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Qi Prince held great expectations for Wanchang City, believing that with its strategic location in Dichang Valley, which allowed for both offense and defense, securing Wanchang City meant that the North Country's army could no longer continue marching south.

Yet, in such a short time, Wanchang City had fallen to the North Country's army.

Moreover, after capturing Wanchang City, the North Country's army immediately appointed a new Prefecture Governor and began to reform the land policy, transferring all land ownership rights to the North Prince and drastically exempting taxes, implementing a rate of one in a hundred.

Qi Prince could not fathom how the North Prince had the audacity, not only to eliminate other agricultural taxes but to also implement a tax rate of one in a hundred. If it came down to it, even if he recaptured the territory, the local people might not support him as the Qi Prince anymore.

Had his grandnephew lost his mind?

Agricultural taxes were the foundation of their rule as seigniors; how could he dare set the taxes so low!

Of course, what Qi Prince was most concerned about at the moment was not the issue of taxes but whether he could hold on to Qi Country.

Now that Wanchang City and East Sun City had fallen, Qi Country had instantly lost an army of two hundred thousand.

There were still some troops in the Royal Capital, and if they conscripted forcefully, they could gather another army of approximately two hundred thousand soldiers in a short period.

However, such soldiers would basically possess no significant combat power, though they would suffice to take a few arrows.

Although Qi Prince had fallen ill, to resist the North Country's army, he still gave orders while dragging his sick body.

Qi Prince was now completely tied to the chariot of war; even if the current Qi Prince wished to surrender, those Aristocratic Families wouldn't allow it. If the leading Qi Prince surrendered, what would become of their families?

They had heard about the things the North Country's army did after occupying Wanchang City, especially the reclamation of land into the hands of the North Prince, which deeply struck a nerve within them.

The Aristocratic Families absolutely would not permit such a policy to befall them.

Swiftly, Qi Country assembled another army of two hundred thousand in the Royal Capital, but most of these soldiers were forcibly conscripted peasants, with little to no combat effectiveness.

But given the dire situation, the fighting capability of these peasant soldiers was of less concern.

In an effort to prevent the North Prince from taking over Qi Country, the domestic Aristocratic Families truly exhausted every method possible.

Inside Anping City.

In the dead of night, Lu Chen looked at the battle report sent back by Xuanyuan Chen and couldn't help but sneer.

Did these Aristocratic Families of Qi Country really intend to perish together with him?

Yet, when an egg smashes against a rock, it's only the egg that breaks.

At that moment, Bai Qingqing, dressed in a black guard's uniform, entered the study. "Prince, it's time for you to rest."

This time, Lu Chen had traveled south following General Xuanyuan. He was not the Main Commander, nor was he leading troops, so he had maids to serve him, with Bai Qingqing being one of them.

Since leaving the North Prince Mansion to head south, Bai Qingqing had been in charge of arranging Lu Chen's daily life, including his meals and his bedtime, all scheduled by Bai Qingqing.

Before departing south, Chu Yuqin had instructed Bai Qingqing to take good care of Lu Chen, which led Bai Qingqing to take extra care of his needs.

Of course, even without Chu Yuqin's reminder, she would have devotedly cared for Lu Chen.

Seeing the expressionless and astonishingly beautiful Bai Qingqing, Lu Chen put down what he was holding and then said, "Alright, it really is time to rest."

Following Bai Qingqing, Lu Chen then returned to his room, and upon entering, said to her, "Bai, stay with me tonight."

Hearing this, Bai Qingqing showed no reaction on her face; she was already accustomed to serving at the bedside, and such matters were nothing new to her.

"Yes, Prince."

As soon as Bai Qingqing finished speaking, Lu Chen pulled her into his embrace, holding her slim waist, and said, "Bai, you've been back by my side for so long; why are you still so reserved?"

While speaking, his hand began to slip inside Bai Qingqing's clothes.

The usually expressionless Bai Qingqing now showed a hint of blush on her face, but she did not say much, quietly leaning into Lu Chen's embrace, allowing him to have his way with her.

Seeing a flush of shyness on the face of the cold beauty, Lu Chen no longer held back, promptly carrying Bai Qingqing to the bed.

Eventually, under Lu Chen's guidance, Bai Qingqing finally began to call out 'darling'.

The next morning.

Dressed with the help of Bai Qingqing, Lu Chen put on his clothes.

Just as he was about to eat the breakfast prepared by his servants, a maid came up to him and said, "Prince, the Head of the Qi family requests an audience."

Hearing this, Lu Chen was momentarily stunned.

The Head of the Qi family?

Which Qi family?

Lu Chen immediately asked, "The Qi family? Which Qi family is that?"

The maid replied, "It's an Aristocratic Family within Qi Country's territory. Their family is located in Wanchang City. According to the family head, he was guided by General Xuanyuan, and he specifically wished to meet with you."

With the maid's words, Lu Chen then realized it was the Aristocratic Family from Wanchang City.

After Wanchang City was captured, land ownership around the city changed, and from Xuanyuan Chen's letters, Lu Chen had heard that the leading Aristocratic Family of Wanchang City was particularly cooperative; not only did they hand over a lot of gold and treasure, but they also actively cooperated with the changes in land ownership.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Chen decided to meet with the Head of the Qi family.

Normally, the head of a regional Aristocratic Family like the Qi family would not have the standing to meet with a Seignior like Lu Chen. However, Lu Chen considered that the Qi family still wielded some influence within Qi Country and he could support them in the future to set an example for other minor families.

After breakfast, Lu Chen met with the Head of the Qi family. The family head had come not with important matters, but simply to demonstrate his loyalty.

Furthermore, the Head of the Qi family also smartly handed over a list of families within Qi Country that had backed the Qi Prince in resisting the army of North Country descending from the south, clearly acting as a guide for Qi Country.

With the list provided by the Qi family, Lu Chen felt more prepared to settle scores with those families when the time came. Of course, this did not exclude the possibility that the Qi family might want to use this as a chance for revenge, but Lu Chen was indifferent to that, as he already planned to clean up the Aristocratic Families within Qi Country.

After meeting with the Head of the Qi family, Lu Chen issued a military order to Xuanyuan Chen, ordering him to advance towards the Royal Capital of Qi Country.

At the same time, Lu Chen didn't stay in Anping City but led fifty thousand soldiers southward, heading for Wanchang City.

The current Lu Chen no longer needed to be present on the frontline; he was a great king, and waging war was not his duty. He only needed to command from the rear. How to use people was what he, as a ruler, should consider.

Upon arriving in Wanchang City, the streets were deserted as the common people of Qi Country lined up on both sides of the road, warmly welcoming his arrival.

Not to mention other benefits, just the exemption from taxes alone made the common people deeply grateful to Lu Chen.

Previously, Qi Country was controlled by local Aristocratic Families, and their various and complicated taxes not only were plentiful but also burdensome. The arrival of North Prince meant those taxes were abolished, earning him the adoration of the common people.

When Lu Chen reached Wanchang City, Xuanyuan Chen had already led a hundred and fifty thousand troops straight towards the Royal Capital of Qi Country, and in the half month that followed, Xuanyuan Chen advanced forward at the pace of conquering a city almost every day.

As news of each city's capture reached the Royal Capital of Qi Country one after another, the Qi Prince grew increasingly fearful, as did the Aristocratic Families of Qi Country.

Finally, in a mere month's time, Xuanyuan Chen fulfilled Lu Chen's expectations and led the one hundred and fifty thousand troops of North Country to the outskirts of the Royal Capital of Qi Country.

When the Qi Prince learned that the army of North Country had reached the Royal Capital, he was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.

At this moment.

Inside the Qi Prince Mansion, within the Royal Capital of Qi Country.

The Qi Prince sat on the ground, his face filled with fear.

"How is this possible... "

"How could it be so fast..."

Then, the Qi Queen, who was beside him, anxiously held onto the Qi Prince and said, "Your Majesty, let's flee!"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The Qi Queen's words immediately provoked the Qi Prince, who promptly said, "No! I will not run away!"

"I still have two hundred thousand troops!"

"I've already written to the court; the court will surely send reinforcements. I refuse to believe that the Sum Emperor will just watch idly as Qi Country falls!"

The face of the Qi Prince twisted fiercely, still devoid of any thoughts of fleeing or surrendering.

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