Han Yu didn’t keep him in suspense. He knew that although Han Yang appeared carefree on the surface like a seasoned soldier, he was actually an extremely cautious person. A cautious person’s trusted associates could naturally be trusted as well.

Therefore, he clapped his hands and, watching Marquis Dingyuan and Lu Ran emerge, asked him: “Do you recognize them?”

What a silly question—of course he recognized them! Han Yang was so shocked he spat out the meat he had just put in his mouth. After coming to his senses, he realized his tongue felt numb and sore, as if a layer of skin had been stripped from it. He couldn’t help jumping up and down.

Han Yu reached out and patted his head, his voice very gentle: “Alright, stop making a fuss. I have serious business to discuss with you.”

Han Yang had always had a good relationship with him, as one could tell from their close manner. Marquis Dingyuan looked deeply at Lu Ran, only now realizing that Lu Ran truly hadn’t been wrong.

The mutton hotpot continuously emitted hot steam. The oncoming mist steamed against their faces, making them flush red. Han Yang put away the teasing expression on his face, his expression growing more grave the more he listened. By the end, grave was no longer sufficient to describe his expression. He seemed very shocked, yet also seemed to find it somewhat expected. After a long while, he let out a derisive laugh: “I see.”

So his father didn’t fail to value his sons—he simply didn’t value these particular sons. These illegitimate sons, including the legitimate son who had previously been far away in the capital, were beneath notice and unworthy of mention in his father’s eyes. In his heart, only the one born of that woman was his son.

What had their mothers done wrong? He felt like laughing, but couldn’t even manage a fake smile. The mutton hotpot that had previously made his mouth water now seemed bland and tasteless, making him lose his appetite. He slapped his chopsticks down on the table, then looked toward Marquis Dingyuan and Lu Ran: “How did you find out?”

Han Yu answered for them first: “News sent from Hubei, from Cui Shaoting and from the capital.” He sat beside Han Yang and looked at him with a sigh: “They have no need to lie to us.”

Han Yang couldn’t swallow this grievance in his heart. He only felt all the blood in his veins boiling. He scoffed, then asked his elder brother directly: “What about Mother and the others?”

Han Zhengqing had never taken them seriously. Long ago, younger and more beautiful women who resembled the elder and younger Lady Fan had been attending at his side.

Lu Ran smiled: “The young master can rest assured on this point. The two madams have already left Taiyuan at this moment, heading to Guangping Prefecture, and then will take another route back to the capital.”

Their mother had never been to the capital in her entire life, yet now she could go to the capital… Han Yang of course knew this was a threat. Their mother was a hostage. But at this very moment, he felt that the threat from Marquis Dingyuan and the court was more comfortable than his father’s ugly face. Therefore, hearing that his mother had gone to the capital, his last trace of hesitation was dispelled. He threw down his chopsticks and asked them: “In that case, what do you want me to do? Speak.”

Marquis Dingyuan wasn’t polite: “I heard that Prince Gong is now planning to conquer Jinzhong?”

Han Yang nodded: “Right now Prince Gong has nothing left to be concerned about, so naturally he wants to subjugate Jinzhong. After all, the Prince of Zhennan is there…” He finished speaking matter-of-factly, then looked at them with a very complex expression: “What you want me to do—it’s not related to Jinzhong, is it?”

Although he now had no room to retreat, Prince Gong had so many people under his command. How could it be so simple? One careless move and he might even lose his life.

Marquis Dingyuan wore a slight smile. When he smiled, he bore some resemblance to the Prince of Zhennan, both carrying that air of slaughter unique to military men, as if everything was within their control. He looked at Han Yang and said: “Yes, we need you to help with this. Since you were sent from Datong to be used by Prince Gong, Prince Gong must show some leniency toward you to give your father face. I’ve heard that Prince Gong smoothly subdued all the other guard units, but only the Weihai Guard refuses to obey his orders. This is because these men are Bai Guan’s personal troops, trained by Bai Guan himself. They obey Bai Guan’s orders even more than they’re loyal to Prince Gong.”

What else could Han Yang say? These people had clearly already investigated everything thoroughly before coming. But this way, cooperating with them could be more reassuring. These people had clear minds—at least they weren’t worthless fools.

“You want me to sabotage in this area?” Han Yang frowned: “But Prince Gong has assigned this matter to Wu Feng.”

Lu Ran poured him a cup of wine: “Wu Feng doesn’t have three heads and six arms. Isn’t he still busy dealing with Naval Commander Huang? You can volunteer yourself!”

Han Yang remained noncommittal. After a moment of silence, he asked them: “And then what? Bai Guan has at most only about thirteen thousand men under his command. What can these people accomplish?”

It’s enough. Marquis Dingyuan looked at him with a smile: “In mine and Old Ye’s hands, thirteen thousand men can perform the role of thirty thousand. These men, protecting Jinzhong and coordinating from afar with the Three Borders Commander-in-Chief, are sufficient.”

What big talk. Han Yang sneered, but then stopped short in the next instant—he had forgotten that the person before him, who appeared to be only around forty years old, was the very Marquis Dingyuan who had led the native chieftains years ago to pacify the rebellion in Miaojiang.

“Then I’ll handle it!” Han Yang was someone who had grown up in the military, with a straightforward personality. He immediately stood up: “I’ll go ask Prince Gong for this assignment. Is there anything else you need my help with?”

Marquis Dingyuan nodded quite directly: “The purpose of Han Zhengqing sending you to find Prince Gong this time—please tell us in detail.”

Lu Ran chimed in from the side: “Not just this. Since you’ve been here so long, you must know many of Prince Gong’s secrets, right? Why not use your father’s name to help us gather some more intelligence?”

Han Yang naturally understood the deeper meaning in Lu Ran’s words. This intelligence was nothing other than troop deployments, city defense arrangements, and other confidential information. He was somewhat troubled but didn’t refuse outright: “I’ll try my best.”

Then he first told Marquis Dingyuan about the purpose Han Zhengqing had given him for finding Prince Gong, detailed down to every sentence Han Zhengqing had said. He even vividly mimicked the tone for Marquis Dingyuan to hear. Prince Gong’s reactions and plans—he also explained everything clearly to Marquis Dingyuan.

After saying everything, he prepared to take his leave when he suddenly heard Han Yu speak up to ask: “By the way, I’m still very curious—why did you two seek out us brothers?”

After he asked this question, Han Yang also lowered his head and stared fixedly at the two of them. He was also very interested in knowing this point. Why had these two people sought them out rather than other people around Han Zhengqing?

Lu Ran stroked his beard and smiled: “For this, we must thank our Commander-in-Chief. Since Minister Han could plant me by our Commander-in-Chief’s side to gather intelligence, why couldn’t our Commander-in-Chief do the same? Since we know ourselves and our enemy, naturally we can find the right people.”