Jiangning, the Su family.
Su Shanshui stood in the backyard, gazing at the moon and sighing, "This winter is indeed colder than previous years. Is this a prelude to something happening?"
Pity.
No one could answer his question.
Just then.
The mobile phone rang, shattering the night's tranquility.
Su Shanshui glanced at the caller ID and frowned slightly, as this call wasn't from Donghai, but from the capital.
He knew all too well what this meant.
Even though he anticipated something bad would happen, Su Shanshui still answered the call from the capital and said calmly, "Has Xu Hanchen found out?"
Han Sanli nodded. "Indeed."
Su Shanshui gave a wry smile. "One can hide it for a while, but not forever, especially from someone like Xu Hanchen."
He had already prepared himself.
"What do we do next?" he asked again.
Han Sanli did not answer immediately, making Su Shanshui feel a chill from the capital. He hesitated, "You mean, we get rid of Xu Hanchen too? Won't the risk be too high? After all, Xu Hanchen is not Chen Jinzhao. You should understand how serious the consequences are of killing an elder of the military."
Han Sanli retorted, "Do we have any other way out? Chen Jinzhao is Xu Hanchen, and Xu Hanchen is Chen Jinzhao."
"If even one of these two dies, it will be a world-shattering event. If we don't kill both of them, then it will be us who die."
Su Shanshui fell silent.
Because he understood that Han Sanli was not being alarmist.
"Make a decision quickly," Han Sanli urged.
"Think about our fathers, heroes who emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. How can we, the second generation, lack this kind of courage?"
Su Shanshui smiled wryly. "Alright, I'll do as you say. However, I can't interfere with matters in the capital. At most, I can control the Jiangnan military region to prevent them from marching north. Can you handle things in the capital?"
Han Sanli said directly, "Don't worry, I've got the capital."
After hanging up the phone.
Su Shanshui inexplicably felt a sense of melancholy, not knowing why it suddenly came upon him, as if regretting getting involved in this matter.
But—
He knew even more clearly that indecisiveness in the face of important matters was a grave military error.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a tragic beauty upon the night.
Su Shanshui murmured, "Victory or defeat will be decided before dawn tomorrow. We've reached the point of bayonets now. Either Xu Hanchen dies, or our two major families are wiped out. I wonder how history books will describe this quiet yet murderous night?"
Will it be a brief mention, or a detailed account?
It was yet unknown.
Donghai, the Han family.
Dozens of drones had surrounded Chen Jinzhao, and Chen Jinzhao's resistance seemed so feeble.
Looking at the swarm of drones overhead, a tragic smile appeared on Chen Jinzhao's pale face. He murmured to the drones, "I never thought I would die here. If my death can bring about some change, then my death will have meaning."
With pioneers like Chen Jinzhao, there would surely be successors!
Only when a continuous stream of people joined the ranks against the aristocratic families could these families have no place to survive.
Chen Jinzhao was not afraid of death.
He only feared that his death would be meaningless!
The drone swarm did not immediately open fire. Su Cangshan and Han Chengping seemed to be enjoying the feeling of humiliating others. However, they did not see the fear they wanted in Chen Jinzhao's pale face.
They only saw a look of determination!
Han Chengping looked at Chen Jinzhao's face on the screen and cursed with some frustration, "At a time like this, he can still smile. This young man is truly not afraid of death. Old Su, do you have any way to make him feel fear?"
"Of course, but we must kill Chen Jinzhao tonight, lest complications arise," Su Cangshan reminded Han Chengping to deal with Chen Jinzhao.
Han Chengping gritted his teeth and said, "I understand, but I still can't stomach this. Look at how my Han family has been torn apart and ravaged by this scoundrel. And my son, he also died at Chen Jinzhao's hands."
"Can I capture him alive and humiliate him thoroughly?"
Su Cangshan glanced at the time. There were still three hours until dawn. He nodded, "Then let's have the drones break Chen Jinzhao's limbs first. As far as I know, Chen Jinzhao's physical condition is far superior to ordinary people. We cannot afford to be careless."
"Alright!"
Over a hundred armed personnel were ascending the mountain, gradually approaching Chen Jinzhao's hiding place.
Chen Jinzhao had already given up resisting because his bullets were exhausted, and dozens of drones above were aiming their muzzles at his head. What choice did he have but to resign himself to fate?
Alas.
He didn't get to pass on the information he knew.
Han Chengping's voice broadcasted simultaneously from dozens of drones, sounding like a god chanting an oracle. He said mockingly, "Chen Jinzhao, you too have a day like this. If you kneel before me, I might spare your life."
"Do you want to consider it?"
Chen Jinzhao sneered, "Han Chengping, if you have something to say, say it. But it's impossible for me to kneel."
Su Cangshan let out a cold snort. "Chen, you have repeatedly gone against our Su family. I will surely chop off your head."
Chen Jinzhao didn't even bother to respond.
Seeing this, Su Cangshan snorted again, believing Chen Jinzhao disrespected him. What right did a dying man have to look down on him?
"I know you are not afraid of death."
"But I have a way to make you suffer more than death. After we kill you, we will accuse you of a dozen crimes, making you a notorious figure in the eyes of the people, a disgrace to this nation."
"Destroying your physical body is the lowest form of means. Only by destroying your thoughts can it be truly effective."
"To be remembered by the populace in this way, Chen Jinzhao, should you not feel honored?"
Chen Jinzhao was stunned.
This method was indeed quite peculiar and malicious. It wouldn't be surprising if there were such tragic figures in the history books being studied now.
"You are afraid," Chen Jinzhao laughed.
Han Chengping and Su Cangshan chuckled coldly, not taking Chen Jinzhao's words to heart at all. Han Chengping added, "Afraid? Why should we be afraid? The one who should be afraid is you, because you are on the brink of death."
Chen Jinzhao said playfully, "You are afraid that someone will threaten your position, which is why you are using all sorts of means to erase my thoughts. Because you also understand that no weapon is as terrifying as thought. In other words—"
"Thought is the most powerful weapon in this world!"
"It is invincible, indestructible!"
Upon hearing these words, Su Cangshan and Han Chengping both felt a tremor in their hearts. Chen Jinzhao had seen through their intentions, and it was at this moment that they finally realized the terrifying power of thought.
"Enough!" Su Cangshan interrupted Chen Jinzhao.
"I said, we will not only destroy your physical body but also stigmatize your thoughts. You deserve to be a sinner of the nation!"
"You will be recorded in history as a usurper of the nation!"
"Attack, kill him!"