Chapter 1145

"Beast, you want to kill your brother?" Wei Baoguo shouted angrily.

This made Wei Zhong's face instantly darken, "Brother, we are brothers born of the same mother, how can you curse me with the words 'beast'? If I am a beast, then what are you? I don't know what I want to do to you, but I know what you just wanted to do to me."

"Fine, don't mention this again. Since you want to surrender, then surrender!" Wei Baoguo shouted.

He realized a problem—this was indeed on his younger brother's territory.

Wei Zhong shook his head, "We are brothers born of the same mother. If I surrender, how could I watch my brother suffer? Moreover, I am just one man—my weight is too light. Zhuge, does what I say make sense?"

Zhuge Xun looked at Wei Zhong with a complex expression, then slightly nodded, "Indeed, the weight is too low."

Wei Zhong broke into a spring breeze smile, "This is the Zhuge I know. After being a mountain king for half a year, you've worn out all our feelings. This is not what I want to see. I also know your hesitation and difficulty in choosing—power, indeed, is a good thing."

"But, you still don't see things clearly enough—the rise of the Chen Clan is unstoppable..."

Before he finished speaking, Wei Baoguo cut him off with a cold snort, "In ancient times, those who seized half the country and were later destroyed by others are not just one or two. The Chen Clan's current strength is only temporary. In my view, his current strength is actually his most deadly weakness."

"The Chen Clan is now an enemy to everyone under heaven. The heroes of the world, the martial sects—who doesn't see him as a thorn in their eye?"

Wei Zhong nodded, "Brother, I won't argue with that. But I know that if we brothers don't surrender, we may not live to see that day."

Wei Baoguo snorted again and said nothing more.

"Brother, Zhuge, order the surrender." Wei Zhong said bluntly.

For surrender, he had his own sufficient reasons, but seeing the attitudes of these two, he gave up.

More talk is useless!

"You want to force me to surrender?" Wei Baoguo asked coldly.

Wei Zhong nodded, "Yes, brother. If you don't surrender, I can only wrong you."

"You really are a beast."

Wei Zhong's face darkened, "I don't want to make things too difficult for you two, but if brother continues like this, I fear I can only change my approach."

"Come here!" he shouted deeply.

As his words fell, countless armored soldiers surged in like a tide from outside.

Wei Baoguo suddenly stood up, "You still want to kill me?"

"I feel heartbroken, but it's not impossible." Wei Zhong lowered his head to drink tea, ignoring Wei Baoguo completely.

Wei Baoguo looked at Wei Zhong with a face alternating between sun and cloud, then suddenly laughed, "I let you sit in this position today, and you actually want to strike me? Good, really good."

"Brother may think I am heartless and vicious, wolf-hearted and dog-lunged!" Wei Zhong hesitated for a long time, then slowly spat out a sentence.

He believed his calculation was not wrong.

Chen Wuji's strength, at least before the current state of the world, is not a shortcoming.

Wei Baoguo coldly stared at Wei Zhong, "Go ahead and strike— I will not issue the surrender order."

Wei Zhong suddenly felt excited, "Come here, drag him away!"

Wei Baoguo startled, "You bastard, you really dare to strike?"

"Of course I dare!"

"You bastard…… you……"

"Brother, save your strength—it'll be over soon."

Wei Baoguo was forcibly dragged out by the armored soldiers, cursing all the way, until his voice gradually faded.

A trace of panic appeared on Zhuge Xun's face. He seriously said to Wei Zhong, "Wei brother, I am not like the elder brother. Between us, this shouldn't happen. I can issue the surrender order now—how to do it, you command."

"No, no." Wei Zhong laughed, "Zhuge brother has helped me greatly, and today supports my surrender—how could I strike him? Come, drink tea, drink tea, don't let my brother's affair disturb your mind."

"I'll issue the order first?"

"Oh yes, this matter indeed needs to be discussed quickly. Does Zhuge brother's command have any uncontrollable people?"

"Naturally, there are. You know my temperament—you certainly aren't unfamiliar with it."

"Are they about to be sidelined?"

"Of course not—just a few troublemakers."

Wei Zhong earnestly looked at Zhuge Xun and said, "Zhuge brother, you have such talent under you—surrender now is absolutely the wisest choice."

"To be honest, I really do have that worry."

"Since such people exist, this order cannot be issued lightly. Zhuge brother should first gather your confidants and eliminate these people!"

"... Good, I know what to do now."

……

Wei Baoguo was dragged in.

His face was black as a dark date, his eyes twitching. As he entered, he locked eyes with Wei Zhong, seeming to intend to kill him with his gaze.

"Wei Zhong, you bastard, I am your brother—how dare you insult me so?"

Wei Zhong laughed, "Brother, it's just making you lift your butt to take a beating. If you don't behave, I'll have people strip your clothes and beat you, then summon the city's commoners to watch."

"You dare!"

"I really do dare!"

"You……" Wei Baoguo's mouth moved, but he ultimately didn't dare to curse.

Wei Zhong laughed, "Brother, you curse—good, I felt the earlier beating wasn't quite satisfying enough, and I didn't watch."

Wei Baoguo turned his head away with a dark face and said nothing more.

"Brother, it's time to discuss how you plan to surrender—don't think you can fool me. If you try to fool me, heh……" Wei Zhong said with a squinting smile.

Wei Baoguo nearly exploded with anger, but……

Really, there was no way.

The personal guards he brought into the city were controlled by Wei Zhong, while the rest of the troops remained outside the city.

Yesterday he was still the authority of Shangyu and Hongde Commanderies, but now he is merely meat on the chopping block.

……

Hezhou.

Chen Wuji was hunched over his desk reviewing the memorial submission sent yesterday when Jia Yujing hurried in.

"My lord, Wei Zhong of Hongde Commandery has sent an envoy; from his words, it seems he wishes to discuss surrender."

Because of his outstanding performance in Shangfang Commandery, Jia Yujing now oversees the Lǐbù Sī.

All matters of rites, sacrifices, and frontier diplomacy now fall under the Lǐbù Sī.

The Lǐbù Sī is, aside from the military, the most complete functional office under Chen Wuji's command.

"Is this surrender theirs to offer, or are they surrendering to me?" Chen Wuji asked.

Jia Yujing curled the corner of his mouth, "Naturally, they are surrendering to you, my lord."

"Go and talk, see what the situation is." Chen Wuji said.

The system of the Lǐbù Sī has been established; for such envoys, Chen Wuji naturally cannot receive them personally, so it is best to leave it to the Lǐbù Sī to handle.

Jia Yujing acknowledged and left the study.

In the afternoon, Chen Wuji had finished his meal and was resting when the personal guard reported again that Jia Yujing requested an audience.

"Let him in."

Chen Wuji stretched his waist and sat up.