Upon hearing Zhou Xiang's thunderous command, "Those who retreat will die," the soldiers under Zhou Xiang's command froze in place, as if under a spell.

Their eyes were filled with fear and hesitation. To go forward? That would be like moths to a flame, courting death.

Backwards? Zhou Xiang's military order was like a guillotine hanging over everyone's heads, leaving everyone in a dilemma.

Zhou Xiang stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief, never expecting his soldiers to be so cowardly.

His previously arrogant expression instantly turned ferocious, his cheeks puffing out like a toad.

Seeing this, the deputy general standing to the side had beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He carefully moved to Zhou Xiang's side, as if afraid of angering Zhou Xiang, this irritable lion.

The lieutenant lowered his voice and reminded him in an almost trembling tone, "Your Highness, in my humble opinion, it would be best to withdraw the troops now. If this stalemate continues, it may trigger a mutiny."

Hearing his deputy's words, Zhou Xiang felt a surge of resentment, but he also knew that continuing the attack was simply wishful thinking.

Just then, a scout came running up like a gust of wind, panting, and reported: "Your Highness... something terrible has happened! All the lords who were cooperating with us have retreated!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiang felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face. His face turned bright red, and his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh.

"These treacherous scoundrels! They call each other brothers all day, but when it comes to the crucial moment, they desert their posts! What a bunch of bastards!"

With things having come to this point, Zhou Xiang knew that there was no other way but to withdraw his troops. He gritted his teeth and squeezed out the words "withdraw troops."

Just then, Chen Zhennan on the city wall picked up the megaphone again and shouted loudly, "Those who are willing to submit to me, Chen Zhennan, come down to the city wall immediately. I, Chen Zhennan, have always been fair in rewarding and punishing. If you can abandon the darkness and turn to the light today, I will treat you like my own brothers. But if any of you follow Zhou Xiang again, I cannot guarantee your life or death if we meet again in the future!"

His voice, like a resounding bell, echoed across the battlefield, making everyone's ears ring.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiang's army of over 200,000 people instantly erupted into a frenzy.

Everyone was like ants on a hot pan, looking around anxiously, waiting for others to go down to the city walls first, and no one wanted to be the first to make a move.

Seeing his brothers below the city wall so hesitant, Li Can stepped forward, grabbed the megaphone, and shouted, "Zhou Xiang is stubborn and self-willed, an enemy of the people, and has no one to turn to. Following him will surely lead to certain death. With the commander here, there is no need to worry. If you don't surrender now, when will you?"

Following Li Can's words, one soldier finally seemed to have made up his mind. He gritted his teeth and ran desperately towards the foot of the city wall.

His footsteps kicked up a cloud of dust, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, breaking the deadlock.

Once the first one arrived, it was like opening a valve; the second, the third… more and more people began to surge towards the city like a tide.

Their faces showed relief, as if they had seen new hope, while the soldiers who remained behind were filled with regret and anxiety, like abandoned orphans, at a loss.

Zhou Xiang watched helplessly as more and more soldiers fled, an unstoppable tide of escape. With a swift "whoosh," he drew his sword from his waist. A flash of cold light, the blade gleaming chillingly in the sunlight, like the scythe of death.

He lunged viciously at a soldier who was about to leave, roaring, "You bunch of cowards, trying to run away? Today I'll show you what happens when you desert in the face of battle!"

With that, Zhou Xiang raised his sword and brought it down. The soldier didn't even have time to let out a scream before he fell into a pool of blood.

Chen Zhennan, standing on the city wall, frowned deeply upon seeing this scene. Zhou Xiang was truly heartless and cruel, actually treating his own soldiers so viciously.

Without hesitation, Chen Zhennan reached for a rifle, cocked it, and completed the action in one swift motion, his eyes fixed on Zhou Xiang.

"Bang!"

With a deafening gunshot, the bullet whistled towards Zhou Xiang. The shot struck Zhou Xiang precisely in the shoulder, and like a bird struck down, he fell heavily from his horse.

The adjutant beside Zhou Xiang was immediately terrified, his face filled with panic. His lips trembled as he shouted, "Your Highness, Your Highness! We must retreat quickly! This Chen Zhennan possesses sorcery!"

Zhou Xiang lay on the ground, clutching his wound, wincing in pain, but still roared defiantly, "What retreat?! I haven't lost yet!"

The deputy general was extremely anxious. He glanced around and, disregarding Zhou Xiang's objections, hurriedly ordered a retreat, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Retreat! Retreat now!"

At that command, the army collapsed like a house of cards.

The soldiers scattered like headless flies, all choosing to surrender to Chen Zhennan.

They all knew in their hearts that following Zhou Xiang, this cruel and heartless guy, would only lead to their deaths.

When Chen Zhennan saw this scene from the city wall, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a confident smile, and he felt very happy.

He put down his rifle, turned and ordered, "Open the city gates and welcome our brothers in. Let them rest well."

Under the cover of his deputy, Zhou Xiang led the remaining defeated troops and retreated in a sorry state.

Zhou Xiang led his remaining troops in a hasty retreat, like stray dogs. His panicked appearance suggested that a raging beast was chasing him, and that beast was none other than Chen Zhennan, whom he feared.

Although Zhou Xiang was not afraid of death, his army absolutely could not be allowed to collapse. Losing an army was like losing limbs, which would truly mean certain death.

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