My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 596 These are the real elites!

Seeing Hou Mochenrui's anxious expression, Zhu Hunyuan chuckled inwardly.

Prime Minister, oh Prime Minister...

How did you end up in such a state? If all your soldiers were like this, how could you possibly win?

But Zhu Hunyuan calmed down at this moment. He looked at Hou Mochenrui and said, “Nephew... it’s not that your uncle doesn’t trust you and your son. I don’t care about my own life or death, but I have to be responsible for the more than a thousand brothers that the Prime Minister entrusted to me.”

"For now, I'll trouble you to stay by my side, and I will send my personal guards to protect you."

Being cautious won't hurt.

Especially at times like these, we must not let our guard down.

Before we have completely taken over North Central City, we cannot fully trust Hou Mochen Yue and his son. Detaining Hou Mochen Rui as a hostage is the best course of action.

Hou Mochenrui's expression changed, and he quickly tried to explain.

“Uncle, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but… in my father’s plan, I have to go to the mansion myself to capture them! So that all the spies in the city will know that my father did not betray us, but that I betrayed the traitor Erzhu Rong and let you into the city.”

"Only in this way can the lives of my elder brother, mother and others in Luoyang be protected. I hope my uncle will grant my request."

This is the final step in Hou Mochen Yue's many schemes!
The situation is completely different when Hou Mochen Yue personally betrays the city and is captured by his traitorous son, leading to the city's fall.

If it is the former.

As soon as the news reached Luoyang, his eldest son, Houmo Chenxiang, along with his wives, concubines, and family members, would be arrested by Erzhu Rong and beheaded.

The latter.

Even though Erzhu Rong realized that this was Houmo Chenyue's scheme, the message sent back was that Houmo Chenrui's betrayal led to the fall of Beizhong City, and even Houmo Chenyue became a prisoner!
It was Hou Mochenrui who sold his father for personal gain; it was all the fault of this unfilial son.

Hou Mochen Yue has been putting on various "acts" these past few days, with the aim of letting everyone in Beizhong City know that he is irreconcilably opposed to Gao Yu, that he will live and die with Beizhong City, and that he will lead his soldiers to defend Beizhong City to the death.

The message has already been sent back.

The character has been established!
Whether Erzhu Rong believed it or not was irrelevant.

The loss of Beizhong City means that, apart from Jinzhou, Erzhu Rong has completely lost control of the entire area north of the Yellow River. His territory has shrunk further. Although he still holds Bingzhou, Bingzhou has actually become an isolated place.

If Erzhu Rong were to take action against the family of Houmochen Yue, who was nominally a loyal subject, at this time, wouldn't that chill the hearts of others?
Once morale is low, it becomes very difficult to lead a team.

If Erzhu Rong doesn't believe it, will he expose Houmo Chenyue's scheme?

That would be an even greater blow to his prestige!

How could you not have seen through such an obvious scheme beforehand?
He also issued an edict in the name of the emperor, bestowing upon Hou Mochenxiang the title of Attendant Gentleman of the Palace.

If Erzhu Rong were to do this, it would be tantamount to publicly admitting that he had been tricked by Houmo Chenyue. This situation would be even more unacceptable to Erzhu Rong, whose prestige was declining, and more and more people would question him.

Their control over both the court and the army will be further weakened, making them practically powerless commanders.
thus.

For Erzhu Rong, he had to prove that Houmochen Yue was a loyal minister who had been harmed by his unfilial son, Houmochen Rui. Between two evils, he had to choose the lesser.

But like this...

This is tantamount to the official characterization of Hou Mochen Yue: how could he lay a hand on the family members of a loyal minister?
Erzhu Rong even had to swallow his pride and personally meet Houmo Chenxiang and his mother to comfort them and ensure that Houmo Chenyue's family could live well.

As for...

Will Hou Mochenxiang and Hou Mochenyue's other family members suddenly die from a cold due to the drop in temperature?

Hou Mochen Yue couldn't guarantee anything either.

In a moment of desperation, Erzhu Rong might actually do something like that, even if it's very dishonorable.

This was the limit of what he could plan; he had done his best to strike a perfect balance between protecting himself and protecting his family.

But still the same sentence.

There is no such thing as a flawless, perfect plan; every plan carries risks.

It was nothing more than Hou Mochen Yue's scheme that gave his family members, who were destined to die because of his surrender, a chance to live.

But Zhu Hunyuan kept observing Hou Mochenrui's expression. This kid was not very shrewd and could not hide his emotions.

The acting wasn't realistic enough to be considered that convincing.

Now that the entire plan has been revealed, its credibility has increased to another level!
But Zhu Hunyuan was also very decisive.

He summoned two guards and whispered to them, "Go quickly and report to the Prime Minister that the plan is going well, and ask the Prime Minister to send men with troops to help me capture the city!"

The two guards immediately turned their horses around and quickly disappeared into the night. He then looked at Hou Mochenrui, "Nephew, send a few trusted men with my soldiers to quickly seize the North Gate and open it!"

"I...will personally lead troops into the city with you, go to the mansion, and capture your father alive!"

Hou Mochenrui nodded repeatedly, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle!"

He also summoned several personal guards, who, along with over a hundred elite soldiers brought by Kezhu Hunyuan, all donned the standard armor of Erzhu Rong's army.

But Zhu Hunyuan waited for a while.

To create a commotion in the city, they would have to make a big show of it. But that would expose them, so they needed to buy the people who were taking the north gate a little time.

He summoned the captain who led the hundred or so Xuanjia soldiers to his side.

"Ander".

"What are your orders, General?"

But Zhu Hunyuan looked at the person in front of him and first flattered him, "An De captured Hou Yuan alive back then, showing extraordinary bravery. The Prime Minister sending you to help me is like adding wings to a tiger!"

"General, you flatter me."

The old man from the East replied politely, but his face remained calm and composed.

Hou Yuan was captured alive. He had a very high rank and honors, but his position in the army was only so-so. This was mainly because he was unwilling to leave the Xuanjia Army, but everyone knew that.

When Liu Yi and his bodyguards grow old, Old Master Dongfang will be the most likely to replace them.

He was Gao Yu's closest confidant.

"Ander, if you successfully capture the North Gate, make a loud commotion. Once we hear the noise, we will respond and cause chaos in the city! You just hold the North Gate and wait for reinforcements to arrive!"

"Here!"

Dongfang Lao bowed slightly, having already donned the standard armor of Erzhu Rong's army. He then followed Houmo Chenrui's personal guards and quickly ascended the city wall, heading towards the north gate!

The guards on the north gate city wall were one of Erzhu Rong's spies left in the city.

Hearing hurried footsteps and the clanging of armor plates as they moved, he looked up and saw a group of people walking towards him.

He recognized the leader; he was Hou Mochenrui's personal guard.

"Have you come here on orders from the young general?"

"The young general asked me to remind everyone that the wind is strong and the weather is cold at night. In such harsh conditions, everyone must stay alert and not lose focus, lest we give the treacherous bandits an opportunity!"

"Haha, young general, you are so young yet so thoughtful, truly..."

What started as mutual business flattery quickly turned into something amiss for the garrison commander.

During the conversation, Old Master Dongfang, who was originally standing behind the guards, was constantly closing the distance between them.

His eyes were filled with murderous intent!
Those who have survived years of fighting on the battlefield can clearly sense the 'killing intent' emanating from another person; it's a sixth sense honed from being surrounded by corpses!
He glanced at the face out of the corner of his eye and saw a completely unfamiliar one, whose hand was on the hilt of the sword at his waist, as if he were about to draw it at any moment.

"No, you are..."

In the night.

A flash of cold light appeared before their eyes.

The garrison commander clutched his neck, blood gushing out uncontrollably, but he could no longer utter a sound!
Old Master Dongfang's move was swift, accurate, and ruthless; he slit the throat with a single stroke!

While everyone was stunned.

The elite Xuanjia soldiers had already begun their operation!
Dongfang Laomeng stepped forward and kicked the guard whose throat he had just slit, sending him flying and knocking down a group of soldiers behind him. He quickly followed.

Puff, puff!
The dull thuds of sharp blades piercing skin rang out one after another, and the Xuanjia soldiers followed closely behind!

On the contrary, the guards sent by Hou Mochenrui stared in astonishment at everything that was happening before their eyes, dumbfounded, and could only keep swallowing their saliva.

This...this is what true ruthless elites are like!
Everything happened suddenly and did not trigger large-scale riots.

With a wave of his hand, Dongfang Lao immediately sent dozens of Xuanjia soldiers down the city wall to seize control of the city gate.

Then, a teeth-grinding 'creak' sound came from below.

Old Master Dongfang immediately raised his precious sword and shouted loudly!
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"

(End of this chapter)