mtlumby2d Chapter 563: Difficult Choice Beating Cheng Nan
Chapter 563: Difficult Choice Beating Cheng Nan
The troops sent by Cohen quickly rushed to the Zai River where the tunnel exit was located. They were shocked by the scene before them. They saw broken weapons and equipment scattered along the river bank, and bloodstains all over the river. It was obvious that there had been a fierce battle here.
The investigators carefully surveyed the scene, trying to find any clues related to the Huang family mother and son. Everything at the scene showed that the Huang family mother and son were very likely to have been taken away, and they even found Chang Wei's body here.
At the same time, Xiao Yuan, a subordinate of Huang Changlin, also sent a telegram to Chang Tai, which detailed the situation at the time: he followed the request of the second son Huang Changfeng and took the lead in exploring the way, disguised as a lady and a son, and left the vicinity of the Zhai River first, without encountering any abnormal situation, but the two sons and the lady inexplicably lost contact with them.
After receiving the telegram, Chang Tai felt even more depressed. He knew that Xiao Yuan was a loyal servant of the Huang family and had always been loyal to the Huang family mother and son. If even he had lost the news of his wife and two sons, then the safety of the three would be even more worrying.
While Chang Tai was anxiously waiting, the expeditionary army also gave a reply. They made it clear that Huang Guangtai's family was now in their hands, and they demanded that the Southern Government unconditionally release Situ Hao and others and open the city gates to surrender. Otherwise, they would execute Huang's mother and son.
After summarizing a series of information, Cohen immediately reported to Chang Tai. He stood in Chang Tai's office with a solemn expression on his face: "Mr. President, our people found traces of fighting on the banks of the Zai River and the body of Captain Chang. At the same time, the telegram sent by Xiao Yuan also stated that he had lost contact with the two young masters. In addition, the expeditionary force has confirmed that the young master and his wife are indeed in their hands."
After listening to Cohen's report, Chang Tai was silent for a moment. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness, but he also knew that the current situation was very unfavorable to him. He had to calm down and think carefully about countermeasures.
"Did the expeditionary force make any demands?" Chang Tai asked in a deep voice.
Ke En nodded: "They asked us to release Situ Hao and others unconditionally and open the city gates to surrender. Otherwise, they would not guarantee the safety of the Huang family mother and son."
Chang Tai clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh. "They went to great lengths to capture the lady and the two young masters just to threaten us! Damn bastards!"
Cohen looked at Chang Tai, waiting for his instructions. He knew that Chang Tai was a very decisive person and would definitely be able to come up with a solution.
Chang Tai waved his hand to signal Cohen to go out first. After the office door slowly closed, he sat alone behind the large desk, looking tired. He reached out his hand, tremblingly picked up the bottle on the table, and poured himself a glass of wine. The liquid swayed gently in the glass, just like his inner anxiety and vacillation at the moment.
The stimulation of alcohol made him forget the outside world for a while, and his thoughts began to drift back to the past, and the days he spent with Huang Guangtai emerged in his mind one by one. He was Huang Guangtai's most trusted aide, and he had spent nearly twenty years with Huang Guangtai.
Huang Guangtai's perseverance and wisdom deeply influenced Chang Tai. He remembered that Huang Guangtai once said to him before his death: "Atai, you must protect my family, send them away from Liuwan and away from the war. You are the person I trust the most, and I leave everything to you."
Thinking of this, a gleam of determination flashed in Chang Tai's eyes. He knew that he could not live up to Huang Guangtai's trust and could not let him down. However, the reality was so cruel that the safety of the Huang family and their two children and the dignity of the Southern Government seemed to have become an unsolvable multiple-choice question.
He was experiencing an extremely tormenting psychological struggle in his heart. On the one hand, he knew the importance of the Huang family mother and son to the Southern Government. They were the bloodline of the Huang family and the only thought left by Huang Guangtai.
He could not forgive himself if he caused them harm because of his stubbornness. On the other hand, he also knew that if he succumbed to the threat of the expeditionary force, the dignity of the Southern Government would be gone and he would become a sinner of the Southern Government.
Chang Tai's hand tightly grasped the wine glass, his fingertips turned white due to the force. His eyes moved between determination and hesitation, as if he was looking for an answer that would satisfy both parties.
"Mr. President, you can't drink like this." A voice broke Chang Tai's meditation. It was Cohen who came back. He looked at the wine glass in Chang Tai's hand, his eyes full of worry.
Chang Tai did not speak, but just shook his head, signaling Cohen to stop talking. He knew Cohen's worries, but what he needed now was not exhortation, but time. He needed time to think, to weigh the pros and cons, and to make the decision that might change everything.
The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the night enveloped the entire Southern Government. Chang Tai sat in his office, facing this difficult choice, and he felt unprecedented loneliness and helplessness.
He knew that no matter what decision he made, it would have a profound impact on himself, the Huang family, and the South Country.
In this psychological struggle, Chang Tai felt as if he was pushed to the edge of a cliff. He took every step carefully, fearing that he would fall into the abyss if he was not careful. He prayed silently in his heart, hoping that he could find the right answer and live up to everyone's expectations.
The night was deep, and the lights were bright in the headquarters of the Second Army. Cheng Nan stormed into the headquarters angrily, with a gloomy expression on his face. He pointed directly at Zhao Wei's nose and questioned: "Zhao Wei, are you shameless? President Chang has clearly issued an order to send troops to raid the expeditionary army tonight and officially start the war. You are still here indifferent. Do you want to watch Li Jun being killed by President Chang!"
Zhao Wei sat behind his desk, frowning but not panicking. He slowly raised his head, looked at Cheng Nan, and said calmly, "Cheng Nan, you have no right to speak here, shut up!"
Cheng Nan was furious when he heard this: "Zhao Wei, what's your attitude? I'm President Chang's man! If you dare to go back on your word and disobey President Chang's order, I'll make you pay for it!"
At this moment, Li Meng suddenly stood up, grabbed Cheng Nan by the collar, and shouted angrily: "Cheng Nan, stop showing off here! Who do you think you are? You are just a dog raised by Chang Tai! How dare you yell at me here?"
Cheng Nan was startled by Li Meng's sudden action. He struggled to break free from Li Meng's restraints, but found that he was no match for him. He roared: "Li Meng, how dare you be so rude! I am President Chang Tai's special envoy, how dare you attack me!"
Li Meng sneered and increased the strength of his hands: "Special envoy? Bah! In my eyes, you are just a mouthpiece! I don't even take Chang Tai, that old fox, seriously. When the war is over, I will skin him alive! As for you, let me discipline you on behalf of your master today!"
As he spoke, Li Meng punched Cheng Nan in the face. Cheng Nan screamed and fell to the ground. He covered his face and looked at Li Meng and Zhao Wei in disbelief. Li Meng swung his legs and kicked Cheng Nan all over the head. Soon, he was bleeding from the mouth and nose, with a swollen nose and face. His speech was unclear. At this time, Cheng Nan realized that something was wrong and began to hold his head and beg for mercy.
Zhao Wei did not stop Li Meng's atrocities. He watched all this indifferently, as if all this was within his expectations. He said calmly: "Cheng Nan, do you think you can call the shots here? Let me tell you, this is the Second Army, not Wanbei City. If you still want to go back alive to report, you better behave yourself!