The sound of footsteps came, and Xu Haifeng concentrated on listening, his face revealing a look of surprise: "Zhang Jinzhong has arrived."

  Jiang Kungming was taken aback and asked: "How did he come?"

  What they found strange was not that Zhang Jinzhong knew their whereabouts, after all, this was the Western camp, his old nest. Xu Haifeng and others did not conceal their tracks either, if he didn't even know this, then there's no need to hold the position of Grand Marshal.

  What really struck them as strange was that Zhang Jinzhong would come looking for them at this time, which was a bit unexpected.

  "Master, you might as well guess what he's here for." Jiang Gongming said with a smile, although this person held high power and authority, but Jiang Gongming didn't necessarily put him in his heart.

  He shook his head slightly and said, "Never mind, anyway you'll use telepathy later, I'm waiting to know the result."

  Jiang Gongming's eyes widened in anger, and he was choked with rage.

  The footsteps stopped abruptly, and the person had already stopped at the door. The door opened, and Tong Yifeng walked in with a embarrassed expression, accompanied by Zhang Jinzhong.

  As the host, Xu Haifeng stood up with a smile and welcomed Zhang Jinzhong to his seat.

  Zhang Jinzhong came alone, without any guards by his side. If Xu Haifeng had malicious intentions towards him, he would not be able to escape death unless he was surrounded by a large army. In that case, it's better to come alone and appear more upright and honest.

  "Great leader, please sit down. The student borrows flowers to offer Buddha, and offers you a cup." Jiang Kongming quickly picked up the wine jug, filled it to the brim, and handed it over with a smile.

  Zhang Jinzhong took it over casually and drank it down without hesitation.

  Jiang Kung-ming praised: "The Grand Commander is indeed a great drinker, I admire him extremely, and please have another cup."

  Zhang Jinzhong glanced at him and drank again without changing his expression. He then turned the wine cup in his hand upside down on the table, indicating that he would not drink anymore today.

  Jiang Kongming's face didn't change color, but in his heart he secretly thought, this kid is indeed clever.

  What he brewed was not ordinary wine, but the famous Drunken Moon wine of the Tang family, a strong liquor known as "three cups to fall down" with a powerful aftertaste.

  He was quite self-aware, after drinking two cups, he immediately stopped and did not drink anymore, it can be seen that he is quite resolute.

  "General Xu, what are you and General Jiang discussing here?" Zhang Jinzhong suddenly asked, feeling a bit lost.

  Jiang Kongming spoke up first and said, "Nothing much, just some casual conversation about family matters."

  Zhang Jinzhong gave him a sideways glance, and if these words had come from Xu Haifeng's mouth, he might have considered them for a moment. But since they came from Jiang Kongming's mouth, he turned his head away, pretending not to have heard.

  Xu Haifeng smiled slightly and said: "General Zhang is busy with official duties, since he has taken the time to come here, he must have something important on his mind."

  Zhang Jin thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's nothing."

  "Hmph... " Jiang Kongming suddenly let out a sinister laugh, the sound of which made people feel rather uncomfortable. He said, "As the saying goes, 'No trivial matter is brought to the Three Treasures Hall'. If you say that General Zhang Datong has come here for no reason to look for Leizi, I, Jiang, am the first one who doesn't believe it."

  Zhang Jinzhong was not annoyed by his teasing, but just smiled and put it aside. As a high-ranking official, he still had this kind of magnanimity.

  "Hmm, at this time, you, Zhang Da Tong Lai, come to find us, definitely nothing good. Why not let the students guess it?" Jiang Kongming asked with a smile.

  Zhang Jin's eyes narrowed slightly, and from his tone, it seemed he already knew the purpose of the visit. The answer was almost certain. His expression changed subtly, and even he himself had just made up his mind, so how did he know?

  "What's going on in Zhang's mind?"

  Looking at the smiling face in front of him, Zhang Jinzhong's heart inexplicably rose with a chill. He forced a smile and said, "Alright, since General Jiang has this interest, let's give it a try."

  Xu Haifeng burst out laughing in his heart, this Jiang Kongming was at it again with his antics, but he had the extraordinary ability to read minds, and if he encountered someone who didn't know any better, they would likely be deceived by him.

  Jiang Kongming looked at Zhang Jinzhong, and after a moment of silence, his face turned solemn, saying word by word: "The Commander-in-Chief has come to bid us farewell."

  Zhang Jinzhong suddenly stood up, and due to the excessive force, he knocked over a bottle of fine wine. However, he seemed oblivious to it. He just stared at Jiang Dajun's eyes, which had an added hint of fear.

  Deep in the forest, birds chirp and insects hum. Occasionally, small animals pass through this place, but none can bear a kind of unbearable oppression. Animals are ignorant, but their nature makes them so, they dare not stay for long, using their own way to leave this place as soon as possible.

  Liu Hualiang held Taizi Dianxia in his arms and looked at the two elderly men in front of him, unsure of what to do.

  After leaving Beijing, although it was said that Liu Zhengqi was the first, anyone knew that the one who could really make decisions was Zhang Zihua, the lone-armed strategist.

  Just a moment ago, this prince's chief advisor was still talking here, but now he has bid farewell and left.

  Zhang Zihua is gone, that ruthless and unfeeling Zhang Zihua has finally left. He was not only heartless to others but also to himself. Perhaps in his heart, there was only one person who mattered most.

  For this person, he would sacrifice everything, even including his own life.

  After working together for ten years, Liu Hualiang only found out today that in the heart of this silent and mysterious Mr. Zhang, there were also things he couldn't let go of.

  Your only shortcoming is that you are too softhearted, and you must change. Whether it's for your own sake, mine, or...for His Highness', you must change and can't be soft-hearted anymore.

  These parting words kept echoing in his ears, his heart surged with waves, his teeth slowly sank into his lips, a strand of bright red liquid seeped out from the corner of his mouth, fell on his sleeve, and was instantly absorbed by the cotton fabric, leaving behind a shocking and indelible mark.

  Liu Zhengzhong's face had an expression that was vastly different from his usual self. After drifting through the officialdom for decades, he was able to rise to the position of Grand Marshal of the Huanglong Army in the capital, relying not only on his genuine talent and learning, but also on his exceptional ability to fawn and flatter those above him.

  At this moment, he was thinking a thousand times in his heart, and the past few years' bits and pieces all flashed through his mind. He looked up at the sky, suddenly chuckled: "Gao Fenggong, you and I have known each other for over twenty years, we can be considered old friends, today we are in trouble together, let's just call you Gao brother."

  Gao Chengwei nodded silently, his gloomy face showing no fluctuation.

  "Brother Gao, if I'm not mistaken, twenty years ago, you were a wandering knight-errant." Liu Zhengzhong asked with a smile.

  "Yes, before I entered the first rank, I had been wandering in the Jianghu. A low and solemn voice echoed slowly in the forest: 'Director Liu, just speak up if you have anything to say.'"

  Liu Zhengzhong couldn't help but laugh and said, "Indeed, you can't deceive an old hand like you." His voice suddenly became three parts heavier: "Actually, Mr. Zhang has a point, our numbers are too many, it's really hard to conceal our tracks."

  Gao Chengwei raised an eyebrow and said: "You mean..."

  Liu Zhengzhong did not respond, but instead turned to Liu Hualiang and said: "Hualiang, Tan Hongda, the great general, is a distinguished figure among the imperial relatives, his loyalty is also beyond doubt. If the crown prince has his support, in this chaotic world, there may still be a chance for restoration." He paused for a moment, his eyes lingering on Liu Zhengqi who was unconscious, and said: "Mr. Zhang's words before he left were very true, to hide one's light and bide one's time, not to seek quick success, you must remember this in your heart."

  "Is..." Liu Hualiang responded with a sound, feeling surprised in his heart, why did General Liu want to say these things to himself.

  Liu Zhengzhong withdrew his gaze, his eyes contained too many things. He faced Gao Chengwei and said solemnly: "Brother Gao, I'm counting on you."

  Gao Chengwei met his gaze, as if he had understood the implication: "Brother Liu, the Crown Prince also needs a seasoned general like you by his side."

  Liu Zhengzhong shook his head, seemingly muttering to himself: "If we're talking about true abilities, among the five major legions of the Great Han, our Huang Long Legion's commander-in-chief has always been the worst."

  "The five major legions have always been on an equal footing, why must you belittle yourself?" Gao Chengwei consoled, but in his heart, he knew that his words might not be able to move that already determined mind.

  "Hey……" Liu Zhengzhong smiled self-deprecatingly: "Iron that hasn't been tempered isn't good iron, and a troop that hasn't been through the fire of war can't be called an Iron Army. Don't even mention Gu Daochang and Fang Lingchen, even Li Bohu and Tan Hongda are a hundred times stronger than me. If I weren't surnamed Liu, I wouldn't have been able to usurp such a high position."

  Gao Chengwei opened his mouth, but didn't utter a single word. After all, he was just a Jianghu Hanzi, who knew nothing about military strategy and tactics. At this moment, he felt that Liu Zhengzhong's words were reasonable, and there was no room for refutation.

  "If Your Highness can send him to Tan Hongda's side, with him by his side, this old man's humble skills will not be needed. If things change, then..."

  He stopped here, not freely. However, Gao Chengwei and the other two understood in their hearts that if they couldn't reach the Qilin Army, everything would be just flowers in the mirror, moon in the water, and whatever plans to restore the country and avenge their hatred would all be empty words.

  "Brother Gao, what did you say?" Liu Zhengzhong's eyes suddenly shone brightly as he stared intently at Gao Chengwei and asked.

  Gao Chengwei's eyes looked at Liu Zhengzhong, his eyes were clear and straightforward, and he finally let out a long sigh, saying: "My life is already sold to the royal family, the commander-in-chief doesn't have to worry, I promise you, I will definitely ensure that the crown prince arrives at the Qilin Army Corps."

  Liu Zhengzhong nodded in satisfaction, bowed deeply and said: "Thank you so much, Brother Gao."

  Gao Chengwei dodged to the side, avoiding his blow, but he no longer spoke.

  Liu Zhengzhong felt a weight lift off his shoulders and calmed down. From the capital, through the changes in the northern garrison, until now, Gao Chengwei had never abandoned or left Liu Zhengzhong, all for the sake of repaying the imperial family's twenty years of favor.

  But now it's almost a dead end, even he can't help but have the idea of being selfish. Only now, since he has promised, it is a promise that cannot be broken. He feels sentimental and doesn't know if his decision is correct.

  "Hua Liang, remember what Mr. Zhang said, don't be foolishly chivalrous again."

  Liu Zhengzhong strode away, and under his rebuke, the knights moved, leaving behind only ten people, while the rest of the knights followed the great general who had once commanded an army of 100,000, chasing in the direction of Zhang Zihua.

  Liu Hualiang carried the Crown Prince down to the edge of the forest, accompanied by Gao Chengwei and the remaining ten guards, who silently bid farewell to their departing comrades with their eyes.

  As the sun sets in the west, in the afterglow of the sunset, dozens of figures gradually disappear, as if they have walked into the sunset, from then on no longer connected to this world, and no longer having to taste the joys and sorrows of this world.

  PS: I recommend the old Dao brother's "Color is Empty" Book number: 119584, prepared for several months, monthly update of more than 300,000 words, it's super cool to read, please brothers support it.

  The link is below, just click on it. Hehe...

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