He could only place the surrendered troops in the city barracks, assigning very few guards, as he had no time to attend to them once the battle began. However, he didn’t expect Rong Heng to have plans involving them.

Ten thousand surrendered troops, along with Yan Country’s Pingnan Army and Princess Changle, were enough to handle the Wei Army he left in the city to stall Su Yi.

Though young, Rong Heng was so cunning and astute, composed and wise, that Wei Junzhuo couldn’t help but admire him, albeit with some unease.

Moreover, Rong Heng never threatened him using his relationship with Yuan, which made Wei Junzhuo appreciate Rong Heng’s gentlemanly conduct.

Wei Junzhuo looked at the spirited and stern young Prince before him, showing just the right amount of admiration in his eyes, and softly said:

"Rong Heng, I admit, you are indeed a worthy adversary, a rare and talented commander."

Rong Heng rolled his eyes and said coldly:

"At seventeen, I can already stand on equal footing with you, a veteran general who’s been famous for half his life. In time, doesn’t that mean I’ll be able to kill you? Tsk tsk tsk... fighting you is rather dull."

Wei Junzhuo widened his eyes, not expecting Rong Heng to not only be unhumble but also to mock him for being old!

"How am I old?!"

Rong Heng looked him up and down, his bright eyes conveying one message: "Old everywhere."

Wei Junzhuo, having weathered many storms, knew that Rong Heng’s aim was to provoke him.

This young prince had a belly full of mischief.

Wei Junzhuo quickly steadied his nerves, grasped his long halberd, and said slowly:

"Who said I’ve lost to you? This is merely a draw. Rong Heng, you set out this time with Yuan Lang’s warning and guessed my purpose, gaining the advantage. Clearly, you could have slowly taken Qingzhou, but attacked the city so hastily. Do you think I didn’t receive the news?"

"News?" Rong Heng asked coldly.

Wei Junzhuo: "You’ve already been listed as a traitor by your Imperial Brother, and your Yan people’s Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was suddenly surrounded by the Imperial Family’s imperial guard. If you continue wasting time here with me, your good brother Gu Lan may be in grave danger." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

A flash of cold light passed through Rong Heng’s eyes. He frowned slightly, his fingers inside his sleeve brushing against the jade copper coin bracelet on his wrist, keeping his face expressionless.

"I’ve taken Qingzhou. Now, you’re the turtle," he said coldly.

Wei Junzhuo showed no panic, gripping his halberd in front of him: "So what? I can still take your dog’s life now—exchanging Prince Xiang’s head for a city is still a gain for me."

They insulted each other, one calling the other a turtle, and the other calling him a dog.

Are these really the commanders of two armies?

Wei Chengyuan was bewildered, blinking at their actions in great confusion.

At the moment, the battle situation indeed had reversed.

Originally, the Wei Army’s retreat path through Qingzhou City was occupied by Rong Baoyi leading the Pingnan Army and Qi Country’s surrendered troops, and in front were the imposing Dingyuan cavalry. Although the Wei Army had twenty thousand soldiers who were prepared, they were trapped in the middle, besieged on both sides.

Wei Junzhuo wanted to retake Qingzhou, but would suffer attacks from the Dingyuan Army; abandoning it felt too much of a compromise.

However, there was one thing Wei Junzhuo hadn’t forgotten—their numbers still exceeded Yan’s!

The Wei Army’s morale remained, and if they fought to the death, first defeating Rong Heng ahead before dealing with Qi Country’s surrendered troops, Wei Country still had a fifty-five percent chance of winning.

Yet, if they proceeded in this manner, both sides would surely fight to the bitter end, until the last breath, sacrificing countless Wei soldiers.

Rong Heng shook his head and asked in return:

"Do you think I attacked Qingzhou so urgently because I fear Rong Jing’s decree? Worried about my... good brother’s safety?"

Wei Junzhuo furrowed his brow, sensing from Rong Heng’s tone that he was about to be slapped in the face for unknowingly the umpteenth time—his mood was particularly poor today.

"Otherwise, when have you Yan people not crumbled from within? Ten years ago, Xiao Jing, one year ago Rong Shuo, Gu Lan the same, and now you’re no different." His face was icy cold.

Rong Heng’s heart pricked, the hand inside his sleeve tensed tightly, his face remaining calm.

His eyes were deep, his voice light yet resolute, with each word resonating:

"What I want is for the people of Dayan to live in peace, to have their homes free from foreign invasion. And you, Wei Junzhuo, you’ve fought bitterly over the years, opening lands for Wei Country—is it all for what?

Didn’t you say the Gu Technique placed on you by Wei Liuyu of the Yuan Family had been dispelled; yet it seems that despite the dispelling, your heart only harbors power and ambition, forgetting your original intent."

Prosperity, wealth, power, and status—can they truly make a person lose their original intent?

Wei Junzhuo murmured these words, dazed for a moment. What was his original intent?

Was it his youthful wish to protect his brother and sister from bullying?

Was it the freedom he felt in the heat of battle?

Was it the hope that Great Wei wouldn’t produce more children like him and his siblings?

Or was it the growing ambition and unease? The higher the position, the more one desires, the more one fears to lose?

"Moreover," Rong Heng’s expression was particularly displeased, "I didn’t mention Wei Chengyuan, yet you had to bring up Rong Jing and Gu Lan..."

He grabbed Wei Chengyuan, one hand pinching the young man’s throat, with a wicked cold smile:

"If you don’t withdraw your troops, I’ll kill Wei Chengyuan."

Wei Chengyuan cooperated fully, tears welling up as he cried out, "Brother, save me!"

Wei Junzhuo: "..."