She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Li Gang let out a miserable cry, his legs went soft, and he fell to his knees.

Blood gushed from his wound, staining his trouser legs red. His face turned deathly pale, cold sweat dripped from his forehead, his lips trembled, and he could no longer speak.

”Heh heh!”

Ma Zi laughed smugly, satisfied with his marksmanship.

Li Gang’s trusted aides saw this, feeling both shocked and furious, yet dared not make the slightest move.

They knew that as long as they showed any signs of unrest, the powerful weapon in Ma Zi’s hand could mercilessly shoot through their heads.

The soldiers in the camp were also stunned by this scene. They had been wondering what mistake Li Gang had made to be suddenly taken down.

But upon hearing Xiao Zhengfei announce that Zhao Zun would take over the garrison of Yong’an City, many of their eyes lit up.

”Is Mr. Zhao coming back?” someone exclaimed in a low voice.

”Great! Mr. Zhao is finally going to command the troops again!”

”When Mr. Zhao was at Beiguan, he was undefeated. With him here, our Yong’an City will be safe!”

The soldiers’ discussions grew louder, and many of them showed expressions of excitement.

Zhao Zun’s prestige in the Beiguan Camp was already very high, and when he was stripped of military power, many soldiers felt unjust on his behalf.

After the news of Zhao Zun’s surprise attack on the Turkic and his great victory spread, the soldiers became full of admiration and anticipation for him.

Li Erniu stood in the crowd, and upon hearing Zhao Zun’s name, a glimpse of fanaticism flashed in his eyes.

Zhao Zun had always been his idol, an irreplaceable hero in his heart.

Without hesitation, he raised his arm and shouted loudly: ”Mr. Zhao! Mr. Zhao!”

His voice was like lighting a barrel of gunpowder, instantly exploding throughout the camp.

”Mr. Zhao! Mr. Zhao!” More and more soldiers joined in the chant, their voices like waves, growing higher and louder.

”Mr. Zhao! Mr. Zhao!”

The deafening chants seemed to overturn the entire camp.

The soldiers’ faces were filled with excitement and joy, as if Zhao Zun’s arrival would bring them endless hope and victory.

Xiao Zhengfei and Zhao Zun’s aides stood aside, watching the scene unfold, with slight smiles on their faces and a look of satisfaction in their eyes.

They knew that Zhao Zun’s prestige and influence had deeply rooted in the hearts of these soldiers, and even if Zhao Zun did not take down Li Gang now, he would eventually die on the battlefield.

Just wondering, if Emperor Jing were here, and saw how Zhao Zun stirred such a great commotion, what would he think?

Li Gang knelt on the ground, listening to the deafening chants around him, feeling utterly cold inside.

He knew he had completely lost the support of the soldiers.

Meanwhile, Li Gang’s aides stood aside, pale and full of despair in their eyes.

They knew from this moment on, their fate was no longer in their own hands.

Xiao Zhengfei gave Li Gang a cold look, waved his hand: ”Take him away!”

A few aides immediately came forward and lifted Li Gang. He struggled a bit, but the gunshot wound to his leg rendered him unable to stand and he allowed himself to be dragged away.

The chants in the camp continued as if cheering for Zhao Zun’s arrival.

Li Gang’s figure gradually disappeared from everyone’s sight, like a fallen star, unable to illuminate this sky anymore.

More than two hours later, Song Yuanqing’s Xuzhou army had quickly marched around Yin Mountain Valley and was about to arrive at Ling’an City.

”Mr. Song, Ling’an City is just ahead,” Zhao Zun whispered to him.

Song Yuanqing looked ahead and saw a city vaguely visible in the distance, with flags flying solemnly on the tower.

His gaze held a hint of urgency, and he said in a deep voice: ”Pass on the order for the entire army to speed up! We must reach Ling’an City before sunset!”

Upon the order, the already weary army instantly accelerated.

The soldiers’ footsteps grew more hurried, dust flying up, the troops sped towards Ling’an City like a flood.

Zhao Zun rode behind Song Yuanqing, his expression somewhat serious.

He knew that everything that would happen next would decide the fate of both him and the entire Da Jing.

He gripped the reins tightly, silently praying in his heart—hoping everything would be as he wished.

Just as they reached the fork outside Ling’an City, Song Yuanqing saw a troop coming out of the city from a distance.

The flag waving had a prominent ”Su” character on it.

The Su Family is one of the four great families, the family of Champion Marquis and Commandery Princess Changle, with many men serving as military generals, scattered across Jingzhou, Jiozhou, and Liangzhou.