Chapter 166

  "Merit in battle is nothing without my head." Fang Bo-shan said: "Cheng, old brother, we have a good relationship, just say you didn't see me, okay? Consider it as if I thanked you."

  Cheng Dalai paused for a moment: "Lord Fang, Qingniu Mountain cannot be defended, and Luoye City will inevitably fall. Once the city falls, countless lives will be lost, and even your head as the lord of the city cannot be saved. Now my Haichuan Fort has geographical advantages and food supplies, and you have people in Luoye City, why can't you join forces with me to fight a battle?"

  "Join forces for a battle, that's the Zong tribe!" Fang Bo Shan sneered: "Cheng brother, I'm going to escape with my life, I have some connections in Qingzhou, once I arrive, I'll be safe. You want to die, don't drag me down. My city lord seal is here too, I'll give it to you, the soldiers and horses in the city are all at your disposal, just tell the King of Youzhou that you didn't see me, okay?"

  Fang Bo Shan forced the City Master Seal into Cheng Da Lei's hands.

  Holding the heavy seal in his palm, Cheng Dalai remained silent for a long time.

  He suddenly noticed that there were countless soldiers in the city lord's mansion, and suddenly said: "Is there anyone willing to join forces with me to drive out the barbarian enemy and defend the river and mountain?"

  No one responded, and Cheng Dalai was left standing alone with the city master's seal, looking both lonely and embarrassed.

  "Alright, let's go." Xugod pulled at Chengdaren's sleeve, feeling a bit heartbroken.

  The Ha Frog Inn, Cheng Daire's house.

  The sky grew dark, and Cheng Dalai did not light a lamp. He sat alone in front of the table, on which were placed three large seals.

  The king's seal of Youzhou, the castle owner's seal of Fang Bo Mountain, and his own general's seal.

  The king's seal was on a qilin, the city lord's seal had a yellow tiger on it, and the general's seal had a toad on it. At this moment, all three seals were in front of Cheng Dairen, belonging solely to him.

  He sat in the dim light, motionless for a long time.

  There is a problem that Cheng Da Lei can't figure out: the turtle snail stronghold is easy to defend and hard to attack, as long as Yang Long or Fang Bo Shan gives himself some soldiers, it's not impossible to hold on. The Rong tribe is strong, but they don't have three heads and six arms either, no matter how powerful their cavalry is, once they enter the mountainous terrain, their skills are at least halved.

  Why can't we just stick to it and give it a try? Why, as soon as we hear the name of the Rong tribe, do we turn tail and run, without even having the courage to hold our knives?

  Including in the Toad Village, except for Lin Shaoyu, no one supported him. But Lin Shaoyu was a man who wanted to be a great hero, and death didn't mean anything to him, he actually had no winning strategy in his heart.

  Ke Cheng Dali thought he could win in his heart.

  How lonely!

  Cheng Darui recalled his conversation with Li Xingze, when they discussed why the Rong tribe had won every battle. As a seasoned keyboard warrior, Cheng Darui left Li Xingze stunned.

  Today, Cheng Dali remembered the conversation between the two of them and roughly understood why they wanted to escape.

  For thirty years, the Rong tribe's reputation has been overwhelming. As long as the empire encounters the Rong tribe, no matter what advantage they have, the result is always defeat. Slowly, defeat became a habit, and running away also became a habit. Everyone in their hearts thinks that the Rong tribe is invincible.

  And the reason they wanted to escape was that they had a way out. Like Fang Bo-shan and Yang Long, running to a place where the enemy could not reach was not difficult at all. So why risk their lives, and yet they all ran away, and for what reason should their soldiers go to their deaths?

  So everyone ran away, running like a defeated army, and for decades to come, the empire could not stand up straight in front of the Rong tribe.

  Su Ying walked into the house at this time and silently looked at Cheng Dairen for a moment.

  "Everyone outside is waiting for you?"

  "Hmm, let them wait a little longer."

  Su Ying walked to Cheng Dairen's side, placed her hand on her shoulder and slowly said: "I know it wasn't easy for you to build this family business, but as long as the green hills remain, we won't have to worry about firewood. The Su family has businesses in Ji Zhou and Qing Zhou, let's go there to hide out for a while. The Rong tribe won't last forever, after this matter passes, everything can return to normal."

  Cheng Dali stood up, removed Su Qing's hand, and smiled: "Let's go, I'm ready."

  Night falls, the fireflies' lanterns shine brightly, the mountain stronghold brothers gather in the school field, lighting torches to dispel the darkness.

  Cheng Dali came out, and everyone's eyes followed Cheng Dali until he stepped onto the stage.

  "Gentlemen, brothers...” The school grounds were silent, with only Cheng Dairen's voice echoing: "Your wives and children are all here, this mountain stronghold was built by everyone contributing their share. I only ask you all, are you willing to give up our mountain stronghold and become a family dog? Today we have the advantage of the terrain, the mountain stronghold has countless soldiers, weapons, and grain. Is there any brother who is willing to follow me in battle and defend our mountain stronghold?"

  No one responded, torches lit up pair after pair of eyes, and everyone's eyes were all looking at Cheng Darui.

  "Those who are willing to leave, I won't stop; those who are willing to fight, take a step forward."

  Cheng Dairen's voice fell, but no one responded, only Lin Shaoyu took a neat and tidy step forward.

  "Is anyone else there?" Cheng Dairen asked.

  After a brief silence, Xu Shenji gritted his teeth and stood up: "Forget it, forget it. I've lived long enough with my old bones. Today, I'll accompany the master to send him off to death."

  Qin Man also stood up and sighed: "It's just one death after all."

  Guan and Zhang looked at Liu Bei, his face twisted in a bitter expression, he took a step forward, but didn't say anything.

  Guan Zhang immediately took a step forward, and Zhao Zilong also stood out with him.

  The little white wolf also took a step forward.

  "Alright, I'll follow you to death." Gaofei Bao suddenly stood out, ignoring the big brother's stopping gaze.

  Su Ying looked around and took a step forward.

  These people are willing to come out, not because they think they can hold on, but because they see Cheng Dairen standing alone, and it's a bit heart-wrenching.

  Cheng Da Lei looked at these people, their hearts were not united. With just a few of them, they couldn't defend the Toad Hill. He suddenly let out a bitter laugh: "Alright, alright, I don't have the right to ask my brothers to die with me. Since that's the case, then let's discuss... how to escape."

  ……

  Blackstone Castle, Lord's Manor.

  Green Cherry looked at Fodder in front of her, grasping a knife, and was frightened out of her wits.

  "Don't kill me, I'll do anything you want, just please don't kill me."

  Fuderle looked at the knife in his hand and then at Green Cherry kneeling in front of him, suddenly gritted his teeth and threw the knife to the ground.

  "Let you go."

  "Are you willing to let me go..." Green Cherry was incredulous.

  Fuder nodded: "You go, leave from the back door, head south, that's your country, once you're there no one can harm you, it's not safe here."

  "Run..." Green Cherry shook her head: "There are your people everywhere here, I'm just a weak woman, where can I escape to?"

  "What's to be done?" Fodderley scratched his head.

  Green cherry was also flustered, she took a look at Fuder in front of her and thought that he was just a young man after all.

  "Will you protect me?" Green Cherry suddenly said.

  Fuder suddenly tensed up, his hands shaking: "I'll try...try my best not to let anyone harm you."