Chapter 254 How did that vixen bewitch Wei Dongzhu like this!

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly, but said nothing.

"Speaking out loud won't work. Now you all go and do it immediately. Remember to make a big fuss about it and let the Turks know that we are going to hand over Huangtu City!"

Everyone: Could it be a trap? A feigned weakness, then an ambush in the city?

Fifty days is neither a short nor a long time.

Wei Dongzhu was in charge of relocating the people in the city, while Shen Yuanjing and others were in charge of relocating the people in the surrounding areas.

The location was Heisha City, thirty miles south of Huangtu City. Most of the people in this city had already left. If it weren't for the defensive line of Huangtu City, Heisha City would have been a ruin long ago.

Shen Lanxi personally went to the city gate to collect the sword. The Moon-Accompanying Blade and its large stone base were carried onto the carriage. The soldiers in the city held a small farewell ceremony at the city gate for a while before the two fine horses pulled away.

Shen Lanxi glanced into the distance and then gestured for someone to put away the Zhenbei Army's banner.

After that, truckloads of elderly people, children, and tools were transported to Black Sand City.

The sounds of hammering and banging continued throughout the city.

The officials sent to the capital for the peace treaty were urged to board the carriage with dark faces. His Majesty would surely be angry. They had ceded a city without even a fight. How could they have the face to return to the capital?

They might even be accused of fleeing without a fight. It's not a big deal if they die, but their whole family is in the capital. How are they going to survive?

"It's all Shen Lanxi's fault! I told you we shouldn't let a woman lead the army. It only boosts the enemy's morale and diminishes the prestige of our Great Zhou!"

"How is this any different from handing over the land of our Great Zhou Dynasty!"

"I'm so ashamed I can't even show my face!"

"We must jointly petition His Majesty, accusing Shen Lanxi of acting arbitrarily, of colluding with foreign powers, and of betraying the territory of our Great Zhou!"

"Yes, we can't let her get away with this. She's a vixen; the entire Zhenbei Army has been bewitched by her!"

"Let's go find Wei Dongzhu. His Majesty has appointed him to jointly command the Zhenbei Army with Shen Lanxi. The Northwest cannot be left to Shen Lanxi's absolute power."

"She, Shen Lanxi, is trying to control everything in the Northwest. Don't even think about it! As long as we're here, she won't be able to cause any trouble!"

The group pushed aside the soldiers urging them to mount their horses and angrily went to find Wei Dongzhu.

"General Wei, you must uphold the banner of the Zhenbei Army and not let a woman lead it into a pit of fire!"

“General Wei, your father and your ancestors were all great generals who guarded the Northwest. They defended the Northwest as if it were an impregnable fortress. Foreign tribes would tremble at the mere mention of the name of the Wei family army. They fiercely guarded the land of the Great Zhou, not yielding an inch of it. Look at us now, just for peace talks, we have to cede cities. If your ancestors knew, they would be heartbroken!”

"General Wei, we request that you replace Shen Lanxi and take command of the Zhenbei Army!"

"General Wei, we are willing to support you. We urge you to make a decision soon, otherwise, once the capital finds out, we will all lose our heads!"

One by one, the officials who were sent to arrange marriages rushed to express their stance to Wei Dongzhu.

Wei Dongzhu didn't even blink.

"Have you gentlemen finished speaking?"

With a cold remark, all the officials involved in the marriage alliance fell silent.

"Shen Lanxi is the commander-in-chief of the Zhenbei Army. Your actions just now are tantamount to inciting me to stage a coup!"

The officials who were sent to the marriage alliance felt a chill run down their spines. They were only doing their best for the country, so how did it become a mutiny?

“General Wei, the imperial edict stated that you and Shen Lanxi would jointly command the Zhenbei Army.”

Wei Dongzhu: "An army cannot have two commanders, and a team cannot have two voices. I will listen to General Shen. If you have any objections, you can stay in Huangtu City and not come with us!"

The officials who were sent to arrange the marriage all changed their expressions.

They're ceding Huangtucheng to the Turks, so what are they doing staying here?

Were they killed by the Turks?

What kind of magic did that witch use to bewitch Wei Dongzhu like this?

No, they need to find the military supervisor and other generals.

There will always be people who agree with them and stand with them in guarding Huangtucheng!

Wei Dongzhu watched them leave without even following them for a second. He knew that no matter who they went to, the result would be the same.

Let these people hit a wall a few more times, and they'll know who's in charge here.

Two hours later, the officials who had been sent to the marriage alliance sheepishly boarded their carriages.

Kangzhu and Balu were going to take their people to Black Sand City to settle down, while Shen Yuanjing was going to stay in Yellow Earth City. After bidding each other a tearful farewell at the city gate, Shen Yuanjing watched Kangzhu and the others leave!

“Let’s go. We’ll have to go there sooner or later. With them here, we can keep those Oirat people in check!” Shen Yuanxu said.

Shen Yuanjing nodded: "Big brother, I understand!"

Shen Yuanxu knew that separating two newlyweds who were deeply in love would surely be heartbreaking.

We'll meet soon!

Shen Yuanjing: "Big brother, has Big Sister said what to do about Zhou Yunyue?"

Shen Yuanxu: "He didn't say. He's a troublesome person. You'd better be careful."

After returning to the city, Shen Yuanjing went to find Ban Sicao.

"Mr. Ban, is there a medicine that won't kill a person, but will render them powerless and confin them to their room every day?"

Ban Sicao's eyes darted around, and she slowly said, "Yes, there is. This poison is called 'Sick Beauty.' It slowly drains your life force without killing you. If you're poisoned by this, living for another ten or twenty years won't be a problem!"

Shen Yuanjing's eyes flickered: "Is this poison easy for someone to detect?"

Ban Sicao chuckled: "Unless someone as knowledgeable about poisons as I am, even the imperial physicians in the palace wouldn't be able to detect it. Besides, we can't even leave the room, who would we be showing it to!"

Shen Yuanjing: "Sir, do you know how to concoct this kind of poison?"

Ban Sicao: "What a coincidence, what a coincidence! Who are you going to give it to?"

Shen Yuanjing didn't say who he was giving it to; he took the medicine from Ban Sicao and left.

No sooner had he left than Ban Sicao went to find Shen Lanxi and told her about it.

"Your brother is too soft-hearted. If it were me, I would have killed him on the spot. That Zhou Yunyue is just too annoying!"

Shen Lanxi sat at her desk for a full half hour.

...

Not long after, news of Shen Lanxi ceding Huangtu City reached the capital.

The capital city sent an urgent message, reprimanding Shen Lanxi and then giving Zhou Ruyuan the prepared provisions and rewards.

Upon receiving the news, Shen Lanxi merely offered a sarcastic remark before resuming her discussion with her subordinates.

Time flies, and fifty days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Today is the last day of the fifty-day period. Shen Lanxi personally closed the city gate and waved to lead the last group of people away!

Che Mingyuan was already waiting ten miles outside the city to hand over the reins to Abe Hiroshi!

"General, the city has been cleared. When do you plan to retake it?"

Hiroshi Abe glanced at his subordinate, who nodded.

"Let's go!" Abe Hiroshi said, laughing heartily, and then had Che Mingyuan lead the way.

If there's an ambush in the city, kill Che Mingyuan first.

Che Mingyuan readily agreed and continued to discuss the next steps with Abe Hiroshi!

"General, Huangtu City is completely deserted!" The scout quickly reported back after searching the area.

Hiroshi Abe was overjoyed, but Che Mingyuan seemed to be in his way.

"Go and urge the others to send the remaining cattle, sheep and horses over, so they can be delivered along with the princess when she is sent for the marriage!"