A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1119: Massacre of the City

Within the oppressive darkness of the room,

Liu Shouwei found himself ensnared, bound securely to a chair.

The imposing figure of General Hai Geli occupied a seat nearby, while the conniving Counselor Gou stood, diligently attending to his master by serving tea and offering massages to his shoulders and legs.

A tempest of fury raged within Liu Shouwei.

"Counselor Gou, how could you possibly betray me!" he exclaimed.

Before the words had fully escaped his lips, Counselor Gou's sharp retort cut through the air.

"How dare you act so insolently in the presence of our General Hai Geli; have you grown weary of life?!"

The pronouncement dripped with outrageous arrogance and an unprecedented audacity, utterly unbearable!

Liu Shouwei prepared to rise and unleash a torrent of curses.

A sudden realization of his restraints caused his heart to plummet.

His gaze swept across the unfamiliar surroundings.

Huh?! This place seems strangely familiar.

Upon a more scrutinizing look, was this not the very prison of Yanshan City?

Could it be that I am imprisoned here?

Liu Shouwei's mind began to piece together the fragmented memories from before he lost consciousness.

Seeing the reality before him, any further misunderstanding was impossible. How could he possibly dare to voice any reprimands?

He hastily plastered a fawning smile onto his face.

"So, it is General Hai Geli!"

"We... were we not communicating through correspondence previously? Why have you..."

The unspoken question hung heavy in the air:

Did I not pledge to deliver the promised goods? Why then have you arrived to seize them by force?

Hai Geli displayed a clear sign of restlessness.

"Your pace is far too sluggish!"

"I could no longer endure the wait!"

"My patience has been stretched to its limit from waiting so long!"

A wave of despair washed over Liu Shouwei.

Even if you are in a rush, resorting to outright theft is surely not the way. Such a public display risks exposing my carefully constructed facade!

The treacherous act of treason against the state carries the gravest of penalties, leading to the execution of one's entire kin. The lives of my family, numbering in the hundreds, hang precariously in the balance!

However, Hai Geli remained unfazed, his approach direct and unyielding.

"If you remain steadfastly loyal to me, I shall guarantee your safety!"

"But should you betray me, you will come to regret ever drawing breath in this world!"

Tears welled in Liu Shouwei's eyes, though he held them back.

Did he truly possess any room to maneuver at this juncture?

Betrayal?

If he dared to entertain such a thought, let alone the Imperial Court's swift execution of his entire lineage, would this formidable individual before him allow him to depart this cell unscathed?

The idea was laughable.

This man was akin to Yama, or perhaps an Asura from the depths of hell; how could he possibly dare?

"My lord, my loyalty has been unwavering!"

"At this critical juncture, I would never entertain any disloyal thoughts!"

"Without your support, my current standing would be impossible!"

"I am deeply indebted to you; how could I possibly contemplate betrayal!"

Hai Geli's approval was evident as he nodded.

"That is the correct attitude!"

"Come, release him!"

As the command was issued, several individuals resembling Western Xia soldiers approached and proceeded to untie Liu Shouwei.

Having regained his freedom, Liu Shouwei cautiously took a step forward.

"Great General!"

"You... leading your troops to this location... what is the meaning behind this action?"

"The populace of this city are innocent souls; they are merely..."

Hai Geli cast a sideways glance at him, his eyes glinting with an icy impatience.

"As I have already stated, my patience had reached its end!"

"Furthermore, what are a few crates of goods to me when my desires lie in acquiring more, far grander treasures!"

His voice escalated, eventually erupting into a roar like that of a lion.

Liu Shouwei no longer dared to utter a single word.

"Yes..."

"Yes! You are absolutely correct!"

Correct, you dogheaded lackey! You're not short of funds, yet you're orchestrating a city-wide massacre!

A profound sense of anguish gripped Liu Shouwei, sending a shiver down his spine.

Even the most rapacious of corrupt officials would hesitate to see their own governed lands ravaged!

This territory lay far beyond the Emperor's immediate reach.

However, that did not imply the Emperor would remain ignorant of a massacre transpiring here.

By that time...

Every single action that transpired here would face rigorous scrutiny, and he... not only would his entire family face execution, but he would also be eternally branded with a notorious legacy!

Contemplating this grim prospect filled Liu Shouwei with a longing for death!

Yet, if he were to perish, how would he ever face the venerable ancestors of the Liu family?

For causing the demise of so many, he would undoubtedly be consigned to the lowest hells, to be boiled in oil for eternity.

The ancients held honor in high regard.

Even the most corrupt among them would endeavor to present their actions in a favorable light before their ancestors.

Within the ancestral hall, they dared not conduct themselves with undue presumptuousness in the presence of their forebears.

Consequently, Liu Shouwei was overwhelmed by profound regret for his recent actions.

Initially, he had believed their sole objective was wealth.

Who could have foreseen their insatiable greed extending to the very lives of the people!

Liu Shouwei was ultimately permitted to depart.

Counselor Gou shadowed his every step.

The former demeanor of ingratiation and flattery had vanished entirely, replaced by an air of smug self-satisfaction.

His tone was now laced with extreme disrespect.

This insolence ignited Liu Shouwei's fury, making him yearn to strike the man dead.

The once vibrant streets had been reduced to a scene of utter desolation.

Were it not for the sporadic corpses and bloodstains staining the thoroughfares, he might have convinced himself he was merely trapped in a nightmare.

What does it signify when circumstances alter and individuals transform? Perhaps this is its embodiment!

...

Within a secluded courtyard.

With several rescued individuals now under the care of the military doctor for their wounds, Xia Tingfeng and Zhao Qichen retreated to a less conspicuous area.

Their attention turned to a critical discussion of battle strategies.

"Uncle, it appears to be Hai Geli!" Zhao Qichen exclaimed.

"Scouts reported their numbers are few, only a few thousand," Xia Tingfeng stated, his voice grim.

"Their aim is plunder and the massacre of this city!"

Xia Tingfeng's eyes blazed with intense, barely contained fury, a storm threatening to break free.

His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, yet he forced himself to remain composed.

"We must not act recklessly!" he cautioned.

"Hai Geli is known for his treachery, his mastery of hidden weapons and guerrilla warfare!"

"What we're seeing is likely not their main fighting force!"

Zhao Qichen nodded, his brow furrowed in deep concern.

"Then, what course of action should we take now?!" he asked, desperation in his voice.

After a moment of deep thought, Xia Tingfeng outlined two crucial decisions.

"Firstly, we hold our positions, responding to their moves with unwavering resolve!"

"Secondly, we must discreetly dispatch a request for reinforcements. Western Xia would be hesitant to..."

Their enemies were likely poised for an imminent assault.

Zhao Qichen's gaze turned icy, a chilling reflection of his inner turmoil.

The thought of countless citizens enduring suffering while he felt powerless ignited a fierce agitation within him.

He struck a piece of ornamental rockery, causing it to shudder and drawing blood from his hand.

A cold glint flashed in Xia Tingfeng's eyes as he let out a dry, humorless laugh.

"Western Xia truly possesses a cunning beyond that of any fox!"

"This ploy of feigning one intention while executing another is flawlessly executed!"

The strategy began with the covert seizure of several small border towns. The local garrison commanders were offered incentives to open their gates, allowing people and valuables to be brought inside their territories.

Subsequently, these accumulated riches were spirited away to fund the recruitment of soldiers and the stockpiling of military provisions.

This ill-gotten wealth would then fuel their grand assault upon the Great Chu Dynasty. It was, indeed, a meticulously devised scheme.

Zhao Qichen spat out a curse, "Vile old fox!"

Xia Tingfeng let out a cold snort.

Gazing intently at the distant plumes of thick smoke, he emitted a heavy sigh.

"Ultimately, this lapse was due to our own negligence!"

"A year ago, disturbances involving bandits and marauders plagued the Northwest and Southwest. Reports were submitted to the Emperor, who dispatched investigators!"

"However, the bandit numbers were insignificant, and the disruptions minor!"

"No unifying leadership was discovered, so the Emperor merely tasked forces with suppression, and the matter was soon forgotten!"

"Later, Prince Jin arrived in the capital under the pretext of visiting his daughter, remaining for several months!"

"Looking back, it's highly probable that his visit served as a deliberate diversion!"

Not long after his departure, the unrest instigated by bandits in the Northwest and Southwest escalated dramatically.

Now, it became starkly clear that those individuals were not mere bandits, but pawns secretly infiltrated by Western Xia to systematically plunder resources!