"Is it a bit difficult?"
Before Li Yueyang could finish speaking, Han Mo retorted with a cold laugh.
Seeing Han Mo's half-smile, Li Yueyang shivered and quickly shut his mouth.
"Do you know what time it is? Hundreds of thousands of people are gathered in the city. Do you want to incite a popular uprising and then be trampled to death by them?"
"Your subordinate understands! Your subordinate understands!"
"I'll say it again, whoever dares to profiteer from the national crisis at this time, I will have their entire family conscripted into the death-defying battalion, and let them sacrifice themselves for the country!"
Han Mo said, slapping the table heavily.
Li Yueyang shivered all over, almost crying out.
Han Mo's words were easy to say, but the problem was that none of the wealthy and powerful families in Mingzhou City would even bother to look at him, a mere prefect.
If he really dared to do this, even if they could get through this crisis, the imperial censors would not let them off.
"What? Does Lord Li have any other difficulties?"
"No, no more!"
Feeling Han Mo's undisguised killing intent, Li Yueyang replied with a tremor.
"Very good! Since there are no problems, let's eat. After eating, all Your Excellencies can go back to work!"
"Thank you, sir!"
This was probably the most aggrieved meal Li Yueyang and the others had ever eaten, but at this moment, one had to bow their head when under someone else's roof. No matter how aggrieved they felt in their hearts, they had to continue playing along.
After the meal was finally over, these people came out of Wanghai Tower as if they had been granted a general amnesty.
"Young master, look at Lord Li's face, it looks like it's about to fall to the ground!"
After returning to the carriage, Jiang Yan said to Han Mo with a smile.
"They all deserve to die. If they are not warned, they will never distinguish between what they should do and what they shouldn't do! Tell the brothers to work hard for the next couple of days and patrol around more often to prevent them from playing any tricks in secret!"
Han Mo said, stretching his arms long.
"Yes!"
"Young master, where are we going next?"
"Where is General Wang? Let's go sit with him!"
After pondering for a moment, Han Mo spoke again.
As for other matters, Han Mo wanted to hear Wang Bing's opinion on matters of military strategy.
"Yes!"
"Lord Han, why are you here?"
Hearing that Han Mo had arrived, Wang Bing quickly ran down from the city wall.
"I've finished my matters over there and specifically came to see how you are doing?"
Han Mo said, taking a large food box from Jiang Yan's hand.
"What smells so good?"
Before the lid was opened, Wang Bing had already smelled the aroma of the food.
"Famous dishes from Wanghai Tower, specially brought for you. Why don't we go to my carriage? We can chat while you eat?"
Han Mo said with a smile, looking at Wang Bing whose eyes were bloodshot.
"That would be great. I haven't eaten anything since last night!"
Wang Bing also replied with a hearty laugh.
"Please!"
"Please, sir!"
"Hahahaha, why are we being so polite? Let's go!"
Although it was just a simple courtesy, Han Mo knew in his heart that Wang Bing was showing weakness in his own way!
Han Mo couldn't help but look at him with more respect, considering how meticulous he was as a military general.
"I had them make a copy of the arsenal's account books for you. Have you looked at it?"
Back in the carriage, Han Mo arranged the food for Wang Bing, handed him the bowls and chopsticks, and then asked.
"I've looked at it. It's only you, sir, who can tolerate them. If it were me, I would have dragged them out and torn them to pieces long ago!"
Wang Bing said indistinctly while eating.
"Then what are your thoughts now? Can we defend Mingzhou City?"
After all, Wang Bing was the real commanding general, and his combat experience was far richer than Han Mo and Shao Bowen's. The two of them could only talk on paper, while Wang Bing was the one who could ultimately determine the outcome of this war.
"Does Your Excellency want to hear the truth or a lie?"
After saying this, Wang Bing suddenly stopped his chopsticks, took a big gulp of soup directly from the bowl, and then spoke.
"There are only the two of us here. Of course, I want to hear the truth!"
Han Mo took a deep breath and looked at Wang Bing earnestly.
"Given the momentum of the rebels and the situation of our army, I believe Your Excellency should seek reinforcements from the Pacification Commissioner's Office as soon as possible. Otherwise, the fall of Mingzhou is only a matter of time!"
"If you were the commanding general, how many days could you hold Mingzhou City?"
After a moment of hesitation, Han Mo asked again.
"If we mobilize the civilians at all costs to defend the city, we can hold on for at least more than two months!"
"No, ordinary civilians cannot go to the city walls!"
After a brief thought, Han Mo said directly.
Both he and Wang Bing actually knew very well that if the common people really went to the city walls, then after Mingzhou City fell, the common people would likely face a massacre!
"If that's the case, we can only hold on for seven days at most..."
After a moment of silence, Wang Bing said directly.
"Even if I ask the Pacification Commissioner's Office for reinforcements now, it will take at least half a month for them to arrive!"
"Then they can only come to collect our corpses!"
Wang Bing said, giving a wry smile and picking up his food bowl again.
"There is actually another way..."
After carefully considering, Han Mo spoke again.
"Your Excellency means to fight to the death?"
Wang Bing's pupils contracted, and he sized up Han Mo carefully.
He had already thought of this method, but in his opinion, the chance of success was too low.
The 3,000 Victorious Troops he had were elite, but the rebels numbered over 30,000.
Moreover, the rebels were far more familiar with the surrounding terrain than they were. If these 3,000 Victorious Troops were lost, Mingzhou City might not even last 7 days...
"My intention is for you to lead your 5,000 soldiers out of the city quietly, hide in the sea, and when the enemy can't break through after a long siege, you will lead your troops to attack from their rear, coordinating inside and outside, and we will surely defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Wang Bing was obviously stunned.
Just looking at his hesitant expression, Han Mo knew that this guy must be cursing him in his heart.