The prince is fierce: Who dares to steal my woman?

Liancheng's face was extremely gloomy. He spat out his saliva and shouted angrily, "Bah! You traitor, how dare you plot such a thing! Stop talking nonsense here!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes blazing as he said, "Liancheng, let me tell you the truth, outside Jiankang City, there is an army of 100,000 men from Pengcheng. Every one of them is a battle-hardened elite who survived the fierce battles against the Northern Wei. They are covered in blood and exude a murderous aura."

Upon hearing this, Liancheng's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his resolve.

"So what? I, Liancheng, swear to defend this palace to the death, and I will never back down!"

Xiao Jinyan shook his head, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes: "Liancheng, Liancheng, you are too stubborn. Today is the end of the tyrannical Emperor Liu Kun. If you do not surrender, you will only face death. Don't even think that Zhan Ying and Xue Wenyi outside the city will come to the rescue. They are powerless to turn the tide against this army of 100,000."

Upon hearing this, Lian Cheng's expression changed drastically. He glared at Xiao Jinyan and said in a trembling voice, "Xiao Jinyan, you...you traitor, how dare you plot against the court and attempt to overthrow it! Let me tell you, I, Lian Cheng, would rather die than submit! You will not succeed!"

Xiao Jinyan sneered, his patience seemingly exhausted: "I'll ask you one more time, Liancheng, are you really not going to surrender?"

Liancheng gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes: "I, Liancheng, have always been loyal and righteous. How could I surrender to a traitor like you? Don't waste your breath!"

Xiao Jinyan's voice pierced through the clamor and resounded through the sky: "Fellow soldiers, Liancheng is an accomplice to evil, disregarding the safety of the nation for his own selfish desires! Today, I, the general, swear here that whoever steps forward to kill this traitor Liancheng, who betrays the country, and follows me to face the national crisis and overthrow the tyrannical emperor, will not only be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold, but will also be promoted five ranks!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers under Lian Cheng's command reacted with varying expressions, a flicker of hesitation crossing their eyes. Some of them had once been warriors under Lian Cheng's command, harboring deep affection for their commander; however, at this critical moment of life and death, the scales of loyalty and personal feelings began to waver. A tense and delicate atmosphere filled the air, like a taut string that could snap at any moment.

Wang Xuanyu stepped forward, his voice firm and powerful: "Brothers, do not hesitate any longer! Liancheng's rebellion is an unforgivable crime. Whoever turns against us at this critical moment and kills the traitor will not only receive ten thousand taels of gold and a five-rank promotion, but will also be doing a righteous act of loyalty to the country and eliminating a scourge for the people! What are you still hesitating about?"

Wang Xuanyu's words struck like a heavy hammer, reverberating in the hearts of every soldier.

Just as the scales in everyone's hearts were beginning to tip, Liancheng's voice, like a mournful cry in the cold wind, pierced through the clamor of the crowd: "My soldiers, do not listen to their lies! Xiao Jinyan is the one who harbors treacherous intentions and plots to rebel and murder the emperor! Whoever can cut off Xiao Jinyan's head will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and promoted five ranks!"

Xiao Jinyan suddenly burst into laughter, a hearty and magnetic laugh that instantly drowned out the low murmurs around him.

"My brave soldiers, don't be misled by that brat Liancheng's nonsense!"

His words carried a hint of mockery, his eyes gleaming with intelligence. "Liancheng? He's rich? Hmph, he's nothing but a penniless bastard, so poor that his underpants are practically his only possession. He thinks he can tempt you with 50,000 taels of gold? What a fool!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Cheng's expression changed drastically, a flash of anger crossing his eyes, yet he remained calm and arrogant: "Xiao Jinyan, don't you dare slander me! Although I am not wealthy, does His Majesty not possess his wealth? The Emperor's grace is boundless, how could a petty person like you possibly measure it!"

Xiao Jinyan's laughter rang out again, like thunder before a summer downpour, shaking people's minds.

"Haha, my lords, let me explain in detail. That scoundrel Liu Kun, 'His Majesty'? Where does he have any money? His purse has long been emptied by those magnificent palaces and alluring beauties! His mind is entirely focused on enjoying those carefree days. How could he possibly remember us soldiers who are fighting and shedding blood on the front lines? Promotion and wealth? Hmph, that's nothing but a mirage, an illusion!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Cheng frowned, his tone firm and unwavering: "Xiao Jinyan, stop spreading rumors and confusing the public! No matter what, His Majesty is the ruler of the country, and his every word and action represents the majesty of the emperor. He naturally has the ability and the will to promote and reward all the soldiers for your illustrious achievements!"

Xiao Jinyan's eyes were piercing, and his voice was deep and powerful: "My brave soldiers, the so-called emperor Liu Kun, his end is near. Look at him, he is like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river, he can hardly save himself, so how can he deliver on his empty promises of official positions to you? His promises are nothing but a candle in the wind, gone in an instant."

Liancheng shouted, "No! His Majesty will not perish! Brothers, do not listen to this traitor's words! Follow me and kill this villain to protect our Majesty!"

Liancheng's words stirred up a commotion in the army, but more than anything, they evoked a sense of indescribable hesitation and confusion.

Just then, Xiao Jinyan spoke again, his voice now laced with sarcasm and disdain: "My lords, have you ever truly considered what kind of ruler Liu Kun really is? He is obsessed with wine, women, wealth, and power, with three thousand beauties in his harem, each one a beauty capable of captivating a nation. To satisfy his own desires, he squanders a million taels of silver on a single woman in a single year! Tell me, where does such a ruler find the surplus energy, and what inclination, to reward you, the warriors who have fought and bled for him?"

Just then, Wang Xuanyu shouted, "General Xiao is absolutely right. Liu Kun's incompetence and tyranny have already chilled the hearts of the people. Soldiers, instead of continuing to serve such a monarch, it would be better to seek a way out as soon as possible. Besides, which of General Xiao's soldiers doesn't have a generous salary and better treatment than others? Gentlemen, it's time to make a wise choice."

Suddenly, a dashing soldier under Xiao Jinyan stepped forward. His voice pierced through the noise and resounded through the sky: "Indeed, under Commander Xiao, we receive twenty taels of silver in military pay every month, and Commander Xiao always keeps his word and never defaults on a single penny!"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a soldier under Liancheng's command shouted, "What? Twenty taels of silver? That's an astronomical figure, three times more than our pitifully meager military pay! What's even more tragic is that our hard-earned money from last year is still nowhere in sight, we haven't even seen a glimpse of it!"

In Xiao Jinyan's camp, another soldier stepped forward, his face beaming with pride: "Not only that, Commander Xiao is considerate of us, and has specially equipped us with excellent crossbows. Those crossbow bolts fly like locusts, invincible in their path; and we are also protected by bulletproof vests, which make us even more powerful on the battlefield. Every soldier under his command is equipped with top-notch equipment, and none of them are selected by the best!"

As he spoke, he gently patted his equipment, his eyes shining with boundless admiration for Xiao Jinyan.

These words struck like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of Liancheng's soldiers.

One of them frowned, pondered for a moment, and finally sighed, saying slowly, "In that case, it would be more suitable to serve under Commander Xiao..."

Just then, another soldier, with a gaunt face and complex emotions in his eyes, interjected, "Yes, His Majesty always seems to spend money on those frivolous things, such as building luxurious palaces and indulging in those glamorous women... while we, the warriors who fight bloody battles on the front lines, often struggle to even guarantee the most basic food and clothing."

Wang Xuanyu's eyes shone brightly, and his voice carried an undeniable force: "Not only that, everyone, do you know that before each expedition, Commander Xiao always plans ahead, distributing three months' worth of military pay in advance to ensure our families have no worries? And this time, he has gone even further, generously distributing six months' worth of military pay before deciding to lead us straight to the heart of the enemy, to storm that luxurious yet corrupt palace! Isn't this profound kindness enough to make us willing to give our lives for him?"

These words caused a stir among the crowd, who began to discuss the matter.

One of Liancheng's strong soldiers, his face showing a mixture of shock and excitement, couldn't help but loudly echo, "Yes! Commander Xiao is so considerate of us soldiers who have risked our lives for him; he is truly a hero of our time! Tell me, how many people in this world can be so farsighted and so considerate?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuanyu's lips curled into a satisfied smile. He looked around and his voice grew even more impassioned: "Soldiers, what are you still hesitating for? Look at our current situation. Following Liu Kun, who only knows how to indulge in wine, women, and wealth and ignores the affairs of the country, where is our future? Where is our glory and dignity? Rather than wasting our time under such a foolish ruler, why not surrender to Protector Xiao and follow a leader who truly knows how to appreciate heroes and care for his subordinates!"

Xiao Jinyan scanned each resolute face, and finally, his voice boomed like thunder: "My lords, I hereby promise that if you are willing to surrender, I will not only lead you to kill that tyrannical and incompetent king and seek justice for the people, but I will also pay you every penny of the military pay you are owed. Moreover, not only that, but the countless beautiful women in Liu Kun's harem will also be bestowed upon those among you who have rendered meritorious service as a reward!"

Lian Cheng's face was ashen, his eyes blazing as he surveyed his restless soldiers.

"What are we waiting for?" a soldier's voice rang out from the crowd, tinged with urgency and greed. "If we surrender to Commander Xiao, we can not only get back the embezzled military pay, but we've also heard that we can enjoy the pleasures of the brothel, having women as easily as taking candy from a baby. Why not?"

Wang Xuanyu spoke up at this moment, his voice calm and firm: "You're right, surrender quickly. After surrendering, even you ordinary soldiers will receive twenty taels of silver in military pay every month, enough for your families to live a life free from worries about food and clothing."

The soldiers under Liancheng's command began to stir, their eyes gleaming with a desire for survival and a longing for freedom.

Finally, a brave soldier stepped forward and shouted, "Good! Commander Xiao, I surrender!"

Before he finished speaking, he turned around without hesitation and ran towards Xiao Jinyan's direction, each step a betrayal of his former master and a pursuit of a new life.

"I surrender too!"

"I surrender too!"

Shouts of surrender spread like dominoes through the crowd. More and more soldiers dropped their weapons, their eyes filled with determination and hope. They turned and ran toward Xiao Jinyan, as if that were their paradise.

Upon seeing this, Liancheng's eyes widened in fury: "You've rebelled!"

Before he finished speaking, Liancheng's figure flashed, appearing like a ghost behind a soldier who was trying to escape. With a swift movement, a cold light flashed, and the soldier's life was extinguished instantly, leaving him lying in a pool of blood.

Just then, a deafening roar shattered the silence—"Murder!"

The shout, like a thunderclap, instantly resounded among the soldiers.

A soldier clad in iron armor, his eyes bloodshot, charged out from the crowd. His voice trembled with rage: "He not only embezzled our pay but also treated human life like dirt! How can we continue to follow such a general?"

These words ignited a long-suppressed anger in the soldiers' hearts, and an uneasy wave began to surge through the crowd.

"Let's rebel! Let's just rebel!"

Another rough voice rang out, filled with determination and resentment.