As the administrative seat of Qing Province, Linzi's fall meant the fall of the entire province. All of Qing Province would lie exposed beneath the army's iron hooves!
Zhang Liao had captured Linzi so easily entirely thanks to Yuan Xi and Wang Xiu working from within. Together, they had killed several commanders in charge, successfully seized control, and thrown open the gates to welcome the Royal Army into the city.
"Thank you for your efforts, General of Chariots and Cavalry."
"Do your wounds still hurt?"
The moment Zhang Liao saw Yuan Xi, he asked with a chuckle.
His tone carried no small measure of teasing.
At his words, the corner of Yuan Xi's mouth twitched. He silently cursed Zhang Liao, then said with a hollow smile:
"No need for your concern, General Zhang. My wounds have almost healed. I certainly won't have any trouble returning to receive His Majesty's rewards."
Zhang Liao teased, "Then it seems I didn't hit you hard enough. Had I known, I should have dipped the whip in salt water."
"You motherf-"
A vein throbbed on Yuan Xi's forehead, but he ultimately restrained the urge to curse. After all, if it really came to blows, he was no match for Zhang Liao.
Zhang Liao stopped joking and asked, "Where is Yuan Tan now? In this campaign against Qing Province, we must kill or capture him. We cannot let him escape."
Wang Xiu replied, "Yuan Tan led his army to Dongguan Commandery several days ago to hunt down the Pretender Emperor. Had he not left, we could never have pulled this off so easily from within."
Yuan Tan trusted him and had put him in charge of Linzi's affairs.
Little did he know that Wang Xiu was also an inside agent.
That was the direct reason Linzi