The City Lord Has Fallen

"It seems I must make a trip to Source City myself."

Ren Tianye spoke thus.

Liu Aijiu had reported that his master was currently in Source City, seeking true love for Hu Shaoyou, the city's lord.

If they acted in time, perhaps they could capture the master of Longing Pavilion in Source City.

"Where is reckless (Wang Ming)?"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"How is Zhang Shi faring now? Has Source City been taken?"

"Your Excellency, there is no news of its capture yet. However, based on the current schedule, General Zhang Shi is likely already at the walls of Source City, locked in combat with Hu Shaoyou."

Reckless (Wang Ming) had guessed correctly.

Zhang Shi was indeed before Source City, facing its towering, sturdy walls. The skills he had honed on the grasslands had little room to be used here.

But...

Zhang Shi thought to himself: if he could circle around and attack from the rear, it might not be impossible!

"Should I flank or not?"

"Do I actually go for a rear assault?"

Zhang Shi, riding his Night-Shining Jade Lion, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

He had calculated: if he launched a sneak attack from behind while the front held the enemy’s attention, he could strike Source City’s lord Hu Shaoyou like a divine soldier descending from the heavens within ten days at most.

Then, with one swift and fierce maneuver—

If Hu Shaoyou didn’t kneel and call him "grandfather," Zhang Shi would lose the bet!

"But..."

"Before I left, the Duke told me to use my head more and not rely solely on fierce, overwhelming tactics!"

"The Duke just let me ride his Night-Shining Jade Lion—how could I go against his orders?"

Zhang Shi exerted tremendous willpower and finally suppressed the urge. Then, turning his head, he asked, "Where is Lu Shuang?"

The personal guard hurried off to find him.

An hour later, Lu Shuang arrived on horseback, a saber called "Severing Love" at his waist and clad in demon-subduing attire.

"General Zhang Shi, I’ve uncovered some information about Hu Shaoyou, the lord of Source City."

"Oh? Speak quickly!"

Zhang Shi had grown quite trusting of Lu Shuang by now.

After all, this was a talent handpicked by the Duke himself, along with Su Jin, to compensate for Zhang Shi’s own shortcomings.

Given that Lu Shuang had also earned considerable credit for capturing Huai’an City, Zhang Shi had come to rely on him greatly.

"Hu Shaoyou of Source City has a wife. She dotes on him obsessively, tirelessly working day and night for his sake. Moreover, her family background is extraordinary—she went to great lengths to support Hu Shaoyou in becoming the lord of Source City."

"One could say that Hu Shaoyou’s wife is his right hand—"

"An absolute pillar of strength!"

"And Hu Shaoyou treasures his wife deeply; the two share a profound bond, widely celebrated as a model couple."

Zhang Shi pondered and asked, "Anything else?"

Lu Shuang shook his head. "Not for now. Without being able to enter the city, this is all I could glean."

"The fact that you managed to learn even this much is no small feat." Zhang Shi, who rarely praised anyone, then asked, "So, what’s your plan?"

"Are we to apply some pressure through Hu Shaoyou’s wife?"

Zhang Shi tried hard to adjust his thinking, letting Lu Shuang’s reasoning guide him. Reckless (Wang Ming)’s earlier prodding and the experience of taking Huai’an City had taught him just how indispensable people like Lu Shuang were.

He had also come to understand that, sometimes, he had to listen.

"No need," Lu Shuang replied.

"Wait... so you mean—to work through Hu Shaoyou himself by applying pressure on his wife? But will that work?"

"It would be useful," Lu Shuang said, "but there’s no real necessity for it."

Zhang Shi felt his head spin again.

Conversations with people from the Demon-Subduing Bureau always seemed to confuse him.

"General Zhang Shi, what I mean is—" Lu Shuang smiled. "The Red-Cannon artillery has arrived!"

"Eh?"

Zhang Shi froze for a moment before bursting into joy.

The Red-Cannon artillery was heavy, and the road to Source City, even along the main path, was rough. He had ridden ahead with the light cavalry, leaving the cannons to follow behind.

Now the Red-Cannon artillery had finally arrived?

Then what good were Source City’s walls?

He had seen the power of those cannons before!

Overwhelmed with delight, he nonetheless couldn’t help a flash of irritation.

"Then why did you just go on about Hu Shaoyou and his wife?"

"Was that a waste of breath?"

Lu Shuang said, "Your subordinate was merely concerned that, when the city falls, Hu Shaoyou might flee like Xu Shang did. I feared you wouldn’t catch him in time."

Zhang Shi immediately understood.

"So that’s what you meant."

"My apologies for misjudging you."

"But don’t worry this time."

"When Source City is breached, I’ll be the first to lead the charge into the city lord’s mansion. If I can’t catch Hu Shaoyou, I’ll grab his wife first."

"If she dies, I’ll stand guard over her corpse and announce to the whole city."

"As you intended."

Zhang Shi suddenly felt a wave of relief.

It seemed using a "love-brain" approach wasn’t so hard after all. Once he accepted this way of thinking, everything just... clicked.

Soon, the Red-Cannons were delivered. Zhang Shi waved his hand, and ten of them were lined up in a single row outside Source City, muzzles pointed directly at the walls.

Sitting atop his Night-Shining Jade Lion, Zhang Shi unleashed one final volley of insults before the assault:

"You bastard Hu Shaoyou! You dared to harbor imperial fugitives against the emperor’s decree and refused to open the city gates!"

"Fine, you think you’ve got guts?"

"Today, I’ll see just how tough you are—can you survive my Red-Cannons?"

With a single command, all ten cannons fired in unison.

Amid the thunderous roar of cannonballs, Source City’s walls began collapsing on a massive scale.

Yet, through the smoke and dust, Hu Shaoyou’s voice rang out with an oddly tragic grandeur: "Brothers! The city stands, we stand; the city falls, we fall! I, Hu Shaoyou, have already prepared for my death—I swear to defend this city to the end!"

But before his shouts could even fade, Source City’s wall gave way with a deafening crash, opening a massive breach.

The path was clear. Zhang Shi ordered the cannons to cease fire, then bellowed, "Men, follow me! Capture Hu Shaoyou alive!"

The light cavalry charged forward like the wind and poured into Source City in an instant. And then came the sound of cries and wails:

"The city lord has fallen!"

"The city lord was killed by cannon fire!"

...