"Qingping, they say if you don't come back soon, they'll kill us... kill our whole family."

"Qingping, what exactly happened? Why would you side with outsiders?"

"You are part of the Shen Family... with Shen blood flowing in your veins... you can't bring shame to your ancestors..."

"Qingping, come back quickly... I really can't stand it anymore..."

------

Soon, the voice turned into sobbing, hysterical cries.

It was clear that Ji Yunfeng was on the verge of collapse.

She really couldn't bear this life anymore, she'd rather die...

If only she could avoid death, that would be even better.

The scene shifted to a man's face.

At first glance, Shen Qingping almost couldn't recognize the man before him as his biological father.

Clothes were tattered, hair disheveled and dirty.

His face was ashen, eyes devoid of any light, looking like a living corpse.

Is this still his father Shen Anyuan, who once wore suits every day, controlled the family's billion-dollar fortune, and could cause an earthquake in the business world just by stomping his foot?

Shen Qingping knew that because of his choices, his parents would inevitably face difficult times and revenge from the family.

However, when they actually appeared so desperately in front of him...

The pain pierced Shen Qingping's heart and soul.

It hurt so much, even his body began to slightly tremble.

"Qingping..." Shen Anyuan's voice was hoarse, as if there was a fire burning in his throat: "I know you have your own dilemmas..."

"You've grown up... able to take responsibility for your own life..."

The voice was choked, yet he struggled to squeeze out a smile on his withered face.

"Your mother and I... don't worry about us..."

Bang!

The scene ended.

Clearly, Shen Anyuan's words did not meet their demands.

"Commander..." Lu Zhiyong wanted to speak words of comfort, but when the words came to his mouth, he didn't know what to say.

Someone's parents and family are being held hostage, what could he say?

------

"Are those General Shen Qingping's parents? They've been taken hostage?"

"Did Shen Family do this? Shen Wuxiang has no shame..."

"With such petty tactics, he still wants to be Emperor? Pah..."

"Will General Shen end up being sidelined... should he save them or not?"

------

This video file was being transmitted through public channels to various leading generals' hands, and it also appeared before Tang Fei.

After watching, Tang Fei's face was as dark as water.

"You need to speak with Shen Qingping quickly," Phoenix remarked.

With his father taken hostage, Shen Qingping's emotions would undoubtedly be affected.

It might even influence his decisions.

Shen Qingping is the commander of this siege, and the overall person in charge of the 'Golden Cicada' operation.

If his emotions fluctuate, it would greatly impact the process and outcome of the entire plan.

It might even result in him turning against them...

After all, those are his biological parents.

Therefore, Phoenix hoped Tang Fei could talk to Shen Qingping immediately, to calm this key leader's mindset.

Tang Fei pondered for a moment, shook his head, and spoke: "Not appropriate."

He couldn't proactively seek out Shen Qingping or try to comfort and persuade him.

What could he say?

"Your parents are caught, let's not fight this battle..."

How is that possible?

If they retreated because of this, then what about the countless people's efforts and hard work? What about the soldiers' injuries and sacrifices?

If this tactic worked, whoever he used as commander, Shen Wuxiang would just bind that person's parents and family, send them to the battlefield... how could this war be fought?

Might as well surrender early and face execution.

The outcome was already determined, inevitably a loss.

"Do your best, take Feng City, take Liyu Port...

We will definitely avenge your parents."

Such words were even more unsuitable.

Shen Qingping fought bloodily on the frontline for him, and he called to advise to sacrifice oneself for the sake of the bigger picture...

What does this mean?

No matter how logical or aligned with reality it sounds, what would Shen Qingping feel in his heart upon hearing it?

It's like planting a thorn in their heart.

Phoenix blinked, instantly realizing the subtleties involved.

Somewhat surprised, she glanced at Tang Fei; in an instant, he thought it all through?

They watched the video simultaneously, from her proposal to his refusal, less than a minute of reaction time...

She understood politics better, while he understood humanity better.

"What should we do?" Phoenix asked, "Do nothing at all?"

"This kind of thing..." Tang Fei rubbed his hair with some irritation and said, "Still requires Shen Qingping to make his own decision..."

"It's too cruel for him."

"Yes, too cruel." Tang Fei nodded.

People always shout 'For a general to succeed, thousands of bones dry'. What if the bones are your own parents or family?

How many could bear it? How many could accept it?

Tang Fei looked at the chief of staff Xun Pu beside him and asked, "Everyone knows about this, right?"

"Yes." Xun Pu nodded and said, "They transmitted the video file through the public channel... We didn't deliberately intercept it."

"Hmm, this kind of thing can't be hidden... and there's no need." Tang Fei nodded and said.

Now that this matter has become public knowledge, the discussions are widespread, and Shen Qingping is under great pressure.

------

"Young master, everything's been arranged." Shen Anan walked up to Shen Xinglan, bowed, and saluted.

Shen Anan was from a side branch of the Shen Family, arranged early into the family's Direct Lineage Army, the Undying Army, for training, and due to his achievements... mainly because of blood ties, he rose step by step, now becoming the commander of the Dragon Camp.

The Dragon Camp is the Sharp Blade Camp of the Undying Army. Every warrior in it is a cultivator, and of Ruyi Realm level.

Shen Wuxiang has controlled the Military Committee for many years. In the name of the nation, he gave full support to the Dragon Camp, helping them package and upgrade.

They selected the best talents, the best generals, the best food, the best equipment, and had the most advanced firepower.

When the Divine Dragon is angered, the land scorches for thousands of miles.

The Dragon Camp fights never to be defeated.

Mysterious and powerful.

"In the military camp, address by rank." Shen Xinglan said with no expression.

"Yes, General." Shen Anan said respectfully.

Although he is the commander of this Hundred Victory Camp, he was still somewhat uneasy when facing Shen Xinglan.

Everyone knows that the great Empire will be his in the future.

"Did they not intercept it?" Shen Xinglan asked.

"No." Shen Anan, like reporting to a superior, stood up straight, shoulders back, voice loud, "We sent the video through the public channel. With their technological means, they could easily intercept it..."

"But they not only didn't intercept it, they also chose to click play... According to the data, they have 1,200 playback sources..."

"Now, this video is not only spreading in Red Moon City, Golden City, and among the bandits... but also spreading to other regions of the Empire..."

"The information group estimates it will be spread to most cities in the Empire in about half an hour... Each additional playback source results in a level of spread..."

"How could they bear to intercept it?" Shen Xinglan's lips curled with a sneer, "Didn't we play right into their hands when we released the video?"

"General, what do you mean by this?" Shen Anan asked puzzled.

They sent the video over, wasn't it to put pressure on Shen Qingping?

To fight or to reconcile, it's for him to decide.

To fight means the loss of both parents and a label of unfilial.

To reconcile means to change sides and return to the embrace of the Shen Family.

To win the favor of the bandits, you severed the head of General Wang Bota as a gesture of good faith. Now, it's time for you to redeem your actions.

What can you do for the Shen Family now?

It's easy to walk away, but hard to return.

"We're forcing Shen Qingping to make a choice, and those people have the same idea. My cousin thinks he's met a wise lord, but in fact, they never saw him as one of their own... They deliberately didn't intercept it, just to spread the matter widely."

"First, to blacken my Shen Family's reputation, showing us as heartless, even to our kin."

"Second, to criticize our methods as despicable, taking the family of enemy generals hostage on the battlefield... earns scorn."

"Third, and most importantly... they want to use us to close off Shen Qingping's path of return."

"If we kill Shen Qingping's parents, won't he hate us intensely? No need to mention returning home."

"If we don't kill Shen Qingping's parents, what deterrence is there in such high-profile action? We'll be ridiculed as all talk and lose the fear they have."

Shen Anan suddenly understood and asked, "Since the drawbacks outweigh the benefits... why are we acting this way?"

"This move is not only for Shen Qingping but also to stabilize internal affairs."

"Internal affairs?"

"The bandits' large-scale attacks have caused some people to develop other thoughts. Many are watching, many speculate, and the number betting on both sides is unknown."

"In this way, when can major events be accomplished?"

"Like the Sheng Family?" Shen Anan immediately thought of the recent significant event in Phoenix City.

"The Sheng Family is just one of them. The big tree catches the wind, so we must take them down first."

"There are countless who secretly cheer for the bandits, give them resources, assets, and materials... The former Princess calls out, and the City Lord of Golden City directly surrenders the city."

"It's said the City Lord of Red Moon City, Wang Dao, and the City Defense General, Zhu Jian, are in cahoots with them... Otherwise, how could the protective shield be taken down so easily?"

"Moreover, the large army in the city collapsed at one blow. After the city was broken, Wang Dao and Zhu Jian not only were not jailed but were heavily used by the bandits..."

"Other city lords and generals naturally see this. Everyone thinks, fight if possible, surrender and offer the city if defeated... How could our army have combat power like this?"

"So, is the General's move to deter the powerful and stabilize internal affairs?"

"Yes." Shen Xinglan nodded and said solemnly, "We won't let even our own traitors go. If others do such things... only death awaits them."

"Speculators, those watching, those betting on both sides, those surrendering and offering cities... they are our enemies, traitors to the Empire."

Shen Xinglan's voice was as cold as ice, speaking harshly, "All traitors must be killed."

"General is wise." Shen Anan clasped his hands, bowing.

"Is everything arranged?"

"Report to the General, everything is ready. We can launch the attack at any time."

"No rush." Shen Xinglan looked out at the vast boundless sea outside the window and softly said, "I believe he will make the right choice."

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