"We can't kill people before the war even starts!"

"These men are so lazy. How can they fight if they're not punished?" Deng Pengfei said.

Cao Zhenrong was filled with anger and couldn't listen to Deng Pengfei's persuasion.

As three lazy soldiers were executed in each city, the originally lax soldiers perked up.

However, some of them harbored resentment towards Cao Zhenrong.

It was clearly your own incorrect order, yet now you are killing soldiers to vent your anger.

They couldn't accept this kind of behavior.

At this moment, a horse messenger arrived with a report.

"General, the enemy's army is advancing again!"

Cao Zhenrong's expression turned serious upon hearing this.

The two armies were already very close, and the enemy could no longer stop.

"Pass down the order to prepare for battle at any time!"

The scout then said, "Sir, I've noticed that the number of enemy troops seems to have increased."

"What?"

Cao Zhenrong was shocked. "Are you sure?"

"I noticed that the enemy's formation is longer. I shouldn't be mistaken."

"Strange! How could this be?"

After pondering, Cao Zhenrong suddenly realized.

"That dog emperor! So that's why he stopped so many times. He was recruiting soldiers!"

Deng Pengfei was shocked to hear this. "Doesn't that mean the enemy's numbers are almost as large as ours?"

After speaking, Deng Pengfei became anxious.

Their confidence stemmed from guarding the city and having superior numbers.

Now that the numerical advantage was gone, the situation had changed.

Cao Zhenrong laughed and said, "You don't need to panic."

"Although they have more soldiers, their quality has decreased."

"What use are those peasants who only know how to till the land on the battlefield, other than to die?"

"Thinking that more people means an advantage? That's something only children think!" Cao Zhenrong snorted disdainfully.

In the ranks of the punitive expedition, Jiang Chen patted Yao Shouxin on the shoulder.

"Minister Yao has done well!"

Yao Shouxin was a little excited and said, "This is all thanks to Your Majesty's strategic planning. I merely executed Your Majesty's orders."

Jiang Chen waved his hand. He wasn't one to steal credit from his subordinates.

Under Yao Shouxin's persuasion, nearly thirty thousand civilians were willing to travel north with them.

Even if he could only persuade two-thirds of the soldiers to give up resisting, that would be twenty thousand!

Even without counting the other affected soldiers, the Northern Army camp, having lost twenty thousand soldiers, would have less than one hundred thousand combat-ready soldiers left.

At that time, the situation would completely change!

After arriving at a city two hundred li away from the enemy's army, Jiang Chen ordered another encampment.

Afterward, Jiang Chen, along with Yao Shouxin, Shi Ping, and a few others, personally went to the place where the civilians were staying.

Many of the civilians had met Yao Shouxin and had a good impression of him.

They smiled and greeted him when they saw him.

Yao Shouxin quickly introduced, "Fellow villagers, this is His Majesty of Great Wei. His Majesty has taken time out of his busy schedule to thank everyone."

Upon hearing that Jiang Chen was His Majesty of Great Wei, the civilians were all shocked and hurriedly knelt down to pay their respects.

To them, the words "His Majesty" only existed in legends. Who would have thought that His Majesty would personally come to see them?

In addition to their surprise, the civilians curiously peeked at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen smiled and personally helped the civilians up.

"Please rise, everyone."

After the civilians stood up, Jiang Chen suddenly clasped his fist and bowed to the civilians.

"To be honest, I should be the one thanking you."

These words not only surprised the civilians, but even Shi Ping, Yao Shouxin, and the others beside him were shocked.

Was this really the emperor they knew?

Jiang Chen continued, "With everyone's help, I believe that this rebellion will be quelled very soon."

At this time, a civilian mustered up his courage and asked, "Your Majesty, will my child be punished for his crimes?"

Jiang Chen smiled and said, "You've asked a good question. I hereby promise everyone that, except for the few ringleaders, I will not hold anyone else accountable!"

"His Majesty is wise!" The civilians immediately cheered.

They were willing to come along not only because they didn't want their children and husbands to fight for the villains, but also because they hoped to atone for their mistakes.

Now, with Jiang Chen's promise, they were completely relieved.

Cao Zhenrong stood on the observation platform, gazing at the punitive army's encampment two hundred li away, his brow furrowed.

Why did he feel like the punitive army wasn't here to quell the rebellion, but rather to have fun?

How could anyone fight a war so leisurely?

He couldn't sense any atmosphere of war at all.

"What do you think he's up to?" Cao Zhenrong asked Deng Pengfei, who was standing beside him.

Deng Pengfei was also completely baffled.

After thinking, he guessed, "Perhaps this emperor thinks that fighting a war is a simple matter."

Although this answer wasn't reliable, it struck a chord with Cao Zhenrong.

"Yes, you make a lot of sense."

Cao Zhenrong laughed and said, "Does he really think he's a master strategist just because he defeated the Xiongnu?"

Deng Pengfei also laughed and said, "If it weren't for the good foundation of our Northern Army camp, which allowed him to squander resources, he would have been defeated last time!"

"Yes, that's right, very insightful!"

Cao Zhenrong felt relieved and waved his hand. "Let's go drink!"

In the following two days, Cao Zhenrong felt increasingly uneasy.

He had thought that the punitive army would launch an attack the day after setting up camp.

But to his surprise, for the entire day, the punitive army seemed to have completely forgotten their purpose in coming here and showed no signs of attacking.

"What exactly does he want to do?"

Cao Zhenrong was in a bad mood. He had thought that he had everything under control, but now he felt like he couldn't control anything.

Deng Pengfei thought for a while and said, "Sir, could he be planning a night raid?"

This guess made Cao Zhenrong's eyes light up.

"That's right, that's very likely!"

"Pass down the order! Everyone must be vigilant tonight and not be negligent!"

Meanwhile, in the punitive army's camp, Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the dozens of soldiers in front of him carrying copper shovels and suonas.

"Shi Ping, take some men and give them some music."

Shi Ping grinned and nodded heavily.

Then, a group of dozens of men in black, under the cover of night, rushed towards the opposite side.

Cao Zhenrong was afraid that Jiang Chen would launch a surprise attack, so he built a temporary residence on the city wall to prepare for any sudden attacks.

But he waited from xu hour to hai hour, and from hai hour to zi hour, and there was still no movement.

Deng Pengfei, who was beside him, was sleepy. "Sir, are they not going to attack tonight?"

Cao Zhenrong was also very sleepy, but he shook his head vigorously and said, "Now is when people are tired and horses are weary. The enemy is likely to take this opportunity to act!"

"Tell everyone to be vigilant and not let the enemy find an opening!"

Deng Pengfei had no choice but to force himself to stay awake and wake up the drowsy soldiers.