Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

For the next three days, Ironwall City operated at high speed, like a tightly wound mechanism.

Soldiers and laborers shuttled back and forth on the city wall, carrying bags of sand, bundles of logs, and jars of kerosene to reinforce the crenellations and add crossbow platforms.

Outside the city, Lei Bao led two hundred strong men, braving the cold wind, to dig a network of horse traps in the designated area and set up layers of barricades.

Lin Feng barely slept, inspecting the city walls, checking the weapons, verifying the defense zones, and repeatedly simulating various possible battle scenarios with Han Tao, Lei Bao, and Yan Qing.

On the evening of the third day, the last group of scouts brought back definite news: in the direction of Vulture Ridge, traces of a large Di Rong army had been discovered, with camps stretching for miles, estimated to be no less than two thousand cavalry!

What's more troublesome is that on the official road leading to Shuofeng City to the south, there were many signs of sabotage. Several small bridges were destroyed and large sections of the road were dug up, obviously to delay the reinforcements from Shuofeng.

Ironwall City has truly become an isolated city temporarily cut off from the outside world.

The main hall of the garrison was brightly lit.

All officers of the rank of squad leader and above gathered, their faces solemn.

"Vulture Ridge is fifty li from here. At full speed, cavalry can reach it in half a day. The road to the south is destroyed, so even if the reinforcements from the north receive the signal fire, it will take them two or three days to arrive."

Lin Feng stood before the map, his voice steady, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, "Gentlemen, are you afraid?"

"What's there to be afraid of!" Lei Bao roared first. "It's just in time that Di Rong brat has arrived; Grandpa's hammer has been thirsty for it!"

"We are willing to fight to the death with the garrison commander!" the officers shouted in unison. Although they knew that the enemy outnumbered them, not one of them showed any fear.

"Good!" Lin Feng nodded, pointing to the map. "The enemy's main attack will definitely be from the North and East gates. The terrain outside the West and South gates is complex, making it unfavorable for cavalry deployment, but we need to guard against small elite troops flanking and ambushing us. Han Tao!"

"exist!"

"You will lead 300 men to guard the North Gate. Lei Bao will lead 200 men to guard the East Gate. Yan Qing will lead 150 men to provide mobile support and be responsible for guarding the West and South Gates. The remaining troops will serve as reserves and will be under my direct command. Without my orders, no one is allowed to leave the city to engage in battle; anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

"yes!"

"The enemy has come from afar and will surely seek a swift victory. Their offensive will be fiercest on the first day. What we must do is blunt their momentum, hold them back, and wear them down. We are defending the city! Holding the city walls is victory!"

"Strictly obey the orders of the garrison commander!"

The officers accepted the orders and returned to their respective defense zones to make deployments.

Only Lin Feng, Han Tao, Lei Bao, and Yan Qing remained in the lobby.

"Chief Lin," Lei Bao rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with a belligerent light, "Are we just going to sit here on the city walls and wait to be beaten? Should I take a squad of elite cavalry and sneak up to them tonight to give them a taste of their power?"

"No." Lin Feng shook his head.

"The enemy outnumbers us, and we are in the open field, so our cavalry is at a disadvantage. If we launch a rash attack, we will play right into their hands. Our advantage lies in the city walls and fortifications."

Han Tao and the other two left to prepare.

Lin Feng stood alone in the main hall, gazing at the flickering candlelight. A great battle was imminent; the lives of nearly two thousand soldiers and civilians in the city, and the safety of the women on his shoulders, all rested on his shoulders.

Back in the inner courtyard, Yun Li was still sewing a leather glove under the lamp. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw the weariness between his brows. She stood up and said, "Husband, there's ginseng soup warming on the stove. I'll go get you a bowl."

"No need to rush, sit down." Lin Feng sat down next to her and took her slightly cool hand in his.

"These next few days are likely to be turbulent. You and Wanyue should stay in the manor and not come out no matter what happens or what you hear outside."

Yun Li's hand trembled, and she grasped his hand in return, her eyes filled with tears, but she forced them back: "Husband, you must be careful. I... I and the child will wait for you to come back."

Lin Feng was startled.

Yun Li blushed and whispered, "My period is half a month late. I secretly had Sister Shen check my pulse, and she said... it looks like I'm pregnant, but it's still early, so we can't be sure."

A tremendous sense of surprise and an even greater sense of responsibility welled up within me at the same time.

Lin Feng gently pulled Yun Li into his arms, his arms trembling slightly: "Okay, okay. You need to take good care of yourself. Don't worry, for your sake, I will definitely protect this city."

The couple embraced for a moment, their unspoken words unspoken.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps and Han Tao's hushed exclamation came from the front yard: "Defend! Defend!"

Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine, released Yun Li, and strode out of the inner courtyard.

Han Tao stood under the eaves with a grim expression, holding a short arrow with a strip of cloth tied to it.

"What's wrong?"

"The patrolling soldiers just found it at the base of the inner wall of the west gate. The arrow was shot in from outside the city and is stuck in the wall bricks. This is tied to it." Han Tao handed the short arrow and the strip of cloth to Lin Feng.

On the strip of cloth, a line of crooked Chinese characters was written in fresh blood, a chilling sight under the torchlight: "The Xie woman is my inside agent. Tomorrow night at midnight, hand her over to the East Gate. If you resist, on the day the city falls, not a single chicken or dog will be spared. — Feng"

The handwriting was messy and carried a violent air; the signature was a blood-drawn pattern resembling a wolf's head.

Xie Wanqing! Inside man! Tomorrow night at midnight, deliver it to the East Gate!

Lin Feng's eyes turned cold. Was this strip of cloth real or fake? If it was real, then Xie Wanqing's previous behavior was all a pretense, and her intentions were despicable! If it was fake, then it was Di Rong's scheme to sow discord.

"Commander, this..." Han Tao said urgently.

"Who else knows the news?" Lin Feng asked in a deep voice.

"Only I and the soldier who discovered the arrow have silenced him."

"Well done." Lin Feng gripped the strip of cloth tightly in his hand.

"This matter must not be leaked. Especially within the inner courtyard, not a single word is allowed to escape. You will personally go and strengthen the guard of the west courtyard. Without my order, no one is allowed to enter or leave, including those delivering food. Also, send a reliable team to secretly keep an eye on the east gate, especially the officers and soldiers on duty there tonight. If anything unusual happens, arrest them immediately!"

"Yes! Then Miss Xie..."

"I'll go ask her myself." Lin Feng's voice was icy as he turned and strode towards the west courtyard.

In the west wing room, Xie Wanqing was not asleep, but was reading the Book of Songs by the light of an oil lamp.

"Sir, what brings you here so late at night?" Xie Wanqing put down her book, her expression calm.

Lin Feng didn't waste any words, directly throwing the blood-stained strip of cloth onto the table in front of her. "Explain."

When Xie Wanqing saw the contents and signature, her face turned pale instantly, and her fingers trembled slightly.

But soon, she took a deep breath, her voice surprisingly calm: "This is a setup. If I were an inside man, why would I wait until now? And why would I leave such obvious evidence?"

"How can you prove this is a frame-up?" Lin Feng stared at her.

"I can't prove it," Xie Wanqing said frankly, a resolute glint in her eyes.

"But please consider this, sir: killing me would only bring pain to your loved ones and joy to your enemies, and leave the soldiers defending the city with doubts. What good would it do for the defense of the city?"

She stood up, took a step forward, her gaze intense:

"Such a crude counter-espionage scheme! Your Excellency is wise enough not to fall for it. If the city falls, I, Wanqing, am willing to die with it to prove my innocence! If the city is defended, I beg Your Excellency to investigate the origin of this arrow and restore justice to me!"