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

Chen Sen tore the battle report in half before his horse had even come to a complete stop.

"Sixteen cities were all lost in three days?"

He dismounted, his boots landing on the blue bricks in front of Pingyang city gate, the half-battle report in his hand crumpled in his clench.

"Where is King Luo?"

The guard at the city gate turned pale and knelt down quickly.

"The prince is still at the Chenqiao Alliance meeting and has not yet returned."

Chen Sen's eyelid twitched.

His home was about to be ransacked, yet the prince was still in Chenqiao vying with those rebel kings for leadership, supplies, and who would send troops first.

What the hell did they manage to get out of this argument?

Chen Sen suppressed the urge to curse and threw the remaining half of the battle report at the defending general's face.

"Issue my order to close all four gates. All granaries, armories, and stables within the city must be guarded by double sentries. All battalions of the Qinggu Army shall enter the city for reorganization. All the troops in the outlying villages that can be brought in shall be brought in; those that cannot be brought in shall be burned and retreated into the outer moat."

The garrison commander quickly responded.

Chen Sen looked up at the Pingyang city wall.

This city was the true core city under Luo Shao's control.

The Weinan Prince's Mansion was just for show; Pingyang was the real foundation built on grain, soldiers, armor, and money.

The city walls are high and thick, and the moat is still wet.

There is grain inside the city, and three layers of camps outside the city.

In addition, Luo Shao has crammed in all the local militia, county soldiers, and private soldiers from the fortified villages over the years, making it a force of 200,000.

Two hundred thousand.

Chen Sen finally felt a little better.

It is not surprising that Wei Zhao was able to capture sixteen cities in three days.

Those cities were originally on the outskirts.

The county magistrate was afraid of death, the local tyrants were afraid of having their homes confiscated, and the militia leaders were a bunch of opportunists.

Once Wei Zhao's reputation as the White-Robed Emperor was overshadowed, it would be strange if they didn't open the door.

But Pingyang is different.

Chen Sen is from Pingyang.

There are 200,000 soldiers.

There is enough food to last for three months.

No matter how powerful Wei Zhao is, can he fly in?

"General."

A lieutenant quickly caught up and said in a low voice:

"The Xinwu Army has already passed Hecangyi, and its vanguard is less than eighty li from Pingyang. I heard... I heard that Wei Zhao is personally leading the troops."

Chen Sen paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Coming in person?"

The lieutenant didn't dare to reply.

Chen Sen tapped the riding whip into his palm.

"Good timing."

He had heard of Wei Zhao's name many times.

The tenth son of the Wei family, the white-clad killing god, the new Martial Emperor, defeated the Northern Rong, pacified the Western Qiang, killed Lu Song, and extinguished the Sacred Flame.

Each one is more frightening than the last.

Those spineless people were so frightened that they wanted to kneel down at the mere mention of "white clothes."

But Chen Sen never really believed it.

When the eighteen rebel armies gathered to support Wei Zhao, he did not go.

At that time, he was guarding the grain for Luo Shao in Pingyang. He had never seen Wei Zhao fight a battle, nor had he ever seen what the so-called White-Clad God of War was.

Humans can make a dog sound like a dragon just by repeating it three times.

Han Dashan said Wei Zhao was ruthless, Zhou Laodao said Wei Zhao was evil, Zhang Yan's million-strong Holy Fire Sect was defeated, and the world began to shout that Wei Zhao was the mandate of heaven.

Chen Sen became increasingly annoyed as he listened.

Destiny?

Can fate stop rolling logs and stones?

Can fate allow soldiers to go without food?

Could Heaven really swallow up the 200,000-strong city defense army in one gulp?

Nonsense.

"General, the people in the city..."

As soon as the deputy general spoke, Chen Sen turned to look at him.

"What's wrong with the common people?"

The lieutenant swallowed hard.

"Rumors are circulating that Wei Zhao is distributing porridge to the refugees in Golden City, and that the Xinwu Army entered Qinggu and Luoxi without disturbing the people or looting grain, and even executed Luo Wang's confidants who burned the granaries. Some people in the city are already restless, especially the merchants..."

The smile on Chen Sen's face slowly disappeared.

That's the real problem.

It's not Wei Zhao's troops that are troublesome, it's Wei Zhao's tactics that are troublesome.

He did not kill indiscriminately, did not unleash his troops, did not burn cities, and even used the money and grain from corrupt official families to support displaced people.

That's disgusting.

In chaotic times, ordinary people fear soldiers more than bandits.

They robbed everyone who came, killed everyone who came, and requisitioned grain from everyone who came.

But if a troop of soldiers entered the city and didn't rob, but instead offered a way to survive, then the people in the city would start to be tempted.

What is the most feared thing when defending a city?

It's not that the enemy is strong.

People in the city think they can survive just by opening the door.

Chen Sen said coldly, "Issue the order: anyone who dares to spread rumors of the new martial righteousness and the defense of the mandate of heaven will have their tongue cut out. Anyone who dares to secretly communicate with those outside the city will have their entire family executed. All merchants and grain shops must be registered, grain prices must not be raised, and anyone who dares to hoard grain will have it confiscated."

The lieutenant was taken aback.

"General, won't this push them to the brink?"

Chen Sen stared at him.

"If we don't push them now, are we going to wait until they open the door to welcome Wei Zhao in the middle of the night?"

The lieutenant bowed his head.

"This subordinate understands."

Chen Sen continued walking into the city.

Pingyang City is in chaos.

Squads of Qinggu Army retreated in from outside, their armor disheveled and their faces showing signs of defeat.

The people stood on the street, not daring to speak, but all secretly watching.

That look made Chen Sen very uncomfortable.

It's not hatred.

Yes, etc.

It's like they're waiting to see who wins.

These fence-sitters.

Chen Sen cursed inwardly.

When Luo Shao declared himself king, they knelt down faster than anyone else.

Now that Wei Zhao has arrived, they want to see if the new Wu Dynasty will be more stable.

That's how ordinary people are.

Whoever feeds you, you'll follow them.

Whoever lets them live, they shout "Long live!"

Chen Sen didn't think there was anything wrong with it, but he didn't like the feeling.

This means that Luo Shao's roots in Pingyang are not deep.

The so-called King of Weinan, the so-called Qinggu Army, and the so-called ruler of the three counties all relied on granaries and swords to maintain their power.

As long as the sword and the grain remain, the people will submit.

Once the knife is broken and the food is gone, the people will scatter.

Therefore, Pingyang cannot be defeated.

With this defeat, Luo Shao's title of king was shattered.

Chen Sen entered the general's mansion without even removing his armor, and immediately ordered someone to spread out a map of the city's defenses.

Several lieutenants, captains, and grain officers were all summoned.

"The moat outside the north gate is the shallowest; send an additional three thousand archers."

Chen Sen pointed to the map: "The east gate leads to the official road. If the Xinwu Army launches a rapid attack, they will definitely test the east gate first. Send all the logs, kerosene, and stones to the city. The south gate is next to the river, and the water gate is sealed off. Anyone who dares to open it will be beheaded."

A captain clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"General, there are two small stockades outside the west gate. Should we retreat?"

"We will not withdraw."

Chen Sen said, "Leave three thousand men to guard the area; we can hold out for as long as we can. Doesn't Wei Zhao like things to be fast? I'll make sure he doesn't have to be fast."

What he wants now is not a decisive battle outside the city.

He's not stupid.

Wei Zhao's ability to capture sixteen cities in succession suggests he possesses elite troops. In open battle outside the cities, the Qinggu Army may not have the upper hand.

But defending a city is different.

With 200,000 troops stationed inside and outside the city, even if Wei Zhao had 100,000 or 150,000, he would still have to pay with his own lives.

As long as Wei Zhao is held back, the Ninth Prince will be able to send troops from Chenqiao.

They have no choice but to send troops.

If Luo Shao dies, they will be next.

Chen Sen knew very well that few of the people in the Ten Kings Alliance were loyal, but loyalty wasn't important; what mattered was being afraid of death.

People will move if they are afraid of dying.

Wei Zhao's blade is too fast now, so fast that they don't have time to continue their calculations.

If Pingyang can hold out for just ten days, the situation will change.

"General."

The grain official said cautiously:

"If we calculate the food and provisions in the city based on 200,000 people, three months is just a rough estimate. If we add the civilians and the troops who retreated into the city, it will take at most two months."

Chen Sen looked up.

"Two months isn't enough?"

The grain official dared not speak.

Chen Sen sneered.

"Can Wei Zhao hold out under the walls of Pingyang for two months? There are still millions of refugees in Huangjin City waiting for him to feed them. In the capital, Li Huai is still confiscating property, and in Chenqiao, there are still the King of Han and the King of Zhou. He can't afford to waste time."

These words softened the expressions of the generals in the hall.

Correct.

Wei Zhao cannot afford to wait any longer.

An emperor, having just taken over a few million in bad debts from the Holy Fire Sect, turned around and attacked Pingyang.

He looks fierce, but he's actually holding his breath tightly.

If he is tied down by Pingyang, the grain supply in Golden City will be tight, the rebel kings in Chenqiao will take action, and the old officials and powerful families in the capital will also resurface.

At that time, fires will break out around the new Wu Dynasty.

Even if Wei Zhao is incredibly powerful, he can only protect one aspect at a time.

Chen Sen felt more and more confident the more he thought about it.

"So, don't be afraid."

He placed his hand on the city defense map and raised his voice.

"Wei Zhao was able to defeat the Holy Fire Cult because Zhang Yan and his gang of charlatans lumped the people together and caused chaos among themselves. He was able to take Qinggu and Luoxi because those bastards didn't have the guts to defend them."

"Pingyang is different."

"Here are 200,000 Qinggu soldiers, three months' worth of rations, and myself."

"If Wei Zhao dares to come, I'll shatter his so-called invincible myth beneath the walls of Pingyang!"

All the generals in the hall clasped their fists in unison.

"I am willing to follow the general to the death to defend Pingyang!"

The shouts were very loud.

Hearing this, Chen Sen felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.

This is decent.

Soldiers fear a cowardly general. As long as he is not cowardly, his subordinates will remain calm.

So what if Wei Zhao was famous?

Reputation cannot be conquered.

Myths cannot be eaten.

White-Clad Assassin?

Chen Sen really wanted to see if the new Wu army below the city would still call him "Heaven's Mandate" when his white clothes were broken by rolling logs and burned by oil.