Inner City Smoke Dissipates, Drums of War Cease; The Captive Lord Offers Surrender, His Sincerity Revealed

Inside the city government office of Pinggang City, its former dignity and order had long since vanished, replaced by a bubbling chaos of panic.

The lanterns in the courtyard swayed precariously in the wind. Beneath the corridors, the guards' footsteps were disorderly, and the once solemn residence was now filled with the restless agitation of frightened hearts.

From the moment the Blood-Clad Army entered Pinggang City, the seeds of this panic had quietly begun to sprout. At first, however, that panic had remained within manageable bounds.

After all, everything had been progressing steadily according to General Qin Yue's plan.

The hundred and fifty thousand Donghu troops had successfully entered the city, and their retreat had long been completely cut off. Such a massive force should have become a vital aid in resisting the Blood-Clad Army.

For this very reason, even when King Xi of Yan learned that the Blood-Clad Army had pursued them into the city, he had not been overly alarmed at first.

What filled his heart most was merely a lingering dread.

He dreaded how closely the Blood-Clad Army had pursued them. Had his own forces been even half a beat slower, they would likely have already become the Blood-Clad Army's prisoners, dragged back to the enemy camp.

But as time crept onward, the first barrage of cannon fire suddenly rang out within Pinggang City, mingled with earth-shaking cries of battle and slaughter. In an instant, everyone in the government office sank into deeper unease, and the once-manageable panic began to spread in silence.

By now, the booming cannon fire seemed to be exploding just outside the government office. The thunderous crash of collapsing walls, the clang of weapons striking one another, and the dying screams of soldiers wove together, echoing relentlessly beside their ears.

The sounds of