“Naturally, to give General Wang an opportunity to serve the country with loyalty!” Li Jiancheng’s expression remained gentle as always, as if discussing something completely unrelated to tension.

Wang Zhengfeng pressed against the cold wall and said frantically: “Don’t act recklessly! This is the General’s Mansion. If you kill me, none of you will escape!” As he spoke, his hand secretly reached toward one side, wanting to grab the long spear placed nearby. Before he could touch it, Li Jiancheng’s cold voice already reached his ears: “Doing that will only make the General die faster!”

Seeing his intention exposed, Wang Zhengfeng helplessly withdrew his hand and gritted his teeth: “If you stop now and leave Luoyang, I can pretend I never saw you. Even Deputy General Fang’s death can go unpunished!”

Li Jiancheng raised his eyebrows: “Oh, is that really true?”

Wang Zhengfeng thought he had swayed his thinking and hurriedly said: “Of course it’s true. This should be the best path for you.”

Li Jiancheng nodded noncommittally, then revealed a gentle smile: “Perhaps, but since I’ve come to Luoyang, I have no intention of leaving. So I can only disappoint the General’s kind intentions!”

Hearing this, how could Wang Zhengfeng not understand that Li Jiancheng had been toying with him? His face turned iron-blue: “The mansion is full of soldiers everywhere. With just one shout from me, they’ll rush in. Do you think that with just you three, you can break out of this dragnet?”

Li Jiancheng’s smile remained unchanged: “Why break out? Wouldn’t it be better to simply bring them under my command?”

Wang Zhengfeng’s eyelids twitched violently as he blurted out: “You want to control Luoyang City?”

“The General finally understands my intention.” Hearing this, Wang Zhengfeng shouted sternly: “Dream on! The fifty thousand soldiers of Luoyang City will only be loyal to His Majesty alone and will never submit to you!”

“Then let’s wait and see.” Just after saying this, Li Jiancheng shook his head: “No, the General won’t have a chance to see this scene!” Having said this, his palm struck accurately at Wang Zhengfeng’s neck. The latter didn’t even have time to cry out before falling unconscious.

Seeing this scene, Li Yuanji asked in confusion: “Elder brother, why didn’t you kill Wang Zhengfeng directly? Don’t tell me you still want this old fool to submit to us?”

“I have my uses for him.” Saying this, he told Jiang Yuan: “Go forge a secret decree, saying that Wang Zhengfeng’s lax military discipline failed to relieve Chang’an’s crisis in time, ordering Wang Zhengfeng’s immediate execution by public beheading!”

While Jiang Yuan nodded, he asked in puzzlement: “What does Your Highness mean by this?”

Li Jiancheng glanced at Wang Zhengfeng lying unconscious on the ground and said coldly: “Although Luoyang City has quite a few of my former subordinates, as Wang Zhengfeng said, wanting to control the fifty thousand troops in the city and make them unite with me against Li Shimin is definitely not easy, unless we make them dissatisfied with Li Shimin.” Then he asked: “What is Wang Zhengfeng’s reputation in the army?”

“Wang Zhengfeng has been stationed in Luoyang for several years. Though rigid in character, he never shortchanges the soldiers’ pay. The troops are quite convinced by him.”

“That’s it then. Such a person, executed by Li Shimin for such a trivial matter—what do you think the soldiers will feel?”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan understood and said with sudden realization: “Your Highness has an excellent strategy! I’ll handle it right away!”

“Wait!” Li Jiancheng called back the general who was about to leave: “Before that, go find a physician to prepare an antidote. Have it brewed and brought here. On the execution ground, we can’t let Wang Zhengfeng speak nonsense.”

“I understand.” Jiang Yuan left with understanding. He must have instructed the soldiers outside, as no one came in. After about an hour, Jiang Yuan entered carrying a leather water pouch. As soon as he pulled out the stopper, a heavy medicinal smell could be detected. He and Li Yuanji forcibly pried open Wang Zhengfeng’s mouth and poured it down.

Under their manipulation, Wang Zhengfeng slowly awakened from unconsciousness. After tasting the bitter medicine in his mouth, his face changed and he hurriedly asked: “What medicine did you give me?”

“You’ll know soon enough.” Li Jiancheng’s expression was always so gentle, looking completely harmless, in stark contrast to Li Yuanji who was always ready to kill. But Jiang Yuan knew clearly that he was the truly terrifying one, far beyond comparison with the rash and impulsive Li Yuanji.

“Come…” Wang Zhengfeng had just called out one word when a gleaming dagger was placed across his throat, and Li Yuanji’s sinister voice sounded in his ear: “Shout again and your little life will be gone!”

Under his threat, Wang Zhengfeng helplessly swallowed the words at his lips and looked at Li Jiancheng: “Even if you control Luoyang City, so what? His Majesty commands the entire realm. You have no chance of winning. It’s not too late now—withdraw! At least you can preserve your lives.”

Li Jiancheng said indifferently: “I didn’t expect the General to be so concerned about me. I’m truly flattered, but… if I withdraw now, can I really preserve my life?”

“I can guarantee that absolutely no one will harm you!” Wang Zhengfeng didn’t notice that his voice had become exceptionally hoarse.

“Guarantee?” Faced with Li Jiancheng’s questioning, Wang Zhengfeng nodded frantically: “That’s right, I swear I’ll ensure you leave Luoyang safely and never pursue this matter!”

Li Jiancheng let out a cold laugh: “Unfortunately, I’ve never believed in things like oaths!”

“I’m not lying to you, I… ah! Ah ah!” Wang Zhengfeng discovered in horror that he suddenly couldn’t speak. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t utter a single word from his wide-open mouth, only making “ah ah” sounds.

Li Yuanji glanced at him and said to Li Jiancheng: “Elder brother, it seems the medicine has taken effect.”

Li Jiancheng nodded slightly and asked Jiang Yuan standing beside him: “Is it ready?”

“Everything has been arranged according to Your Highness’s wishes.” With these words, he drew out a bright yellow scroll from his sleeve. Inside, written in imitation of Li Shimin’s tone, were words ordering Wang Zhengfeng’s execution. Though the handwriting was somewhat different, it was enough to fool soldiers who could barely read. Below was stamped a plausible imperial seal.

“Good!” Li Jiancheng closed the scroll with satisfaction and looked at Wang Zhengfeng, who hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of suddenly becoming mute, saying coolly: “Then according to the decree, drag General Wang out for public beheading.”

Hearing this, Wang Zhengfeng’s whole body shuddered. He waved his hands forcefully and shouted “ah ah” at Li Jiancheng. Though his words couldn’t be understood, he was presumably asking about the decree and why he was to be publicly beheaded.

Li Jiancheng crouched down and stared at his face filled with shock and bewilderment, saying with a half-smile: “Li Shimin thinks you sent troops too late and failed to relieve Chang’an’s siege in time, so he issued a decree to have you executed. Wang Zhengfeng, what do you think the soldiers in Luoyang City will think when they see you beheaded by Li Shimin’s decree for such a trivial matter?”

“Ah!” Wang Zhengfeng forcefully grabbed Li Jiancheng’s clothes and shouted angrily.