"Dong dong dong~"
"Quick, quick, everyone stand properly! Your weapons, your weapons are dropping!"
The assembly horn sounded, followed by the drumbeat for mustering troops.
Nearly ten thousand county soldiers scrambled in a chaotic mess, barely managing to form a military formation. However, their hearts were filled with fear.
Xiang Prefecture had not been invaded by enemy forces for over a decade. These county soldiers had long forgotten what war was.
The few enemies there were, were held back by the fifty thousand strong army at the city pass. Unless the states of Qin, Shu, and Zhao were to launch a full-scale invasion, where else would there be any battles? They rarely even got to deal with bandits.
"Report! Reporting to the Prime Minister, the soldiers have assembled. Please address them!"
At this moment, Chu Chen had changed his attire. He was no longer in his prime minister's official robes, but had donned equipment and weapons drawn from the system's lottery. He stood at the forefront of nearly ten thousand soldiers.
He wore a Cloud-Soaring Immortal Robe and white cloud trousers, paired with Cloud-Treading Boots. On his head was a White Jade Heavenly Crown, and in his hand, he held a Overlord Halberd. He looked like a true immortal descending to the mortal realm, his celestial aura imbued with martial killing intent.
In an instant, he calmed the hearts of the somewhat panicked county soldiers.
The only slight imperfection in his attire was the lack of a matching belt, so he had to tie a belt of the same color.
Additionally, there was supposed to be a jade pendant, but Chu Chen had given it to Princess Xin Yue, and it hung at her waist.
That calming jade pendant could pacify the mind, weakly resist inner demons, and accelerate energy recovery to a certain extent. It was suitable for someone of her low cultivation level.
Apart from the Overlord Halberd, which was at the limit of mortal weapons, the robe, trousers, boots, and crown were all Qi Transformation realm magical artifacts. This set alone was enough to significantly boost Chu Chen's strength.
During the battle in the Eastern Frontier, his identity as a fake eunuch made it inconvenient to wear this attire.
Now, as Prime Minister, with no one able to dictate to him except the Empress, Chu Chen naturally wore it without any reservations.
"Soldiers! I know you have not experienced battle for a long time. Suddenly having to go into battle to attack a city, especially with such rudimentary siege equipment, it's natural to feel a bit panicked."
"But it's alright, because this Prime Minister does not intend to lead you in a hard fight! You only need to follow behind me and charge forward, straight into the city gate, and fight your way to the city walls!"
Before Chu Chen finished speaking, the county soldiers were bewildered. Not a hard fight? That seemed impossible. Why else would they have so many men? This was nearly ten thousand troops.
"Soldiers! Answer this Prime Minister now! Can you fight a victorious battle?!"
The soldiers below exchanged glances, looking at each other in confusion.
An Xian, leading from below, shouted first, "We can!"
Then, others gradually responded.
But Chu Chen was not satisfied. He shouted, "Did I not give you enough silver? Did I not allow you to eat your fill? Why are you answering so weakly? Answer me again, can you fight a victorious battle?!"
"Yes!"
"Louder!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"Very good!"
Chu Chen was satisfied this time, secretly delighted. This feeling of being a drill instructor was fantastic.
When he was training the five hundred reserve guards for Princess Xin Yue before, had their responses ever been this loud with nearly ten thousand people?
"The entire army advances! This Prime Minister will lead you in a victorious battle!"
"Yes! The entire army advances!"
"Wuwuwu~ Dong dong dong~"
The sound of horns and war drums echoed continuously.
This sudden movement caused some panic on the city walls, but they quickly regained their composure, and more people appeared on the walls to prepare for defense.
"County Magistrate, Chu Chen is preparing to attack!"
"I see!"
The Lian Shan County Magistrate waved his hand irritably and asked anxiously, "Old Master, Chu Chen is not following the usual tactics. He seems to only have wooden ladders for siege equipment, yet he's attacking. What should we do?"
"Haha, Chu Chen is seeking his own demise. We just need to defend the city walls. There are nearly ten thousand defenders on the walls, and the numbers and quality are roughly equal. Why should we be afraid?" Old Master Chi replied with a laugh.
Hearing this, everyone felt it made sense.
Not to mention that they had martial arts experts helping them defend the city. Although their numbers were small, only about five hundred, on the city walls, with such advantageous terrain and their generally higher cultivation than the county soldiers, they could become a nightmare for the enemy.
When Chu Chen led his county soldiers to within five hundred meters of the city walls, he waved for them to stop.
Taking a few steps forward, he gathered his energy and used the Lion's Roar technique, shouting, "Listen, people on the city walls! The Lian Shan County Magistrate has colluded with the local aristocratic families of the Chi family and united with local martial arts sects to rebel. This is an act punishable by extermination of the entire clan!"
"If you follow in this act of treason, your crimes will be unforgivable!"
"If you abandon the darkness and embrace the light now, and discard your weapons, this Prime Minister can consider you as having not participated! Otherwise, when the city falls, this Prime Minister will hold everyone on the walls accountable!"
"Chu Chen! Do you think I'm scared? Come up if you dare!"
The elder of the Lian Shan Sect shouted, channeling his energy. However, lacking the Lion's Roar technique, his voice was several points weaker in momentum, and his morale could not be raised.
After shouting, he turned to his own private soldiers, retainers, and prisoners, and yelled, "Gentlemen, Old Master Chi has promised that everyone on the city walls will receive five taels of silver after descending. One tael for each person killed! If you die in battle, your families will be supported by Old Master Chi and the families of the various gentlemen, and you will be given at least twenty taels as a settlement fee, ensuring their livelihood for life!"
"Heh heh~" Chu Chen sneered and shouted with the Lion's Roar technique, "Since you are so generous, this Prime Minister also makes a promise! For every person killed from the enemy's side, a reward of one tael, and five taels after the battle! The imperial court will provide compensation and policies for those who die in battle. However, anyone caught killing innocent civilians will be fined three times the amount, and the perpetrator will be punished!"
"Hahaha, you're boasting before the battle even begins! You should try to get onto the city walls and break them first before you brag!"
The elder of the Lian Shan Sect shouted disdainfully.
Regardless, Chu Chen's words to the county soldiers at least maintained their morale, keeping it at a neutral state. The opposing side was similar. Both were a motley crew, but Chu Chen didn't care about that. He didn't intend to rely on his soldiers to break the city.
Because he intended to let them know that times had changed, what was the Qi Transformation realm, and what was martial arts!
"Why so much nonsense! Charge, everyone!"
"??"
An Xian and the other officers were stunned. Charge, everyone? Was this how battles were fought?
But as the commander and Prime Minister, Chu Chen charged out after speaking. What else could they do? They could only order their soldiers to follow him.
About a mile behind, Princess Xin Yue, protected by a hundred锦衣卫 (Imperial Guards) and a hundred cavalry, watched the situation with a telescope.
When she saw Chu Chen begin his charge, a smile appeared on her lips: "This brute Chu Chen is indeed not planning to play by conventional rules. Is he repeating the events of the Eastern Frontier? But this time, his subordinates are not elite troops, nor is it night. How will you capture Lian Shan County this time?"
Princess Xin Yue continued to watch with anticipation.