Chapter 749: Zheng Qiao's End (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Shizang, Zheng Qiao has started fighting with the Allied forces..."
Shen Tang led her elite troops to flank the enemy and broke through their defenses. Just as they joined forces with the troops of Cunshan City, she suddenly uttered this sentence.
Xie Qi was momentarily confused: "When did this happen?"
Shen Tang's expression remained unchanged: "Just now."
Xie Qi: "???"
He plucked out a few strands of his neatly trimmed beard.
He quickly considered the distance between Aoshan County and Cunshan City. The battle had just begun there, so how could the lord here know?
Just as Xie Qi was wondering if Shen Tang had some incredible ability to communicate with the Allied Forces' headquarters in real time, Gu Chi's gaze fell on the top of her lord's head. To be precise, it was the helmet she was wearing, an exquisitely designed and imposing helmet that had somehow become a clump.
Gu Chi thought to himself, "It's raining now, so the lord was able to react so quickly, he must have smelled it."
Emmm...
It's definitely fresh and hot right now! (* /ω＼*)
In an instant, Gu Chi felt a subtle sympathy for his lord. He found a bamboo hat and put it on her. Shen Tang's face was even darker than the dark clouds overhead. He couldn't help but chuckle: "Ahem—My lord, look on the bright side. We're not at a loss."
If Kang Shi stirs up trouble, the lord will know immediately.
Just like this time.
If their lord hadn't been unlucky enough to be hit by bird droppings again, they wouldn't have known that the allied forces and Zheng Qiao's side might have already gone to war. Rushing there now, even if they made it in time, would likely only benefit others.
When Jiang Sheng saw Shen Tang's expression.
He knew what had happened without Shen Tang saying a word.
Xie Qi remained completely bewildered throughout the entire process.
No, we didn't see the lord use any spells or see any messengers arrive, so how did everyone know?
Xie Qi was genuinely curious, but since he wasn't familiar with the others and didn't know their personalities, he feared that speaking rashly might offend them. So, he secretly sent a telepathic message to Ning Yan for clarification.
He clearly saw Ning Yan's lips twitch uncontrollably, and she asked with slight trepidation, "Could it be a secret that cannot be shared?"
If it is classified information, it would be inappropriate to try to spy on it as soon as you join. You should at least wait until you have truly gained their trust.
Ning Yan responded telepathically: 【No.】
Upon hearing this, Xie Qi patiently waited for the truth to be revealed, and then he heard a very absurd, pitiful, and funny truth.
Ning Yan: [It's purely because of Kang Jishou. Once his scholarly ways are activated, the lord will be implicated and frequently suffer bad luck. Such as twisting his ankle, choking on water, getting bird droppings on his head while out... Nevertheless, if used well, it can be quite good.]
For example, sending messages.
Kang Shi was also self-aware and generally wouldn't rashly use his scholarly methods unless he encountered a formidable enemy or needed to send a message to Shen Tang. Before Shen Tang set off, he instructed Kang Shi to be cautious, minimize his presence, conserve his strength, and delegate any tasks requiring his attention to other unworthy individuals. Kang Shi couldn't possibly have forgotten this, so this time it must be for sending a message.
The bad luck didn't last long, which confirmed this guess.
Shen Tang convened a brief meeting with everyone.
The meeting's topic was whether or not to rush over there.
They weren't sure how long the battle between the allied forces and Zheng Qiao would last, or what the outcome would be. If they arrived in time, there was a chance they would be met with divine intervention, but there was also a chance they would encounter Zheng Qiao's elite troops. The two sides were not evenly matched, and if they ended up losing both their troops and their wives, wouldn't they suffer a terrible loss? However, remaining inactive was also out of the question.
After discussion, Chu Yao and others chose a compromise.
They are going to provide assistance, but they don't necessarily have to engage in direct combat.
Jiang Sheng suggested setting up a maze.
Shen Tang: "A maze?"
Jiang Sheng nodded: "That's right! Regardless of who wins or loses between Zheng Qiao's troops and the allied forces, the Dragon Slaying Game has reached this stage, and the battle will inevitably be fierce, with both sides' morale plummeting. At this point, whichever side's morale collapses will undoubtedly be defeated."
How can we completely destroy the morale of Zheng Qiao's troops?
Jiang Sheng mentioned the "dowry" that Xie Qi brought.
No one knows the location of Zheng Qiao's granary better than Xie Qi. Our side doesn't even need to raid the granary. We only need to set fire to the area near the granary and then spread the news of the fire under the pretense of Zheng Qiao's troops. It will surely become the last straw.
Xun Zhen also said, "What Xian Deng said is absolutely right. Zheng Qiao's elite troops are all on the Miaojiang battlefield at the moment, and the rear must be empty. Shi Zang also said before that the more than 10,000 troops that Zheng Qiao sent were to delay us rather than annihilate us, which shows that his forces are already stretched thin."
Zheng Qiao's rear forces were weak, which is why he was helpless against the enemy troops who had sneaked into his territory and could only passively defend.
Why don't they take this opportunity to cause a huge scene?
Low risk, high return!
Shen Tang's heart fluttered wildly.
She immediately made the decision: "Okay, let's do it this way!"
Shen Tang hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, the timing so precise; the arson "burning" of the granary would cause Zheng Qiao's army to collapse like a house of cards. When she received the news, she slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Chase them! Don't let the heads escape!"
She didn't even care about the national seal in Zheng Qiao's hands.
The national seal may be lost, but the heads must be taken.
Because Zheng Qiao's troops had lost morale, the defenses within Ganzhou were as flimsy as paper. The various forces of the allied army encountered virtually no formidable resistance and reaped considerable gains, though Zheng Qiao failed to capitalize on them. Moreover, the enemy effectively kited the allied forces.
Shen Tang was initially one of those being kited, fearing that his head would fall into his hands. Like a headless fly, he chased after him for half a day without success, cursing and saying, "Damn it, was this Zheng Qiao an ace shooter in his past life? How is he so good at flying kites?"
According to the intelligence provided by the captured soldiers, although Zheng Qiao's situation is hopeless, he still has highly skilled martial artists protecting him. Even if the allied forces have laid a tight net throughout Ganzhou, he may still be able to escape with the help of his generals.
If they escape, all the hard work of the Dragon Slayer team will be wasted.
Just then, Ning Yan's words gave everyone hope.
She said, "I might know where Zheng Qiao is going."
Shen Tang's eyes lit up: "Where? I'm coming right now!"
Ning Yan looked troubled. She said, "It would take too long to bring troops there. If I go with Xian Deng, I'm afraid we won't be able to handle the brave warriors around Zheng Qiao. So, could you please ask Wei..."
Her idea was for Wei Shou to try his luck with them.
Even if you don't win the bet, you can still walk away unscathed.
To everyone's surprise, Shen Tang said without saying a word, "I'll go."
Ning Yan suddenly opened her eyes wide: "My lord, no!"
Shen Tang said, "I don't have the Imperial Seal with me right now, so even if we get close, Zheng Qiao won't be able to detect us. He also has experts protecting him, and it's dangerous for you, Xian Deng, and Yuan Yuan to venture in alone. No, you have to take me with you!"
She's the lord, doesn't she even have this much privilege?
Shen Tang felt that leading troops to pursue Zheng Qiao would make them too conspicuous.
Acting alone may offer more freedom and greater mobility.
Jiang Sheng immediately expressed his opposition.
A wise person does not stand under a dangerous wall.
How could our lord take such a risk?
Shen Tang retorted, "Do you think the Allied Forces will seize the initiative? Don't worry, I won't die! I value my life more than anyone else."
Zheng Qiao, with only his remaining troops, turned Ganzhou upside down.
"Yanqing, you're the only one left by my side now."
A young man in simple clothes pushed open the wooden door with both hands.
The two wooden doors hadn't been opened for years, and without any care, they had long since decayed. Pushing them open produced a sound like the groans of an old man nearing his end. Opening the doors, the young man saw that behind them was overgrown weeds, wild vines growing rampant under the rain. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar layout of the courtyard, Zheng Qiao felt a pang of bitterness.
The bitterness is not strong, but it lingers and torments.
Qi Cang followed Zheng Qiao across the threshold, cautiously scanning the courtyard layout, fearing that enemies might be lurking in the shadows. This small courtyard, nestled deep in the mountains, was exquisitely and elegantly laid out despite its small size. Zheng Qiao stepped over the overgrown weeds, walked along the bamboo corridor, and through the bamboo courtyard, finally arriving at a bamboo house covered in cobwebs and dust. Zheng Qiao stood outside the bamboo house, her expression seemingly dazed.
Suddenly, he turned his head and called out, "Senior Brother?"
Qi Cang instantly looked over warily.
The corner at the far end of the line of sight was deserted, with only a withered plum tree silently waiting: "Did Your Majesty hear something?"
Qi Cang knew that Zheng Qiao was not mentally stable; when she had an episode, she would hear various sounds and see strange hallucinations...
Zheng Qiao looked at it carefully for a long time before looking away.
He said, "I just heard my senior brother calling me."
Qi Cang said, "Yan Xingning is already dead."
Zheng Qiao smiled wryly and said, "It wasn't him."
Qi Cang: "???"
Does the king have other fellow disciples?
His gaze was too direct.
Zheng Qiao said, "The teacher has many students."
He pushed open the door of the bamboo house. Due to the structure of the bamboo house, the air inside was not stuffy, but it was filled with an indescribable smell of decay. He subconsciously bent down as he entered, and when he saw the cloth curtain above his head, which was already rotten and only half left, he sighed softly.
"This is where he taught, and it was the place that the students of Xin Kingdom longed for most back then, but it has been abandoned for many years."
Now it has become a habitat for wild grass and animals.
Half of the roof of the bamboo house had collapsed, and inside were many bamboo tables lying askew, with pens and inkstones scattered around some of them. Zheng Qiao walked around the bamboo house and pointed to the bamboo curtain that was frayed and rotten.
“There used to be a lotus pond outside.”
Qi Cang was a rough man and couldn't utter any sophisticated words.
He said dryly, "It's quite interesting."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Qiao surprisingly broke into a rare, relaxed smile, unlike his usual restrained madness and cruelty. Qi Cang, who had served Zheng Qiao for so many years, had never seen such a smile before. He asked, "Your Majesty, what's so funny about that?"
"The lotus pond was dug as punishment for the students."
What kind of punishment isn't punishment?
Copying books is a punishment, and so is digging up lotus ponds.
Zheng Qiao remembers that when he was not yet ten years old, he was often bullied because of his status. He was not the type to remain silent when bullied, and he often got into arguments with others, so he was often punished.
He wore a sour face, carrying a bamboo basket on his back. The basket wasn't big, but it was filled to the brim with mud, the thick rope digging into his shoulders. Full of resentment, he reluctantly followed behind several older classmates, stumbling down the mountain, one step at a time.
"The teacher initially only had this bamboo house built for everyone."
Qi Cang's lips twitched slightly: "Then the others..."
"It was obtained by punishing the students."
Qi Cang: "..."
"Brewing tea in spring, listening to the lotus blossoms in summer, admiring chrysanthemums in autumn, appreciating snow in winter... those were the most carefree years of my life." But those days are gone forever. "Being young, the teacher arranged for me to sit in the front, look, this is the seat..."
The bamboo table was not yet covered by the collapsed roof.
Zheng Qiao bent down and groped under the bamboo table.
He took out two stone carvings covered in mud and dust: a small bird and a small fish. The bird was so lifelike that it seemed ready to take flight at any moment, and the fish seemed to be flicking its tail, as if it could swim far away in the water if Zheng Qiao let go.
He murmured, "They're still here."
Click—
The slightest sound was so jarring in the bamboo house.
Qi Cang abruptly turned and stood in front of Zheng Qiao. As a 16th-rank Grand Master, he could naturally wave his sleeve and unleash a burst of energy to blast away the villains hiding in the shadows. However, this place held a different significance for the King and could not withstand any disturbance.
"who?"
"Get out here!"
Qi Cang made a threatening statement.
jingle--
A crisp sound of jade clashing rang out, revealing a pair of shoes behind the bamboo screen, followed by a section of robe. Looking up, Zheng Qiao saw a hand with well-defined knuckles and fair skin resting on the hilt of a sword. Zheng Qiao seemed surprised as she recognized the person.
"Senior Sister?"
The person who arrived was Ning Yan.
After shouting out, he realized something was wrong.
Ning Yan withdrew the Word of Power that concealed her aura, revealing a clear and refined flow of literary energy around her, with a familiar literary monogram hanging at her waist.
Is this person Yan Xingning or Ning Tunan?
Zheng Qiao stood still, her hands clenching and unclenching in her sleeves.
My already not-so-good brain almost crashed.
He asked, "Who exactly are you?"
Why does she have the face of her senior sister and the monogram of her senior brother?
Ning Yan also looked at Zheng Qiao with a complicated expression.
"Zheng Qiao, why did you come here to disturb the peace and quiet?"
She was just guessing with a bit of luck, but she didn't expect to actually catch Zheng Qiao. She thought she would be eager to draw her sword as soon as she saw Zheng Qiao, but listening to his conversation with Qi Cang in the dark, her carefree school days also came to mind.
So it has been suppressed until now.
Zheng Qiao stared intently at the Wenxin monogram on Ning Yan's waist.
"Are you really Ning Tunan? Senior Sister Ning?"
He was certain that when he last threatened Ning Yan to bring her daughter to the palace as a hostage and to put pressure on Yan An, she was still an ordinary person.
Zheng Qiao tried to step forward, but Qi Cang stopped her.
"Your Majesty, there are still others. Come out, all of you!"
There were three other people in the shadows, one of whom was an acquaintance.
Wei Shou glanced at the atmosphere between the two sides; it didn't seem like they were about to fight. He chuckled awkwardly, while Qi Cang's face was as black as soot. The second person was a middle-aged scholar with an unfamiliar appearance, and the third person was a handsome young man.
The boy's smile illuminated the entire room.
Zheng Qiao stared intently for a while, then smiled.
His smile was that familiar, manic madness that Qi Cang knew so well.
However, he made a startling remark: "Prefect Shen has great courage."
His intuition told him that the person in front of him was Shen Tang, whom he had never met before, and the other party's response confirmed his guess.
“Tu Nan and the others are coming, and I don’t trust them to come and keep watch. If I don’t even have this much courage, then I’m too pathetic,” Shen Tang said, arms crossed. “Besides—fortune favors the bold.”
Shen Tang never expected to see Zheng Qiao under these circumstances. Honestly, she realized that Zheng Qiao was far more beautiful than rumored, possessing a natural allure and a fragile charm, coupled with that ruthless edge...
It's beautiful, but too dangerous.
Zheng Qiao narrowed his dangerous eyes and spoke with a natural sarcasm: "I remember giving you a huge gift before. Such immense wealth is still not enough to satisfy Prefect Shen?"
Shen Tang shamelessly said, "Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant; such a small gain is indeed not enough to satisfy us."
"So, here I am, aren't I?"
ヽ(ー_ー)ノ
Tomorrow is Labor Day, so I'll try to make sure to add more hot boxed lunches, hehe.
P.S.: The title of the previous chapter was a mistake by Sogou Input Method. I've already contacted the editor, but she's on vacation, so I guess I'll have to wait for her to see it before I can help change it back.
(End of this chapter)
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