Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Jiang the Plague God was sent flying, rolled on the ground and twitched twice before falling silent again.

The entire drill ground was completely silent.

Jiang the Plague God's ruthlessness is evident to all.

Otherwise, they're all seasoned soldiers, so why should he be able to thrive? Wouldn't that make them all useless?

Such a powerful person was killed by this unfamiliar man with three punches.

It wasn't just three slashes to kill him!

It was a brutal fist! He was beaten to death!

Wu Song pulled out the large sword that was stuck in the ground.

He coldly swept his gaze over the people in the room:

"Anyone else who disagrees? I'll take them on!"

Those who were seen by him hurriedly lowered their heads to avoid his gaze.

No one dared to utter a single word.

Morale, roguishness—these things are like dominoes; once the first one falls, the rest can only follow.

"Since you've all submitted, then stand in line! Line up according to the official roster and take attendance! Anyone who dares to miss a name will suffer the same fate as this guy surnamed Jiang!"

Everyone looked at the imposing Wu Song and was awestruck!

They frantically began putting on armor and searching for weapons.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the previously disorganized military camp had transformed into a respectable square formation.

Ma Yaozu stood on the reviewing stand according to the roster and began to take attendance.

......

The sun was setting in the west.

Chen Shao stood atop the city wall of Weibo, flanked by Wu Song and Ma Yaozu on either side.

Before long, a commotion arose below the city.

A group of cavalrymen with yellow turbans on their heads galloped in from a distance.

He reined in his horse just an arrow's throw from the city gate.

Without giving any instructions, he immediately drew his bow and nocked an arrow.

A hail of arrows rained down on the city.

The arrows weren't aimed at anyone; they were fired randomly and aimlessly.

Each arrow was tied with a yellow talisman.

Chen Shao pulled one off the battlement and unfolded the talisman.

The ink is hasty yet the strokes are firm, each character like an iron nail driven into wood.

The very first sentence was a torrent of abuse.

[A thousand miles of barren land, roads blocked by starving corpses, while you recline on your throne, drinking wine and watching dances—a foolish and incompetent ruler, disgracing the nation and its people.]

Chen Du's crimes are too numerous to count! Chen Du's evil deeds are too many to recount!

Chen Shao secretly rejoiced, thankfully the insults weren't directed at him.

That's really well written.

But the next line pointed directly at himself.

What a phony! A false emperor, causing chaos in the harem! That's extremely offensive.

Chen Shao skipped over it.

[I have received the decree of the Celestial Immortal to lead my troops to array beneath the city walls, not to attack and plunder, but to punish the guilty and mourn the people.]

Those who open the gates to welcome the righteous army will not be harmed in the slightest; those who aid and abet the wicked will be burned to ashes on the day the city falls.

If you possess even a shred of conscience, you should bind yourself and surrender, thus sparing the city from devastation.

If the surrender flag is not seen by dawn tomorrow, do not blame me for punishing you on behalf of Heaven; I will show no mercy whatsoever!

The signature at the end is stamped with a vermilion seal.

The inscription reads "Chen Jiao, the Master of the Azure Heaven, the Talisman Bearer Before the True Man of the Azure Heaven".

"Chen Jiao?"

Chen Shao handed the talisman to Wu Song beside him.

Wu Song took the talisman, glanced at it, and nodded:

"Your Majesty, this man is very famous; he is a renowned general of the Yellow Turban Rebellion."

"Of the thirty-six factions of the Yellow Turbans, he is the only one who has stopped harming the people."

"It is said that he loved the people like his own children. When he conquered a city, he never massacred the inhabitants or looted. Instead, he opened the granaries and distributed grain. The people all remembered his kindness."

"This man used to be a Taoist priest, but he was forced to join the Yellow Turbans because the government made it impossible for him to survive."

"He was ostracized within the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The bandit leaders who burned, killed, and looted all disliked him and thought he was a hypocrite."

He paused, then added,

"This man is a real man, and can be considered a hero of our time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shao nodded slightly.

"They were courteous before resorting to force, and their arrows never hit anyone; they were even more disciplined than the imperial army."

Chen Shao paced back and forth on the city wall, lost in thought.

The arrival of the Yellow Turbans was not necessarily a bad thing.

Weibo is wealthy, but it's also utterly rotten.

We can use the pretext of the Yellow Turban Rebellion to carry out some cleanup.

Chen Jiao was a renowned general of his time, but with only ten thousand useless Wei Bo soldiers behind him, and without a famous general like Yu Qi'an, he might not have been able to hold out.

Therefore, in this situation... a two-pronged approach is needed.

Resisting the Yellow Turbans and suppressing the Weibo clique.

Grasp both ends firmly.

He hesitated for a long time before finally speaking:

"Lord Horse!"

"Xiao Wang is here..." Ma Yaozu's body trembled.

"Tomorrow morning, we must carry your uncle to the city wall, so that he can advance and retreat with the soldiers and boost morale."

Ma Yaozu grinned and said, "Obey the order."

"Furthermore, in my name, a banquet will be held at the Prince's residence."

"Invite all the important people in Weibo City."

"Wealthy gentry, powerful merchants, grain merchants, salt merchants, pawnshop owners, retired bureaucrats—anyone with money, grain, and manpower—must be included."

Tell them they are discussing the Yellow Turban Rebellion's advance on the border.

"At the same time, subtly suggest to them that those who wish to be spared from the war can... well, send me gifts."

"Huh?" Ma Yaozu wondered if he was hallucinating.

"Your Majesty...why are you sending gifts...no, no, no, are we surrendering?"

"Screw your surrender, just do as I say."

Ma Yaozu didn't understand, but he didn't dare to disobey.

"Brother Wu Song, you will stay by my side."

......

That evening, bright red lanterns were hung high in the Prince Zhao's mansion, and a grand banquet was held in the main hall.

It was a lively scene.

Meanwhile.

In an extremely luxurious mansion west of Weibo city.

A small meeting is in progress.

This house is not much different from the Prince Zhao's mansion.

The courtyard has seven entrances and exits, with covered walkways, carved beams, and painted rafters.

Any single decorative item could feed an ordinary family for three generations.

Those who can acquire such properties in Weibo City are naturally not ordinary merchants.

At this moment, there were more than a dozen people sitting in the main hall, all dressed in fine clothes, and all of them were well-known wealthy gentry and merchants in Weibo.

The leader was an elderly man with white hair and beard, named Qian Wanguan, who was the president of the Weibo Chamber of Commerce.

He made his fortune in the early years by smuggling salt.

Later, he also got involved in grain and cloth, and his influence in Weibo was second to none.

More importantly, he had an excellent relationship with King Zhao, Chen Du.

Every year, Chen Du would give him gifts until his hands were sore from exhaustion. In a moment of joy, Chen Du bestowed upon him the honorary title of Wei Bo Bie Jia.

Although it was a nominal position, with this official title, Qian Wanguan was able to command a great deal of influence in the business community of Weibo, and no one dared to offend him.

At this moment, everyone was arguing fiercely.

"Why did this young emperor suddenly appear here? His Highness Prince Zhao hasn't uttered a word; he's probably being held under house arrest, right?"

"Tonight's banquet is most likely a trap, ostensibly to discuss defending the city, but in reality, it's to force us to contribute money and supplies."

"What should we do?"

Qian Wanguan sat in a grand chair, twirling two walnuts in his hands.

He just smiled and remained silent.

The argument went on for a long time without reaching a conclusion.

Suddenly, they all turned to look at this pillar of strength.

"Mr. Qian, stop fiddling with that broken walnut and say something!"

"Whether to give a gift or not, how much to give, and whether to attend the banquet are all decisions we're waiting for you to make."