Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

You really think your daughter has diamonds embedded in her head?

Besides, what makes you think you'll definitely be saved?

Zhou Heng shook his head.

If I have the leisure to save you, why can't I take it for myself?

"Zhou Cang, you should go back to Shouchun first."

"Keep a close eye on Cao Cao's actions these next few days. As for the others, they're nothing but clowns."

"In the next few days, I will arrange for some people to secretly enter the city. You can send someone to meet them and have some people help inside. While the warlords are fighting Yuan Shu, we will take the city ahead of time."

"We are also more confident."

"Even if they defeat Yuan Shu, they'll only be able to drink our foot bath water."

Zhou Heng waved his hand.

However, they were preparing to take advantage of the time when Yuan Shu was engaged in a decisive battle with the various warlords.

Let's steal the house first.

No matter how fiercely you fight each other, you'll reap all the benefits.

One can imagine their expressions when they receive this news.

The more Zhou Heng thought about it, the more confident he felt he could succeed.

During this period, Zhou Cang's intelligence network had already infiltrated the entire Shouchun area.

As long as the number of people isn't too large, a few hundred, arranging for them to enter the city is quite simple.

In addition, Yuan Shu's army had long lost the will to fight during this period.

There is still a high probability.

"Yes."

Zhou Cang accepted the order and left.

"I believe that it won't be long before Yuan Shu completely disappears from the stage of history."

"However, Yuan Shu cannot die at my hands, otherwise I will have a hard time explaining it to them."

"I hope you'll do it exactly as in the original story; otherwise, it'll put me in a bit of a bind."

Zhou Heng sighed.

Yuan Shu must die.

If he hadn't died, who knows how many people would have claimed the title of king or emperor in the world.

Moreover, he no longer had a legitimate reason to enter the Jianghuai region.

After all, when the time comes, will it be you or me who calls the shots in Shouchun?

However, the other party's daughter is, after all, his woman.

There have been feelings involved over the years.

If possible, Zhou Heng still did not want Yuan Shu to die at his hands.

Otherwise, it won't be easy to explain to them later.

Now all we can do is hope that Cao Cao will lend a hand.

..............

For the next period of time, things indeed went as Zhou Heng had predicted.

It's been less than a month, just half a month.

Yuan Shu's army suffered a complete defeat.

With only Shouchun remaining, the situation was extremely critical.

Defeat was only a matter of time.

Originally, Yuan Shu should have had an army of no less than 600,000.

No matter how rubbish it is.

It is also impossible for it to completely collapse in just six months.

But Yuan Shu did just that.

It was because he made several mistakes.

First and foremost, he declared himself emperor.

Although the Han Dynasty is now merely a name, the Emperor of Han is still the legitimate ruler.

The people of the world still recognize the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

If you declare yourself emperor now, what are the people of the world supposed to think?

Half of the people's support has been lost.

Secondly, although Yuan Shu had a large number of troops, most of them were conscripted men.

They didn't want to fight him.

This is also why Yuan Shu failed to conquer Xuzhou several times.

Even Ji Ling's 100,000-strong army was driven back by Lü Bu's simple feat of shooting the halberd at the gate.

Your soldiers are unwilling to risk their lives for you.

They were all forced into this situation.

What kind of fighting power do you think someone like that would have?

Now the army has suffered a crushing defeat.

Their defeat was, of course, obvious.

Under these circumstances, even if Yuan Shu were incredibly stupid, he would know that Zhou Heng would never help him.

But there's nothing to be surprised about.

After all, if you were in Zhou Heng's shoes, you would probably make the same choice.

Having no way out, Yuan Shu was not one to hesitate.

At that moment, I mustered up my last bit of courage.

They mobilized all the troops in the entire city.

They prepared to fight a decisive battle with the various warlords.

"Your Majesty, if we move all our troops out of the city now, what will happen to our city if some bandits take advantage of this opportunity and attack from within?"

One of the strategists said, puzzled.

"Now there is no way out. I originally thought Zhou Heng would save me, but now it seems that he never intended to save me."

"After all, if the other party saves me, will Jiang Huai be under my control or his?"

"He is a shrewd and ambitious man, so naturally he couldn't possibly be unaware of this principle."

"So it's better to rely on yourself than on others."

"After all, if we lose, we'll lose our lives. What's the point of having a city then? We might as well take all our troops out and fight them to the death."

"Let that ambitious person take the city without lifting a finger..."

At this point, Yuan Shu suddenly paused.

"This is the last thing I'll do for my daughter."

"If we win, we can take everything back."

Yuan Shu gave a bitter smile.

He was well aware of this principle, but there was nothing he could do now.

He could only emulate Xiang Yu and fight a desperate battle with his back to the river.

If they win, they still have a chance.

If we lose, death is the only option.

All troops were transferred out, leaving this empty city to Zhou Heng.

This can be considered the last thing he did for his daughter.

That's all the help he can give his father.

Thinking of this, a resolute glint flashed in Yuan Shu's eyes.

He brought out the last bit of glory he had as a regional lord.

He immediately drew his longsword and shouted loudly,

"Soldiers."

“I know none of you want to fight, and I know that many of you are forced into it, and I myself have even done many wrong things.”

"But now, whether you want to fight or not, whether you are forced into it or not, we have no way out. If we win this battle, I will apologize to you for the mistakes I made in the past."

"If not, then I will live and die with you."

"This can also be considered an apology to you for the mistakes I made in the past."

"But... no matter what you think, we have no way out now."

"Because we are rebels now, do you think the lords of the world will let rebels go? Do you see this city behind us? This is our home, the place where our parents, family, relatives, friends, and children are."

"Would you allow him to be disturbed by outsiders?"

"Would you want to see them fall into the hands of others and be bullied at will?"

"If you are unwilling, draw your swords now and take up your weapons."

"Join me in defending our country."

Yuan Shu spoke loudly, and at this moment, he truly displayed the spirit of a direct descendant of four generations of high-ranking officials.