Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 105 My lord, something terrible has happened!

Along the way, the merchants' dissatisfaction may not have completely dissipated, but under the cover of night, they finally felt the sincerity of Lü Qian and his group.

As the general's representative, Lü Qian was not only the executor but also the appeaser of the merchants. Only when the people were at ease could the city be at peace.

As the people of Nanfang gradually moved into the city, Hesha City seemed quieter than ever before.

However, the more this is the case, the more rampant the rumors become.

Initially, these rumors circulated privately in alleys, teahouses, and market corners.

Phrases such as "The enemy has breached the northern city and is approaching Hesha City," "The Black Rock Allied Forces are strong and Hesha City will surely fall," and "General Zhao Lingfeng has no other options and the city is hard to defend" are common.

Every word is like a seed, quietly planted in the hearts of the people, and gradually fermenting.

Gradually, some people began to feel anxious and uneasy. Some even became sluggish and unwilling to continue relocating, secretly planning to flee the city in order to protect themselves.

One morning, Lü Qian was inspecting the city when a close attendant rushed up to him, panting, and said, "My lord, something terrible has happened!"

Rumors spread throughout the Nanfang area that the people were panicking upon hearing that enemy troops were approaching. Some were unwilling to continue relocating, and several families even planned to flee the city overnight!

Upon hearing this, Lü Qian frowned deeply.

Rumors are like the flames of war; if not handled carefully, they can spread rapidly and disrupt the order of the city.

The people of Nanfang are currently in a state of unrest. If this is not quelled in time, it is feared that a large number of people will become disaffected and cause even greater chaos.

"Prepare the horses immediately and take me to see this place." Lü Qian made a decisive decision, instructing his attendants to lead the way, and then mounted his warhorse and headed straight for the South Ward.

As he approached a house, he saw several neighbors gathered in front of the door, talking in hushed tones and looking flustered.

Lü Qian dismounted and stepped forward, only to hear one of the old women sobbing softly:

"I heard that the north city has fallen and the enemy is about to attack. What chance do we have to survive if we stay in the city?"

"It's better to run away now and at least save your life!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was filled with deep fear, and those around her nodded in agreement, clearly shaken.

Upon seeing Lü Qian arrive, the village headman hurriedly stepped forward, his expression worried:

"Lord Lü, these rumors spread quickly. We've tried to dissuade them several times, but the people are still afraid and don't trust the general's defenses!"

Lü Qian took a deep breath and steadied himself.

He walked up to the old woman and said gently, "Auntie, where did you hear this from?"

The northern city has never fallen, and General Zhao Lingfeng is personally overseeing its defenses. How could the enemy possibly break through so easily?

The old woman was somewhat stunned. She glanced at Lü Qian and hesitated before saying:

“But I heard that the Black Rock Alliance is very powerful, and the general has long been out of options… Everyone says that Hesha City may not be able to be defended.”

Lu Qian's gaze darkened, and his tone became firm: "Auntie, this is utter nonsense!"

The defenses of Hesha City are a solid fortification built up over decades, and General Zhao is a great general on the battlefield. How could he be easily defeated by a mere enemy?

The northern city defenses are impregnable; the enemy has yet to break through even a single step.

He paused, his voice softening, "The relocation is only to ensure the safety of the people. The general has a comprehensive plan and will never allow the city to fall."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's expression softened slightly, but she still hesitated somewhat:

"But what if... what if we really can't stop them? By then, it might be too late to run away..."

Lu Qian's eyes were firm and his gaze was sharp as he looked directly at the old woman: "Auntie, as long as we work together and follow the general's orders, Hesha City will never fall."

If you lead the way in wavering, not only will your own life be in danger, but you will also plunge many more people into peril. Do you really want to see the entire city thrown into chaos?

After hearing this, the old woman lowered her head and remained silent, her expression becoming complicated.

Seeing Lü Qian's determination, the neighbors also tried to persuade him:

"Lord Lü is right. As long as we follow the general's orders, we will definitely be able to protect Hesha City."

Seeing that the old woman's emotions had calmed down a bit, Lü Qian took the opportunity to continue visiting other people's homes, going door to door.

At each household, he patiently inquired about their concerns and answered them one by one.

In front of a carpenter's shop, several villagers were gathered together, discussing something.

An elderly man stood with his arms crossed, his face full of worry: "With these rumors spreading, no one is even coming to our shop anymore."

I think this city is probably doomed. We'd better leave sooner rather than later, so we can escape with our families.

Lu Qian walked up to him and said in a calm and unhurried tone, "Uncle, you shouldn't believe rumors."

The people in the city are now in a state of unrest because enemy spies are taking the opportunity to spread rumors.

If you disregard the overall situation and lead the escape, you will only make things worse. General Zhao has already laid down heavy defenses; the Black Rock Allied Forces cannot easily breach Hesha City.

The man was taken aback and looked up at Lü Qian: "Lord Lü, that is true, but how can we common people feel at ease without seeing the general's defenses?"

Lu Qian nodded with a deep look in his eyes and said, "I understand your concerns, Uncle."

Although the general did not disclose the details of the defense deployment, this does not mean that Hersha City was unprepared.

The north city wall has been fortified, and the arrow towers and stone cannons are all in place. The garrison has ample food supplies. If you don't believe me, you can come with me to the north city and see for yourself.”

A hint of hesitation flashed in the man's eyes, and the neighbors next to him exchanged glances, seemingly somewhat tempted.

Lu Qian continued, "The lives of the people of Hesha City depend on the defense of this city."

General Zhao has guarded this city for many years; how could he allow the enemy to breach it? You only need to stay in your positions, not listen to rumors, and work together; Hesha City will be as solid as a rock.

The man lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then finally nodded:

“What you say makes sense, sir. We should not have listened to the rumors and jeopardized the important matters in the city.”

Seeing this, Lü Qian cupped his hands and said, "That's good."

All you need to do is trust the general. If there is an enemy attack, the general will lead us to fight.

The most important thing now is to defend our own territory and not give the enemy any opportunity to create chaos.

The following day, Lü Qian personally went to the market, summoned the people of Nanfang, and publicly clarified the rumors.

He stood on a high platform in the center of the market, his gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd, and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow villagers, there have been rumors circulating recently."

The claim that the city is indefensible and the general has no solution is actually a plot by enemy spies, intended to disrupt the morale of our troops in the city.

General Zhao personally oversaw the defenses of the northern city, deploying heavy fortifications; Hesha City will not fall easily.