In August in Nanyang, the weather was very hot and muggy. Xi Zhicai had his Confucian shirt open and a cattail leaf fan placed on the table.
Zhu Kui brought up the kettle on the table, poured two glasses of water, pushed one cup over, and said, "This glass is for me to thank Mr. Kui for helping me stabilize the situation in the city these past few days, so that Kui will not be completely defeated."
"Alas, the general has filtered too much. Zhicai promised the general to help Nanyang, and I will do my best. I drank this water. Please stop mentioning this matter again, general."
During this time together, he understood that Zhu Kui was a generous person, and if he didn't drink, he would definitely persuade him.
After seeing the drama, Zhu Kui drank it all in one gulp. As expected, Zhu Kui didn't mention it. He also picked up the other side, drank it all, and said, "How is your deduction for tomorrow's battle going?"
"Oh, that's it, General."
In fact, Zhu Kui had always left the matter of contact with Zhou Cang to Xi Zhicai.
"Just now, we have made detailed plans to sneak into the city with my letter. The original plan has already been changed."
"Oh, I would like to hear the details!" Zhu Kui asked with some confusion. He had not yet inquired carefully about the situation these days.
"..." Xi Zhicai whispered for a while, and heard Zhu Kui nod frequently and said: "General, forgive me, Zhicai did not report it in time, and changed the previous proposal without authorization."
"Sir, what is your fault? Warfare changes with time to achieve the most favorable outcome."
Zhu Kui poured another glass of water and pushed it over: "It's late at night, sir, go to bed early! Make a detailed report and let him report to me directly!"
After saying that, he said goodbye and left. The previous defeat made me more cautious in doing things.
On August 13, thick smoke and dust rose from the tower of Wancheng.
Wancheng Canal Commanders Zhao Hong, Huang Shao, and Zhou Cang were at the top of the city wall. Looking down, they saw a group of officers and soldiers running towards the city. These county soldiers were all wearing armor and holding a large banner with the Chinese character "Hunting" flying in the air.
I saw the horns sounding continuously, and soldiers constantly marching in formation, slowly approaching the city head, and gathering not far away. The shining weapons glowed dazzlingly under the reflection of the sun.
With such power, Zhao Hong and Huang Shao couldn't help but change their expressions. They could hear the heavy breathing of the soldiers beside them. This attack seemed different from the past. The entire momentum had changed. An army of 30,000 people, connected end to end, even if they were standing at a high place.
, and can only barely see the end.
Qu Commander Zhao Hong asked the surrounding soldiers: "Are there still officers and soldiers blocking the other three city gates?"
"Commander Geng, it's the same as before, with flags all over the place and hidden outside the city."
In the past few days, Xi Zhicai has been conducting feint attacks at various city gates. Therefore, Zhao Hong has never known the reality. He has nearly 40,000 soldiers and horses, but he does not dare to move at all.
"Why hasn't this handsome man arrived yet? Logically speaking, it's only five or six days' journey away. It's been more than half a month and he's still nowhere to be seen."
The commander is incompetent, there are many soldiers and food in the city, but they dare not engage in battle, and the morale of the bandit soldiers has been low for a long time.
At this time, in front of Zhu Kui, Qin Jie stood side by side, Xi Zhicai, Wang Cheng, Gan Ning, Liao Hua, Guan Hai and other generals were all on the left and right. Behind these people, there were dense soldiers.
All the generals stared at the city together, carefully observing the panic scene above, with a sneer on their lips.
After a long time, Zhu Kui said aloud: "Where are Wang Cheng, Liao Hua, and Guan Hai?"
At this time, the three people heard the sound and quickly came out of the queue, saying: "The general will be here."
"The three of you will go to the east, south, and north gates to take charge of the three gates, and be careful to prevent the leader of the thieves from escaping."
"No!" After the three of them accepted the order, they each took their people away.
"Gan Ning!"
"The end is here!"
"Push Zhang Mancheng's body out and shout for surrender!"
"Follow your orders!" With that said, Gan Ning went out. After a while, four officers and soldiers carried Zhang Mancheng's body to the bottom of the city.
In broad daylight, the ant thieves on the tower clearly saw Zhang Mancheng's head and body cut into pieces. The broken part was just a rough stitch made by Qin Jie's order. Dried blood and a batch of flies and mosquitoes were attached to it.
, seems particularly miserable...
"It's the Lord's envoy, why is he dead? Ah, it's over, the Lord is dead." When the ant thieves on the tower saw this, they turned to each other and screamed.
"Second Commander, what should we do now?" At this time, Qu Commander Zhou Cang whispered to Qu Commander Zhao Hong. Once upon a time, Zhao Hong had always hoped that Zhang Mancheng would die so that he could take his place. At this moment, he felt both ecstasy and fear in his heart.
"Are you guys going to surrender?"
Zhao Hong's words made Huang Shao a little confused. He murmured in his heart. He carefully expressed his opinion to Zhao Hong: "Why don't you try to talk to the officers and soldiers? If you can continue to lead the troops or pardon our crimes, you might as well surrender."
Already."
Zhao Hong looked at the densely packed camp several miles below the city, with Zhang Mancheng's body underneath. He sneered first, then showed a solemn expression, and finally sighed and said, "Then let's try to talk."
Soon someone shouted from the city tower, asking to see General Weilu.
Zhao Hong asked the court to make him a general and allow him to continue to lead troops, otherwise he would not surrender. In fact, Zhao Hong felt helpless. He knew that even if the court pardoned his crime and returned to his hometown to become a commoner, he had killed too many people earlier.
A wealthy man from an aristocratic family robbed their property. After recruiting him, if he had no soldiers or power, he would not be able to enjoy the wealth he had captured. Without the protection of his brothers, groups of assassins could easily kill him.
However, Zhu Kui refused his excessive request without even thinking about it. No, he must hand over all his troops and wait for the punishment of the court, but he can promise to spare a dog's life, that's all.
"Hmph, why don't you give me a way to survive?"
When he was young, Zhao Hong, who received Zhu Kui's reply, kicked the wall angrily, full of evil spirits, and coldly snorted: "Give me a few more days to guard, and these officers and soldiers will know that we are not that easy to deal with.
For the sake of merit promotion, you will definitely accept my suggestion to recruit and surrender."
After hearing this, Huang Shao was speechless. He was also reluctant to give up the wealth he had fought for, and wanted to fight for it again.
As the two stared, they didn't see Zhou Cang's expression change behind him. The murderous intent in his eyes pierced their chests, and he put his left hand behind his back to make a beheading gesture towards Zhou Tai.
Zhou Tai understood, grasped the sword tightly, and then he and Zhou Cang leaned behind Zhao Hong and Huang Shao. Zhou Cang's performance these days had already gained Zhao Hong's trust.
He quietly moved forward, which did not arouse the alertness of Zhao Hong and Huang Shao. Instead, he asked in a cold voice: "Shuai Zhao, I have something to say."
After hearing the sound, Zhao Hong turned around and saw Zhou Cang, who had always been silent. He was a little surprised. He wanted to hear what the other party had to say. After all, Zhou Cang's performance was very eye-catching these days. He didn't want a white light to shine through, so Zhou Cang grabbed him.
Zhao Hong lived there, and he felt extremely chilled by the suddenness of lightning.
"Shuai Zhao, if you don't surrender, then you will die."
"You...you..." Before Zhao Hong could finish his words, he tilted his neck and died unwillingly.
"Zhou Cang you?" Huang Shao shouted: "Someone is coming! Someone is coming."
"Pounce!" With a sound, Zhou Tai had already rushed behind him and stabbed him to death.
The two of them threw the bodies of Zhao Hong and Huang Shao aside together. Zhou Cang pointed at the bodies and shouted loudly at the top of the city: "Zhao Hong, Huang Shao is dead. I, Zhou Cang, am now your general canal commander. Why don't you follow me?"
Kaesong surrenders!”
A group of ant thieves gathered around them. Seeing the ferocious looks of the two people, and looking at Zhao and Huang who were already dead, they all stopped in their tracks. You looked at me, I looked at you, not knowing what to do.
At this time, someone downstairs shouted first: "The city gate is open, the army has entered the city."
It turned out that before Zhou Tai and Zhou Cang were ready to take action, they had already arranged on two fronts. While killing Zhao Hong, they also ordered their subordinates to open the city gate, thus ensuring that Zhu Kui could attack Wancheng.
As soon as the officers and soldiers entered the city, all the weapons and equipment on the towers surrendered. Zhou Tai and Zhou Cang came out to organize the landing troops, waiting for Zhu Kui to recruit them...
An hour later, people were sent from the city to report back, and some scattered resistance had been cleared up.
"Master Qin, what do you think? If Zhang Mancheng hadn't been outside, Wancheng would have been settled earlier. You are the governor of Nanyang, so you invite me first!" Zhu Kui said with a smile.
"The general is resourceful and I admire him."
The two of them laughed and went into the city together.
In Wancheng County Government Office, people were coming and going, but there was no sound. Only guards standing solemnly could be seen everywhere, and in the distance, the sound of horses neighing could be heard.
In the hall, under the gaze of everyone, Qin Jie took the main seat, with Zhu Kui on his right.
All the civil servants in Wancheng have been killed, and Qin Jie has become a polished commander, but he has already arranged for some filial and honest people from Jiangxia County to come here.
"Nanyang was pacified so smoothly, thanks to the general's efforts." Qin Jie thanked him first, and then said: "It's just that in Zhongxiang and Fuyang, the pheasants are still in the hands of some scattered ant thieves. I hope the general can get rid of them easily."
"This is natural." Zhu Kui responded: "I will divide my troops into three locations and inspect Nanyang thoroughly."
"Afterwards, if there is no new order from the imperial court, I hope Master Qin can give me food and grass. The soldiers still want to go north to see if there is time to rush to the rescue of General Zhonglang and others."
"It's natural." Qin Jie agreed. "It's just that the general is going to take away the more than 30,000 surrendered soldiers in Wancheng."
"No, no, these ant thieves are all Nanyang people. They should return to Nanyang and plow the fields again in the future. They are all young and strong laborers." Zhu Kui has no intention of continuing to recruit more surrendered troops. He has already experienced surrendered troops.
It's a bitter fruit. What he wants to do now is to build strong soldiers and generals.
"The general is still thoughtful."
General Qin Jie was born, but he actually had no strategy for governing counties.
In the first year of Zhongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty, on August 13, 184 AD, Wancheng was defeated, and Zhou Cang killed Zhao Hong and Huang Shao.
On August 14, Zhu Kui's army marched in three separate directions to Zhongxiang, Fuyang and Zhi counties respectively.
On the 15th, all three counties surrendered.
The Yellow Turbans in Nanyang were completely pacified, but after the turmoil, the people were in chaos. Although Qin Jie was born as a military general, he tried his best to make Nanyang settle down. However, after the war, Nanyang County was left with ruins and tiles, and it was no longer the place it once was when Guangwu Zhongxing
If we want to restore its grand appearance, we don’t know how many years or months it will take.