CHAPTER 286: CHAPTER 283 TAKE DOWN

"General, the Liao people are right ahead."

The deputy general beside Song Qizheng reported.

Song Qizheng asked, "Did you see the old lady and madam?"

The deputy general replied, "Madam... seems to be... in their hands, and now they’re heading north."

Beside him, Song Yu’s face changed, "Father, what should we do?"

"Go after them," Song Qizheng commanded, "Under any circumstances, we must capture the Liao people."

Everyone continued forward on horseback, riding swiftly for another ten miles before Song Qizheng reined in his horse, glanced around, and noticed Song Yu’s absence.

A fleeting self-deprecating look crossed Song Qizheng’s solemn face. All these years, he had always believed in his wise wife and filial son. Even though he was often away fighting, he believed he had never neglected them.

Especially after his two children were abducted by the Liao people, he carefully compensated, trying to make them understand the importance of duty as he, as a border general, could not act otherwise.

He had been protecting them since, and Mrs. Rong worried about any mishaps, so he kept them away from the battlefield, safeguarding their peace. Wasn’t all this enough?

Song Qizheng felt a pang in his chest.

He may have wronged Song Xian and her mother, but with Mrs. Rong and her children, he considered himself diligent, yet it ended in betrayal.

Song Qizheng took a long, deep breath, feeling the chill of invasion in his organs, and steadied himself, "Did you have someone keep an eye on Song Yu?"

The deputy general replied, "They’ve already gone."

"That’s good," Song Qizheng said, "Don’t overlook any of his movements." At this point, it was time to resolve everything, not let these matters hinder the northern battle situation.

Song Qizheng looked ahead, grateful he had long suspected Mrs. Rong, preparing secretly. Otherwise, rashly advancing would have led them into a trap set by the Liao people, with assassins suddenly emerging, possibly killing or injuring him and a few confidants.

Song Qizheng decisively ordered, "Let’s continue ahead, draw the Liao people’s attention, while the rest circumnavigate them, surround them, and capture them before they take action."

The Song Family’s House General responded.

...

Song Yu quietly tugged on the reins, then swiftly left Song Qizheng’s group, leading his confidants into the nearby forest, quietly listening to the sounds.

Song Qizheng, eager to rescue, did not notice his movements.

Song Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Mother had someone instruct him to avoid acting with Father today. Pretending ignorance, he understood Mother’s actions aimed at preventing harm to him.

Liao people invaded, followed by Grandmother’s abduction. This must have been Mother’s long-planned, possibly not expecting to fall into Liao hands herself.

After careful thinking, Song Yu felt it was also part of Mother’s strategy, fearing the Liao couldn’t capture Grandmother, and she could better cooperate with them.

Not expecting Mother to make such a resolution, before he feared her softheartedness might lead her to abandon anytime.

This was the best opportunity. With Father’s death, he could seize control of the Song Family Army, then collaborate with Miss Yang to deal with Song Xian.

Even if Father miraculously survived, inquiries would not involve him, as it wasn’t he who conspired with the Liao.

The confidant whispered, "Second Master, what do we do next?"

Song Yu replied, "No rush, listen. Mother isn’t far ahead, if Father is injured, someone will report to the government office.

This is the way to the Zhenzhou Government Office."

By then, he’d take charge of the Song Family Army to avenge Father, naturally rescuing Mother.

"If Father returns unharmed," Song Yu said, "claim you spotted Grandmother’s carriage, and I stopped to inquire her whereabouts."

Just as Song Yu finished speaking, he heard vague sounds of fighting not far away.

Success.

Song Yu’s eyes lit up, a smile emerged on his face.

As expected, someone would report within moments; Song Yu had never felt time so prolonged, repeatedly suppressing the urge to check, yet managed to control himself.

"Second Master, Father has engaged with the Liao people," the confidant conveyed, "I daren’t get too close, couldn’t see clearly."

Song Yu cautiously hid, "Wait, don’t let them detect."

Everyone responded, hiding behind the trees, eyes fixed on the official road.

Finally, a rider rushed this way in panic, bloodstained, half-slumped on horseback, exactly one of the men Song Qizheng brought.

Song Yu looked at his confidant, who nodded and immediately dashed out, intercepting the rider’s path.

The horse neighed lightly, barely stopping.

"What happened?" Song Yu’s men shouted.

The Song Family Army on horseback stammered, "Quick... go to the government office, mobilize troops... General was ambushed and injured, likely won’t make it. We tried to rescue... General but lacked strength, so we came to report."

Song Yu no longer needed to hide, quickly stepped out of the woods, stood before the horse, staring at the house general, "What did you say? What happened to my father?"

The general had not anticipated Song Yu here, his face full of astonishment.

Song Yu shouted, "Speak."

The general said, "There’s an ambush ahead, and the general was stabbed in the chest while trying to save madam."

No surviving a chest stab, even if barely alive, unable to handle the situation; the result remains the same.

"What about the Commander’s Seal?" Song Yu grabbed the general’s arm, "Did Father give you the seal?"

The general shook his head, "No... no time."

Song Yu queried, "What about the Liao people? Is my mother rescued?"

The general shook his head, "Madam is still with the Liao. They’ve numerous men... and they have...."

The general’s words had barely settled.

With a "bang," the sound of firearms exploded.

Everyone’s ears buzzed.

The Liao had firearms, cornering the heavily injured Song Qizheng, ensuring his death.

"Follow me to the barracks," Song Yu ordered, "mobilize all available troops, I’ll lead the army to save Father and Mother."

The general hesitantly gazed at Song Yu, "Second Master... you’re not going now? Any more delay and the general might...."

"What use would going now?" Song Yu retorted, "The Liao planned well, I have no troops, going would be futile. In Father’s current state, and Song Xian absent, if I recklessly go, who will command the Song Family Army?"

Song Yu’s eyes gleamed; if expectations held, by the time he returned with troops, Song Qizheng dead, the Liao would escape leaving Mother, stabilizing the situation.

The general seemed convinced, responded, and prepared to follow Song Yu back to the city.

Just as Song Yu turned, the house general on horseback regained vitality, swiftly landed a blow on Song Yu’s neck.