164: Chapter 0164 One Man, One Shot, One City Falls

City gate.

Seeing that only one stick of incense remained of the hour, the garrison commander, the registrar, and the Sima were growing anxious because Prefect Sun Zhao had not yet arrived.

"That old fox, he didn't sell us out and run away, did he!?"

"Registrar, do you think..."

"Impossible!"

The registrar shook his head. "The Prefect is certainly... quick-witted, but he is a devoted son. His eighty-year-old mother is still in the city. How could he run?"

The officers nodded. They had followed Prefect Sun Zhao for years. While he slacked off as an official, he was a good person. He did not nitpick his subordinates, and he was filial to his mother—a local legend in Qin Water.

Just then, a carriage sped over!

"Prefect! He's here!"

The registrar and the others hurried to greet Prefect Sun Zhao as he got off the carriage. Prefect Sun Zhao straightened his attire, cleared his throat, and said loudly:

"Garrison of Qin Water, listen! Open the gates immediately, line up the troops, and welcome Mu Wanying into the city!!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers were stunned and doubted they had heard correctly.

"Sir, does that mean... we are defecting to the Zhenbei Army?" the registrar asked.

"What do you mean defecting to the Zhenbei Army? It is loyalty to the Emperor and the imperial court!"

Prefect Sun Zhao winked frantically. "I will tell you a piece of news: He Haoan, the Commissioner of Water Transport, has been executed for colluding with the rebels of Prince Bai!!"

The scene was in an uproar!

He Haoan was dead!?

Weren't there hundreds of secret guards protecting him!?

The registrar suddenly remembered what Prefect Sun Zhao had said about a guillotine hanging over their heads.

He hurriedly knelt on one knee. "I am willing to follow you, open the gates to welcome Mu Wanying, and stand against the rebels of Prince Bai!"

Following his lead, the other lieutenants knelt down to declare their stance.

It was a joke; it was deep winter, and nobody wanted to fight the Zhenbei Army.

Since Prefect Sun Zhao had taken the lead, they were naturally happy to follow.

Outside the city gate.

Mu Wanying placed her empty flask on the horse's back.

Time was up. Since Lin Xiao had not yet appeared, she planned to follow the plan and attack the city alone with her spear!

But just as she mounted her horse and prepared to charge...

The city gate in the distance opened?

Just when Mu Wanying thought the garrison could not hold back and intended to come out and fight to the death...

A few scrawny officials ran out, shivering in the snow.

Amidst Mu Wanying's confusion, the old man led a group of people to bow and salute before her horse.

"I am Prefect Sun Zhao of Qinshui Prefecture. Together with five thousand garrison soldiers, we wish to serve the imperial grace and fight the rebels. We have come specifically to welcome Mu Wanying into the city!"

Mu Wanying was stunned for a moment. Looking at the group of officials surrendering, it felt like a dream!

They hadn't even fought yet, and Qin Water was about to surrender!?

Mu Wanying smiled with relief. She was truly foolish; she should have been used to it by now. With her husband there, any miracle could happen!

"Prefect Sun Zhao is truly a disciple of the Son of Heaven, loyal and patriotic. I admire you!"

Mu Wanying lifted her Fish-Dragon Spear. "Then accompany me into the city!"

The invisible pressure radiating from a Martial Arts Grandmaster made the officials tremble!

Prefect Sun Zhao did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly led the way in front.

When Mu Wanying entered the city, thousands of soldiers were already lined up on both sides.

"Welcome, Mu Wanying!!"

"Welcome, Zhenbei Army!!"

Following Prefect Sun Zhao's request, the soldiers shouted slogans every few breaths.

Mu Wanying was caught off guard, but fortunately, she had a strong heart and could feign composure.

She felt embarrassed, guessing it was most likely her husband's idea...

She understood that this was a stage set by Lin Xiao for her, and she had to cherish it and perform well!

Therefore, Mu Wanying straightened her back even more, looked straight ahead, and displayed the heroic bearing of a soldier!

Such a grand display startled many citizens who were originally hiding in their homes.

For a time, thousands of residents of Qin Water watched as a white warhorse carried a heroic female general in black armor and a silver spear, walking through the Central Avenue!

Prefect Sun Zhao cleared the way for her, and thousands of troops loudly welcomed her!

The originally desolate winter street was filled with murmurs and discussions because of the grand momentum of Mu Wanying entering the city...

"What's going on? Such a big display?"

"Don't you know? The garrison has surrendered, and the Zhenbei Army is entering the city!!"

"What? So fast!? Didn't they say the Zhenbei Army wouldn't arrive until tomorrow?"

"Hey! This eldest daughter of the Mu Family killed Prince Bai's trusted general single-handedly! One person, one spear, and she broke the city gate!!"

"One person!? She captured our Qin Water!?"

"A woman, and she's that powerful!?"

"You don't know anything! She is the legitimate daughter of the late General Mu Tiexin, the commander of the Mu Family Army. How could she not be powerful!?"

"Oh my... The Mu Family Army, the Golden Scale Guard? Is this a rebirth within the Zhenbei Army!?"

"Look! This Mu Wanying, she is truly not inferior to men! Her momentum is too strong! Look at Prefect Sun Zhao, he is so nervous his face is red!"

"That's probably just from the cold..."

That night, in the largest tavern in the city of Qin Water, a storyteller began to narrate:

"Let us speak of the snowy winter, the three-mile-long street of Qin Water, and five thousand soldiers welcoming the female war god of the Mu Family into the city..."

"As for that female war god of the Mu Family, she is the descendant of the Golden Scale Guard commander General Mu Tiexin, gifted and exceptionally brilliant since childhood..."

On the second floor of the tavern, in a private room.

Red charcoal fire, fragrant wine and meat.

"Husband, that storyteller, you didn't arrange him too, did you?"

Wanying was embarrassed hearing it. What was all this? It was so embarrassing!

By now, she had removed her military uniform and changed back into female attire, appearing gentle and charming.

Lin Xiao picked up a piece of roasted lamb for her and said with a smile, "Wanying, you really wrong your husband."

"I really didn't arrange this; it's the reputation you earned yourself."

"If I had written this book, you would at least be a star general descended to earth, having committed a heavenly crime in your previous life and being demoted to the mortal world..."

"Stop, stop! I'm getting goosebumps..."

Wanying hurriedly begged for mercy and looked at Xiao Qingxuan opposite her.

"In terms of military merit this time, I'm not even as good as Qingxuan."

Xiao Qingxuan pursed her lips and smiled. "Mine can only be considered petty tricks; yours is upright and honorable, suppressing the entire garrison. It's not the same."

Wanying chuckled. "How can you say that about yourself? But I really didn't expect, Qingxuan, that your martial arts were so strong."

She had only just stepped into the realm of a Martial Arts Grandmaster and discovered that Xiao Qingxuan's internal energy was extremely profound!

She had been puzzled about how Xiao Qingxuan could withstand Lin Xiao, who was so strong, especially since he visited her room the most.

It turns out... she was also a hidden master!

The three of them drank wine, enjoying the joy of victory.

Halfway through drinking, a knock came at the door.

The knocking was very rhythmic: three heavy knocks, two light knocks.