Huangming

Chapter 465 Betrayed by All, at the End of the Road (Bonus Chapter for 400 Monthly Tickets!)
Inside the Mahavira Hall of Shanhua Temple.

When Sun Zhen heard the words "correcting past mistakes," his first reaction was not to be moved, but to be wary.

Wang Wei has been extremely suspicious these past few days, even Liu Zhenbang is wary of him, so why would he suddenly send his son-in-law to turn them against him?
Could it be a trap set by Wang Wei, deliberately sending Liu Zhenbang to test their loyalty?
Sun Zhen glanced at Ma Rong beside him and saw that the burly man was also frowning and looking hesitant, which made him even more suspicious.

He cleared his throat and said:
"General Liu is joking. Since I, Sun Zhen, have followed General Wang, I have always been loyal and have never had the slightest intention of betraying him."

Even so, his voice sounded somewhat weak.

His family members were still being held captive by Wang Wei in the north of the city. If he made any mistake, not only would his own life be in danger, but his wife, children, and elderly parents would also suffer.

He could only grit his teeth and pretend to be loyal, not daring to show the slightest wavering.

"Me too!"

Ma Rong immediately echoed, his rough, hoarse voice reverberating in the hall.

He came from a military background and was not particularly cunning, but he knew the weight of the word "betrayal."

Wang Wei dared to dismember even the Prince of Dai; if he knew they harbored disloyal intentions, he would probably make them die even more tragically than the Prince of Dai.

Liu Zhenbang, seeing the tense expressions on their faces, had already anticipated this.

He took out the secret letter from his pocket.

"General Sun, take a look. This is General Xiong's reply. The messenger I sent yesterday not only brought back General Xiong's message, but also this."

Sun Zhen took the secret letter; the familiar format and markings indicated it was definitely not a forgery.

He looked up at Liu Zhenbang, his doubts lessening.

"It's true."

Liu Zhenbang withdrew the secret letter, his tone becoming much more sincere.

“Last night, when Xiong Jinglue besieged the city, I sent someone to contact him.”

He promised me that if I could help the government troops enter the city, he would not only spare my life but also ensure I became a wealthy man.

He paused, his eyes scanning the two of them.

"As for why I betrayed Wang Wei, the reason is very simple: Wang Wei is not capable of great things, and besides, there are precedents to learn from."

Wang Guoliang of Xuanfu also occupied the city, but what was the result?
They were wiped out by Commander Xiong in less than a month!

These words struck Sun Zhen and Ma Rongxin like a heavy hammer blow.

They had already heard about Wang Guoliang's fate.

Wang Wei's current situation is not much better than Wang Guoliang's at that time, and may even be worse.

Wang Guoliang is the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu, and he can control the entire situation in Xuanfu.

Wang Wei was only a deputy commander-in-chief and could not fully control the overall situation in Xuanfu.

Moreover, Xiong Tingbi's army had already besieged the city, the city's food supplies were running low, and the morale of the refugee army was low. It was only a matter of time before they were defeated.

"Let's talk again."

Liu Zhenbang continued, his tone laced with sarcasm.

“Wang Wei confiscated the Prince of Dai’s mansion and obtained four million taels of silver, but he refused to give even a single penny to reward his soldiers.”

We risk our lives for him, yet he hoards his money like a treasure. Does such a person deserve to be a ruler?
A wise bird chooses its tree to perch on. Rather than die with him, we should switch sides as soon as possible and find a way to survive.

Sun Zhen and Ma Rong exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing mutual interest.

Following Wang Wei is a dead end.

If they follow Liu Zhenbang's lead, there might still be a glimmer of hope.

Just family members...

He hesitated before speaking, "But...but our families are still in Wang Wei's hands..."

"I already had this planned!"

Liu Zhenbang immediately said:
"As long as you are willing to defect, I will send someone to rescue your families tonight in the chaos of the north backyard of the city, and I guarantee that they will be safely delivered to the government army camp."

Xiong Jinglue also said that as long as you sincerely submit, your families will not be implicated.

When Ma Rong heard that "his family is safe," his eyes lit up immediately.

He rubbed his hands together and looked at Sun Zhen:

“General Sun, I think General Liu is right.”

Since Commander Xiong is willing to let bygones be bygones, what are we hesitating for?

Sun Zhen took a deep breath and finally made up his mind.

He looked up at Liu Zhenbang, his eyes no longer hesitant, but filled with a resolute determination:

"Alright! Lieutenant General Liu, we trust you! Tell us, what should we do next?"

Liu Zhenbang breathed a sigh of relief when the two agreed, and immediately lowered his voice to reveal the plan he had already devised:
"Today, I will summon your guerrillas and captains under the pretext of 'discussing matters of war'."

When the time comes, you two can take advantage of the chaos to change into the uniforms of personal guards, slip out of Shanhua Temple, and return to your respective posts.

General Sun, once you return, immediately take control of the refugee army in the south of the city. Those people are unwilling to fight, and as long as you raise your voice, they will definitely defect.

"General Ma, you will lead your troops to capture the south gate, hold it, and await the government troops' entry into the city."

He paused, his eyes sharpening:
"As for me, I will stay at Daning Temple to intercept the elite troops sent by Wang Wei."

"If we cooperate properly, the government troops will be able to enter the city smoothly tonight. Then, we will not be seen as rebels or coerced followers, but as heroes who quelled the rebellion!"

Sun Zhen and Ma Rong exchanged a glance, both seeing hope in each other's eyes.

Sun Zhen clenched his fist: "Alright! Let's do as Lieutenant General Liu says! If it works, we'll have escaped with our lives!"

soon.

Sun Zhen and Ma Rong's troops entered Shanhua Temple.

Then, Sun Zhen and Ma Rong disguised themselves as personal guards, slipped out of Shanhua Temple, and returned to their respective posts.

At 9 PM, the night in the southern part of Datong was as dark as cotton wool soaked in ink, making it hard to breathe.

Sun Zhen's residence was located at the old grain station in the south of the city, where half a bin of uneaten stale rice was still piled up in the courtyard.

This is the garrison of Sun Zhen's troops.

Several sentries were dozing off, clutching their rifles.

Upon seeing Sun Zhen return, they were all so surprised that they stood up straight.

"General? Why are you back?"

A captain rubbed his eyes, his voice full of doubt.

They all thought that Sun Zhen was still being held by Wang Wei at the General's Mansion.

"Don't ask any more questions!"

Sun Zhen lowered his voice and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. On it was a simple deployment map drawn by Liu Zhenbang.

"Pass on my order:"
All brothers immediately assembled, and half an hour later, they followed me to wipe out the refugee army's general's camp!
"Just say... just say that General Xiong's government troops have arrived outside the city, and we'll rebel against Wang Wei and welcome the government troops into the city!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, stunning the soldiers present.

After a moment of stunned silence, the officer's eyes suddenly lit up, and he slapped his thigh:
"We should have rebelled long ago! That Wang Wei won't even give his brothers a full meal, and he wants us to follow him to our deaths!"

The soldiers in the courtyard instantly erupted in chaos, all their pent-up resentment bursting forth. Some busied themselves donning armor, others fetching weapons, and even the dozing sentries perked up, grabbing their spears and running toward the center of the courtyard.

They were originally veterans of the border army, and they were only coerced into joining Wang Wei's rebellion. Now that they had a pretext to "turn against their own side and welcome the government troops," they had no hesitation whatsoever.
after all
Who would want to rebel?

Rebellion can kill people!
The same scene was observed at the Ma Rong garrison on the other side.

Ma Rong returned to the camp, kicked open the guerrilla general's door, and slammed the order to "raid the south gate" on the table.

"General, are you really going to betray Wang Wei?"

The guerrilla general looked at Ma Rong, his eyes full of uncertainty.

"If we don't set things right, are we just waiting to die?"

Ma Rong grabbed a ring-pommel sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

"Wang Wei wants us to be cannon fodder, but Xiong Jinglue has already offered us a way out. Which side do you choose?"

The guerrilla general looked at the soldiers who were already assembling outside the camp, and listened to their excited discussions. He gritted his teeth:
"Brothers, you will all obey the general!"

Time flies.

Soon, Ma Rong gathered his troops.

Three quarters of a hour.

The silence of the southern city was suddenly broken by a shout of battle.

Ma Rong led three thousand soldiers and silently approached the south gate.

The city gate guards were strong men selected by Wang Wei from the refugee army. At this moment, they were dozing off against the city wall, and some were even gambling in a corner. Even the torches were almost burned to the end.

"kill!"

At Ma Rong's command, the soldiers charged forward with their swords and spears. Before the sleepy defenders could react, a large number of them were cut down.

"The government troops are here! Traitors, prepare to die!"

Soldiers shouted, their voices carrying far into the night.

The garrison was already nervous, and upon hearing the words "government troops," they panicked, and many dropped their weapons and ran into the city.

Ma Rong personally led his men to storm the city wall, encountering little to no resistance along the way.

The ropes of the drawbridge were cut, and with a loud crash, the drawbridge fell. The faint sounds of government troops responding could be heard from outside the city.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the south gate was completely in Ma Rong's hands, and the rebel flags on the city tower were torn down and trampled underfoot.

Almost simultaneously, Sun Zhen led his men in a surprise attack on the refugee army's general's camp.

The officers of the refugee army were drinking in their tent, with looted silks and jewelry on the table. When they saw the men from Sunzhen rush in, they were so frightened that they dropped their wine jugs on the ground.

"General Sun? What happened to you..."

Before a leader of the refugees could even open his mouth, Sun Zhen cleaved him in two with a single blow.

Without a commander, the refugee army outside the tent was thrown into chaos. Some grabbed what they could and ran, while others huddled in a corner, trembling.

"Don't even move!"

Sun Zhen stood on a small earthen slope and shouted loudly:

"The government troops have entered the city! Wang Wei has been captured! Surrender and you will be spared! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the last vestiges of resistance from the refugee army.

They were only trying to grab grain to survive, and now that the government troops have arrived, how could they dare to resist?
They all dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground begging for mercy.

Sun Zhen's soldiers seized the opportunity to confiscate weapons and control the refugees. In less than half an hour, the refugee army in the south city was completely silenced.

the other side.

In the General's Mansion.

At this moment, Wang Wei was lying in the former bedroom of the Prince of Dai, with two beautiful concubines with snow-white skin in his arms.

She was the most beloved concubine of the Prince of Dai, but now she has become his plaything.

He was wearing the Prince of Dai's silk pajamas, and looking at the auspicious dragons and phoenixes embroidered on the canopy ceiling, a smug smile curled at the corner of his mouth:
"This is all there is to life for a king... From now on, Datong Prefecture will be the domain of my king, Wang Wei."

"kill!"

A shrill scream of killing suddenly came from afar, startling Wang Wei so much that he trembled all over.

He abruptly pushed away the beautiful concubine in his arms. The concubine gasped in surprise and looked at him in confusion.

Wang Wei, without bothering to comfort him, jumped off the bed barefoot, grabbed a single garment and haphazardly draped it over himself, buttoning two buttons incorrectly, before stumbling out of the dormitory.

On the corridor outside the bedroom, Wang Zhong, a trusted servant, was pacing anxiously. Upon seeing Wang Wei emerge, he immediately knelt down and bowed, his voice trembling.
"General! Something terrible has happened! The South City... the South City is in chaos! Sun Zhen and Ma Rong's men have rebelled and have taken control of the South City and the South Gate!"

"what?!"

Wang Wei's face turned deathly pale instantly. He grabbed Wang Zhong by the collar, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sun Zhen? Ma Rong? They dare to rebel against me? Where's Liu Zhenbang? Didn't he go with them? What's he good for?!"

"General Liu... it seems that General Liu's men have also mutinied."

Wang Zhong, struggling to breathe from being gripped so tightly, spoke haltingly:

"A scout reports that General Liu's men are blocking our forces inside the Daning Temple in the south of the city, shouting slogans like 'Welcome the government troops into the city'..."

"Mutiny? Rebellion?"

Wang Wei released his grip, his face showing utter shock.

He never imagined that his most trusted son-in-law would betray him!
Those he used as pawns have all rebelled!
"quick!"

Wang Wei suddenly realized what was happening, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"Arrest Sun Zhen and Ma Rong's families! Bring their wives, children, and elderly relatives to the General's headquarters! I want to see if they dare to disregard the lives of their families!"

But Wang Zhong knelt on the ground, his head bowed even lower, a troubled expression on his face:
"General...it's too late."

Sun Zhen and Ma Rong's family members were rescued by their men a quarter of an hour ago.

Those of us who were guarding our families were either killed or surrendered…

"late?"

Wang Wei felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He looked at the faint firelight coming from the direction of the southern city in the distance and listened to the increasingly close shouts of battle. An unnamed fire surged into his heart in an instant.

He kicked over the flower stand next to him, and the vase crashed to the ground with a loud bang, shards of porcelain scattering everywhere, and the peacock feathers inside were broken in two.

"A bunch of traitors! They're all traitors!"

Wang Wei pointed in the direction of the south city, trembling with anger, his voice filled with resentment.

"I've treated them well, yet they dare to turn against me! I'll kill them! I'll tear them to pieces!"

Wang Wei grabbed the armor handed to him by his personal guard and haphazardly put it on. The shouts of battle from the south city were still drifting towards him, and the betrayal of Liu Zhenbang, Sun Zhen, and Ma Rong was like a sharp knife, stabbing deeply into his heart.

"Gather the troops! Pass on my order: mobilize five thousand elite troops from the north gate to accompany me to the south city to quell the rebellion!"

Wang Wei's voice trembled, not from fear, but from extreme anger that had spiraled out of control.

He drew the sword from his waist, its blade gleaming coldly in the torchlight.

"Those two traitors, Sun Zhen and Ma Rong, and that ingrate Liu Zhenbang, I will personally execute them and show them the consequences of betraying me!"

The guards dared not delay and turned to relay the order, but were stopped by a hurried voice:
"Commander, wait!"

Zhou Jingzhi ran over from the end of the corridor, his blue robe covered in dust, his face full of anxiety.

He had just returned from scouting at the East Gate and found that Zhang Tianlin's refugee army was in complete disarray and could not be relied upon at all.

If Wang Wei were to lead his troops to the south city at this moment and get trapped there, the consequences would be unimaginable.

When Wang Wei saw that the speaker was Zhou Jingzhi, the anger in his eyes subsided slightly, but he still showed impatience:

"Mr. Zhou, didn't you hear the commotion in Nancheng?"

Sun Zhen and his men have taken control of the south gate. If we don't quell this quickly, we'll be surrounded once Xiong Tingbi's men enter through the south gate!

Zhou Jingzhi stood before him, took a deep breath, and his voice carried a hint of weakness:
"General, now is not the time to quell the rebellion."

Liu Zhenbang, Sun Zhen, and Ma Rong all rebelled. They had nearly 10,000 soldiers under their command and were familiar with the streets and alleys of the city.

Even if you bring the elite troops from the North Gate, it will take at least one hour and at most two hours to suppress them.

But have you ever thought about it?
Will Xiong Tingbi's government troops enter the city through the south gate within this hour?

"Once the south gate is breached, it will only be a matter of time before the government troops enter the city."

We can no longer hold the city. Our only way out is to lead our elite troops to withdraw from Datong immediately and head towards Shaanxi.

There are many refugees in Shaanxi; we can still plan for future developments.”

"withdraw?"

Wang Wei reacted as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, abruptly taking a step back, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Our town finally managed to capture Datong and confiscate four million taels of silver from the Prince of Dai's mansion. Now we're going to withdraw?"

He subconsciously looked towards the main hall, where piles of gold and silver jewelry that hadn't yet been loaded onto the carts still shone with the cold light of the horseshoe-shaped gold ingots.

That was his money, the foundation of his rebellion. How could he just throw it away like that?
Looking at him like this, Zhou Jingzhi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Yesterday, he advised Wang Wei to distribute his wealth to reward the army, but Wang Wei said, "The dead don't need money."

Even at this critical juncture of life and death, Wang Wei's first thought was still about those material possessions.

He stepped forward, his tone almost pleading:
"General!"

Money can be earned back, but once you lose your life, you lose everything!

If we withdraw our troops now, we can still let Zhang Tianlin's refugee army hold off the government troops for us.

Those refugees were disorganized and undisciplined, and it would take the government troops some time to deal with them.

But if we delay any longer, and the government troops and the rebels join forces, we won't even have a chance to break out!"

"But that's all local money!"

Wang Wei's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of hysteria.

"With that money, I could recruit 100,000 soldiers in Shaanxi and then fight my way back to Datong. It would be a hundred times easier than it is now!"

He reached out, as if caressing unseen gold and silver, his eyes filled with fascination.

Do you know what it looked like when the Prince Dai's mansion was raided, with silver piled up to the ceiling?
That's four million taels! More money than you could spend in a lifetime!

Zhou Jingzhi rolled his eyes, suppressing his anger.

With all that money, Wang Wei didn't use it to recruit soldiers or buy horses; instead, he first took all of the Prince of Dai's beautiful concubines and clothes.

He said patiently:

"General, with all that wealth, there's no way you can break through quickly!"
Gold and silver are heavy, and loading them onto the trucks takes time.

The carriage was moving slowly, making it easy for the government troops to catch up.

Not only will we lose our money, but we'll also lose our lives!

"I do not care!"

Wang Wei abruptly slapped Zhou Jingzhi's hand away.

"Issue the order of this town: have the Imperial Guard immediately load the gold and silver jewelry in the main hall onto carts, selecting the most valuable items, with priority given to gold bricks, gold bars, and jewelry!"
Pack as much of the rest as you can!

Our elite escort convoy broke through the north gate and headed towards Shaanxi!

"Commander-in-Chief!"

Zhou Jingzhi wanted to persuade him again, but was interrupted by Wang Wei's fierce gaze.

"Say one more word, and I'll kill you first!"

Wang Wei's sword was pointed at Zhou Jingzhi, and the cold light on the blade sent a chill down Zhou Jingzhi's spine.

Seeing the madness and greed in Wang Wei's eyes, he knew that further persuasion would be useless.

Wang Wei has become completely obsessed with money; even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, he will brave them with all that gold and silver.

Zhou Jingzhi slowly retreated, a deep sense of despair welling up inside him.

He gazed at the busy soldiers in the courtyard.

Some were moving silver chests, some were harnessing carriages, and some were counting jewels. Everyone had a look of hesitation on their face, clearly knowing how absurd this decision was.

The shouts of battle from the south city grew closer, and the bugle calls of the government troops could be faintly heard.

Zhou Jingzhi looked up at the night sky, which was covered with dark clouds and not a single star could be seen.

Wang Wei's path to rebellion will likely be ruined by the gold and silver he is so reluctant to part with.

He himself might also perish along with this short-sighted traitor.

Zhou Jingzhi said: It's too difficult for him.

now.

South of the city.

Liu Zhenbang had been waiting at Taining Temple for nearly half an hour.

Tai Ning Guan is located on the side of the main road.

If Wang Wei is going to quell the rebellion in the south, he will definitely pass through this place.

According to his prediction, Wang Wei should have arrived long ago.

But apart from the sporadic cries coming from the distant streets and alleys, not a single rebel soldier could be seen.

The bodyguard beside him whispered, "General, something's not right."

"The scouts ahead have reported that the General Headquarters has not sent troops south; instead, they are transporting divine objects."

Liu Zhenbang's heart skipped a beat, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Transporting goods?
The most valuable items in the General's Mansion were the gold and silver jewels confiscated from the Prince of Dai's Mansion.

Wang Wei is... trying to run!
He turned sharply to look at the south gate, where the shouts of battle had long since ceased, and only a few Ming army flags were fluttering on the city wall.

Ma Rong has clearly taken complete control of the South Gate, and the overall situation in Datong Prefecture is basically settled.

However, if Wang Wei escapes, even if he succeeds in turning against his own side, he will only be considered "unsuccessful in capturing the thief," and the promise of a "wealthy old man" given by Xiong Tingbi will likely be diminished.

"No, we can't let him get away!"

Liu Zhenbang gritted his teeth, and the muscles in his cheeks twitched violently.

He was already unwilling to accept the fate of the "rich man". If he could capture and kill Wang Wei with his own hands, he could not only clear his name of the crime of chasing and killing officials, but he might also be able to get an official position under Xiong Tingbi. It would be better than living the rest of his life on a sum of money.

He drew his saber from his waist and roared at the three thousand soldiers behind him:
Brothers!

Wang Wei, that traitor, wants to run away with the stolen silver!
If we let him go, our great mission will be thwarted!
Whoever can slay Wang Wei today, I will recommend him for credit before Commander Xiong!

If you can capture him alive, you will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver!

"Charge with me!"

The three thousand soldiers had long harbored resentment towards Wang Wei's stinginess, and upon hearing of the reward for their service, they erupted in a deafening roar.

The cavalrymen mounted their horses, and the infantrymen gripped their spears and followed closely behind.

The troops surged forward like a raging torrent, charging toward the General Headquarters.

Just two streets later, a group of refugees blocked the intersection, wielding hoes and kitchen knives.

These were the remnants of Zhang Tianlin's troops, ordered to guard the streets and alleys surrounding the General Headquarters.

These refugees had never seen such a scene before. Some of them threw down their weapons and fled into the alleys next to Liu Zhenbang's men before they even got close.

Some charged forward defiantly, only to be pierced through the chest by a cavalryman's spear, their bodies falling to the ground and splattering blood.

"Archers, fire!"

At Liu Zhenbang's command, the archers nocked their arrows and drew their bows, raining down arrows upon the refugees.

The few leaders of the refugees who were at the forefront fell to the ground, and the rest of them lost all will to fight and fled in all directions, crying out.

Liu Zhenbang led his troops over the corpses of refugees and continued to charge forward. The remaining soldiers along the way either surrendered or were killed, and they encountered almost no decent resistance.

soon.

The vermilion gates of the General's Mansion then came into view.

Liu Zhenbang squinted at it.

More than a dozen carriages were parked in front of the General's Mansion. Dozens of Wang Wei's personal guards were carrying wooden boxes full of gold and silver and loading them onto the carriages. Some guards even took the opportunity to stuff silver ingots into their pockets. The scene was chaotic.

"Kill! Don't let a single one escape!"

Liu Zhenbang took the lead and rushed towards the gate of the mansion.

As the saber swung, a guard who was carrying boxes was cleaved in two, and silver ingots were scattered all over the ground.

The cavalry behind him followed closely, charging into the guards. The muffled thuds of spears piercing bodies, the crisp sounds of weapons clashing, and the screams of the guards instantly filled the open space in front of the general's mansion.

The guards had no desire to fight and only wanted to load the silver onto the carts and run away. How could they possibly withstand Liu Zhenbang's elite troops?
In no time, they were routed. Some threw down their boxes and knelt down to beg for mercy, while others ran into the mansion to seek help from Wang Wei, only to be captured and killed one by one by the infantry who arrived later.

Wang Wei was standing in the main hall, which was piled high with gold and silver, watching his guards frantically carrying it away. He was still thinking about how to use this silver to recruit soldiers and buy horses when he got to Shaanxi.

Suddenly, a deafening battle cry and the screams of the guards came from outside the mansion.

His expression changed drastically, and he grabbed Wang Zhong beside him: "What's going on outside?!"

"General! It's Liu Zhenbang! He's led his men and stormed in!"

Wang Zhong's voice trembled.

"The brothers couldn't hold them off; they even hijacked the carriage!"

"Liu Zhenbang...that traitor!"

Wang Wei was trembling with rage, but fear quickly overwhelmed his anger.

He looked at the room full of gold and silver, his eyes filled with reluctance, but the shouts of killing outside the mansion grew closer and closer, and he could even hear Liu Zhenbang's roar:

"Wang Wei! Come out and face your death!"

"Let's go! Let's go!"

Wang Wei shoved Wang Zhong aside and turned to run towards the side gate at the back of the mansion.

"Forget about the money! Let's get out of here first!"

He fled through a side door with only a few hundred of his remaining guards, like stray dogs.

The group stumbled and ran toward the north gate. Some of the remaining soldiers along the way, seeing that it was Wang Wei, followed behind.

By the time they reached the North Gate, Wang Wei had gathered several thousand people around him, mostly his loyal followers and remnants, as well as some refugees who wanted to take the opportunity to escape.

"Quickly! Open the city gates!"

Wang Wei roared at the guards at the gate.

The guards dared not delay and quickly pulled open the heavy bolts of the city gate.

The city gate slowly opened, revealing complete darkness outside, with not a single person in sight.

"Quick! Get out of here! Once we reach Shaanxi, we'll be safe!"

Wang Wei took the lead and rushed out of the north gate, finally revealing a smile of relief on his face.

He had even begun to fantasize about how, once he arrived in Shaanxi, he would use the gold bars he had hidden on his person to recruit soldiers and how he would make a comeback.

But the smile froze on his face almost instantly.

A gust of wind blew by, and suddenly the light of torches ignited not far away.

Wang Wei suddenly looked up and saw a neatly lined-up army of government troops on an open ground not far away.

In front were the chevaux-de-frise of the chariot and cavalry battalion, and behind them were soldiers of the musket battalion, holding muskets with their muzzles pointed towards the north gate.

Further on were a dozen or so black cannons, their muzzles gleaming coldly, and the soldiers of the artillery battalion were bending over to light the fuses.

On the central platform, a large banner bearing the character "Zu" fluttered in the wind, and standing beneath it was a general in armor, none other than Zu Dashou, the deputy commander-in-chief of Datong, who was coldly watching him.

It's Zu Dashou's army!
They've been waiting here for ages!
"No...impossible!"

Wang Wei's voice trembled, and his whole body felt ice-cold.

He never expected that Xiong Tingbi had anticipated his escape through the North Gate and had set up such a large ambush.

He murmured to himself:
Done
It's all over!
. . .

ps:
Bonus chapter with 7200 words!
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(End of this chapter)