I, a useless prince, started with the Xiang Yu template.

Time flies, and ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Jing'an City was built to be as solid as a rock.

On the city wall, the bricks and stones were reinforced, the damaged crenellations were repaired, and the originally mottled wall was rammed layer by layer, making it taller and thicker.

People of all ages and genders in the city were organized to participate in the defense of the city, as long as they could contribute.

Young and strong men carried timber and huge stones, hurrying up the city wall to reinforce the defenses.

The elderly and women and children were busy polishing logs and stacking stone mines, without stopping for a moment.

Outside the city, stones were continuously dragged into the city and piled up inside the city walls, forming small mountains, just waiting for the barbarian army to attack the city so they could be hurled at the enemy.

Following Chu Yun's suggestion, all villages within a hundred li of Jing'an City were cleared of their inhabitants.

All grain, fodder, and drinking water were transported into the city. Houses, firewood, and crops in the fields that could not be taken were all burned, leaving not a single grain of food for the barbarian army.

In addition to basic defenses, Chu Yun also put forward a series of ruthless and vicious strategies for defending the city.

He personally led a team to survey the terrain outside the city, pointed to the open area outside the city walls, and gave a solemn order.

"Here, every three steps there is a pit for trapping horses, three feet deep, with sharpened wood stuck at the bottom, specifically to deal with the barbarian cavalry charges."

"A hundred meters outside the city wall, a horizontal tunnel was dug, two feet wide and half a foot deep. The bottom was covered with sharpened bamboo sticks, and the opening was covered with thatch and loose soil, and sprinkled with fine ash to cover it up. It was impossible to see with the naked eye."

"On both sides of the city gate, hidden pits were dug and filled with oil and firewood. When the barbarian army attacked the city, they were set on fire to cut off their path."

He also ordered that all rivers and wells outside the city be either blocked or have a small amount of herbs (not highly poisonous, but enough to cause abdominal pain and weakness in the barbarian army) placed in them to completely cut off the barbarian army's ability to obtain water locally.

Wang Hu, Ma Dong, and other generals surrounded Chu Yun, listening to his plans one by one, all of them dumbfounded and stunned on the spot.

These moves are completely unconventional, ruthless, and cunning, showing absolutely no regard for martial ethics.

Horse traps, bamboo stake formations, starvation and water shortages, burning vegetation...

Every move was aimed directly at the barbarian army's vital points.

"Your Highness's strategies are absolutely ingenious!" Ma Dong couldn't help but curse inwardly, yet he was also filled with admiration. "If the barbarian army were to arrive, they probably wouldn't even be able to touch the city walls before suffering a crushing defeat!"

Having devised several ruthless plans, Chu Yun frowned as he gazed at the empty fields outside the city, an even more insidious and vicious scheme flashing through his mind.

He turned to look at Wang Hu, Ma Dong, and the others beside him.

"I have another plan that can make the barbarian army collapse without a fight."

Everyone immediately focused their attention, waiting for Chu Yun to continue.

"We can collect the rotting flesh and the carcasses of diseased livestock discarded in the city, and find some diseased waste materials, and throw them all into the river that the barbarian army must pass through, or bury them directly in the barbarian army's encampment outside the city."

Chu Yun's voice was calm, but his words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

"In just a few days, the plague will spread, causing chaos among the barbarian army and rendering them powerless. We won't even need to lift a finger."

The moment this plan was announced, the entire room fell silent.

Wang Hu's expression changed drastically. He immediately stepped forward, his face grave, and sternly stopped him.

"Your Highness! You mustn't!"

"This plan is far too insidious and a cardinal sin in military strategy; it must never be used! Plagues are indiscriminate, indiscriminate in their effects, and once they spread, they will be completely uncontrollable!"

"If the plague spreads back to Jing'an City, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians within the city will become victims. At that time, before the barbarian army is even defeated, we will be thrown into chaos, leading to a catastrophic disaster!"

"Furthermore, we guard the border to protect the people and ensure their safety. Using the art of plague..."

If this gets out, not only will His Highness's reputation be ruined, but he will also lose the hearts of the people and incur criticism from both the court and the public. The consequences would be unimaginable!

Ma Dong quickly echoed, his face full of apprehension.

"Your Highness, the General is right. This move is far too risky. If it gets out of control, it will be catastrophic. It must not be used!"

Chu Yun remained silent for a moment upon hearing this.

Wang Hu's advice woke him up.

"You're right, I didn't think this through. Let's abandon this plan."

Wang Hu, Ma Dong, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief, their hearts finally at ease.

Fortunately, Chu Yun is one of our own. If we were on the opposite side, such an opponent would be enough to keep us up at night.

The crowd even began to worry about the approaching barbarian army.

After receiving the order, Prefect Du Wen immediately organized the people to lay out traps outside the city according to Chu Yun's plan.

When the people heard that these strategies were intended to deal with the barbarian soldiers who were burning, killing, and looting, they were all full of energy. They dug pits, buried bamboo sticks, and laid thatch while whispering among themselves.

"His Highness the Sixth Prince is truly resourceful! These traps will give the barbarians a real headache!"

"Let them come and bully us again! Let them fall into the pit, pierce their horses' hooves, and puncture their feet!"

"Hahaha, just wait and see the barbarian soldiers cry for their parents! This time, we will definitely defend Jing'an City!"

The people worked quickly and efficiently, turning their resentment into motivation. Within a few days, traps were laid out within a few miles of the city, concealing deadly dangers.

Chu Yun was not idle either. He spent all his time in the military camp, training and practicing with the soldiers, eating and living with them, without any airs of a prince.

On the training ground, the soldiers were engaged in hand-to-hand combat and bayonet training, with Chu Yun personally demonstrating.

Facing the scarecrow used as a training target, he did not use any weapons, but simply threw a punch with his bare hands.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the scarecrow wrapped in thick cloth exploded instantly. The thick log holding the scarecrow in place was punched and cracked, splintering wood and breaking apart.

The power of one punch is so terrifying!

The soldiers training on site were all stunned, stopping their movements in unison and subconsciously swallowing hard.

If this punch were to land on someone, they would probably be instantly pulverized.

He deliberately showed off this skill.

To truly establish oneself in the military, one must not only win people's hearts but also demonstrate absolute strength.

.........

The scene changes.

In the desolate northern frontier, the north wind howls, whipping up clouds of yellow sand.

On the official road to the north, billowing dust obscured the sky and blocked out the sun.

The main force of the barbarian army stretched for dozens of miles, with cavalry in front and infantry behind, their banners fluttering, and the army marched at full speed toward Jing'an City.

The soldiers, clad in leather armor and wielding scimitars, were all fierce-looking, their eyes filled with bloodthirsty battle intent. Their imposing presence left a chilling atmosphere wherever they went.

In the center of the procession, several tall horses rode side by side, led by none other than Grand Marshal Yelü Aguda.

"Report—!"

A hurried shout came from afar.

A scout galloped up and suddenly reined in his horse in front of Yelü Aguda, dismounted, and knelt on one knee.

"Reporting to the Marshal! Jing'an City has been scouted! The Great Qian Dynasty has mobilized 20,000 Imperial Guards, who have already arrived in the city and are fully deployed, ready to defend it!"

"Oh? Twenty thousand Imperial Guards?" Yelü Aguda raised an eyebrow.

The scout quickly lowered his head and continued reporting, "That's right! And the commander leading the garrison of Jing'an City this time is none other than the sixth prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, Chu Yun!"

These words were spoken before Yelü Agu could even open his mouth.

The barbarian generals beside him burst into laughter, their laughter arrogant and full of disdain and mockery.

"Hahaha! Did I hear that right? Daqian only sent 20,000 men?"

"Twenty thousand Imperial Guards dare to block our two hundred thousand troops? They're simply offering themselves up as cannon fodder! Coming here to die!"

"How utterly ridiculous! With such a small force, they think they can hold Jing'an City and stop my army from advancing south? They must be out of their minds!"

A general wielding two axes slapped his thigh and laughed so hard he almost fell over.

"Has Emperor Qian gone senile? Sending his own son to the battlefield! This isn't fighting a war; it's practically handing us credit! Sending him to our deaths!"

"A prince raised in the deep palace, unable to lift a finger, dares to lead an army into battle? It's a joke!"

"I think we don't even need a large army. I can easily take Jing'an City and capture this sixth prince alive with just ten thousand men!"

Mocking and laughing voices rose and fell.

The barbarian generals all looked at the Imperial Guard with disdain, not taking them seriously at all.

In their view, the Daqian army was utterly vulnerable.

Yelü Aguda looked at his generals, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with an arrogant disdain for the world.

He raised his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

"You are all right. Since Emperor Qian is so kind as to send 20,000 troops and a prince to deliver this great gift to us, we should naturally accept it without being disrespectful."

"All troops, listen to my command! Accelerate! We must reach Jing'an City within two days!"

"After capturing Jing'an City, you are permitted to plunder for three days!"

"Capture the sixth prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, Chu Yun, alive! I want to strip him naked, chain him up, and parade him through the streets!"

Let all the people of Daqian see how utterly pathetic their prince is!

"By humiliating Emperor Qian and shaking the morale of the Great Qian army, our Northern Barbarians' conquest of the Central Plains is just around the corner! Hahaha!"

Arrogant laughter carried on the wind throughout the marching column.

"As the Grand Marshal commands!"

"Take Jing'an City! Capture Chu Yun alive!"

Tens of thousands of barbarian soldiers shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the land.