With a million soldiers, the empress begged me not to rebel

Chen Qingwan worked hard to govern Jingzhou and put it in an orderly manner.

The people live and work in peace and contentment, and the scene is prosperous.

Under her leadership, the army grew stronger and stronger.

However, the rumors about her never stopped.

In taverns, teahouses, streets and alleys, rumors about Chen Qingwan grew like weeds.

Some say she is just a puppet and the man behind her is the real power;

Some people say that she is cruel and ruthless, excludes dissidents, and persecutes loyal people;

Some people even composed a ballad, singing "A hen crowing at dawn brings disaster to the country and the people."

She was slandered for violating social order and disrupting government affairs.

On this day, Chen Qingwan went on a secret tour and came to a teahouse to rest.

As soon as I sat down, I heard a few men at the next table whispering.

"Have you heard? Chen Qingwan has no idea how to govern the city and relies entirely on the guidance of the men around her."

A bearded man said in a low voice.

"That's right. I heard she has countless male favorites and is obsessed with pleasure all day long. How could she care about state affairs?"

Another thin man echoed.

"When a hen crows at dawn, Jingzhou will be taken over sooner or later!"

The third man slammed the table hard, his tone full of contempt.

Chen Qingwan listened calmly, but her heart was already surging.

This was not the first time she had heard these rumors, but they had never been as harsh as today.

She gripped the teacup tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white, and she almost crushed the cup.

After returning to the palace, Chen Qingwan locked herself in the study, thinking over and over again about what she had heard in the teahouse.

She knew that these rumors were not groundless.

There must be someone behind the scenes who deliberately spread this rumor in order to undermine her rule.

Looking at the bright moon outside the window, I feel powerless.

She has worked harder than any man, but still cannot get recognition from the world.

"Lu Yan, if you were still here, what would you do?"

Chen Qingwan murmured softly, with a flash of loneliness in her eyes.

The study was silent, with only her soft breathing and the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.

He sat dejectedly in the chair, his hands hanging limply at his sides, having lost all his strength.

The disgusting rumors in the teahouse were like sharp thorns piercing her heart, making her feel suffocated.

She cannot be defeated by these rumors, she must do it for the people of Datong.

For the sake of your ideals, move forward more firmly.

But can she really do it?

In this era of male supremacy, how easy is it for a woman to maintain her power?

She felt unprecedentedly confused and helpless.

The moonlight shone through the window onto her, giving her a silver glow.

She raised her head and remembered her father's last words before his death and her mother's earnest expectations.

I can't stay depressed like this anymore. I must cheer up and find a way to solve the problem.

In order to further consolidate his rule over Jingzhou, Chen Qingwan decided to send troops to attack Xuzhou.

Xuzhou has an important geographical location. It is a major transportation route connecting the north and the south, and is also a place that military strategists must fight for.

By taking Xuzhou, they can further expand their sphere of influence.

To deter those villains who are ready to make moves.

However, Xuzhou Governor Zhou Chen is not an easy character to deal with.

This man first joined the army and then entered the civil service. He was proficient in both civil and military affairs and was well versed in military strategies.

The Zhou family is deeply rooted in Xuzhou. They have served as officials for generations and control the entire economic lifeline of Xuzhou.

The Zhou family claims to have a hundred thousand soldiers and horses, although this may be an exaggeration.

But it is enough to show that the strength of the Zhou family should not be underestimated.

Chen Qingwan suffered a great loss in her first confrontation with Zhou's army.

Not only did he suffer dozens of skin wounds, but he also lost nearly three thousand soldiers.

This crushing defeat made her lose all face and made her realize deeply.

The Zhou family army was far more powerful than she had imagined.

She soaked herself in the tub, the warm water enveloping her body.

But it couldn't dispel the boredom in her heart.

She closed her eyes, but Lu Yan's strong body appeared in her mind uncontrollably.

And the close contact they had in the past.

She suddenly opened her eyes, her cheeks flushed, and she cursed herself in her heart for being ridiculous.

"Damn Lu Yan, I still think of him at this time!"

I tried to calm myself down and analyzed this war using Lu Yan's way of thinking.

Lu Yan, that cunning guy, would never sit still and wait for death. What would he do?

Chen Qingwan walked to the table, spread out the map, and carefully studied the topography of Xuzhou.

She remembered what Lu Yan once said:

"Know yourself and your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger."

It is necessary to understand Zhou Chen's personality, preferences, and military habits in order to find his weaknesses and win with one strike.

She sent people to gather information everywhere and collect all the information about Zhou Chen.

She also summoned all the generals to discuss countermeasures.

The generals expressed their own opinions, some advocated a strong attack, some advocated a clever attack, and there was no consensus.

Chen Qingwan listened to their argument and became increasingly irritated. She slammed the table and said angrily:

"What are you guys arguing about? Don't you have any brains? Brute force doesn't work, outsmarting doesn't work either. Are we just going to sit there and wait for death?"

The generals were startled by her sudden anger.

Everyone was silent, not daring to say a word.

Chen Qingwan took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

She knew that she couldn't lose her composure and had to think calmly to find a way to defeat the enemy.

"Report! The Zhou army is at the gates of the city!"

Qiao'er stumbled into the study, her face pale and her voice trembling so much that it was almost inaudible.

"Zhou, the Zhou family army, they're coming to attack..."

Chen Qingwan stood up suddenly, her brows furrowed, and the military map in her hand fell to the ground.

"This old bastard Zhou Chen actually dared to rebel!"

She grabbed the sword on the table and spoke in a cold tone.

"Pass the order down, all troops on alert!"

Outside the city, the roar of thunder came from far away.

The roars were like those of a giant beast, shaking the window frames and causing dust to fall from the roof tiles.

Chen Qingwan walked quickly to the window and saw flames rising into the sky in the distance.

The thick smoke was like a dark cloud covering the city, making it suffocating.

She quickly put on her armor, and the cold touch of the armor made her more awake.

Walk out of the study, run all the way up to the city wall.

The air was filled with smoke and the pungent smell of gunpowder.

Under the city wall, Zhou’s army was surging in like a tide, and the shouts of killing were shaking the earth.

They were dressed in uniform black armor, and in the firelight, they looked like demons crawling out of hell, which was terrifying.

What shocked Chen Qingwan even more was that the front-line soldiers of the Zhou family army were also equipped with muskets!

A large group of musketeers, under the command of the officers, formed neat rows, with tongues of fire flickering.

Fire fiercely at the defenders on the city wall.

Soldiers on the city wall were shot and fell to the ground from time to time, and screams were heard one after another.