In the city lord's residence, Zhang Tianlun looked at the shock on Kang Xiao's face. He was gloating, and he just couldn't help it. He burst out laughing.

The laughter jolted Kang Xiao out of his daze. He stared at Zhang Tianlun like he was looking at a fucking idiot. Is this guy sick in the head? That grain was yours to begin with. Ning Chen's men just took it off you. What's there to be happy about?

But Zhang Tianlun straightened his back and smiled. "Master Kang, you don't have any men left inside the city now... and your twenty thousand outside the east gate can't get in.

Even if this emperor gave you mountains of gold and silver, the thousand or two men you have left couldn't haul it away.

So this emperor will keep the Imperial Seal of State himself. No need for Master Kang to trouble himself over it."

Kang Xiao's face turned cold and grim. "My men did take a beating. But your grain and fodder ended up in the hands of Ning Chen's men too. I don't see what you have to be so happy about."

Zhang Tianlun shrugged it off. "You said it yourself just now. When this emperor left the capital of the Great Xuan, the dozen-odd warships hauling the money and grain nearly sank under the weight. Do you think this emperor cares about a little grain?

Master Kang, the way this emperor sees it, we should join hands now and face the enemy together."

Kang Xiao gave a cold laugh. "Honestly? Your soldiers have no will to fight. Their morale is in the dirt. They can't possibly stop Ning Chen's army."

Zhang Tianlun's face was dead serious. "Not necessarily. This emperor has already ordered the thirty thousand men at the north gate to go cut off Ning Chen's army coming in through the south gate.

As for the west gate, this emperor has catapults and satchel charges there, and more than ten thousand archers. If Ning Chen wants to break in, it will cost him dearly.

Master Kang, all we…