Chapter 602

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“What do you want? A rebellion?”

The captain’s hand rested on the saber at his waist. From the soldiers’ indifferent eyes, he felt a hint of danger.

“Captain, sir, we are just too hungry to even draw our bowstrings,” an archer said, and the murderous atmosphere instantly lightened.

The captain snorted coldly. He said, “All of you listen to me, this is just a trick by the Southern Expeditionary Army. Our Jinling City is impregnable; they cannot possibly take Jinling City.”

The soldiers remained silent. They were not fools. Reinforcements had not arrived, and the food in the city was almost depleted. This was enough to indicate that something was wrong with Jinling City. Even if Jinling City had not fallen, they were now an abandoned army.

Seeing that the soldiers said nothing, the captain’s eyes looked outside. Smelling the wafting aroma of rice, he swallowed. He was also worried, but as a military captain, he had to obey military orders.

Descending from the city tower, he immediately relayed the the news of the Chuzhou army’s rebellion to Xiao Han.

“Useless, idiot! What good are you to me!” Xiao Han roared with anger upon hearing this. “I knew Chen Wei and his Chuzhou army were useless. Now, I will personally guard the city gate. All surrendering soldiers will be executed without mercy.”

The captain, having been scolded, merely hung his head. After Xiao Han had vented, he said, “The Southern Expeditionary Army outside the city also said, also said…”

“Also what!” Xiao Han was impatient, even agitated.

He had sent carrier pigeons for over ten days, but no reinforcements had arrived yet, and the provisions in the city were almost entirely consumed. If this continued, his army would completely collapse.

“Said what!”

“They said Jinling City was captured by the Dengzhou army, and His Highness Prince Wei was imprisoned,” the captain said.

Xiao Han immediately sat up from his chair upon hearing this. He said, “Nonsense, utter nonsense!”

“I thought so too, but why haven’t Jinling City’s reinforcements arrived after so long?” The captain dared not say more.

These words completely shattered Xiao Han’s spirit, but he still clung to a sliver of hope. He said, “Wait a little longer, Jinling City will be fine, it will be fine.”

Outside the city, the Southern Expeditionary Army soldiers continued to shout, but after the Chuzhou army defected and fled the city, the content of their shouting changed.

“Brothers of Chuzhou, listen! Jinling City has fallen, and your Prince Wei is in our hands! Now, your royal seal is in our camp…”

Hearing this news, the soldiers on the city wall were even more shocked. Another general descended the city wall and went to the Chuzhou government office to tell Xiao Han this news.

“The royal seal!”

At this, Xiao Han could no longer remain calm. He immediately rushed out of the government office and ascended the city gate. Just as the reporting general had said, the Southern Expeditionary Army was now shouting the very words he had spoken.

“Shameless scoundrels! Don’t spread rumors! How could Jinling City be breached? How could my Imperial Father be in your hands?” Xiao Han roared.

The shouting soldier was unhurried. He seemed to have been waiting for Xiao Han to ascend the city wall. He said, “If you don’t believe it, just wait a moment.”

With that, he gestured towards the main camp, and then a cavalryman emerged from the camp and approached him.

This cavalryman was none other than Bai Mu. This time, Niu Ben had not only sent the military order but also the royal seal, all to demoralize Xiao Han.

“Xiao Han, do you recognize what this is?” Bai Mu held up a royal seal, wrapped in yellow brocade, and showed it to Xiao Han.

At this moment, Bai Mu was less than fifteen meters from the city wall, and the object in his hand was clearly visible. But as Xiao Han focused intently, his face finally changed drastically.

Others might not have seen Prince Wei’s royal seal, but he certainly had. What was in Bai Mu’s hand now was precisely the royal seal of Prince Wei, which he had dreamed of day and night. He had fantasized countless times about inheriting Prince Wei’s throne with this seal.

“How about it? Do you believe it now? Not only is Jinling City gone, but your reinforcements also scattered on the way. Now, the remaining cities of Wei are all in peril; no one will come to save you, Xiao Han. Think carefully: who in this city will still fight for you! However, if you surrender, our general said he would guarantee your life before His Highness.” Bai Mu said loudly.

At this moment, Xiao Han’s mind was blank; he hadn’t heard a single word Bai Mu said.

Trembling slightly, he left the city wall with the support of his generals.

Bai Mu sneered, rode his horse, and returned to the Southern Expeditionary Army’s main camp.

“General, Xiao Han must be in chaos now. What should we do?” Bai Mu said.

Lu Fei said, “There’s no need to waste any more time. If he doesn’t surrender, we’ll bombard Chuzhou City. His Highness ordered us to take Chuzhou City and then continue to conquer the other cities in Wei. If it takes too long, these prefectures and counties might suffer the same fate as Yangzhou City. These powerful families are very cruel and won’t care about the lives of the common people.”

Bai Mu nodded upon hearing this.

The shouting continued. An hour passed, and no news came from inside Chuzhou City. Lu Fei said to Luo Xin, “No need to wait any longer. The people inside the city must already be in disarray. It’s time for a siege.”

Luo Xin nodded. In the past half year, the Southern Expeditionary Army’s cannons had increased to a hundred. At this time, a hundred cannons were lined up in a straight line, facing Chuzhou City.

“Fire!” Luo Xin coldly gave the order.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

The artillerymen, already prepared, immediately began to bombard the city wall. At the same time, the mortar gunners launched explosive shells into the city.

Immediately, dust flew up from the Chuzhou city wall, and fire and smoke filled the air.

Lu Fei watched all this with indifference. He was putting pressure on Xiao Han. There were many soldiers in the city, and even if they were to be killed, it would take several days, and these soldiers were innocent.

Chuzhou City was in chaos at this time. Over a hundred thousand soldiers were already starving. Now, having learned that Jinling City had fallen, both generals and soldiers lost the will to fight.

And facing the powerful firepower of the Southern Expeditionary Army, they were even more terrified. The soldiers on the city wall could only cry out in despair. Despair soon turned into anger, and some soldiers suddenly found courage, choosing to rebel.

First one soldier, then a second, more and more soldiers joined the rebellion. They gathered and rushed towards the government office. As long as Xiao Han was captured, the battle would end.

Then, just at that moment, Xiao Han walked out of the government office. Facing a group of fierce rebels, he said desperately, “I surrender!”

“Surrendered!” The generals and soldiers immediately cheered. All they wanted now was a full meal.

Some soldiers directly opened the city gates. They threw their weapons and armor onto the ground and, as per the Southern Expeditionary Army’s demand, walked out of the city with their hands raised.

When the Wei army surged out of the city gate, Lu Fei ordered Luo Xin to stop the bombardment. He laughed heartily, “This is winning without fighting.”