Do you have the strength to force me to join the Liangshan bandits?

Chapter 625 Wang Zuo: I was so stupid! Really! [3rd update, please vote with monthly tickets and recommendations]

Yang Yao subconsciously looked at Qu Yuan: Wang Zuo's return is too timely, could it be that they really...

Slow!

Qu Yuan glanced at Yang Yao and pressed the bandits for answers:

"Only Wang Zuo? Wu Shangzhi didn't come back?"

Bandit soldier: "There's only General Wang!"

Yang Yao and Qu Yuan exchanged a glance and waved:

"Quickly, invite Wang Zuo in!"

The bandits obeyed and left. Yang Yao hurriedly asked Qu Yuan:
"Strategist, have Wang Zuo and Wu Shangzhi already surrendered to Qi?"

Qu Yuan sighed: "If their identities are exposed and they cannot withstand severe torture, coercion, and enticement, they will most likely surrender to Qi."

"Otherwise, it's hard to explain why Lu Zhishen suddenly attacked us..."

"A traitor! A sellout seeking personal gain!"

Yang Yao was so angry that he started cursing, but Qu Yuan quickly stopped him:

"Your Majesty, let's ask him directly and find out the truth before we talk about it."

Yang Yao thought about it and realized it made sense, so he suppressed his anger.

A moment later, Wang Zuo entered the hall.

"Wang Zuo greets Your Majesty!"

Wang Zuo respectfully performed the kneeling ceremony, and Yang Yao asked him expressionlessly:
Where is Wu Shangzhi?

Wang Zuo had anticipated this question, so he embellished the facts artistically and presented them in their entirety:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your subject and Wu Shangzhi participated in the Greatest Heroes Tournament while concealing our identities..."

"Blah blah blah, I was caught red-handed stealing military intelligence, and even under severe torture, I couldn't utter a single word."

"Wu Shangzhi was moved by the King of Qi's benevolence and righteousness, so he surrendered to the King of Qi and told him the truth..."

"Oh?"

Yang Yao asked with a gloomy expression, "The King of Qi's benevolence moved him, but not you?"

Wang Zuo was startled, and quickly said with a righteous expression:
"Your Majesty, I am loyal and righteous; how could I possibly betray you?"

Yang Yao countered, "Since you haven't betrayed me, how did General Wang escape?"

Wang Zuo said with a bitter expression, "Wu Shangzhi, out of consideration for our past relationship, spoke to the King of Qi and released me..."

"King Qi is truly benevolent towards Wu Shangzhi!"

"Wu Shangzhi also has deep feelings for General Wang!"

Qu Yuan interjected in a sarcastic tone:
"General Wang, do you know that Lu Zhishen of Qi has captured three prefectures in our country?"
"Today, five of our generals were killed in succession on the shores of Dongting Lake?"

"what?"

Wang Zuo was greatly surprised: "This humble general did not know..."

With Dongting Lake being so vast, it was impossible for Lu Zhishen to surround it.

Wang Zuo found the boat from the other side of Dongting Lake, so he had no idea that Lu Zhishen had beaten Yang Yao to a pulp that day.

Yang Yao sneered: "Wang Zuo, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that you've come at the wrong time!"
"I'll trouble you to stay in the water prison for two days. Once the Qi army has retreated and I have investigated the truth, I will ask you to come out!"

Having said that, Yang Yao turned around and flicked his sleeve:
Fork out!
"Your Majesty, I'm innocent!"

Wang Zuo could hardly believe his ears, but the golden-armored warrior had already speared him away...

After throwing Wang Zuo into the water dungeon, Yang Yao finally vented some of his anger. Calming down, he asked Qu Yuan:

"Strategist, how should I repel the enemy?"

Qu Yuan: "Your Majesty, I have a plan!"
"By doing this and that, we can capture Lu Zhishen alive..."

Yang Yao: d(d) Thumbs up!
……

Water dungeon.

Wang Zuo soaked in the dark, damp water dungeon for half a day, until his whole body was limp, only his mouth remained firm:

“It’s unfair—

"I have rendered service to the country! I have shed blood for the king! You cannot do this! I demand to see the king—"

Even though he screamed at the top of his lungs, no one came to his rescue...

Finally, Wang Zuo, exhausted from shouting and with a hoarse voice, began to reflect on his foolish choice: "A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a good lord to serve!"

I could have sided with the King of Qi!

But for the sake of my loyalty, I returned, only to be thrown into the water dungeon by that tyrannical emperor Yang Yao!

No, I was thrown into a water dungeon in Qi, and I was thrown into a water dungeon again when I came back. What am I supposed to do back here?
When Wang Zuo thought of Yang Yao's cold-blooded ruthlessness, he couldn't help but compare him to the King of Qi's loyalty and righteousness.

You don't know until you compare, and once you do, you're shocked. Yang Yao's skin is even worse than the dead skin that has peeled off the heel of the King of Qi!

Wang Zuo's tears silently streamed down his face.
I was so stupid! Really! I only knew that I should do what someone asked me to do, I didn't know he wasn't human...

Does Yang Yao have any respect for me? Huh?

The King of Qi has treated me well, but I have failed the King of Qi...

Just as Wang Zuo was feeling sorry for himself, someone came in, carrying a lantern and floating in like a ghost.

"General Wang!"

The man's voice sounded familiar; Wang Zuo knew without looking that it was the strategist Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan sighed: "The water prison is too dark and damp!"

"General Wang is so loyal, he shouldn't have to suffer like this!"

Wang Zuo looked resentful: "The strategist came to save me?"

"Not bad!"

Qu Yuan squatted down, looking down at Wang Zuo, who was soaking in the water dungeon:
"Actually, the king trusts you!"

"But His Majesty just suffered a defeat today, and you have already returned. It is inevitable that this will arouse His Majesty's suspicion!"

Wang Zuo: Is it my fault?
"I have already advised the king, and the king has decided to give you a chance to prove your innocence!"

Qu Yuan said with a smile, "You only need to do this and that, and you can capture Lu Zhishen alive!"
"In this way, you have not only proven your innocence but also performed a great service. How could the king not believe you?"

Wang Zuo was stunned: "You want to use me..."

What does "exploitation" mean?

Qu Yuan's face darkened: "You were originally the king's subject, shouldn't you be serving the king?"

"Could it be that you really have something to hide?"

"But……"

Wang Zuo couldn't help but say, "King Qi spared me out of righteousness, how could I do such a thing..."

Qu Yuan snorted coldly: "So, you were also moved by the King of Qi's benevolence and righteousness?"

Wang Zuo: "..."

Qu Yuan softened his tone: "Alright, others may not know you, but how could I not know you?"
"You are a loyal and courageous person, you will definitely not surrender to Qi!"

"That's why I asked the king for this opportunity to give you the chance to prove your innocence!"

"Once you prove your innocence, the King will bestow upon you the title of Marquis of the Eastern Saint!"

General Wang, please don't make a mistake!

After much hesitation, Wang Zuo gritted his teeth and glared:
"I see……"

Qu Yuan laughed: "Guards, quickly bring General Wang out!"

So the jailers pulled Wang Zuo out of the water dungeon and brought him back to the main hall.

Yang Yao waved his hand: "Attack!"

A group of bandits pinned Wang Zuo to the ground, pulled down his pants, and started beating him on the buttocks with water-and-fire sticks!

Wang Zuo's buttocks were beaten until they were bloody and mangled before Qu Yuan pleaded with Yang Yao for mercy.

"Your Majesty, Wang Zuo has always been loyal and would never betray you. Please spare him this time!"

Yang Yao snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve.

The bandits helped Wang Zuo up, but dared not pull up his trousers, fearing that the fabric would grow together with the bloodied and mangled flesh.

Qu Yuan found a bed board, had Wang Zuo lie on it, and carried him back to his water fortress.

When Wang Zuo arrived at the water fortress, he wrote a letter in front of Qu Yuan and handed it to his retainer, Wang De:

"Take this letter and leave when it gets dark..."

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(End of this chapter)