Love Lock

Chapter 140 Staying to "Catch Up"

Li Gang screamed in agony, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees.

Blood gushed from his wound, staining his trouser leg crimson. His face turned deathly pale instantly, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his lips trembled, and he could no longer utter a word.

"hey-hey!"

Ma Zi smiled smugly; he was very satisfied with his marksmanship.

Li Gang's personal guards were both shocked and furious upon seeing this, but dared not make the slightest move.

They knew that if they made the slightest move, the powerful weapon in Ma Zi's hand would likely pierce their heads without mercy.

The soldiers in the camp were stunned by this scene. They had been wondering what mistake Li Gang had made and why he had been suddenly taken down.

But when Xiao Zhengfei announced that Zhao Zun would take over the garrison in Yong'an City, many people's eyes lit up.

"Is Zhao Shuai coming back?" someone exclaimed in a low voice.

"Great! Commander Zhao is finally going to take command of the troops again!"

"Commander Zhao was invincible when he was in Beiguan. With him here, our Yong'an City is safe!"

The soldiers' chatter grew louder, and many of them showed excited expressions.

Zhao Zun already enjoyed extremely high prestige in the Beiguan military camp, and many soldiers felt indignant on his behalf when he was stripped of his military power.

After news of Zhao Zun's great victory in the last surprise attack on the Turks arrived, the soldiers were filled with even more admiration and anticipation for him.

When Li Erniu heard Zhao Zun's name while standing in the crowd, a fervent glint flashed in his eyes.

Zhao Zun has always been his idol and an irreplaceable hero in his heart.

Without hesitation, he raised his arms and shouted, "General Zhao! General Zhao!"

His voice was like a powder keg ignited, instantly setting off an explosion throughout the entire military camp.

"Commander Zhao! Commander Zhao!" More and more soldiers joined in the shouts, their voices rising and falling like waves, growing louder and louder.

"Zhao Shuai! Zhao Shuai!"

The shouts were deafening, as if they were about to overturn the entire military camp.

The soldiers' faces were filled with excitement and anticipation, as if Zhao Zun's arrival would bring them endless hope and victory.

Xiao Zhengfei and Zhao Zun's personal guards stood aside, watching this scene, the corners of their mouths slightly raised, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in their eyes.

They knew that Zhao Zun's prestige and influence were deeply rooted in the hearts of these soldiers, and that even if Zhao Zun didn't take down Li Gang now, that good-for-nothing would die on the battlefield sooner or later.

I wonder what Emperor Jing would think if he were standing here and saw Zhao Zun's call to action resonate so strongly?
Li Gang knelt on the ground, listening to the deafening shouts all around him, his heart turning cold.

He knew that he had completely lost the support of his soldiers.

Li Gang's personal guards stood aside, their faces pale and their eyes filled with despair.

They knew that from this moment on, their fate was no longer in their own hands.

Xiao Zhengfei gave Li Gang a cold look and waved his hand: "Take him away!"

Several guards immediately stepped forward and lifted Li Gang up. Li Gang struggled a few times, but the gunshot wound in his leg made it impossible for him to stand, and he could only let the guards drag him away.

The shouts in the military camp continued, as if cheering for Zhao Zun's arrival.

Li Gang's figure gradually disappeared from everyone's sight, like a fallen star that could no longer illuminate the sky.

Two hours later, Song Yuanqing's Xuzhou army had marched rapidly around the Yinshan Pass and was about to arrive at Ling'an City.

"General Song, Ling'an City is just ahead," Zhao Zun whispered a reminder.

Song Yuanqing looked up and saw a city faintly visible in the distance, with banners fluttering on the city tower, making it appear particularly solemn.

His eyes held a hint of anxiety as he said in a deep voice, "Pass down the order: the entire army must accelerate! We must reach Ling'an City before sunset!"

Upon receiving the order, the already exhausted army immediately sped up its pace.

The soldiers' footsteps quickened, and amidst the rising dust, the column surged forward like a torrent towards Ling'an City.

Zhao Zun rode behind Song Yuanqing, his gaze serious.

He knew that what was about to happen would determine his fate and that of the entire Great Jing.

He gripped the reins tightly, silently praying that everything would go as he wished.

Just as Song Yuanqing reached the crossroads outside Ling'an City, he saw an army leaving the city in the distance.

The fluttering flag prominently displays a large character "Su".

The Su family is one of the four great aristocratic families, the family of the Marquis of Champion and the Princess of Changle. Most of the men in the family are military generals. They are scattered throughout Jingzhou, Jizhou, and Liangzhou.

Based on the principle of the imperial court to dispatch troops from the nearest location, Jingzhou is the closest to Ling'an City. Song Yuanqing judged that this army must be reinforcements from Jingzhou.

Song Yuanqing reined in his horse and waved to stop the troops behind him, waiting for the Jingzhou army to leave the city.

Watching the endless stream of Jingzhou soldiers leaving the city gates, Song Yuanqing frowned slightly.

The soldiers had gloomy faces and seemed to be cursing as they walked.

"General, what's wrong?" Zhao Zun asked from behind Song Yuanqing.

"I don't know. I'll go check on them after they leave."

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the entire Jingzhou army finally emerged from the city gates.

With a wave of his hand, Song Yuanqing ordered the Xuzhou army to advance slowly.

As Song Yuanqing brushed past the rear of the Jingzhou contingent, he overheard the last soldier saying, "What the hell? My legs are about to break, and it turns out they're giving a false report. Screw them."

Song Yuanqing's heart skipped a beat. He looked back at the exhausted soldiers behind him and a bad feeling rose in his heart.

Looking into Ling'an City, the scene was exactly the same as in Yong'an City—peaceful and serene.

The people were busy working, and the soldiers were patrolling lazily on the city walls; there was no sign of a major battle.

Song Yuanqing frowned, left a deputy general behind, and arranged for the troops to rest and regroup outside the city.

He himself, along with Zhao Zun and several other deputy generals, entered the city first to check the situation at the Ling'an City military camp.

Song Yuanqing and his entourage rode into the military camp. After dismounting, they headed straight for the central command tent, guided by Zhao Zun. Along the way, the drilling soldiers lazily cast their gazes, as if they were watching a good show.

They reached the entrance of the central command tent, where they were stopped by the guards.

"Stop, who are you?"

"We are reinforcements from Xuzhou, and we wish to meet Marshal Cao Xiong," Song Yuanqing announced loudly.

"Uh……"

The guard looked somewhat embarrassed, but he still turned around and went inside to report.

Soon, Cao Xiong came out.

"So it's General Song." Cao Xiong came out with a smile, but the smile looked strange, as if he didn't want to see them at all.

"Commander Cao, we have received orders from the Ministry of War to come and provide support. The army is resting outside the city. Please give us your orders, Commander Cao."

Song Yuanqing stared intently at the strange expression on Cao Xiong's face, and had already guessed seven or eight parts of what was going on.

"Uh...this..."

Cao Xiong stammered, unsure of how to begin.

Seeing this, Zhao Zun, standing behind Song Yuanqing, lowered his head and looked down. A faint smile seemed to be slipping out from the corners of his tightly pursed lips.

When Song Yuanqing saw Cao Xiong stammering, his face immediately darkened, and he coldly told Cao Xiong the truth.

"There's no sign of a major battle here. Could Commander Cao be giving a false report?"

"Uh...no, no." Cao Xiong's expression changed, and he waved his hands repeatedly, explaining with a bitter face.

"At first, there was military intelligence that the allied forces of Ala and Meng were attacking aggressively, already dozens of miles away. But for some reason, they suddenly retreated."

Cao Xiong complained bitterly. Logically speaking, Cao Xiong was the marshal of the garrison, while Song Yuanqing was just the general leading the troops into battle.

In terms of official rank, Cao Xiong was higher than Song Yuanqing, but now he knew he was in the wrong and felt inferior when he looked at Song Yuanqing.

He never expected that his urgent request for reinforcements would cause him such big trouble.

He had just bowed and scraped, smiling obsequiously as he saw off the reinforcements from Jingzhou, but now the army from Xuzhou had arrived.

Oh no! What should we do?

"They retreated? Did Commander Cao also use a stratagem to launch a sneak attack and force them to retreat?" Song Yuanqing recalled the sneak attack on Yong'an City.

"Uh...no, not at all." Cao Xiong shook his head helplessly, forcing a smile.

"Then why did they retreat?"

Song Yuanqing pressed closer, his face so dark it looked like it could be wrung out.

"I do not know either!"

Fearing that Song Yuanqing wouldn't believe him, Cao Xiong pointed back to the soldiers who were carrying supplies down the city wall.

"General Song, look. We made all the preparations to defend the city, but none of them were of any use."

"Hmph!" Song Yuanqing snorted coldly, his anger barely concealed. "So, you haven't even engaged the enemy yet?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Xiong hesitated for a moment, but he eventually nodded.

Now Song Yuanqing finally understood why the Jingzhou army had left cursing and swearing, and he couldn't suppress his anger at all.

"This is outrageous! Ling'an City has 50,000 troops stationed there. Even if the two countries have formed an alliance, even if they launch a frontal assault, 50,000 troops can hold out for several days. Since we haven't even started fighting yet, why are you asking the imperial court for help?"

Song Yuanqing practically shouted his words.

Images flashed through his mind of them marching hastily out of fear of the battle, and of the soldiers' weary faces.

Recalling the hardships of the march over the past few days, even Song Yuanqing's personal guards and several deputy generals glared angrily at Cao Xiong.

"Uh... I... I didn't want to either!"

Song Yuanqing's roar made Cao Xiong's eardrums itch.

He picked at his ear, frowned, and wanted to say something in his defense, but apart from saying that he didn't want to, he really didn't know what else to say.

He wanted to say that he had already requested the court to postpone the troop deployment, but he didn't dare to say it.

Because he also understood that any defense at this point would be nothing but sophistry. The more he tried to justify himself, the angrier Song Yuanqing would become.

"At least they launched a surprise attack and engaged in battle in Yong'an City, but you haven't even figured out where the battle is taking place, yet you dare to ask the imperial court for help. Do you even know what 300,000 troops look like? Do you even know how much manpower and resources it takes for 300,000 troops to march such a long distance?"

The more Song Yuanqing thought about it, the angrier he became, his anger erupting like a barrage of bullets. Even Zhao Zun found it deafening, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

Faced with Song Yuanqing's rage, Cao Xiong and his personal guards bowed their heads and obeyed without daring to utter a sound, let alone offer any sophistry.

After Song Yuanqing finished venting his anger, Zhao Zun leaned close to Song Yuanqing's ear and whispered words of comfort.

"General, although Cao Xiong's false reporting of military intelligence is truly despicable, it is always a good thing that there are no battles and fewer casualties. Please calm down."

Song Yuanqing glanced at Zhao Zun out of the corner of his eye, his chest still heaving violently.

But after thinking about it, he realized that Zhao Zun was right. It was certainly hard for the brothers to march, but it was much better than going to the battlefield and losing their lives after such a hard journey.

Thinking this, Song Yuanqing's emotions gradually calmed down. He glared at Cao Xiong, turned around, waved his hand, and spoke in an icy tone.

"Let's go back."

After saying that, he took the lead and walked out of the military camp, and his deputy and personal guards quickly followed.

After taking a few steps, Zhao Zun suddenly called out.

"General!"

Song Yuanqing turned to look at him, and Zhao Zun cupped his hands and said, "General, since there is no war, I will not go back with you for the time being. I have been away from the army camp for several months, and now that I am here, I would like to stay and take this opportunity to catch up with my old brothers."

Song Yuanqing nodded, "You're right. We're all brothers who've been through thick and thin together. Now that we're here, we should catch up. Zhao Zun, you stay. We'll be leaving now."

As he spoke, Song Yuanqing also cupped his hands in farewell to Zhao Zun. After the two said their goodbyes, Song Yuanqing led his personal guards and deputy generals away in a long stride.

As soon as Song Yuanqing left, Cao Xiong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that these two reinforcements had come a long way, only to return with a belly full of anger, and that their commanders would surely impeach him before the emperor.

But so what?

His elder brother, Cao Ge, is the Minister of War. Once the memorial reaches the court, his brother will find a way to smooth things over for him. As long as they don't cause him trouble here in front of so many soldiers, that's fine.

As for the rest, let your older brother Gary Cao take care of it!
Watching Song Yuanqing and his entourage disappear into the distance, and confirming that they would not come back to cause him trouble, Cao Xiong snorted coldly, turned around, and prepared to walk into the central military tent. His personal guards also turned around with him.

At this moment, Zhao Zun suddenly tilted his head slightly, and Lao Meng and the others beside him received the signal. They immediately darted out like cheetahs, their movements light and agile, directly approaching Cao Xiong's personal guards from behind.

And somehow, each of them now had a dark, gleaming pistol in their hands.

Zhao Zun's target was Cao Xiong. He gathered his strength and leaped up, landing lightly behind Cao Xiong.

In the military camp of Ling'an City, no one expected that someone would launch a sneak attack on the commander-in-chief in broad daylight. Moreover, it was one of their own.

Just now, Cao Xiong and his personal guards saw Zhao Zun stay behind, but they also heard Zhao Zun say that he wanted to "catch up" with his old brothers.

Therefore, no one was on guard.

Several men attacked simultaneously, and before Cao Xiong and his personal guards could even utter a sound, they were forcefully pinned to the ground.

Cao Xiong, who was crawling on the ground, was shocked. He stared wide-eyed and tried to struggle, but as soon as he turned his head, he suddenly saw a dark gun barrel looming in front of him and was instantly pressed against his forehead.

"do not move!"

Zhao Zun's voice rang out coldly, his eyes glaring at him as sharp as a hawk's.

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