Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 262 - 205 Response_2

Chapter 262: Chapter 205 Response_2

The Deputy General narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Li Hongyun and his companions like a sharp knife.

Clearly, Li Hongyun’s tough stance was very effective against some timid people, but against such a hardliner, it was very likely to reveal flaws.

This Deputy General was clearly one of Ma Anbang’s influential subordinates, and trying to overpower him was absolutely impossible.

Moreover, his remark made everyone else vigilant.

Indeed, claiming to be old friends of the Lord Governor, yet upon entering the camp, preferring to turn around and leave rather than surrendering their weapons—how could this be explained?

Li Hongyun reacted quickly, smiling, "Ill intentions? Under the Lord Governor, there are fifty thousand fierce soldiers, strong and well-equipped. What upheaval can our mere fifty men cause? It’s merely a precaution.

"Wouldn’t the Lord Governor show even this bit of sincerity when old friends come to join?"

At that moment, Li Hongyun was like an actor possessed, conveying additional subtle messages with his expressions while he spoke these words.

The two Deputy Generals looked at each other, their puzzled expressions quickly turning to realization.

The phrase "old friends come to join" was quite cryptic but pinpointed the intentions of Chen Shilong and his group.

These Deputy Generals weren’t fools either, immediately concocting an elaborate scenario in their minds.

Ma Anbang colluded with the Jin to kill Commander Geng, causing the disbandment of over a hundred thousand of the Rebel Army. General Chen Shilong, having had some dealings with Ma Anbang during his time in the Rebel Army, knew each other.

With the Rebel Army already collapsed, it was not unreasonable for General Chen to seek refuge with Ma Anbang, hoping for wealth and status from the Jin.

After all, who else could one turn to in the north at that time?

As for why General Chen insisted on bringing weapons inside, the reason was simple—General Chen still had some mistrust towards Ma Anbang. They worried, what if Ma Anbang turned against them midway through discussions?

Having weapons and horses meant they wouldn’t be trapped in a desperate situation.

Thus, this act seemed more like self-preservation.

The two Deputy Generals thought to themselves that if they appeared too forceful now, especially in demanding the surrender of weapons, they might send a dangerous signal to General Chen—potentially causing him to turn around and leave. If so, the chance to incorporate a whole unit of the Rebel Army would naturally go down the drain...

They, the two Deputy Generals, couldn’t bear such a responsibility.

Besides, it was only fifty men; even if they kept their weapons, what could they do inside a camp of fifty thousand?

It was merely for some peace of mind.

Even if a conflict arose later, the worst scenario would only see a small number of them breaking out, posing no threat to Ma Anbang’s side.

If the other party had brought several hundred or a thousand men, then these two Deputy Generals would certainly have been cautious, perhaps even initiating combat.

But the number fifty was delicate—neither utterly powerless nor a significant threat.

Thinking this through, the two Deputy Generals changed their expressions, "Seeing as it is, we were neglecting our honored guests. Please proceed."

The soldier leading the way naturally dared not mention the issue of weapons anymore and simply continued to lead everyone further inside.

Li Hongyun couldn’t help feeling secretly delighted inside—success!

Indeed, the success of the strategy hinged on "fifty cavalry."

Bringing too many would seem insincere, not likely to be seen as coming in good faith, and could easily provoke alertness and conflict; too few, or surrendering their weapons, would make it impossible to accomplish their mission.

Moreover, for the Rebel Army to come over, if they truly arrived without any men or weapons, appearing ready to be captured, it would seem rather unreasonable.

Now the situation was perfect to exploit the psychology of "not believing these fifty dare to stir trouble," enabling them to sneak successfully into the camp under the guise of darkness.

As they hadn’t walked far, they encountered Ma Anbang, drunk and being escorted out by his personal guards.

"General Chen, it’s really you! I thought you had already returned south to the Qi Dynasty. How come you suddenly changed your mind, come...

"Wait, who allowed them to bring weapons inside!"

Ma Anbang was initially inebriated but seeing the stern-faced Yu Jiaxuan, sobered up significantly.

But it was already too late.

Li Hongyun had already drawn the Tangxi Treasure Sword, stabbing to death a personal guard standing in front of Ma Anbang!

The scene immediately turned chaotic, and amidst his panic and drunkenness, Ma Anbang fell to the ground. He tried to flee, but Li Hongyun stepped forward, locking him in place with the sword against his neck.

"Move and he dies!

"Tie him up, get him on a horse!"

Several of General Chen Shilong’s Cavaliers quickly took out ropes, swiftly tying up Ma Anbang and throwing him onto a horse’s back. But the soldiers around Ma Anbang were stunned. Although they drew their swords, wary of harming their own man, they dared not launch a full attack.

Li Hongyun mounted his horse, "Break out!"

The others quickly got on their horses, charging toward the camp’s exit.

Previously, with Li Hongyun’s sword at Ma Anbang’s throat, the guard naturally didn’t dare act rashly, but now, seeing Ma Anbang about to be taken, the camp’s soldiers couldn’t just stand and watch—they immediately surrounded them!

Li Hongyun galloped away, but looking ahead, saw numerous soldiers with long spears coming around.

"Indeed, easy to get in, hard to get out!"

Li Hongyun had been mentally prepared, but the situation was still extremely dire.

Using deception, he had managed to infiltrate the camp, but that only solved the problem before capturing Ma Anbang.