Linjiang Sandspit Water Stronghold Has Fallen

The expression on the clan leader's face was helpless.

His tone of voice was crumbling.

Even the ropes binding him were real.

Only... the light in his eyes carried something different.

When Shen Du heard these words, he collapsed.

"The clan leader has been tied up. Then... what can we possibly do?"

The answer was: nothing!

Aside from Shen Du and Su Lanxiang, everyone in the entire Linjiang Shazui Water Village had essentially surrendered. All strategies had been discussed, and all measures had been thoroughly prepared.

They were fully committed to ensuring there would be no mistakes.

If Shen Du could still turn things around at this point, it would be the biggest joke under heaven!

And so, Shen Du and Su Lanxiang were loaded onto two prison carts by the Shen clan members and everyone else from Linjiang Shazui Water Village. With a shout from the clan members, they set off in a grand procession toward Zhang Shi's military camp.

They also brought along ledgers for grain, weapons, and troops.

This time, if they were going to surrender, they would surrender completely!

Over at Zhang Shi’s camp, news had also arrived.

Unfortunately, the news Zhang Shi had was from half a day earlier.

"What?"

Zhang Shi's face turned cold. "The chief of Linjiang Shazui Water Village, Shen Du, dares to go back on his word?"

"Hmph! He promised me, and now he dares to renege? Does he think my blade is dull?"

"Fine then. I'll let Shen Du taste the Blitz Strike!"

Zhang Shi was burning with fury.

He had originally thought he could easily take Linjiang Shazui Water Village!

And that would have allowed his newfound confidence to take root and grow, towering like a great tree!

But now...

Shen Du’s betrayal had shaken that tree in his mind, striking at his weak spot.

How could he not be angry?

How could he not be driven mad with rage?

He was about to summon his generals to discuss taking Linjiang Shazui Water Village by force when a messenger rushed in.

"General... General..."

"From Linjiang Shazui Water Village... a huge crowd is approaching!"

"The lead group has raised a banner bearing the character 'Shen.' It should be the Shen clan members."

Zhang Shi frowned. "A huge crowd approaching? Armed troops?"

The messenger quickly replied, "There are troops, but they don’t seem ready for battle. It looks like... a surrender."

"Surrender?" Zhang Shi said. "Let’s go see."

As he stepped out of the camp, he saw a group of people racing toward him at the front. Leading them was the Shen clan leader, who had come to the camp before.

The clan leader dismounted and knelt before Zhang Shi, shouting loudly, "The Shen clan leader, on behalf of the entire clan, pledges allegiance to the Duke."

"Because Shen Du, the chief of Linjiang Shazui Water Village, tried to sabotage the Shen clan’s great plan and the Duke’s plan in the name of love, the Shen clan held a vote. Unanimously, we removed Shen Du from his position and hand him over to General Zhang Shi for judgment."

"General Zhang Shi, Shen Du has been brought here."

"Also brought is Su Lanxiang, who was Shen Du's moonlit ideal. Would you like to see her?"

Zhang Shi: "???"

Then, his face lit up with sheer joy.

Wait, he had thought something had gone wrong!

But it turned out the deviation had been corrected!

The Shen clan was unexpectedly effective!

He quickly helped the clan leader to his feet and said with a smile, "Troubling you, Clan Leader. Managing the Shen clan must not be easy."

The clan leader hurriedly replied with a flattering smile, "Thank you for your kindness, General Zhang Shi. The clan members are fine, but Shen Du was a bit outrageous."

"However, now that he’s handed over to you and the Imperial Demon Suppression Bureau for discipline, we can rest easy."

Just as they were about to continue catching up, another person knelt heavily beside them.

The man slammed his knees so hard into the ground that it cracked the earth beneath him, clearly trying to catch Zhang Shi’s attention.

"General, this humble one pays respects to you!"

Zhang Shi looked over and asked, "And you are?"

"This humble one is the deputy captain of the enforcement team under Zhou Xiong in Pukou City. I was sent by Zhou Xiong to monitor the people of Linjiang Shazui Water Village, but..."

"Though I am lowly, I recognize justice when I see it!"

"Therefore, I have abandoned the dark for the light. I beg General Zhang Shi to show leniency because I came forward willingly."

The clan leader immediately whispered to Zhang Shi, "General, capturing that useless Shen Du was partly thanks to this officer."

Zhang Shi’s expression turned serious. He helped the man up and said, "Abandoning the dark for the light shows your sincerity."

"The Duke has never said he would wipe out everyone in the Cloud Capital. As long as one sincerely seeks the light, the Duke is willing to give them a chance!"

"And I, as a general... am naturally willing to give you the same chance!"

He paused, then waved his hand grandly. "Let’s go! In taking Linjiang Shazui Water Village, you are all heroes. I will host a banquet for you!"

The crowd immediately erupted in cheers.

The smile on Zhang Shi’s face could no longer be contained.

After this mission, he had undergone a complete transformation.

From a general who only knew Blitz Strike to someone who could exploit a lovesick fool and break through, he had even developed an enhanced version of Blitz Strike.

And he now fully understood what Ren Tianye had once said to him:

"The art of war lies in the mind!"

Indeed, at this moment, Zhang Shi radiated an almost glowing aura, reminiscent of his spirited days when he first returned from the grasslands—but now, his brilliance shone even brighter.

After all, fighting barbarians on the grasslands meant losing men. But now... he had done almost nothing. One letter, one simple little trick... and the Cloud Capital had fallen so easily!

...

While Zhang Shi was ecstatic, Zhou Xiong, the defender of Pukou City, was also excited.

Zhou Xiong had also experienced a delay in information. In his hand was a letter from Su Lanxiang.

The letter stated emphatically that she would hold Linjiang Shazui Water Village, asking only that Zhou Xiong not reveal why Su Lanxiang couldn’t get pregnant.

"Heh!"

Zhou Xiong chuckled lightly. "Whether you can get pregnant is none of my damn business! As long as you guard Linjiang Shazui Water Village for me and help me wait for reinforcements from the Cloud Capital court, you can do whatever you want!"

The depression Zhou Xiong had felt from the pressure of defending the city over the past few days vanished completely. He felt cheerful again, even humming a tune—until...

A messenger staggered in.

"Report!"

"General... General! It’s bad, it’s bad!"

"Linjiang Shazui Water Village... has fallen!"

Boom!

Like a thunderclap exploding overhead.

Zhou Xiong spun around, the joy vanishing from his face in an instant. His eyes were filled with disbelief.

He grabbed the messenger by the collar and roared, "What nonsense are you spewing?"

"I just received word that Linjiang Shazui Water Village was as solid as iron! And now you’re telling me it’s fallen?"

"How is that possible?!"