After stepping over the scorched corpses and defeated heads lying all over the city gate, and after questioning the surrendered soldiers, Wang Zheng was quite surprised to learn that the Guangling defenders had made various preparations for war.
After hearing the name of the opposing guard, Wang Zheng felt that it was unknown, but it could be seen that he was not an incompetent person. If Yan Xiang had not proposed the cave attack tactic this time, he would have prepared talents like Leqi who are proficient in digging techniques.
With the ability of this defender and the four to five thousand city defense troops, the price to attack the city, both in terms of time and personnel, would probably not be too light.
Especially after hearing the description of the surrender, Wang Zheng immediately realized that the guard was the man who was awakened in the middle of the night without even wearing his armor and ran to quell the chaos with a spear. He heard that he was Zhang Fei's personal guard, known as
What are the Eighteen Yan Cavalry Generals?
No wonder he used a spear...
After victory, it is natural to reward based on merit.
Although Wang Zheng personally took part in the danger and even led people to seize the city gate and lower the suspension bridge, he still decided to give the final credit to Yan Xiang and Na Leqi.
On the one hand, the key factor in quickly breaking through the city this time was the hole attack. On the other hand, Wang Zheng himself was already the leader of a force, and from the first day of the uprising, he had no intention of being subordinate to anyone.
.
Ministers like Yan Xiang need merit, promotion, promotion, and favor from Yuan Shu, but lords like him don't need it, so why should they compete with them for merit?
Why not just sell it well?
After the last remaining resistance in the city was crushed, it was already dusk.
After this battle, more than two thousand people were beheaded and a large number of Guangling troops were captured. It was a well-deserved victory.
The most important thing is that this journey was not only unstoppable, but also victorious in all three battles. In the attack from Yangzhou to Guangling, both the Tian army and the Yuan army had reached the double peak of confidence and momentum. With such sharp fronts,
, facing the remaining cities in Guangling, both Wang Zheng and Yan Xiang knew that they were within easy reach.
Because of this, when Yan Xiang also brought Yuan Yin and others to the county government, Wang Zheng went straight to the point, saying that something had happened in Pengcheng and wanted to lead the army back directly.
"What?" After hearing this, everyone was shocked. Even Yan Xiang, who was quite good at nourishing qi, was instantly moved: "The governor wants to return to Pengcheng at this time?"
"That's right," Wang Zheng nodded: "I came to Yangzhou because I feel the kindness of Yuanzhou's pastor, so I asked for a visit."
"Moreover, he was not only ignorant of political ethics but entrusted him with important responsibilities and became the coach of Guangling Road."
"Now that the work has been accomplished, it can be considered that it has lived up to the high expectations. It is normal to leave after the incident."
"That's wrong." Yan Xiang frowned the more he listened, and said directly: "Processor, although we have captured Guangling County, there are eleven counties in this county, and we only got the third. How can we count it as merit?
Is it done?"
Hearing this, before Wang Zheng could speak, Gu Jian on the side had already interjected: "Master Yan, you are also... That's wrong!"
"We all know that the Guangling centaurs have stationed troops in Tangyi from the beginning, and were personally guarded by the county guard Zhao Yu and Xuzhou Mu Liu Xuande's brother Zhang Fei. When our army won a great victory in the first battle, it actually defeated all the troops in Guangling County.
Immediately crippled!"
"Now that Guangling has been defeated, I feel that the five thousand men and horses in this city are most likely the last men and horses in Guangling. After this victory, the remaining seven or eight cities will become seventy or eighty cities. What's the point of taking them?
Disaster?"
Wang Zheng on the side secretly gave a thumbs up to the ancient sword. Although the ancient sword has been included in the system, it may be because of the relationship between the two parties, or it may be because of the continuous wars in recent days, Lu Bu wants to take advantage of it, and Wang Zheng's momentum is not yet there.
Told him.
But this young man was young but had a good mind. Like most of the Heavenly Army, he felt that Wang Zheng's coming to Yangzhou was unnecessary from the beginning. Later, he was even more of a bridegroom for Yuan Shu when he attacked Guangling, which was purely thankless.
Fortunately, after these few battles, Gu Jian could vaguely see that the bulk of the casualties were still on Yuan Jun's side, so he felt a little better.
Now that I heard that the general wanted to withdraw, even though it was a little late, I could still help rob him a moment earlier.
As Gu Jian spoke, Wang Zheng nodded frequently and said slowly: "What Gu Jian said is true."
"The situation in Guangling is very optimistic now. Regardless of the number of troops, strength, momentum, or even the bravery of the generals, your army has the upper hand. It doesn't matter whether the general is present or not."
"Even if the overall situation in Guangling has been decided..." Yan Xiang's mind changed rapidly, he thought of something else, and said hurriedly:
"But I have just sent a military document reporting the victory to Shouchun. I can conquer Guangling. It can be said that the governor has made the greatest contribution. It is expected that he will be helpful to the workers in the near future. He will give rewards and even promotion orders, and even..."
Promotion?
Wang Zheng sneered secretly, what promotion? Let me, the governor of Xuzhou, be promoted to the position of pastor of Xuzhou?
No need, just one empty title is enough.
Before Yan Xiang could finish speaking, Wang Zheng waved his hand and interrupted: "Sir, please don't forget that I and Zhou Mu are allies, and it is our duty to help each other."
"Reward, that's what I mean." He shook his head repeatedly, clapped his hands and laughed: "It's superfluous."
Yan Xiang was startled and immediately heard the implication of Wang Zheng's words. He quickly laughed and said, "It's just a matter of words."
"It's just that if the governor wants to return to Pengcheng, he can also go to Shouchun first, and then leave after meeting the lord..."
"It's wrong to say goodbye without saying goodbye."
After hearing this, Wang Zheng raised his eyebrows, stood up and made a gesture of holding his hands up, as if he was shaking his head to confess to Yuan Shu. At the same time, his face straightened and he said in a deep voice:
"It's just that Mr. Yan doesn't know. This general does have a reason to return to Pengcheng immediately. This is forced by the situation and has no other choice!"
"Is it necessary to have a situation?" Yan Xiang and Yuan Yin looked at each other and asked in surprise: "Why is it not necessary to have a situation?"
"What kind of changes happened in Pengcheng?"
"I'll tell you the truth." Wang Zhengdao: "Just yesterday, I received an urgent military report!"
"Not long ago, General Lu Bu led the elite cavalry of Bingzhou to the gates of Pengcheng! He threatened to surrender to Liu Bei!"
What?
As soon as these words came out, not only Yan Xiang, Yuan Yin, but also everyone in the Yuan Army behind him, and even Gu Jian and others on the Tianjun side who had not known it before, were all horrified and frightened, with horrified expressions on their faces.
Lu Bu's reputation among men and Red Rabbit among horses is too great.
Yan Xiang suddenly stood up in excitement. In his panic, not only was the famous scholar Feng Yi gone, but he also didn't pay attention. His long sleeves directly swept a tea cup off the table.
He only heard a crisp bang, but he couldn't see the debris all over the ground, and said anxiously: "Lü Bu has arrived in Xuzhou?"
"You still want to help Liu Bei?"
"How many troops did you bring, and when did they arrive?"
"I feel ashamed to say that." Wang Zheng shook his head, with a worried look on his face: "My sentry cavalry is not as good as Zhou Mu's elite. It is said that there are only four to five thousand people in the investigation, but I always feel that this may not be the case."
"Four to five thousand people?"
Yan Xiang was also startled, with a thoughtful look on his face. He still wanted to ask, but he saw the ancient sword on the side shouting directly: "General, there is no room for loss in Pengcheng!"
"What are we still discussing? What are we waiting for? Let's get back help quickly!"
The generals of the Heavenly Army behind them also started shouting. Not to mention the importance of Pengcheng as a gateway and Xiongguan, just speaking of emotions, among the three counties supported by Wang Zheng, Pengcheng was the first place to arrange marriages between the nobles in the city and the middle-level generals of the Heavenly Army.
, even at this time on the field, there were many people, or their nephews were now Pengcheng's sons-in-law.
In addition, after the Yanzhou disaster, Pengcheng was originally a large area with a sparse population, which made it easier for families to move there. When they heard that Pengcheng was in danger, they immediately became anxious.
On Yuan Jun's side, all flags and banners suddenly ceased, and even Yan Xiang fell silent for a moment.
Gu Dao
Wang Zheng dropped this bombshell, and no one had any reason or confidence to persuade him.
Even if you don't think about Wang Zheng, if Lu Bu were to rush through Pengcheng to support Liu Bei, wouldn't Yuan Shu's good situation be affected?
Wang Zheng first waved his hand to stop the commotion of the generals, and at the same time sighed to Yan Xiang:
"Sir, you saw it too."
"Many of my brothers in the Heavenly Army, including officers and soldiers, are from Pengcheng. Pengcheng is indeed a powerful city in the world, but if it is someone else, then Lu Bu... what kind of person is he?"
"The fiercest tiger in the world wants to bite people!"
Wang Zheng said clearly: "With such powerful enemies surrounding us and watching with eager eyes, even Pengcheng is always in danger of overthrowing."
"Now that the morale of the army is unstable, I intend to continue to help Yuan Zhoumu, but..."
He sighed in a pinched manner: "But I am powerless."
Having said this, he shouted loudly, and then some personal guards walked into the hall. Wang Zheng took the letter and handed it directly to Yan Xiang, saying: "I also know that it is quite unethical to leave in such a hurry, but Zhou Mu Shen
I believe you will understand the righteousness of the matter. This is a reply to him. I have explained the whole story in it, but after Guangling is pacified, I hope that you can put in a few nice words for me and explain it in front of the governor."
At this point, what does Yan Xiang have to say?
What's more, he was so smart, and he had already thought clearly at this time. It was true that Lu Bu had arrived in Xuzhou, and Wang Zheng could not lie to others about this kind of thing. After all, Shouchun would know the truth with a casual check.
But did Pengcheng know that the situation there was critical, and did Lu Bu really come to Xuzhou this time to help Liu Bei...
But only he, Wang Zheng, knew that.
And there is no way this news was only learned in the past two days!
If what he expected was correct, it was the messenger who came to Tangyi that day who told him that if this person could suppress it till now, there must be some exaggeration in the matter. However, he did not reveal it, and only now he directly threw it out.
He didn’t give himself and others a chance to make a clear distinction, and at the same time, he killed them first and then reported them later!
It's just weird...
Until he received the letter from Wang Zheng, Yan Xiang was still muttering in his heart. The two most difficult cities in Guangling had been captured. Why was Wang Zheng so anxious to leave at this time?
Yan Xiang took the letter and read it again and again, feeling speechless for a while.
For a while.
He then sighed and said: "The governor is a famous general in the world. When you are here, we will naturally be invincible and conquer all battles."
"But once you leave, the remaining cities in Guangling..."
"Sir, you are ridiculous." Wang Zheng laughed dumbly. He pointed his halberd finger at Yuan Yin and other generals opposite him, and said with a smile: "Yuan Xiaowei, Wu Xiaowei, these... none of them are talented generals. It is easy to capture a city and win with the palm of a hand."
."
"What's more, there is a saying in the art of war that the three armies can seize the spirit, and the general can seize the heart. Therefore, the morning energy is sharp, the day energy is lazy, and the evening energy returns. Those who are good at using soldiers should avoid their sharp energy and attack their lazy energy. This is the way to control the energy."
"The Guangling army has now lost its gate and its capital, and its morale is low. It's the end of the day."
"And the heroes of our army are already at the peak of their youth, and coupled with the power of long-lasting victory, they are just like the tiger crowing out of the wood. This is when I attack the lazy ones with sharpness!"
Seeing the sincere praise from the princes on his side, Yuan Yin and others who were convinced by his abilities now felt quite flattered and couldn't help but hold their heads high.
However, Yan Xiang was a little bit amused, especially when he heard the phrase "a vigorous age", he glanced at Wang Zheng and muttered to himself, this guy...
Are you praising them or bragging about yourself?
"What the governor said is true." Although he was worried, Yan Xiang couldn't refute. Wouldn't that directly offend Yuan Yin and others?
"I hope our army's next war will go as smoothly as before."
"But there is something," Yan Xiang thought for a while and then said, "I need to explain it to the governor."
"Oh?" Wang Zheng was startled, what else is going on?
"Sir, please speak."
"There will be many wars in the future. As the governor said, our two armies formed an alliance and should have watched and helped each other, but our army is also unable to do so..."
"Haha." Wang Zheng laughed and said directly: "Sir, you are worrying too much."
What did I think it was? It turns out that you were worried that I would take the opportunity to take away part of Yuan Jun.
Not to mention that he has a great system in hand and has top-notch soldiers like Taishan, so he is really short of soldiers, and future generations like him would rather have a shortage than a surplus.
After this period of time, Wang Zheng took notice of Yuan Jun's performance. To be honest, he really didn't bother to coerce him.
However, Yan Xiang's words reminded him.
"Sir." Looking at Yan Xiang with a smile, Wang Zhengdao said: "I am going back to rescue this time, but I really want someone to help me."
"Our army will also have a war next, and the generals and their ilk..." Yan Xiang refused without asking.
"I'm not a general." Wang Zheng smiled and said, "I want that Leqi."
If we really want to talk about the rewards of this trip to Yangzhou, besides winning Bu Wan'er's red pill and gaining a lot of experience, what surprised Wang Zheng the most was this joy.
This is a rare professional talent.
Not to mention anything else, just because he can dig tunnels, Wang Zheng is ready to take him away directly. Even if Yan Xiang doesn't agree, then he will be robbed secretly if his request cannot be made or he can't explain it.
Wang Zhengke planned to take him back and set up an underground camp from the local army, and they all followed Leqi to learn the techniques of digging tunnels.
"This man." Yan Xiang suddenly realized, smiled and said: "It is rare for a governor to open his mouth, so he will not refuse."
He guessed the reason why Wang Zheng valued this person, but it didn't matter.
The custom of keeping three thousand guests in aristocratic families has been around for a long time since the Spring and Autumn Period. Yuan Shu, who was born in the Yuan family in Runan, has no shortage of such crooked talents.
...
Now that he was about to leave, Wang Zheng did not completely become a hands-off shopkeeper.
In his heart, he sincerely hoped that Yuan Shu could capture Xiapi and Guangling again, and it would be best to force Liu Bei away.
Therefore, under the command of experienced veterans like him, Yuan's army occupied Guangling very quickly. First, they selected some people who would rather die than surrender, and piled their heads in the city as a shock.
He also calmed people's hearts and restored order, and finally arranged manpower to repair the city, set up defense lines, and recruit surrendered troops.
Then Wang Zhengcai mobilized his own army, and did not bring much food or baggage. He only led some Guangling craftsmen (he did not want gold or silver in the capture, only such talents) and drove directly out of Guangling and headed west.
Before leaving, Wang Zheng couldn't defeat the stalking Yan Xiang. Wang Zheng pinched his nose and promised reluctantly that after the crisis in Pengcheng was resolved, if there were changes in the war here, he would not rule out leading the army to march eastward for the second time to help.
A helping hand from the Skeleton King.
They traveled quickly day and night, crossing mountains and wading rivers. Soon after, a sentinel came to report that the distance ahead was less than a hundred miles from Lu County.