"Li Tiannan, get up!"
Li Buyan, his usual imposing demeanor restored, began to urge Li Tiannan to pull himself together.
A flicker of clarity flashed in Li Tiannan's vacant eyes as he looked up at Li Buyan, as if seeking confirmation from his grandfather.
Li Buyan sighed, "You're my only grandson now. If you don't pull yourself together, who will inherit the vast Li family?"
"I can only trust you now."
Li Tiannan was overjoyed.
It was truly a case of mountains and rivers exhausted, yet a village appeared in the shade of willows and flowers.
Xi Fengzhou sensed that the situation had subtly shifted. Continuing to fight alongside Chen Jinzhao would likely lead to a grim end. Li Tiannan then spoke to Xi Fengzhou, "It's not too late to turn back. Don't ruin your future."
Xi Fengzhou naturally understood what Li Tiannan meant by "turn back."
However, his gaze gradually became resolute. "I'm sorry, we will only fight for justice and disdain to associate with evil!"
"How dare you!" Li Tiannan rebuked angrily.
Xi Fengzhou remained unmoved, dispatching more men to surround the council hall completely.
Li Tiannan looked towards Li Buyan and saw that his grandfather was already seated in the main seat, his expression filled with calm composure, clearly unconcerned by the unfolding events.
Li Tiannan hesitated to speak.
Li Buyan chuckled, "What's the rush? The general situation is already settled."
These people were merely putting up a futile resistance, unable to stir up any significant trouble.
Only then did Li Tiannan's restless mood gradually subside.
After a while.
Everyone heard the rumbling sound from outside the Li family compound. Li Buyan and Li Tiannan realized it was the sound of war chariots and tanks. Reinforcements had surrounded the Li family compound, effectively turning Chen Jinzhao into a trapped beast.
Li Tiannan's spirits soared, and he even cast a cold glance at Xi Fengzhou.
Just as Xi Fengzhou was about to send someone to inform Chen Jinzhao, Chen Jinzhao unexpectedly appeared behind them. Xi Fengzhou lowered his voice and said, "General Chen, what should we do now? The Li family's reinforcements seem to have arrived, and we are outnumbered."
Chen Jinzhao pondered, "Let's observe the situation first. If necessary, you can cooperate with me in a staged act. I will personally kill the Li family grandfather and grandson, and then you can pretend to stop me."
This way, Xi Fengzhou and his men could avoid punishment.
"That's not appropriate!" Xi Fengzhou said.
"We are willing to share life and death with Chen Jinzhao! If we do that, how can we face the red flag flying above us?"
Chen Jinzhao patted Xi Fengzhou heavily on the shoulder and said meaningfully, "Being alive is more important than anything else."
If the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn.
Xi Fengzhou's expression froze. He opened his mouth, clearly wanting to say more, but Chen Jinzhao continued, "This is my final instruction to you, and the highest instruction!"
Xi Fengzhou trembled all over.
After a long period of hesitation.
He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth, "I... I understand."
Chen Jinzhao nodded.
Then he walked into the council hall, to face the Li family grandfather and grandson alone.
Li Buyan and Li Tiannan's expressions were grim, clearly having overheard Chen Jinzhao's conversation with Xi Fengzhou.
"Chen Jinzhao, do you really have to go this far?" Li Buyan said with a dark face.
Chen Jinzhao pulled up a chair and sat down, his handsome face betraying no emotion. "When you intended to act against me, did you ever consider that you had cut off your own path? Your Li family is so arrogant, wanting to be kings of the world! Perhaps I will be branded as an agent of evil by those with vested interests, but I always believe that history will deliver a fair judgment."
Li Buyan gasped.
When these words came from Chen Jinzhao, it meant he was prepared for mutual destruction.
Li Buyan could no longer maintain his stern demeanor, his tone softening slightly. "But I am Yu Mengzhi's maternal grandfather, after all. Do you really not wish to spare us a way out?"
Chen Jinzhao shook his head directly.
A thousand words were not as effective as action.
Li Buyan was both angry and sorrowful that his twilight years had ended in such a predicament.
Alas!
Li Tiannan, unable to contain his anger, cursed Chen Jinzhao profusely.
However, none of this shook Chen Jinzhao's resolve; he wanted Li Buyan and Li Tiannan dead.
Li Buyan realized Chen Jinzhao's will was unshakeable and gradually resigned himself. "Go ahead and do it. I've lived enough in this life."
Li Tiannan remained defiant, continuing to hurl insults at Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao said calmly, "No rush. I'll act after your reinforcements arrive."
Li Buyan trembled with anger. Chen Jinzhao's actions were clearly intended to torment them, first giving the Li family hope, then cruelly extinguishing it!
"You'll go to hell!" Li Buyan trembled with rage.
Chen Jinzhao remained silent.
Xi Fengzhou and his men, on the other hand, were on high alert, their gazes fixed on the helicopters circling overhead.
After a while.
The area outside the Li family compound was surrounded by thousands of soldiers. The men Xi Fengzhou had sent out returned with reports: these soldiers were from the Beijing Garrison.
Xi Fengzhou relayed the news to Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao was not surprised, as Lin Zhige had long since been on their side.
A helicopter slowly landed within the Li family compound.
Xi Fengzhou sent someone to liato with the newcomers. Upon learning their intentions, he was astonished and immediately rushed into the council hall to report the latest situation to Chen Jinzhao in front of the Li family grandfather and grandson. Seeing Xi Fengzhou's shocked expression, Chen Jinzhao also felt a surge of curiosity.
"What happened?" Chen Jinzhao inquired.
"General Chen, the people who arrived are indeed from the Beijing Garrison, but they are not the Li family's reinforcements," Xi Fengzhou said with a strange expression.
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, Li Tiannan immediately exclaimed.
Li Buyan's face darkened, and he stared intently at Xi Fengzhou, awaiting his next words.
Chen Jinzhao cast a questioning glance at Xi Fengzhou, who quickly stated, "We confirmed with them that they are here to suppress the Li family, reportedly on the orders of Commander Lin. If you don't believe me, you can ask them directly."
"Is there such a thing?" Chen Jinzhao's heart stirred.
"Where is that person? Take me to him. You stay here and guard these two."
Once Chen Jinzhao knew the person's location, he strode out of the council hall and approached the helicopter. A middle-aged man in military uniform stood there. Upon seeing Chen Jinzhao, he immediately saluted, "Hello, I am Lei Yongde from the Beijing Garrison, sent to assist on the orders of Commander Lin."
Lei Yongde?
Chen Jinzhao finally recalled the man's identity.
Lei Yongde had been Lin Zhige's secretary in the Beijing Garrison. After Lin Zhige was promoted, Lei Yongde remained in the Garrison, holding an important position. Therefore, Lei Yongde's words carried significant credibility.
"I want to know, is this Lin Zhige's unilateral action, or..." Chen Jinzhao hesitated, not entirely trusting Lei Yongde.
Lei Yongde's gaze was sharp and his voice resounding. "To tell you the truth, Commander Lin is actually following the orders of General Xu. We will be taking over the Li family compound, and our men have already gone to surround the Qin family!"
"The cleansing of the rot begins today!"