Chapter 729: The People's Counterattack

Xun Yue watched as the city management troops cut through the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. Though Man Chong had often boasted about the strength of his troops, Xun Yue had never had a direct impression—until now.

"This is ridiculously strong..." Xun Yue felt his tongue tying up as he tried to process what he was witnessing. The sheer strength of the troops seemed almost unnatural.

"Heh, this is perfectly normal. Every soldier in the city management unit has survived at least fifteen battles. These veterans are hardened warriors who know nothing but killing," Jia Xu said, doing his best to maintain a calm demeanor, though even he was somewhat taken aback.

"But this is too much. I haven't seen a single soldier fall," Xun Yue stammered, unable to believe his eyes. It truly was like slaughtering chickens.

"That’s because of their army soul. In battle, as long as their blood hasn’t all been spilled, they won’t fall. They will fight to the death to defend this place. And this place, which they have always defended, resonates with their will, making this their ideal battlefield," Liu Bei, who was beating the war drum, answered in Jia Xu's stead.

"With every enemy they kill and every comrade they lose, their strength increases. Buried here are countless of their fallen brothers, and each time they pay their respects, they connect with this place. Here, they are the strongest army in the world," Liu Bei's deep voice explained the entire phenomenon.

"Does this only happen in Fenggao? In other places, their strength probably only spikes when their comrades die in battle. So, this is what an army soul is... No wonder Chen Xi said that an army soul is the manifestation of will. Here, they have inherited the will of the fallen, making them incredibly powerful," Jia Xu murmured, watching the city management troops engage in relentless slaughter. Here, they were indeed invincible.

"So, we really can't tell just how strong our most elite troops are," Chen Xi remarked as he stepped out of the shadows. Although he had anticipated the strength of their elite unit, seeing it in action was beyond what he had imagined.

"To gauge the strength of our elite troops, we'd likely need to pit them against an equally elite force, perhaps something on par with the first-rank armies," Jia Xu replied, taking up the conversation. "Our backup plans have become a joke—an army with a soul is a monster!"

"They’re likely only this powerful within Fenggao. Outside of this city, their strength would decline with distance, though they'd still be formidable—just not to the extent of being invincible in battle," Chen Xi added, his tone a mix of awe and resignation.

"Their will, fortified by the army soul, enhances their defense, while the resonance with this place amplifies their combat ability. The manifestation of their will to fight until the last drop of blood is spilled gives them unmatched resilience. No army can defeat them here," Liu Bei said solemnly, though he omitted that his presence was also significantly boosting the unit's effectiveness.

Liu Bei's innate ability was terrifying in that it amplified the strength of those who shared his ideals. Since the city management troops were fundamentally aligned with Liu Bei's beliefs, his direct command significantly increased their power.

"This is good. These three thousand soldiers are enough to ensure the safety of Fenggao," Chen Xi said calmly. "After this battle, we can abandon the first-class fortifications I had built for the city's defense."

"They will be my penultimate line of defense," Liu Bei said, drumming with a grave expression as he watched the city management troops continue their relentless pursuit of the enemy.

The moment Liu Bei began drumming, the situation reversed. All over the city, other drums responded in kind, and the soldiers who had taken shelter in the homes of the citizens sprang into action.

Rewinding to the moment Liu Bei first struck the drum, in one of Fenggao's homes, a soldier clad in armor quietly waited by the door.

"Ermu, why aren’t you out patrolling? What are you doing in my house?" Li Tiao asked, twirling a pair of iron balls with an irritated expression.

"Man Chong ordered us Fenggao soldiers to return to our homes tonight. I don’t have a home, so I came to yours, big brother," Li Ermu replied with a grin.

"Go cut a piece of meat and slice it up for some drinks," Li Tiao said to his wife, shooting a glare at Li Ermu.

"No need, sister-in-law. I'll be heading out again soon," Li Ermu waved his hand, signaling that he wasn’t here for a meal.

"Is something wrong?" Li Tiao asked, his brow furrowing.

Li Ermu hesitated before speaking, "Big brother, there’s going to be a rebellion against Lord Xuande tonight. I came back to prepare for it."

"Explain clearly," Li Tiao demanded, his tone darkening as he stopped twirling the iron balls.

"Big brother, don’t ask too much. Just by telling you this, I’m already breaking military discipline. Most soldiers don’t even know what’s happening," Li Ermu said, growing more anxious.

Before Li Tiao could ask further, the sounds of battle reached them from outside, and even the somewhat dim-witted Li Tiao understood what was happening.

As three drumbeats echoed through the night, Li Ermu tied a yellow cloth around his head, opened the door, and charged out with his spear. At the same time, every soldier hidden in the citizens’ homes burst into the streets.

"How dare they rebel against Lord Xuande?" Li Tiao's eyes darkened as he pulled out the spear he had used for over a decade from beneath his bed. Wrapping a yellow cloth around his head, he prepared to head out.

"Husband..." His wife, gripping a kitchen knife, looked at him with a mix of worry and sorrow.

"Stay at home. I’m going to kill those bastards. I’ve only enjoyed a few years of good life under Lord Xuande, and now someone dares to rebel!" Li Tiao shouldered his spear and rushed out, not daring to meet his wife’s eyes.

"Make sure you come back..." Her voice, tinged with sorrow, lingered in the air.

"Don’t worry. Lock the door behind me, and don’t open it unless I knock," Li Tiao called back as he left.

"Be careful..." Her voice faded as the door closed.

Once outside, Li Tiao saw Liu Bei’s soldiers clashing with a group of well-armored enemies. He hesitated for a moment but quickly understood the situation and thrust his spear forward, skewering two of the enemy soldiers like they were nothing.

"Ermu, didn’t you say there was a rebellion? Why are there Yuan Shao’s soldiers here? Don’t tell me Yuan Shao’s army has arrived!" Li Tiao exclaimed as he continued to thrust his spear, killing several more Yuan Shao soldiers with ease.

"How should I know? Just kill them all! But big brother, you’re way too strong!" Li Ermu reflexively responded before realizing how effortlessly Li Tiao was dispatching the enemy, like he was slaughtering chickens.

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