Did the eldest daughter ascend the throne today?

Zeng Qinglin said carefully, "Medicine to dissipate blood stasis, replenish vital energy, strengthen muscles and bones, and treat heart diseases."

Ning Zhiwei was silent for a while, "Anything else?"

Zeng Qinglin closed his eyes, his expression heavy with sorrow, "We...sold him some herbs and food."

This was also one of the reasons why he stepped down. He firmly disagreed, and Zeng Qingjie joined forces with most people to get him out of office, which made this deal possible.

Ning Zhiwei looked at the brothers coldly, "Just a few?"

Zeng Qinglin's face turned pale as paper. "Two hundred thousand dan of grain."

The scene was eerily quiet. You sold food and medicine to the enemy, allowing them to eat and drink their fill, and then come back to kill us. This is treason!

Zeng Qingjie gritted his teeth and said, "We sold it at a high price and made a lot of money. This is just an ordinary business, a matter of mutual consent. If the emperor wants money, just ask. I am willing to give you this money."

Xiao Linfeng sized him up and down. Even when death was imminent, he still wanted to get away with it. Did he really think the empress was a fool?

Ning Zhiwei knew clearly in his heart, "This is one of the reasons for the policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce. Most merchants value profit over morality and are not kind when they are rich. Once they control huge wealth, they will threaten the rule of the dynasty and cause social unrest."

Of course, not all businessmen are like this.

"Zeng Qingjie, remember one thing: businessmen belong to the country. If you betray the country, you will pay a heavy price."

Zeng Qingjie was shocked, his heart was broken, and he was filled with hatred.

He just sold a little food, is it necessary to make such a big deal?

"Your Majesty, it's not just the Zeng family that does this. Many families do business with the Kingdom of Jin. If you only blame our Zeng family, I won't accept it."

He tried desperately to excuse himself, "At that time, you also advocated opening up trade and encouraging business exchanges between the two countries."

Ning Zhiwei has seen many people who only care about interests, but often these people live better than those with conscience.

"Article 1 of the trade announcement states that ironware, salt, grain, and cloth cannot be sold to the Kingdom of Jin. It clearly tells everyone that these are state-controlled items and cannot be sold."

"Are you illiterate? Or are you blind?"

Zeng Qingjie opened his mouth and was speechless.

Ning Zhiwei looked at Xiao Linfeng beside him, "How will the crime of aiding the enemy be sentenced?"

Xiao Linfeng said without hesitation, "Confiscate the property and exterminate the clan. Whether it is the entire clan, three clans, or nine clans, it all depends on your majesty's judgment."

Seeing that they were serious, Zeng Qingjie finally became afraid, "Your Majesty, I was wrong, please forgive me."

Ning Zhiwei looked indifferent, "Zeng Qingjie, the head of the Zeng family, colluded with foreign countries, aided the enemy for glory, and betrayed his own country. The whole family should be executed."

She never kills three clans because there are too many people involved, many of them innocent.

"Also, considering the merits of Zeng Qinglin, the former head of the Zeng family, in presenting crops, his family of seven will be pardoned and will be responsible for collecting crops from the Western Regions."

He once tried to stop it, but was forced into a desperate situation by the Zeng family. He had done a lot of good deeds in his daily life, so he simply let them go.

Zeng Qinglin was stunned, then, with tears in his eyes, he kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty's grace is so great. Thank you for your kindness. Our whole family will be your loyal servants for the rest of our lives."

When Bai Zhanyang learned that the Zeng family had been wiped out, he felt terrible.

Ning Zhiwei, she is so cruel!

Licheng, the whole city is shrouded in the dark clouds of war, depressing and solemn.

The soldiers defending the city were on high alert, guarding the city.

Ning Ran stood on the top of the city wall with a solemn expression, looking at the dark enemy camp, his heart heavy.

These days, the enemy's offensive has become more and more fierce. If the city walls had not been specially reinforced by Ning Zhiwei, and if the weapons in his hands had not been more sophisticated, and if there were not several magical instruments for defending the city, Li City would have probably been breached long ago.

He didn't know how many times he had repelled the enemy attacks on the city, nor did he know how long he could hold on.

He was tired, physically and mentally. He hadn't had a good rest for a long time.

He had a very bad premonition that the next siege would be more fierce than ever before, and Licheng would definitely be captured before the empress arrived.

The deputy general couldn't help but whispered, "Young General, you should go and rest first. We shouldn't attack the city tonight."

After continuous fighting, everyone is at the end of their strength, exhausted, and on the verge of collapse.

Ning Ran frowned, "How many days will the army take to get there?"

The deputy general's eyes dimmed, "There are still seven days."

I don’t know if I can wait until that day.

Ning Ran was silent for a long time. Under the moonlight, his expression was bright and dark. "We must hold on for another seven days. As long as we wait for His Majesty, we will be saved."

The other soldiers nodded one after another. "Yes, that's right. The emperor has personally led an army of 200,000 to rescue us. How dare we give up so easily?"

"The emperor is good at fighting. She conquered all this territory single-handedly. She has never lost, so all we need to do is wait for her to arrive."

In the hearts of the Ning family army, Ning Zhiwei is not only their king, but also their eternal commander.

An invincible coach, an eternal legend.

"Victory belongs to us."

Just when everyone was excited, a voice suddenly sounded, "Oh no, the enemy attacked at night again."

Everyone looked outside the city, and sure enough, the Jin army started moving again.

Ning Ran's heart sank. "Damn it, here they come again. Brothers, get ready."

I'm afraid it will be difficult this time.

As he expected, the enemy's attack this time was particularly fierce, and it seemed that they were going to sweep away everything.

They all advanced bravely without fear of death, attacking the city and breaking through the enemy lines.

The people in front fell down, and those behind continued to rush forward. The siege road was paved with blood, and corpses filled the city gate.

The exhausted Ning family army gradually showed signs of decline. They had no strength left and the archers could not even raise their arms.

"Oh no! The Jin army has breached the north gate."

Everyone looked despairing. It was over.

The deputy general gritted his teeth and made up his mind, "Young General, you lead your men to retreat first, retreat to the rear and meet up with the emperor, I will cover your retreat."

Ning Ran looked determined, "No, I won't leave. I would rather die standing than live on my knees. I swear to live and die with the people of Licheng."

He could not retreat any further. Licheng was the center of the northwest and must not fall into the hands of the Jin people.

Once the city is captured, the Jin people will surely massacre the people crazily to shock the world.

He had promised the emperor that he would defend the northwest, but he was about to break his promise.

He raised his spear again and stabbed at the Jin soldier who was climbing up the city wall. Blood splattered all over him and he was also stabbed twice. His vision gradually became blurred.

Is he going to die?

It’s a pity that he couldn’t see his lady again, that free and bright girl.

Countless Jin soldiers climbed up the city gate, and seeing that the east gate was about to be breached, the familiar sound of war drums suddenly rang out.

The drumbeats were like thunder, shaking the heaven and earth and inspiring people.

"The Emperor has arrived, and the commander-in-chief of the Ning family army has arrived."

Ning Ran turned around suddenly. In the night, the big banner was held high with the golden word "Ning" in the middle, like a burning flame. It instantly lit up the eyes of the soldiers on the border and boosted their morale.

This is Ning Zhiwei's exclusive flag, carrying endless majesty and murderous aura, and it strikes fear into the hearts of the enemies wherever it goes.

Ning Ran couldn't help but cry with joy. Here she comes, she is finally here.