, it was very likely, as Mr. Meng mentioned, that the forces of the three countries were all concentrated on the side of Ling’an City, rather than withdrawing for no apparent reason.

At the forefront of the team, Song Yuanqing suddenly said, "Li Gang is unreliable. Let’s go and take a look over at Ling’an City."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zun knew that Song Yuanqing had taken Mr. Meng’s words to heart.

He rode alongside him and said in a low voice, "General, although Li Gang handled things improperly, the most important thing now is to confirm the safety of Ling’an City. If the Turkic army has indeed bypassed us to attack Ling’an City, we must support it immediately."

Song Yuanqing nodded, with a touch of gravity in his tone.

"What you said is true. Li Gang thinks the Turkic army has retreated, but he may never have thought that they might have bypassed to attack Ling’an City. Such a lack of complete foresight, how can he serve as a city defender? After the battle, I will definitely report him to the court!"

Zhao Zun smiled slightly, not responding.

He knew that Song Yuanqing always managed the army with strict discipline and naturally found Li Gang’s dereliction of duty intolerable.

The army moved forward slowly, dust swirling in the air, with the soldiers’ footsteps uniform and heavy.

Song Yuanqing rode on horseback, his eyes like a torch, gazing straight ahead.

His heart was filled with worry. If the forces of the three countries gathered at Ling’an City, could the city’s defenders hold the fort?

Thinking of this, Song Yuanqing couldn’t help but quicken his horse’s pace, with the team behind him also accelerating.

Zhao Zun spurred his horse to follow closely, with a contemplative expression in his eyes.

Song Yuanqing’s figure had already disappeared at the camp gate, while Li Gang still stood in place, looking in that direction with a complex expression.

His mood was heavy, with thoughts repeatedly playing back in his mind regarding the conversation with Song Yuanqing. Song Yuanqing’s departing gaze made him feel uneasy.

"General Li, General Song has already gone far; you should go back and rest too." The trusted soldier beside him reminded in a low voice.

Li Gang nodded, just about to turn around, when suddenly a stern command rang in his ears, "Take him down!"

The voice rang like thunder, and Li Gang turned suddenly, only to see Xiao Zhengfei and ten of Zhao Zun’s trusted aides charging towards him.

Their actions were as swift as leopards, with glinting eyes seemingly poised for action.

Startled, Li Gang instinctively took a step back, his hand already on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

"What are you doing?"

Li Gang shouted sternly, with a hint of barely detectable panic in his voice.

Xiao Zhengfei sneered, his figure flashing as he closed in on Li Gang.

His movements were so fast that they were dazzling, and before Li Gang could draw his sword, Xiao Zhengfei’s arm was already like an iron vice clamping around his neck.

Immediately, a cold dagger pressed against his throat.

"General Li, my apologies."

Xiao Zhengfei’s voice was low and icy, as if coming from the depths of hell.

Li Gang’s trusted soldiers were shocked, drawing their swords and shouting as they charged towards Xiao Zhengfei.

"Release General Li at once!"

However, with a few faint "click" sounds, their moves had barely begun when they felt a sharp pain in their wrists, their weapons expelled from their grasp, clinking crisply on the ground.

The soldiers looked down to see a bloody hole in their wrists, with blood gushing out.

"Ah!"

The soldiers cried out, faces turning pale with fright, no longer daring to act rashly.

Zhao Zun’s aides swiftly surrounded them, their silenced pistols coldly pointed at Li Gang’s men.

Their eyes bore no emotion, as if the people before them were merely lambs to the slaughter.

"Anyone who dares to move, the next bullet won’t be aimed at the wrist," said Ma Zi, one of Zhao Zun’s aides, his voice piercing like ice.

Li Gang’s soldiers exchanged glances, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads, the pain in their hands snuffing out any thoughts of resistance.

By this time, the other soldiers in the camp were also alerted by this sudden change.

As the Xuzhou Army departed, soldiers who were already dispersing stopped in their tracks, turning to watch.

The sound of swords being unsheathed and the cries of the aides alerted them to the major incident unfolding in the camp.

"What’s happening? Why has General Li been captured?" someone muttered softly.

"I don’t know, everything seemed fine just moments ago, and then suddenly..."

"Judging by the situation, it looks like it was Mr. Zhao’s people who took action."

The murmurs among the soldiers gradually grew louder, with many showing expressions of confusion and shock on their faces.

Xiao Zhengfei glanced around, his eyes sharp as lightning, loudly announcing in a booming voice.

"Yong’an City’s defender, Li Gang, has caused considerable losses to the court due to dereliction of duty. By Mr. Zhao’s order, Li Gang is to be arrested and sent to the Capital City for the Emperor’s judgment! The defense of Yong’an City will be taken over by the former Marshal of Beiguan, Zhao Zun! Guards, takeLi Gang away!"

His voice echoed throughout the camp, like a heavy hammer pounding on everyone’s heart.

Li Gang’s face instantly turned ashen as he glared furiously at Xiao Zhengfei, his voice filled with rage and unwillingness.

"Mr. Xiao! How dare you fabricate a military order! Zhao Zun was stripped of his military power long ago; on what grounds can he take over Yong’an City’s defense!"

Xiao Zhengfei sneered, about to speak when Ma Zi beside him raised his hand and pulled the trigger.

A "click" resounded as the bullet accurately hit Li Gang’s calf.

"Ah!"

Li Gang screamed in pain, his legs giving way as he collapsed to his knees.