Everyone Opposes Zhou Xiong

The messenger urgently said, "General, it's true!"

"Really!"

"The people from Linjiang Shazui Water Fortress have bound the fortress leader, Shen Du, and sent him to Zhang Shi’s camp. Now... Zhang Shi has already sent men to take over the entire Linjiang Shazui Water Fortress!"

Zhou Xiong’s body went limp, almost collapsing to the ground.

Linjiang Shazui Water Fortress... was gone?

Fanshan Fortress had long since fallen!

The food supply to Pukou City had been cut off and never resumed!

How could he even hold Pukou City anymore?

"Zhou Xiong!"

Nanny Sun’s voice rang out: "This Pukou City, I think you can’t hold it."

"I advise you to consider surrendering."

"However..."

A rare hint of coldness crept onto Nanny Sun’s face as she said, "Even if you surrender now, you probably won’t get much in terms of treatment from Lord Duke."

"At best, you might just keep your life."

"You’d have to rely on your future performance if you want any further achievements."

"But..."

"Then again..."

"Isn’t keeping your life a good thing?"

Zhou Xiong could certainly grasp the implication in Nanny Sun’s words.

If this had been earlier, when Pukou City was as solid as iron and served as a stronghold on Ren Tianye’s road to Yun Jing, Zhou Xiong as the defending general would have been treated with great respect if he surrendered voluntarily, even if not made a core figure. But now...

Pukou City was leaking from all sides, and Ren Tianye’s chances of taking it had become far too easy. A surrender at this point...

The accounts for him would be unclear—was it a credit for defecting, or punishment for refusing to surrender earlier while defending the city?

But Zhou Xiong had a strong will. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Surrender?"

"Dream on!"

"I still have my soldiers!"

"Even if I have to fight to the last man, I’ll bet on reinforcements from Yun Jing!"

"Surrender to Ren Tianye?"

"Maybe in the next life!"

Zhou Xiong had said such things more than once before.

Previously, Nanny Sun would patiently try to persuade him, but now she just snorted coldly, "Zhou Xiong, are you still dreaming?"

"Your soldiers?"

"Do you think your soldiers still obey you?"

Pausing, she ignored Zhou Xiong’s rapidly changing expression and said flatly, "All along, you thought you had me under house arrest in your mansion, but..."

"Those who guard me might not listen to you."

"I’ve already sent word out."

"By now, those soldiers who are willing to follow your orders... I’m afraid there aren’t many left!"

...

Inside the city’s military camp, it was a scene of solemn silence.

All officers, big and small, were mobilized, aligning the entire army in orderly formations.

Their eyes were fixed in the direction of Zhou Xiong’s mansion.

They were clearly waiting for some answer!

And this answer had been taking far too long, prompting the men to start murmuring among themselves against their will.

"Nanny Sun said she would persuade General Zhou Xiong, but can she really do it? I think, if it comes to it, we should just stage a mutiny. Honestly, I can’t wait any longer."

"Don’t rush. We need to trust Nanny Sun. After all, she was sent by Lord Duke. We have to believe in her."

"Alas, I’m just afraid General Zhou Xiong is too stubborn. He’s treated us well before, but now the tide has turned. Lord Duke’s arrival brings a clear sky. We can’t miss this clear sky."

"Is this even about missing it now? Once Lord Duke attacks, we’ll lose even the chance to surrender. So let’s decide now and just rush over, put a blade to Zhou Xiong’s neck—I bet he’ll surrender!"

"Right, at worst, we spare General Zhou Xiong’s life, just tie him up... Of course, if none of you want to be the one to blame, I’ll do it!"

"Enough, enough, stop arguing. Let’s wait. Wait a little longer. If by tonight General Zhou Xiong still won’t surrender, don’t blame us for being ruthless!"

"Yes, tonight is the last chance for Zhou Xiong. If he’s still stubborn and won’t listen to Nanny Sun and surrender the city, then don’t blame the edge of my blade for being sharp!"

...

At Yingxia Tower!

Chen Liang opened the letter again.

It had been given to him by someone from Zhou Xiong’s mansion. The writer called herself Nanny Sun, a person sent by Lord Duke, who had seen through his actions and asked for his help.

Chen Liang had read this letter countless times, but now that the moment had arrived, he couldn’t help reading it once more.

Then, he let out a faint sigh.

"Lord Duke, as expected, was well-prepared!"

"He had people planted in Pukou City long ago."

"He also sent General Zhang Shi to cut off Pukou’s food supplies and sweep through its outskirts."

"With such a strategy from Lord Duke, how could a mere Zhou Xiong stir up any trouble?"

"Pukou City will eventually belong to Lord Duke."

"However..."

Chen Liang’s gaze sharpened: "I need to earn myself some credit before that happens!"

As he thought this, the largest private room on the second floor of Yingxia Tower was already filled with members of the Pukou City Love and Mutual Aid Alliance.

Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Chen Liang stood up directly and launched into an impassioned speech.

"Brothers, Zhou Xiong is still the defending general of Pukou City—this is an utter trampling of our Love and Mutual Aid Alliance!"

"Miss Wanqing’s body is still cold, and he’s still in his position! Can I endure this? Can the soul of love within me endure this? Can you endure it?"

Without waiting for the crowd to respond, Chen Liang continued: "Brothers and sisters, we must make a decision today."

"Are you willing to join me tonight to storm Zhou Xiong’s mansion, even the military camp, and..."

"Together, we’ll cut off Zhou Xiong’s head."

"For the sake of the late Miss Wanqing..."

"Avenge our hatred!"

Chen Liang had always held high prestige in the Pukou City Love and Mutual Aid Alliance, and his speech was extremely stirring. Combined with the members’ long-standing dissatisfaction with Zhou Xiong, it whipped them into a fervor.

Many followed his lead.

"Why wouldn’t I dare? For the sake of my love faith, I fear not even death, let alone charging at a mere defending general of Pukou City!"

"Young Master Chen, we’ll follow you. Whatever you say, we’ll do!"

"That scumbag Zhou Xiong killed Miss Wanqing with his own hands and defiled the sacred dao of love in my heart. I’ve long wanted to cut him into a thousand pieces. Tonight, let’s go together... to judge Zhou Xiong!"

"Zhou Xiong must be judged! That bastard doesn’t deserve to be in our Pukou City, this sacred land. Expel Zhou Xiong, return our love sanctity!"

"Expel Zhou Xiong, return our love sanctity!"

...

Chen Liang immediately said, "Good! Brothers and sisters, since you all have such resolve, then tonight it is. Wait for my signal."

"We’ll..."

"Break into Zhou Xiong’s mansion, break into the military camp!"

"Judge Zhou Xiong!"

"Make Zhou Xiong atone for Miss Wanqing!"