With wives as numerous as clouds and soldiers as numerous as a million, you say he's a useless

"Why aren't you leaving yet?" Ye Cheng'an raised an eyebrow when he saw Shen Jingchuan lingering.

Shen Jingchuan said, "Young Master, isn't your scheme to sow discord a bit too obvious? Even I can see through it, let alone the Nine City Commanders?"

Ye Cheng'an smiled, "The brilliance of this plan lies not in its superficial divisive tactics, but in the fact that once it is implemented, the officials of the nine cities will all worry about betrayal by their comrades. As the saying goes, suspicion breeds malice..."

"Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will grow strong and tall, like a towering tree!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Jingchuan finally understood that the young master was not trying to sow discord among the officials of the Nine Cities, but was clearly testing human nature!

Not much of human nature can withstand the test; this is a brilliant plan!

Shen Jingchuan quickly left and arrived at the city wall of Yong'an City. He addressed the soldiers of the nine cities standing outside the city, saying loudly, "My eldest young master said that the locust-exterminating elixir is difficult to make and has a limited supply. There is only enough for one city to exterminate the locusts. All the officials of the nine cities want it, and my eldest young master cannot show favoritism. Therefore, you can bid against each other!"

"Starting bid: 10,000 taels; highest bidder wins!"

Upon hearing this, the officials in charge of the nine cities below the city began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"What? The eldest young master is actually letting us bid? Has he gone mad with greed?"

"As the eldest son of the Northern Kingdom, exterminating locusts is his duty; how could he accept money?"

"Furthermore, he even said that the locust-exterminating holy water is only enough for one city. Is he trying to sow discord among our nine cities?"

"Hmph! We're not stupid, we won't fall for his divisive tactics!"

"Shen Jingchuan, open the city gates immediately and let us in. We want to see the eldest young master and have a face-to-face talk with him!" Nie Chongshan roared.

Shen Jingchuan said, "I'm sorry, but the young master has ordered that due to the severe locust plague in various places, in order to prevent your carriages from carrying insect eggs into our city, no one is allowed to open the city gates without his permission."

"..." Instantly, Nie Chongshan's face grew even colder. "Shen Jingchuan, don't think that just because you've latched onto the eldest young master, you can dominate Liuzhou. Don't forget, the eldest young master is just an outsider; it's uncertain how long he'll stay here. If you offend us because of the eldest young master, you'll be in for a world of trouble!"

The others joined in the clamor, shouting, "Open the city gates now and let us see the young master, or we'll storm in!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

As the Nine City Commanders flew into a rage, their soldiers gripped their spears, raised their arms, and roared into the sky.

This scene was enough to make Shen Jingchuan's heart tremble.

Although the eldest son had 12,000 troops stationed in Yong'an City, plus the soldiers in the city, the total number was at least 13,000.

However, when war breaks out, no one is a winner; only the common people suffer.

Just as he frowned, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

That hand was broad, strong, and very warm, which calmed his somewhat chaotic mind. When he turned around, he met Ye Cheng'an's calm and composed eyes.

"Young Master, what brings you here?"

Ye Cheng'an laughed, "If I hadn't come, wouldn't you have been bullied to death by these people?"

"I am a good person in every way, except that I can't stand seeing my subordinates being bullied."

"Alright, you just stand there and watch how I teach these guys a lesson..."

After saying that, Ye Cheng'an patted Shen Jingchuan on the shoulder and then looked at the nine city officials below the city.

"Do you all intend to storm Yong'an City and force me to hand over the secret formula for eradicating locusts?"

"Ha, forgive my bluntness, but do your rabble of men even deserve it?"

"Uncle Zhang, Uncle Zhao, Uncle Li, what are you all standing there for? They've already come to our doorstep! Aren't you going to show this rabble the strength of the Tiger Roar Camp?!"

At Ye Cheng'an's command, suddenly, ten thousand Tiger Roar Army soldiers rushed up the city wall and lined up in neat rows to guard it.

They were all wearing brand-new armor and holding long spears.

The brand-new armor gleamed with a chilling light under the sunlight.

Even the spear in his hand was brand new!

The Tiger Roar Camp was an army that had fought countless battles alongside the old Northern King, emerging from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Now, equipped with brand-new gear, they displayed even greater might.

Compared to the rabble under Nie Chongshan's command, they were worlds apart.

"How could this be? The Tiger Roar Camp was suppressed and idle for a full ten years, how could they still possess such excellent armor and weapons? And such chilling killing intent?"

"Furthermore, the eldest young master ordered Shen Jingchuan to keep the city gates tightly closed early this morning, as if he already knew we would be coming to attack..."

Doubts arose in the hearts of Nie Chongshan and the other six, their eyes scrutinizing each other. "Could there be a traitor in the group? Has someone tipped off the young master?"

"Nie Chongshan, why are you looking at me like that? You don't suspect that I sent a message to the eldest young master beforehand, do you?" Gu Mingxuan felt very uncomfortable under his gaze and immediately bristled. "If I really had pledged allegiance to the eldest young master, why would I have led an army to Yong'an with you?"

Nie Chongshan snorted coldly, "If you didn't come to Yong'an with the main force, how would you know the subsequent progress and continue to inform the eldest young master?"

"Look at the tightly closed gates of Yong'an City, and then look at the Tiger Roar Army, with its brand-new equipment and ready for battle. If someone hadn't tipped off the young master beforehand, how could he have made such thorough preparations?"

"Damn it! Even if there are traitors in the team, what makes you so sure it's me?" Gu Mingxuan retorted.

Nie Chongshan said, "The eight city officials have all gathered in Panlong City to stand up for the Grand Commander, but you are the only one who arrived last."

"What nonsense! My troops just set off and ran into the young master coming from the opposite direction. How could we not be delayed?" Gu Mingxuan was furious.

Being threatened by Ye Cheng'an in his own territory was already enough to upset him, but now he was being suspected by his own comrade.

He couldn't take this anymore. He thought, "Let whoever wants to do it do it, I'm not doing it!"

Gu Mingxuan immediately said, "Since Lord Nie doesn't believe me, then I, Gu, will no longer participate in anything you do from now on. I will lead my troops back to my territory. As for the locust extermination, whatever amount of money or conditions you ask for, Young Master, I, Gu Mingxuan, will agree to!"

After saying this, Gu Mingxuan clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ye Cheng'an, who was perched high on the city wall, and prepared to leave.

But at this critical moment, Ye Cheng'an's voice suddenly rang out from the city wall, "Trying to leave? Did I agree to that?"

"The troops from the nine cities have gathered at the gates of Yong'an without being mobilized. Are you planning a rebellion?"

"Today, without my order, not a single person is allowed to leave!"

"Anyone who dares to leave, I will immediately order the archers to fire. Those who don't want to die will stay put!"

Seeing that Ye Cheng'an refused to let Gu Mingxuan leave, Nie Chongshan muttered to himself, "Could it be that the person who delivered the message to the eldest young master wasn't Gu Mingxuan?"

Gu Mingxuan spat fiercely, "I already said it wasn't me!"

"Who is that?" All the officers scrutinized each other once again, and cracks had already appeared within them.

Gu Mingxuan, having regained his composure, looked at Ye Cheng'an standing on the city wall and said, "Young Master, our troop deployment today was against the rules, but the locust plague is a serious matter. We are all here to seek a strategy to eradicate the locusts. Even if this matter reaches the royal court, His Highness will consider giving us leniency."

"What exactly are you trying to achieve by forcing and pressuring us like this?"

"What utter bullshit! Do we need this many soldiers to devise a locust eradication plan? What do I want to do..." Ye Cheng'an sneered, then said, word by word, with icy coldness, "You bunch of bastards, you're used to disobeying the rules, but today you dare to offend me... Well then, I'll naturally teach you a lesson!"

"Yong'an City is my territory. Now that you're here, you'll have to do as I say. Anyone who doesn't want to die, do as I say!"

"All the officers below the city, didn't you want to discuss the locust eradication with me face-to-face? Now, I'll give you a chance. Those who want to eradicate the locusts, leave your troops outside. You few who are in charge, come into the city and discuss this with me in detail!"

"Once you enter the city, I guarantee that the Tiger Roar Camp will not harm a single hair on your troops. Otherwise, everyone here today is a traitor who has gathered troops to rebel! You will all die here!"

"I'm only giving you three breaths to consider. If you haven't given me a satisfactory answer after three breaths, my men will fire their arrows..."

"Of course, you can also choose to run away. It all depends on whether your legs are faster or the arrows of the Tiger Roar Camp archers are faster."

As Ye Cheng'an spoke, the densely packed soldiers on the city wall all drew their bows and aimed their arrows at the troops of the Nine Cities below.

Their grim faces, their imposing aura, and their sharp arrows that gleamed coldly in the sunlight all inspired fear.

Intimidation.

Extreme pressure.

The Nine Cities Army, which had been so imposing and confident of victory not long ago, didn't even dare to breathe loudly at this moment.

Ye Cheng'an continued to apply pressure, "Of course, I can't guarantee that we haven't set up an ambush outside the city, on your escape route, to wipe you out completely..."

Upon hearing this, all the soldiers immediately turned to their commander. "Sir, why don't you go into the city and speak with the young master? He only wants to establish rules and discuss the locust eradication; he won't harm you."

"Yes, if we insist on opposing the young master, the army will likely suffer massive losses! Please, sir, consider the greater good!"

"Please consider the bigger picture, sir!"

In an instant, all the commanding officers became the target of public criticism, and were pushed forward by their own soldiers.

If they refuse to enter the city and discuss the locust eradication with Ye Cheng'an at this moment, they will be the culprits who caused the deaths of their troops!

They would lose the morale and support of the army. Who knows, these soldiers might even tie them up and offer them to Ye Cheng'an in order to save their own lives.

But if they go, Yong'an City is Ye Cheng'an's territory. Once they set foot there, they will lose all their advantages, and who knows what their fate will be...

Instantly, they were like ants on a hot pan, suffering greatly and at a loss.

At that moment, Nie Chongshan hardened his heart and said, "Isn't it just entering the city to have a chat with the eldest young master? I'd like to see what he can do to us!"

"Don't forget, we are all on the Princess's side. If anything happens to any of the nine of us in Yong'an City, the eldest young master will be held responsible and unable to explain himself!"

Hearing this, Nie Chongshan's men perked up a bit. "Lord Nie is right. Ye Cheng'an just captured the Tongchuan city lord and garrison commander. He would never dare let us die in Yong'an!"

"Let's enter the city together. I refuse to believe he dares to do anything to us!"

"Ye Cheng'an, what are you waiting for? Didn't you say you wanted us to come into the city for a chat? Now that we've arrived, why don't you open the city gates immediately?"

Seeing that these guys still couldn't tell who the big and small kings were, Ye Cheng'an's eyes flashed with mockery. He then raised his hand to Shen Jingchuan, signaling, "Open the city gates and welcome the nine city lords in!"

Once the dog is lured through the door, I'll close the door and beat it!