Watching the Duke Huguo being hoisted up, Prince NanAn and the others crossed their arms, enjoying the spectacle.

It’s unreasonable not to be reasonable, especially when being unreasonable is indiscriminate; it’s a mistake compounded.

Having been unreasonable with Marquis Dongxiang and holding a grudge against the Flying Tiger Army’s devastation, the Duke Huguo surely has a death wish.

Prince NanAn looked at Chu Shun and the others, asking, "Do you think Marquis Dongxiang would take the Duke Huguo’s life?"

Chu Shun shook his head.

The Heir of Marquis Beining sighed, "Daqi doesn’t kill captives."

Armies clash, inevitably taking enemy soldiers captive, and being captured by the enemy.

If the Duke Huguo could be killed, Marquis Dongxiang wouldn’t have merely chopped off one of the Duke Huguo’s arms on the battlefield.

However, if Nanliang wants to ransom back the Duke Huguo, it won’t be possible without paying dearly.

Though the Flying Tiger Army won this battle, the truth of their devastation sixteen years ago was revealed.

The truth is cruel, painful.

No one is in the mood to celebrate the victory.

Moreover, after two days and nights of fighting, men and horses are exhausted, and everyone needs rest.

The remaining matters were handed over to the Prince, and Marquis Dongxiang slept until dusk the next day.

As for Nanliang, the Duke Huguo being captured alive was unexpected by everyone, including General Shi and Xie Jingchen.

Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi were taken as hostages; although it was the Duke Huguo’s scheme, lacking evidence, the soldiers felt General Shi owed a significant favor to the Duke Huguo.

It’s a favor that gnashed his teeth, a debt General Shi, despite his anger, had to repay.

Additionally, the Duke Huguo’s heir is still present in the army.

The Heir of the Duke of Guardian demanded the release of his father, the Duke Huguo, from Daqi.

On the first day, Daqi refused under the guise of Marquis Dongxiang still being asleep.

The second day, Marquis Dongxiang and the Flying Tiger Army were to hold a memorial at the site of their previous devastation, leaving no time to meet the Nanliang envoy.

On the third day, when Marquis Dongxiang was available, he stated the ransom price at one hundred thousand taels of gold.

The value was staggering.

Without the Emperor of Nanliang’s consent, no one dared to make a decision to ransom the Duke Huguo.

The Nanliang envoy tried to negotiate, urging Marquis Dongxiang not to sever his way forward, nearly being chased out of the Daqi Camp.

One hundred thousand taels of gold, not a single ounce negotiable.

This is just the price for the Duke Huguo; of the two hundred other soldiers from Nanliang captured alive, Daqi wouldn’t charge for them, giving them away for free.

Marquis Dongxiang had named the price, and unless Nanliang paid it, he would never release them.

Even the Duke Huguo was captured alive. Nanliang dared not attack the city again.

In a flash, five days had passed.

In these five days, the Duke Huguo was hung there, taken down once each day for the military physician to apply medicine.

Besides that unavoidable bowl of medicine, the Duke Huguo consumed nothing.

After three days under the sun, the Duke couldn’t even keep his eyes open.

Fortunately, in the last two days, clouds gathered, with large clouds by the fifth day, fierce winds, flying sand, and making it hard for people to keep their eyes open.

A downpour ensued.

The Duke Huguo lifted his head, desperately wanting to drink the rain.

Yet before he could savor it, an umbrella was held over him.

Prince NanAn held the umbrella for him, smiling gently, "No need to thank me."

If looks could kill, Prince NanAn would surely have been torn limb from limb.

Alongside the Duke Huguo was Xie Jingchuan, also hanging.

These past days, Marquis Dongxiang hadn’t begun interrogating any of them.

Xie Jingchuan had no shortage of water and was drenched by the rain.

The Duke Huguo wished to drink but couldn’t be touched by the rain.

Perhaps nothing in the world is more torturous, especially since the Duke waited eagerly for the rain for two entire days.

A single caring umbrella shattered all his hopes.

Watching Prince NanAn perched on the railing, holding an umbrella for the Duke, the soldiers in the army twitched their mouths.

This scene looked so much like a provocation, yet also strangely pleasing.

Didn’t the Duke Huguo say no one forced the Flying Tiger Army to drink Nanliang’s water?

This rainwater fell from the sky, yet it fell from Daqi’s skies!

Want to drink?

Dream on!

Prince NanAn couldn’t bear the role of umbrella bearer for long; such concern for the Duke Huguo, indeed made him fear being beaten to the side with the Duke.

He positioned the umbrella well enough and placed a bamboo hat on the Duke’s head.

No rain, not even hail, can reach the Duke.

Beaten by whips and strung up for five days, the Duke Huguo was nearly devoid of will.

The umbrella of Prince NanAn was the last straw that broke him.

The Nanliang envoy knew the Duke Huguo was dangled and hanging by a thread.

The Duke Huguo’s heir decided to spare no expense rescuing the Duke.

Isn’t it just one hundred thousand taels of gold?

If the court wouldn’t pay, the Duke Mansion can afford it!

The Nanliang envoy, bearing the heir’s promise, returned to the Daqi Camp.

At that moment, the sky had cleared, and the hat and umbrella over the Duke’s head had been removed.

The Nanliang envoy worried the Duke Huguo would die of thirst and asked Daqi to give the Duke water.

Chu Shun looked at him and said, "Your Duke Huguo doesn’t drink Daqi’s water."

The Nanliang envoy knew what had been said had angered the Daqi people.

It’s simply not drinking Daqi’s water; they brought their own.

Indeed.

Very well prepared.

But unfortunately, no Nanliang water is allowed in the Daqi Camp.

The Nanliang envoy, "...."

Truly.

Was completely at a loss for words, just staring dumbfounded as the water pouch in hand was taken by the Daqi soldiers and thrown out of the camp.

Dare you say that Daqi is unreasonable?

In terms of being unreasonable, no words could surpass those of the Duke.

Marquis Dongxiang walked out of the tent, seeing the Nanliang envoy there, and said, "Bring the other Nanliang prisoners."

Except for the Duke, the other prisoners were treated with kindness.

Over 200 Nanliang soldiers were brought up, during these days, they had food and drink, and their injuries were bandaged, just as previous prisoners had been.

Daqi treats captured Nanliang soldiers well in the hope that when Daqi soldiers are captured on the battlefield, Nanliang will treat them the same.

The Duke was hanging there, nearly delirious.

Marquis Dongxiang walked over, and the Duke struggled to speak, "Water, give me water..."

Marquis Dongxiang laughed.

He looked at the Duke and said, "There’s no water from your Nanliang in the Daqi camp."

"If you’re thirsty, endure it, endure until Nanliang sends a hundred thousand taels of gold to redeem you back before you drink to your heart’s content."

Marquis Dongxiang’s tone was calm without a trace of fluctuation.

Prince NanAn and even Su Chong worried that Marquis Dongxiang’s next words would be a roar, a call to kill.

They had never seen Marquis Dongxiang speak in such a tone, especially since they witnessed firsthand the determination with which Marquis Dongxiang sought the Duke’s life on the battlefield, killing gods and Buddhas with the Flying Tiger Army.

The past madness is vivid in memory.

The Nanliang envoy said, "There is not that much gold in the camp, our Nanliang can write an IOU."

Marquis Dongxiang gave the Nanliang envoy a sidelong glance, "Would you trust your enemy?"

The Nanliang envoy was speechless, "But if you don’t give the Duke water, within two days, he will die of thirst."

Two days, that’s pushing it to the limit; it’s uncertain if he can even last until this evening.

The news that the Duke was captured probably hasn’t reached the Emperor yet, even if it had, the hundred thousand taels of gold couldn’t be sent here.

Marquis Dongxiang is giving Nanliang hope only to snuff it out cruelly.

"The process by which the Flying Tiger Army was wiped out was somewhat dishonorable, our Nanliang admits, but on the battlefield, all is fair in war, we all believe Marquis Dongxiang is not someone who can’t accept defeat," the Nanliang envoy said.

To save the Duke, the Nanliang envoy spoke more moderately, although it still sounded unpleasant and piercing to the Daqi soldiers.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at the Nanliang envoy, the cold glint in his eyes was hidden but all the more terrifying.

The Duke only wanted to drink water.

The Nanliang envoy said, "What will it take for Marquis Dongxiang to give the Duke water?"

"Noisy," said Marquis Dongxiang with disdain.

"Tie them up."

As soon as Marquis Dongxiang’s words fell, the soldiers tied up the Nanliang envoy.

With rags stuffed in his mouth, he stayed with the group of prisoners, squatting on the ground.

The Nanliang envoy was so anxious his heart was trembling, wanting to speak, but only muffled sounds came out.

In dealings between nations, envoys should not be executed.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at them and said, "Rest assured, I will not kill you."

"As for the Duke, the water in the Daqi camp is only for Daqi people to drink."

"If he wants to drink, he must have the courage to admit he is Daqi."

Leaving that sentence, Marquis Dongxiang strode back to the main tent.

No one carefully pondered the intention behind Marquis Dongxiang tying up the Nanliang envoy, or his words, thinking they were meant to provoke the Duke intentionally.

Another half day passed being suspended.

The Duke was already delirious, wanting water, and the soldiers used Marquis Dongxiang’s words to block him.

After being blocked three or four times, the Duke exploded, admitting he was Daqi.

This statement indeed stupefied those who provoked him into saying it.

Nanliang’s Duke truly admitted it.

Should they really give him water to drink?

The soldiers quickly went to report to Marquis Dongxiang.

Marquis Dongxiang flipped through a book and said, "Give him water."

"And give him a few buns."

His tone was calm, making the soldiers doubt whether the Marquis Dongxiang before them was real.

After the soldiers left, they were told to bring the Duke down, providing him with water and food.

The Duke devoured it ravenously.

Having been hungry for days, eating too quickly nearly choked him to death.

He didn’t even have the strength to pound his chest, taking a while to recover.

Three large buns were eaten in one breath.

As soon as he finished eating, Marquis Dongxiang walked over and said, "Looks like you’re full."

"You can be on your way now."

Everyone stared at Marquis Dongxiang in disbelief.

Uncle Lin couldn’t help but say, "Marquis."

"Follow my orders," Marquis Dongxiang said.

"Yes."

The Duke was tied up and forced to kneel.

The Nanliang envoy struggled fiercely, and Marquis Dongxiang raised his hand, allowing the fabric in the envoy’s mouth to be removed.

The Nanliang envoy said, "You cannot kill the Duke!"

Marquis Dongxiang looked at him, "The Duke?"

"Didn’t the envoys hear him just admit that he’s a Daqi?"

"Am I, Marquis Dongxiang, Flying Tiger General, required to get your Nanliang envoy’s approval to kill a Daqi person?"

"Kill someone, and I will be accountable to the Emperor of Daqi."

Having said that, Marquis Dongxiang glanced over, "Kill!"

The soldier’s blade fell.

A flash of light reflected off the blade.

Instinctively, the Nanliang envoy closed his eyes, and as he opened them again, the Duke’s head rolled.

The Nanliang envoy, "...!!!"