" ": !;"
"What did you say?! Say that again!"
Outside Anxi City, Sai Qihei shook the city defense commandant repeatedly, his face full of disbelief.
"E-everyone in the city can testify. After the rebel leader murdered His Lordship, they entered the city and looted the treasury. They even opened the granaries and distributed grain. Some of the Golden Banner Guards survived, too-"
The commandant kept explaining.
"How could this happen? How could this happen?!"
Sai Qihei actually knew that this Han Army commandant could not possibly dare deceive him like this. He simply could not accept the truth.
He had only gone out to deliver a message. Not only had he suffered a vicious beating, but he had returned to discover that his master had been obliterated.
There was not even an intact corpse left!
"I never imagined something so serious would happen. Lord Zong entrusted me with this responsibility in a crisis, so I cannot simply stand aside."
Lin Hao had also arrived at the scene. He spoke gravely to Yin Saide, who had followed him. "Help them take over the city defenses, then invite all the important figures in the city to meet me at the governor-general's residence in my name."
"Yes, sir!"
Yin Saide cupped his hands, then swiftly began deploying men.
"Huh? Mobile Corps Commander Lin, isn't this overstepping somewhat-"
Sai Qihei was slightly alarmed by Lin Hao's words.
"Hmm?"
Lin Hao merely cast him a sidelong glance, and an oppressive force utterly unlike his earlier affability bore down heavily on Sai Qihei.
It made him feel as though the previously friendly mobile corps commander before him had become a completely different person!
"Before Lord Zong left, he put me in temporary charge of affairs here. Are you questioning me?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
That single