Qian Kun was filled with rage and wanted nothing more than to avenge Qian Zihao.

Although Qian Zijing was rational, he had no choice. He couldn't disobey his father's orders, so he could only say "I obey" and turn to leave.

After leaving the palace, Qian Zijing hurriedly ordered the mobilization of 30,000 troops to set off immediately.

Inside the county government office in Pengyang County, in a pavilion, Chen Zhennan and Wang Dejun sat around a stove.

“Brother, since Chen Zhennan is delaying his move, Pengyang County must prepare for defense. Qian Kun will never let this go; the hatred for killing his son is irreconcilable, and he will definitely send troops.”

Wang Dejun nodded, his expression grave. "I understand. I'll arrange for manpower to be deployed and prepare for defense."

Chen Zhennan nodded slightly, then suddenly changed the subject.

"However, the brothers below are all former bandits, with lax discipline. They often bully the good people in the city. If we don't establish rules, we'll probably only destroy ourselves."

Wang Dejun frowned slightly, a hint of difficulty flashing across his face. "Zijun, the brothers are used to being free and undisciplined. Getting them to follow the rules is probably as difficult as climbing to the sky."

These bandits, accustomed to a life of unbridled freedom, how could they possibly become orderly in a short period of time?

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan felt a sense of helplessness and sighed, "If it cannot be formalized, I'm afraid that before Chen Zhennan attacks Ningzhou, Pengyang County will be captured by the Ning Prince's army."

Wang Dejun was startled, and his face gradually became somewhat anxious. He suppressed his unease and tried his best to calm himself down.

"I will gather the brothers as soon as possible and establish rules, but it is too difficult. I will take care of it now."

Wang Dejun turned and walked out of the pavilion, then had someone bring Luo Heng over.

"Make sure the brothers behave themselves and never exploit the people again. Anyone who violates the law will be dealt with according to the law without any leniency!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Heng's expression was almost identical to Wang Dejun's; he was also quite troubled.

"Brother, I'm afraid..."

"Tsk! I know it will be quite difficult, but the second-in-command is right. Let's proceed according to this rule. Give the order immediately!"

Upon hearing this tone, Luo Heng could only nod slightly: "Understood, elder brother, I will give the order right away."

However, two days passed quickly, and more than two hundred bandits who had violated the law were already imprisoned in the Pengyang County jail.

They were all former bandits, but now they were imprisoned because of Wang Dejun's orders, and their complaints were widespread.

They were filled with resentment. Wang Dejun had now become the county magistrate, but he expected his subordinates to behave themselves, which naturally caused discontent among some.

Some people even deliberately caused trouble, defied Wang Dejun's orders, challenged his authority, and deliberately got themselves arrested and thrown into jail.

In the dead of night, Wang Dejun found Chen Zhennan, his face filled with helplessness.

"Zijun, this can't go on. The brothers are getting dissatisfied. If this continues, we'll be in internal strife before Prince Ning's army even arrives."

A sharp glint appeared in Chen Zhennan's eyes. He straightened his expression and asked seriously, "Big brother, do you believe me?"

Wang Dejun was taken aback, then nodded firmly: "Of course I believe you. I became the overlord of Pengyang County because of you, so of course I believe you."

Chen Zhennan nodded: "Since you trust me, then follow my arrangements. Before the arrival of Prince Ning's army, anyone who dares to bully the good and violate the law should be imprisoned. Only in this way can we win the hearts of the people and prevent the people defending the city from defecting to Prince Ning."

As Wang Dejun listened to Chen Zhennan's words, his anxiety gradually subsided.

"Yes, you have a point. Let's do it that way."

Two days later, the number of bandits in Pengyang County's prison had increased to more than 500, and the cells were crowded with the once vicious thugs.

At the same time, Qian Zijing's 30,000-strong army, like a dark cloud looming overhead, had already reached the outskirts of Pengyang County, with war drums beating and banners obscuring the sun.

Standing on the towering city wall of Pengyang County, Wang Dejun gazed at the Ning Prince's army surging in like a tide, and couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Those tens of thousands of enemy troops, like dark clouds, blotted out the sky and made him feel suffocated.

Just as he was filled with anxiety, Chen Zhennan beside him remained calm, seemingly unconcerned about the predicament before him, as if he were only facing a gentle breeze.

"Zijun, why are you so confident?" Wang Dejun couldn't help but ask, his tone tinged with anxiety.

Chen Zhennan's lips curled up slightly, his face full of confidence.

"Brother Wang, Qian Zijing is leading 30,000 men to attack the city. Chen Zhennan will not let this opportunity pass. As long as we hold out for a while, Ningzhou will inevitably be attacked. Don't worry, Ningzhou is about to change hands."

Wang Dejun nodded slightly after hearing Chen Zhennan's words, but he was still worried, his brows furrowed and his face full of unease.

"The enemy outnumbers us ten to one. How can we possibly defend Pengyang County?"

Chen Zhennan gave a cold smile, a confident curve to his lips, and a glint of wisdom in his eyes, as if a wise man was guiding him.

"As long as you follow my instructions, everything will be foolproof. To catch the thief, you must first catch the king. I will find a way to kill Qian Zijing when he attacks the city."

Looking at Chen Zhennan's confident expression, Wang Dejun gradually calmed down.

"Okay, I trust you. But what preparations should we make when defending the city?"

"All preparations are in my best interest."

Chen Zhennan slightly raised his hand, his eyes like sharp blades, pointing straight ahead.

"Leave the five hundred brothers in the prison to me. You only need to be responsible for the defense of the rear. Leave the matter of the south gate to me."

Wang Dejun nodded heavily, "Okay, I'll follow your arrangements."

Chen Zhennan turned to look outside the city and said in a deep voice, "Brother, you immediately take three thousand men to guard the north gate. I'm going to use the empty city ruse on Qian Zijing. As long as he dares to enter the gate, it will be his death day."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dejun was uneasy, but his trust in Chen Zhennan made him act without hesitation. He quickly set off, immediately mobilizing three thousand men, and rushed towards the North Gate like a whirlwind.

After Wang Dejun left, Chen Zhennan revealed a smug smile, his eyes gleaming with cunning.

He turned to look at Yan Shiyu and nodded slightly. Yan Shiyu immediately understood, and a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes. He hurriedly led ten special forces members to the county jail.

In the prison, the bandits who had broken the law and oppressed the people were still complaining incessantly, unaware that their fate was about to come to an end.

Yan Shiyu and his team, like messengers of death, ruthlessly and swiftly carried out Chen Zhennan's orders, wiping out all the bandits without leaving a single one alive.

Standing on the city wall, Chen Zhennan listened to the dense gunfire coming from the direction of the county government office and couldn't help but sigh.

"It's all Wang Dejun's fault for trusting me so easily. How could someone in such a high position not understand the principle that things will turn around when they reach their extreme?"