The people, upon learning that only two people were sent from Yuzhou, immediately felt relieved. The other side clearly looked down on their strength, hence sending only two esper-users. However, if their numbers were so few, wouldn't their side have a chance to win?
"Boss, what do you mean? We capture these two esper-users? Then we can force Yuzhou to retreat, is that it?" someone asked cautiously.
Xue Ba glanced at everyone and said directly, "Why bother with such probing? It's already a life-or-death situation, and you still want to live in peace? I called you here to decide whether to run or fight."
Everyone understood that their cautious thoughts could not be hidden from their boss. At this moment, they should all work together to deal with the current crisis. However, they truly did not want to offend Shen Feng of Yuzhou. After all, Yuzhou had a powerful army and over twenty esper-users, all of whom were strong. Offending Yuzhou would be a dead end. But now, it seemed unavoidable.
Dong Chao also said in a deep voice at this time, "I know you all are unwilling to conflict with Yuzhou, but this is impossible. It's either a fight to the death or leaving. There's no such thing as capturing the other side's esper-users and then returning them to maintain peace. And you all need to consider this clearly: if you leave, then everything you've worked hard for these past two years will be gone."
Dong Chao's words immediately ignited the anger of everyone present. Then someone stood up and angrily questioned, "What are you all thinking? The great enemy is at the door, and it's a life-or-death situation. Are you still hesitating? I, Di Zhouxun, will first state that I will live and die with Jiucheng."
"Well said! Our industries are all in Jiucheng now. If those commoners from outside the city really rush in, what will we have left? Everything we've occupied will be snatched away. Will that be the situation you want to see?"
"In life, food and drink are paramount! If we cannot defend Jiucheng, let alone prosperity, we won't even be able to eat and drink freely. Therefore, I will definitely persevere."
For a time, the great hall was filled with impassioned speeches, as if everyone was filled with righteous indignation, fighting desperately to protect what was rightfully theirs.
Seeing this scene, Xue Ba felt that "the hearts of the people can be used." He nodded with satisfaction and said, "Since that's the case, I can tell you clearly that I will definitely fight Shen Feng. Let me tell you, I have already discovered the weakness of these commoners outside the city. Although there are many of them, they have been malnourished for a long time, and they lack sufficient food. As long as we can hold on, these commoners, without food, will not be able to persist. We just need to drag it out, and that will be enough."
Upon hearing Xue Ba's words, everyone's confidence surged. That's right, the boss was right. As long as they could drag it out, their side would achieve ultimate victory.
At this moment, Dong Chao also said seriously, "Furthermore, I have twenty thousand believers in Jiucheng. I can have these believers defend the city. Let's mobilize them now."
The good deeds Dong Chao had done in his daily life now proved useful. Because at this time, a small favor previously given away could make others loyal and fight for him. Such a deal was uncommon, yet many foolish people were indeed fooled, truly believing that this Joyful Buddha was a legitimate Buddha.
Xue Ba's eyes lit up, clearly having an idea at this moment. He then said, "Since we are to mobilize the believers, why not mobilize everyone else together? Tell the people in the city that the people outside the city are preparing to rush in and kill. This way, the citizens within the city will inevitably be terrified, and then they can be made to defend the city. As long as we hold on for a while, with the advantage we have accumulated, what do you think of this plan?"
"It's feasible, but I'm worried these people won't help us. The taxes collected were too harsh before," someone offered their opinion.
However, Xue Ba snorted coldly and said, "If they don't help us, then we'll have to take action. Capture two typical examples and kill them directly. As for those who actively respond, we will give them greater rewards. A butcher's knife in one hand and bread in the other, let them choose. This is my solution."
The others then dared not say more and could only execute the plan according to Xue Ba's method. In Xue Ba's eyes, the art of managing people was nothing more than a carrot and a stick. Those who obeyed would be rewarded with a carrot, and those who disobeyed would be killed directly. The others, upon seeing this, naturally dared not object.
Thus, the city immediately began to mobilize, preparing to meet the upcoming onslaught.
However, as dusk approached, the situation changed dramatically. A cold wind swept in, continuously lowering the temperature. Before long, snowflakes even began to fall from the sky. Xue Ba and Dong Chao in the city, upon seeing this, immediately showed expressions of joy. After all, snowy weather was extremely unfavorable for siege warfare, and they had sufficient food in the city. As long as they could delay, victory was certain.
In the evening, the supplies from Gangcheng also arrived, consisting of a thousand firearms, many of which had been used many times, essentially second-hand goods. The ammunition was sufficient. Xu Xing then selected a thousand strong men and, after daybreak, led them to surround Jiucheng.
Although the encirclement took place in heavy snowfall, the eyes of the fifty thousand disaster victims were filled with rage, burning with anger, enough to resist the biting cold.
To build its city walls, Jiucheng had demolished many houses outside the city. Moreover, the terrain outside the city walls was very poor, making it unsuitable for assault. Therefore, under these circumstances, Xu Xing did not dare to launch a rash attack. Instead, he led his men to surround the area outside the city. Although Xu Xing only had fifty thousand men, as long as they could block the city gates with their key forces, it would be enough. Anyone from the city wanting to come out would have to face the disaster victims directly.
At this moment, the disaster victims also felt the strength of their side. Although they had just eaten two hot meals, the long-standing hatred had caused them to erupt completely. Some disaster victims even shouted and charged towards the city walls, only to be immediately killed by bullets.
Xu Xing quickly issued an order, "Don't be impatient. The more impatient you are, the more opportunities you give others. Therefore, at this time, we must remain calm. Shout to the people on the city walls and say that Xue Ba deserves to die, and Dong Chao should be killed. Those who assist will be heavily punished; others will be left alone."
Xu Xing, at this time, had not forgotten the key points of the plan mentioned by Elder Zhizhen. Among them, after surrounding Jiucheng, they needed to create a reputation, to let everyone in the city know the crimes committed by these rulers, and then eradicate them, rather than directly forcing their way through. If they forced their way through, it would inevitably cause heavy casualties.
After Xu Xing issued the order, his subordinates immediately carried it out. However, the plan encountered a snag during implementation because the subordinates ultimately understood it as enumerating the crimes of Xue Ba and Dong Chao, so they all started shouting.
"Hey, you guys inside, don't work for these two beasts anymore. Don't you know that in the city, you are like pigs and dogs? Hurry up and surrender now? Let's take revenge together?"
"Don't you remember how your wives and daughters were deceived? Aren't you afraid of losing face for your ancestors, with your wives and daughters selling themselves? It's utterly disgraceful."
"Hurry up and open the city gates, let's take revenge together! What are you waiting for?"
...
Countless loud voices from below the city began to shout. Although it wasn't exactly what Xu Xing had said, the effect was quite good. Because many people were shaken after hearing these words. Many people from outside the city had fled from within the city, and everyone knew what life was like inside the city. It was simply not a life fit for humans. Now that someone had come to save them, how could they remain indifferent at this moment?
The civilians on the city walls were somewhat shaken upon seeing this situation. Living in the city meant frequently being taxed, even taxed for walking. This could no longer be called taxation; it was outright robbery. Even if a family was wealthy, they couldn't withstand being robbed like this. And the people in the city were basically all impoverished, with little to no food to last the night. They lived from meal to meal.
Not only that, but the food eaten by those working in the city was leftovers from others, almost spoiled swill. They were fed what was given to pigs. Was this a life fit for humans?
And under the pressure of survival, the pleasure quarters in the city were unusually prosperous, as earning money there was relatively easy. Those who managed these places were mostly connected to the city lord and his subordinates. The ultimate result was that men couldn't find decent work, and women were forced into prostitution. Who among normal families would watch their female relatives engage in such shameless acts? The lower-class professions were still lower-class professions, and they were looked down upon.
Yet, it didn't end there. Because women in the city often went missing. It was rumored that these missing women were captured by people from the palace, and their fate was the most tragic. During banquets, they would be wantonly insulted, with chains around their necks or wrists, their human dignity completely lost.
When the voices from below the city appeared, those on the city walls immediately became agitated. Some were even looking back at the soldiers on the city walls, with predatory eyes flashing in the eyes of these civilians. Being stared at with such gazes, those who were usually arrogant now felt a chill down their spines.
"What are you looking at? Guard the city walls honestly. If you dare to look again, I'll kill you now as a sacrifice to heaven." The soldiers, seeing people staring at them with malice, immediately began to scold them. If it weren't for the many people outside the city, they would have wanted to shoot these ill-looking fellows on the spot.
Seeing no reaction from the city walls, Xu Xing frowned and said, "Elder Zhizhen said we could mobilize the power of the masses, but it doesn't seem like that's the case at this moment. There's no change on the city walls. Can the people within the city be mobilized?"
"You are too impatient. How long has it been since we started shouting? We still need to wait a while. Once the rhetoric slowly ferments, the effect will definitely be very good. Haste makes waste," Lin Yue quickly said to Xu Xing.
Xu Xing nodded, frowning, "If I didn't consider the possibility of heavy casualties, I would have directly pushed down the city walls and attacked right now."
A five-meter-high city wall was naturally nothing in Xu Xing's eyes. This was not the city walls of Yuzhou, nor was it the city walls of Yanjing, not something that was impregnable. With a slight use of his esper abilities, he could complete the task of pushing down the city walls. However, the firearms of the soldiers within the city were not to be trifled with. Forcing his way through would inevitably cause casualties, so at this moment, a direct assault was impossible. Although they had firearms, those were only to prevent the enemy from rushing out.
Xu Xing thought, "If only someone could give me some advice, then I wouldn't have to be so anxious like this."
Xu Xing now increasingly felt the importance of his mind. To resolve a crisis in a place, having strength was not enough; one also needed to use their brain. And using one's brain was precisely what Xu Xing was not good at.
Xu Xing felt that Elder Zhizhen was a good strategist, but unfortunately, Elder Zhizhen was currently inside the city and could not be easily met.