My lord, spare his life!

"Why would our lord entrust such an important matter to that old scoundrel Wang Hongtu? What if he—" Because Sun Ban showed great trust in his allies, it drew considerable private criticism. "What if he harbors treacherous intentions? Wouldn't that be detrimental to us?"

Sun Ban had been operating in Doujun for many years and had accumulated considerable wealth, but he couldn't afford to be extravagant. This batch of supplies was indeed quite important.

If anything goes wrong, it will hurt.

Sun Ban countered, "So you have a better candidate?"

One sentence silenced the other party.

Sun Ban gave a triumphant sneer: "How could I not know that Wang Hongtu isn't an honest man? But he only has three thousand elite troops, and they rely entirely on us for supplies. How many days can he last if his food supplies run out? Wang Ba is weak, and it would be too undignified for us to treat him like a thief. Besides, if we don't use his troops now, when will we? Why are you trying to find ways to preserve his strength?"

"Please see my lord's true intentions; I am utterly loyal to you."

Sun Ban naturally knew the other party was loyal. Calm and composed, she bent down and reached out to help her trembling subordinate to her feet, gently scolding, "Why are you so flustered? I know perfectly well whether your advice was for Wang Hongtu or for me, so how could I bear to wrongly blame you?"

"My lord."

"Use Wang Hongtu's people if they are capable."

Those were three thousand genuine, unadulterated elite troops.

"Your subordinate understands."

The two exchanged only a few words before the cavalryman delivered a message.

"Report—"

Sun Ban's heart skipped a beat: "Speak!"

Her biggest worry right now was that something might happen to the supply train. And as the saying goes, what you fear most is what happens; the cavalryman's words immediately made her face fall. However, there was good news and bad news. The bad news was that the supply train had encountered attacks from two forces: one was wild star beasts forced down from the mountains to hunt by the weather, and the other was Zhang's bandit army.

"What's the good news?"

The good news is that Wang Hongtu, for some unknown reason, has become incredibly powerful, minimizing losses. Of the warhorses, aside from those that ran away in fright or were attacked and killed by wild beasts, about 60% remain, and it is estimated that another 10-20% can be recovered. More than 300 cartloads of grain were burned, and other losses are still being tallied.

Sun Ban paused for a moment.

Because the Imperial City was no longer under her control, she knew that such a large commotion would not escape the attention of the bandits. In her mind, if even half of the supplies reached their destination, she would consider herself successful. She also wanted to establish a base there and assess the bandits' strength—Zhang Yang was a tyrant in the mountains, and Sun Ban hadn't truly fought him, so she wasn't confident in her abilities.

To my utter surprise, the result was better than expected.

How large is the Mountain Wilderness Star Beast?

"It's a pack of wolves, about a hundred of them."

A typical wolf pack usually consists of around ten members, with larger ones numbering around twenty, rarely exceeding this size. However, wolf packs formed by Star Beast wolves, especially male Star Beast wolves, often range in size from fifty to one hundred. They reproduce extensively with female wolves, producing a large number of half-beasts with Star Beast bloodlines. These half-beasts possess the ignorance of wild wolves combined with the robust physique of Star Beasts, posing a significant threat.

"Over a hundred? The local government has done nothing?" Whether they are star beasts or half-beasts, allowing them to expand their populations will threaten ordinary people. The local government organizes people to hunt in the mountains every season, specifically targeting and killing threatening wild animals. Allowing a wolf pack of over a hundred to roam the mountains means that the officials have failed in their duties.

Sun Ban's face darkened instantly.

She had previously estimated the size to be only around thirty.

"My lord, that is, after all, the territory of the Eunuch County." This kind of special wolf pack would not only operate in one place. Judging from the situation, they should be roaming and hunting in the border area of ​​Liesi County, Hu County and Eunuch County. The prey in one place is simply not enough for them to hunt.

All three places were able to shirk responsibility.

Even if you want to hold someone accountable, you can't find anyone who can truly take responsibility.

How many enemies are there?

"There were over a thousand people lying in ambush."

These thieves were only after this shipment of supplies; they didn't intend to steal it, only to destroy it, and they had prepared a large number of rockets and burning fuel. If Wang Hongtu hadn't intervened, the losses would have been far greater.

Sun Ban then focused her questioning on Wang Ba's actions, finding the old bastard's behavior somewhat unpredictable—despite her constant pronouncements of trusting those she employed and not employing those she distrusted, she was secretly on guard, yet Wang Ba's desperate actions still exceeded her expectations.

Yes, this was also beyond Guan Zong's expectations.

He was even forced to call out "Siyin, Siyin" all the time.

Guan Si: "Useless!"

Guan Zong was no longer concerned about being scolded.

"...Save me, I'll even change my name to 'Useless' if you want."

If Guan Si hadn't found him too noisy, and if Wang Qi hadn't secretly appeared, Wang Ba would have chased Guan Zong to the ends of the earth, risking his life. That old madman! Guan Zong has already run right up to his own army's lines, and Wang Ba still dares to chase after him! Doesn't he have a death wish?!

Guan Zong left the battlefield covered in the stench of burning flesh.

His bloodied and mangled face still showed a hint of disorientation.

With a snap.

A pebble hit Guan Zong on the shoulder.

Guan Zong looked in the direction of the noise, his lips twitched, then he silently turned his face away. Seeing his dejected, half-dead appearance, Wang Qi scoffed, "Weren't you quite impressive back then?"

Now I'm weak and afraid of dying.

"Once you get old, everything feels painful..." Guan Zong tried to brush it off, but Wang Qi wasn't buying it. He could only say, "Your father is just like that. He's the same now. When I was young, I could take on ten of him."

Although there was some exaggeration in that statement, Guan Zong did not lie about one thing: he and Wang Ba were both very fierce when they were young.

If we're looking for a benchmark, we'd probably look to the level of Wang Qi and Guan Si.

Wang Qi rolled his eyes at him.

Not long after, Guan Si returned.

Wang Qi: "Have the wolf pack's wages been paid out?"

Guan Si said, "It's all done."

The sudden appearance of a wolf pack attacking the enemy's supplies was not accidental, but rather the result of deliberate manipulation. It began when Zhang Yang discovered numerous animal tracks near the camp and then saw a cluster of red-named creatures appear in the distance late at night. She initially thought it was an enemy night raid, but upon closer inspection, realized the numbers were unusual and that they were wolves.

This wolf has a faint bloodline of star beasts.

It is estimated to be a hybrid offspring of four or five generations of hybrids.

Zhang Yang grabbed two of them, and the rest ran away.

Why are there so many wolves near the Imperial Throne City? The army doesn't rely solely on provisions for food; when they have free time, they send men out hunting, partly to supplement their meals and partly to eliminate wild animal threats. In other words, wild animals are rarely seen where the army is located, making it practically like food being delivered to their doorstep.

Unless the wild beast is large enough to not be afraid of humans.

Chao Tan then mentioned that there were wolf packs near the three counties.

This wolf pack was initially formed by a star beast wolf, and its offspring are all half-beasts. After several rounds of suppression by the local government, their numbers have decreased significantly. The pack has had to migrate regularly to avoid being hunted, thus maintaining a relatively small population. If the pack ventures into the vicinity, the Imperial Throne City will also intervene.

Zhang Yang asked: "Are there star beasts?"

She was actually quite envious of the wolf in the Easter Egg Bro's game.

Unfortunately, that wolf was a Kui Mu Wolf, Guan Si's Star Phantom, which Zhang Yang couldn't possibly capture. She could only regretfully abandon the idea of ​​raising one. If the wolf pack's alpha was also a Star Beast, she could catch one; she'd already chosen a name for it: Zhang Da'ao.

Chao Tan shook his head: "Not a star beast, at most a half-beast."

That star beast was wiped out decades ago.

Zhang Yang: [Can't half-beasts transform into star beasts?]

Chao Tan: [Yes, half-beasts are more likely to transform into star beasts than ordinary wild animals, but it also depends on whether people agree. The government's wolf pack eradication efforts always target and kill the wolf king. Once their wolf king transforms into a star beast, it will seriously threaten nearby villages and cities.]

Zhang Yang: [How large was the wolf pack?]

I don't know.

Zhang Yangdao said: "I have an idea."

If these wolves are risking their lives to approach the military camp in search of food, then why not make a deal with them? Zhang Yang has food, the wolves are hungry, so why not have them work for her? Payment for each job, one unit of food? Aren't these wolves supposed to be very clever?

Chao Tan: "...This...I'm afraid it's inappropriate."

How can you persuade a wolf pack so easily?

Zhang Yang said, "Why not give it a try? There's nothing to lose."

She even had a list of people she wanted to talk to.

Guan Si: [...]

Zhang Yang was only responsible for assigning tasks; she didn't care how Guan Si carried them out, as long as the results met expectations. She didn't know how Guan Si negotiated with the Wolf King, but he brought back news in just half a day.

The wolf king agreed.

Thus, this ambush took place.

The wolf pack first launched a harassment attack to divert the enemy's attention, focusing instead on intimidating the warhorses. Even though the warhorses were professionally trained and not easily startled, they couldn't withstand the oppressive aura emanating from the wolf king, and the lowest-quality warhorses were the first to be frightened.

Then Guan Zong led his men to burn the supply wagons.

The objective was clear: not to kill, but to set fires.

Wang Ba had leaked the information beforehand, so Guan Zong and his men knew exactly what was in those supply wagons and where the weak points were, resulting in a very successful operation. However, things went wrong with Guan Zong. Suddenly, a dark-faced, burly man with bloodshot eyes and a furious roar appeared from among the enemy, ready to kill Guan Zong.

Guan Zong didn't recognize the other person at first.

He shouted: "Which grandson comes to pay respects to your grandfather?!"

That shout precisely ignited the furious brute's hatred. The man, as if fixated on Guan Zong, disregarded the rockets and oil, leaping from his horse like a cannonball towards Guan Zong. Guan Zong met the attack with a cold laugh, not forgetting to tease him: "Grandson, let grandpa show you what he's made of!"

Then--

Then Guan Zong realized he had miscalculated.

The shock made his hand go numb, forcing him to retreat more than ten feet.

Looking up again, he stared intently at the burly man's appearance, trying to determine his age and strength while frantically trying to recall where he had seen him before—to be honest, the man looked somewhat familiar.

Wang Qi recognized the old man's identity at a glance.

But he showed no intention of revealing himself, not wanting to give himself away.

Let's also see what the old man is really capable of.

Wang Qi was skeptical of Wang Ba's usual display of strength, always feeling that the other was holding back. This put Guan Zong in a difficult position; after only ten or so exchanges, he was forced to the point of internal turmoil, nearly losing his breath: "Did I steal your wife?"

So fierce?

Guan Zong's words were like adding fuel to the fire.

He was also hit on the face by a stone thrown by Wang Qi in secret, which swollen his face.

Guan Zong: [...]

In a flash, a chill ran down his spine as he remembered someone—the bloodshot-eyed madman before him began to overlap with someone from his memory. Guan Zong blurted out the man's identity.

[Wang Hongtu?]

Good heavens, Wang Ba has aged so much?

Wang Ba's killing intent surged. Seeing that Guan Zong recognized him, a sinister smile appeared on his face, which was already twisted with hatred: "Heh."

Guan Zong: 【…You haven't improved at all.】

Wang Badao: 【Killing you is enough!】

Guan Zong thought Wang Ba was talking in his sleep.

The two sides are now secretly allied, and this operation is another coordinated effort. Surely Wang Ba should try to reason with them?

Haha, Wang Ba is indeed reasonable.

As long as the other ambushers didn't come to their deaths, Wang Ba ignored them all, focusing solely on Guan Zong, even at the cost of injury. This fighting style caused Guan Zong considerable trouble. After only twenty-odd moves, he couldn't take it anymore and cried for help.

Wang Qi ignored him.

Guan Si was a living bodhisattva who saved people from suffering.

In truth, Guan Si didn't want to get involved, but Guan Zong was too noisy and embarrassing, so he reluctantly lent a hand. Wang Qi also stepped in and stopped Wang Ba. Upon seeing Wang Qi, Wang Ba, though unwilling, gritted his teeth in resentment and had no choice but to retreat.

He and Wang Qi exchanged a glance from afar.

A long-lost sharp pain shot through my heart, and my face turned deathly pale.

He was certain that Wang Qi knew Guan Zong was under Zhang Yang's command, but in no letter had Wang Qi mentioned Guan Zong's existence. Not only him, but even the usually humble He Ning hadn't mentioned him. This made Wang Ba feel a bit annoyed at being deceived in a joint effort.

Sun Ban mistakenly believed that Wang Ba's emotions were directed at the thieves.

"...Without the King's heroic efforts to boost morale, the losses would have been even greater. He is already a great hero to our army, so why blame ourselves?"

Does Wang Ba have such high standards for himself?

"snort!"

Wang Ba harbored resentment and had no patience for Sun Ban. Ignoring the way out offered by Sun Ban, he turned and left.

Sun Ban: "..."

Has this old scoundrel swallowed gunpowder?

The wolf pack doesn't take money for nothing.

Aside from the wounded warhorses, which were eaten by the old and weak in the pack, the rest were secretly herded together and taken away by Zhang Yang's men. The wolf king stood there majestically as overseer. Seeing that the number of warhorses was almost enough to meet the quota, it nodded reservedly to Guan Si, then raised its head and let out a short wolf howl before leading the pack away into the mountains.

Zhang Yang only learned of this matter after receiving the news.

She asked Wang Qi, "Is Wang Hongtu planning to break the alliance?"

Wang Qi said, "If he were to break the alliance, Guan Zong wouldn't be the only one injured. This is the first time I've seen the old man like this... He's somewhat like the divine being that his former subordinates have been praising." Before this, he had always thought Wang Ba was a bastard.

All he knows is how to endure.

Zhang Yang could only look at Guan Zong.

"Was your relationship as simple as you described back then?"

Guan Zong covered his face, which was swollen twice its original size, and said irritably, "What? Do you suspect that I have an affair with Wang Hongtu, or both?"

He couldn't understand it either.

How could Wang Ba see himself as someone who hated him so much?

Guan Zong was completely baffled.

Wang Qi also said, "Look at me, I'm useless, I don't know either."

Guan Zong pondered for a long time: "To say there's a grudge between him and Wang Ba, it's not that serious... If it weren't for me, would he have had the chance to rise to prominence? Or is it that Wang Ba is avenging the female general who covered the rear back then?"

Wang Qi: "He Ning's mother? It's unlikely."

"I don't think it's that bad either."

Guan Zong racked his brains but couldn't figure out the reason.

That evening, Zhang Yang saw an unfamiliar red name in the military camp.

? ?|??w?`)