"Master, we are ready. When do we depart?" a man in black knelt beside Chu Chen and asked.
"When the Prince's troops reach the city gates, we will act," Chu Chen said, narrowing his eyes.
"As you command." The man in black clasped his fist, then hid in the shadows, waiting quietly.
Time passed slowly. Finally, as the sun began to show its pale belly, the Prince's troops finally arrived near the city gates.
Boom! The moment the Prince's grand army arrived, violent explosions suddenly erupted from the Prefect's mansion, with flames shooting everywhere and thick smoke billowing.
This immediately attracted the archers on the city walls.
Swish! Swish! Swish... In an instant, dozens of arrows flew down from the city walls, targeting the Prince's army.
"Shoot! Shoot!"
"Protect the Prince!" In a flash, all the soldiers drew their swords from their waists and shielded the Prince, blocking the arrows shot from the city walls.
The Prince looked at the rain of arrows from the city walls, his brow furrowed: "It seems I have underestimated Chu Chen. In such a short time.
He has set up such a tight defensive network. I'm afraid he has already discovered my scheme."
"As expected of the person I have my eye on, smart and ruthless!"
"Since that's the case, I must get rid of you even more."
"Pass down the order, the army will halt its advance, rest in place, and wait for dawn!"
The Prince of Nanyang said coldly, "Also, inform the Prefect's mansion that at noon tomorrow, I will personally lead the troops to attack the city!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" A young officer took the order and retreated.
"I hope you don't disappoint me!" The Prince of Nanyang smirked and turned to walk into his military tent.
At the same time, inside the Prefect's mansion, in the study.
Chu Chen was discussing countermeasures with Ye Xuanji: "You few, go and purchase grain immediately!"
"Grain?" Hearing Chu Chen's words, Ye Xuanji was slightly stunned and asked in confusion, "What are we buying grain for? Does Master want to hoard food and wait for the autumn harvest?"
"No, I want to rebel!" Chu Chen shook his head, pondered for a moment, and continued.
"I will sell the grain to the Prince at double the market price. This way, our losses will be greatly reduced."
Ye Xuanji's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in admiration: "Brilliant, brilliant! Master is indeed wise and mighty."
Chu Chen smiled slightly: "Go and gather grain immediately. The more the better. It would be best if we can fill the granary within five days.
This way, we can transport it to the county office as soon as possible, and we can distract the Prince from the side."
"Yes!" Ye Xuanji took the order and left.
Chu Chen stood by the window, gazing at the distant scenery, and sighed, "Prince, Prince, I hope you don't blame me. After all, who wants to be a slave of a fallen nation?"
In the Prefect's mansion, in the study.
"Report~!" At this moment, a guard rushed into the study and said to Chu Chen.
"Sir, we just received news that last night, the Prince's troops began to retreat."
"What?" Chu Chen was shocked.
"How could this be? Could it be that the Prince discovered our plot?" A look of confusion appeared on Chu Chen's face.
He originally thought that his plan was flawless, with no loopholes. But now it seemed.
The Prince had probably already known his intentions, which was why he chose to withdraw his troops in time.
"Sir, what should we do now?" the steward beside him asked anxiously. He had felt every second like an eternity last night, fearing a surprise attack from the Prince.
If that happened, they would all be finished.
"Why panic? It's good that the Prince is retreating, saving him from ruining our great plan!"
Chu Chen reprimanded the steward, then took a deep breath and said gravely, "I want to see what tricks he is up to."
Just as Chu Chen was contemplating how to deal with this crisis, a sharp and piercing whistle suddenly echoed through the sky.
Immediately after, outside Beishan City, countless cavalry suddenly appeared, numbering hundreds.
These cavalry were all armored and armed with spears, their horses like a surging tide.
"Enemy attack!" Seeing this, the archers on the city walls became flustered and quickly drew their long bows.
They shot frantically at the enemy below, but the cavalry seemed unfazed, continuing to charge towards Beishan City as if they were fearless of death.
Bang bang bang... In the blink of an eye, the cavalry reached the foot of the Beishan City walls and then leaped down without hesitation.
"Ah!" In an instant, the gate of Beishan City was broken open, and then the hundreds of cavalry swarmed in.
"Shoot!"
"Quick, stop them!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh... A volley of arrows whistled out, engulfing the cavalry, but the cavalry seemed fearless of death.
Despite the arrows falling on them, they still charged forward bravely.
In just a moment, the cavalry reached the foot of the city.
"Shoot!" Chu Chen roared, then drew the saber at his waist and pointed it at the cavalry below the city walls.
Puff puff puff... The archers on the city walls simultaneously drew their bows and arrows. With a volley, more than a dozen cavalry were shot dead, their blood staining the city walls.
"Kill!" After a wave of arrows, the cavalry charged forward again, breaking through the enemy lines!
"Shoot!" Chu Chen gritted his teeth. At this moment, he could no longer care about friendly fire.
Swish swish swish...
The archers on the city walls drew their bowstrings, and rows of arrows poured out, falling on the cavalry. Immediately, blood flew everywhere, and screams erupted.
But the cavalry still charged forward like madmen, throwing themselves into the fray.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the cavalry were all dead or wounded, their bodies piled up at the foot of the city walls.
"Master, shall we continue fighting?" On the city wall, the steward couldn't help but swallow his saliva and said with a pounding heart.
"Fight, why not?"
Chu Chen snorted coldly, "Tell the archers on the city walls to continue shooting. Don't spare any arrows. We must kill all the enemies in the shortest possible time.
Otherwise, when the Prince's grand army arrives, we will have no escape!"
"Yes!" The steward nodded upon hearing this and quickly ran out of the City Lord's mansion.
In the Prince's camp.
"Reporting to the Prince, the archers on the city walls have all been replaced by our men!" a knight reported respectfully.
"Very good!" The Prince's face immediately showed joy: "Pass down my order, command the army to depart immediately!"
"Yes!" The knight clasped his fist in agreement.
At this time, in Chu Chen's study, Ye Xuanji looked at Chu Chen with a worried expression: "Master, the Prince's army has already set off!"
"Mm." Chu Chen nodded and said indifferently, "Proceed according to the plan. Remember, you must destroy the Prince's grain before midnight tonight!"