The fighting outside Taizhou City had long ended. Zhao Zhongtian's Yangzhou Army suffered heavy losses. After a day of bloody fighting, leaving corpses all over the ground, Zhao Zhongtian managed to escape from the battlefield under the protection of Ding Hui. The Fuzhou Army did not pursue them to the death.

However, Zhou Weiran didn't take much advantage. The Yangzhou Army's combat power was still much higher than that of ordinary Jiangnan soldiers. Moreover, the sneak attack was discovered early. The Yangzhou Army did not collapse at the first touch, and finally had a certain amount of time.

Organize a counterattack.

In this battle, Zhao Zhongtian's more than 20,000 people were beaten, and only more than 5,000 people fled the battlefield. Most of them were cavalry led by Ding Hui, and almost all the infantry were wiped out.

Zhou Weiran's men also suffered more than 10,000 casualties. Although they did not achieve the great victory they imagined, at least the Yangzhou Army's current strength would not be able to continue attacking Fuzhou in the future.

Unexpectedly, after the Yangzhou army was repulsed, Zhou Weiran quietly led the entire army back to Fuzhou, leaving Taizhou as an empty city.

According to King Fu's wishes, no matter whether the Yangzhou army wins or loses, there will be no extra troops stationed in Taizhou in the end, so Zhou Weiran has no choice but to give up on Taizhou. According to his past temperament, Zhou Weiran may still pursue him all the way.

In Taizhou, Zhao Zhongtian's Yangzhou army was completely annihilated.

In Le County, not far from Taizhou City, the remaining Yangzhou Army is stationed here, always on guard against the Fuzhou Army's attack.

Zhao Zhongtian sat in the hall in despair. This defeat brought a greater blow to Zhao Zhongtian than the defeat of Tianlang. All the responsibility for the defeat of Tianlang can be pushed to Nangong Yu. Zhao Zhongtian not only had no fault but made meritorious deeds.

However, this time he had to shoulder the responsibility himself, and he also missed out on the military merit he was about to receive, so his chances of joining the Ministry of War became slim.

Just when Zhao Zhongtian was frowning, Ding Hui walked in with a happy face and shouted: "General, I have good news!"

In this battle, if Dinghui's 5,000 cavalry army had not seen the situation going badly and decisively sent troops to cover Zhao Zhongtian's retreat, the Yangzhou army would have been completely wiped out.

Zhao Zhongtian was a little upset, and frowned and said: "What good news can there be at this time? The military strength has been severely damaged, and Taizhou City has not been captured!"

"According to the scouts' report, Taizhou City is now an empty city, and it seems that all Fuzhou soldiers have withdrawn!" Ding Hui said in surprise.

Zhao Zhongtian suddenly became energetic: "What? Are you sure?"

"Accurate!" Ding Hui replied affirmatively: "The scouts who went to investigate have already walked around the city, and indeed found no Fuzhou soldiers, and many people in the city ran out while the city gate was wide open.

, it doesn’t look like there are soldiers stationed at all.”

Joy suddenly appeared on Zhao Zhongtian's face, but after a moment he began to walk around with a frown. Logically speaking, they can take advantage of the situation and retake the entire territory of Taizhou. Even if they are unable to hold on to Taizhou City, there is no problem. Why?

Will it be withdrawn?

"Could it be a trick to lure the enemy into the city and take the opportunity to annihilate us?" Zhao Zhongtian asked with some worry. This time, the Fuzhou Army was indeed frightened.

Ding Hui was also stunned. What Zhao Zhongtian said was not unreasonable.

"Perhaps Fuzhou's troops have been depleted and they no longer have the ability to garrison Taizhou?" Ding Hui frowned and raised another possibility.

Zhao Zhongtian lowered his face and said nothing. He was very afraid that the last five thousand people would join in. The Yangzhou army came out with 30,000 people, but now only these five thousand people are left.

After pondering for a long time, Ding Hui saw that Zhao Zhongtian still had no choice, and said in a deep tone: "General, my subordinate has something to say, I don't know whether to say it or not."

Zhao Zhongtian waved his hand: "Let's talk and listen."

Ding Hui paused and said with a serious expression: "Now that Taizhou is defeated, the fire cannot be contained in the paper, and it will definitely spread to the capital. If the Yuwen family uses this as a handle, it may block your channel to enter the capital, general!"

Zhao Zhongtian's face darkened. This was not what he was most worried about. He looked up at Ding Hui and said, "Continue talking."

"Since we have been defeated, we can only make up for it as much as possible." Ding Hui said solemnly: "It may be King Fu's strategy to open Taizhou City wide now, but it is also very likely that there is really no one to garrison it. We will immediately march in to capture Taizhou.

Maybe it can silence some people in the capital, but it is better than sitting here and waiting for death! Besides, there is Fuzhou to fight down below. If we can gain some military glory by then, there is still hope for entering the capital!"

Zhao Zhongtian's eyes lit up. What Ding Hui said was indeed reasonable. Even if he was defeated, he would be defeated. He could only take a gamble that Fuzhou would really withdraw its troops.

"Okay! Let's take a gamble!" Zhao Zhongtian said fiercely: "You lead the entire army to march into Taizhou City immediately without delay!"

"General, take your orders!" Ding Hui nodded without hesitation and quickly walked out of the room to mobilize his troops.

Zhao Zhongtian was a little scared when he saw Ding Hui's retreating figure. After all, he still didn't dare to lead the troops in person. If he fell into the trap, he might not even be able to save his own life.

Then Zhao Zhongtian thought of what Ding Hui had just said. Fuzhou could still earn military honors, but when the three armies gathered together and the Liangzhou Army was the main force, how could his five thousand men have the strength to compete with the Liangzhou Army?

I am afraid that even the Gyeonggi army cannot compare.

Thinking of this, an idea suddenly came to Zhao Zhongtian's mind, why not transfer some soldiers from Yangzhou? Although his elder brother repeatedly told him to preserve his strength, now the arrow is on the string and he has to shoot. The price has been paid, if he can't get it

It would be a real loss if you deserve the return you deserve.

"Alas!" Thinking of this, Zhao Zhongtian felt particularly irritable. He sat alone in the room and thought hard about countermeasures.

Two days later, Ding Hui sent someone to bring news from Taizhou City: "King Fu has indeed withdrawn his troops, and now the entire territory of Taizhou is in my hands!"

Zhao Zhongtian's dull mood for many days was finally relieved, and he hurriedly led his people to Taizhou overnight to take over the city.

The sun was shining brightly above the city of Taizhou, and Ding Hui walked with Zhao Zhongtian on the city tower.

There are still a lot of damage on the city wall, and it is full of holes, which are the traces left by the Yangzhou army's previous siege of the city for many days.

Zhao Zhongtian couldn't laugh or cry when he looked at Taizhou City, which had been difficult to capture for a long time but was now captured effortlessly. On the battlefield outside the city, the corpses of nearly 20,000 Yangzhou soldiers were still cold, but Taizhou City fell into his hands.

"Ding Hui! I have two letters here. One you send someone to the capital, and the other you personally go back to Yangzhou and give it to my father. This matter is very important. I don't trust it if it is handed over to others!" Zhao Zhongtian's

His eyes suddenly became sharp, and he turned to Ding Hui and said.

As soon as Zhao Zhongtian finished speaking, he took out two handwritten letters from his arms and handed them into Ding Hui's hands.

Ding Hui was stunned for a moment, a little confused, but looking at Zhao Zhongtian's serious eyes, he nodded heavily.
Chapter completed!