The city of Cangzhou was now closed off, with its gates tightly shut. Dark clouds filled the sky within the city walls, and the citizens were in a state of panic, hiding in their small homes.

  On the main street, there were hardly any pedestrians, and even if there were, they would be the 5,000 city guards or the city's catchers.

  All the shops in the city are closed, and at this time, there will be no more business coming to the door. Except for necessities such as rice, oil, salt, and other daily necessities, no other businesses have reopened.

  The prefect Zeng Zhihong had long since given a strict order that anyone who disturbed the order of the city would be killed without pardon.

  The entire city of Cangzhou is in a state of turmoil, if the government did not strictly control it, I'm afraid it would have been chaotic long ago.

  All of this was caused by a sudden and unexpected troop.

  Outside Changzhou City, tens of thousands of Xiongnu iron cavalry were waiting in formation.

  The document of amnesty and persuasion had been shot into the city head at dawn today.

  White background with black characters, clearly written:

  Within one day, those who do not surrender will be slaughtered in the city.

  The Huns' words were not empty threats. From the northern regions to this place, many large cities had been attacked. If they did not surrender, the Huns would immediately launch a lightning-fast offensive. After breaching the city walls, they would burn, kill and plunder without restraint.

  All officials within the city were beheaded, not a single one was spared.

  They have a very clear policy, if they surrender, they will be treated well. The officials in the city, all retain their original positions, and some even promote those who fawn and flatter excessively. Those who seize the opportunity to advance three ranks are numerous.

  Such a stark contrast, the vast majority of towns chose the latter, they abandoned their dignity and loyalty, just to preserve that last thread of life.

  Cangzhou City, where is the prefecture of Cangzhou, what other choice can be made?

  The grand hall of the yamen was still solemn and stern, but at this moment, it seemed to have a hint of desolation.

  "Mr. Zeng, how did you make your choice?"

  Deputy General Chen Xinhong of the city's unified army asked loudly.

  Zeng Zhihong remained silent for a long time, then looked up at the sun that was already high in the sky but slowly setting in the west and sighed: "Time is running out."

  Chen Xinhong furrowed his brow and said, "Lord Zeng, precisely because time is limited, it's all the more reason for us to make a decision as soon as possible."

  "What does General Chen think should be done then?"

  "Cangzhou is a large city, with 5,000 elite soldiers and 1 million civilians inside the city. It can be defended." Chen Xinhong said in a deep voice.

  "Defend? Can you defend it?" Zeng Zhihong's eyes gleamed with a hint of sharpness, staring at the other party.

  Chen Xinhong's face changed slightly, and under the other party's sharp gaze, he lowered his head. Zeng Zhihong, this bookish scholar with no strength to bind a chicken, had an aura that subtly suppressed Chen Xinhong, the great general who commanded troops.

  After a moment, Chen Xinhong sighed: "The Huns are all cavalry, as long as the adults make up their minds, I dare to guarantee that they will not be allowed to succeed."

  "What if their follow-up troops come? How many days can you hold on?" Zeng Zhihong asked urgently.

  Chen Xinhong's expression was extremely unsightly, he hesitated for a moment before finally saying: "Can't hold on."

  Although he had 5,000 strong and vigorous men under his command, how could these new recruits who had never experienced the dangers of war be compared to those fierce Xiongnu people?

  Even if we count the 100,000 civilians within the city walls, they absolutely cannot stop the Xiongnu. After all, they are just ordinary civilians and cannot be compared to these professional soldiers.

  Once the war breaks out, there will be many who flee in panic, but few who fight bravely.

  At that time, it would already be a great blessing from heaven if they didn't retreat or drag their feet, and to expect them to kill the enemy and defend the city is an utterly impossible thing.

  "If we can't keep it, then it's better not to keep it at all." Zeng Zhihong said in a low voice after a moment of silence.

  "What?" Chen Xinhong suddenly raised his head, staring at the highest-ranking official in Cangzhou City with a look of horror in his eyes.

  Fearlessly staring back at him, Zeng Zhihong's voice had an indescribable sorrow and unexpected firmness: "This official has already made up his mind, to abandon the city and surrender."

  Chen Xinhong's lips trembled slightly as he couldn't believe that such words had come out of Zeng Zhihong's mouth.

  Although they are not close friends, after many years of getting along with each other, they have a certain understanding of each other.

  Two years ago, the leader of the Black Flag Army, Xu Haifeng, caused a disturbance in Cangzhou City. They were both imprisoned at the same time. However, it was precisely because of this that they became more acquainted with each other due to their shared misfortune.

  In his impression, Zeng Zhigang was far from being clean and self-disciplined. In the few years he has been in office, he must have accumulated a considerable amount of ill-gotten gains through his hands.

  But he is after all a scholar from a family of scholars and officials.

  Before national righteousness, there should be a standard in his heart.

  There was a hint of anger and surprise in his eyes, as if he had misjudged someone.

  "Sir Zeng, if I recall correctly, your family has been in office for generations and the Zeng family has a great reputation in the Han Dynasty. Now, if you take one wrong step, I'm afraid..."

  Although he didn't continue speaking, the meaning behind his words was clear and unmistakable.

  Zeng Zhihong's face twitched violently, and he turned to look at his excited colleagues in front of him. "Eight years ago, the previous emperor appointed me as the prefect of Cangzhou. At the farewell ceremony, he instructed me in the Golden Hall to take good care of the lives and properties of hundreds of thousands of households in Cangzhou." His words suddenly paused, and then he said heavily: "The lives and properties of hundreds of thousands of households are all in my hands."

  Chen Xinhong was taken aback, as if a basin of icy cold water had been poured over his head, and his anger vanished into thin air.

  "Cangzhou City is the capital of Cangzhou, and the eyes of hundreds of thousands of people in Cangzhou are all looking at this place. If we surrender, we will bear the shame for generations to come; if we don't surrender, Cangzhou will inevitably be bathed in blood, with a mountain of corpses and a sea of bones." Zeng Zhihong's voice suddenly became extremely stern: "General Chen, what would you do if you were in my place?"

  Chen Xinhong opened his mouth, but after a long pause, he still couldn't utter a single word.

  "The Grand Duke is in Taiyuan, gathering the elite of the Great Han, intending to fight a decisive battle with the Xiongnu people." Zeng Zhihong said suddenly after a moment of silence.

  Chen Xinhong looked at him in confusion, unsure why he had changed the subject.

  "If we lose this battle, the Great Han will no longer have the strength to counterattack." Zeng Zhihong raised his head and gazed at the dazzling sunlight outside the window, as if muttering to himself.

  Chen Xinhong beside him shook his head and said, "It won't happen, Taiyuan has Gu Dachui, they won't lose."

  "General Chen, you believe in Commander Gu so much?"

  Although Zeng Zhihong asked nonsensically, Chen Xinhong completely understood his meaning.

  He nodded heavily and said, "General Gu has fought a hundred battles in his life without ever losing one. If even he can't be trusted, then who else can defeat the Xiongnu?"

  His voice was filled with pride, deeply proud of being one of the top soldiers.

  "Good......" After hearing his confident words, Zeng Zhihong shouted: "If Gu Dazhuang wins, then with the momentum of a victorious pursuit, there is hope for the restoration of the country."

  "Zeng sir, you mean..." Chen Xinhong's eyes lit up and he exclaimed.

  "In the battle of Taiyuan, if we win a great victory, General Gu will not give up the opportunity to pursue and kill. At that time, recovering the lost land is just a matter of time. I must keep this good land for the Grand Master, and cannot return it to him in a fragmented state. Zeng Zhihong's words were slow and heavy, but every word was sincere and moving: 'The former emperor entrusted me with an intact Zhangzhou, and when I retire, I should also return an intact Zhangzhou.'"

  "However, Mr. Zeng..."

  With a faint smile, Zeng Zhihong said in a low voice: "When the Xiongnu is defeated and the Han army returns, I will naturally give an account to the former emperor." His voice was soft, but it was full of a firm and unyielding determination.

  Chen Xinhong shivered and vaguely guessed his idea, couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion, and couldn't say another word.

  His eyes followed Zeng Zhihong's gaze towards the horizon, his head still burning with passion, but his heart was a sheet of ice.

  "The time has almost arrived." Zeng Zhihong sighed.

  Chen Xinhong was like a man who had just woken up from a dream, and he gazed at the sun that was slowly moving westward.

  Time is such a strange thing, the more you want it to pass quickly, the slower it goes, like an old cow pulling a cart. However, when you want to hold on to this moment in time, it flies by incredibly fast, leaving one at a loss.

  It was already past noon at this time, and there were less than three hours before the scheduled time set by the Xiongnu people.

  Three watches later, what awaited them was either the city's surrender or a massive invasion by the Xiongnu.

  What was placed in front of them was an extremely difficult choice.

  "It's settled then..." A faint voice came from Zeng Zhihong's mouth, his eyes containing a hint of misty tears. If he surrendered, the hundred-year reputation of the Zeng family would be lost forever; how could he bear it?

  As the highest official in Cangzhou, there were some things that only he could do. His eyes gradually became determined: "All crimes will be borne by this official, open the city and surrender."

  Wait a minute...

  Chen Xinhong looked puzzled, and Zeng Zhihong asked: "What?"

  Chen Xinhong's face turned solemn, and he suddenly knelt down heavily, respectfully kowtowing to him with a loud thud.

  Zeng Zhihong was shocked and hurriedly came forward to support him, asking: "General, what are you doing?"

  Chen Xinhong looked up, gazing into his eyes and said: "There is still a young son under my knees, who doesn't understand the situation. I want to entrust him to Zeng, so please, sir, do me a favor."

  "You..."

  Chen Xinhong's face was filled with a bitter smile, and his eyes were also tinged with bitterness: "Cangzhou can be conquered, but I cannot."

  "General Chen..."

  Chen Xinhong stood up straight and bowed deeply, saying: "The people of Cangzhou and I entrust everything to you, sir."

  He turned around suddenly, held his head high and chest out, and strode away with big steps.

  Zeng Zhihong gazed at his back, feeling a mix of loss and longing, yet in his eyes filled with sadness and resentment, there was a hint of envy.

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