I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 312 - 234: Repatriation

At this two-hour mark, the sky had just begun to lighten, and the spring rain that had fallen all night had not yet ceased, while in the distance, the sound of war drums was already thundering.

Gu Lan wiped the rain off her face and put on her helmet: "I will go supervise the battle."

Tang Zhan hurriedly advised, "Gu Lan, you haven’t rested all night, you should go rest for a while. I’ll go to the city wall, it’s enough for now as we have ample troops and supplies, the Wei Army won’t be able to storm us right away."

Gu Lan gripped the Longquan sword: "No problem. The Wei Army attacks the city at this moment because they know there’s chaos in the city. If I don’t go, the crowd of generals won’t be at ease."

With that said, she followed the gathered soldiers and generals up to the city wall.

Tang Zhan looked at her slender figure and began to think about what to cook for the Young Master for dinner to nourish her body.

The spring rain was like frost, hitting the armor, seeping through the gaps into the clothes, making one feel even colder. The guards on the city wall and the civilians were all shivering.

Gu Lan said, "Order the auxiliary soldier camp to boil more hot water."

Tang Zhan said, "Does the Young Master intend to use hot water to scald the Wei Army to death?"

Gu Lan: "...To drink."

The soldiers felt much more at ease upon seeing Gu Lan arrive.

Below Yinzhou City, Wei Junzhuo, clad in golden armor, rode on horseback, standing out amidst the army. Gu Lan scrutinized the circle closely but did not see any sign of Jiang Qu.

Logically, he should have fled the Qiangrong campsite last night and gone to the Wei Army base camp, after all, there were still two thousand of his light cavalry there.

But at this moment, beside Wei Junzhuo, only a Qiangrong man in a deep red robe was leading those Qiangrong light cavalry, this man had red hair and was not Jiang Qu.

Seeing the silver-white armored figure appear on the city wall, a Wei Army officer stepped forward and shouted loudly:

"Young Master Gu, our Great General said, are you searching for this person?"

At Wei Junzhuo’s gesture, a wooden frame was erected beside him, and some Wei soldiers hoisted up a blood-covered man.

That is...

Li Yuanju!

The soldiers of Yan Country quickly recognized him, each suppressing their inner rage and staring at him intently.

Tang Zhan angrily pulled up a bow and arrow, aimed it at Li Yuanju, and shouted, "What does General Wei mean by this? If you intend to use him as leverage against our Dayan, you are mistaken in your plan. This man is a traitor, and every Yan soldier is obligated to execute him!"

Li Yuanju struggled in fear, yet the surrounding chains bound him tightly, rendering him immobile.

"Wei Junzhuo, you vile man, faithless, treacherous! You will face retribution!" he cursed desperately.

Wei Junzhuo tilted his head, his amber eyes cold and calm:

"How have I been treacherous? When did I promise you anything? You wanted to use me to get rid of Rong Shuo and kill Gu Lan, so you could become the commander of the Yan Army; that was your idea. I never said I would make a traitor of your kind one of my Wei Army generals."

Li Yuanju’s eyes turned red, wishing he could strike Wei Junzhuo down with a single blow, but all he received were disdainful looks from those around him.

He had fled for so long last night, even abandoning Jiang Di and those few Qiangrong men, all hoping that after defecting to Wei Junzhuo, he could make a comeback. Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived at the Wei Army camp, Wei Junzhuo captured him, ordered a flogging, and then had him bound and brought here.

His former comrades looked down from the city wall. Li Yuanju knew he could never return to Yan Country. He wished he could bite his tongue and end it all, rather than endure such humiliation, but...

"A coward like you doesn’t even have the courage to commit suicide—how dare you speak to me of dignity," Wei Junzhuo said coldly.

Li Yuanju lowered his head, not daring to meet the resentful eyes from the city wall.

Nearby, another Wei Army officer called out again: "Young Master Gu, our Great General is merciful and knows this man is your Yan Country’s traitor. So, he sent him back to you! Just one question, do you dare to take him!"

Gu Lan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she raised her voice:

"Does the Great General really think a traitor can disrupt the army’s morale? If Wei Country wants to release him, release him; if not, kill him. I thank the Great General here for helping Dayan clean house."

She said this, yet secretly tightened her grip on the Longquan sword.

Despite saying that Wei Junzhuo could dispose of Li Yuanju as he pleased, she still wanted to kill him herself to avenge Shiqi, whose life was uncertain now.

Moreover, having served as a Lieutenant General for many years, even as a traitor, there were still many of his brothers and confidants within the army.

If he died today in front of everyone at the hands of the Wei Army, it would be a significant blow to the morale of the Yan Army.

This person also knew many military secrets. If Wei Junzhuo did not kill him, tortured him, and made him a Wei Minister, it would result in an even greater loss for Yan Country when he shouted from the battlefield.

However, the likelihood of Wei Junzhuo heavily relying on Li Yuanju was slim because Li Yuanju was not from a poor family. He was a descendant of the Li Family, a General’s family, whose roots were in Yan Country.

After speaking, Gu Lan took the longbow, nocked an arrow, and aimed calmly and sharply.

If Wei Junzhuo shows any inconsistency in releasing the hostage, she would shoot Li Yuanju with one arrow.

Below the city, Wei Junzhuo suddenly stepped forward, raised his head, letting the rain fall on his stern and proud face.

He looked at Gu Lan and said, "I am willing to return this person to Yan Country, but I have one condition."

Gu Lan frowned, tightened the arrow in her hand, and aimed at Wei Junzhuo: "Speak!"

Tang Zhan whispered beside Gu Lan, "Young Master, I’m afraid this person is deceitful."

Gu Lan, looking down at Wei Junzhuo from above, suddenly had a realization, put down the bow and arrow, and understood:

"I probably know what his demand is."

Only to hear Wei Junzhuo shout, "Please, Young Master, open the city gate and personally bring this person back. I’ve been in the Southern Border for a long time and have yet to truly witness Young Master Gu’s demeanor."

"Young Master, you mustn’t!"

"Indeed, this Wei Junzhuo clearly harbors ill intentions, Young Master, don’t fall for his trick."

"You are the commander; if you open the city gate now and something happens to you, what will we do?"

Hearing everyone’s advice, Gu Lan retorted, "If we don’t open the city gate, how do we bring back Li Yuanju? Do you want to hoist him up in a basket?"

Tang Zhan offered, "If you must go, let me go in your stead!"

Su Yi also stepped forward, "I am willing to go out of the city to bring back Li Yuanju."

At this moment, Li Yuanju’s deputy general was also among the leaders; his gaze was deep as he said solemnly, "Young Master, I want to personally bring General Li back and ask him where he has placed our Yan Army brothers."

Gu Lan waved her hand, "No need for that. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Wei Junzhuo doesn’t dare do anything to me. Moreover, the garrison inside the city is sufficient, and the supplies can sustain us for several days, whereas the Wei Army’s reinforcements have yet to arrive. If we really have to fight, there’s no need to fear them at all."

"But..."

Gu Lan squinted her eyes, a sharp gleam flashing in them, "He won’t make a move against me because I am the only one who can tell him what he wants to know."

The Wei Army’s general below the city shouted, "Young Master Gu, aren’t you scared? Now our forces are even with your Yan Army. Are you afraid we might harm you? So, Young Master Gu is such a coward and a cautious person."

Gu Lan maintained a calm expression, raised her hand serenely: "Two thousand cavalry will follow me out of the city, open the gates."

"Yes!"

Yinzhou City, once destroyed, slowly opened its newly repaired gates, and two thousand cavalry streamed out.

Beside Gu Lan was Li Yuanju’s deputy general, named Xiao An; he was both resentful and unwilling, merely wanting to ask Li Yuanju a few questions, so Gu Lan had him stay by her side.

Wei Junzhuo also brought the red-haired Qiangrong, followed by Qiangrong Light Cavalry, to meet Gu Lan outside the city.

"Release the person."

Seeing Gu Lan appear, Wei Junzhuo did not hesitate, decisively issuing the order.

This speed was so fast that it surprised even Gu Lan.

Two soldiers of the Wei Country dragged Li Yuanju, who was on a wooden frame, forward, kicking him towards Gu Lan.

"Tie him up and take him back." Gu Lan’s gaze fell on Li Yuanju, her eyes turning colder as she said flatly.

Xiao An stepped forward, pulling Li Yuanju by the collar, tying the chains on him with a rope, linking him to his own warhorse.

"Brother, brother! I beg you, let me go—" Li Yuanju cried bitterly for mercy.

Xiao An delivered a fierce punch, violently knocking Li Yuanju’s head aside, his face flushed with anger, gritting his teeth:

"Shut up! You traitor, how many of us have you harmed, yet I always treated you as an elder brother!"

Saying that, he rode his warhorse, forcibly dragging Li Yuanju back to their formation.

The horse dragged Li Yuanju across the ground, his body scraping against the soil, drawing out pitiful screams.

Gu Lan withdrew her gaze, looked towards Wei Junzhuo: "Thank you, Great General, for returning this person."

Wei Junzhuo raised his hand; in an instant, all the Yan cavalry drew their long knives, standing ready.

"No need to be tense," Wei Junzhuo’s voice was slightly hoarse and magnetic, deeply gazing at Gu Lan, saying, "Young Master Gu, I simply want to ask you one question in private."