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

"My goodness, is this the army of foreign barbarians? Why aren't they wearing armor? They look so poor and shabby!"

"Exactly! Look at this armor of ours! Goodness, it weighs forty pounds inside and out. It's really impressive!"

Upon seeing that the Chu army was not wearing armor as traditionally perceived, both Guarjia and Mantulu were instantly amused. For a moment, they forgot their personal grudges and lay on the city wall, mocking the Chu army outside the city without restraint.

"It has to be our Wuzhao Kingdom. Look, take a good look. Each one of them is dressed in bright armor. Regardless of whether they can fight, just their attire alone, with hundreds or thousands of them standing there, would scare a bunch of cowards to death."

"Well said. When we men go out, we pay attention to our spirit. As the saying goes, clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse. It's all about having a grand presence."

"Look at those barbarians outside the city; they probably never even know what armor is."

"Those barbarians dare to challenge our Wu Zhao Kingdom? Ha, I think they're just courting death!"

The two spoke very loudly, almost like shouting, which immediately drew cheers from their companions.

The tense atmosphere instantly lightened considerably thanks to the two idiots.

Soon, the soldiers on the city wall began to hurl insults and belittle the Chu army outside the city.

Later on, verbal abuse was no longer enough for them, so they took out gambling tools such as dominoes, dice, and even mahjong and started gambling in public, which once again attracted crowds of onlookers.

For a moment, shouts and yells echoed on the city wall. Looking at these Beijing garrison soldiers, there was no trace of them being soldiers. They were just a bunch of unruly soldiers with no discipline whatsoever.

Guarjia, seated in the manor, rolled up her sleeves and shouted loudly, "Come on, everyone, have a good time! Let those barbarians outside the city see what it means to be calm and composed in the face of danger!"

Having said that, he removed his heavy armor, took out his money pouch from his waist, and slammed a silver ingot he had saved for two years onto the ground.

"Come on, big or small, place your bet now!"

At this moment, the city of Shengjing was filled with chaos and smoke.

While gambling was taking place here, soldiers were even singing opera over there, their seductive manners making women feel ashamed of themselves.

On the other side, they started taking out the cricket jars they carried with them and began to fight on the spot.

Some people were yawning, clearly craving a cigarette and eagerly wanting to take a few puffs to relieve their fatigue.

However, the officers in charge of the city wall defenses did not stop it.

These soldiers have long been unruly and have no discipline. They are also short-tempered. If you dare to interfere with them for even a moment, they'll surely put a sack over your head in the middle of the night.

Therefore, adhering to the principle of "the less trouble, the better," their superiors simply do not restrict what they do.

After all, I only earn a few dollars, is it worth offending these "descendants of founding heroes"?

The officers and soldiers of the Beijing garrison were completely unaware of the impending threat, and the princes and nobles in the capital were also trembling with fear. Some even discussed whether to suggest to Li Hong that they relocate back to the former residence of the Di people.

These enemy high-ranking officials, after hundreds of years of entering the pass and living in the prosperity of the highly atomized civil society within the pass, have long lost the courage and fighting spirit of their ancestors who once galloped across the battlefield.

It's impossible to expect them to risk their lives to resist foreign invaders.

But there is a group of people who are desperately eager to be loyal to their master.

For example, Ji Yun, after being reprimanded by Li Hong during the day, not only did not restrain himself, but also instigated Guan Mao, Wang Shanshui and other rare scholars who were willing to be slaves to wander around the streets of the capital and call on the people to form a human wall to attack the Chu army camp.

Unfortunately, civilians who had long since been exempted from military obligations would not respond to the call of Guan Mao, Wang Shanshui, and others.

What does the life or death of Wu Zhaoguo have to do with them, the common people?

This group of scholars and lackeys worked tirelessly until late at night, scouring the streets and alleys, but only a dozen or so elderly people over sixty responded.

Ji Yun's first attempt to mobilize the people of the capital to resist foreign invaders began in such a ridiculous way, and ended in such a ridiculous way as well.

At that moment, the scouts who were closely monitoring the situation on the walls of Shengjing immediately went to report to Shen Lang after seeing the chaos on the walls.

When Shen Lang learned that the discipline of the Beijing garrison had deteriorated to such an extent, he couldn't help but sneer.

"They were very enthusiastic in their insults before, so now it's our turn to fight back."

A lot of talking and preaching is no substitute for a good shot.

As soon as Shen Lang issued his order, all artillery units immediately began to aim their cannons at the walls of the capital.

"105mm field gun, fire!"

boom--

Immediately, the recoil-operated field guns roared deafeningly.

It instantly shattered the tranquility of the night.

"Leopard, big, the house wins all, hahaha!"

Guarjia received three sixes and excitedly scooped up the betting money on the ground.

But the thunder that followed immediately made him instinctively tremble.

Looking back...

boom--

The scorching high-explosive bomb exploded directly on the city wall.

In an instant, at the point where the shells landed, a group of Beijing garrison soldiers who were playing mahjong and watching were sent flying into the sky, their parts scattered all over the ground.

"My God—"

Terrified, Guarjia hurriedly dropped the gold and silver in his hands, and without even putting on his armor, ran straight to the steps of the city tower.

Boom boom boom——

The Chu army's four field guns successively poured ammunition onto the city walls, leaving the Jing garrison soldiers lying dead on the ground.

"My dear mother, she's gone!"

On the city wall, a soldier from the Beijing garrison miraculously survived a grenade attack, while the rest of the Beijing garrison soldiers who were with him all perished.

But he was not doing well; he was clutching his blood-soaked crotch and wailing loudly.

"It's gone, my Kun'er is gone. I haven't even had a son to carry on the family line yet. Does anyone have connections in the palace? I want to become a eunuch and serve His Majesty!"

However, no one cares anymore whether his bird is still there or not.

Faced with the overwhelming barrage of artillery fire, the Beijing garrison was in complete chaos, with people pushing and shoving each other as they desperately ran towards the city walls.

In a short time, countless people were trampled to death, fell to their deaths, or were injured on the steps.

Mantulu and Guarjia, who had barely escaped the crowd, were not even able to breathe a sigh of relief when they heard a whooshing sound.

boom--

As she looked up, a grenade landed directly on the wall of the barbican, startling Guarjia so much that she lost control of her bladder and bowels on the spot and sat down on the ground.

Manthu was in no better shape; although he wasn't incontinent, tears and snot streamed down his face uncontrollably.

"Oh my god, how scary is this? What is this? Guarjia clan, I'm scared."

"I'm scared too, Manthu, you should help me, my legs won't obey me."

At this moment, the two no longer possessed the "martial spirit" they had displayed in the camp; all that remained was helplessness and desolation.

"Oh my god!"

The two of them spontaneously embraced and wept, and began to share their innermost thoughts.

"Guarjia clan, I have to tell you a secret. Actually, my ancestor was just a stable boy. He only became a general by flattering the Holy Ancestor. In reality, he was even more cowardly than me."

"Let me tell you a secret too. My ancestor was actually like that. He never killed anyone. He would wet his pants as soon as he went to the battlefield. What I said before was all a lie to you, just to save face for myself."

After they finished confiding in each other, the two embraced and wept again, looking just like two brothers in dire straits.