Upon seeing the procession appear on the distant horizon, the city lord of Ansu and his officials hurriedly tidied their appearance, hoping to make a good impression on the Right Chancellor.

"drive!!"

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the small road on the west side of the official road.

Who is it?

The guards at the city gate immediately gripped their weapons and stood in front of the city lord of Ansu and his officials.

Several messengers were seen riding fast horses and galloping towards them.

The messengers immediately reined in their horses and stopped a short distance away. The lead messenger, still on horseback, called out loudly, "Lord City Lord, we come from Xixiang City. We are here on your orders to deliver an important message!"

"Xixiang City?"

The city lord of Ansu City frowned and said loudly, "What brings your city to report?"

"Lord City Lord, my lord sent me here to tell you that you must not let Sakqi's army into the city. Those guys have burned, killed, looted, and massacred nearly 60,000 people in Xixiang City..."

"What? Is that true?"

Upon hearing the messenger's words, the city lord of Ansu and everyone around him immediately changed their expressions, all looking incredulous.

"Lord City Lord, I have never lied. Please close the city gates quickly, or it will be too late!"

Turning his head to look at the large army that had come into view, the messenger urged them on with a look of panic and fear.

"Lord Sakqi holds the high position of Right Chancellor, and those soldiers are brave warriors guarding the frontier. How could they possibly slaughter their own people? Are you perhaps spies sent by Daruk to use me to hinder the army from suppressing the rebellion?"

Although the messenger spoke with great conviction, the Lord of Ansu City did not quite believe what he said.

After all, this was too horrifying. He had never heard of any soldiers openly slaughtering their own people.

"Alas, if Your Excellency does not believe us, there is nothing we can do. We still need to inform the next city. You'd better take care of yourself!"

Seeing that the other party did not believe him, the messenger said nothing more, sighed, and then led several companions on horseback southward.

Watching the messengers depart, the city lord of Ansu City frowned.

Logically speaking, if those messengers were truly spies sent by Daruk, they would have tried every means to prove their identities and convince themselves that they were the ones in the story.

But these messengers left so readily, and judging from their appearance, the anxiety and panic on their faces didn't seem like something they could fake.

"Lord City Lord, in my opinion, why don't we retreat into the city and close the city gates? If what they say is true, then our Ansu City will really be finished."

If they are lying, after we have clarified the situation, we can offer them generous gifts and apologize to the Right Chancellor. I imagine the Right Chancellor won't make things too difficult for us!

Just as the city lord of Ansu City was pondering, an official approached him with a serious expression and offered his advice.

"Yes, Lord City Lord, it's better to be safe than sorry. We should still be cautious!"

"Indeed, I have never heard of a large army entering the city to rest and regroup. We must be on guard!"

Immediately, everyone around also stepped forward to persuade him.

These people are all native locals, and they are also afraid that if it were true, they and their families would be doomed.

Hearing the crowd's persuasion, the city lord of Ansu City glanced at the approaching troop in the distance and gritted his teeth, saying, "You are all right. Everyone, return to the city immediately and close the city gates!"

Then, the crowd that had been waiting at the city gate hurriedly retreated into the city.

Shortly after the city gates were closed, Sakki's army arrived at a distance of 500 meters north of the city.

Looking at the tightly closed city gate ahead, Sakhosky frowned. "Go and ask what's going on?"

"yes!"

An officer responded and immediately rode up to the city wall, looking up and shouting, "Who's in charge of the city walls? Come out and speak!"

Hearing the shouts from below the city, the city lord of Ansu City leaned out and loudly replied, "This man is Kemolai, the city lord of Ansu City!!"

"Lord of Kemolai, Lord Sakqi is leading a large army on his way to quell a rebellion. They are passing through your territory and are exhausted. They wish to enter the city for a temporary rest. Please open the city gates immediately!"

Upon hearing the request to enter the city, Kemolai's heart skipped a beat. He immediately replied, "Ansu City is too small to accommodate all the soldiers. If possible, please ask Lord Sakqi and the generals to enter the city for a rest. As for the other brothers, could you please make do and camp outside the city?"

Upon hearing this, the officer frowned, looked up at Kemolai and the guards and officers on the city wall, then turned his horse around and returned to the battle formation.

"Reporting to the Right Chancellor, the Lord of Ansu City only allows you and officers from the army to enter the city. As for the rest of the brothers, they can only camp outside the city!"

"Hmph, easy for you to say. How much time will it take to set up camp and break camp? At this rate, by the time our army arrives at the coastal cities, the Han army and those rebels will already be ready!"

Sakqi snorted coldly, then raised his riding whip, pointed it at the city wall, and said in a deep voice, "Go tell them to open the city gates immediately and let the army in, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"yes!"

The officer agreed, then rode his horse back to the city wall and relayed Sakqi's words to Kemolai.

Seeing that the other party was determined to enter the city, Kemolai's face immediately darkened.

An official stepped forward and said, "Lord City Lord, it seems the messenger was right. These soldiers will surely do something bad after entering the city!"

Kemolai narrowed his eyes: "Immediately issue the order to gather all able-bodied men in the city, open the treasury, and equip them with weapons so they can come and defend the city!"

"yes!"

The official agreed and then quickly ran into the city.

Kemolai leaned out again and said loudly, "Please report to the Right Chancellor, Ansu City is too small to accommodate a large army, and I am truly unable to comply!"

"Um?"

Upon hearing Kemolai's outright refusal, the officer frowned, glared at the other man resentfully, and then returned to Sakqi's side.

"Your Excellency, the Lord of Ansu City is determined to refuse to let us into the city!!"

"It seems that the Lord of Ansu City has received a message from Xixiang City!"

Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Sakho's face immediately darkened.

Although these soldiers had seized some grain from Xixiang City, it was not enough to sustain them on a forced march to the next city. Therefore, the army needed to replenish its supplies in Ansu City.

Saksi then looked at the officer and asked, "If we were to launch a forced attack on the city, are we confident of success?"