On the eve of the fall of Liaodong, he led his troops in a remonstrance against the young marshal.

"How...how is this possible?!"

Yu Chonghan was the first to jump up, his face draining of all color in an instant.

"We're saving the young marshal! How could he call us traitors? How could he—"

"It's all over, it ......"

Yuan Jinkai slumped in his chair, his eyes lifeless, like an old dog whose bones had been removed.

"The young marshal personally sent a telegram, this... this is known throughout the world... we can't clear our name even if we jump into the Yellow River..."

Zhang Haipeng's face turned extremely grim.

He was still holding a wine glass in his hand, but his hand was shaking so badly that the wine spilled from the rim of the glass and soaked his trouser leg.

He was a military man, and he understood the military implications of this telegram better than the civil officials present.

Zhang Xueliang's public condemnation meant that they had lost their last legal fig leaf, and that the Northeast Army troops who were still observing would no longer join them.

This also means that Yu Xuezhong's 190,000 elite Northeast Army troops who entered the pass will become their enemies rather than their allies.

What's even more crucial is that since Zhang Xueliang made the public announcement, it meant that he had completely sided with Zhang Xueming.

Who is Zhang Xueming?

What will he do if his brother publicly supports the madman who executed more than a thousand Japanese civilians in Fengtian?

The entire main hall was in complete chaos.

Some people were trembling, some were wailing, some were slumped in chairs, unable to breathe, and some were starting to sneak towards the door, trying to slip away in the chaos.

Those who had just vowed to "go through fire and water" are now ashen-faced, looking like condemned prisoners being led to their execution.

Only Zang Shiyi remained motionless.

He stood behind the head table, holding a glass of shochu he hadn't finished drinking, his expression incredibly relaxed.

When everyone was terrified and their faces were ashen, he actually smiled.

"What's the panic?"

Zang Shiyi spoke calmly. He placed his wine glass on the table, picked up a napkin, slowly wiped his mouth, and then glanced at his confidential secretary.

"Bring me paper and pen."

The confidential secretary was taken aback for a moment, then quickly took paper and pen from the desk next to him.

Zang Shiyi took the brush, dipped it in thick ink, and with his wrist suspended in the air, wrote a few characters on the paper.

After finishing writing, he handed the paper to his confidential secretary, speaking in a calm tone as if he were instructing someone on a routine official duty:

"Reply immediately. The telegram reads as follows: The Commander-in-Chief has been taken hostage by Zhang Xueming. This telegram is not the Commander-in-Chief's original intention, but was drafted by Zhang Xueming."

"We are raising a righteous army to rescue the Commander-in-Chief from the jaws of death. We hope that all the 30 million people and brothers in the Northeast will distinguish right from wrong, join us in raising the banner of righteousness, and work together to punish Zhang Xueming and rescue the Commander-in-Chief."

The confidential secretary took the note, his pupils dilating suddenly.

The people in the main hall then realized what was happening, and as if they had been given a shot of adrenaline, their faces regained their color.

"The Commander-in-Chief's insight is brilliant!"

Zhang Haipeng was the first to applaud, giving a big thumbs-up:

"Master Zang's move was absolutely brilliant!"

Yu Chonghan nodded repeatedly in agreement:

"Holding hostage! Yes, holding hostage! The young marshal has been held hostage by Zhang Xueming!"

"The whole of Northeast China knows that the Young Marshal is with Zhang Xueming, so this telegram certainly doesn't represent the Young Marshal's true intentions!"

"Even if we lay it all on the line, we're still the young marshal's men, loyal subjects!"

"Zhang Xueming is the real traitor!"

Yuan Jinkai also stood up, holding his wine glass, his face now radiant with renewed vigor. "Lord Zang's resourcefulness is truly admirable!"

The atmosphere in the main hall became lively again.

Everyone raised their glasses again, and a new wave of compliments and flattery surged toward Zang Shiyi.

Phrases like "strategic planning," "a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang," and "turning the tide" were used to shower Zang Shiyi with all sorts of beautiful but empty compliments.

Zang Shiyi sat back down in his armchair, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and his smile remained calm.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The atmosphere in the main hall has completely recovered from the panic just now, and is even more enthusiastic than before.

Everyone was flushed from drinking; some were slumped over the table talking nonsense, some were pulling the people next to them to call them brothers, and some had already started snoring.

Zang Shiyi put down his wine glass, turned his head, and waved to Zhang Haipeng, who was sitting next to him.

"Hai Peng".

Zang Shiyi's voice was very low, so that only the two of them could hear it.

"Please give your instructions, Lord Zang."

Zhang Haipeng quickly leaned closer, his ear almost touching Zang Shiyi's mouth.

"Take your men and set off immediately."

Zang Shiyi looked out the window, towards the northern suburbs of Fengtian. "We must take over the airport today."

Zhang Haipeng nodded, but a hint of hesitation flashed across his face:

"Lord Zang, the defending troops at the airport have strong firepower. They attacked twice yesterday afternoon but failed to take it, and the brothers suffered heavy casualties."

"Should we wait a little longer, until the Japanese army arrives...?"

"I'm not waiting anymore."

Zang Shiyi interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument, "There are powerful fighter jets in that airport."

"Those planes were no match for even the Japanese planes."

"If we can seize them, even if Zhang Xueming personally leads his troops back, we will still have a fighting chance."

"If you can't get it... you know the consequences."

Zhang Haipeng's expression changed, then he suddenly stood up, slammed his wine glass heavily on the table, and snapped a military salute:

"Rest assured, Lord Zang! The airport will be secured by this afternoon!"

After saying that, he turned around and strode out of the main hall. His military boots slammed onto the stone floor, shaking the dust off the door frame.

His rough shouts echoed from the courtyard:

"Guard Regiment! Assemble!"

Zhang Haipeng, along with his newly promoted commander-in-chief of the Fengtian garrison and his 3,000-strong force, marched in a grand procession toward the airport in the northern suburbs of Fengtian.

This team was a mixed bag, including his former troops from Taonan, troops that had been incorporated into Zang Shiyi's forces in Fengtian, and some local thugs and ruffians who had been temporarily recruited.

The group stretched loosely along half the street; some carried rifles, some only had a large knife, and some were drunk and being carried by their companions.

Fortunately, the people in Fengtian City had all heard the news, and every household kept their doors and windows tightly shut. The streets were deserted, except for Zhang Haipeng's troops marching swaggeringly.

It was already broad daylight, and the people huddled behind the door, watching the sparse army with fear.

Three thousand men left the north gate of Fengtian and marched rapidly along the dirt road leading to the airport.

Riding his horse in the middle of the column, Zhang Haipeng was already planning how to claim credit with Zang Shiyi after capturing the airport.

He had already decided that the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Fengtian Garrison promised by Zang Shiyi was only the first step. After completely defeating Zhang Xueming, he wanted the position of Garrison Commander of Liaodong, the territory of Andong, and more...

His dream was interrupted by the sudden stop of the line ahead.

The horse was reined in and let out a neigh, nearly causing Zhang Haipeng to fall.

"Damn it, who the hell dares to block my way? Are they tired of living?"

He cursed under his breath and was about to grab a gun and go see what was going on.

Suddenly, I saw a figure emerging from behind a nearby earthen slope in my field of vision.

When Zhang Haipeng saw the man's face clearly, he was so frightened that he rolled off the saddle.