For his brother's current embarrassment, Chang Jianyi watched it happen. He didn't expect the other party to be so sharp-tongued, refusing to admit that they were responsible for the matter no matter what. And his own side indeed didn't have enough evidence to prove it. Although they knew that the other party had been making trouble, at this critical moment, no evidence could prove it.
"Alright, I don't want to argue about this anymore. The truth will be known in a few days. As for now, I plan to have the members of the Tianlong Bureau stay in Yuzhou for a while. You can leave when my son returns!" Chang Jianyi didn't want to get entangled any further. The plot was revealed, and she directly stated her purpose.
Chang Jianyi's goal was simple: to hold the people of the Tianlong Bureau hostage to exchange for the captured children.
However, Su Liuying sneered at this moment and said directly, "That's truly remarkable. We are people sent on official business by the Yan Jing headquarters, and every move we make represents the headquarters. Judging by your current intentions, you want to detain us. I think Yuzhou's current actions are too overbearing! It seems that these people in Yuzhou are utterly lawless. Is there no law?"
Now, Su Liuying was starting to label Chang Jianyi's side, and it was an even bigger label, one that could crush people. The four characters "lawless" used as a metaphor would be like a monk holding an umbrella. It might seem like nothing normally, but once used in a formal setting, it would be a very serious criticism.
"Heh heh, we wouldn't dare to claim the title of 'lawless.' Instead, we think the members of the Tianlong Bureau are truly formidable. They've only been established for a short time and are already patrolling everywhere. They've come to Yuzhou to show off first. This is what it means for a higher rank to crush a lower one!" Chang Jianyi also said with a cold smile.
Su Liuying shrugged at this moment and pointed to the crowd at the banquet, saying, "Since we all have our own reasons, why don't we let the people present vote on whether we should stay in Yuzhou or not? Let everyone's opinion decide!"
Chang Jianyi was stunned for a moment, not understanding why the other party would make such a suggestion. Didn't he know that this was her territory? He still wanted to compete for popularity with her. She couldn't understand what he was thinking.
However, this was exactly what Chang Jianyi wanted. In her opinion, these people were all her subordinates and would definitely support her, especially since she had twenty ability users, enough to rival the Tianlong Bureau!
"Very well, let's see whose words are more easily believed!" Chang Jianyi said calmly.
Next, Su Liuying quickly got up and stood on the east side, while Chang Jianyi stood on the west side, both facing each other.
Chang Jianyi pointed behind her and then said to the group, "Everyone, among you are important officials of Yuzhou, city lords from other cities, and old comrades who followed me to reclaim Jiangyang and Yuzhou. Many of you have even joined the Self-Aid Association. Now, I need you to step forward. Those who support my decision, stand behind me!"
Su Liuying was not to be outdone. He knew that this was his chance to strike at the other party's confidence, so he directly opened his mouth and said, "Everyone, I won't hide it from you. Before I came to Yuzhou, I always felt that Yuzhou was full of heroes, but I never understood one thing: after Shen Feng died, Yuzhou has been managed by two women. Is this reasonable? Is this normal? Moreover, you all deserve a better future, but this path has been blocked. I will reiterate my stance: anyone who supports me, I can guarantee that as long as you stand behind me, I will ensure your prosperity and wealth for a lifetime, and even after three generations, you will still be a powerful family!"
While Chang Jianyi appealed to their emotions, Su Liuying's speech was a naked temptation, gaining support by explaining the benefits of following him!
The people at the banquet looked at each other, surprised that they had to express their stance at this moment. Moreover, the current strength comparison between the two sides was very clear: twenty versus twenty-two, all ability users. Among them, Yang Chang and Guo Pinming were both battle-hardened veterans, and the Tianlong Bureau on the opposite side also looked formidable. For a moment, everyone hesitated.
"What should we do? If we stand on the wrong side, we will definitely be held accountable."
"Yes, if one side were overwhelmingly powerful, it would be easy for us to choose. Currently, the strength comparison between the two sides is very balanced. Who knows who will win if they fight?"
"I think the Deputy City Lord's side is stronger."
"No, the Tianlong Bureau's side is stronger!"
The crowd was in an uproar, and no one stepped forward.
However, Chang Jianyi was very familiar with voting. To get more people to support her, she had to create momentum first. Therefore, the three civil officials, Zhou Xiaoxiao, Tu Xuhuai, and Yang Ye, immediately stood up and, without a word, stood behind Chang Jianyi and her group.
Tu Xuhuai said earnestly, "Everyone, you must think clearly. You have followed the Deputy City Lord for so long. Has she ever treated you unfairly? On the contrary, if someone else were to manage Yuzhou, would you still be able to keep your former wealth? It would basically be impossible!"
With the endorsement of Yuzhou's three civil officials, the important officials of Yuzhou successively stood behind Chang Jianyi, clearly showing their firm support for her.
However, at this moment, Zhang Xiaoqiang stood up and walked gracefully to Su Liuying's side, saying, "Everyone, you must open your eyes. Chang Jianyi is not a good person. I have followed her for more than two years and have pledged my loyalty countless times, but she would rather give the ability potion to Luo Qing than to me. Is such a person really a good leader?"
Seeing this, Chang Jianyi was somewhat surprised. She never expected Zhang Xiaoqiang to go to the opposite side, and the reason for her betrayal was so simple: she didn't get the ability potion!
"You traitor! It was you who kept speaking nonsense and leaked important intelligence of Yuzhou, so I gave you a lesson. But I never punished you; instead, I hoped you would mend your ways. However, it seems now that you are a heartless wretch who doesn't know how to repay kindness but instead betrays me!" Chang Jianyi said angrily.
Back then, when Chang Jianyi and Shen Feng went to the school, Zhang Xiaoqiang was among the first batch of students rescued. Zhang Xiaoqiang followed Chang Jianyi with immense gratitude. After learning to produce evolution potions, Zhang Xiaoqiang also became an evolutioner. Before Luo Qing appeared, Zhang Xiaoqiang was always her confidante.
But now, in the face of benefits, everything had changed.
Zhang Xiaoqiang sneered and said, "You're quite good at shifting blame. I think you're just someone who favors relatives. Since you say I made mistakes and couldn't use the ability potion, why could your brother become an evolutioner? In my opinion, he was just a ten-year-old kid at the time, yet he could drink the ability potion. Did he perform any meritorious service? No! But why is he an evolutioner? I've thought about it for two years and come up with one explanation: he's your own brother, the City Lord's brother-in-law, so even if he can't do anything, he can still use the ability potion!"
"Nonsense! After I became an evolutioner, I blew up a zombie king and later performed reconnaissance missions many times! I lived up to the identity of an evolutioner, and I never betrayed anyone!" Before Chang Jianyi could retort, Chang Haojie couldn't help but speak up first. He hated it the most when people said he became an evolutioner through nepotism.
"Is that so?" Zhang Xiaoqiang's face immediately showed a mocking smile upon hearing this, and then she asked, "Then what about the incident where you implicated the City Lord at sea? And later, you lost the City Lord's body. What about that? In my opinion, your guilt is too great! Back then, the City Lord went deep behind enemy lines in Yan Jing and assassinated dozens of zombie kings, thereby resolving the crisis in Yan Jing and indirectly changing the situation in the north. Such a meritorious official, yet you lost her body. You deserve to die!"
Upon hearing this description, the people at the banquet nodded one after another, clearly agreeing with what Zhang Xiaoqiang was saying.
Next, Zhang Xiaoqiang pointed to Su Liuying beside her and introduced, "To tell you the truth, Lord Su Liuying is very discerning. He knows the grievances I've suffered, so he promised me that as long as I help him, I can become an evolutioner. Lord Su Liuying, isn't that right?"
Su Liuying nodded and said, "That's right! That's exactly it. Zhang Xiaoqiang has made many contributions, especially back in Luzhou, and now in Jiangyang. When resisting the zombie horde from entering the base, it was Zhang Xiaoqiang who stepped forward at a critical moment to help stabilize the situation, making great contributions. Later, in many battles, she also achieved remarkable military exploits but did not receive commendation, which is truly regrettable. Therefore, I promised that after taking Yuzhou, I will bestow the ability potion!"
This was not all. Su Liuying continued, "Furthermore, those who perform well in helping me seize Yuzhou will also receive the reward of the ability potion. First come, first served!"
As soon as these words were spoken, a group of people who dreamed of becoming evolutioners immediately stood behind Su Liuying.
Seeing the scene at this moment, Chang Jianyi's face turned somewhat grim. She had expected that once people declared their support, her side would present a one-sided situation, as she had been operating in Yuzhou for a long time. However, now, Su Liuying had thrown out the bait of benefits and had managed to win over a large crowd.
Chang Jianyi seemed to see the foundation of Yuzhou being taken away by the enemy. If everyone went to support Su Liuying, wouldn't Yuzhou fall into his hands?
"You all seem to have forgotten one thing: this is still my territory. This is the Fengshen Palace!" Chang Jianyi said with a dark expression.
Then, Chang Jianyi took out a walkie-talkie from behind her and said coldly, "Everyone, take your positions and be ready to fight at any time! Anyone who tries to escape will be killed without mercy!"
After speaking, Chang Jianyi looked at the crowd in the hall and slowly said, "I won't hide it from you all anymore. I'll be frank now: I have arranged for five thousand soldiers to surround the Fengshen Palace. Now, guns and cannons are aimed at the main hall. Anyone who wants to escape will be attacked. Now, is the situation clear?"
Chang Jianyi's words stunned everyone at the banquet. They never expected Chang Jianyi to be so ruthless as to arrange so many soldiers. Doesn't this mean that if a fight broke out, everyone in the hall would face an attack?
"Well, I was momentarily confused just now and stood in the wrong place. I'm abandoning the darkness and embracing the light!" Someone behind Su Liuying immediately stepped forward, preparing to go to Chang Jianyi's side.
No one was foolish. They knew that when it was time to choose sides, they should stand with the powerful side to ensure their own victory. Therefore, when Chang Jianyi revealed her trump card, everyone suddenly realized that the Fengshen Palace had ambushed five thousand soldiers. If a fight broke out, the Deputy City Lord's side would definitely win. Many people prepared to change their previous choices.
However, Su Liuying's eyes flashed at this moment, and his tone instantly became icy, "Those who betray me will not live!"
After speaking, Su Liuying snapped his fingers, and then the person who was about to abandon the darkness and embrace the light began to wither. His plump skin instantly turned like withered bark. In less than a minute, this person turned into an old man and fell to the ground, dying. Age spots could still be seen on his body.
Next, Su Liuying looked at the group of supporters behind him and threatened, "Don't you want to abandon the darkness and embrace the light? I'll give you a chance. Go to the other side!"
These people were all stunned by Su Liuying's methods. In such a short period, he could turn a young adult into an old man and kill him. This was simply draining someone's lifespan. They were all intimidated by this method and quickly said, "Where, where? Your side is the light, and the other side is the darkness!"