Chapter 2267: Anger

The faces of the commoners turned pale as they trembled in fear and hatred. To them, this was no ordinary general; he was a demon!

Given a choice, none would willingly risk their lives for him.

Su Huai wasted no time. The next day, he led his army to attack again. This time, the conscripted civilians dared not attempt escape, knowing that Su Huai’s soldiers, embedded among them, would swiftly kill any who tried.

Observing this, Zheng Sangge and his cohorts retreated to their base camp and fortified their position.

Buoyed by his success, Su Huai reorganized his troops, driving the frightened commoners forward to goad his foes. Zheng Sangge remained barricaded, refusing to engage.

Though eager to storm the city, Su Huai was frustrated by his lack of siege weapons, which he had earlier destroyed in his assault on Jinhua City.

This left him seething.

Had he possessed ladders and catapults, he could have used the commoners as cannon fodder, ensuring Zheng Sangge’s demise.

But alas, he did not!

The construction of such siege equipment on the fly was impractical; such tools were not readily available and were only found in the Jiangning military camp.

Su Huai commanded his men to insult Shao Yunduan and Zheng Sangge, deliberately provoking them. Additionally, he dispatched his two sons back to Jiangning with urgency to fetch ladders and catapults.

Zheng Sangge, Qin Wuyou, and others were appalled by Su Huai’s shameless actions. Bandits remained bandits, and their behavior was utterly inhumane. The Third Prince, a descendant of the Tian family and legitimate son of the intermediate palace empress, had stooped to such depths!

A true gentleman would steer clear of bandits, knowing such actions would forever tarnish his reputation.

Qin Wuyou and Zheng Sangge agreed that Su Huai’s actions would stir public outrage. Since they were already committed, they decided to capitalize on the situation and seize Hangzhou City!

With Hangzhou City under their control, places like Shaoxing, Zhuji, Yuyao, Ningbo, and others would naturally fall into their hands.

This conquest would expand their territory and bring abundant resources—grains, people, and wealth. The fertile lands would significantly bolster Huaixi’s strength after the capture of Hangzhou City.

Zheng Sangge’s heart raced with anticipation.

Following their discussion, they hastily penned a secret letter overnight and arranged for its discreet delivery to Shao Yunduan.

Gathering his subordinates, Shao Yunduan found them all brimming with enthusiasm and determination. This was a rare opportunity indeed.

Moved by Su Huai’s unwitting gift, Shao Yunduan wondered why he shouldn’t seize it.

Consequently, numerous individuals covertly made their way to Jinhua City, Dongyang City, and Pujiang. Sun Bai led Yang Mu, Wei San, Wei Wu, Xiao Yuan, and several others—all adept at gathering intelligence and executing clandestine operations.

While Su Huai reveled in the success of his cunning plan, unbeknownst to him, Zheng Sangge and Qin Wuyou had already laid an intricate trap.

The Third Prince appeared overly ambitious, perhaps excessively confident. He might have believed that Su Huai would not dare defy three successive imperial decrees. Consequently, after issuing the decrees, he neglected to monitor affairs in Hangzhou City, choosing instead to await Su Huai’s return to Jiangning before making inquiries.

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