The Eternal Beauty of the City of Wealth

Five days later, although Wang Jian collected some fine herbs from nearby villages and towns, it was a drop in the bucket and many soldiers had fainted from hunger.

He stood in front of the tent, looking at the soldiers who were staggering with hunger, his heart filled with bitterness and helplessness.

The soldiers were all pale and thin, with dull eyes.

Some leaned against tree trunks, too weak to even speak;

Others simply collapsed to the ground, their stomachs growling.

This scene weighed heavily on Wang Jian's heart like a dark cloud.

At this time, a soldier muttered in a daze: "Now when I see an ant, I think it is covered with flesh."

The soldier next to him laughed weakly, and his laughter was dry.

Wang Jian frowned. He thought he could solve the urgent problem, but he didn't expect to be in this situation again.

He looked up into the distance, full of worry.

If there is no more food supply, these soldiers will have a hard time surviving, let alone fighting.

He clenched his fists, hating himself for not being able to conjure up countless food.

I could only watch the soldiers suffer from hunger, and the self-blame pierced my heart like a thorn.

Wang Jian gritted his teeth and decided to take a few soldiers who were still strong enough to go to Fugui City to ask for food.

The walls of Fugui City were high and the gates were tightly shut. Wang Jian stepped forward and shouted:

"Listen up, people in the city! Our army is short of food. We hope you can give us some. We will reward you handsomely one day."

After a long while, a head popped out from above the city gate and said slowly:

"You soldiers, go find food for yourselves. We don't have much in the city."

Wang Jian was so angry that his face turned red. He shouted, "If we don't get food and grass today!"

"I will have the soldiers set up tents here and live there permanently, and see what you can do."

The guard became anxious upon hearing this and was about to retort.

The soldier next to Wang Jian suddenly shouted, "General, there seems to be a hare in the bushes over there."

The soldiers' eyes lit up instantly and they stumbled towards the bushes.

He ran and shouted, "Catch it, and you can have rabbit soup tonight."

As a result, the rabbit ran so fast that the soldiers were out of breath and finally fell into a pile.

The city guard laughed heartily at the sight: "These soldiers, they can hardly even catch a rabbit! Hahahaha."

Wang Jian was extremely embarrassed, but he suddenly had an idea and shouted towards the top of the city wall:

"The food you gave me is much more delicious than this rabbit meat."

The commander on the city wall hesitated for a moment, then said, "Hmph! You can ask for food, but you must answer my riddle first."

Wang Jian thought this was an opportunity and quickly agreed. The guard cleared his throat and said:

"A winding vine climbs up the trellis, and strings of pearls grow on it. Guess what kind of plant it is."

Wang Jian scratched his head, looking confused, just when he was anxious.

A soldier shouted, "General, those are grapes."

Wang Jian was overjoyed and hurried to inform the guards on the city wall, but the guard played tricks and said:

"This is just a test. If you really want the food, you have to show your sincerity."

Wang Jian gritted his teeth and decided to return to the camp to discuss countermeasures. Seeing Wang Jian and others return to the camp, the garrison commander immediately reported to Zixuan.

Zixuan was very conflicted after hearing this. He couldn't just watch hundreds of thousands of soldiers starve to death right under his nose.

So she ran to the city wall and waved her hand, and immediately 500,000 steamed buns were piled on the city wall.

She ordered the soldiers to throw the buns over the city wall, and the soldiers on the city wall stood up in surprise.

The guard shouted, "Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! What if we let them eat and drink their fill and then come back to attack the city?"

Zixuan ignored him, thinking that even if they died, they would never be able to take it down, so he shouted, "Throw it away!"

Then he shouted to the soldiers below: "If you think it's bland!"

"I have some pickled radish here, you can throw it in with me, I guarantee you'll have enough to eat."

Everyone on the city wall was at a loss for words and finally had to throw steamed buns and pickles at Wang Jian's army.

When Wang Jian's soldiers got the food, they devoured it voraciously, as if they could swallow up the entire Fugui City.

After Wang Jian had eaten his fill, he touched his round belly and said to his soldiers:

"Even though we have food, we can't take it for free."

All the generals nodded in agreement, so Wang Jian brought some military specialties and came to the city of Fugui again.

When the guard saw Wang Jian approaching, he asked warily, "What are you doing here again?"

Wang Jian smiled and said, "I came here to thank the city lord for the food he gave me, and to bring some goodies from the army as a gift."

He then had a gift presented. The guard took it with some doubt.

At this time, Zixuan walked over and looked at Wang Jian under the city curiously.

Wang Jian quickly saluted and said, "Thank you, Lord of the City, for your generosity and for saving the lives of my entire army."

Zixuan waved his hand and said, "This city lord doesn't want to be known as someone who doesn't help others in need."

Wang Jian added, "I wonder if the city lord has any instructions. We are willing to serve you at your service."

Zixuan rolled his eyes and said cunningly, "I heard that all the soldiers in your army are highly skilled in martial arts. Why don't you perform a funny show to entertain this city lord?"

Wang Jian looked hesitant, but still agreed.

He went back and picked out a few burly soldiers and asked them to act like clowns and dance.

Those usually serious soldiers were twisting their bodies and dancing in strange shapes, causing laughter from people inside and outside the city.

Zixuan laughed so hard that tears came out and said it was very funny.

From then on, Wang Jian's army and Fugui City forged a unique friendship, and the two sides had constant exchanges.

The people on the city walls shook their heads and laughed, saying, "These starving ghosts have finally been reincarnated."

Ten days later, the King of Qin received military news and was shocked.

In the court, the King of Qin paced back and forth anxiously, and the ministers also looked worried.

The King of Qin said loudly, "My dear ministers, although Wang Jian's army has temporarily received food and fodder, the enemy may attack at any time. We must send reinforcements as soon as possible."

A minister stepped out, stroked his beard and said slowly, "Your Majesty!"

"I believe that we should draw troops from nearby counties, but..."

The King of Qin hurriedly asked, "Just what? Tell me!"

The minister said with a bitter face, "It's just that most of the soldiers in the nearby counties are lazy and greedy. I'm afraid they are not up to the task of making any major contribution."

The King of Qin was so angry that he blew his beard and glared: "What should I do? Is there no one left in my great Qin?"

At this time, a young official said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I have heard that there are many martial arts masters among the people!"

"It would be better to recruit them with generous rewards and high positions and salaries. Perhaps they will be much more capable than those soldiers."

The ministers burst into laughter, and someone jokingly said, "You little brat!"

"Maybe they've read too many martial arts novels. How can those people in the martial arts world understand how to march and fight?"

The King of Qin couldn't help laughing, and pointing at the young minister, he said, "Your idea is novel, but unfortunately it's unreliable."

But then the King of Qin thought for a moment and said, "It's worth a try. Send someone to post the notice immediately."

The ministers had no choice but to obey the order and leave, muttering to themselves about this strange decision as they walked.

The King of Qin waited for the news with great anticipation and anxiety.

There will always be brave men when there is a reward. Just over ten days after the notice was posted, more than 10,000 martial arts masters from various sects came to apply.