My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"Lord Li, you, you are just afraid that once Dasheng's troops enter the city, they will remove your official position and you won't be able to keep your seat as County Magistrate!"

Wang Feng hit the nail on the head, "Why should we risk our lives for you? Bring someone, tie him up!"

"You dare, you..."

Facing the threat to their lives, no one cared whether he was the County Magistrate or not. In a surge, the crowd tied him up tightly.

"General Chen!"

Wang Feng stretched his neck, his voice somewhat trembling, "You must not deceive us. We don't need the food, just promise not to massacre the city once you enter, and we will open the city gates!"

Even after the opponent had entered the city.

They would tolerate minor scales of arson, killing, and looting, which would still be better than a massacre.

"Rest assured! Though it sounds offensive, there is a vast gap between our strengths. If I really wanted to massacre the city, I would have charged in directly, why would I need to waste words here?"

Chen Sansi, clad in a White Robe, maintained a calm face, but his tone gradually elicited a sense of authority:

"As long as Dasheng's flag is hoisted on the city walls, not a single grass or tree, not a single soldier or pawn will be harmed—all prisoners, if willing to surrender, will be considered our own people of Dasheng, and if not, we absolutely will not make things difficult for them.

"However—"

"Since our military operation is time-limited, if we miss the hour, we will have to reluctantly employ some harming methods, so please do not waste too much time. You only have the time for a cup of tea to make your decision!"

"No, no, no!"

Wang Feng, devoid of any thoughts of resistance: "General Chen, we surrender, we surrender!!"

"Open the city gates!"

"Surrender—"

"Buzz—"

Without the need for a cup of tea's time, the city gates were thrown wide open.

More than a hundred stationed troops and several dozens of officials walked out of the city and knelt on both sides of the official road.

County Magistrate Li, especially, was brought out tightly bound, and Wang Feng and the others offered up his official seal and hat as well. The common people, however, hid back inside the city, watching the developments outside from a distance.

Meizi County, inside and out, fell into dead silence.

Especially, Wang Feng and others, lying prostrate on the ground, were trembling like chaff under their inner turmoil and fear. They were completely like fish on the chopping block with no other choice.

To resist meant a certain death, so they could only gamble.

Gamble that this widely renowned young general could keep his word. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

"Mr. Chen, spare our lives!"

"..."

Following Chen Sansi's signal, the Xuanjia Army swiftly advanced, confiscating all weapons and armor and took control of the two remaining military officers before the army marched directly into the city.

Just when Wang Feng and others had just breathed a sigh of relief, they saw the Xuanjia Army suddenly start speeding through the empty city streets on horseback, beating drums and shouting loudly.

"All commoners!"

"Gather at the city gates!"

"You have one hour's time!"

"..."

Meanwhile, another group began going from house to house, forcibly driving out all the civilians.

"Mr. Chen!"

Wang Feng panicked, his eyes red as he shouted, "You promised no massacre, what, what are you doing?!"

"Chen, you are untrustworthy!"

Du Baozong cursed loudly, "You deceived us, you won't have a good death!"

Chen Sansi, sitting high on his horse, glanced at him indifferently, ignoring him.

"I'm going to fight you!"

Wang Feng watched as his family also emerged onto the street. He roared and tried to grab a weapon but was kicked to the ground, the bright blades surrounding him.

"Everyone stay put!"

Xiao Zheng said impatiently.

"Do you see?!"

County Magistrate Li, kneeling on the ground, furiously scolded, "I've always said, Sheng people are the most despicable. It's you, you are the ones who doomed the entire city's people. Even in the Underworld Hell, no one will let you off!"

Wang Feng and Du Baozong felt immensely ashamed and utterly disgraced.

As dusk was about to fall, almost 60 to 70 percent of the city's population finally gathered in front of the city gates. They were all dressed in patched and tattered clothing, their nutritionally deficient pupils hollowed, their eyes filled with hatred, trouble, fear, and awe...

Under the watchful eyes of thousands,

Chen Sansi raised his arm high.

However, when his arm came down, what greeted the people was not the cold blade, but...

Food!

Cart after cart was pushed in front of the people.

Zhao Kang and others maintained order, shouting loudly, "Line up, line up, don't push, don't rush, everyone will get a share!"

"Boom—"

That short statement sparked a huge uproar among the crowd!

Distributing food?

After the enemy troops invaded, not only did they refrain from massacring for pleasure, but they... they even distributed food?!

Tales of sheer fantasy, tales of sheer fantasy indeed!!!

This claim was heard when the Xuanjia Army first arrived, but typically such rhetoric was merely perfunctory, and no one really believed it.

But General Chen... he... really provided food!

Basically, each person received a dou of rice!

Accounting for ten thousand people, that was a thousand dan of food!

What everyone received wasn't much, but it was enough to save lives at a critical moment!

"Everyone!"

It was only then that Chen Sansi spoke again, he dismounted and stepped up to a higher position: "Our march was urgent, and the food we carried wasn't plentiful. It couldn't possibly fill everyone to satisfaction, so I hope the villagers can understand and forgive!"

"My lord!"

"Heaven-blessed noble official!"

"This is General Chen, who ferried the people across the river. Who else could it be but him?!"

"Hurry, kneel down and express your gratitude!"

"..."

Thousands of civilians almost simultaneously knelt down.

"Chen knows that Lai State has been suffering from disasters since last year, and all I can offer now is just a slight effort."