One who knows a son best is his father. Hearing this, Zhao Ming narrowed his eyes slightly and asked: “The shouting and clamoring outside wasn’t the main army?”

Zhao Shen: “You yourself said it was shouting and clamoring—how could it be the main army?”

He looked his father up and down, whom he hadn’t seen in many years, and asked: “Father, you’re not injured, are you?”

Zhao Ming snorted, then turned to face the young Emperor with a gentle expression, asking softly: “Is Your Majesty alright?”

The young Emperor clutched his waist and cried softly: “It hurts—”

Zhao Shen quickly explained: “At the time it was too urgent…”

Zhao Ming glanced back at him without letting him continue. After surveying the area, he frowned and asked: “Where is Master Ji?”

Ji Yuan emerged from behind a curtain holding a grown boy: “I am here.”

Zhao Ming looked at the Prince of Yuzhang in his arms and said nothing for a long moment. The two men exchanged glances and understood each other’s intentions.

If the main army arrived in time and Xun Xiu killed Zhao Ming and captured the young Emperor, Ji Yuan would try to protect the Prince of Yuzhang if possible. As for the Emperor, they could just replace him—this wasn’t difficult for Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao Family Army.

If Xun Xiu wanted the Emperor, they could make the Emperor in his hands into a useless piece.

If the main army didn’t arrive in time and Xun Xiu killed Zhao Ming, Zhao Ming would definitely kill the young Emperor, and Ji Yuan would also finish off the Prince of Yuzhang before dying, leaving Xun Xiu with nothing to gain.

At that point, the Jin imperial house’s direct bloodline would be exterminated, and Zhao Hanzhang could appropriately kill Xun Xiu to avenge the Jin house, then establish herself.

As for the Prince of Langya in Jiangdong, they temporarily didn’t consider him. He didn’t even dare cross the river to fight the Xiongnu—how could he dare cross the river to fight Zhao Hanzhang?

Hearing the main army outside was fake, Zhao Ming immediately frowned: “If he discovers this, he’ll return immediately. We’re still in grave danger.”

Zhao Shen gripped his sword: “You and they should close the doors tightly. I’ll take men outside to defend.”

Zhao Ming asked: “Can’t we escape?”

They hadn’t escaped earlier because there wasn’t time—they could only be trapped in the mansion to resist. Now that they’d temporarily repelled the Xun Family Army, they could completely take the opportunity to flee.

Zhao Shen clicked his tongue in disdain: “How could we outrun them? They still have a large army outside the city.”

Zhao Ming said: “I left a retreat route. Through the South City Gate—there are no Xun Family Army there.”

Zhao Shen paused and asked: “You’re certain?”

Zhao Ming glanced at him irritably: “I’m certain!”

While he hadn’t anticipated the Xun Family Army’s rebellion, he also hadn’t considered Meng County completely safe, so he had envisioned a retreat route.

The South City Gate was the retreat route he had left.

Naturally, he would ensure the retreat route was completely under his control.

Zhao Shen’s interest was piqued. He had originally planned to mobilize the city’s commoners to oppose Xun Xiu, but the risk of that approach was considerable. After all, the city’s commoners hadn’t received training, and the final result could be very tragic.

If they could escape, with Xun Xiu’s target being the young Emperor, he naturally wouldn’t trouble the city’s commoners much.

However… “Who will hold the rear?”

Zhao Ming’s gaze fell on him, the meaning couldn’t be clearer.

Zhao Shen: …

He asked resignedly: “How many troops can you currently mobilize?”

“One thousand.”

Zhao Shen couldn’t help but widen his eyes: “Do I look like a fool to you? That Commander defending the city said there were ten thousand Zhao Family Army in the city.”

Zhao Ming sighed: “Two city gates, important locations throughout the city all have defensive positions. They never came to reinforce us—they must have been held up by the Xun Family Army. You saw the losses just now. Excluding the dead and seriously wounded, I can probably mobilize four thousand soldiers.”

He said: “I need to lead troops to protect His Majesty and the court ministers.”

Zhao Shen wasn’t stupid either. He asked directly: “How many men have you left outside the South City Gate?”

Zhao Ming said quietly: “Two thousand.”

Zhao Shen said: “Give me two thousand men.”

Zhao Ming didn’t respond. Zhao Shen then said: “Father, Grandfather only has me as his grandson.”

In other words, you only have one son—can you bear to let me die here?

Zhao Ming ultimately assigned him two thousand men, then swiftly prepared to withdraw from the city.

At this time, having run some distance away, Xun Xiu saw the rapidly retreating people and his face turned iron-blue: “That’s the Zhao Family Army?”

His subordinates’ faces were equally grim.

Xun Xiu realized he’d been deceived, but looking into the distance, he saw crowds milling about on the city walls with “Zhao” character banners flying. If these were all city commoners, it showed Zhao Hanzhang’s standing in the people’s hearts.

Ever since the Eight Princes began attacking each other, commoners had long grown accustomed to not interfering when those above fought, only keeping their doors tightly shut.

Yet they were willing to risk walking out of their homes—this meant they valued Zhao Hanzhang’s interests more highly than their own lives.

Xun Xiu’s heart went cold. Even if he truly captured the young Emperor and occupied this city, could he truly possess it?

If he lived in a city full of Zhao supporters, who would be in more danger—them or him?

“General! General—”

The deputy’s calls brought Xun Xiu back to his senses.

There was no retreat left. Xun Xiu’s confused eyes gradually became firm, growing increasingly fierce.

Having reached this point, he had no room to retreat.

However…

Xun Xiu turned to his deputy: “You return immediately to find Wang Han. Have someone watch him.”

The deputy looked bewildered: “Huh?”

Xun Xiu said with a dark expression: “If things go wrong, he’s our retreat route.”

The deputy understood and immediately led a team of cavalry back.

At Xun Xiu’s residence, Wang Han, who had been constantly urged and advised by his advisors, looked with satisfaction at the thick smoke rising in the distance and the faint sounds of battle, then turned to go downstairs: “Let’s go. We’re returning to Xuzhou.”

His advisor breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed, unobtrusively urging: “I’ll have them prepare fast horses immediately.”

Wang Han frowned: “It’s nearly dark. Riding horses means being swarmed by insects. Have them prepare a carriage.”

The advisor felt exhausted. He wanted to urge again, but seeing his poor expression, could only swallow the words on his lips. Forget it—even if Xun Xiu didn’t win, there probably wouldn’t be anyone to intercept them. A carriage it was.

As a result, after they prepared the carriage and before they could leave, Xun Xiu’s deputy led men to surround their carriages and horses, requesting they continue staying in the house.

Wang Han was furious: “What audacity! You dare block my way!”

With that, he ordered his men to force through. The deputy had prepared for this. He’d brought many men and directly suppressed them, even confiscating all his guards’ weapons, claiming: “Blades and swords have no eyes—we mustn’t injure Young Master Wang.”

Wang Han never imagined Xun Xiu would dare treat him this way and shouted: “Do you know who I am? I am Wang Han! From the Langya Wang clan…”

The deputy said impatiently: “Who cares who you are? What’s the Langya Wang clan? Our general has rebelled against the General. Even if you were from the Xiping Zhao clan, it would be useless.”

Wang Han’s face turned iron-blue: “The Zhao clan is a second-rate aristocratic family—how can it compare to my Wang clan? Besides a Zhao Hanzhang, who else from the Zhao clan can they produce…”

The deputy was already irritable and had no desire to hear him speak. His blade unsheathed, its cold light shining on his face as he said coldly: “Keep babbling and I’ll kill you!”

Wang Han was like a duck with its neck wrung and fell silent.

Meanwhile, the returning Xun Xiu encountered Zhao Shen waiting at an intersection.