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”Hehe, Qin Tian, I find your words increasingly confusing. If we break through, how would we still die? As long as we break through Sea City and head to the mountains and forests, the Dragon Clan wouldn’t dare to pursue us rashly; it’s perfectly safe.”

Liu Weihao shook his head as he spoke, turning around to walk forward alone.

However, Qin Tian’s next question stopped Liu Weihao in his tracks: ”Lord Liu, you should know that Governor Xiao Zhan recently dispatched a City Guard General to command the East State’s military affairs, right?”

Liu Weihao halted and said, ”Yes, I know. General Lei Shi set off yesterday.”

Qin Tian: ”Then Lord Liu should know what kind of commander General Lei Shi is.”

Liu Weihao: ”Straightforward, clear in rewarding and punishing, notorious for his temper, and bloodthirsty...”

When Liu Weihao mentioned ”bloodthirsty,” he immediately paused.

Originally facing away from Qin Tian, he now turned around directly.

”General Lei is bloodthirsty. For anyone under his command who dares to withdraw without permission or disobey orders... he won’t use military law but will directly behead them. Even Governor Xiao Zhan silently approves. Hehe... Qin Tian, good thing you reminded me!”

A half-hour later, when the other nine commanders had agreed to break through via the West City Gate, Liu Weihao announced publicly, ”I am staying. I will stay to defend the city with the local garrison of Sea City!”

When everyone was discussing retreat, Sea City’s two thousand garrison soldiers preferred to die fighting rather than retreat. After all, they were locals, and their families were in the city, so even if they retreated, their families couldn’t leave. Thus, they all chose to defend to the death.

”Hehe, Lord Liu, are you showing your integrity at this moment? I’d advise you to think clearly about it.”

”Right, Lord Liu, if we group together and push through, we can definitely break out. If you make this decision in anger, and then regret it after we break through, with your thousand-man strength, getting three hundred out would be impressive... don’t act on impulse.”

”Brother Liu, you and I are like brothers; I advise you to come with us. Staying here to face death isn’t worth it.”

Despite both mockery and well-intended advice, Liu Weihao had already made up his mind to stay.

He informed them that General Lei Shi had already departed from East Capital City, but they were not concerned.

”This isn’t a retreat on our own; Wu Tao, as the commander, has issued a retreat order. We can all testify to that.”

”Yes, moreover, if anyone is to be killed, it’d be Wu Tao first. But I think even Lord Xiao Zhan would think twice about the consequences of killing Wu Tao—it’s unlikely. So our retreat is fine, totally safe.”

Seeing Liu Weihao determined to stay, the group didn’t persuade him further. They just said ”Take care” and quickly assembled at the West City Gate with their own units.

When the West City Gate opened amidst the shouts of nine thousand troops charging out, Liu Weihao and Qin Tian stood atop the inner city wall, gazing at the starry sky.

With worry in his voice, Liu Weihao said, ”Qin Tian, do you think staying is right or wrong? Breaking out, perhaps Lei Shi won’t punish us all and won’t kill so many people; staying, however, with our roughly three thousand troops facing fifteen thousand, we might die even faster.”

Qin Tian replied, ”Lord Liu, deep down, you want to stay, don’t you?”

”But I haven’t figured out a strategy for defending the city...”

”Don’t dwell on it. In truth, if we can hold Sea City for three days, General Lei Shi will definitely send reinforcements. He won’t abandon Sea City.”

”Three days... that’s easier said than done. If Dragon Clan attacks tomorrow morning, we’ll fall by dawn.”

”Lord Liu, you overestimate the Dragon Clan. Though they have fifteen thousand troops, six thousand of them are our East State’s surrendered soldiers. Using them as the vanguard is a military taboo.”

”Oh? Are you suggesting those surrendered soldiers might return to our side and help us fight the Dragon Clan? That seems difficult. The Dragon Clan must be wary of that.”

”As long as we apply pressure, there’s a chance.”

Hearing Qin Tian speak with such confidence piqued Liu Weihao’s interest, and he asked, ”Qin Tian, do you already have a plan to defend the city?”

Qin Tian nodded.

”Quick, tell me. If we can hold Sea City, you’ll have achieved a great accomplishment!”

Seeing Qin Tian nod, Liu Weihao suddenly saw hope and, with some excitement, said, ”I always thought you could lead the worst team and must be an invaluable talent. Haha, I wasn’t wrong about you!”

No wonder Liu Weihao hadn’t commented on any of Qin Tian’s proposals before; he already considered Qin Tian a valuable asset in his team.

”Lord Liu, you praise me too much. My plan should at least hold until General Lei Shi arrives, and Sea City won’t be lost,” Qin Tian said with a light smile.

”Oh? I racked my brains and couldn’t think of anything, yet you’re so confident? Quick, tell me!”

Liu Weihao now acted like a student asking a teacher questions, pressing Qin Tian for answers.

Qin Tian laid out his idea, and Liu Weihao, initially taken aback, looked skeptical: ”This... is it feasible? I’ve participated in real battles over a dozen times and have never seen anyone use such a method. Even in the military books and from the War God in the Imperial City, there’s no such tactic...”

Qin Tian responded, ”Lord Liu, besides this method, do we have any other options? If not, we might as well give it a shot.”

Thinking about it, Liu Weihao felt that made sense.

Qin Tian’s plan was simple: send people to shoot strips of cloth into the Dragon Clan’s encampment encircling them, with writing that read ”General Lei Shi has ordered that East State’s surrendered soldiers who find their way back will not be killed; those continuing to aid the Dragon Clan’s counterattack on Sea City will have their whole families in the East Capital executed!”

This seemingly simple cloth strip embodied Qin Tian’s multiple intentions.

Everyone in the military knew of Lei Shi’s bloodthirstiness, so the East State’s surrendered soldiers would surely feel fear upon hearing his name.

Moreover, these surrendered soldiers were all East State soldiers, with their families residing in the East Capital City. Given Lei Shi’s nature, eliminating their families would be effortless; the surrendered troops couldn’t help but worry. Coupled with the promise of no punishment for those who return to the fold, the East State turncoats in the Dragon Clan would undoubtedly waver internally.

Additionally, Qin Tian advised Liu Weihao to gather the ordinary civilians and slaves of Sea City, equip them with armor, and have them pose as soldiers on the walls, creating the illusion of a numerous garrison for the Dragon Clan forces outside. This would exert psychological pressure on the East State’s surrendered soldiers, suggesting that Sea City might be impregnable, but the longer they lingered, their families could be slaughtered by Lei Shi!

Liu Weihao was worried about finding enough slaves and civilians, but Qin Tian swiftly gathered nearly five thousand people before dawn, shocking Liu Weihao, who asked, ”How did you gather so many people so quickly? You don’t know anyone here?”

Qin Tian chuckled and said, ”I may not know anyone here, but I have money, hehe. With money, you can make even the devil work for you.”