Once they took Jingzhou, Han Zhengqing would no longer be a threat. And once Han Zhengqing was finished, they could concentrate their full strength on dealing with Prince Gong. Only after taking down Prince Gong could they continue cleaning up these Tatars who were rampaging and running amok within their Great Zhou’s territory.

Cui Shaoting said nothing. His fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop for a long while before he revealed an inscrutable smile: “Han Zhi has come to Jingzhou.”

Han Zhi had always been a person who provoked dislike. Prince Zhennan was very disgusted by him, and both sons looked down on this person whose methods were too vicious. But now, hearing of Han Zhi’s background, they felt Han Zhi was somewhat pitiable.

A child, raised from youth by someone with ulterior motives, and in the end the person who raised him wanted to kill him. Moreover, he and his mother had been toyed with and manipulated for so many years. Anyone would go mad under such circumstances.

He paused and asked Cui Shaoting: “Logically speaking, for him to get from Fujian to here, no matter what, it would take considerable time and effort. Even if he had heaven-defying abilities, he’d still have to safely come ashore first, then travel from south to north. But where would he get travel permits? As far as I know, Guo Huaiying watches Fujian extremely strictly and identity checks are also extremely rigorous…”

This was absolutely abnormal. Wang Lun and his people were so formidable yet still didn’t dare come ashore. No matter how capable, they could only circle around at sea with the Japanese. So where did a Han Zhi get such ability?

Cui Shaoting just smiled at him with a knowing expression.

Prince Zhennan immediately understood the meaning of this smile—someone was providing convenience, someone had deliberately let Han Zhi through. And this person, besides Song Chuyi, who else could it be?

“She has that ability?” Prince Zhennan had always greatly trusted Song Chuyi’s capabilities and even more trusted her god-like foresight. But he felt Han Zhi couldn’t be judged by conventional reasoning: “He might kill Han Zhi and occupy Jingzhou himself.”

Marquis Dingyuan now understood clearly. Before Cui Shaoting could speak, he immediately shook his head: “That’s highly unlikely.” He said: “If Han Zhi is truly as clever as you all say, then he should know that at this moment, if he kills Han Zhengqing and occupies Jingzhou, the first one to die without a burial place will be him—even if he plans to kill Han Zhengqing and take his place then cooperate with Prince Gong and the Tatars, would we give him the opportunity? He should be able to read the situation.”

Prince Zhennan wasn’t comforted by his words. Who could say for certain in such matters? Being prepared was always better than being unprepared.

Clearly Cui Shaoting thought the same: “Regardless, just prepare for the worst.”

Lu Ran volunteered to go as a spy to gather intelligence. He had formerly been Han Zhengqing’s man and understood Han Zhengqing very well. He was quite skilled at gathering information. Now at this time, intelligence work was especially important.

Cui Shaoting also agreed. Seeing that Han Yang and Han Yu hadn’t spoken from beginning to end, he asked if they wanted to return to Guyuan first.

Han Zhengqing was their father after all. Even if they hated Han Zhengqing again, if they had to personally kill him, it would probably be hard on their hearts.

Han Yang lowered his head without speaking. After a long while he finally shook his head resolutely, his face carrying a trace of mockery and ridicule: “When he sent my older brother to Hubei, he already knew Uncle had died, already knew something had happened there, that the Prince of Dongping didn’t acknowledge him at all. Yet he still sent my brother to go… In his heart we were never his sons.” He paused, letting out a cold laugh: “And we truly aren’t his sons.” Both their mothers had been forcibly taken and brought to Han Zhengqing’s side. After toying with them for a while and finding them virtuous and gentle without personality, he discarded them like worn shoes. For such a person to expect them to acknowledge him was truly too difficult.

Han Yu patted his younger brother’s shoulder and also smiled: “He’s right. Commander-in-Chief need not worry about us. We won’t be soft-handed. If we encounter him, I’ll personally kill him.”

Cui Shaoting nodded at them, wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing. These two children were truly both good children—it was unfortunate they encountered a father like Han Zhengqing.

After the reminiscing was done, they should discuss serious matters. Yecha still hadn’t been found—they absolutely couldn’t let him escape. The forces guarding Qingzhou Prefecture’s city gates were increased twofold. Han Yang and Han Yu personally led teams down to search house by house. Anyone who couldn’t speak Chinese would be seized and interrogated.

Yecha’s days were like walking on thin ice, filled with trepidation. At the most critical moment he had almost come face to face with those Zhou soldiers. Fortunately one of his personal guards was clever and shouted then ran, giving him the opportunity to escape.

But how many times could he have such luck? The city was being combed like a carpet—every corner was being searched. He felt the cold wind cutting to the bone, yet also felt burning fire. His whole body was half cold and half hot. He nearly frightened himself to death.

Han Zhengqing hadn’t frightened himself to death. He was thinking about backup plans.

If, in the unlikely event things failed and he was truly breached by Cui Shaoting, then what could he do?

Secretly take some personal guards and flee to Yetan—that might still work. But after going there, his status would be far inferior to before. Previously, though he also worked for the Tatars, he held high position and authority. What he said counted. At most it was a cooperative relationship, mutually beneficial—no one could call the other grandson. But if he once fled to Yetan, then afterward he would have nothing left and would have to be the Tatars’ dog. Subconsciously, he was unwilling to be the Tatars’ dog. Who would willingly become a dog instead of remaining human?

Worrying like this, he felt somewhat tired and drowsily closed his eyes. Counting it up, he had already gone three days without sleep, constantly deliberating with everyone on how to deploy troops and arrange formations. He was truly extremely exhausted.

Not long after, he suddenly felt somewhat uneasy again. He shook his head to wake up and sat up straight.

In the command tent that should have been empty, there was a lean soldier with his head lowered wiping the table. He frowned and rebuked: “Who let you in?!”

At this time, someone actually dared to privately enter his tent without announcement. If this was a spy from Cui Shaoting’s side, then… His face turned iron-blue as he expressionlessly called to him: “You come here.”

The figure’s back stood without moving, not raising his head either.

He felt it increasingly strange and suspicious. He let out a cold laugh and intensified his tone: “I told you to come here. Didn’t you hear?!”

The figure’s back stiffened for an instant, then turned around extremely slowly.

Han Zhengqing had just stood up and walked two steps toward him. As he raised his eyes, he saw that person’s full face and couldn’t help freezing in place. This face looked familiar no matter how he looked at it, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

For a moment he couldn’t recall exactly where he had seen it. Not particularly concerned, he asked: “Who let you enter privately without announcement?!”

After scolding, he felt something was wrong. The person before him had a face that was simply too familiar—so familiar that this sense of familiarity couldn’t be ignored at all…