Occupying Huai'an City

"Xu Sha, together with his new wife Yun Wanyi, pays his respects to General Zhang Shi!"

Xu Sha brought his attendants and stood respectfully to the side, bowing.

Yun Wanyi also lowered her head in a bow.

Standing behind the two of them was Lu Shuang.

Zhang Shi nodded and said, "Rise. What is the current situation inside Huaian City?"

Yun Wanyi knew that Zhang Shi was a very straightforward general and did not dare to delay. She immediately replied, "Most of the people in my Yun clan follow my wishes. They are willing to follow Xu Sha and recognize him as the master of Huaian City."

"However, the Xu clan..."

Xu Sha hurriedly interjected, "General Zhang Shi, although there is some dissent among my clan members, I currently control a portion of Huaian City's troops. With General Zhang Shi here, I believe that as long as we persuade them properly, they will be willing to pledge their allegiance to the Lord Duke."

Saying this, he dropped to his knees with a thud. "I entreat General Zhang Shi, for the sake of my sincere surrender to the Lord Duke, to pardon the crimes of my Xu clan and spare their lives."

"Naturally!" When Zhang Shi slaughtered on the grasslands, leaving no survivors, it was because those who were not of his kin would surely have different loyalties. But right now, this Xu Sha, and especially Yun Wanyi, were meritorious contributors. Naturally, he would not go on a killing spree.

However, he still warned coldly, "If there are any who remain stubbornly obstinate, the sword in my hand is not blunt!"

"Thank you, General!"

Xu Sha was overjoyed, as was Yun Wanyi beside him.

She had also been worried that Zhang Shi would hold a strong prejudice against the Xu clan. The current situation was truly as good as it could get.

"General Zhang Shi, I will now lead the way for you to clear out all resistance in Huaian City. At the same time, I will gather my clansmen to explain the stakes to them."

"Good, go!"

Zhang Shi waved his hand, dismissing the two to get to work immediately.

He brought up the rear with his army of ten thousand.

With this army of ten thousand in hand, especially since the core elites were brought out from the grasslands by him, now that they had entered Huaian City, the city was already in his grasp.

There would absolutely be no unexpected mishaps!

Therefore, Zhang Shi was not in a hurry; he felt very relaxed!

Even...

A little bewildered!

Turning slightly to look at the walls of Huaian City, he clearly realized that he was not dreaming. He was indeed inside Huaian City, and it had only taken a mere few days...

Zhang Shi was bewildered!

And perplexed!

"Simple, too simple!"

"So simple it feels like a dream!"

"This is more than ten thousand times easier than slaughtering the grassland barbarians. So, just like this, Yunjing can be taken?"

"Is this the correct way to conquer Yunjing?"

...

"Uncles and brothers..."

High upon the platform, Xu Sha's expression was solemn. Changing his usual cowardly image, he spoke coldly to the Xu clansmen who had been coerced or half-coerced into gathering.

"The gates of Huaian City have been opened."

"The Lord Duke has entered the city!"

"At this moment, if you wish to preserve our Xu family, please surrender immediately. Otherwise, even I will not be able to save your lives!"

The clansmen were densely packed, filling the Xu family courtyard.

Hearing these words, an uproar erupted.

"What? The city gates are open?"

"Didn't we agree to resist Ren Tianye together? Why are we surrendering?"

"Sigh, if you ask me, surrendering isn't bad. Ren Tianye has brought an army of two hundred thousand. Can our Huaian City block them forever even if we can hold out for a while? Rather than having the city breached and getting killed, this might not be a bad outcome."

"That's not right. Even if we are to surrender, it should be the eldest, Xu Shang. What is Xu Sha doing here? What right does he have to represent Huaian City? I won't surrender! Damn it, I'll kill him."

"Are you stupid? Didn't you see Yun Wanyi holding Xu Sha's hand? Don't you know the influence Yun Wanyi has in our Huaian army? Right now, the one in charge of Huaian City is Xu Sha!"

"Anyway, I won't surrender. What's wrong with a world full of passionate lovers? Only when everyone has love can there be universal harmony. I won't surrender..."

...

"Bang!" A loud crash.

The main gates of the Xu manor were smashed open with a clatter. Zhang Shi took the lead, walking at the forefront. Under the dimming sky, the surrounding soldiers held up torches, revealing his scarred face to the crowd.

That appearance carried a bloody and terrifying aura.

"Who refuses to surrender?"

Zhang Shi's eyes were cold as they swept over the crowd.

An old man in brocade robes stepped forward. "I will absolutely never surren—"

"Clang!"

A blade was drawn from its sheath!

A cold glint flashed!

Blood splattered five paces away!

A head fell to the ground!

Zhang Shi assumed the posture of sheathing his sword, the cold gleam on the blade radiating murderous intent.

He asked once more, "Who refuses to surrender?"

Silence fell over the Xu manor.

Not a single person made a sound.

"I don't have time to waste with you here. I'll give you half a cup of tea's time. Those willing to surrender, come report here and follow my personal guards to take over Huaian City."

"After half a cup of tea's time, anyone who hasn't reported will be executed on the spot!"

After he spoke, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

But just a moment later, someone raised their hand high.

"General, I am willing to surrender! I previously managed the official documents of Huaian City. I am willing to take the General to handle them."

"General, I am willing, I am willing! I manage three granaries in Huaian City. I can take the General to all of them."

"General, I am willing to surrender!"

"I am willing!"

"I am willing... Fuck, get in line, why are you pushing?"

"Me, me! Whoever the hell tries to cut in front of me again, watch out or I won't be polite!"

...

In less than half a cup of tea's time, the entire Xu clan surrendered completely. They scrambled to register, taking the troops Zhang Shi brought to secure all corners of Huaian City.

At this time, the Yun clan also hurried over. Most of them held positions in the military. With their help, Huaian City would return to peace in less than half a night.

However, this scene made Zhang Shi shudder slightly. He thought to himself that Yun Wanyi's prestige in Huaian City was incredibly high, to be able to easily persuade the Yun clan.

Seeing Yun Wanyi staying by Xu Sha's side, directing things efficiently and pacifying the crowd, he knew in his heart that as long as this couple was willing to accept the supervisors sent by the Lord Duke to balance their power, Huaian City would still be their domain in the future.

However, judging from the current situation, these two shouldn't have any objections.

He waved his hand. Seeing this, Xu Sha and Yun Wanyi hurriedly ran over.

"General Zhang Shi!"

"The overall situation is now settled. Are there any loose ends? Especially that man named Xu Shang."

Xu Sha immediately said, "General, my people found out that he went to the martial arts arena in the afternoon and gathered his old subordinates. It seems he had rebellious intentions."

"Although I took precautions, I was still worried he might charge out. After all, his troops are not weak, but..."

"The strange thing is, he gathered thousands of men, but then suddenly left, leaving thousands of people at the martial arts arena for several hours."

Zhang Shi: "???"

"What?"

"He gathered his troops, dumped them on the martial arts arena, and just left them there for hours?"

Zhang Shi felt his brain go a bit numb.

Looking throughout history, what general would dare to do this for no reason? Is that Xu Shang sick in the head?"

...