Chapter 1001: Complete Annihilation
Editor: Henyee Translations

The two people in the room were enjoying themselves, but amidst the playfulness, Li Hongtang was discussing serious matters.

“You’ve been with the old man for a while now. Do you know where he keeps the military seal?”

Wen Baoyu blushed. “The King won’t let me near such things. I’ve tried to probe several times, but he sternly rebuked me.”

“Aren’t you favored by the old man? Why is he still so guarded against you?” Li Hongtang reproached, frustrated by her inability to leverage her beauty.

“Second Prince, I’ve done my best.” Wen Baoyu pouted slightly, displeased by Li Hongtang’s complaint.

Li Hongtang pressed Wen Baoyu down, gently caressing her cheek. “Alright, alright. I know you’ve tried. But next time, don’t be so formal when you ask. Speak like you are now. The old man is old; he’s easily persuaded.”

“I’ll try next time.” Wen Baoyu thought to herself that the Second Prince seemed unreliable.

“Good girl.” Li Hongtang smiled and swiftly tore off Wen Baoyu’s clothes…

Soon, sounds of passion filled the room.

Chu Tang silently retreated, no longer interested in eavesdropping. He moved to the quiet lakeside, pondering their conversation. They were after the military seal!

Jinghong mentioned that Li Hongtang secretly sent silver to the Second Prince of Chen’an to support his bid for the throne. Now, seeking the military seal seemed to confirm a plot to incite a coup. Was the distance not an issue?

However, if one was determined, distance wouldn’t matter.

Why did the Second Prince choose to support Chen’an’s prince? It was perplexing!

Chu Tang couldn’t figure it out for now.

After a pause, Chu Tang flew towards the King of the eastern border’s room to see what he was up to.

The King of the eastern border seemed to be doing nothing out of the ordinary, just sleeping in his room.

Thinking about the King sleeping while his consort and second son were fooling around made Chu Tang feel a bit sorry for him.

Realizing he wouldn’t gain any more useful information tonight, Chu Tang left the royal residence.

Chu Tang returned to the Tao residence, where Zeng Huo, who had been absent, reappeared. “I’ve just received news that the Fifth Elder is personally leading an ambush to kill Meng Shengdong.”

Meng Shengdong was currently destroying the Yun Organization’s opium poppies. Chu Tang, who had exchanged information with Tang Jinghong, asked, “Where is Meng Shengdong now?”

Zeng Huo, who kept tabs on various sources, knew everything. “Near Gaoyun Village in Gao County, Shucheng.”

Chu Tang asked, “When is the Fifth Elder planning to ambush Meng Shengdong?”

Zeng Huo looked serious. “Tomorrow morning.”

“Let’s go.” Chu Tang walked out of the Tao residence and headed to a teahouse at the edge of a street. It was late at night, and Chu Tang went straight to the manager’s room.

The manager, still awake and reading something, was startled by Chu Tang’s sudden appearance. “Who are you?”

Chu Tang showed the manager his token. “I need a thousand men ready by tomorrow morning.”

The manager, seeing the token, immediately saluted Chu Tang. “They’ll be ready by morning.”

Chu Tang said nothing more and left the teahouse.

He stayed at an inn next to the teahouse, watching the situation. Once the men were gathered, he would lead them to support.

Zeng Huo flew over. “Aren’t you being too cautious?” He had thought Chu Qingzhi would go alone.

Chu Tang replied, “Better safe than sorry.”

Zeng Huo, “…”

Chu Tang sent Zeng Huo away and then messaged Tang Jinghong, “The Fifth Elder is personally leading an ambush to kill Meng Shengdong. Are you aware of this?”

Tang Jinghong responded, “I’ll send reinforcements immediately.”

Chu Tang said, “I’ll also head there early in the morning to capture this Fifth Elder.”

With the Fifth Elder captured, he would have five elders in his hands. Aside from Li Hongyu, there were four more. This might push them to desperation and, most importantly, might reveal Lord Yun.

Tang Jinghong cautioned, “Be careful.”

Before dawn, Chu Tang returned to the teahouse. “Are the thousand men ready?”

The manager respectfully replied, “They’re ready and waiting in the backyard.”

Chu Tang went to the backyard and showed his token. “Everyone, follow me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Under Chu Tang’s leadership, they quickly headed towards Gaoyun Village.

Meanwhile, the Yun Organization’s elders were also preparing. At first light, they set off for Gaoyun Village.

Gaoyun Village.

This area had many opium poppies, a shocking sight. They had arrived yesterday evening and had destroyed a portion. Today, they planned to continue.

If nothing went wrong, they would destroy the entire area today. But Meng Shengdong received news that the Yun Organization’s Fifth Elder was coming to ambush them, so they changed their plan. They would lie in wait and turn the tables on their attackers.

Everyone hid, making the village appear peaceful.

The Fifth Elder indeed led a group to kill Meng Shengdong, unaware that he had been betrayed and that Meng Shengdong knew everything, preparing to catch him off guard.

However, upon arriving, the Fifth Elder found only villagers, not Tang’s men.

Where did it go wrong?

“Attack—” Just as he was pondering, Meng Shengdong signaled, and prepared soldiers charged, surrounding the Fifth Elder and his men, and a fierce battle ensued.

The area quickly became drenched in blood.

Shortly after, Chu Tang arrived with his men. “Capture the Fifth Elder alive!”

“Yes.” A group of assassins charged forward.

Chu Tang didn’t act immediately. He stood on the sidelines, watching.

The Fifth Elder shouted, “Who are you? I have no quarrel with you. Why capture me?”

Chu Tang replied arrogantly, “I capture who I want. No need for explanations.”

The Fifth Elder, “You…”

Chu Tang’s ears twitched. More people were coming?

Scanning with his senses, Chu Tang realized they were Yun Organization members.

What’s going on?

Sensing something amiss, Chu Tang flew over, knocked out the Fifth Elder, and tossed him aside before attacking the Yun Organization members.

With Chu Tang in action, the Yun Organization members were no match and were quickly annihilated.

Chu Tang commanded, “Hide quickly!”

Following his orders, Tang’s soldiers and Chu Tang’s assassins swiftly concealed themselves, leaving only the scent of blood and scattered corpses.

When the Yun Organization reinforcements arrived, they were horrified by the scene. These were some of their best fighters, yet they had been wiped out in their absence.

“Where’s the Fifth Elder?”

“His body isn’t here. He must have been captured.”

This realization tensed the Yun Organization members. They hadn’t even seen their enemies, and the Fifth Elder had already been taken.

Losing a Fifth Elder without gaining anything!

Just then, the sound of dense hoofbeats approached, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“Tang’s troops!”

“Do we engage?”

As they debated, a voice rang out, “You might not have a choice.”

Unbeknownst to them, they were already surrounded.