Guo Tai’s melancholy when he uttered these words about Yang Feng was genuine.

Having just experienced significant losses in troops, these two now found they had a lot in common with him.

Though they lacked wine and food, their conversation grew more congenial.

Especially in such empty circumstances, it made them think even more—

Recently, Yang Feng had received a considerable amount of grain from Xu Huang, but he justified not distributing it directly by citing quotas, only mentioning daily allocations to them.

There was indeed an underlying tone of subtle charity in his actions.

So, as the negotiations reached their conclusion, despite whatever was in their hearts, these three ultimately arrived at an exceptionally harmonious and unified idea—

First, remove Yang Feng, then divide the power of bandits among themselves.

However, they faced a crucial problem: how to execute this plan.

Regardless of whether there was any deception involved in Yang Feng’s trust in Xu Huang, it ensured that the defenses around him were maintained at a high level.

“I’ll handle this matter,” Guo Tai asserted.

Relying on his familiarity with the surrounding terrain, he returned to his camp without alerting Xu Huang and his troops.

The next day, using the pretext of offering condolences for Yang Da’s death, Guo Tai proposed to Yang Feng that, since Yang Da was essentially Yang Feng’s second-in-command, they should at least give him a proper burial and hold a symbolic memorial service.

Since Yang Da had died at the hands of Marquis Leping, Guo Tai suggested further leveraging this event to emphasize the irreconcilable situation between them and Marquis Leping.

This would clarify to everyone on the mountain that they were staunchly opposed to the authorities, thereby preparing defenses against any attack from Marquis Leping’s forces.

Yang Feng considered Li Le and Han Xian easy to swallow up, especially since Guo Tai, whom they had designated as a useless figurehead, proposed this plan.

He didn’t suspect any deception, nor did he think Guo Tai capable of setting a trap for him.

Thus, he readily agreed to the proposal.

Due to the sensitive nature

Feeling remorseful, he cleared out an area and set up tents specifically for the memorial hall.

Upon hearing news of unrest in the north and the Marquis of Leping planning further retreats, he took charge of arranging the memorial hall himself, leaving defense tasks to Xu Huang.

The next day, Guo Tai sent someone to find Yang Feng urgently for consultation.

They searched everywhere but remembered the memorial hall, only to discover—

Yang Feng had already died there.

No one knew exactly when he had died in that place.

The bandits, feeling like they had a noose around their necks, believed Yang Da had very bad luck running into the Marquis of Leping’s troops, especially after someone in camp mentioned the area might be cursed.

Since the memorial hall was set up, people had been avoiding it.

Besides, the place was within their defensive perimeter, so they didn’t expect any problems to arise.

How could this have happened…

“Xu Huang!” suddenly shouted Guo Tai in anger, “You’ve always been responsible for patrolling and scouting in General Yang’s territory. If it wasn’t intentional on your part, how could such a mistake happen? Commander Yang Da met with trouble first, and now General Yang died here. Apart from you, who else would benefit from this?”

Before Guo Tai could finish, Li Le and Han Xian arrived as if they had hurried after hearing the news, seemingly siding with Guo Tai due to the logical deduction.

What a classic case of the guilty one complaining first!

In the blink of an eye, Xu Huang observed the reactions of these three individuals and couldn’t help but recall their expressions during their return journey from the grain raid in Hedong.

Thinking back to their unsuccessful attempts to sow discord then, what else could be unclear!

Considering that at the time, General Yang had asked him whether they could withstand an attack from the Marquis of Leping, rather than whether he had any connection to Yang Da’s death, Xu Huang felt a surge of anger over General Yang’s death.

In the face of the questioning from the people in front of him, this anger seemed on the verge of erupting at any moment.

But the more intense the situation, the calmer he became.

Looking around, he raised his voice and asked, “Brothers, you’ve known me, Xu Huang, for two years. Do you really think I would have any designs against General Yang?”

No one answered.

However, this silence didn’t indicate suspicion towards him; rather, they were all stunned by this sudden turn of events.

Now, seeing several leaders in their camp standing united on one side, and Xu Huang, whom they trusted and respected, on the other, it was hard for them not to feel lost and unsure of what to do next.

But then they heard Xu Huang speak, “If I truly wanted to do this, why would I choose a time when anyone could accuse me, and why choose this place? If I wanted Yang Feng harmed, I’ve had countless opportunities over the past two years. Yang Feng has aided me and trusted me greatly. How could I repay kindness with betrayal?”

His tone was righteous, and his naturally stern and honest appearance added to his sense of integrity.

Anyone looking at him would see a heroic figure.

Furthermore, Xu Huang had just led a group to raid a stronghold of the powerful, bringing back a substantial amount of food.

His prestige was rapidly increasing.

As he said, why would he do something so thankless?

Using such crude means to kill Yang Feng would only tarnish his own name.

Xu Huang continued, “But these few, two incompetent leaders who got the young Commander Yang Da killed, one who lured Yang Shuai to set up a memorial hall, who knows what their intentions are.”

“Xu Huang!” Han Xian glared at him angrily, “How dare you spout such nonsense here!”

Guo Tai had killed Yang Feng when the opportunity arose, and now was the time to seize the moment. Yet, who would have thought that Xu Huang, previously known for being taciturn except for proposing marching plans, would now be so eloquent.

What they hadn’t anticipated was not just Xu Huang’s sharp defense against the accusations, showing no sign of letting them slander him, but also his formidable assertiveness at this moment.

“I think the one being presumptuous is you. If you were just here to find Yang Shuai, why bring so many of your personal guards!” Xu Huang said angrily, “If you weren’t guilty and harboring ambitions to seize power, why go to such lengths?”

He grabbed the battle axe beside him and pointed it in Han Xian’s direction. “If any brothers here believe in my integrity, join me in capturing these three and taking their heads to honor General Yang’s spirit in the afterlife.”

In times when having enough food was already a significant achievement, Xu Huang’s rallying power extended far beyond his personal character.

Driven by a desire to avenge Yang Feng, Xu Huang took the lead and charged at Han Xian.

The battle axe, fierce and formidable in its attacks, was a nightmare for the enemy. But what if it was directed at one’s own side?

Han Xian had assumed that with enough bodyguards around him, it would be safe to challenge others.

However, with Xu Huang leading the charge, his patrol guards rushing in, and many of Yang Feng’s loyal followers preferring to believe Xu Huang’s words, Han Xian found himself overwhelmed. He had little time to mount any significant resistance before Xu Huang’s axe brought him down.

Xu Huang’s axe came down, severing Han Xian’s head.

Guo Tai and Li Le didn’t fare any better. Within moments, they were also captured by other White Wave Bandits.

Li Le, never the bravest, crumbled under the pressure, especially after witnessing Han Xian’s death. Desperate to save his own life, he confessed that Guo Tai was the mastermind behind the assassination of Yang Feng. His words, though fearful, were clear and detailed.

He explained the sequence of events, particularly how Guo Tai had hidden men inside the memorial hall, all without ambiguity. This wasn’t something he made up on the spot.

“You think by blaming everything on me, you’ll be spared?” Guo Tai glared coldly at Li Le.

But he wasn’t spared.

Both Guo Tai and Li Le were brought before Yang Feng’s corpse and then executed.

With these three dead, suppressing the turmoil caused by their followers was not a difficult task for Xu Huang.

These men were outnumbered by Yang Feng’s loyal soldiers and, with their leaders gone, had no compelling reason to fight Xu Huang.

After the mastermind behind the recent turmoil was executed, Xu Huang found himself in an unprecedented state of confusion.

He felt he wasn’t fit to lead these bandits in the mountains.

Helping Yang Feng before was one thing, mostly out of gratitude.

But to lead three to five thousand people…

Among these outlaws, some were coerced into this life, but others saw pillaging as easy gains, which didn’t sit well with Xu Huang like it did with Yang Feng.

Because of this, after ensuring Yang Feng’s proper burial, Xu Huang distributed food to prevent unrest, then sat on a hill, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a messenger arrived, reporting someone wished to see him outside the camp.

“Who is it?” Xu Huang asked.

If it was an ordinary person, the messenger wouldn’t look so surprised and anxious.

The unexpected reply came: “It’s Chu Yan.”

Chu Yan!

He had clashed with Chu Yan several times.

Serving under Marquis of Leping, Chu Yan usually observed the rule of sparing envoys during battles.

It’s mostly irrelevant.

But just as Xu Huang had recently experienced such an upheaval, he was somewhat unsettled.

He forced himself to remain calm as he had Chu Yan brought in, greeting him as if nothing had happened.

One was the commander of the Black Mountain Army, the other a leader among the Hedong bandits who could rise without error.

Yet, the atmosphere during their meeting seemed somewhat tense.

Chu Yan glanced at Xu Huang, noticing the tension on his face.

When their scouts on the mountain noticed the unrest here, they quickly reported to Marquis Qiao.

Chu Yan bravely volunteered to come up the mountain to persuade surrender.

He wanted to prove to Marquis Qiao that he had an irreplaceable role and realized that Marquis Qiao’s abilities extended far beyond the county of Leping.

Apart from mountain warfare —

It was a critical moment.

Because he persuaded more than anyone else.

Of course, someone like Zhang Niujiao knows that Marquis Qiao is definitely not happy to let him do such things.

“I’ve come here to show you, Xu Gongming, a clear path,” Chu Yan withdrew his gaze from his surroundings and fixed it on Xu Huang’s face.

“If that’s all you’re here to say, you might as well leave now,” Xu Huang replied coldly.

“No need to be so quick to refuse. I just want to speak to you as someone who’s been there, about why we pledge allegiance to Marquis of Leping.”

Chu Yan paused, then asked again, “Or do you think ruling these mountains is the best path forward? After all, the Hedong Valley is complex in terrain, you’re more capable than your former boss. To the east lies the plains of Hedong, to the west the protected mountain ranges—enough to secure yourself.”

It truly was an advantageous battlefield environment.

Apart from Marquis Qiao, previous attempts by officials and soldiers to besiege them had all failed.

But…

“Have you ever considered this? Despite the frequent natural disasters, even if Hedong has fields and crops, shortages will always occur. Today, you might plunder a wealthy landowner, tomorrow seize a provincial grain cart. And the day after?”

Chu Yan asked sternly, “Are you going to rob the grain of peasants who struggle just as you do?”

Xu Huang instinctively replied, “Of course not.”

“Then why not come with me to see if Leping can provide you with an answer?”

Chu Yan said calmly, “I alone might have benefited from Marquis Qiao’s favor,”

“I’ve come here to represent him. Many of us in Leping were once bandits or refugees from the Central Plains. Not everyone can prepare a convincing argument.”

“Of course, you don’t have much time to make this decision,” Chu Yan said, his face showing a hint of prideful amusement, tinged with a sense of certainty.

“Marquis Qiao has given you some face and recognized your talent, offering you this choice.

Otherwise, you could end up like the other leaders of Bandits, fighting to the death among yourselves. Before your group even recovers from the chaos, we might already be victorious attacking up the mountain.”

“Two days. A trip to and from Leping. This is Marquis Qiao’s final offer to you.”

Chu Yan’s words carried weight, especially when he bluntly mentioned the fate of the other mountain leaders, undoubtedly unsettling Xu Huang even further.

In the end, he followed Chu Yan to meet Marquis Qiao.

During his journey from Leping to Marquis Qiao’s camp two days later, Xu Huang’s mind was filled with thoughts about what he had seen in Leping.

He couldn’t resist asking Chu Yan about this curiosity.

Chu Yan mysteriously smiled. “Well, you’ll see when you meet Marquis Qiao.”

When Xu Huang finally met Marquis Qiao, the young marquis was playing with a peculiar cylinder.

One end of the cylinder was large and the other small, with a circular piece of jade embedded on one side.

Looking up, Marquis Qiao asked, “Xu Huang, tell me honestly, what do you think of Leping?”