Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 1550: A strategy to conquer the heart!

Early August is the hottest time of summer.

Outside Jicheng, 100,000 Chu troops surrounded the entire city like a giant python.

Under the scorching sun, the soldiers' armor was hot enough to fry eggs, and sweat dripped down their cheeks onto the cracked ground, evaporating instantly.

On the city wall, Wei army soldier Li San wiped the sweat from his forehead and squinted his eyes at the Chu army camp in the distance.

For three days, three whole days, the Chu army showed no signs of attacking except for their daily patrols. This abnormal calm made people even more uneasy.

"Old Zhao, what on earth are these Chu barbarians waiting for?"

Li San turned around and asked the veteran Zhao Dahu beside him.

Zhao Dahu spat out the grass roots in his mouth and narrowed his cloudy eyes. "Just wait for us to starve to death. The food in the city won't last much longer. I heard that a few more people were caught stealing food yesterday and hanged at the South Gate as a warning to others."

Li San swallowed his saliva and his stomach growled.

He hasn't had a full meal in half a month since he was drafted into the army.

The food in the city is supplied first to the imperial guards, and county soldiers like them only have two coarse grain cakes a day.

"Did you say we can hold it? What if we lose it..." Li San muttered softly.

"Shut up!"

Zhao Dahu shouted, "Do you want to be beheaded by the military judge? His Majesty has already said that anyone who surrenders will have their entire clan executed!"

Li San shrank his neck and dared not say anything.

But this sentence was like a seed, quietly buried in his heart.

At the same time, in the central tent of the Chu army camp, Chu Ning was carefully studying the city defense map in his hand.

He was dressed in white casual clothes with only a jade belt around his waist. He looked not like an emperor who was about to conquer the enemy country, but more like a leisurely scholar.

But his piercing eyes betrayed his true identity – the look a bird of prey has when it locks onto its prey.

"Your Majesty, the food from Dongping City has arrived, enough for our army to use for a month."

Jia Yu reported respectfully, "Xun Yu's grain team will arrive in five days."

Chu Ning nodded slightly, his finger gently running across the city defense map: "Sima Yi is quite capable, he was able to gather 90,000 defenders."

Jia Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please understand. Among them, 70% are able-bodied men and county soldiers, and there are also servants from various mansions to make up the numbers. The only ones who can really fight are the 20,000 imperial guards."

Several generals in the tent showed disdain upon hearing this.

Guan Yun stroked his long beard and said, "They are just a mob. I am willing to lead my troops and capture their city within a day!"

Zhao Yu frowned and said, "General Guan, a strong attack will only cost our elite troops. It is better to surround them without attacking and wait for them to run out of food and collapse."

Chu Ning looked up at Han Xing, who had been silent the entire time. "What do you think, General Han?"

Han Xing took a step forward, his armor clanging with a crisp sound. "Your Majesty, I believe that attacking the heart is better than attacking the city."

"Oh?" Chu Ning's eyes flashed with interest, "Tell me in detail."

Han Xing pointed at the city defense map and said, "Wei State only has this isolated city left. The soldiers and civilians will surely be in panic. If Your Majesty promises not to kill those who surrender, civil unrest will surely break out in the city."

"Sima Yi relies on coercion to maintain his army's morale. If anyone wavers, his army will be defeated."

Chu Ning pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Great idea! But the people of Wei may not believe my promise."

Han Xing was confident: "Your Majesty, the surrendered people of all countries are treated well. This is known to the world. All we need to do is compare your majesty's benevolence with Sima Yi's tyranny, and explain the pros and cons. This plan will succeed!"

"it is good!"

Chu Ning slammed the table and stood up: "Pass on my order, immediately prepare a letter of persuasion for surrender, shoot it into the city, and tell the Wei people that those who surrender will live, and those who resist will die!"

A few hours later, at dusk, at the west gate of Jicheng City.

Wang Ergou, a soldier guarding the city, was taking a nap against the wall when he suddenly heard a sound of breaking air.

He suddenly woke up and saw a rain of arrows shooting towards the top of the city.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Wang Ergou rolled and crawled behind the parapet, but found that the arrows were not aimed at people, but were scattered all over the city wall.

What's even stranger is that these arrows have no iron tips and there are cloth strips tied to the arrow shafts.

"What is this?" He bravely picked up one, untied the cloth and saw that it was written:

"The Emperor of Great Chu issued an edict: Listen up, soldiers and civilians of Jicheng! Those who surrender will be spared, those who resist will be exterminated! Sima Yi is tyrannical and unjust, why should you be buried with him? Great Chu treats surrendered people with respect, and those who surrendered from Zhao and Yan now live and work in peace..."

Wang Ergou's hands began to tremble.

He was an honest farmer who had been forcibly conscripted into the army half a month ago and could not even hold a knife steadily.

Now his mother at home is seriously ill, but he is forced to wait for death on this city wall.

"What are you looking at?"

Zhao Dahu snatched the cloth and glanced at it, his face changed drastically: "Chu thief's treacherous scheme!"

As he said this, he was about to tear it up.

"Don't!" Wang Ergou suddenly pounced and snatched it: "Let me take another look!"

"It's against you!"

Zhao Dahu kicked Wang Ergou away and said, "This is the Chu thief's instigation! Do you want to lose your head?"

Wang Ergou fell to the ground, tears in his eyes: "Brother Zhao, my mother is still lying at home. If I die, what will happen to her?"

The surrounding soldiers lowered their heads upon hearing this. Most of them were civilians forcibly conscripted, so who didn't have family concerns?

"Shut up, everyone!"

A stern shout was heard as Captain Li strode forward with his personal guards: "Confiscate all the cloth strips. Anyone who keeps any will be punished by military law!"

The soldiers hurriedly handed over the cloth strips they had picked up, but Wang Ergou secretly stuffed half of the cloth strips into his boots.

His heart was beating wildly. He was afraid of being discovered, but he couldn't help but want to take another look at the words on it.

As night falls, undercurrents surge in Jicheng City.

Sima Yi was furious in the palace: "Useless! All useless! They actually disrupted the morale of the army because of a few words from the Chu army!"

The general kneeling on the ground trembled in fear: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It is true that most of our troops are county soldiers and able-bodied men. These people..."

"Get out!"

Sima Yi kicked the table and overturned it. "Inform the guards at each gate: anyone who spreads rumors about the Chu bandits will be executed immediately!"

After the man left, Sima Yi sat back on the dragon throne tiredly.

He knew how critical the situation was.

There was only enough food in the city for three months, and what was even more frightening was that people's hearts had begun to waver.

Those ministers appeared respectful on the surface, but no one knew what they were planning behind the scenes.

Now, he can only hope that his last trump card will work!

At this time, in the Chu army camp, Chu Ning was studying the latest intelligence under the lamp.

"Your Majesty, there has been a response from the city."

Jia Yu whispered, "The Imperial Guards have reported that there are disagreements within the Wei army. A soldier was executed for sending a letter urging surrender, causing quite a stir."

Chu Ning raised his lips slightly and said, "Add more fire. Pass the order. Tomorrow all camps will beat drums and shout, but they will not attack."

"Also, send someone to bury a pot and cook in a conspicuous place outside the city so that the aroma of meat can drift into the city."

Han Xing added, "Order the soldiers to continue shooting arrows and loudly talk about the generous treatment our troops are receiving. Be sure to tell the Wei troops inside the city about the current situation of the people in Zhao and Yan!"

"wonderful!"

Chu Ning laughed loudly: "That's it! I want to see how long Sima Yi can hold on!"