"Resist to the end, we will not surrender even if we die."
Shouts immediately rang out from the city gate tower.
"Resist to the end, we will not surrender even if we die."
"Resist to the end, we will not surrender even if we die."
… …
More and more shouts reverberated in the air. The Gaochang soldiers on the city gate tower were all shouting loudly. Their uniform voices reverberated, filled with determination, and soared to the sky.
This scene stunned Ju Wentai and his civil and military officials.
Everyone looked shocked.
Everyone's faces were filled with confusion. Clearly, Ju Wentai had already decided to surrender and had already led his troops to pledge allegiance to Du Qi. However, Ju Chengzhen had come up with such a trick, which was equivalent to putting Ju Wentai in an awkward position.
Ju Wentai scolded, "Unfilial son, why haven't you opened the city gate to welcome His Highness Ping Xi Wang's army? You're courting death by trying to resist His Highness. "
Ju Chengzhen gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Father, you have no backbone and no backbone. You don't dare to resist Du Qi. But I can't let my Gaochang's foundation be buried in Du Qi's hands. "
"So I will resist to the end."
"The soldiers on the city gate tower are all people who will fight to the death. Father has abandoned us, so we can only rely on ourselves. Father, you used to be this son's father, but ever since you submitted to Du Qi, you are no longer this son's father. "
Ju Chengzhen said, "Today, there are only opposing sides on the city gate. There is no father and son status."
"Evil spawn, you evil spawn!"
At this moment, Ju Wentai was incomparably furious.
His heart was even colder.
He had already pledged allegiance to Du Qi, but this unfilial son, Ju Chengzhen, still insisted on resisting. Wasn't this making things difficult for him?
Ju Wentai quickly looked at Du Qi and said, "Your Highness, please understand. This unfilial son's actions were not ordered by me. When I left the capital, I specially arranged for people to detain this unfilial son, Ju Chengzhen. I didn't expect him to go against orders and kill his way out. "
Du Qi said, "Duke Ju, I believe you."
Du Qi had already figured out Ju Wentai's nature during this period of time. It was impossible for such a person to have the confidence to set up a resistance. The only explanation was that Ju Chengzhen was determined to resist.
However, Ju Chengzhen's resistance was nothing more than stubborn resistance. It was impossible for it to have any effect.
When Ju Wentai heard Du Qi's words, he let out a sigh of relief. If Du Qi suspected him, then his submission would be a waste of effort. This was something Ju Wentai didn't want. Even though Ju Chengzhen was his son, Ju Wentai was incomparably furious when it came to the matter of surrendering. He felt that Ju Chengzhen was courting death.
Du Qi looked up at the city gate tower and said indifferently, "Where is Ju Chengzhen?"
"I'm here."
Ju Chengzhen raised his head and said firmly, "Du Qi, it's impossible for you to order me to surrender. Although Gao Chang Nation has spineless people like Wang Wen and spineless generals like Jiang Chang Zong, there are still many people with lofty ideals. "
"These people don't want their home to fall and they don't want to become slaves of a fallen nation."
"These people can support their backbone."
"These people are enough to resist you."
Ju Chengzhen said, "As long as these people are here, it's impossible for you to invade Gao Chang Nation and break Gao Chang City. Even if you, Du Qi, bring your troops to the city, you won't be able to break it. "
Du Qi said unhurriedly, "I didn't expect you to be so unyielding."
Ju Chengzhen said, "There are many things you didn't expect. What you didn't expect was that you would return in defeat in Gao Chang City. It's impossible for you to seize Gao Chang City and invade Gao Chang Nation's capital. As long as I'm here, you won't be able to achieve your goal. "
Du Qi said, "You're really confident!"
Ju Chengzhen raised his head and said, "With so many knowledgeable people gathered on the city gate tower, how can they not resist you?"
Du Qi said, "Speaking of which, there are indeed many things this Prince didn't expect."
Ju Chengzhen said, "What things?"
Du Qi said, "What This Prince didn't expect was that you, Ju Chengzhen, would disregard your father's life for your own selfish desires and power."
At this point, Du Qi sighed.
It was as though he was truly regretful.
Ju Chengzhen looked around at the crowd when he heard this. He knew that Du Qi had done this on purpose to strike a blow at him. Therefore, Ju Chengzhen immediately retorted, "Du Qi, you're spouting nonsense and slandering me. Do you think that you can frame me with such words? You're wrong. You can't frame me. "
After a slight pause, Ju Chengzhen continued, "I, Ju Chengzhen, didn't cause trouble in Gao Chang City for my own benefit. I wouldn't betray my own people or disregard my father's life. My father pledged allegiance to you. Don't tell me you would kill him? As for the resistance I organized, it was to resist you. "
Du Qi sneered and didn't respond to Ju Chengzhen's words. He raised his voice again, "The second thing This Prince didn't expect was that you, Ju Chengzhen, would rather start a war for your own selfish desires and power than care about the lives of the common people."
"Even if you organized an army to resist the current Gao Chang City, how long can you hold out against This Prince's army with your insignificant ability?"
"A day, two days, a month, two months, or even longer …"
"Such resistance will definitely cause countless casualties among the common people. And all of this is because of you. Your father, Duke Ju, has clearly chosen to pledge allegiance to Heaven and Man. "
Du Qi said, "But when it comes to you, you're indeed determined to start a war with This Prince for your own selfish desires."
Ju Chengzhen said, "You're spouting nonsense."
Du Qi continued, "What nonsense? This Prince isn't spouting nonsense. Under This Prince's rule, the common people have been exempted from taxes and corvee labor. Each and every one of them has something to do and earn money, living a steady and stable life. "
"Within Gao Chang's borders, the common people haven't reached such a stage. Every one of them is living a simple and poor life. Not only are they suffering from exorbitant taxes, but they're also being robbed and exploited by the Turks. "
"This Prince came to save the common people. Clearly, the common people and soldiers could have used this opportunity to live a good life. But because of your selfish desires, you insisted on resisting and obstructing the common people from living a good life. "
"You even said that you weren't doing this for your own selfish desires. If you were truly thinking for the common people and truly had a benevolent heart, how could you only care about yourself and not the common people's safety? "
Du Qi's previous words were only the appetizer.
They were only meant to criticize Ju Chengzhen.
When it came to the adjustment of the common people, this was the crux of the matter. This was Du Qi's trump card.
Ju Chengzhen's expression changed drastically, but he maintained a calm expression. He said disdainfully, "Du Qi, save your words for others. It's impossible to fool the soldiers on the city gate tower and the common people of Gao Chang. "
Du Qi said, "See, I said that you, Ju Chengzhen, are doing this for your own selfish desires, but you don't admit it. Everyone knows that in Yi Province under Du Qi's rule, the common people don't have to pay taxes or corvee labor. "
"I believe many businessmen in Gaochang know about this. Even many of Gao Chang's officials know about this matter. Yet, you deny it. Your actions are nothing more than suppressing the news so as to confuse the soldiers into resisting. Ju Chengzhen, you're truly disappointing. "
Du Qi's words were even more targeted.
Because of the benefits, Ju Chengzhen had lost his footing.
Ju Chengzhen furrowed his brows. His ears twitched as he heard the discussions of his subordinates. This was because many of the soldiers were pondering after hearing Du Qi's words.
No corvee labor or taxes. That was excellent.
Ju Chengzhen didn't care about the soldiers discussing around him. He could only order all the soldiers to prepare for battle. He shouted, "Du Qi, if you have the ability, just come at me directly. What kind of hero are you if you keep blabbering on and on?"
Du Qi's words were too bewitching.
If he let Du Qi continue, the soldiers on the city gate tower would probably be shaken and no longer resist. Under this premise, Ju Chengzhen roared for Du Qi to attack.
Du Qi saw through Ju Chengzhen's inner thoughts at a glance. He directly said, "Ju Chengzhen, why are you afraid now? Is it because your scheme has been exposed? Is that why you're afraid?"
"Let me tell you, the reason you can become the crown prince of Gao Chang and enjoy a life of luxury is because of the support of Gao Chang's citizens and the support of the soldiers."
"Without the support of the citizens and the all-out efforts of the soldiers, you, the crown prince of Gao Chang, would be nothing but an empty shell. However, they treat you so well, yet you want to fight to the death for your own power. You don't care about their lives at all. "
"Ju Chengzhen, you are truly deranged!"
Du Qi continued, "That's right. How can a person who doesn't care about his own parents not be deranged?"
Ju Chengzhen's expression changed again and again. Du Qi's words were too hurtful.
It put him in a difficult position.
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