Chapter 20: Yan Lao Xi, Your Secrets Have Been Exposed!

In such a solemn and grave moment, how could you be so tactless?

Meng Fanliao saw this and quickly waved his hand, offering a cheeky apology. "My apologies, I just thought of a very interesting joke. Please, continue, do continue!"

On the stage, Yan Laoxi had already noticed Meng Fanliao’s presence. As a petty man, how could he ever forget the man from Sichuan who had spoken so insolently during the meeting? But when his gaze shifted to the familiar figure standing behind Meng Fanliao, his pupils dilated in shock.

*He should be in Changzhi; why is he here? I certainly didn't invite him. Which blind fool let him in?*

There was no time to dwell on it; delay would only invite disaster. Fearing that Liu Jianguo might be here to stir up trouble, Yan Laoxi instantly forced his smile back onto his face. He took two quick steps off the high platform and hurried over to where Liu Jianguo stood. Turning to face the crowd, he gestured toward Liu and introduced him with great earnestness.

"This is the commander of that German-trained division, Colonel Liu Jianguo! How truly impressive our young generation has become! You may not be aware, but not long ago, one of Colonel Liu’s battalions successfully routed two full infantry battalions of the little devils! Such a glorious feat—truly a force of tigers! I believe that with the New First Division here, the Japanese invaders shall not be allowed to run rampant!"

Yan Laoxi spared no effort in heaping praise upon Liu Jianguo and the entire New First Division, painting them in the most glowing terms. If Liu Jianguo were not well aware of the sordid, underhanded dealings Yan Laoxi conducted behind closed doors, he might have been fooled by this disingenuous flattery into mistaking this honey-tongued, dagger-hearted man for a magnanimous and forgiving elder.

But Yan Laoxi was nothing of the sort. His only goal was to put Liu Jianguo on a pedestal, forcing him to maintain decorum and preventing him from exposing his lies in public.

While Yan Laoxi was transparent with his intelligence regarding the Japanese, he was surprisingly meticulous about keeping secrets from his own people. Aside from Liu Jianguo and his men, all other officers attending the meeting had been ordered to keep the strategic withdrawal of the Jin-Sui Army a deathly secret—not even their own mothers were to know, or they would be stripped of their ranks.

The foreigners, however, whom Yan Laoxi was so eager to curry favor with, had been secretly informed of the withdrawal plan and sworn to silence. Though the foreigners held Yan Laoxi’s cowardice in contempt, they had no interest in meddling in affairs that did not concern them. Consequently, most chose to remain silent and quietly slipped away from this burgeoning trouble spot. Thus, those below remained oblivious to Yan Laoxi’s plans to flee, naively believing that the Jin-Sui Army intended to fight the Japanese to the very last.

As he spoke, Yan Laoxi tried to pull Liu Jianguo onto the stage to introduce him further, hoping to secure a favor. Had Liu been an ordinary officer of the Great Xia, he might have yielded to social pressure and played along. But Liu Jianguo was not. He hailed from a different, future version of the Great Xia.

In full view of the crowd, Liu Jianguo ruthlessly swatted away Yan Laoxi’s reaching hand. His expression turned cold, and his lips curled into a disdainful sneer.

"Yan Laoxi, your game is up! You have colluded with the enemy and betrayed your country, insanely selling off the last three cities of our Shanxi territory to the little devils. You have trampled on your conscience to deceive your own compatriots, swindling them out of the wealth and resources they painstakingly accumulated! Such despicable behavior is intolerable to heaven and earth; it is utterly shameful! You are not fit to be a man of Great Xia!"

*What?!*

Not only was Yan Laoxi stunned, but everyone else present was equally shocked. What was this? Chairman Yan colluding with the enemy? Swindling his own compatriots? Surely not?

Seeing the confused looks around him, Yan Laoxi regained his composure and scrambled to defend himself. "He is slandering me! He is slandering me! I, Yan, am a man of upright character; I would never do anything to betray my fellow countrymen!"

Yan Laoxi’s vehement protestations made many feel that these accusations were groundless. After all, for many years, Yan Laoxi had maintained a highly positive public image, championing industry in Shanxi and improving the lives of its people. Objectively, he had indeed done better than many other warlords. When the Japanese invaded Shanxi, he had spared no effort in supporting the war of resistance. Once the initial shock faded, it was difficult for many to believe that he was a traitor.

Liu Jianguo was not surprised by their reaction. "Monk, bring him up!"

"Yes, Commander!" Wei Dayong hauled a man forward and tossed him before the crowd like a chicken.

At the same time, Meng Fanliao handed out copies of a document written in both Chinese and Japanese. At the bottom of the page, stamped in a highly conspicuous manner, was Yan Laoxi’s private seal.

Upon seeing the man on the ground, others immediately recognized him. "Isn't that Chen Shikang, one of Yan Laoxi’s aides?"

"Chen Shikang, didn't you go to visit relatives?"

"Visit relatives?" Liu Jianguo stared coldly at Chen Shikang. "Since when did you become relatives with the little devils? Could it be that you’ve turned traitor?"

Many who had previously doubted Liu Jianguo were now confronted with ironclad evidence.

*Disaster!* Yan Laoxi saw Chen Shikang and knew that Liu Jianguo had uncovered his schemes. *Damn it! Why did Liu Jianguo capture Chen Shikang? How could he have known his movements? Is there a mole among my own people?*

*No! The main army hasn't finished its retreat to the south yet. If this truth gets out, the Jin-Sui Army will descend into chaos! This cannot happen now! I must find a way out.*

*I have it! Liu Jianguo, you’ve delivered yourself to your own death!*

Yan Laoxi chuckled coldly to himself and gave a subtle signal to an officer standing nearby. The officer understood and quietly slipped away. Yan then leaned down toward the cowering Chen Shikang, smiling with feigned gentleness.

"Shikang, don't be afraid! Were you threatened by someone into saying these things? It's fine, it's fine. With me and so many friends here, I will certainly see justice served for you. Speak your mind, tell us everything! I absolutely guarantee your personal safety!"

As Chen Shikang heard the deliberate, heavy emphasis Yan Laoxi placed on the word "safety," the panicked man instantly understood.