"By order of the Prefect of Yaocheng, I have come to the capital to report to His Majesty that the granaries, treasuries, weapons depots, and supply depots of Yaocheng have also been attacked and have now been occupied by the Zhou family's troops!"
"Report!!"
"By order of the prefect of Haixia City, I have come to the capital to report to His Majesty that Haixia City has also been attacked by the Zhou family. The enemy is carrying deadly weapons, and the city's guards are insufficient to resist the Zhou family's attack. All the warehouses in the city have now been occupied by the Zhou family!"
“.......
“............”
Six cavalrymen, holding secret orders, dismounted and knelt on one knee before Emperor Yan, delivering news that shocked him like a bolt from the blue.
This moment.
There was complete silence all around.
All the ministers' expressions changed.
One by one, they trembled with shock, exchanging bewildered glances, each seeing surprise and realization in the other's eyes.
There are six... no, no, eight such places near the capital.
Including Wangcheng and Yancheng, which have already been attacked, a total of eight cities, all their warehouses were seized by the Zhou family in a surprise attack, and they're all gone?
A surge of rage rose from the soles of my feet and shot straight to my brain.
Emperor Yan's head was spinning from the rush of blood and qi, and he swallowed back the blood that was rising in his throat.
He was so angry that he felt a chill run down his spine: "The warehouses of all six cities have been occupied!"
"You're saying that Zhou Cheng brought over a hundred men who simultaneously occupied the warehouses of six cities!!"
The cavalry of Yaocheng immediately reported: "Your Majesty, it is not just a hundred or so people. There are four or five hundred troops attacking Yaocheng alone."
"Your Majesty, there was also a surprise attack on Lincheng by four or five hundred men."
"Your Majesty, the Straits City is also included!"
“............”
Upon hearing this absurd and shocking answer, Emperor Yan bit his teeth until they bled.
That's impossible!
Zhou Cheng only led a little over a hundred people away from the border. How did he suddenly have so many troops once he reached the vicinity of the capital?
"Your Majesty, most of those four or five hundred men were wearing the official uniforms of Pingyang City, like... like the guards under the Marquis of Pingyang. Otherwise, the warehouse would not have been so easily lost."
The guards of the Marquis of Pingyang?
Emperor Yan suddenly raised his head. He immediately thought that Marquis Pingyang had brought about three thousand men to the capital this time, supposedly to trick Zhou Shi into welcoming him to the capital as a hostage, but after arriving in Yancheng, there was no further news.
Was it snatched away by Zhou Cheng?
No, no, no!
How could Zhou Chengyuan, who was in Jiangling City, have learned of the Marquis of Pingyang's scheme so quickly and then so coincidentally rescued Zhou Shiying? Such coincidences are too much to be true, and there must be something else going on!
Moreover, the Marquis of Pingyang is related to the Zhou family through marriage!
Could it be that this is a trap set by the Marquis of Pingyang in collusion with the Zhou family?
On the surface, it was said that Zhou Shiying was being sent as a hostage, but in reality, it was to secretly join forces with Zhou Cheng. Taking advantage of the fact that the garrison troops of the eight cities had been transferred, they planned to seize the city's warehouses and resources!
"Pfft—"
After overthinking, Emperor Yan felt a sharp pain in his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"His Majesty!"
"His Majesty!"
"I'm fine..." Emperor Yan gripped the armrest tightly, taking several deep breaths to steady himself. His eyes were filled with overwhelming killing intent, wishing he could immediately drag Zhou Cheng back and tear him to pieces.
He's so angry!
He was absolutely furious.
Emperor Yan felt a dull ache in his chest, his eyes blazing with fury as he ground his teeth in anger: "Zhou Cheng! Marquis of Pingyang! How dare you toy with me like this! I will not be able to quell this hatred until I tear you apart!"
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