Chapter 1790: Ace

That same night, Lin Chong led a squad of guards and quietly arrived at the small alley where Huang Shang's family lived.

They first observed from the shadows for a while, discovered that the change of the hidden sentries occurred at the Hour of the Rat, so they acted at the Hour of the Rat.

Lin Chong, accompanied by two guards, burst directly into Huang Shang's home and captured all of Huang Shang's family members.

"Who are you? How dare you break into my home without permission?" Huang Shang's father shouted loudly.

Lin Chong sneered coldly: "Who we are is unimportant; what matters is that you have now become our prisoners. If you do not wish to die, you had best behave."

Huang Shang's father's expression changed: "What exactly do you want?"

"Very simple. We want your son Huang Shang to submit to Wang Fu. As long as he agrees, we will spare your lives," Lin Chong said.

Huang Shang's father hesitated for a moment: "I can agree to you, but I must see my son first; otherwise, I will not agree to you."

Lin Chong thought for a moment and said: "Very well, I can let you meet, but you must guarantee that you will not leak this matter; otherwise, your entire family will die without a place to be buried."

Huang Shang's father nodded: "I guarantee I will not leak this matter."

Lin Chong had someone take Huang Shang's father to a secluded place; in no time, Huang Shang appeared.

"Father, what is wrong with you?" Huang Shang, seeing his father captured, immediately asked in surprise.

"Son, do not worry about me. I wish to speak with them," Huang Shang's father said.

"Father, you cannot speak with them; they will not let us go," Huang Shang said urgently.

"Son, we now have only two paths to choose: first, to fight them head-on, but we are absolutely no match for them; second, to negotiate with them and find a way to remove their threat against us," Huang Shang's father said.

Huang Shang fell silent for a moment: "Father, I understand. Speak, I am listening."

"Son, I want them to release us, but the precondition is that you must agree to submit to Wang Fu," Huang Shang's father said.

Huang Shang was stunned for a moment: "Father, how can you say such a thing? I will absolutely not submit to Wang Fu." Huang Shang's father sighed: "Son, I know you hold prejudices against Wang Fu, but we must now face reality. Wang Fu's power grows ever greater; if we do not submit to them, there is only the path of death."

Huang Shang fell silent for a moment, then said: "Father, rest assured; I will not let you and the family be harmed. I will agree to submit to Wang Fu, but I have one condition: Wang Fu must guarantee our safety."

"Very well, I agree to you," Lin Chong said from the side. "As long as you submit to Wang Fu, we guarantee your safety."

Huang Shang nodded: "Very well, I agree to you."

Lin Chong nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. You may now take your family and leave."

Huang Shang left with his family, while Lin Chong immediately reported the situation to Zhao Kuangyin.

"Prince, Huang Shang has already agreed to submit to Wang Fu," Lin Chong said.

Zhao Kuangyin nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, Lin Chong. You have handled this matter well; Benwang will remember your merit."

"Thank you, Prince, for your praise," Lin Chong said modestly.

Zhao Kuangyin thought for a moment and said: "Lin Chong, you must immediately take people to bring Huang Shang to Wang Fu; Benwang wishes to see him personally."

"Yes," Lin Chong immediately accepted the order and departed.

In no time, Huang Shang was brought to Wang Fu.

Zhao Kuangyin received him in the study.

"Huang Shang, you have now submitted to Wang Fu; Benwang will not treat you poorly. Whatever requests you have, bring them forward; as long as Benwang can do them, I will certainly strive to satisfy you," Zhao Kuangyin said.

Huang Shang thought for a moment and said: "Prince, this subordinate has only one request: I hope the Prince can guarantee the safety of my family."

"This is no problem; Benwang will send people to protect your family," Zhao Kuangyin said.

Huang Shang nodded: "Thank you, Prince."

"Very well, you may go rest for now; later, Benwang has matters to discuss with you," Zhao Kuangyin said.

After Huang Shang withdrew, Zhao Kuangyin immediately summoned his trusted general Gao Ping.

"Gao Ping, you must immediately take people to capture Zhao Hao for Benwang; remember, do not disturb anyone else," Zhao Kuangyin ordered.

"Yes," Gao Ping immediately accepted the order and departed.

Zhao Kuangyin smiled coldly: "Zhao Hao, you thought that allying with Huang Shang would allow you to oppose Benwang? You are mistaken; Benwang has plenty of methods to deal with you." In no time, Gao Ping brought Zhao Hao to the study.

"Zhao Hao, do you know what crime you have committed?" Zhao Kuangyin asked coldly.

Zhao Hao was stunned for a moment: "I do not know what crime I have committed."

"You still dare to quibble? You and Huang Shang allied to plot harm against Benwang; is this not a crime?" Zhao Kuangyin shouted loudly.

Zhao Hao sneered coldly: "Brother, do not slander me with blood in your mouth. Huang Shang and I are merely friends; there was absolutely no intention to join forces against you."

"You still dare to quibble? Lin Chong, bring Huang Shang's family in," Zhao Kuangyin ordered.

In no time, Huang Shang's family was brought in.

"Huang Shang, you betrayed Benwang?" Zhao Hao, seeing Huang Shang's family, immediately asked in surprise.

Huang Shang gave a bitter smile: "Zhao Wang, I am sorry. I did not wish to let my family be harmed, so I could only agree to submit to Wang Fu."

Zhao Hao was stunned for a moment, then looked coldly at Zhao Kuangyin: "Brother, you actually used family members to threaten Huang Shang; you are too shameless."

"Shameless? Zhao Hao, do not forget, you are now also Benwang's enemy. Benwang merely used a small tactic; does this count as shameless?" Zhao Kuangyin sneered coldly.