The clever use of traitors

"Han... General, I am also of Han descent! We are all one family, all one family!"

This Dongjing general was only surprised for a moment before performing a Sichuan opera face-change, squeezing out a flattering smile.

The Squad Leader responsible for guarding him couldn't take it anymore and kicked him in the butt, making him fall flat on his face.

"Get lost! Who's your family? You spineless thing!"

"I... I'm welcoming the King's army..."

The Squad Leader wanted to teach him another lesson when a deep voice came from outside the tent.

"One who recognizes the circumstances is a wise man. Since this general is so sensible, he's one of us."

Liu Rengui lifted the curtain and walked in, gesturing for someone to untie him immediately.

"I have a chance for you to live. If you succeed, I guarantee you'll have no worries about food or clothing in the future. I wonder..."

Hearing he could live, the general didn't care about dignity or backbone anymore, nodding his head like he had Parkinson's.

"I am willing, I am willing..."

Liu Rengui somewhat understood why his subordinate wanted to kick this guy; that tone combined with that expression was just too annoying.

But not yet—who told him he really needed this traitor right now?

Five days later, East Pass, the camp of the Dongjing northern line defenders.

This camp was built against a mountain in a dangerous terrain, controlling the main road; it was easy to defend and hard to attack.

That day was calm, with no movement from the confronting Nanzhou Army. Suddenly, a group of people arrived from the south.

The sentry spotted them immediately, not only blowing the horn but also drawing his bow.

But he soon saw the flag clearly, as well as the general leading them.

That was a confidant of Great General Third Brother Yang, a general who started as a butler.

Although he looked down on this person, he was a superior officer after all, so the sentry didn't dare to be negligent.

The bell to cancel the alarm rang, and the Dongjing troops scattered, going back to their own business.

Yang Wudi spurred his horse forward and shouted loudly.

"Blind your dog eyes! Didn't you see it was me? Go report quickly; the Great General ordered me to reinforce you. Tell your commander to come out and welcome me immediately."

This momentum, this posture—arrogant to the extreme. Liu Rengui even wondered if this guy had been acting before.

Soon the camp gates opened, and several generals hurried out, apologizing and making amends.

Finally, the commander pulled out a small bag and stuffed it into Yang Wudi's chest before the matter was settled.

Yang Wudi led the group swaggering into the commanders tent under guidance.

Fifteen minutes later, several screams came from the commanders tent. Then Xia Luqi, Yang Wudi, and their group walked out carrying the heads of several generals.

It was still Yang Wudi who spoke.

"These people dared to try and block the Great Qian Dynasty; they truly deserved their deaths. I advise you all not to make a mistake;"

"The Great Qian General-in-Chief said that anyone who surrenders can be allocated Permanent Property Land in the future, and their whole family will be able to eat their fill."

Except for a few who tried to resist, most Dongjing soldiers surrendered under Yang Wudi's persuasion through reason and emotion.

Almost without shedding blood, Liu Rengui captured Cao Bang and nearly five thousand Dongjing soldiers.

The defense of the East Pass northern line completely collapsed, and the gateway was wide open.

"General Liu, from here south to East Pass, it's all flat plains with no more natural barriers to defend. So, you see..."

Yang Wudi leaned in front of Liu Rengui, smiling flatteringly while rubbing his hands together like a fly.

"This person is still useful, still useful. Can't kill him, can't kill him. The big picture is more important, the big picture is more important."

Liu Rengui repeatedly persuaded himself before he could resist the urge to hack this wretched fellow to death.

He reached out and patted Yang Wudi's fat-laden shoulder.

"Don't worry. As long as we take East Pass City, Third Brother Yang's two concubines and your family will be given to you;"

"I have already requested instructions from the Lord. When the time comes, you will move to Menge. The Lord has already prepared fertile land and a house there."

"Hehehe, thank you, General Liu. Thank you, County Duke Gao."

"Alright, go down and prepare."

Third Brother Yang in East Pass City didn't know he had been betrayed by his trusted general.

He received news from Yang Wudi saying he had abandoned Cao Bang and arrived at the designated position for defense.

This made Third Brother Yang breathe a sigh of relief and continue his happy life of indulgence.

Having dealt with the East Pass defenders on the northern line, Liu Rengui advanced south without stopping.

Three days later, outside East Pass City, a defeated Dongjing army appeared.

Leading the way was still the guide, Yang Wudi.

"Open the gate quickly! Tell the Great General the Han people are attacking!"

Weak and dejected, this exquisite acting would make Yang Mi fall silent and the Pond Master feel self-conscious.

Receiving the news, Third Brother Yang came to the city wall and was extremely anxious to see the defeated army outside.

Out of caution, he questioned Yang Wudi repeatedly, but finally ordered the city gates to be opened and the drawbridge lowered.

Just like that, the original capital and largest city of the Dongjing Kingdom opened its arms to Xia Luqi and the soldiers of the Nanzhou First Division.

Several soldiers were cut down, and the Dongjing soldiers still had looks of astonishment.

"You... what are you doing? We... ah!"

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! These people are Han Chinese in disguise! Get ready!"

However, it was all in vain. There weren't many defenders in East Pass to begin with, and they had been completely off guard before.

Facing the sudden attack of the Nanzhou Army, they were caught unprepared.

Soon, the First Division soldiers dispersed the defenders and took control of the city gates and drawbridge.

By the time Liu Rengui's main army arrived, the situation was settled.

Of the eight hundred defenders, over a hundred were killed, over three hundred were captured, and the rest fled with Third Brother Yang.

Even after escaping dozens of miles, Third Brother Yang was still dazed; he couldn't believe Yang Wudi would betray him.

The lieutenant beside him sighed.

"Great General, This humble general will say something unpleasant: that Yang Wudi was just a petty man who only knew how to flatter... ugh..."

This loyal lieutenant clutched his neck, feeling the warm blood gushing out and his life force fading away.

His eyes bulged as he stared at Third Brother Yang, staring intently.

Until he fell to the ground completely dead, he couldn't believe Third Brother Yang would kill him so decisively.

Third Brother Yang snorted coldly, his eyes staring fiercely at the body on the ground that wouldn't close its eyes.

"Even if I'm defeated, I'm not someone for a person like you to question. Humph, you deserved it!"

The other Dongjing soldiers were also stunned, staring blankly at the scene.

After a while, someone shouted.

"Third Brother Yang is cruel and heartless, licentious and excessive, and his poor judgment has caused us to be displaced. Kill him!"

One stone stirred a thousand waves; soon soldiers drew their swords and rushed at Third Brother Yang, clashing with his personal guards.

The final result was that half an hour later, only six people remained by Third Brother Yang's side, all of them injured.

Leaving a field of corpses, Third Brother Yang abandoned his plan to reorganize the army in Coastal Defense and retake East Pass.

Later, Wu Quan saw the disheveled and injured Third Brother Yang and believed his nonsense.

Learning that fifty thousand Nanzhou troops were heading south, Wu Quan panicked completely. He sent people to recall the defenders of Guangning and Coastal Defense while discussing what to do with his ministers.

"Your Highness, in this old official's opinion, why not move the capital?"

"Yes, Your Highness. As the saying goes, 'a person of high status does not sit under the eaves of a house in disrepair.' Thanh Hoa is too dangerous now."

After much discussion, it was finally decided that Great General Third Brother Yang and Second Prince Wu Changwen would lead the main force to defend Thanh Hoa.

All the princes and ministers of the Dongjing Wu Dynasty followed the King's procession, taking their families and retreating to the New Binh Palace.

Opening the carriage window and watching the city of Thanh Hoa gradually recede, Wu Quan secretly made up his mind.

"Just wait, I will return one day."