Xiang An had men dig a pit outside Boyang City and bury twenty thousand Changshan soldiers in it.
It was a statement of intent. Xiang An was warning Zhang Er, Zhang Liang, and the others not to meddle in the affairs of Three Qi again. Otherwise, however many reinforcements they sent, he would kill that many.
Though he needed to pursue changes on the main battlefield, the situation in Three Qi could not be allowed to suffer too great a blow either. Since Xiang An could exploit an opening and strike straight at Jibei, Peng Yue, Tian Bing, and the others had every reason and opportunity to find an opening in Xiang An's defenses as well.
It was a process of mutual maneuvering; the contest was to see who could seize the other side's mistakes more effectively.
A man knelt beside Xiang An. He was Tian An, King of Jibei, whom Zi Juan had captured alive in the Jibei royal palace yesterday.
He trembled incessantly, his face pale. His hands were bound behind his back, yet he did not struggle.
"Your Majesty, I can still call you that, can't I?" Xiang An crouched down and looked at Tian An's face.
"...You won't get any intelligence out of me." Tian An lowered his head, desperately avoiding Xiang An's gaze, even as his shoulders shook like a sieve.
"Doesn't matter. I never planned to get anything from you in the first place. I only had Little Four capture you to vent my anger." Xiang An smiled indifferently, rose to his feet, and placed a hand on the hilt of his eight-faceted bronze sword.
"We've long since reached the point where only death can settle this."
There was not the slightest trace of warmth in Xiang An's voice.
The vile reputation of him