Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 564: A Head-on Confrontation Across the City Wall

Cheng Nan was in such a miserable state. His face was covered with bloodstains, some of which had solidified into dark red, and some of which were still oozing fresh blood. His eyes were tightly closed, as if he was trying to escape the cruel reality before his eyes, but the tears flowing from the corners of his eyes revealed his inner fear and pain.

His clothes were torn to tatters, revealing scars all over. His body curled up on the ground, as if he was bowing to fate, but he was stubbornly refusing to give up hope of living.

Li Meng did not stop, he stepped on Cheng Nan's chest, causing Cheng Nan to groan in pain. Cheng Nan's mouth twitched slightly, as if he was calling out for something, but the sound was drowned out by Li Meng's roar. He lay on the ground, trembling, like a small animal captured by a hunter, helpless and desperate.

After venting his anger, Li Meng stopped his violent act with a heavy breath, his face full of smugness and disdain. He stared at the dying Cheng Nan and loudly vented his inner resentment.

"It's fucking awesome!" Li Meng roared, "I've had enough of you, you poor, pedantic scholar. You're relying on the power of that despicable Chang Tai to bully me. You threaten me at every turn. Who do you think you are? I'm telling you, today is your end!"

Cheng Nan was lying in a pool of blood, his body trembling and bloodstained. His voice became hoarse and weak: "Li Meng, how dare you treat me like this! Just wait, I will report the truth to the president and let him punish you and your second uncle together!"

Hearing this, Li Meng sneered. He grabbed Cheng Nan by the collar and shook him fiercely: "Dream on! Who do you think you are? In less than a day, that old fox Chang Tai will have to let my second uncle out. When the time comes, I will skin you alive in front of my second uncle, piece by piece, to let you know the consequences of offending me!"

Cheng Nan's face showed despair. He knew that he was in great danger today. But he still stared at Li Meng stubbornly, with an unyielding light in his eyes. He swore that as long as he could survive, he would make Li Meng pay the price he deserved.

In the expeditionary army’s base, Chen Tong slowly put down the telegram in his hand and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"This old fox Chang Tai has been in agony for a whole day. He should have some idea in his mind. It's time to put the chips on the table and let him see it with his own eyes." Chen Tong whispered to himself, and then called a trusted officer.

"Send a telegram to the expeditionary force immediately, inviting Chang Tai to personally go to the city wall tomorrow morning to verify the situation of the Huang family's mother and two children." Chen Tong ordered, with a hint of calculation in his eyes.

The officer nodded and sprang into action.

At the same time, in Chang Tai's residence, Cohen received a telegram from the expeditionary force. He immediately walked into Chang Tai's study with a serious look.

"Mr. Chang, the expeditionary force called." Cohen's voice was a little nervous.

Chang Tai raised his head, frowning: "What did you say?"

Cohen took a deep breath and said slowly, "They invite you to go to the city wall in person tomorrow morning to verify whether the lady and the two young masters have fallen into their hands."

Chang Tai heard this, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the distant sky, and fell into deep thought.

"This Chen Tong is extremely cunning." Chang Tai said coldly, "He knows that I won't easily believe his words, so he deliberately set up this trap to force me to come forward in person."

Cohen stood aside, not saying anything, just quietly waiting for Chang Tai's decision.

After a long while, Chang Tai turned around, with a gleam of determination in his eyes.

"I will be there on time tomorrow morning," he said. "I want to see what tricks Chen Tong is up to."

The next morning, just after dawn, the faint light of the morning sun shone under the city wall, but failed to dispel the heavy haze. Under the city wall, Huang Changfeng, Huang Changlin, and Song Yuanqing, mother and son, were tied tightly to three thick wooden stakes. Their clothes were disheveled, their bodies were covered with scars, and they looked extremely miserable. Under the morning light, their faces were pale and haggard, and their eyes revealed endless fear and despair.

Chang Tai came to the city wall as agreed, and saw the mother and her two children at a glance. His heart suddenly sank, as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer. He tightly grasped the stone bricks on the city wall, and his fingers turned white from the force. His eyes wandered over the three people, and finally stopped at Song Yuanqing's tear-stained face, and an indescribable grief surged in his heart.

Chen Tong, who was not far from the mother and her two children, was wearing a neat military uniform and had a smug smile on his face. He shouted, "Chang Tai, you have seen clearly that our expeditionary army never plays tricks. Now you should be sure that they are in our hands."

Chang Tai took a deep breath and tried to calm his restlessness. He tried to make his voice sound calm and firm: "Chen Tong, you are really good! You can even see through such a secret evacuation plan. It seems that the city has long been riddled with holes, and there are many people with ulterior motives."

Chen Tong sneered, his voice calm but full of threats: "Chang Tai, the two conditions I proposed before are not negotiable. You only have one day to consider. If the sun sets and you still haven't given an answer, I will order their execution immediately!"

The corners of Chang Tai's mouth twitched slightly. He tried his best to keep his emotions stable, but his voice trembled involuntarily: "You...how dare you treat the old president's family like this! Chen Tong, I tell you, if you dare to hurt them in the slightest, I will never let you go!"

Chen Tong laughed loudly, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world: "Chang Tai, do you think you are still the high and mighty ruler? Now Huang Guangtai's family is in my hands, and their life and death are controlled by me. You'd better think about how to meet my conditions, otherwise, you will bear the consequences yourself!"

Chang Tai's clenched fists trembled slightly, and his eyes revealed deep anger and helplessness. He knew that he was at a disadvantage and could only endure it temporarily. He took a deep look at Huang Changfeng, Huang Changlin and Song Yuanqing, mother and son, and then turned and left.

After several hours of torment and psychological struggle, Chang Tai sat alone in his study with a piece of white paper spread out in front of him, but there was not a single word on it.

The sunlight outside the window gradually shone in obliquely, but it could not illuminate the haze in his heart.

Finally, he sighed, picked up a pen, and slowly wrote a few words on the paper: "Exchange hostages with the expeditionary force." This was a difficult decision he made after careful consideration.

"Using Situ Hao and others to exchange for Huang Changlin and his mother and son, this is the biggest concession I can make." Chang Tai murmured to himself, with a flash of determination in his eyes.

He knew that unconditional surrender was absolutely impossible, as it would mean he would lose everything, including dignity and power.

He would rather take the risk than see Huang Guangtai's family get hurt.

"Notify Cohen and ask him to arrange the hostage exchange immediately." Chang Tai ordered, his voice revealing unquestionable firmness.

Cohen rushed over after hearing the news, with a worried look on his face: "President, is this really safe? What if the expeditionary force goes back on its word?"

Chang Tai took a deep breath, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes: "They dare not. As long as we have the person they want, they dare not act rashly. Moreover, I have made all preparations. If they dare to play tricks, I will make them pay the price."

Cohen nodded. Although he still had doubts in his heart, he could not say anything more when he saw Chang Tai was so determined. He understood that this was the only way to rescue Huang Changlin and his mother and son.