CHAPTER 820: CHAPTER 500: FORCEFUL TAKEOVER (5K)_2

"Oh? Is it a misunderstanding?" Zhao Douan sat with legs crossed, lounging in his chair, fiddling with the gem-encrusted scabbard of the Chasing Saber.

"Yes, yes, yes, it’s a misunderstanding, I can explain." Xu Zudi said, attempting to get up.

"Did I allow you to get up?" Zhao Douan couldn’t be bothered to look at him, focusing solely on the scabbard.

Xu Zudi froze, but despite being watched by so many, sank back down and forced a smile: "This matter, this matter..."

Zhao Douan interrupted him leisurely:

"I am not one who disregards kinship. As you said, after all, we are relatives of Your Majesty, even if one commits a mistake, excessive humiliation is uncalled for."

"Yes, yes, yes," Xu Zudi nodded eagerly, completely aware of Zhao Douan’s vengeful nature. Despite cursing Zhao Gou inwardly, he dared not provoke him in this situation.

"Moreover," Zhao Douan’s fingers halted suddenly, with a smile on his face:

"If Your Majesty knew how I treated relatives like this, it would indeed be inappropriate."

Suddenly, he drew his sword with a clang!

The gleaming Chasing Saber instantly illuminated the tent, casting a silver gleam across the faces of the generals.

Xu Zudi shrank his neck in fear, trembling instinctively, bowing his head, yet didn’t feel the sword slash.

"Let’s play a game," Zhao Douan waved his hand, ordering a steaming sweet potato to be brought from the stove, piercing it with the sword tip.

Zhao Douan leaned forward, grasping the saber, extending the sweet potato skewered on the tip towards the Young Master:

"Lift your head and eat this with your mouth, and I shall pardon your previous disrespect, how about it?"

Xu Zudi lifted his head, staring dazedly at the sword tip dangling before his lips, flashing cold light, with the scalding sweet potato, his expression uncertain.

Reprisal! This was blatant reprisal!

This scene was so reminiscent of when he had made Mrs. Xiao bite into an apple back in the Capital!

Back then, he was merely teaching Zhao Douan to throw knives, performing tricks for him to enjoy.

Now, Zhao Douan used the same means he had humiliated that despicable woman from the Xiao family on him unchanged.

This was beyond Xu Zudi’s limit of tolerance.

Suddenly, he twisted his face, glaring at Zhao Douan like a vicious wolf, preparing to stand:

"I’ll fight with you!"

"Thud!"

He barely stood up when a general behind him kicked fiercely at his knees, with a faint crack, the pampered Xu Zudi cried out and fell.

Zhao Douan, uninterested, thrust the Chasing Saber into the ground, waving a hand:

"Take the Young Master away, interrogate severely, I want to know all valuable intel regarding Prince Heng’s rebel army."

Up to now, Yuan Feng slightly changed expression: "Mr. Zhao, this..."

He meant to say, this wasn’t as agreed, how could there be such a false surrender?

Where’s the promised steadiness? Directly torturing the Young Master forces Prince Heng to war, far worse than holding him hostage, gaining more negotiation space... that’s how the Five Army Camp generals saw it.

"No need to speak, do as I say, you’ve fought too conservatively. Right, release one of this blasted Young Master’s followers, let him report back, tell Prince Heng: I give him half an hour, within which he must surrender or the Qingzhou Rebel Army will be obliterated today."

Zhao Douan stood up, weapon in hand, overflowing with dominance.

At this moment, Xu Zudi was dragged outside, barking madly:

"Zhao Douan! You’re just a dog of the Xu family! Daring to touch me? My Qingzhou army outside will massacre you today..."

Oh well, how did you know I was Zhenbao’s lapdog? Zhao Douan, shameless to the extreme, felt undefeated, laughed instead of getting angry:

"Two armies clashing? I couldn’t wish for more."

Xu Zudi was taken away.

The tent plunged into a strange atmosphere.

Yuan Feng couldn’t help but speak:

"Mr. Zhao, please reconsider, the Qingzhou Rebel Army is far from as weak as expected; they hide ’Evil Chariots’ capable of breaching formations, extremely troublesome, besides morale here has plummeted, if war starts rashly, the outcome could be disastrous."

All other generals, whether previously advocating retreat or surprise attacks, unified at this moment, earnestly urging Zhao Douan to retract his order.

Silently cursing: Outsider instructing insider!

Initially thought, this Yama Zhao was strong reinforcement, now it seems judgment was wrong, clearly he’s just a court bureaucrat with no actual warfare experience, mysteriously confident, liking aimless pre-battle orders.

They’ve seen too many such bureaucrats, detesting them deeply.

Knowing such blundering command allies often cause more trouble than enemies.

Yuan Feng took a deep breath, determination showing on his square face:

"Mr. Zhao, we’re grateful for your support, yet the Five Army Camp is under my command, if you insist, forgive my inability to comply!"

Commanders in battle don’t necessarily follow orders from afar!

Yuan Feng, as Commander, had the same rank as Zhao Douan, taking into account the Junior Guardian is a nominal rank, Yuan Feng held greater actual power.

He now felt some anger rising, attitude toughened.

Zhao Douan glanced at his comrades, spoke lightly:

"Commander Yuan might not grasp one fact: I’m here under imperial decree to quell rebels, and naturally the Divine Mechanism Camp will take full charge of this frontline."

Whoosh—

Stone Meng, Chen Gui, Tang Ping, and other Divine Mechanism Camp generals concealed outside strode into the tent, saluting:

"Sir, Divine Mechanism Camp is ready, available for battle any moment!"

Yuan Feng and others’ expressions changed, realizing they were being sidelined.

"Furthermore," Zhao Douan continued without waiting for them to respond, eyes looking over the group, half-smiling:

"Five Army Camp has suffered three defeats. I’m here by imperial command to supervise the front; while I instinctively trust my brothers-in-arms, the heart is inscrutable, and in matters of warfare, caution is paramount. Who knows, among you, might some have secretly colluded with the enemy?"