Chapter 26

"Hey, Zhou Han, how could it be you? Where’s the messenger?" Huang Zhong called out after seeing the figure.

"Han Sheng, do you know this person?" Liu Yao looked at Huang Zhong with confusion.

"Reporting to my lord, this person is a deputy commander in my cavalry camp. He is very clever, so I remember him." Huang Zhong said, clasping his fists. He then turned to Zhou Han and angrily said, "Zhou Han, this is not a place for you. Retreat quickly."

In fact, Huang Zhong also liked this outstanding subordinate and had promoted him from a common soldier to a deputy commander. Therefore, he did not want him to be punished.

However, Zhou Han completely ignored Huang Zhong’s kindness and suddenly knelt down, bowing to Huang Zhong with tears in his eyes. "General Huang, I thank you for your cultivation. I came this time with the determination to die. Even if I die, I hope my lord will do justice for me."

"You..." Huang Zhong was extremely angry and did not know what to say.

"Ah, Han Sheng, there’s no need for this." Liu Yao casually said, then looked at Zhou Han. "Speak, what do you want me to do for you? If there’s no valid reason, be careful with your head." Liu Yao was not a kind person. If Zhou Han had no reason, he would kill anyone who violated the rules.

"Thank you, my lord." Zhou Han bowed to Liu Yao again and then said, "Reporting to my lord, I led a company of troops to Youbei Ping to gather information. The Wuhuan army there has been repelled by that Gongsun dog."

Zhou Han also knew his limits and reported the intelligence first. But when he mentioned the Gongsun dog, the hatred in his eyes could not be hidden.

"Oh, the Wuhuan in Youbei Ping have also been defeated?" Liu Yao was pleased. This meant the Wuhuan invasion had ended in complete defeat. He then looked at Zhou Han, who seemed to have more to say, and casually said, "Zhou Han, it seems you have more to say. Speak up."

"Yes, after gathering the information, I was preparing to return to Jixian, but I encountered a small village on the way." Zhou Han could not help but choke up. "My lord, I am from that small village. But now... now... everyone in the village has been killed by that Gongsun dog, including my parents, wife, and even my three-year-old son."

"Rubbish!!" Zhang Fei, enraged, slapped the table, breaking it. "Who did this?"

Zhang Fei did not hear it, but Liu Yao did. "Is the Gongsun dog you mentioned Gongsun Zan?"

"Yes." Zhou Han said through gritted teeth.

"Zhou Han, don’t lie. You said there were no survivors. How do you know about this?" Huang Zhong called out.

"My lord, I did not lie. I have a friend from the same village who survived by hiding in a cellar. He told me about this." Zhou Han quickly explained.

Liu Yao frowned. "Where is your friend now? Bring him to me."

"Reporting to my lord, he is waiting outside the governor’s residence. I will bring him in now." Zhou Han ran out quickly.

For a moment, the hall was silent. Although Liu Yao was not a good person, he would not do such a thing to his own people. According to Zhou Han, Gongsun Zan had massacred the people of the Han. Liu Yao would not allow this, and his hatred for Gongsun Zan grew deeper.

Soon, Zhou Han brought in a man dressed as a farmer, who looked around nervously.

"Reporting to my lord, the person is here. Zhou Sheng, quickly bow to the governor." Zhou Han kicked Zhou Sheng to his knees and whispered.

"Ah." Zhou Sheng finally reacted. "Commoner Zhou Sheng, bowing to the governor."

"Zhou Sheng, tell me your story, and I will do justice for you." Liu Yao said casually.

"Governor, I live in Zhoujia Village. That Gongsun dog often sends his men to our village to plunder food. We dared to be angry but dared not speak. This time, Gongsun Zan’s men came again, but our village had no more food. They accused us of colluding with the Wuhuan and killed everyone in the village without any reason. I survived by chance. I beg the governor to do justice." Zhou Sheng cried, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Rubbish, Gongsun Zan, you are courting death." Liu Yao said coldly. If he had any doubts before, now with a witness, he wanted to kill Gongsun Zan immediately.

"My lord, give me ten thousand troops, and I will lead them to kill that Gongsun dog now." Zhang Fei said angrily.

"My lord, no." Juzhu, sitting beside Liu Yao, whispered.

Liu Yao frowned, full of doubt, but still said to Zhou Han and Zhou Sheng, "Zhou Han, Zhou Sheng, you two can rest assured. I promise to kill Gongsun Zan and do justice for you."

"Thank you, my lord (sir)..." the two kept bowing.

"However, you did make a mistake this time, Zhou Han. I will demote you from deputy commander and have you start again as a common soldier. Do you accept this?" Liu Yao said calmly.

"Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life." Zhou Han said, moved. He had come with the intention of dying, but now he could continue to serve, so he had no complaints.

"Alright, you two can go now." Liu Yao waved his hand.

"Yes." The two left the governor’s residence.

"Thank you, my lord, for sparing his life." Huang Zhong also thanked Liu Yao on Zhou Han’s behalf.

"Hehe, no problem. Zhou Han is a man of principle. Since Han Sheng recommended him, he must have other good qualities. He is just too impulsive. With some tempering, he will surely become a great talent in the future." Liu Yao smiled.

"Thank you, my lord."

Liu Yao did not dwell on this and turned to Juzhu, somewhat displeased. "Gongyu, what did you mean by saying it’s not possible?"

"Reporting to my lord, we have no evidence to kill Gongsun Zan." Juzhu said.

"Gongyu, what are you talking about? Don’t we have a witness? How can we say there’s no evidence?" Zhang Fei interjected, dissatisfied.

"First, Zhou Sheng is just a commoner. His words carry little weight and cannot move Gongsun Zan. Second, Gongsun Zan will likely send his subordinates to plunder food. When you accuse him, he can just blame a subordinate and say it was done without his orders, leaving you with no way to punish him." Juzhu explained slowly.

"Hmph!! Do I need evidence to kill Gongsun Zan with my current status?" Liu Yao said disdainfully.

"That makes it even more impossible." Tian Feng stood up. "Reporting to my lord, Gongsun Zan is a meritorious official. If you kill him without reason, it will chill the hearts of the people. Who would come to join you then?"

"Rubbish, this can’t be done, that can’t be done. Are we just going to let him go?" Liu Yao sat down in frustration. He felt that Gongsun Zan was like a hedgehog, impossible to attack.

"Hehe." Tian Feng couldn’t help but smile at Liu Yao’s frustration. "My lord, you are just too angry to think clearly. Gongsun Zan is on our Youzhou territory. With our strength, killing him is not difficult, but the timing is not right."

"Yes." Inspired by Tian Feng, Liu Yao became clear-headed and said coldly, "Gongsun Zan, I will let you live a few more years."

This incident dampened everyone’s mood, and the celebration of victory was hastily concluded.