Chapter 363

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Seeing this, Yan Wang felt slightly relieved. He struck while the iron was hot and rallied everyone once more: "In this campaign, I'm sure everyone has already seen our strength and determination.

As long as we work together with one heart and strike in one go, it is very likely we can take down Nan Liang in a single sweep! When that time comes, we will be the great heroes of the entire Dachang! Everyone, is there anyone who does not want to become a hero?"

"Yes!!!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices like rolling thunder, resounding through the entire camp.

Yan Wang nodded in satisfaction; he knew morale had been successfully roused.

So he smiled and said: "Good, since that's the case, everyone go ahead and enjoy yourselves, but remember not to stay up too late — after all, there are important matters to attend to tomorrow."

Everyone answered in agreement, then dispersed — some chatting, some playing, some resting — and the camp instantly filled with laughter and cheerful voices.

Yan Wang watched this lively scene, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing even brighter. He hastily ate a few mouthfuls of food, felt his stomach was about full, then rose and returned to his own tent.

Upon entering the tent, he impatiently unfurled the map and carefully studied Nan Liang's terrain and the location of the next city, pondering strategic questions such as from where to advance and how to deploy troops.

Ai Jiao and Tang Qi, while eating, also couldn't help thinking about the upcoming battle. When they had eaten their fill, they decided without prior consultation to go together to Yan Wang's tent to discuss battle strategy with him. After entering the tent, they spread out the map of Nan Liang and studied it carefully.

The three sat around the map, discussing back and forth. They analyzed the enemy's troop distribution, the cities' defensive situations, and possible attack routes. After a heated discussion, they finally formulated a preliminary battle plan.

When the discussion ended, it was already very late. The three each returned to their own tents to rest well, conserving their strength for tomorrow's battle.

The next morning, just as the sky showed the first faint light, everyone was already fully equipped and ready to set out. Their morale was high, like a pack of hungry wolves, launching a fierce attack toward the next city.

This siege battle was exceptionally fierce, but the Dachang army performed very bravely. After a hard fight, they finally succeeded in taking the city. Everyone cheered and leaped for joy, then found a place nearby to pitch camp and rest briefly.

The next day, they continued the siege, attacking the enemy without mercy. In a span of three consecutive days, they actually captured three cities in a row, which made everyone feel incomparably exhilarated.

However, just then, a piece of bad news arrived. A scout reported that Nan Liang reinforcements had arrived, and their numbers were many. This next city would probably not be so easy to take.

Yan Wang keenly understood the gravity of the situation. After all, the enemy this time had a hundred thousand soldiers, while his own side, though having absorbed quite a few surrendered Nan Liang soldiers along the way, held only a slight numerical advantage.

Even more worrying was whether these Nan Liang soldiers might defect at a critical moment — this undoubtedly added more variables to the battle.

Facing such a complex situation, Yan Wang decided he must both strictly guard against the external enemy and constantly stay on guard against possible traitors within his own ranks.

This was undoubtedly an arduous task, but he believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would surely overcome the difficulties and achieve final victory.

Therefore, before setting out on the campaign, Yan Wang specially dispatched Tang Qi to give those Nan Liang soldiers a warning and reminder. That Tang Qi could hold the important post of Deputy General naturally meant he had exceptional qualities. He was not only highly capable but also decisive and ruthless in handling matters.

In the previous war, a portion of the Nan Liang soldiers had behaved rather restlessly — they not only failed to fight with full effort but even deliberately held back.

For such behavior, Tang Qi took severe measures without mercy — killing the chicken to warn the monkeys. In front of everyone, he beheaded one of the ringleading Nan Liang soldiers as a public warning. This move struck like a thunderbolt, instantly dispelling the treacherous thoughts of many who had harbored ill intentions.

However, Tang Qi was not merely heavy-handed; he understood the principle of combining grace with authority. After cowing the crowd, he immediately followed up by tossing them a "sweet date."

He spoke bluntly: "No one can decide their own origin — just as I am a Dachang person and you are Nan Liang people. But regardless of where one comes from, each person's conduct is decided by themselves."

Tang Qi then mentioned the previous barbecue event, laughing: "Everyone ate very happily at the previous barbecue, right? I might as well speak plainly — that money all came from General Yan's own pocket!

I don't know what treatment you received in Nan Liang. But since you have now surrendered and become Dachang soldiers, from now on the treatment you enjoy will be no different from that of Dachang soldiers.

Moreover, if in the future your families in Nan Liang find it hard to survive and wish to go to Dachang, that is absolutely no problem. Our General Yan can fully petition the Emperor to grant you Dachang household registration.

Not only that, but an additional settlement allowance will be issued to you, so you can live and work in peace in Dachang.

You can rest assured — the Dachang Army's welfare and treatment are absolutely the most generous among the five countries. I dare make this guarantee: in the future you will certainly feel deeply fortunate for the decision you made today.

These words of his, combining grace and authority, ignited a fire of hope in the hearts of those Nan Liang soldiers, and their previously restless hearts gradually settled down.

Of course, Tang Qi naturally kept a trump card — he deliberately emphasized the Dachang Army, not General Yan personally. After all, General Yan's army had been selected through layer upon layer of screening, not just anyone was qualified to join.

The Dachang Army, however, was different — as long as you harbor a sincere heart to serve the country, you have a full opportunity to join its ranks.

After Tang Qi finished speaking, he turned and left like a gust of wind, leaving a group of Nan Liang soldiers staring at each other in bewilderment, at a loss.

After a good while, someone finally broke the silence and said: "Anyway, I feel that since coming to Dachang, we haven't received any special treatment. And General Yan treats us pretty well."

But before the words had fallen, someone chimed in: "But — would this make our families bear the name of traitors? Then how would they ever hold their heads high in Nan Liang!"

Immediately after, another person interjected: "Nan Liang may have an Emperor, but in reality, almost the entire country is under the control of the Prince of Li. Now, I hear even the Prince of Li has disappeared — Nan Liang probably won't last much longer."