Kill the enemy and get a wife? I'll single-handedly slaughter my way through the Northern Barba

Zhenyuan City, General's Mansion Council Hall.

Zhang Liao's deputy generals Bian Xi and Wu Han stood solemnly in the hall, reporting the casualties of the day's battle in a deep voice.

Bian Xi had followed Zhang Liao for over eight years, and had always been diligent, loyal, brave, and capable.

"General, today our army suffered 2,109 dead and more than 1,000 seriously wounded."

Bian Xi said in a heavy tone, "All the seriously wounded soldiers have been sent to various medical clinics in the city for treatment. The casualties on the Northern Barbarian side are even more severe, roughly estimated to be no less than five thousand."

After saying that, he handed over a statistical document with the ink still wet on it.

Zhang Liao frowned deeply, took the document, glanced at it quickly, and said in a deep voice, "Two thousand dead, one thousand seriously wounded. The city's garrison has lost a third of its fighting strength in a single day. How many more days can my Zhenyuan City hold out?"

With his last question, his gaze was piercing, fixed directly on Bian Xi and Wu Han.

Bian Xi knew Zhang Liao's temperament well; he detested empty talk and pretense. After a moment's thought, he spoke frankly: "Given the intensity of the Northern Barbarian army's attack today, if no reinforcements arrive, I fear our army will not last five days!"

Five days...

Zhang Liao put down the document, his fingertips trembling slightly, and remained silent for a long time.

Will the imperial reinforcements arrive within five days?

He has sent three letters to the capital pleading for help, each one earnest and heartfelt.

However, in the present day, the elite troops of the Great Qian Dynasty have already suffered heavy losses in the repeated battles with the Northern Barbarians, along with the fall of more than ten cities.

Although the imperial court promised to prepare reinforcements and ordered him to hold Zhenyuan City and await reinforcements, the reinforcements were nowhere to be seen.

Zhang Liao was indeed defending desperately, but how long could his isolated army hold out?

"Bian Xi!"

After a long silence, Zhang Liao finally spoke again, his voice tinged with weariness, yet conveying an undeniable resolve.

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Starting tomorrow, all able-bodied men in Zhenyuan City will be conscripted into the army." Zhang Liao closed his eyes, his voice hoarse. "Now that things have come to this, this is the only way."

He was well aware that the young men in the city had never received formal military training, and their first time on the battlefield would inevitably result in heavy casualties.

But he was now in a desperate situation and had no other choice.

"Your humble servant obeys!" Bian Xi bowed and accepted the order. "Rest assured, General, I will immediately begin preparations!"

After Bian Xi left, Zhang Liao suddenly clutched his forehead, let out a long sigh, and looked utterly exhausted.

Seeing this, Wu Han, who was serving in the army, gently comforted him: "General, do not worry. The people of Zhenyuan City are united in resisting the barbarians. The northern barbarians are brutal. Once they break through the city, they will burn, kill, and plunder. The people all know that defending the city is also defending their homes. I believe that the young men and women in the city will be eager to join the army."

"To unite as one against the barbarians?"

Zhang Liao opened his eyes, pointed towards the direction of the Northern Barbarian army camp outside the city, and said in a heavy tone, "Reinforcements are slow to arrive, and the Northern Barbarians outnumber us several times over. How can I not be worried?"

"Moreover, Zhenyuan City is the shield of the capital. Once it falls, the capital will be defenseless. Military Advisor Wu, you and I both understand the consequences. The day the city falls will be the day I, Zhang Liao, am beheaded!"

The court relies on him now, but once the city falls, someone will have to take responsibility.

As the garrison commander, he was naturally the first to bear the brunt.

Wu Han, however, remained calm, clasped his hands together, and said, "General, I think that the Northern Barbarians' sudden intensification of their offensive may not necessarily be a bad thing."

"Good news?" Zhang Liao's tiger-like eyes narrowed slightly. "Military Advisor Wu, what do you mean by that?"

Wu Han stepped forward and offered his analysis with clasped hands.

"General, the Northern Barbarian commander Bayan Mengke is a seasoned and shrewd strategist who always knows how to balance tension and relaxation."

"In the past few days, the Northern Barbarian army has been attacking in shifts, with no more than 20,000 troops used in each battle. After each battle, they will rest for a day to allow the soldiers to recuperate."

"But today, Bayan Mengke's playing style only revealed two words to me—eagerness!"

He stroked his beard, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "General, you might want to consider this carefully: why is Bayan Mengke suddenly so eager to capture Zhenyuan City?"

Zhang Liao was startled and abruptly stood up: "Could it be... that our reinforcements are about to arrive?"

The thought of this possibility instantly energized him.

But then I thought about it again and realized that it wasn't right.

"Impossible! If the imperial reinforcements are coming, they will surely arrive from the south. The northern barbarian army is to our north; how could they have known about the impending reinforcements before us?"

"Has the general forgotten General Li Chengliang, who is far away in Liaodong?" Wu Han reminded him.

"General Li has 70,000 elite troops from Liaodong under his command. If the Liaodong army comes from the east to provide reinforcements, it is not impossible that the Northern Barbarians, with their spies everywhere, will find out about it before we do."

Liaodong Army?

Aren't they trying to guard against the Liao Dynasty?

Will Li Chengliang have the resources to provide assistance?

Zhang Liao paced back and forth, his heart filled with doubts, yet he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

"Military Advisor Wu!"

Zhang Liao abruptly stopped and ordered in a deep voice, "Pass on my order! Immediately dispatch elite scouts to scout in the east and south! Have them carry carrier pigeons and ascertain as quickly as possible whether reinforcements have arrived!"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

……

That night, in Zhenyuan City, at Yichun Courtyard.

After a day of fierce fighting and a short rest, Lin Feng led his men straight to the Yichun Courtyard.

The courtyard was still brightly lit and bustling with noise.

The soldiers mingled with the prostitutes, their laughter and toasts echoing throughout the room.

"Oh, young master Lin, you've arrived!"

The madam, Yunniang, waving a round fan and swaying her slender waist, approached, a fragrant breeze wafting towards him: "Sir! Same old rules as before, shall we go upstairs to choose a girl?"

Lin Feng nodded with a smile, then pointed to Wang Tu and the others behind him: "Yunniang, these brothers of mine are all newcomers, they haven't tasted the flavor of women yet. Pick out a few good-looking ones who can serve you well. They've earned a lot of military merits following me, that'll be enough!"

Yunniang's peach blossom eyes twinkled, and she giggled, "Young Master Lin has spoken, how could I dare disobey? Brothers, follow me upstairs!"

The group of people walked up to the second floor.

Yunniang led the way, her slender waist swaying and her plump hips bobbing, exuding charm.

Wang Tu blushed, leaned close to Lin Feng's ear, and whispered a few words.

After hearing this, Lin Feng couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You certainly have unique tastes!"

As he spoke, he called out to Yunniang, "My brother here has taken a liking to you. Are you free to serve him tonight?"

Yunniang was swaying her hips as she went upstairs when she heard this and burst into laughter: "Oh! I didn't expect this young man to want to taste my flavor?"

"I'm free! I'm free! Tonight, I'll make sure you're thoroughly satisfied!"

Wang Dahu grabbed Wang Tu's neck and laughed, teasing, "You're something else! Daring to eat the old grass like a calf! Watch out, you'll be drained dry by tomorrow morning!"

Wang Tu blushed deeply, but did not refute it. His eyes were fixed on Yun Niang's waist and hips, unable to look away.

Lin Feng went up to the second floor. While everyone else was busy choosing girls, he pointed to the stairs on the third floor.

"Madam, what's going on over there? There are so many people gathered around?"

Yunniang glanced in the direction he pointed and explained, "Young Master Lin, you may not know this, but today Yuwei had her maid deliver an incomplete musical score."

"As you know, Yuwei is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and has outstanding talent, but even she cannot complete this incomplete score, so she is quite distressed."

She paused, then pointed to a young man in the crowd who was dressed the most expensively and flamboyantly: "See that one? That's Wang Qian, the young master of the richest family in Zhenyuan City!"

"He had admired Yuwei for a long time and was also proficient in music. After hearing about this, he specially came to complete the musical score."

"Yuwei has already declared that whoever can complete the musical score will receive a invitation from her, and no military merit is required!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng immediately became interested.

He has killed over a hundred northern barbarian Tartars today, so it won't be difficult for him to use his military merits to meet the courtesan.

However, he decided to try out the [Musical Mastery] ability he had obtained from Su Wan'er.

This ability has a time limit, so it would be a shame not to try it.

Besides, why not complete the sheet music to show off and get it for free?

Thinking of this, Lin Feng put his arm around Yun Niang's shoulder: "Come on, come on, take me to see what's going on. It's just music, right? I can do that too!"

Yunniang was quite surprised: "Young Master Lin isn't joking? You... you even understand music?"

Lin Feng is a brute in the military, a master at killing. Who would believe he could also play the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting?

"Tsk!"

Lin Feng said somewhat discontentedly, "Why don't we try and see? Let's go!"

The two went up to the third floor and heard a man boasting with spittle flying everywhere.

"My young master could play the zither at the age of three, was well-versed in music theory at five, and could play the famous piece 'Guangling San' at the age of seven!"

"My young master can repair the courtesan's sheet music with ease!"

"Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, my young master guarantees he will meet the most beautiful courtesan and have the pleasure of her!"