A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

The next day, when Wei Zhao arrived at Hangu Pass, Zhao Qing took the initiative to lead people to open the city gate to welcome him.

The general who had been guarding Hangu Pass for two months stood inside the city gate.

His armor was crooked, his lips were deathly pale, his eyes were sunken, and his stubble looked like he hadn't shaved in days.

He was followed by dozens of personal guards, all of similar numbers.

Xian Yuan and Dong Hu had launched successive attacks on Hangu Pass, nearly overwhelming this renowned general who excelled at defense.

Zhao Qing took two steps forward and raised his hands in a fist salute.

"This humble general, Zhao Qing, greets the commander-in-chief."

His voice was terribly hoarse.

Wei Zhao dismounted, walked a few steps to him, and reached out to support his arm.

"General Zhao, you've worked hard."

Zhao Qing's arm trembled slightly.

He probably tried to steady himself, but his body wouldn't obey him; his knees buckled, and he almost knelt down.

"This humble general has not suffered any hardship."

Zhao Qing grinned, but his smile looked more like a grimace.

"Those Donghu bastards are so annoying, and those Xianyuan opportunists are even more annoying. During the day, the Donghu cavalry harass us, and at night the Xianyuan push siege engines. They take turns, like they're chasing a debtor."

Wei Zhao looked at him and patted him on the shoulder.

"The rest is up to the Wei family army."

Zhao Qing raised her head, and the glimmer of light in her eyes flickered.

"Now that the commander-in-chief has arrived, can this humble general finally sleep?"

"able."

Wei Zhao nodded.

"Go to sleep now, sleep until the sky falls, I'll have someone hold it up for you."

Zhao Qing stared at him for several breaths, as if to confirm that he wasn't just being coaxed.

Then, he nodded emphatically.

"it is good."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Qing didn't move.

Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow.

"Is there anything else?"

Zhao Qing's lips twitched, and she suddenly took half a step forward, lowering her voice.

"Commander, um... if we win this battle, when it's time to claim credit, I would be grateful if you could give me some pointers."

Wei Zhao was stunned.

Zhao Qing continued in a low voice:

"No need for exaggeration, just write that this humble general held Hangu Pass for two months without losing an inch of land, and his loyalty and bravery are commendable. It would be best to add a sentence like... He is worthy of being given important responsibilities."

Wei Zhao: "..."

He looked at Zhao Qing's face, which was as white as paper, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Good guy.

I almost thought you were about to entrust your life to someone, but it turns out you were thinking about submitting a memorial to claim credit.

This guy is really something—even when he's about to lose his life, he's still thinking about getting promoted and making money.

Wei Zhao raised his hand and rubbed his temples.

Don't worry.

Zhao Qing's eyes lit up a little.

Wei Zhao said helplessly, "If we defeat the Donghu and Xianyuan, all the credit will go to you."

Zhao Qing immediately stood up straight, and his fist-clasping gesture was more energetic than before.

"The coach is magnanimous!"

Liu Jingshuang's eyelid twitched slightly.

Su Qingyun lowered her head and laughed.

Hua Jieyu leaned against the carriage, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Seeing Zhao Qing's instantaneous return to consciousness, Wei Zhao felt a tear being forcibly ripped open in the heaviness in his heart.

That's good. The fact that he can take credit shows that he still wants to live.

A real problem is when a garrison commander has lost even the will to live and claim his reward.

Wei Zhao did not delay any longer and raised his hand to give the order.

"Enter customs."

The Wei family army quickly entered the city.

One hundred thousand cavalrymen first set up camp behind the pass, and the infantry took over the city walls. The ballistae were dismantled into several sections and pushed along the main road to the high platforms on the north and south sides.

Shang Wanqing sat in the carriage, not even getting off, and her finger was already pointing at the gap in the city wall.

"Over there, three ballistae."

Her voice wasn't loud, but no one dared to disrespect her.

"The arrow path is too narrow. If we demolish those two ruined walls, and the Donghu cavalry get close to the gate, we must nail them to the ground at a distance of fifty paces in the first round."

As Wei Zhao listened to her arrangements, his mind gradually calmed down.

When fighting the Donghu, we cannot rely on the collapse of the elephant formation to wipe them out in one fell swoop, just like we did when fighting the Nanman.

The Donghu are mounted archers; they are good at running, circling, and at attrition warfare.

This kind of enemy is the most annoying. They're like a swarm of biting ants. You chase them, they retreat; you retreat, they stick to you. If you loosen your grip even slightly, you'll be bitten until you bleed.

Therefore, Hangu Pass must be secured first.

As long as the city walls are held, no matter how fast the 500,000 Donghu cavalry are, they cannot fly over them.

Liu Jingshuang led her infantry to take over the defense of the western wall, Su Qingyun immediately inventoried the granaries, and Hua Jieyu's men dispersed throughout the pass to investigate any remaining spies and Xian Yuan's secret agents.

Wei Zhao then led several women to the top of the city wall.

The city wall was covered with old and new arrow marks, some of the crenellations had been smashed, and the repaired wooden planks were stained with blood.

Several veteran soldiers who were originally guarding the pass stood aside, wanting to retreat but not daring to, their eyes fixed on Zhao Qing.

Zhao Qing did not go to sleep.

He followed behind Wei Zhao, walking unsteadily, but at every city defense he came across, he could accurately point out the problems.

"Don't stand too close together here, the Donghu people love to use rockets."

"That gap is easy for people to climb over at night. It took more than thirty brothers of mine to seal it. When we change shifts, we must leave two teams of swordsmen and shieldmen."

"There is a secret passage under the south arrow tower. It has been blocked twice already. The Xianyuan people know how to dig."

"Don't store the grain in the east warehouse. The roof of the east warehouse leaks. It rained a few days ago and a batch of wheat got wet. It's edible, but it will cause diarrhea."

The more Wei Zhao listened, the slower he slowed his steps became.

Zhao Qing did not give a casual answer.

He truly memorized every lesson he learned from every broken brick and every pile of dead bodies in this pass.

Several guards were also busy.

Someone went to find the Wei family captain in charge of the North Gate and whispered instructions about the night patrol route.

Someone led Shang Wanqing's craftsmen to see the wrecked catapult frame.

There was also a thin junior officer with sunken cheeks, who was pulling at the grain officer sent by Su Qingyun, rambling on about which warehouse had rats and which warehouse couldn't be lit with open flames.

They did not rest immediately.

Because they know very well that switching defenders isn't just about putting someone on the wall and that's it.

If they don't give a single word of explanation, dozens of people could die that night.

Wei Zhao stood on the city wall, watching Zhao Qing leaning against the wall and still talking, and suppressed the slight resentment he felt towards Zhao Qing's greed.

If we had more generals like this, how could the Great Wei have come to this?

We don't expect everyone to fight to the death like the nine sons of the Wei family. As long as the border generals can fulfill their duties in defending the territory, even if that scoundrel Lu Song cuts off their rations and pay, it won't be enough to allow the five tribes to attack our doorstep at the same time.

Just as Wei Zhao was thinking this, Su Qingyun's voice drifted over from the side.

"What is the head coach thinking?"

"I'm thinking."

Wei Zhao watched Zhao Qing's retreating figure.

"If we had more generals like this, the Great Wei wouldn't be in such a terrible state."

Su Qingyun smiled.

"If we had a few more generals like that, even the Great Wei might not be able to afford to support them."

Wei Zhao turned to look at her.

"Zhao Qing is just a bit greedy, right? Surely we can afford to support him?"

Su Qingyun didn't speak, but just looked at Hua Jieyu.

Hua Jieyu was leaning against the edge of the wall when she heard this and raised an eyebrow.

"Young Marshal, you are unaware of General Zhao's reputation."

Wei Zhao suddenly had a bad feeling.

"explain."

Hua Jieyu couldn't help but laugh.

"Zhao Qing has not made any major mistakes. He does not exploit soldiers or take salaries without working. The military pay at Hangu Pass is paid in full as it is due, and the grain is recorded in the accounts in the proper manner."

Wei Zhao nodded.

This is already quite remarkable.

In the Wei army, generals who can do these two things are extremely rare, if not exceptionally rare.

Hua Jieyu paused.

"But he was greedy and a gambler."

Wei Zhao frowned.

"bet?"

"Um."

Hua Jieyu pointed to the former guards of Hangu Pass below the city.

"But he wouldn't gamble with outsiders, he would gamble with his own soldiers."

Wei Zhao: "..."

The more you talk about flowers, the happier you become.

"We gamble on everything: dice, dominoes, cockfighting, archery, wrestling."

"I heard he has exceptionally good luck at gambling, often leaving soldiers with a mountain of debt before they even receive their pay."

Wei Zhao's lips twitched.

What the hell is this?

A renowned general who defended the city and also a loan shark in the army?

Su Qingyun added insult to injury in a soft voice.

"I also heard that the slogans shouted by the soldiers of Hangu Pass when they went to the battlefield were not to defend their homeland or to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions."

Wei Zhao looked at her.

Su Qingyun smiled gently.

"Yes, General. We'll owe you nothing after this battle."

The city wall was quiet for a moment.

Wei Zhao almost lost his composure.

Liu Jingshuang turned her face away, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Shang Wanqing, still holding the gears in her hand, looked up at Zhao Qing and asked earnestly, "If they win, can they really pay off their debts?"

Hua Jieyu finally burst out laughing.

"Whether it can offset the cost is unknown, but Zhao Qing always keeps a record of it."

Wei Zhao raised his hand to cover his forehead.

Oh no, this person's image has become completely complicated.

You might call him a good general, but he gambled his soldiers' money.

You might say he wasn't a good general, but he defended Hangu Pass for two months, holding off 700,000 with only 60,000 men, and still didn't lose the pass.

You really can't judge people in this world by just one perspective.

Wei Zhao lowered his hand and gave a bitter smile.

"As expected, there are all kinds of people in a big forest."

Zhao Qing seemed to hear people talking about him and turned to look.

"The head coach?"

Wei Zhao waved his hand.

"fine."

Zhao Qing glanced at him suspiciously, then continued speaking to the garrison captain:

"Remember, the Donghu people's first wave of attack may not be a real attack. They like to probe. Don't chase after them just because they look small. If you chase them, you won't be able to come back."

Wei Zhao's smile slowly faded.

No matter how outrageous Zhao Qing may be in private, he was the one who defended Hangu Pass.

Without him, this pass would have been breached long ago.

Once Hangu Pass is breached, the Donghu and Xianyuan tribes can flow into the Central Plains from the east.

The people, granaries, salt and iron mines, and cities of the six eastern provinces will all become meat under the hooves of foreign horses.

No one can deny this achievement.