My lord, spare his life!

Seeing the infighting escalate and his own life hanging by a thread, the retainer who had been ordered by his master to negotiate quickly knelt up. He cried out for justice, and the others, who were closer to the retainer's master, subtly took his side: "Let's hear what this man has found out first, lest we do something that will cause pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies. With a formidable enemy at hand, we should unite as one."

The elder brother-in-law sneered, "Fine, let him talk."

The retainer felt his hair stand on end from being stared at, as if a venomous snake had its eyes on his vital parts. It would have been better if he hadn't made this movement; the lingering stench in his mouth irritated his throat, making him feel nauseous and vomit, which he managed to suppress for a while.

The retainer, his face pale, recounted everything that had happened that night.

When Guan Si bluntly admitted that he hadn't brought enough provisions for several days and decided to attack the city at dawn, everyone was both anxious and furious. Who announces the time of attack in advance? This was blatant contempt. Beyond that, they were mostly extremely worried.

"Does the thief really say that?"

"With our high walls and deep moats, why should we fear thieves?"

He said this, but his mind was elsewhere, and his tone was somewhat hesitant. Ordinary cities in the ordinary world can stop ordinary soldiers, but this is a world with gods and ghosts. Zongren County has high walls and deep moats, surely Zongzheng County has them too? Star beasts are like mobile walls, and according to intelligence, the traitor has two star beasts under his command.

The two star beasts are no longer afraid of being eaten out of their lives.

Taking advantage of the others' distraction, the retainer quickly gave his master a meaningful look. The master understood and said, "Why don't we proceed according to plan? Tomorrow we'll open the city gates for them and then send men to ambush them. I am sworn enemies with these traitors, and all my actions are for the sake of the Imperial Clan Court. If even one word of this is false, may I be struck by lightning."

One of the retainers said, "I am willing to offer myself as bait."

The elder brother-in-law sneered, "How could a thief believe that?"

Anyone with a sound mind knows this is a trap.

The retainer felt a little bitter.

If they hadn't been caught red-handed, the master of the house might have genuinely opened the city gates to cooperate with the thieves from the inside—the thieves were brutal and tyrannical, and if the city gates had been breached, who knew what fate awaited the wealthy families inside? But being caught red-handed in front of so many people, the master of the house could never admit to having any intention of betraying them.

The retainer's master was furious at the provocation.

The group parted on bad terms.

Zhe Meng had already closed her eyes and fallen asleep, but the slight footsteps outside the door jolted her awake. Her brother-in-law knocked on the door, and she glanced at the night view outside the window: "What do you want with me at this hour?"

They're related by marriage, but they're also adults; isn't it inappropriate for them to meet at this hour? Zhe Meng's husband and brother-in-law don't get along: "Can't we talk about this tomorrow?"

The elder brother-in-law said, "It will be too late if we wait until dawn."

Upon hearing the reply, Zhe Meng got up and opened the door.

The elder brother's cold expression held a hint of complexity as he handed the package to Zhe Meng: "This place is not safe. Your injuries have not healed yet, so I've chosen two trustworthy people to escort you out."

Zhe Meng instinctively took the package.

The package wasn't big, but it felt rather heavy.

She asked instinctively, "Why so suddenly?"

Brother-in-law: "Someone used the excuse of a nighttime raid to contact the bandits outside the city. Those bandits were so arrogant and domineering that they said they would attack the city at dawn. Within a day, the news about the granary spread like wildfire. The morale inside the city is so low that I'm afraid we can't hold it."

Zhe Meng raised an eyebrow: "You don't want to implicate me?"

"Your family members have probably fallen into Lu Yuan's hands, but she still has some connection with you, so she shouldn't make things too difficult for the elderly and weak. Only if you get out alive will they have someone to rely on." The elder brother-in-law said, paused for two breaths, and sighed, "In this world, without a head of the family, life is always hard. I've already... ruined him once, it wouldn't be good to let him live the rest of his life as a widower."

Zhe Meng said speechlessly, "My husband isn't that useless."

If anything were to happen to her, he would either have to live a widower's life with his family, arrange another marriage, or return home and be forced into a dowry again. After all, she had received a proper scholarly education and was capable of supporting herself; even if she became a retainer or advisor, she wouldn't starve. She could see that her brother-in-law was clearly full of scheming, yet he could still speak of deep brotherly affection…

Zhe Meng then asked, "And what does 'harm' mean?"

Is being with her something to be ashamed of?

Before the downfall of Zongzheng County, she was still considered a promising young woman in the marriage market.

The eldest brother-in-law said, "It was originally intended to help him find a wife."

The man who was supposed to marry into the family was the younger brother of the eldest brother's wife, but the younger brother was unwilling. So the family arranged for the marriage to be arranged for the second son, Zhe Meng's husband. This husband was born out of wedlock and had worked hard for many years so that he could smoothly separate from the family and take his birth mother away to live with him in her old age. But at the last minute, this happened, and he married into another family.

The plans were completely disrupted.

In this world, marriage is decided by whoever is stronger.

Zhe Meng's family background was not prominent, but she was powerful and had her own career. The groom's family wanted to marry her in order to strengthen the relationship between the two counties of Zongren and Zongzheng, and also to increase their family's bargaining power. They could decide on a marriage between a concubine's second son and a lower-ranking one, but compared to Zhe Meng, they could only marry into the family.

Even with a small family, Zhe Meng's efforts were still considerable, so his original plan to separate the family, have his sons take up official positions, and then bring his mother back was forced to be shelved. It was unheard of for married-in children to be able to take their parents away.

Zhe Meng's husband still has one unresolved issue.

He suspected that his sly older brother had deliberately detained the hostages.

Otherwise, why would it be just right, neither too early nor too late?

The elder brother-in-law said, "I know he holds a grudge against me."

Zhe Meng said awkwardly, "I didn't even know he had this problem, and he never told me about it. Since you knew, why didn't you write to him, or go and talk to him in person and tell him that you didn't do it on purpose?"

The palms of the palms and the backs of the hands are all meat.

However, the thickness of the meat also varies.

Which is more important, a younger brother born out of wedlock or a younger brother born out of wedlock?

Brother-in-law: "It's not entirely a coincidence."

He did intend to detain his stepmother, so what?

Zhe Meng: "..."

Is this even human language?

At least put on an act in front of her, right?

The elder brother continued, "His ideas are too naive, and his talent is mediocre; the only thing he's good-looking about is his appearance. He wants to separate from the family and start his own business, but what kind of decent business can he possibly build? He says he wants to take his mother out, but does he even know how much her monthly allowance is, how many people take care of her, or how much they all need to pay? He knows nothing, all he does is study and think about how to get stuck in a rut..."

Zhe Meng: "..."

The elder brother-in-law said, "I personally found your sister-in-law."

There was a hint of smugness in his words.

It should be noted that the marriage was initially intended for the younger brother, but it couldn't be arranged because Zhe Meng was not a good match. Later, it was given to the second son, thinking that he was not very clever and that this marriage would ensure his wealth and status.

result--

The second son was still unhappy and complained about him.

He didn't explain; he just waited for the second son to back down on his own.

Zhe Meng cursed inwardly, "Should I thank my brother-in-law for thinking so highly of me? I don't have much time, I'll be going now."

The elder brother-in-law said, "Go ahead."

Zhe Meng paused, "Could we be being watched?"

Her disappearance could be a big deal or a small deal.

Brother-in-law: "No, I've already arrested someone once. No one else would dare to approach the city wall. You can leave the city without worry."

Zhe Meng: "..."

That's why people say her brother-in-law is so cunning.

He clearly intended to send her out of the city long ago, but he insisted on taking a long detour. If things go wrong later, and Zongren County hasn't fallen yet, he can easily shift the blame to Zhe Meng with a few words, saying that she ran away on her own. If Zongren County is captured, sending Zhe Meng out of the city will be the best way for him to pledge his loyalty, and he can also use Zhe Meng to spread the word that the opening of the city gates tomorrow is a feigned surrender, thus gaining some credit.

It can be used for both offense and defense.

Thinking about it this way, it's normal that my husband can't beat my brother-in-law.

Zhe Meng's escape from the city went very smoothly, without arousing anyone's suspicion. She escaped under the protection of her two trusted brothers-in-law. She did not send the two back, but instead headed straight for the troops outside the city.

The two confidants showed no unusual reaction to this.

Clearly, they were mentally prepared for this.

Zhe Meng: "..."

When Zhang Yang saw Zhe Meng return, he was surprised for a moment: "Why did you leave the city? I thought you were going to start the war from within."

The soldiers guarding the city were all decorated with military merits.

Isn't this easier to plunder than attacking from outside the city?

Zhe Meng explained the whole story.

Before Zhang Yang could even process the scheming involved, Guan Si had already figured it out: "These two confidants are his sworn brothers? Tsk, even his surrender is so ambiguous and vague. This man is not sincere."

These two things are useful as proof of his submission.

If they're not needed, then they're two discarded pieces.

Guan Si asked disdainfully, "How did you manage to let him figure it out?"

Zhe Meng was also extremely frustrated. He drank some water to calm down and said, "I only said a couple of extra words, 'You don't have much time left,' and he became suspicious... Why are these scholars so cunning?"

I never thought my husband was cunning.

Guan Si said, "Perhaps it's because you're not getting enough."

Zhe Meng: "..."

Zhang Yang worried, "Does he know? Will he leak the information?"

"He wouldn't dare leak the secret unless he's truly risking his life. The grain depot incident has put him in an awkward position, leaving him with no other choice." Zhe Meng was confident about this point. "Only by betting on multiple fronts can you break even."

Zhang Yang said, "It's good that it's not a trap within a trap."

I really don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

Zhe Meng mentally went through the process.

He wanted to ask Zhang Yang how he did it—doing the work of hundreds of people in a single day, and successfully misleading a group of people, even dragging his brother-in-law into the mess—but he swallowed his words. Zhe Meng had reservations, worried about unintentionally stepping on a landmine.

What if this ability is the wrath of the sovereign?

Wouldn't asking offend someone?

She changed the subject abruptly: "If the city gates open tomorrow, would you like me to impersonate my lord and act as bait to lure them in?"

Zhang Yang said, "No, I want to watch the show myself."

"...What's so interesting about this?"

Zhang Yang smiled but remained silent.

Before long, the sky began to lighten.

Zhe Meng was unwilling to stay in the army, so he also donned armor and took up arms to prepare for war.

The army, having rested and eaten their fill, was in high spirits. Guan Si led his troops to press on, and as they closed the distance, the previously lowered drawbridge slowly descended, and the tightly closed city gates opened a crack. Before long, an unfamiliar military general ran out from behind the city gate.

The military officer produced a token.

This token was given to me by the guest who came to my door last night.

"The city gate is being rotated, and the replacements are all our own men. General, you can enter the city with peace of mind." It was still dark, and the unfamiliar military officer had a full beard, so it was impossible to discern his true emotions. "At most, it will take half a quarter of an hour. If it exceeds that time, I'm afraid someone will notice something amiss."

Guan Si didn't ask anything else.

He simply turned his head to look behind him, then waved and led his men.

"Come on, lead the way."

The unfamiliar military officer was taken aback.

He seemed surprised that Guan Si would be so unguarded, leaving with someone after just a few words? Without even checking? Without a shred of suspicion? Guan Si's decisiveness only fueled the suspicions of the unfamiliar military officer. He couldn't help but wonder if he'd stumbled upon a trap within a trap.

But the arrow was already on the string and had to be released.

He could only steer his warhorse in a different direction and head towards the drawbridge.

Although Guan Si's side had a large number of men, none of their warhorses made any unusual noises; everything was orderly and disciplined, clearly indicating they were an elite force with strict military discipline. The more elite the force, the higher the cost of training them. The unfamiliar general harbored his own calculations, planning to lure them into the city for an ambush; even if he couldn't completely annihilate them, he could severely weaken them…

Who wouldn't feel heartbroken in that situation?

Just then, Guan Si stopped.

The unfamiliar military officer's heart skipped a beat: "Why did you stop, General?"

Didn't I tell them that the time to enter the city would be at most 15 minutes?

Guan Si said, "There's movement."

The unfamiliar military officer instinctively clenched his fists, wary of Guan Si's sudden attack, but after a while, the expected scene did not appear. He asked in confusion, "General, where did that commotion come from?"

Guan Si: "There's some commotion inside the city."

The unfamiliar military officer felt a chill run down his spine and prepared to strike first.

He had to strike first to have a chance to escape.

Just then, the unfamiliar military officer suddenly caught some faint, commotion coming from inside the city. He exclaimed in alarm, "Something's wrong... what's going on..."

Guan Si asked him calmly, "Have we been exposed?"

There was no murderous intent directed at the military general in his words.

The unfamiliar military general was in turmoil.

He had no idea what was going on in the city. Going back to check was out of the question; it would arouse suspicion. Before long, he was drenched in sweat; that short time felt like years to him. Finally, he realized something was wrong.

"What happened?"

Something was amiss coming from inside the city.

Guan Si said, "It's so noisy and disorderly, it's like a mutiny."

It was indeed a mutiny, but the main force behind it was not the garrison soldiers but a group of commoners. As soon as the city gates opened, the commoners who had been waiting all night discovered the situation. They were so frightened by the rumors spread by Zhang Yang that they couldn't sleep all night and lost all their judgment—the rumors said that if they stayed, they would become vegetables in the city and be supplied to the garrison soldiers as food for their defense.

They didn't believe it at first.

Until rumors spread that the city gates would open at some point.

This was their last chance to leave the county seat.

As expected, the city gates opened right on time.

"Would they believe that?"

Zhe Meng then realized what rumors his lord had spread.

"Why don't you believe it? It's not like no one's never done it before."

Such brutal acts... are, after all, rare.

For ordinary people, the chances of survival were still relatively high.

How did I get fooled by Zhang Yang?

Zhang Yang tilted his head and thought for a moment.

"Perhaps because... spreading rumors is a skill?"

The player's rumor skill inflicts a "Intimidate" debuff on the target. Zhang Yang doesn't have a player skill and has to practice it herself, but she finds she's really bad at speaking. To make the skill effect more like a player's, she can only work on the "Intimidate" effect.

The debuff is a tiny bit big.