Because this would lead to wild imaginations.

Of course, Shen Xinglan is an exception.

Shen Qingping performed poorly within the family and was exiled by Shen Boyu for making a major mistake.

Shen Wuxiang was overwhelmed with daily affairs, especially during the critical moment of the Shen Family ascending to power; how could he focus on a family disappointment?

Before the words faded, the confidential secretary knocked and entered, saluted, and reported loudly, "Report to the Military Minister, General Xie Daoyun tried to contact the Dushan camp, but there was no response... He's tried contacting the Dushan leader Xun Pu and various commanding generals, but has not succeeded yet. General Xie Daoyun is already on his way to Dushan."

Shen Wuxiang and Sun Shehu exchanged glances, feeling a bad omen rise.

Had the entire Night Watchers of Dushan been wiped out?

Had the Dushan warzone fallen into enemy hands?

------

Dushan.

Council Hall.

Shen Qingping watched the flashing incoming call indicator and sighed heavily.

Fortunately, he had long since silenced the phone, otherwise his head would have exploded.

He actually wanted to shut off the entire communication system like other commanding generals... but he could not do that.

Because he needed to maintain contact with Tang Fei at all times.

Thinking of this, a bitterness rose in his heart.

He had been terribly tricked by Tang Fei.

After altering the Barbarian Clan forces, Tang Fei had Shen Qingping, under the guise of a commanding general, convene a meeting of Dushan's high-ranking generals, saying there was urgent military business to discuss.

Shen Qingping promptly reported to Dushan's highest military leader, Xun Pu, who suspected nothing, since such military meetings were frequently held.

Everyone freely shared their thoughts and suggestions; the Dushan military district was unlike other places, everyone was a group of 'neglected people' by the higher-ups.

Precisely due to this commonality, generals and advisors got along quite well.

They even occasionally gathered for a small hotpot meal, sipping Xiao Bai wine, truly sharing hardships.

Shen Qingping made the report in the morning, and Xun Pu gathered all high-ranking generals for a meeting at 3 p.m. that day.

Their meeting times were typically chosen during the day; at night, they had to be constantly vigilant against Barbarian attacks, with the military on high alert.

As Shen Qingping and the others just settled in the meeting room, Tang Fei and Little Fatty burst in, shouting 'You are all surrounded'.

Then, Shen Qingping was compelled to 'control' military leader Xun Pu and all commanding generals and senior advisors.

"Shen Qingping, do you know what you are doing? You're committing treason!"

"Allowing the Barbarians to cross Dushan... Do you understand the destruction they'll bring to the Empire? Do you know how much they hate us Phoenix people?"

"Let us go to pursue the Barbarians... Otherwise, we'll all be doomed together."

------

Everyone glared at Shen Qingping, their voices turning hoarse from shouting.

Shen Qingping turned away, wearing a sycophantic smile and said, "Come, brothers, let me toast everyone... Haven't eaten from noon until now, must be starving, right? Hurry and eat something to fill your stomach."

"I specially had this Tan sheep hotpot prepared, this wild mountain goat was caught from Dushan Mountain, tastes utterly different from the city... Truly fresh."

Xun Pu looked at Shen Qingping and said, "You want to treat us to hotpot... First loosen our hands and feet. With electronic shackles on, how can we eat?"

"Oh oh..." Shen Qingping seemed to just remember this issue, nodding repeatedly, "Here, Chief, I'll feed you."

He then ordered the guards behind the other generals and advisors, "Didn't you hear? Quickly feed the chiefs."

The trusted aides immediately picked up chopsticks and fed the cooked Tan sheep meat to the chiefs' mouths.

"Shen Qingping, are you mad? Trying to scald me to death?"

"Shen Qingping, you're finished... even taking it to the Imperial Military Committee, I'll still file a complaint against you..."

"We must remember today's humiliation... Mr. Xun, why are you eating it?"

Xun Pu swallowed the Tan sheep meat Shen Qingping fed him, chewed it meticulously, then shouted, "Bring some wine."

So Shen Qingping held the filled wine glass to his mouth.

"What's the glass for? Drink from the jug." Xun Pu said.

Shen Qingping hastily set down the glass, picked up the wine jug, and handed it to Xun Pu.

"Comfortable." Xun Pu drained half of the jug in one breath, then smacked his lips contentedly and looked at Shen Qingping, asking, "That boy just now, was it Tang Fei? Tang Li's son?"

"Yes, Chief." Shen Qingping replied awkwardly.

Tang Fei's identity was special, now his standing was even more unique...

Everyone here was his old chief and old comrades; later on, he couldn't establish himself in Dushan.

If he didn't flee quickly, he feared he'd be devoured alive by these people.

"Tang Fei leads the Barbarians and Qin Jianyi to seize your Shen Family's territory... and you just let them pass?"

Shen Qingping didn't respond and fed another piece of meat to Xun Pu.

Xun Pu caught it with his mouth, finished eating the sheep meat, then gazed at Shen Qingping, saying, "Seems you've already made your choice."

"I only do what I believe is right." Shen Qingping spoke out.

"What is the right thing? This is profoundly stupid."

"When the higher-ups hold you accountable, let's see how you survive."

"You think being part of the Shen family will let you escape a calamity... you've dragged us horribly into this."

------

Seeing Shen Qingping's unapologetic stance, everyone became even more furious.

Xun Pu then looked at the seated advisors and generals and said, "Shen Qingping isn't worried; why are you so incensed?"

"Have you not seen? The Empire's Eldest Princess Zhong Yu Xiu Xue has arrived... They're fighting their fight; what's it got to do with us?"

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