Feigned Defeat All the Way

Northern Province Governor's Office. Inside the brilliantly lit room, Shao Dengyun personally marked the map, indicating the current state of Yan Kingdom's campaign to suppress the rebellion.

Yang Shuang hurried inside with a report. "My lord, this is bad. We've just received word that the Imperial Court has arrested Commandery King Yongping."

"What?" Shao Dengyun spun around sharply. The little marker flag in his hand fell to the floor. He quickly snatched up the intelligence report and read it, growing angrier with every line. At last, he cursed aloud, "A pack of idiots! Replacing a general in the midst of battle is a grave military taboo. Don't they even know that?"

"Why is Lord Shao so furious?" Peng Youzai's voice came from outside. The two turned to look and saw Peng Youzai pacing in.

The anger on Shao Dengyun's face had yet to fade as he held out the item in his hand. "See for yourself."

Peng Youzai stepped forward and took it. After reading it, he hesitated. "I received the news just now as well. I came specifically to discuss what impact this matter might have with Brother Shao."

Shao Dengyun was so enraged that he laughed instead. "What impact? Foreign enemies are eyeing us like tigers, while the internal rebellion remains unsettled. Yet at a time like this, they actually lay hands on the commander suppressing the rebellion. Do they not know that Shang Chaozong still commands several hundred thousand troops? Are they trying to force the Southern Prefecture forces into rebellion at a time like this?"

Peng Youzai sighed as well. "I can't understand it either. Why be so impatient? How could the Imperial Court commit such a muddleheaded act at a time like this?"

Shao Dengyun waved a hand toward the direction of the Capital City.