Transmigration begins with archery training

He was covered in blood, and of the eight men he had led out, only two remained. Clearly, they had encountered a small group of barbarian cavalry on their way into the city.

"How about it?"

The city gate.

Everyone surrounded him.

"The barbarians have already circled around to Hengkang Prefecture and begun their attack on the city."

Wang Zhi looked noticeably thinner. He took the water pouch handed to him and gulped down a large mouthful: "However, Commander Ma still sent a thousand men. I took a shortcut back. They will take another five days to arrive. In five days, the siege of Poyang will be lifted!"

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Five days.

Chen Sanshi looked at the barbarians coming from all directions outside the city.

I'm starting to feel like something's not right.

Besieged but not attacked.

It gives the impression that they are waiting for something.

"Master Chen."

Han Cheng summoned him, saying, "Magistrate Xue requests your presence."

It was in stark contrast to the chaos and desolation of the rest of the city.

Inside the county magistrate's residence, all was peaceful and serene.

Inside the private room, not only was a table full of food and wine prepared, but two singers were even invited from Chunmanlou, one to play music and the other to dance.

Xue Yuping stood at the door waiting: "Lord Chen, please!"

"Magistrate Xue certainly has the leisure and refined tastes."

Chen Sanshi sat down: "What are your orders?"

"Try the food first."

Xue Yuping said unhurriedly, "It's not too late to talk about it after Commander Tang returns."

Chen Sanshi deliberately used his filthy hands to grab food, basically touching every plate.

"..."

Xue Yuping put down his chopsticks, having lost his appetite.

"I've been in the military for a long time and I'm getting more and more uncouth. I hope you won't mind, sir?"

Chen Sanshi ate with his mouth full of oil.

Xue Yuping said calmly, "Of course I don't mind. Lord Chen has worked hard guarding the city, please do as you please."

About half an hour later.

Tang Ming rushed in, shouting, "Magistrate Xue, Xiang Tingchun's entire family, young and old, were tortured to death, but we still couldn't find out Xianbao's whereabouts."

"Lord Xiang?"

Chen Sanshi pretended not to know: "Magistrate Xue, what are you doing..."

"Lord Chen, don't panic. We talked about the celestial treasure last time."

Xue Yuping calmly said, "In the end, it was found that Xiang Tingchun was hiding the whereabouts of the immortal treasure. This is a serious crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his family. He deserves to die. Commander Tang, please continue."

One hundred households?

Is this person a member of the military?

wrong.

Chen Sanshi thought of another organization with the same name.

Jinyiwei.

In the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is Lian Zang only qualified as a centurion...?

Tang Ming frowned and said, "And Jinzhong Temple, we've already dug three feet into the ground, but found nothing. We should go. The people from the Witch God Cult will arrive in two days, and the massacre and blood sacrifice will begin immediately. They won't leave anyone alive..."

A massacre and blood sacrifice?

It seems there are not only gods, but also demons!

Chen Sanshi finally understood why the Xihe tribe had been besieging the area without attacking in recent days. They were waiting for the Witch God Cult, and perhaps even more troops would follow!

"grown ups."

Speaking from the perspective of a military commander defending the city, he said what was appropriate for his position: "The Witch God Cult is going to massacre the city, won't the imperial court send troops to help?"

"The imperial court naturally wants to provide assistance."

Xue Yuping said with a regretful expression, "But the key to Yunzhou is the three prefectures of Anding, Taining, and Lingfeng. As long as these three prefectures are not lost, we can win them back sooner or later. If necessary, we can even give up Hengkang Prefecture."

"Lord Chen, pack your things. Come with us tonight at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM)."

"Walk?"

Chen Sanshi asked, "Does Magistrate Xue mean the city should be abandoned?"

"No, no, no..."

Xue Yuping said "no" five times in a row: "They will continue to guard, Lord Chen. You will leave with us in silence. I mean, you alone."

"one person?"

Chen Sanshi said in a deep voice, "Magistrate Xue, I still have my wife and subordinates in the city. How could I possibly leave alone?"

"Master Chen."

Xue Yuping said seriously, "His Majesty only transferred you, not anyone else. As for your wife, you've probably heard the saying 'women are like clothes,' right?"

"Is your mother a piece of clothing?"

Chen Sanshi was furious, but he didn't say anything.

Now that things have come to this, how could he not see that the imperial court intends to abandon the entire Poyang!

"Lord Chen, that's all I have to say."

Xue Yuping continued, "Tomorrow night at midnight, we will leave this place at full speed. If you insist on taking a burden with you, then you should stay here and continue to guard the city. Remember, you must be alone!"

"Han, the centurion, see the guests out."

Walk out of the mansion.

Chen Sanshi was deep in thought, constantly replaying the conversation in his mind, trying to extract the key information from it.

Is the imperial court planning to defend only the three prefectures of Anding, Taining, and Lingfeng, and abandon all the others?

These three prefectures, when viewed on the map, form a pincer-like formation.

As long as the three prefectures are not lost, Yunzhou's foundation will remain intact. Once the three northwestern prefectures are free to act, they will be able to recover the lost territory.

But during this period.

Are we just going to abandon the entire Yunzhou region and its twelve prefectures?

To allow barbarians to slaughter and complete the so-called blood sacrifice?

Furthermore, how can they be so certain that the three northwestern states will be free to spare resources and that the three states will not be breached?

How does it feel.

How could the barbarians and the imperial court cooperate so seamlessly?

"..."

A terrifying thought suddenly occurred to Chen Sanshi.

He looked at Han Cheng, who had followed him out: "Guard Han, are you one of Commander Sun's men?"

Han Cheng acquiesced.

"Then let me ask you."

Chen Sanshi continued, "What exactly are they trying to do?"

"I don't fully understand either."

Han Cheng frowned and said, "All I know is that they have been planning this for a long time, and in order not to attract the attention of Governor Sun, they even deliberately did not send any high-level martial artists to Poyang. Even His Majesty only sent two Jinyiwei centurions to accompany Magistrate Xue in his search for the immortal treasure, to investigate in secret."

"They are quite afraid of Governor Sun."

Chen Sanshi nodded.

This explains why, despite the immense importance of the magical treasure, they dared not send truly skilled experts, but instead deployed the highest combat force a county should possess. It was because they feared that Governor Sun would interfere and ruin their plans.

Now it seems...

It seems that it was a success.

"Guard Han".

Chen Sanshi asked, "Has Commander Sun said what to do next?"

"No."

Han Cheng shook his head slightly: "My communication with the Governor's Office is delayed. The last time was when you made meritorious contributions on the grasslands. According to the Governor's original words, you only need to protect yourself, and the rest is none of your business."

"Self-protection?"

Chen Sanshi paused for a moment: "You mean I should obediently listen to you and leave alone? Have you considered that Sun Li and Sun Buqi are also in this city? If what Magistrate Xue just said is true, wouldn't they also die here?"

"The commander did not give any instructions."

Han Cheng scratched the back of his head, his words becoming stammered: "I...I don't know what to do either. Anyway, if you want to live, do as I say."

"To survive..."

Chen Sanshi finally understood the purpose of the poisoned wine.

If he obediently follows orders and leaves alone, even if he participates in a secret, he will have the opportunity to be cultivated into a confidant in the future.