Give me five hundred men, and Pingling Market will be ours

"How could this be?"

"How could this happen?"

In her own room, Qin Shuyao frowned, her face full of disbelief. "Wu Xingzhou was just a garrison commander, wasn't he? I was the one who even gave him that position. What, can't Pingling Town survive without him?"

"Just because we kicked him out, Pingling Town is falling into chaos?"

"How is that even possible?"

Jiang Ping really didn't want to admit Wu Xingzhou's prestige and ability in Pingling Town, but the current chaotic situation forced him to acknowledge it.

He smiled bitterly. "The people of Pingling Town all listen to Wu Xingzhou and trust him. With him here, the hearts of the people were united. But without him..."

"Their morale has collapsed!"

"With their morale gone, let alone a mere four thousand soldiers, even if we had forty thousand, they would be nothing but forty thousand pigs. A single charge from Ren Tianye, and countless men would trample each other in a panic!"

Pausing, Jiang Ping looked at Qin Shuyao in front of him.

Wearing silk satin, she looked her most beautiful and breathtaking, but right now, knowing the crisis at hand, he couldn't muster the slightest romantic mood.

He continued, "Our only option now is to leave."

"Shuyao, come with me."

"Pingling Town cannot be defended. Once Ren Tianye's army arrives, these soldiers will either surrender or be crushed on the spot."

"By then, we won't be able to leave even if we want to."

This was a sound piece of advice, but Qin Shuyao immediately shook her head like a rattle. "No, no, I can't leave!"

Jiang Ping immediately thought of Qin Shuyao's relationship with her family. It was precisely because of those reasons that she had stayed in a small place like Pingling Town instead of returning to Yunjing.

Knowing he couldn't persuade her, he grew increasingly anxious.

Pingling Town was already in chaos; staying meant waiting for death!

"I know what to do."

Just then, Qin Shuyao suddenly spoke, a hint of lightness in her tone.

"Sister Shuyao, you have a plan?"

Jiang Ping asked, pleasantly surprised.

Qin Shuyao merely glanced at him without answering.

And the look in her eyes toward Jiang Ping revealed a deep...

Intense disappointment!

In her mind, Brother Jiang Ping had always been omnipotent!

How...

How could it be that now, taking over the Pingling Town left behind by Wu Xingzhou, he couldn't even defend it?

"Sister Shuyao, why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing!" Qin Shuyao said. "Brother Jiang Ping, it's getting late. You should go back."

"Sister Shuyao, it's chaotic outside. I'm worried someone might come to disturb you. I'd better stay and help you guard the compound."

"No need," Qin Shuyao said. "I'll be fine. You can go back."

Qin Shuyao suddenly and forcefully kicked Jiang Ping out. Then she went to the study, unrolled a piece of paper, dipped her brush in rich ink, and wrote carefully.

"Xingzhou, although it is impossible for us to be together anymore."

"That doesn't mean you no longer have the chance to treat me well."

"Right now, Pingling Town is in a bit of danger."

"Come back and help me defend it."

"I will allow you... to pester me for a while longer!"

When she finally wrote the words "pester me for a while longer," Qin Shuyao felt her hand trembling and her heart aching slightly.

After all, her greatest fear before was that Wu Xingzhou would relentlessly pester her after their divorce. She had even made many contingency plans for it. But now, she had no choice but to ask him to come back.

She felt somewhat annoyed.

But there was no other way.

So, she blew the finished letter dry.

Then, she had a servant deliver it to one of Wu Xingzhou's personal guards.

Although she didn't know where Wu Xingzhou was right now, she knew that this former guard of his would definitely be able to find him.

...

"General Wang Ming, General Wang Ming..."

Wu Xingzhou rushed into the tent, found Wang Ming, and said excitedly, "A great opportunity! What a great opportunity!"

"That stupid woman Qin Shuyao wrote me a letter, asking me to go back and help her defend Pingling Town."

"Hahaha, with this, won't we be able to take Pingling Town without breaking a sweat?"

Wu Xingzhou excitedly handed the letter to Wang Ming and requested, "General Wang Ming, if you trust me, please give your subordinate a chance and three thousand men."

"I guarantee that within three days, I will take Pingling Town and present it to you and the Duke!"

Wang Ming read through it and nodded.

Yes, this was how it should be!

This was exactly how the battle for Yunjing should be fought!

He gestured for Wu Xingzhou to sit down but didn't speak immediately.

Instead, he seemed to be pondering something.

This made Wu Xingzhou's heart tighten. Thinking Wang Ming might not trust him, he quickly added, "General Wang Ming, if that doesn't work, even five hundred men will do. You can send your own personal guards. If you find me, Wu Xingzhou, acting with any disloyalty, they can immediately cut me down from my horse!"

Hearing this, Wang Ming shook his head.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Wu Xingzhou, but he had already received news from the scouts that Pingling Town was currently in utter chaos. It could be said that as long as he rushed there now, taking the town would be incredibly easy.

And capturing Pingling Town was, after all, a great merit.

He still wanted to claim it himself.

But seeing Wu Xingzhou pleading so earnestly now...

Never mind!

He would give this opportunity to Wu Xingzhou.

So, he said, "There's no need for that. How about this: I will assign you five thousand men. Lead them out immediately and help me take Pingling Town!"

...