Chapter 129: Forced Ceasefire

French Concession, Sun Gongguan.

"Ceasefire?" Lu Xiao sprang to his feet, "What are you saying?"

Qin Chang'an also looked incredulous: "Lingyun, what does this mean?"

Sun Lingyun stood by the window, his expression grave: "The court has issued an order. All local forces are not to be moved arbitrarily, and they are forbidden to take part in the internal strife of Shen City."

"Bullshit!" Lu Xiao slammed his fist on the table, making the tea cups jump. "We've paid such a huge price just to help Chang'an regain control of the Security Army. Now you say stop, just stop? What about our wounded and dead comrades? Did the blood of the 11th and 13th Brigades just flow for nothing?"

"Uncle Lu…" Sun Lingyun turned around, "This is the court's decision. My father just called and said the Military Aircraft Bureau has issued a strict order. If we continue fighting, it will be disobedience."

"The court?" Lu Xiao snorted, "When has the court ever bothered with these matters? The position of Commander of the Security Army in Shen City has always been…"

"Things are different now." Sun Lingyun cut him off, "My father said this time the order came directly from the Military Aircraft Bureau. Moreover…"

He glanced at Qin Chang'an and said, "I'm afraid it's not just us; I expect word from the Nanjiang Governor's Office soon as well."

Lu Xiao was about to say more when the butler hurried in.

"Young Commander." The butler bowed and said, "The Nanjiang Governor's Office is calling; they want to speak with the Young Commander."

The room fell into dead silence.

Lu Xiao's face turned grim. He knew exactly what this call meant. The Nanjiang Governor is his own biological father. If even he gets involved…

"I'll take the call." Lu Xiao stood up, his voice hoarse.

Qin Chang'an watched Lu Xiao's retreating back and suddenly felt helpless. He knew that if the court really intervened, all their previous deployments and sacrifices might come to nothing.

"Chang'an." Sun Lingyun walked over to him and said, "I know you're unwilling, but the situation now…"

"I understand." Qin Chang'an gave a bitter laugh, "It's just… the brothers who bled for me…"

Before he could finish, Lu Xiao had returned. His face looked even worse than before.

"My father said…" Lu Xiao slumped into his chair, "The Military Aircraft Bureau has issued a death order. If we dare to keep fighting, it will be disobedience. When that happens…"

He didn't go on, but everyone understood the consequences. In this era, the charge of disobedience is enough to make any provincial governor unable to eat and walk around.

The gunfire outside seemed to have lessened a little, but everyone knew the war was far from over. For now, however, they had all been pushed into a dilemma with no good way out.

"What should we do now?" Qin Chang'an looked at Sun Lingyun.

"First, notify the front lines." Sun Lingyun sighed, "Tell them… to halt the offensive."

The room fell silent once again. No one had imagined that the battle meant to decide Shen City's fate would be called off in this way…

Security Army Headquarters, Yang Chengdong's office.

"Hahaha!" Yang Chengdong burst out laughing, "Just as Lord Zhou predicted, these warlords are still afraid of the court!"

He stood by the window, watching the distant artillery fire gradually die down, feeling a triumph he could hardly put into words. Three days ago, when Envoy Zhou sought him out, he still couldn't quite believe it.

"Commander Yang." At that time, Envoy Zhou got straight to the point: "Do you know what the court is most worried about right now?"

"Is it that these warlords are carving out their own fiefdoms?"

"No." Envoy Zhou shook his head. "It's Lin Yu."

Yang Chengdong stared, stunned: "A mere Fourth Bureau Chief?"

"A mere Fourth Bureau Chief?" Envoy Zhou sneered, "Do you know what kind of troops he suddenly commanded? Their equipment is superb beyond imagination. How could a petty Censor wield such military power?"

"So…"

"So we need to give him an opportunity." A glint flashed in Envoy Zhou's eyes, "An opportunity that would be enough to expose his ambition."

Yang Chengdong finally understood: "You mean, let me provoke the war on purpose?"

"Exactly." Envoy Zhou nodded, "The fiercer you fight the Jiangnan Four Young Masters, the more likely he is to lose his restraint. If he truly has any schemes, he will surely strike while you two are both weakened."

"By then…"

"By then it will be his death day!" Envoy Zhou snorted, "Looting in the chaos, disturbing public order, raising private troops, plotting rebellion… these crimes alone are enough to kill him ten times over!"

Looking back now, Yang Chengdong couldn't help but admire the court's tactics. This ploy of using a knife to kill someone is executed to perfection. Setting him and the Jiangnan Four Young Masters against each other like dogs fighting over a bone is meant to give Lin Yu a seemingly perfect opportunity.

"Commander Yang." Envoy Zhou patted his shoulder at the time, "If you pull this off, the post of Security Army Commander will be yours."

"Commander…" The aide's voice cut into his reverie, "The two brigades of the Lu family have begun to withdraw."

Yang Chengdong nodded satisfactorily: "Good. Have the First Division follow and press forward, but don't let them run too fast. We need to play the act to the hilt—let Lin Yu see that we're truly fighting with bloodshot eyes…"

"Yes!"

Watching the aide leave, Yang Chengdong recalled Envoy Zhou's words again: "Remember, the fiercer you fight, the more likely he is to take the bait. A man with ambition cannot resist such temptation."

"Lin Yu, Lin Yu." Yang Chengdong gazed out the window, "Aren't you so capable? Don't you have some mysterious troops? Come on, this is such a great chance—can you really hold back?"

The gunpowder smoke outside gradually drifted away, but Yang Chengdong knew the real show had only just begun…

French Concession, Sun Gongguan.

"Bang!"

Lu Xiao smashed the receiver to pieces, shards flying everywhere.

"Damn it!" he roared, "We obeyed the court's order to ceasefire, yet that bastard Yang Chengdong is still pressing the attack!"

Sun Lingyun stood by the window, watching the distant artillery, his brow furrowed. Not only had the Security Army's First Division not ceased fire, its barrage grew even denser.

"The 11th Brigade just reported in." Lu Xiao gritted his teeth, "They began to withdraw as ordered, but the Security Army seized the chance to launch a fierce assault. Yang Chengdong is trying to beat us to death!"

Qin Chang'an also looked grim: "This isn't right. Since the court issued an order, why does it only bind us while letting the Security Army run free?"

"Because the court has other designs." Sun Lingyun spoke in a low voice, "This performance may not be aimed at us."

Lu Xiao and Qin Chang'an both froze.

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it." Sun Lingyun turned around, "Why has the court suddenly intervened in Shen City's affairs? Why demand we ceasefire while indulging Yang Chengdong? Just who are they trying to lure out…"

Before he could finish, another burst of rapid artillery fire rang out.

"Never mind who they're trying to draw out." Lu Xiao slammed his fist on the table, "Are we just supposed to watch Yang Chengdong slaughter our brothers?"

Sun Lingyun's eyes narrowed: "Of course we can't. The court's order forbids us from taking the offensive, but it doesn't say we can't defend ourselves. Since Yang Chengdong refuses to relent…"

His voice suddenly turned cold: "Then let him know, we're not easy to provoke!"