In National Crisis, One Thinks of Good Generals

Not to mention that Yan Kingdom cultivators did not dare do such a thing; the cultivators assisting from the Western Three Kingdoms were even less likely to. They had suffered that kind of loss before.

The Jin Kingdom cultivators in particular put in effort without putting in heart. Their reason was that they had been burned by such a scheme before, and the lingering fear remained.

Yan Kingdom's people were in turmoil. No matter how the clear-sighted men of both court and countryside cried out in grief and alarm, some people's selfish desires would not die, and hearts could not be united. Against a famed commander like Luo Zhao of the Song Kingdom army, the Yan army suffered defeat after defeat. Every battle was practically sending men to their deaths, and military morale gradually descended into chaos.

Yet victory reports continued to circulate within Yan Capital. Their clamor drowned out some of the "rumors" about defeats. To keep public sentiment stable and prevent uncontrollable disorder, the bewildered and ignorant commoners indeed cheered.

The pleasure dens—restaurants, halls, brothels, and the like—were the first to feel the chill. Business suddenly became much quieter.

"Master Liu, where is this entire household headed?"

At the city gate, one of the officers leading the gate guards asked warmly as he inspected the convoy, addressing a well-dressed man inside one of the carriages.

The well-dressed man sitting inside smiled faintly, grabbed a money pouch, and tossed it over. "The weather is nice. We're going out for a little excursion."

The officer looked at the goods piled on the large and small carts behind them, surprised. "The whole household is going out for an excursion?"

The well-dressed man nodded slightly. "The more, the merrier."

The officer discreetly opened the pouch and took a look. Finding it filled