came stern. He continued, “But if this is a threat, then your son begs the Empress Dowager to think it over carefully before speaking.”"Court affairs have always been the sole prerogative of the royal...Chapter 1255: The World Owes You All a Thank You

But Wu Qingcang's decision was also a helpless one.

No price, no matter how great, is too high to pay for the fall of the Moonlit Pass.

By then, it was too late for anything.

Military orders are like mountains; once given, they are unquestionable.

The city lord's mansion immediately became a flurry of activity.

To demolish the outer buildings, a large workforce would be needed for both the demolition and the work of persuading and explaining things. It's fortunate that this is taking place at Yuèyángguān during the time of universal conscription; otherwise, in any other location, such an order wouldn't even be considered. The common people would fight you tooth and nail.

"General Su, please follow me inside for a conversation."

Wu Qingcang greeted Su Pingbei and, with Wu BanShan, entered the room. They arrived in a small room filled with military maps and various sized markers.

A squad of twelve elite guards standing at the door made it clear that this room was the heart of Yueya Pass.

After entering the room, Wu Qingcang personally poured a glass of water for Su Pingbei and said, "Yueya Pass is inherently a bitter and cold place, and now that it's a special period, the conditions are simple. We only have this plain water available. General Su, please don't laugh at us."

Su Pingbei took the water cup with both hands, looked at the slightly yellowish white water in the cup, and suddenly remembered a rumor. He asked: "I heard that the water needed for Yueya Pass had to be carried from thirty miles away by soldiers"

"Wu Ban Shan, who was most familiar with the situation at Yue Ya Guan, replied: "That's right. Yue Ya Guan is located in a drought-stricken area. The ancients dug one hundred and twenty wells around the city, some of which were over forty feet deep, but they still couldn't find any water. So every day, soldiers had to go thirty miles away to carry water back on their horses."

And as time went on, the water there was nearly dried up. Even if there was any, it carried an inescapable smell of mud. General Su might find it unpleasant at first, but we've all gotten used to it.

Upon hearing this, Su Ping was greatly shocked.

Although his family was strict in discipline, as the descendant of a renowned military clan, he still came from the most illustrious military families of the Qin Empire.

Even though Su Zhen Ting managed him very strictly, Su Ping Bei had never experienced such hardship.

He raised his head and drank the yellowish water in the cup in one gulp. A musty taste filled his mouth. He looked up solemnly at Wu BanShan and Wu QingCang and said, "Your Highness is right, the people of the world owe YueYa Guan a thank you."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ban Shan's body trembled.

This gruff man, who had guarded Yuyue Pass for over a decade, never flinched even in the face of danger or injury, yet now he felt a lump in his throat.

He said in a deep voice, "With Your Highness's words, all the soldiers of Yueya Pass will die with smiles even if they fall on the battlefield."

Su Ping let out a soft sigh.

Looking at Wu Bān Shān and Wu Qīng Cāng before him, and the soldiers outside who had given everything for this battle to defend the city, he truly couldn't bring himself to speak.

Hesitating for a moment, Su Pingbei decided to keep his words to himself for now.

He said, "Wu Shuai, General Wu, you should know by now that the court can only send reinforcements. Besides my Liaodong army and the troops from Gansu and Shaanxi, there are no other reinforcements available."

"As for King Ning... don't have too high hopes."

Although he had mentally prepared himself, when he heard Su Pingbei's own words, Wu Qingcang still said in a deep voice, "The King of Ning is unwilling to send troops"

Supingbei smiled coldly and said, "Your Highness immediately sent a letter requesting Ning Wang to send troops at the first moment he received the military report, but Ning Wang said...he said that the soldiers under his command had contracted the plague and were not suitable for combat!"Wen Wang sent, it was obviously not something good. But since the Crown Prince hadn't spoken up, as his subordinate, he had to represent the Crown Prince and express his dissatisfaction.He said coldly...