When he arrived, it coincided with the distribution of spring clothes—not new clothes, but old military uniforms that had been cleaned and repaired, but each person received two sets, along with a pair of new leather shoes.

Several surrendered soldiers recognized him, their expressions complicated.

Some people turned their faces away, while others hesitated to speak.

An old soldier with a broken leg lay on a stretcher and suddenly asked in a hoarse voice, "General Yang, the commander-in-chief... are you really abandoning us?"

The entire room fell silent.

Yang Chao opened his mouth, but the words "No" stuck in his throat, ultimately turning into a bitter silence.

The veteran closed his eyes, and cloudy tears slid down his cheeks.

"I followed the commander all the way from Xia Prefecture to Xijing, and then to Jiannan!"

At that moment, Yang Chao felt as if something was clenching his heart, making it hard to breathe.

Now, the three-day period has arrived.

When the innkeeper came to invite him, Yang Chao gently placed the locust leaf on the stone table and straightened his scholar's robe.

It was sent by someone from Zhao Muyun. It had no official insignia, which meant that he was neither a prisoner nor a general at the moment, but just a guest awaiting execution.

The doors to the Grand Governor's Council Chamber opened before him.

The hall was brightly lit, and maps hung on the four walls.

On a huge sand table in the center, the mountains, rivers and cities east of the Guanzhong Plain are vividly depicted.

Zhao Muyun stood in front of the sand table, pointing towards Qishan with a thin stick and saying something.

Military generals such as Wu Shangzhi, Tang Yanhai, Lin Feng, Guo Luo, Xi Sheng, and Liu Yi sat on both sides.

As soon as Yang Chao entered, everyone's eyes turned to him.

Zhao Muyun put down the thin stick in his hand and gestured for Yang Chao to sit down: "General Yang, what are your impressions of the past three days?"

Yang Chao did not answer immediately, but walked to the sand table and looked at the area representing Jiannan Road.

Chengdu, Mianzhou, Jianzhou, Lizhou...

He was familiar with every place, and he even oversaw the restoration of some of the cities.

"Does the Grand Commander really intend to attack Jiannan?" he suddenly asked.

“It’s not that I want to fight,” Zhao Muyun said, “it’s that Jiannan must be taken back. Guanzhong is short of food, and Longyou is barren. Without Jiannan’s granaries, I can’t last three years.”

"If Li Jingang can outlast me, then the world will still belong to the Great Feng."

These words were so blunt that they startled Yang Chao.

“So,” Zhao Muyun continued, “I’m not discussing with you whether or not to attack Jiannan, but asking you—are you going to help Yang Yan defend, or are you going to help me attack?”

Yang Chao turned around and looked directly at Zhao Muyun: "What would I get in return if I helped you?"

"Three."

Zhao Muyun smiled slightly and held up a finger. "First, you'll live. Second, when we conquer Jiannan, you can personally demand an explanation from Yang Yan. Third, if you are truly capable, I will give you an army and allow you to achieve great things, be ennobled, and appointed as a general."

"It's that simple?"

“It’s that simple.” Zhao Muyun smiled. “I don’t like beating around the bush. If you want wealth and status, fine, but you’ll have to earn merit in return.”

"If you want revenge, fine, wait until we reach Chengdu. But if you want something for nothing, or have ulterior motives—"

His smile faded, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Then I don't mind taking your head to give the surrendered soldiers of Jiannan Camp an explanation."

Suddenly, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.