Since Pan Wei seemed hesitated, Zhang Hu tried to convince him once more, "Look, we're not asking you to help us in our battle against Feng Jin. We merely asked you to step aside, thus you will lose nothing from our agreement. You can get half of Feng Jin's supplies without sacrificing any of your men."

Pan Wei frowned, "What could I do if you win the battle and refuse to give us half of Feng Jin's supplies?"

Zhang Hu answered, "Unfortunately I can give you more than a promise, there is nothing I can or will give you to guarantee that. But think about it, if you quietly left Feng Jin than you still have most of your men intact while I still must lead my men for battle against Feng Jin. Once I occupy Nanping, I'm not in position to provoke you for a battle."

Pan Wei asked, "What if I betray you? What if I wait until you and Feng Jin kill each other before I move my men to finish whoever win the battle?"

Zhang Hu answered, "I will make you regret it."

Pan Wei snorted, "Hmmph.... okay..."

He hesitated for a while before slightly nodded his head, "Okay, you got the deal. When are you going to attack?"

Zhang Hu answered, "Pulled your men tonight, by the time you and your men left, we will begin our attack."

Pan Wei, "Should we send signal to let you know?"

Zhang Hu replied, "We'll know."

Pan Wei sighed, "Hmm... I won't ask how you will know our movement. Just make sure you don't attack before all my men left Nanping. Otherwise, I'll make you regret it."

Zhang Hu nodded his head."

Pan Wei then said, "Okay, let's fight and then give me a path to retreat."

Zhang Hu didn't answer with words, rather he swept Pan Wei's feet with his iron spear. Pan Wei leaped few steps back but Fan Zheng and Huang Wen quickly pursued him. They fought ferociously for those who watched it. At one time, Pan Wei managed to push Fan Zheng away from his escape path and broke free. Pan Wei used his glaive to block his opponent from pursuing him, while quickly retreated toward his own base. Zhang Hu, Fan Zheng and Huang Wen pursued him for few meters before they stopped and retreated to their own base.

Since the situation developed into their advantage, Zhang Hu wanted to return to their command center as soon as possible.

On the way there he patted on Huang Wen's shoulder and said, "Nice timing."

"You grow even stronger now.", said Fan Zheng.

Huang Wen nodded his head and grinned, "I bring Uncle Xia Bao and Uncle Chen Fang from Nan An, along with 1,100 survivors."

Zhang Hu nodding his head, satisfied, "Well done..."

As soon as he arrived at the command center, Zhang Hu held a meeting. Everyone were already there. From Zhaghu Town, Fan Zheng, Yue Rang and Yue Guang attended the meeting. From Nan An, Xia Bao and Chen Fang. And those who were sent to Nan An, Zhang Tian Yi, Ma Heng, Chen Wu Xuang, Liu Wang Yun, Tian Zhong and of course Huang Wen. Quickly he explained their conversation with Pan Wei during the fight.

"So that's it, Pan Wei agree to leave Feng Jin. Once we could confirmed our 10,000 men, we better prepared an attack immediately. With Pan Wei's men withdrawing during the battle, their morale will crumble." Zhang Hu ended his explanation.

"Master Yue Guang, if I remember correctly, there were reports about the division within Feng Jin's alliance. Pan Wei was the leader of those who opposed Feng Jin, isn't that right?", Fan Zheng asked Yue Guang.

Yue Guang nodded his head, "Yes, he is and the one who watch the other two smaller bridges toward Nanping, was happened to be his men."

Zhang Hu nodded his head, "Excellent...  excellent..."

Zhang Hu asked Yue Rang, "So what do you think? Should we try to enter Nanping from all three bridges?"

Yue Rang nodded his head, "Of course and also from the river."

Zhang Hu got up from his seat, "Okay, let's prepare every thing. We should be on the other side by tomorrow."

--- o ---

Mean while Pan Wei returned to their head quarters. His supporters were waiting for him anxiously while Feng Jin and his supporters ready to mock his failure.

Actually as Pan Wei ran back to his own side, he was wondering if he should follow his agreement with Zhang Hu or should he used it to trap Zhang Hu? He was walking past Feng Jin's men who were stationed on Jianzhou Bridges, when he happened to see one of them snickered behind him. When he turned and stared at that person, that man slightly bowed to him politely but when he turned to go to their headquarter, he could heard their stiffled laughed.

Pan Wei gritted his teeth and kept his pace, he didn't want to quarrel with a mere thugs.

He was entering the meeting room, when he saw Feng Jin and his supporters were waiting for him, they clapped their hands as soon as he arrived. He glanced at Cao Meng and his supporters and saw their darkened face.

"What a fight, truly Master Pan Wei's strength was a sight to behold.", Feng Jin mockingly congratulated him.

Although Feng Jin didn't say anything to insult him, but his expression didn't hid his contempt of Pan Wei's failed attack.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Pan Wei nodded bitterly and said, "I managed to lure Zhang Hu and Fan Zheng, it should be a good chance for our snipers to kill them and the enemy's morale would crumble after losing their leader."

Feng Jin shrugged his shoulder, "They were fully armored, of course they won't be so foolish to go to an open area without enough protection. Rather than shoot them and fail, thus warn them that we have snipers, I believe we should wait for other better chance. Beside, since Master Pan Wei left without consulting us, how could we know that it was Master Pan Wei's intention to lure them out?"

Feng Jin waited for Pan Wei's retort, but to his surprised Pan Wei just nodded his head and answered shortly, "My mistake."

Feng Jin hesitated for a moment before replied, "But of course, Master Pan Wei had shown them something today. I bet they are trembling in fear right now."

Several Feng Jin's supporter laughed, "Yes, they must be trembling when they remember Master Pan Wei's intimidating appearance."

Pan Wei ignored them all, he simply nodded to Feng Jin and said, "Gentlemen, excuse me. I'm tired, I'd like to have some rest."

Feng Jin nodded, "Of course, Master Pan Wei could rest in peace, we will take care everything. Don't worry."

Pan Wei bitterly nodded and left.

One of Feng Jin's supporter said, "I still couldn't forget how valiant Master Pan Wei was, walking in full armor like some warrior out of an action movie."

Cao Meng gritted his teeth and said, "Master Feng Jin, it seem there won't be much action today. If you excuse me, I would like to have some rest as well."

Feng Jin stared at Cao Meng for a while, trying to dechiper Cao Meng's cold expression, secretly he thought to himself, 'Hmm.. you can plotting as much as you want. As long as I hold all the supplies, there is nothing you can do.'

"Of course, don't worry, we will keep watch over the situation. If there is anything important, I will send my men to call you.", said Feng Jin.

Cao Meng nodded and quickly left the room. One by one, Pan Wei's supporter left the room to see Pan Wei. They couldn't stand, to stay at the same room with Feng Jin and his supporters. The atmosphere was really uncomfortable. With Pan Wei's failure, they didn't have the face to stay in the room, under Feng Jin's and his supporter's gaze.

Feng Jin and his supporters watched the last one of them left the room.

"Master Feng Jin, would you like to send someone to watch them?", one of his supporters asked.

Feng Jin nodded his head, "Send several of your men to keep an eye on them. We'll see if he dare to try anything funny."

That man nodded his head, "I'll send my trusted men."

--- o ---

Pan Wei took a building near headquarter for himself, more than twenty of his men guarded the entrance. When Cao Meng and other Pan Wei's supporters arrived, the guards let them in without any fuss. The guards knew them well.

Cao Meng entered the building and directly went to Pan Wei's private room, two men guarded the door. Cao Meng could faintly heard the sound of women's stifled scream, moaning, something rhythmically pounded the wall and the creaking bed.

"Is Master Pan Wei inside?", he asked the guard.

"Yes, but...", the guard hesitated.

"Is he busy?", Cao Meng frowned.

"Uhm... yes...", one of the guard replied.

Cao Meng sighed, "Okay..., when he's done, tell him I came. I'll wait at the usual room."

The guard nodded, "I'm sorry Master Cao..."

Cao Meng waved his hand as he turned to leave for another room, "... never mind..."

One by one, other Pan Wei's supporters gathered along with Cao Meng, waiting for Pan Wei. They waited there for more than an hour. They quietly drank some rice wine. They all knew Pan Wei's habit, the good ones and the bad ones. They chose him over Feng Jin, after working together for a few days. Most of it, thanked to Cao Meng's diplomacy. Cao Meng and Pan Wei knew each other long before the changes, they work for competing underworld organization.

Through many conflicts, they grew respect for each other. When the changes came and their boss died, they met again as leaders of a group of survivors in Fuzhou.

Suddenly the door opened and Pan Wei entered the room, they could see his determined expression.

"Brothers... I've decided. I won't live under the same sky with Feng Jin.", Pan Wei spoke as soon as he bowed to greet them all.

Cao Meng hastily asked, "What do you have in mind? Don't forget, on the other side of Minjiang River is Zhang Hu."

Pan Wei nodded, "I know, we're leaving Nanping tonight and let them fight to their content."

Cao Meng hesitated, "Well... that could be a good plan, but... Feng Jin keep all of our supplies... At most we only have enough for a day."

Pan Wei replied, "That doesn't matter, listen..."

Then he explained Zhang Hu's offer.