Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"I was wondering why my junior sister would choose a pretty boy like you as the commander-in-chief. You're just like the image I have of you—wearing armor..."

The generals wielding swords and spears seem different; I suppose they're letting you get some credit to prove your status as the future Emperor of Great Chu, haha.

Mu Qingqiu spoke frankly, looking Shen Lang up and down without any restraint.

This made Shen Lang feel uncomfortable all over, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on the dagger at his waist.

"Miss Mu, please speak plainly if you have something to say. If there is nothing else, please leave immediately."

Mu Qingqiu seemed not to hear, and continued to look Shen Lang up and down. Finally, she pointed to his clothes and said, "Is this the latest military uniform of the Great Chu?"

It's strange, yet it gives off an indescribable feeling. Who designed this?

Shen Lang's face darkened, and he gradually lost his patience.

But Mu Qingqiu still smiled as she looked around, and then, seeing two guards carrying rifles not far away, she couldn't help but ask again.

"What are they carrying? Strange, we haven't seen you carrying any swords, spears, or siege equipment. How are you planning to attack the city?"

Could it be that they've prepared a whole battalion of martial artists to sweep through the enemy lines? If so, then everything makes sense.

Shen Lang, unable to contain himself any longer, said, "Miss Mu, do you know that if it weren't for the fact that His Majesty and you are from the same sect, you would already be a cold corpse?"

Please speak freely if you need anything, but if there's nothing else, please leave promptly.

"Oh my, not that old, but you've got quite a temper."

Mu Qingqiu took a deep breath.

"Alright, enough with the nonsense. I've come to tell you two important pieces of information."

"explain."

Shen Lang remained expressionless.

Mu Qingqiu: "The first piece of news is that the Chu army's attack was anticipated in Anding City, and Li Siqian is organizing the city's defenses."

They covered all the armor and the walls of the houses with mud and sand, and no one knew why they did so.

"What about the second one?"

Shen Lang remained expressionless.

"The second piece of news is that there are 100,000 people in Anding City who were abducted from Luoyang and brought here as slaves, and most of them have been settled in the western part of the city."

Shen Lang pondered for a moment, then asked, "How many local people are left in Anding City?"

“An Ding City became a military town a hundred years ago. The local people either fled or died. There are no locals left.”

How many Western Xia troops were stationed there?

"Wait a minute, let me calculate."

Mu Qingqiu immediately started counting on her fingers and began to do mental arithmetic.

Seeing this, Shen Lang felt a wave of dizziness and basically gave up on expecting her to give any clear answer.

Sure enough, after calculating for a while, Mu Qingqiu gradually became irritable.

Finally, he simply gave up, saying, "I can't figure it out. Anyway, there are a lot of people, so you'd better be careful."

"Thank you for informing me, Miss Mu. If there's nothing else, please leave now."

After saying that, Shen Lang raised the viewing mirror again and began to look in the direction of Anding City.

Mu Qingqiu was stunned, and a strong sense of defeat immediately arose in her heart.

"I, Mu Qingqiu, am a beauty who ranks among the top in the martial arts world, yet this brat is willing to drive me away?"

Just then, Lü Meng reported: "Instructor, the artillery battalion is ready."

Two infantry battalions were already in ambush at their designated positions, ready to launch an attack at any moment.

Shen Lang's eyes turned cold: "Pass on my military order: all artillery battalions must keep their communication channels open and be ready to attack at any time."

"Yes!"

Lu Meng accepted the order and left immediately, without glancing at Mu Qingqiu the entire time.

This scene greatly surprised Mu Qingqiu.

In her memory, even those so-called elite soldiers would show a lustful look when they saw her.

But this particular army seemed to treat everyone as if they didn't exist.

"Miss Mu, please make your way. This place will soon become a battlefield, and there won't be time to take care of you then."

Upon hearing this, Mu Qingqiu immediately became angry: "I am a person of the martial arts world, do I need you to take care of me? If General Shen finds me an eyesore, just say so."

Shen Lang didn't even turn his head, and simply replied, "Please make yourself at home, Miss Mu."

"you!"

Mu Qingqiu's face flushed red with anger at Shen Lang's dismissive attitude.

"Very well, then I wish General Shen a resounding victory!"

After saying this, he used his movement technique to quickly disappear into the mountains and forests.

After she left, Shen Lang still raised the viewing mirror and looked towards Anding City.

At this time, the walls of Anding City, especially the front walls, had already been covered with a thick layer of mud.

Li Siqian inspected the site and was very satisfied with the current state of the construction.

"Keep this pace and try to finish before dark."

"Furthermore, the city's defenses cannot be neglected; they must be heavily guarded."

"Check the crossbows and catapults again carefully. Don't forget the oil, boulders, and logs. And don't forget to boil the molten gold."

"Oh, and more importantly, we should wait until the armor is completely dry before charging out of the city. Our Western Xia warriors are best at mounted archery."

As he spoke, Li Siqian came to the top of the city wall, patted the shields that were not yet dry, and nodded.

At this moment, he resembled a high-ranking official from the capital inspecting local areas, giving you guidance everywhere.

"In this battle, we must make the Chu army know the might of our Western Xia army."

At the same time, at the Imperial Guard artillery position, a Western Xia slave knelt respectfully beside Shen Lang.

"General, everything is proceeding as you instructed. All the soldiers and civilians in the city have begun to plaster mud and build fortifications."

Shen Lang: "Yes, thank you for your hard work. You've done a great job this time. Meng Gong, take him to receive his reward!"

Upon hearing this, the slave was startled.

Shen Lang's tone seemed very hostile; could it be that he was going to kill him to silence him?

Before he could speak, Meng Gong had already stood in front of him and gestured for him to leave: "Let's go."

The slave broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that he was probably going to die here today.

Thinking of this, tears streamed down his face. He regretted that he should not have been tempted by the reward of ten catties of refined salt and thirty shi of wheat and volunteered to do this job.

"What are you crying for?"

Meng Gong glanced at it.

"You're trembling like you're being led to an execution for the first time. Come on, follow me."

The slave had no choice but to follow Meng Gong.

When they saw enough wheat to feed the whole family for five or six years and ten pounds of salt grains as white as snowflakes, they felt like they were dreaming.

"The amount of things I promised you is too large; I doubt you can move them all in a short time."

Here's what we'll do: you keep the salt for now, and take a few bushels of grain to fill your stomach. We'll wait until we recapture Chang'an.

"Take the rest home with you. Oh, and the instructor thought you did a good job, so he'll give you a bolt of cotton cloth later."

"Really? Am I dreaming?"

"Hehe, the Imperial Guard always keeps their word. Stop thinking nonsense. Write these things down first, and you can collect them after the war. You won't be shortchanged."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. You are truly benevolent and righteous living bodhisattvas."

Seeing the Western Xia slaves kneeling and begging for mercy, Meng Gong couldn't help but sigh.

Just then, Shen Lang took out his communication jade tablet.

"All artillery battalions, listen up! Adjust the angles and begin the first round of test firing. All heavy artillery in position."

……

"A fleeting moment in the world, you once bloomed in splendor..."

"Carve a few people into my heart, and from now on live a lonely life..."

In the shadows, on a pine tree, Mu Qingqiu leaned against the trunk with her arms crossed, humming an ancestral melody while quietly watching the Imperial Guard's position in the distance.

"Hmph, what's so great about it? I'd like to see how you plan to breach Anding City."

boom--

Suddenly, a thunderous roar startled the birds in the forest, causing them to fly in and out.

Mu Qingqiu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked up at the sky.

"What's going on? Why is it thundering all of a sudden?"

Just as she was wondering what was going on, she saw a cloud of dust rise from the distant city wall of Anding, sending debris flying everywhere...

"Holy crap, no way!"