People far away in Yunzhong County had no idea what was happening in the capital, nor did they have the capacity to care.

When Zhong Changrong received the news of victory, he also received a note from Xie Yanlai. The note instructed him to send the reports in two separate deliveries: one marked with the character “Zhang,” and the other through the normal reporting channels, with official announcements and urgent dispatches.

He said that this time Western Liang had broken through the defense line and captured Shipo City, which seemed quite strange no matter how one looked at it.

Zhong Changrong also didn’t believe that the border army was impenetrable. Previously, when Chu Wei was there, they could only ensure that fallen cities remained secure like iron buckets; for other places, they were powerless.

After Inspector Fu arrived, investigating here and there, accusing some of corruption and others of favoritism, Zhong had responded with cold smiles and ignored him, but in his heart, he knew these things were true.

The capture of the King of Western Liang was a major event that would determine the fate of Great Xia and Western Liang.

Xie Yanlai was concerned that someone might deliberately block the message.

The news of Shipo City’s fall would cause great turmoil in the court. Empress Zhao would certainly face significant trouble. For many matters, being one step late could turn everything upside down.

So first, send the news to her to ease her mind and give her confidence, then let the official reports spread along the way, making everyone aware of the great victory, to reassure the people.

This way, everything both inside and out would be stabilized.

Zhong Changrong heard only the single line about capturing the King of Western Liang, then saw these few rambling sentences on the note, and nothing else.

“How was the battle fought? What is their situation? How are Xie Yanlai’s injuries? What else do they need?” he asked through gritted teeth.

This brat—didn’t he know he had again acted without orders? Even if he captured the King of Western Liang, merit was merit, but fault was also fault.

He had the energy to write so much nonsense and instruct him what to do, but couldn’t spare two more sentences on the actual situation?

It was truly infuriating!

“I… I don’t know either,” the messenger stammered. “I’m in charge of communications, General. As you know, to ensure timely reports, we don’t participate in combat, no matter how fierce. But when I received the message, all Western Liang forces were heading toward the king’s tent.”

Xie Yanlai’s forces weren’t numerous. With fewer men, they could launch surprise attacks and catch the enemy off guard.

But success didn’t mean everything was safe afterward.

Zhong Changrong was both angry and anxious, with a knot in his chest.

Capturing the King of Western Liang had drawn away all the Western Liang troops, easing the pressure somewhat, but Shipo City still presented an enormous challenge.

Shipo City’s position made it easy to defend but difficult to attack, and with its developed trade routes, it was very prosperous and populous.

The Third Prince of Western Liang had taken Shipo City and hidden behind its walls. When the border army attacked, they tied civilians to the city walls and threw them down—

Those who died on impact were dead; those who didn’t died crying and wailing. When the border army went to rescue them, they were met with deadly arrow volleys, until all the border soldiers and the wailing wounded were dead.

After several such incidents, Zhong Changrong ordered the border army to cease its attacks.

Upon receiving the victory report, Zhong Changrong’s first order was for soldiers to surround the city and continuously shout that the King of Western Liang had been captured. But the Third Prince remained hidden behind the walls, and when they approached to attack, he continued to sacrifice civilians.

While the situation at Shipo City remained at a standstill, they couldn’t ignore Xie Yanlai’s predicament—

“General,” a vice general urged anxiously, “the situation with the King of Western Liang is more important. You should go there personally.”

“The messenger only knows that the King of Western Liang was captured, but has no other information. We can infer that Xie Yanlai and his men are surrounded, or else they would have sent more than one report,” another officer said. “If we don’t provide timely reinforcements, I fear all efforts will be wasted.”

“Young Yanlai’s bad habit in battle is that he’s truly reckless,” another vice general muttered.

Of course, he knew the young man’s bad habits well. Zhong Changrong stood in the command tent without speaking, his hand by his side clenched into a fist.

“General Zhong.”

There was a commotion outside the tent, along with the guards’ shouts to halt.

“General Zhong, I am Liang Qiang.”

“General Zhong, Liang Ji requests an audience.”

Hearing this, Zhong Changrong looked toward the tent entrance and said coldly, “Let them in.”

The tent flap was lifted, and Liang Ji entered first, wearing a general’s robe. Behind him followed Liang Qiang, dressed in prisoner’s clothes. After his punishment by beating, he had not been thrown into prison but had instead been ordered by Zhong Changrong to be brought outside Shipo City.

“Let him kneel here and see with his own eyes,” Zhong Changrong had commanded coldly. “See how many people die when one general fails. When the fighting is over and you receive your titles and rewards, you will understand more clearly that what you wear and what you bear are made of how many people’s flesh and blood.”

Whether from the beatings or from kneeling for days, Liang Qiang’s face was pale, his lips completely bloodless, and he had lost considerable weight.

“General Zhong,” Liang Ji said, “please lead troops to aid General Xie. Leave this place to me. I am willing to enter the city and negotiate with the Western Liang people.”

Zhong Changrong didn’t even ask how he planned to negotiate, and directly replied, “No need.”

Liang Qiang could no longer restrain himself and knelt: “General! Please trust me. I will break through Shipo City.”

Zhong Changrong didn’t even look at him, only saying coldly, “You father and son don’t need to worry about this matter. This general has his arrangements.”

Liang Ji sighed lightly: “General Zhong, I know you misunderstand us, father and son, but at this moment, the situation of Great Xia’s campaign is at stake. Don’t think we have already secured victory in this war. General Xie’s capture of the King of Western Liang is a great achievement, but it’s also nothing.”

Zhong Changrong flew into a rage: “Liang Ji, you are not yet my central army adjutant, so it’s not your place to give instructions!” At the same time, he ordered someone to come.

The officers in the tent also showed displeased expressions.

“General,” Liang Ji showed no fear whatsoever. “Please let me finish. I am not questioning General Xie’s bravery or achievements. The capture of the King of Western Liang is indeed a great accomplishment and decisive for the campaign. And precisely because of this, the most urgent and important task now is to secure this achievement. General Xie’s current situation is very dangerous. He is certainly surrounded now—”

“Don’t worry, he definitely won’t die before the King of Western Liang,” Zhong Changrong said coldly.

“General,” Liang Ji seemed somewhat helpless. “What I fear is precisely the death of the King of Western Liang. Western Liang still has their Crown Prince in Western Liang City. They still have a king.”

Zhong Changrong’s face stiffened.

“General, the problem now is not that the King of Western Liang’s troops threaten General Xie,” Liang Ji said. “But that they will be ordered to kill the King of Western Liang.”

If the captured King of Western Liang died, the Crown Prince guarding Western Liang would become the new King of Western Liang, and the situation would instantly revert to what it was before, with Great Xia still trapped.

Zhong Changrong fell silent, and the other officers in the tent also turned slightly pale. They all knew that what Liang Ji said was true. This was why they had been urging Zhong Changrong, and why Zhong Changrong himself had been hesitating.

Now that it had been exposed, they had to face it.

The more important thing now was to secure the victory of capturing the King of Western Liang; Shipo City should be abandoned.

Liang Ji observed Zhong Changrong’s expression and softened his voice: “General, if that happens, General Xie’s bloody battle will have been for nothing.”

The other officers could no longer hold back: “General, you should personally lead troops there. This can’t continue.” “Yes, the news of victory has already been sent to the court. If something goes wrong—”We need to secure at least one victory—”

Zhong Changrong lowered his gaze and looked at the token on the table. The news of capturing the King of Western Liang was too significant, and to avoid doubts, Xie Yanlai had sent his token as evidence.

Looking closely, there was still congealed blood on the token.

Was that boy already bathed in blood, beyond recognition?

Zhong Changrong closed his eyes briefly, then raised his head and said: “Reinforcements have already been sent to aid Xie Yanlai, but I must keep watch over Shipo City. I absolutely will not leave.”

Everyone present was stunned.

Reinforcements were reinforcements, but if the commander-in-chief personally took charge, the morale would be different, especially when facing the army of the King of Western Liang.

A flash of surprise crossed Liang Ji’s eyes. He couldn’t persuade him? This shouldn’t be the case. Zhong Changrong was obsessed with power; for the sake of power and victory, and with everyone’s persuasion reaching this point, he should have no more hesitation about leading troops to surround the King of Western Liang.

With his constant worrying and fixation on Shipo City, what use was there? It would be better to turn a blind eye and let him handle matters decisively—

This would be good for Zhong Changrong, as he wouldn’t have to bear the blame for failing to provide rescue or for disregarding civilian lives.

He, Liang Ji, had volunteered to take the blame.

What confusion had befallen Zhong Changrong?

“General,” he stepped forward to say something more.

Zhong Changrong raised his hand to stop him: “You need to say no more. For me, the death of the King of Western Liang and the Crown Prince of Western Liang becoming the new king are both less important than the safety of the three hundred thousand civilians in Shipo City.”

His gaze passed over Liang Ji to look outside the tent.

“It doesn’t matter if the Crown Prince of Western Liang becomes the new king.”

“Our brave soldiers of Great Xia can kill one king, and they can kill another.”

…

…

At the same time, in the King of Western Liang’s tent, the King of Western Liang was also discussing life and death.

“This king is about to die,” he sat on a felt cushion, bound tightly. “Young general, you are also about to die.”

Beside him, on an ornate barbarian-style carpet, lay a young man who was also bound tightly, bandages almost covering his entire body.

Nevertheless, he still managed to lie in a relaxed manner, even forcing himself to cross his legs.

Hearing the King of Western Liang’s words, he smiled and turned his head.

“Then you should remember who is sending you on your way,” he said, raising his arm and pointing at himself with his bandaged hand. “This young master, Xie Yanlai.”