Hearing this, Jiang Ping's spirits lifted.
People from Huaian City, reinforcements?!
This was exactly what he needed!
It should be known that Pingling Market, situated between Wusheng Pass and Huaian City, was merely a middle ground without any defensive walls. With such terrain, it was extremely difficult to form an effective geographical advantage.
Although he already had ideas in mind, he lacked the manpower.
Only by relying on the reinforcements from Huaian City could they firmly block Ren Tianye's army here, preventing them from taking another step forward.
Now that the people from Huaian City had arrived so timely, how could Jiang Ping not be overjoyed?
He immediately rushed over in a hurry, stopped the leader, and said, I am the garrison commander of Pingling Market. Are you from Huaian City?
The leader also looked pleased and quickly saluted, then said, My lord, we are indeed from Huaian City. Our city has agreed to the deal with you, and has dispatched an army of ten thousand, equipped with firearms, to help you defend Pingling Market!
Hearing this, Jiang Ping was overjoyed!
Huaian City sent an army of ten thousand?
And firearms?
With an army of ten thousand plus firearms, what could a mere Ren Tianye do to them?
He quickly said, Hahaha, you have arrived at the perfect time.
I, Jiang Ping, must thank you properly.
Come, do not leave today. Let us drink until we drop. I have also prepared some local specialties of Pingling Market for you, which I guarantee will satisfy you.
Jiang Ping understood the ways of officialdom very well.
Although he had prepared nothing, he believed that once he said this, the leader's expression would surely change, and he would immediately thank him.
However, Jiang Ping guessed the beginning right, but not the ending.
The leader's expression did indeed change, but it grew increasingly astonished as he asked, Jiang Ping? What Jiang Ping? Are you not Lord Wu Xingzhou?
Jiang Ping naturally knew the name Wu Xingzhou very well; he was the former garrison commander. However, Jiang Ping did not take him seriously at all.
His own excellence was something a hundred Wu Xingzhous could hardly compare to.
He smiled and said, Wu Xingzhou has been dismissed. Now, the garrison commander of Pingling Market is me, Jiang Ping.
However, Huaian City can rest assured. All the promises Wu Xingzhou made to you before, I, Jiang Ping, can fully accept!
As long as the army of Huaian City comes, everything is negotiable.
Apologies! The leader's expression suddenly changed, and he said coldly, Our Huaian City only recognizes Lord Wu Xingzhou. We will ignore anyone else.
After saying that, the leader turned around to leave.
Now Jiang Ping was anxious. He grabbed the leader's horse reins and said, Why is it okay for Wu Xingzhou, but not for me? We are both garrison commanders of Pingling Market. I was the one who took his position. The promises he can give you, I can give you too.
Why won't it work with me?
The leader had already mounted his horse and looked down at Jiang Ping from above.
With a cold gaze, he said indifferently, You? You think you can compare to Lord Wu Xingzhou?
The leader obviously had no intention of talking more with Jiang Ping and urged his horse to leave.
Jiang Ping pulled the horse's reins even tighter.
His tone grew more urgent.
Does Wu Xingzhou have an extra head?
Why is he better than me?
Fine, fine, even if Wu Xingzhou is better than me, and you only recognize Wu Xingzhou, you still have to recognize Pingling Market, right? This is the territory of our Yunjing Imperial Court. If you don't send reinforcements, are you just going to hand it over to Ren Tianye?
Let Ren Tianye get this advantage for nothing?
The leader was truly impatient now: To tell you the truth, Yunjing never planned to defend Pingling Market. Wusheng Pass has already fallen, and Pingling Market has no strategic defenses or walls to hold. Why defend it?
To waste effort?
It was all because of Lord Wu Xingzhou. It was out of respect for him that we planned to send reinforcements. Now that Lord Wu Xingzhou is not here, our Huaian reinforcements... are gone!
Smack!
The leader whipped the horse's flank. The strong horse felt the pain, let out a loud neigh, and then galloped away with its hooves flying. The people who came with him also left together.
Leaving Jiang Ping splashed with mud, standing a mess in the wind.
After a long while, he finally seemed to recover.
He cursed angrily, If there are no reinforcements, then there are no reinforcements. I refuse to believe that with my abilities, I cannot defend this Pingling Market!
He strode to the military camp and ordered everyone to assemble in the main tent.
In his mind, he had already started making plans.
Pingling Market had no natural defenses to hold, so he could only use unconventional methods.
The outer layer of Pingling Market had to be fortified, and at the same time, they had to prepare for street combat. Only through this method could they delay Ren Tianye's army.
He would then find a way to get Yunjing to issue an edict sending reinforcements, and then the great matter could be settled.
When he had his calculations clear in his mind, the officers and soldiers had also arrived at the tent.
Jiang Ping announced his orders, taking over Wu Xingzhou's duties, and told everyone to make arrangements according to his requirements.
However, long after he finished speaking, everyone in the tent remained motionless.
What's wrong? Are you all deaf?
Can you not hear my words?
Jiang Ping, burning with anger, reprimanded them.
At this time, a chiliarch finally stood out, bowed, and said, My lord, the arrangements you mentioned, Lord Wu Xingzhou has already set them up long ago...
He had us build defenses on the outskirts of Pingling Market using double-layered wooden palisades and rammed earth walls mixed with stones, and set up abatis, horse traps, and hidden installations at key intersections.
The granaries and warehouses within Pingling Market have all been reinforced with bricks and stones. The outer walls are fireproof and cannon-proof, and the interior is equipped with secret passages and shooting holes.
Also, the streets and alleys have been modified for street combat.
There are even underground supply depots and emergency water wells.
Guaranteeing that we can defend to the death for ten days in the most critical moments!
Jiang Ping was stunned for a moment, and then his heart filled with anger.
He naturally knew the relationship between Wu Xingzhou and Qin Shuyao, but because he was the plunderer, the possessor, he only felt he had taken a great advantage and was not depressed. But right now, hearing Wu Xingzhou's arrangements, he suddenly felt displeased.
This Wu Xingzhou's arrangements were so rigorous!
Much more thorough than what he had thought of.
So...
He couldn't compare to Wu Xingzhou?
The moment this thought arose, the fire of jealousy surged in Jiang Ping's heart. He immediately wanted to display his full ability and ordered, The soldiers must be divided to form a defensive system...
My lord... the chiliarch said again, These things, Lord Wu Xingzhou has also done long ago. He divided our Pingling Market soldiers into a three-tier defense system, which are the outer perimeter guard, the granary escort, and the street mobile squad...
He also mobilized the merchants of Pingling Market to participate.
It has already been completely set up!
Jiang Ping's anger grew even greater; it was the fury of being completely outdone. He was about to speak again when the chiliarch rushed to say, However, my lord, I am afraid these soldiers are unwilling to serve now...
The soldiers only recognize Lord Wu Xingzhou!
...
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
