"Uncle, why won't you let me go?"
Only after those people had walked away one by one did Lü Biao ask with some confusion.
"The people you have are all our old guard. If they are all used up, who will listen to me in the future? Moreover, I always feel that the current situation is becoming stranger the more I look at it. Haven't you noticed that Wang Bing hasn't appeared yet?"
Seeing that there was no one around, Lü Shina lowered his voice and said to Lü Biao.
"You mean the Song army still has a reserve force?"
Lü Biao was not foolish. Hearing Lü Shina's words, he immediately understood.
"It's probably not far from the truth. It's always better to be careful. When it gets dark later, you will lead people and retreat here with me!"
As Lü Shina spoke, he pulled Lü Biao to the map and pointed to the location of Xikou Town.
"But Uncle, isn't this shaking the morale of the army?"
"If we don't leave a way out for ourselves, and the Song army's reinforcements arrive, do you think they will let us, uncle and nephew, go?"
After listening to Lü Shina, Lü Biao fell silent.
Although the words were unpleasant to hear, the situation was indeed like this.
Once Xikou Town was sealed off, their westward path would be completely blocked.
"I will transfer 1000 more men from the central army for you. You take these 3000 men and make sure to seal off Xikou Town at all costs!"
Mingzhou City could not be taken down, the Song army's reinforcements' movements were unclear at this time, and Wang Bing had not led his troops out of the city until now, which made Lü Shina feel uneasy.
At this time, he had to consider his own retreat...
"Don't worry, Uncle, I will handle this properly!"
"Good! This is my military order to you. If anyone asks, just say you are going to gather military provisions!"
"Yes!"
After arranging things for Lü Biao, Lü Shina finally calmed down and focused all his thoughts on the attack.
As expected, with the change in the generals' thinking, the situation of defending the city became even more severe.
The rebel soldiers attacked frantically as if they were desperate.
The long scaling ladders were densely packed with rebel soldiers. After one fell, the remaining soldiers, without waiting for the bodies to hit the ground, charged forward again.
In less than half an hour, the moat, nearly twenty feet wide, was already densely filled with corpses.
The rebels' blood dyed the river water in the moat red, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood. Accompanied by earth-shattering shouts, both sides began their final struggle.
"My lord, mobilize the civilians to defend the city! The city walls can't hold on any longer!"
Seeing that the rebel attack was becoming more fierce and the casualties of the soldiers on the city walls were rapidly increasing, Shao Bowen quickly said again.
"No hurry, there are people more anxious than us!"
Looking at Shao Bowen's anxious appearance, Han Mo suddenly stood up and handed him a cup of tea.
"My lord, at this point, how can you still have the mood to drink tea? If the city is breached, then the entire city will suffer!"
At this point, Shao Bowen had no mood to drink tea.
With a wry smile, he put the teacup back on the table.
"Didn't I tell you? I have it under control, so don't worry, there will be no problems!"
Han Mo said as he leisurely poured himself another cup of tea.
"My lord, Qian Lang is here, and he brought dozens of merchants!"
Just as Shao Bowen was about to say something, Jiang Yan suddenly walked in.
"See, I told you, someone is more anxious than us!"
Hearing this, Han Mo's face immediately showed a smile.
"You mean, you want to take this opportunity to... them..."
Hearing Han Mo's words, Shao Bowen seemed to understand something.
"If they don't lose anyone in their families, how can they be willing to follow this official?"
Han Mo said as he drank the remaining tea in his cup.
"I'm just a blockhead!"
It was only now that Shao Bowen suddenly understood why Han Mo had not been anxious all along. He had been waiting for these merchants to step forward.
What Han Mo was about to do was inseparable from the support of these merchants. However, before that, he had to unite them.
Once the rebels entered the city, although all the civilians in the city would suffer, their property was limited.
Given the heavy losses of the rebels this time, as per usual practice, they would plunder the city once they entered.
Throughout the dynasties, once things reached this point, these soldiers could not be controlled.
After all, the soldiers who were blinded by the killing would not care whether your family had some beneficial dealings with a certain general.
Even if they did, they would rob first and then talk about it.
If the losses of the rebel army were not severe when Mingzhou City was breached, there might have been a situation of peaceful coexistence between the two sides. However, the losses of the rebel army now had exceeded one-third.
Even if Lü Shina agreed, the soldiers would not.
Even Qian Lang would not dare to let these rebels enter the city at this time.
"Mr. Ye, you are too kind. It's just that this kind of thing is not your specialty. Why don't you wait a moment longer? I'll go out and see what tricks they are up to."
Han Mo said as he cupped his hands towards Shao Bowen again, then turned and walked out.
"My lord!"
"Lord Han!"
Seeing Han Mo walk out of the tent, the merchants quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"I say, Brother Qionglin, why are you here at this time? Is there something wrong?"
Seeing the sweat on Qian Lang's forehead, Han Mo asked with feigned surprise.
"Lord Han, we heard that the city walls are about to fall. Is that true?"
At this point, Qian Lang no longer dared to hesitate when he spoke.
"Well..."
"Although we are weak, we have some warriors in our families. Please allow us to let them serve the country!"
"Please allow them to serve the country!"
With Qian Lang taking the lead, of course, none of the merchants dared to be negligent. They immediately knelt on one knee before Han Mo.
"You are indeed pillars of the imperial court. It is my good fortune to have people like you under my jurisdiction! Since you have all said so, let it be as you wish!"
"Thank you, my lord, for your approval!"