After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

"Stop talking nonsense."

Zhang Shouren stared coldly at the two enemy commanders with a somber expression, while his generals quickly placed their hands on their swords.

The entire Qifeng Plain became filled with murderous intent.

Upon seeing this, Qin Liangyu, Cao Zhen, and Li Xiuning raised their weapons, waiting for Chen Futu's order to kill Zhang Shouren.

“Your Highness, please do not believe the divisive schemes of these two countries. I am loyal to the Northern Frontier. Moreover, the Prince of Zhenbei has always treated me like his own son. How could he possibly betray me?”

Zhang Shouren clasped his fists in rebuttal, his expression sincere.

Chen Futu gripped the whip tightly, sat firmly on his horse, and looked at him indifferently without saying a word.

"If Your Highness does not believe me, this humble general is willing to return to Dragon City with Your Highness to accept the investigation."

Zhang Shouren lowered his head, while several generals behind him glared angrily at Chen Futu, their murderous intent palpable.

Amidst internal and external troubles, should Zhang Shouren be executed, or should he be allowed to continue to play a valuable role?

[1. Choose to order the execution of Zhang Shouren, and you will be rewarded with the strategist Jia Xu.]

[2. Choose to appease, temporarily leave Qifeng Plain to observe their performance, reward them with 300 Polu personal guards, command General Dian Wei, and reach the peak of the Innate rank.]

"I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise. I'll go second."

[Rewards distributed; Dian Wei and his personal guards will arrive at Qifeng Plain tonight.]

“Brother, what are you saying? How could I believe their one-sided story just because of a few words? Cao Zhen, why don’t you execute these two cowardly rats?” Chen Futu waved his hand.

Cao Zhen accepted the order and, in front of Zhang Shouren, drew his sword against the two enemy commanders.

"Your Highness, what we said is absolutely true, Zhang Shouren really is... no!"

Before the two could finish speaking, Cao Zhen swiftly beheaded them, their heads rolling to Zhang Shouren's feet. In their dying moments, they glared at Zhang Shouren, their faces filled with resentment.

"Alright, sworn brother, I understand the situation on the western battlefield. I'd like to rest here at Qifeng Plain tonight."

"Your Highness, please come quickly! Men, prepare a banquet immediately!"

Zhang Shouren warmly pulled Chen Futu along, and together they entered the tent with smiles on their faces.

Several of his trusted subordinates were resentful but could only endure it.

At the victory celebration banquet, Chen Futu drank quite a bit, and Qin Liangyu and the other two generals were also "drunk." It seemed that everyone was having a good time that night. Then, Chen Futu was personally helped back to his tent by Zhang Shouren.

After Zhang Shouren left the tent, a general thought to himself, "General, why not take this opportunity to kill him and say that he died in the chaos of battle?"

Zhang Shouren remained silent and returned to his command tent with a sullen face.

The generals grew anxious and continued to urge him, saying, "If we don't kill him now, we might miss a golden opportunity!"

"Yes, General. We are the butcher and they are the fish on the chopping block. We must make a decision quickly."

"Shut up, everyone."

Zhang Shouren was agitated and paced back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back. "Didn't you realize that the Crown Prince was pretending to be drunk, waiting for you to take the bait?"

"how come!"

"Who is Qin Liangyu? She harbored murderous intentions towards me before. Now that the young master is in Qifeng Plain, do you think she would be drunk and give us the opportunity to assassinate her?"

Zhang Shouren's reprimand made several of his trusted generals realize the truth.

In fact, Zhang Shouren guessed correctly. After returning to her camp, Qin Liangyu began to clean her sword. She had already secretly informed Cao Zhen and Li Xiuning that they were just waiting for news tonight. Once there was any disturbance, they would lead the various legions to attack the central army and quickly kill Zhang Shouren.

The pitch-black night exuded an ominous and oppressive atmosphere over Qifeng Plain.

Chen Futu remained asleep until he noticed Zhang Shouren's unusual movements, at which point he was secretly disappointed.

In the middle of the night, a guard came to deliver a message that Po Lu's personal guards had arrived.

In film and television works, Dian Wei is generally depicted as a burly man carrying two short halberds, exuding a powerful and awe-inspiring aura.

For the rest of the time, Dian Wei guarded the camp. At dawn, Chen Futu asked Dian Wei to deliver a message to Zhang Shouren.

"Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?" Zhang Shouren asked with a worried expression.

Chen Futu covered his brow, looking weary. "I have been weak since childhood, and I feel unwell after the long march. I plan to stay in the military camp for a few days. General Qin and the others will return to Longcheng first."

"Prince, this..."

Cao Zhen was truly shocked.

He had been keeping a close eye on Zhang Shouren's movements all night, but unfortunately, the other party was patient and hadn't made a move. But if the prince stayed, things might get complicated.

"It's alright, you all go first, Dragon City is the most important place."

Seeing that Chen Futu had made up his mind, the three trusted generals had no choice but to leave first.

At noon, the three armies set off, escorting the prisoners back to Longcheng.

Chen Futu was left with only three hundred of his personal guards and thirteen guards, as well as Dian Wei.

Zhang Shouren showed no abnormality; he arranged for a military doctor to take Chen Futu's pulse.

The military doctor only said that the long journey was too arduous and that he was a little tired, and that he would be fine after resting for two or three days.

When the military doctor returned to the command tent, he whispered to Zhang Shouren, "The Crown Prince is in good health and doesn't seem to be ill..."

"Understood. Go and prepare some medicine to help the young master recover. Do not neglect it."

"Here."

After the military doctor left, several generals filed in, each with a grim expression. "Qin Liangyu and the others have already left. Now Chen Futu only has three hundred personal guards. Perhaps..."

One of the generals made a throat-slitting gesture.

Zhang Shouren glared at them. "Do you think the Crown Prince would risk his life? All of you, step back!"

The generals were unwilling to give up, so they could only retreat for the time being. Then, a few of them gathered together and secretly discussed the matter. "The army doctor said that the prince is fine. In my opinion, he was deliberately pretending to test the general. Why don't we wait for him to return, and then arrange for our trusted men to disguise themselves as bandits and ambush him on the way!"

……

Chen Futu rested peacefully in Qifeng Plain for three days.

During these three days, Zhang Shouren was very enthusiastic and always asked about our well-being.

Chen Futu couldn't see through his sworn brother, so he pretended to be sick and let the army doctor reveal that he was fine, just to alert the enemy and force him to make the first move.

But this sworn brother's patience is truly extraordinary; he is indeed destined for great things.

The following morning, Chen Futu, having recovered from his "rest," bid farewell to Zhang Shouren.

Zhang Shouren personally saw Chen Futu's carriage off from the camp and asked with concern, "Your Highness, should we arrange a team to escort you back to Longcheng?"

"No need. The banditry in the northern frontier has been almost completely eradicated. I think we won't encounter any more bandits on our way back, right, brother?"

Their eyes met, Zhang Shouren smiled gently, bowed, and said, "Respectfully seeing off Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Chen Futu's procession set off, with Dian Wei riding at the very front, three hundred imposing Po Lu guards protecting the carriage on both sides, and thirteen guards following behind.

To be honest, Chen Futu was very disappointed.

The more Zhang Shouren could endure, the more he felt that the other party was a hidden danger. Unfortunately, the other party did not reveal any flaws, so it was really difficult to make a move.

A day later, the army moved far away from Qifeng Plain.

In the evening, the sun sets.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, Dian Wei shouted, and Po Lu's personal guards quickly stopped the carriage. Looking around, the surrounding mountains and forests were completely silent.

Fallen yellow leaves fill the air and sink into the water, stirring up a sense of impending doom.