The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 526

"Don't say I'm not giving you a chance. If any of you provide useful information, the greater the impact, the less likely you are to be punished. You could be sentenced to immediate execution, or like him, imprisoned but not killed. It all depends on how useful your information is. By the way, if others have already provided the same information, it won't be of any use if you say it again."

After saying this, Zhou Chu waved to Yu Hai.

"Take them all away and detain them separately."

"Yes, my lord."

Yu Hai said hurriedly.

After Yu Hai left with the Imperial Guards and these people, Zhou Chu looked at the group of captains of the garrison soldiers following behind him.

"Immediately clear out all the houses in this area, and temporarily take control of all these people. Release them after the fighting is over. Shen Lian will discuss compensation with them later."

Zhou Chu arranged things methodically.

As for compensating the people afterward, Zhou Chu could only entrust Shen Lian with the task; he didn't trust anyone else to do it.

"Yes."

The group of captains hurriedly bowed.

Then these captains began to order their soldiers to go to the houses near the city gate and ask all the people there to leave. With Zhou Chu's orders, they naturally dared not act recklessly.

Of course, it's normal for some soldiers to be clumsy. This is not the time to be polite. If you're too polite, some people will start to act recklessly. But this is a critical moment, and we can't worry about that now.

Soon, all the nearby residents were asked to leave.

"Arrange for 10,000 soldiers to hide in these residences and await orders."

Zhou Chu said.

The area near the city gate could only accommodate a maximum of 10,000 soldiers. 10,000 soldiers were enough to surround the Mongols at the city gate; any more would be useless.

"Yes."

The group of captains accepted the order.

"Dazhu, go tell Yunjin that once they see the signal flare, they should block the city gate from the outside and not let a single Mongol get away."

Zhou Chu looked at the large pillar behind him.

"Yes, my lord."

Dazhu said solemnly.

After saying this, Dazhu mounted his horse, and the city gate guard hurriedly opened the side gate for him. Dazhu left Datong through the side gate and headed straight for where Yun Jin and the Xuanwu Army were.

After all the garrison soldiers were in position, it was already past midnight. With only half an hour left until the third watch, as the Mongols had mentioned, everyone was on high alert.

Hu Zongxian, Zhao Zhenji, and others also hid in their residences with the army. Ever since they learned that Zhou Chu was going to make a move tonight, they hadn't drunk much at the victory celebration banquet, and were just waiting to make their move together tonight.

"Sir, the tripwires are all ready."

A captain came before Zhou Chu to report.

Zhou Chu nodded upon hearing this.

To prevent the Mongols from rushing into the city and galloping away, Zhou Chu also tied more than a dozen tripwires at the city gates to slow down the Mongols, so that the garrison troops could form an encirclement as quickly as possible.

On a dark and windy night, it would be a miracle if the Mongols could even see a tripwire.

As it was getting close to midnight, Dazhu returned from outside the city.

Hu Zongxian and the others didn't dare to breathe loudly. They could even hear the breathing of the other soldiers around them, which sounded particularly loud in the quiet night.

They had never felt time pass so slowly as it did now.

During the long wait, a signal flare suddenly appeared in the sky without any warning.

"coming!"

Hu Zongxian's spirits lifted.

"Open the city gates."

Zhou Chu gave the order.

As soon as these words were spoken, the city gates were opened, and thousands of Mongol cavalrymen rushed into Datong City like wild horses.

As all the Mongol cavalrymen entered the city, Anda, who was in charge, looked at the quiet city of Datong with a sense of smug satisfaction.

"That Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhou Chu, is nothing special. Tonight, I will use his head to appease the spirits of my fallen soldiers."

As he spoke, Anda drew the curved sword from his waist.