In a chaotic and famine-stricken era, I picked up an empress to be my wife.

Liu Wenyuan heard Chen Jing barking like a dog to curry favor with the Western Barbarians.

He was furious: "This is an insult to scholarship! An insult to scholarship!"

"You've got a mother to feed!"

Chen Jing raised her hand and slapped him. Liu Wenyuan was leashed and unable to fight back, and was slapped several times by Chen Jing.

Everyone thought Liu Wenyuan would back down, but although he was not good at fighting, blindly trusted scholars, and seemed quite stupid, he was not afraid of death, let alone torture.

After the beating, Liu Wenyuan's face turned red, but he didn't even let out a scream.

But Liu Wenyuan thought this was a matter of integrity!

But they didn't consider that Abdu treated them like dogs fighting and watched them have fun. Wouldn't he want Chen Jing to keep fighting even more if this happened?

"Keep hitting it! I want to see when this dog starts barking!" Abdul commanded with great interest.

"Okay!"

After receiving the order, Chen Jing gave Liu Wenyuan a severe beating.

After being beaten for a full quarter of an hour, Liu Wenyuan was bruised and swollen, but he didn't utter a single scream.

"See that? This is the spirit of the literati of our Great Liang!" Liu Wenyuan looked at Abdu like a victor.

This really stirred things up for Abdul: "Then let my fine sons from the Western Barbarians give it a try!"

After saying that, his deputy shoved Chen Jing aside and began to severely punish Liu Wenyuan.

at the same time!

Deputy General Liao Bing has arrived at Heishan Village to meet with Shen An.

Upon learning of the current situation in Qingyang County, Shen An was not surprised at all. From the moment Liu Wenyuan refused to meet him, he knew that in this life-or-death battle, a scholar like Liu Wenyuan, who valued his integrity, could not withstand it.

However, Liu Wenyuan also bought them a lot of time. Now they have 150 ballistae and tens of thousands of bone bolts.

If those Western barbarians dare to come, at least half of them will be killed or wounded.

not to mention!

Liao Bing and his group came to join them, and they all had proper weapons. Even if they faced the enemy head-on, they wouldn't be without any chance of winning.

"Officer Shen, I think it won't be long before those Western barbarians attack this place. We need to prepare our defenses!" Liao Bing said with a furrowed brow.

"Our head constable Shen has already prepared the defenses. We just need to wait for the Western Barbarians to arrive!" Hei Laoliu brought over a jar of wine and poured it for Liao Bing: "You've worked hard guarding the city. It's already autumn, so have some wine to warm yourselves up."

"Alas... Thank you for your kindness, Brother Hei, but I really have no appetite for drinking right now!" Liao Bing shook his head and asked eagerly, "Officer Shen, what defensive measures have you taken? I come from a military background, and I can help you."

"Deputy General Liao, no need to be so tense, have a drink! You just need to remember one thing!" Shen An stood up and patted Liao Bing on the shoulder: "If any of the Western barbarians dare to come, I'll make sure they suffer heavy casualties, and they'll never dare to invade my Black Mountain Village again!"

"This..." Liao Bing found it hard to believe: "Then can you take me to see if your defensive fortifications are up to standard?"

"No way!" Shen An refused. He couldn't be sure if there were any Western barbarian spies in Liao Bing's team. Once they saw the fortifications, the news would be worthless.

Liao Bing immediately understood Shen An's meaning, and he did not continue to ask, because he himself did not know whether there were any Western barbarian spies in his team.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it and see how it goes!" Shen An poured two glasses of wine for Liao Bing as he spoke, raising his glass: "Drink!"

Liao Bing sighed inwardly, raised his wine glass, and said his piece in one swift motion. He planned to wait and see the outcome; if it didn't work, then he would have no choice but to fight the Western Barbarians!

The next day arrived.

After being slapped again, Liu Wenyuan fainted.

He was beaten all night, and he endured it all night.

Even Abudu, Chen Jing and the others were truly astonished.

Although Liu Wenyuan is useless, he's incredibly stubborn.

"Interesting. Since we can't subdue him by beating, let him come with us and experience the power of the Western Barbarians!" Abudu said, rubbing his hands together.

"Chief, do you mean we should attack Black Mountain Village?" Chen Jing was even more impatient than the Western Barbarians.

For a traitor like him, what he most wants to see is a conqueror who completely defeats his motherland; otherwise, he is doomed. He is now extremely eager to have the Western Barbarians eliminate all the strongholds within Qingyang County.

"Of course we have to fight. The higher-ups want me to completely control the entire Qingyang County within five days. Yesterday was already wasted a day, and we can't delay any longer. Do you know where the stronghold of Heishan Village is?" Abudu asked.

"Of course I know, I've been there before!" Chen Jing said excitedly.

"Very good, then you lead the way!" Abudu immediately blew the horn, and under Chen Jing's guidance, they headed towards Black Mountain Village.

Last night, Liao Bing sent scouts to monitor their every move. Upon seeing their army set off, the scouts immediately rushed back to report.

Upon learning that the Western Barbarians had indeed arrived, Liao Bing's face darkened. Shen An hadn't told them about the fortifications yesterday, and now that things had come to this, Liao Bing wasn't going to give Shen An any more face: "Captain Shen, you have no military experience; your fortifications are bound to be full of holes. Take me to see them now. It's not too late to fix them!"

"Deputy General Liao, there's really no need for this!" Shen An shook his head.

"Sigh, I know you're worried that there are spies from the Western Barbarians on our side. It's good to be more careful, but even if there are spies, they won't be able to send messages in time. So let me take a look at your fortifications!" Liao Bing said anxiously.

"Officer Shen, the Western Barbarian army has arrived outside the village!" Old Zhao came to report.

Liao Bing's expression changed drastically: "They arrived so quickly!"

He looked out the window and saw that the Western Barbarian army had indeed arrived. The Western Barbarians seemed to have recruited some people who had submitted to them, and the total number of people in the army seemed to exceed three thousand.

"Sigh... I'm afraid the defensive fortifications can't be changed. Officer Shen, from now on you will need to follow my command to fight against the Western Barbarians!" Liao Bing said proactively.