Chapter 53: Countless Citizens, Countless Armies

Although the pace of the project has been swift, less than ten days have passed and already a stretch of land has been cleared and sown with seeds. The reason for such rapid progress lies in the involvement of an immense number of people. Liu Xie had originally planned for the government’s grain supplies to last a month, but circumstances changed. At first, only ten people participated. By the second day, over two thousand had joined, and eventually, the number swelled to tens of thousands—nearly eighty or ninety thousand strong. Wan City itself has a population of less than three hundred thousand; nearly ninety thousand took part in these efforts. It could be said that, aside from women, the elderly, and children, nearly everyone else participated—a true mobilization of the populace. This enormous mass of people greatly depleted their food reserves. Liu Xie estimated that, at this rate, their grain would last perhaps five more days.

Yet as this crisis unfolded, another trouble arrived.

"Young Master Liu, something’s wrong."

“Cao Cao has sent Generals Cao Ren and Cao Hong, leading fifty thousand troops toward our Wan City.”

Zhang Xiu strode anxiously into the governor’s residence, his words rushed and urgent.

The faces of Hu Che’er and Jia Xu beside him grew grave at the news.

“They’ve come at last. Our situation is about to grow dire,” Jia Xu said in a solemn tone.

Liu Xie, meanwhile, fell into silent contemplation.

“Master Liu, our grain is exhausted. We can hold out for five days at most. And now, I have fewer than three thousand men at my disposal. Cao Cao’s army numbers fifty thousand—how are we supposed to resist that?” Zhang Xiu’s voice betrayed his unease.

Yet Liu Xie remained calm.

“Fifty thousand men? It doesn’t matter.”

“To us, fifty thousand are nothing.”

These words left Zhang Xiu and the others at a loss. At such a moment, to speak so lightly—it seemed almost like a jest.

“Lord Zhang, since the Young Master says there’s no need to worry, I believe there truly is nothing to worry about,” Jia Xu interjected, attempting to reassure Zhang Xiu. He alone knew Liu Xie’s true identity: as the ruler of a nation, Liu Xie would never act recklessly to court destruction. Surely, he must have his own methods.

“Gentlemen, do you recall what I once promised?”

“I said I would give you an army of one hundred thousand.”

“I mean what I say. When the Cao army arrives before our gates, I shall give you one hundred thousand troops.”

“Cao Cao will never breach our walls.”

Liu Xie spoke with supreme confidence.

The others had nothing more to add.

In the days that followed, Zhang Xiu and Hu Che’er led their small force of barely two thousand men, arranging the city’s defenses. Wan City was not especially large, and two thousand men were nowhere near enough. Faced with the formidable Cao army, they were at a loss as to what to do.

Time slipped by, and three days later, as their grain was nearly depleted, the Cao army arrived.

Outside the city, fifty thousand soldiers formed a dark, imposing array—an overwhelming display of force. At the forefront, Generals Cao Ren and Cao Hong sat astride their steeds, lances in hand.

“Zhang Xiu within the city—hear me! I give you one hour to open your gates and surrender. Otherwise, when I break through, not one of you will leave alive!”

Cao Ren shouted from horseback toward the ramparts.

On the city wall, Zhang Xiu’s hand gripped the sword at his waist, his palm slick with cold sweat. Before such a vast enemy, what was he to do—especially with Liu Xie absent?

Cao Ren’s ultimatum: one hour. What could be accomplished in that time?

“General Hu, go see what Young Master Liu is doing,” Zhang Xiu instructed Hu Che’er.

“Sir, Young Master Liu is gathering the townsfolk. I’m not sure what he intends,” Hu Che’er reported.

Zhang Xiu frowned. “At a time like this, what’s he assembling the people for? Damn it. Where is this army of a hundred thousand he promised?”

His heart was full of resentment. He felt he had been misled by Liu Xie. Yet he dared not surrender, for he had previously rebelled and killed Cao Cao’s general Dian Wei and his son Cao Ang. If he surrendered now, falling into Cao Cao’s hands would surely bring disaster.

Meanwhile, Liu Xie, whose actions so worried Zhang Xiu, was assembling a vast crowd within the city.

“Listen, everyone—the Cao army has arrived, intent on storming our gates.”

“Think about it: if Cao Cao breaks in, what will become of us?”

“Our fields have just been planted. In a few months, we’ll reap the harvest.”

“But should the Cao army enter, what do you think will happen to those fields?”

Before Liu Xie stood over ten thousand citizens, and he addressed them from a high perch.

The faces below were grim. Indeed, if the Cao army entered, their land would surely be lost.

This year’s drought had made their lives difficult, and the Cao army was no better off. If the enemy entered, their fields would be destroyed.

“I can tell you plainly: outside the city, the Cao army numbers fifty thousand. We, by contrast, have less than three thousand.”

“Should the enemy attack, we cannot withstand them.”

“So, if you wish to eat your fill, if you wish for peace and stability, then follow me into battle.”

“Yes, the Cao army has fifty thousand men and steel weapons—but what do we lack? Wan City has nearly three hundred thousand people. Why should we fear them?”

“We may not have spears and swords, but we have hoes and shovels.”

“All who wish to eat their fill, follow me out of the city to resist the Cao army.”

“Of course, you need not go. If I fall on the battlefield, the future will depend on you.”

With that, Liu Xie turned and strode toward the gates.

At first, the townsfolk hesitated, but gradually their resolve hardened.

“Neighbors, our hope today is due to Young Master Liu!”

“If the city falls, we’re finished.”

“He’s right. We may lack blades and spears, but we have hoes and shovels.”

“Wan City has tens of thousands—why fear their fifty thousand?”

Passion surged among the crowd.

In no time, countless people returned home, grabbed their tools, and headed for the city gate.

At the gate, as Zhang Xiu fretted anxiously, Liu Xie arrived.

“Young Master Liu, you’re finally here—the Cao army is about to attack!”

Seeing Liu Xie, Zhang Xiu hurried over.

“No need to rush. I told you, an army of a hundred thousand will be here. Let them attack.”

Liu Xie was calm and composed.

“By the way, where is the Cao army’s grain?” Liu Xie asked.

Zhang Xiu vexed, thinking it odd to ask such trivial questions now. “It’s behind their lines. They didn’t make camp, but came straight here.”

It was clear that Cao Ren and Cao Hong were confident. Upon arrival, they hadn’t bothered to build camps, but instead brought their troops directly to the city gates. They intended not to wage a prolonged campaign, believing Wan City would fall quickly. Making camp outside was unnecessary.

As for their delay in attacking for two hours, it was to let their soldiers rest after the exhausting march.

The two hours passed swiftly.

“Time’s up, Zhang Xiu! Why haven’t you opened the gates yet?”

“If you persist in your stubbornness, once the city falls, you’re finished!”

The Cao army was fully prepared, ready to strike at any moment.

Now Zhang Xiu was truly anxious.

“What do we do, Young Master Liu?”

Liu Xie merely smiled and glanced behind him.

“Turn around and see for yourself.”

Zhang Xiu instinctively looked back.

What he saw made his eyes widen in shock.

“This—this!”

He was utterly astonished.

Behind him, in every street and alley, countless townsfolk streamed toward the gates, each wielding something—a hatchet, a hoe, a shovel. Their makeshift weapons were as varied as could be.

“Lord Zhang, estimate for me: how many people do you think that is?” Liu Xie asked with a smile.

Zhang Xiu shook his head gently.

The streets and alleys were packed with people—impossible to count.

Too many. Far too many.

“Master, is this—this is the army of a hundred thousand you spoke of?”

At last, Zhang Xiu understood.

The army Liu Xie had promised was none other than these countless townsfolk.

“Attack!”

At that moment, Cao Ren outside issued the final order.

Immediately, tens of thousands of Cao soldiers surged toward the city gate with overwhelming momentum.

“Young Master Liu, what now?” asked Zhang Xiu, calmer than before—after all, he now had the support of countless citizens.

“Open the gates. Let everyone charge out!” Liu Xie commanded coldly.

Zhang Xiu wanted to refuse instinctively, doubting the wisdom of such a move, but he knew hesitation now would be fatal. Better to follow orders.

“Quickly, open the gates! Everyone, rush out!” Zhang Xiu ordered.

The Cao army advanced rapidly, closing in within a few hundred meters of the gate.

Wan City’s gates slowly opened.

Then, like a tidal wave, countless people poured out.

Among them were Zhang Xiu’s original soldiers and townsfolk, all mixed together.

No one knew how many there were; only that an endless stream of people—armed with whatever they could carry—charged forth.

Without delay or hesitation, they threw themselves into battle against the Cao army.

On the city wall, Liu Xie watched calmly, hands clasped behind his back.

“Master, though we outnumber them, most of the townsfolk lack any combat experience. The Cao army is formidable—I fear our people won’t be able to hold,” Zhang Xiu said, worried.

Liu Xie smiled. “They won’t be overwhelmed, but victory will be difficult.”

“But no matter. Don’t forget—we still have more forces.”

“More forces?” Zhang Xiu asked, puzzled.

Liu Xie smiled and turned to look.

From a distance, twenty riders in black robes and armor galloped toward them.