Ling Lang was quite moved that Xuan Yuanzhan could think so much for them. In fact, Ling Lang had thought about these things a long time ago, and the Prefect of Baichuan had also thought about them again and again.

"Your Highness, most of my family members have already been brought to the North, including my elderly parents. I sent a letter home beforehand, asking them to seek refuge elsewhere. As for myself, having embarked on this path, I intend to live and die with Your Highness. If Your Highness wins, I will return to the frontier to continue guarding the Northern Border for you. If Your Highness loses, I will settle my family and then stay with you, thus fulfilling Your Highness's loyalty in staying in the North to help me resist the Northern Rong!"

He believed that Prefect Baichuan thought the same way, and since he had embarked on this path, he would certainly have a plan in place.

Ling Lang's words moved Xuan Yuanzhan to the point of speechlessness. He silently reached out and patted Ling Lang's shoulder, and after a long while, he finally spoke: "Alright, then let's fight side by side. Whether we win or lose, with you by my side, I will have no regrets even if I die!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Lang knelt down again: "It is my honor to be able to accompany Your Highness! If Your Highness wins, it will be the fortune of the entire Eastern Chu!"

"Get up!" Xuan Yuanzhan pulled Ling Lang up from the ground.

Xuanyuan Zhan looked up at the prefects of Changshan again: "I really don't want to start a big war. I'll give you one last chance!"

Ling Lang also looked at the Prefect of Changshi: "Changshi is not far from the North. I believe you know the Prince's character. The Prince would never commit treason; he was framed. How could someone who could make this General and Prefect Baichuan abandon everything to follow him be a traitor? The Prince is in a hurry to return to the capital because his mother and Princess Consort have been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. He is anxious to go back and rescue them. You must open the city gates immediately, otherwise, if a major conflict breaks out, it will only be the people in the city who suffer!"

The prefect of Changshi glanced at Xuan Yuanzhan and the vast army behind them, his heart filled with bitterness.

The Holy King's 150,000 troops were already enough to give Changshi a hard time, but now General Ling has brought another 100,000 troops, plus the 20,000 city guards offered by Prefect Baichuan, bringing the total to nearly 300,000 troops.

How could their 20,000 garrison troops in Changshan possibly withstand them?

The prefect of Changshi looked helplessly at the soldiers guarding the city below and shouted, "Open the city gates!"

The soldiers guarding the city were stunned, staring blankly at the prefect of Changshan.

The magistrate of Changshi County frowned and looked at the prefect of Changshi: "Your Excellency..."

The prefect of Changshi didn't say much, but shouted again, "Open the city gates and let the Holy King pass!"

The soldiers below finally confirmed their prefect's words and stopped resisting, opening the city gates.

In truth, they knew that they couldn't possibly resist such a powerful enemy force; opening the city gates was only a matter of time. Moreover, if a real battle broke out, countless soldiers defending the city would surely die!

After the city gates were opened, the prefect of Changshi came down from the city tower and, together with the magistrate of Changshi, came out to greet Xuan Yuanzhan. The two knelt directly in front of Xuan Yuanzhan and said, "Please forgive us, Your Highness. We had no choice but to do this. Please do not blame us."

Xuanyuan Zhan, considering that he had opened the city gates, did not want to argue with him: "Forget it, I know you have your reasons, I don't blame you!"

"Thank you, Your Highness," the two said repeatedly.

The prefect of Changshan glanced at the army brought by Ling Lang and said to Xuan Yuanzhan, "Does Your Highness need more men? There are 20,000 garrison troops in Changshan City available for Your Highness to command."

Xuan Yuanzhan was somewhat surprised, not expecting that the prefect of Changshan would also send him soldiers: "No need, we don't need any!"

With the situation still uncertain, he didn't want so many people taking risks with him.

If he loses, it will implicate many people.

Ling Lang and the others had fought alongside him in the same trenches, so he accepted his kindness. However, he felt embarrassed to accept the kindness of others, mainly because he didn't want to harm them.

The prefect of Changshan chuckled awkwardly, "Then I wish Your Highness all the best."

Xuanyuan Zhan didn't say anything more to him, but mounted his horse and waved, "Enter the city! Do not harm the people in the city!"

Xuanyuan Zhan kicked his horse's belly and was the first to enter the city.

Behind them were Ling Lang, Bai Ying, Mu Lingchen, and others, followed by a vast army.

The prefect of Changshai and his entourage followed behind the army, escorting them all the way out of Changshai City before the prefect finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The magistrate of Changshan followed behind the prefect of Changshan and said worriedly, "Sir, we didn't send the soldiers out. If the prince succeeds in the future, he won't blame us, will he?"

If the Holy King fails, they won't have to worry about whether he'll blame them for blocking their path today. But what if the Holy King succeeds?

The prefect of Changshi was also worried. After a moment of silence, he said, "I don't think so. I don't think the prince is that kind of person!"

The prince seemed very reasonable; he must have known that they were forced into this situation and had their own unavoidable difficulties.

Moreover, he had just tried to curry favor with the prince, but the prince did not accept it.

The prince refused to accept his 20,000 garrison troops for two reasons. First, he genuinely didn't need more men; he already had nearly 300,000 troops—which city could he possibly defend? Second, he probably didn't want to harm them. After all, he had just been worried about General Ling's alleged treason. The prince was kind-hearted; he probably wouldn't blame them.

Magistrate Changshi blinked, then frowned and asked, "So, did our decision to let the prince pass just now constitute disobeying an imperial decree?"

The prefect of Changshan glared at him: "When did we release the prince? It was clearly General Ling who led the troops to assist the prince. We simply couldn't hold the city gates, which is why they were breached. It's just that the prince is kind-hearted and didn't harm the soldiers and civilians in the city!"

The magistrate of Changshan County instantly understood the prefect's meaning and hurriedly bowed to him, saying, "Your Excellency is wise. We were no match for the prince, which is why the city gates were breached."

Xuanyuan Zhan led his army in a hurried rush towards the next city!

Just as the prefect of Changshan had predicted, almost no city could be defended by the nearly 300,000 troops led by Xuanyuan Zhan.

Of course, unless absolutely necessary, Xuan Yuanzhan would not choose to use force. He would always try to persuade the prefects and governors to open the city gates and let them pass.

Of course, some did try to fight, but the city's garrison was no match for Xuan Yuanzhan and his men, and had no fighting power whatsoever.

Even if they stormed the city gates, Xuan Yuanzhan forbade his soldiers to harm the civilians or slaughter the defending soldiers. They were only allowed to pass through the city!

Although he conquered cities and territories along the way, Xuanyuan Zhan still earned a lot of good reputation!

With the help of Ling Lang's 120,000 troops, Xuan Yuanzhan was able to move closer to the capital at a faster pace!

Xuanyuan Zhan himself was also eager to return home; his heart had long since flown to the capital!