20demayo Page 1379
Page 1379
Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "Alright, then let's take down Guangji Army first."
"I will return to Qingzhou to discuss the attack on Tokyo."
"Everyone, drink less alcohol. The army will set off this afternoon."
...
Cai You ran wildly all the way.
After escaping back to Guangji Army,
He ordered the prefect of Guangji Army to continue gathering the defeated soldiers.
The matter of conquering Liangshan will be discussed again once the imperial court appoints another general to lead the army.
He then used the excuse of recuperating from his injuries to escape back to Tokyo.
Xu Jing, the military governor of Shangdang and Taiyuan, and Yang Wen, the military governor of Jiangxia and Lingling,
Also, when Xiang Yuanzhen, the military governor of Langya and Pengcheng, and two others led their troops back to Guangji Army...
Cai You has already fled to Tokyo.
Upon hearing that the three men had escaped and returned, Zhou Nanxing, the prefect of Guangji Army,
He then entrusted the task of reorganizing the army to the three men.
Xu Jing and his two companions were also veterans of the battlefield.
On the one hand, they intensified the reorganization of the troops.
On one hand, scouts were sent out to keep watch.
To guard against a surprise attack by the Liangshan bandits.
When the scouts discovered that the Liangshan army had already arrived,
He then hurried into the city to see Zhou Nanxing, the prefect of Guangji Army.
Zhou Nanxing heard that the Liang army was coming to attack.
They were also greatly surprised.
"The Liangshan bandits are coming in with great force,"
"Do the three generals have any good strategies to defeat the enemy?"
Xiang Yuanzhen shook his head and said, "The army has suffered two consecutive defeats, and morale is low."
"I'm afraid we won't be able to withstand the Liangshan bandits head-on."
"Moreover, the Liangshan bandits had stone cannons,"
"Even the main camp outside the city cannot be held,"
"We humbly request that the Prefect allow us to bring our troops into the city,"
"Only by relying on the city's defenses can we have a chance of victory."
Zhou Nanxing also knew that they were now in the same boat.
If the army outside the city collapses
Even the Guangji Army could not hold it.
They had no choice but to agree to let the three men lead their troops into the city.
However, the three were required to restrain the soldiers.
The people in the city must not be disturbed.
The army entered the city in less than half a day.
The Liang army then appeared below the city.
The army was deployed.
Zhang Kai saw that Xiang Yuanzhen's military flag was planted on the city wall.
"Your Majesty, the commander of Pengcheng in Langya is Xiang Yuanzhen on the city wall,"
“I have some connection with him,”
"Allow me to go up and say a few words to him."
Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "Xiang Yuanzhen is highly skilled in archery, General Zhang, please be careful."
"Yes!"
Zhang Kai rode his horse to the city walls, beyond the range of the arrows.
"General Xiang, Cai You must have run away again, right?"
Upon hearing this, the soldiers on the city wall
Another scratching sensation.
Prefect Zhou Nanxing hurriedly said,
"Cai You is recuperating at the yamen (government office)."
"Don't be misled by the thieves."
"Let him out!"
The soldiers on the city wall, however, refused to listen.
They all shouted in unison.
Zhou Nanxing hadn't expected these routed soldiers to be so bold.
Seeing the soldiers on the city wall start to shout.
It looked like a mutiny.
He was so frightened that his face changed drastically.
Xiang Yuanzhen naturally knew that Cai You had already escaped.
Little did they expect that Zhou Nanxing would try to deceive the soldiers just like Li Congji did.
He hurriedly shouted,
"Lord Cai's injuries are serious,"
"I went back to Tokyo to recuperate."
"The imperial court will soon send down a new commander,"
"Soldiers, do not panic."
Xiang Yuanzhen told the truth.
The soldiers gradually quieted down.
Chapter 1664 Unexpected, Right?
At this moment, Zhang Kai shouted again from outside the city.
"General Xiang, please don't lie to everyone,"
"I heard from General Li that Cai You only suffered some minor cuts and was not seriously injured."
"Everyone was paid to serve in the army, but Cai You received the highest salary."
"He only got a minor cut and then fled back to Tokyo,"
"Everyone gets the lowest pay, yet they have to stay here and risk their lives."
Xiang Yuanzhen saw that the soldiers on the city wall, whom Zhang Kai had instigated, were once again in disarray.
He couldn't help but ask anxiously,
"Open up, if you want to attack the city, then attack the city."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for not recognizing you with my bow and arrow."
Zhang Kai saw Xiang Yuanzhen pick up his bow and arrow.
He said no more and called out,
"The Song Dynasty's fate has run its course; the Great Liang Dynasty is destined to rise."
"General Xiang, why don't you abandon the darkness and embrace the light?"
"This will also prevent the soldiers from shedding blood and sacrificing themselves in battle."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Nanxing hurriedly said to Xiang Yuanzhen,
"General Xiang, do not listen to his nonsense,"
"Liangshan was nothing but a bunch of bandits; what great things could they have accomplished?"
Xiang Yuanzhen had already witnessed the might of the Liang army.
They naturally knew that Liangshan was no ordinary bandit group.
However, he showed no intention of submitting to the Great Liang.
"We are soldiers of the Great Song Dynasty, how can we betray the court?"
"Defending our territory is our duty,"
"It means fighting to the last soldier."
"We will never surrender."
Seeing Xiang Yuanzhen's stubbornness, Zhang Kai realized...
I know it's pointless to talk to him anymore.
They turned their horses around and retreated.
Zhao Yuan originally had some appreciation for Xiang Yuanzhen's talent.
Upon hearing Xiang Yuanzhen say this,
Enraged, he spurred his horse forward.
"Xiang Yuanzhen, Luan Tingyu spared your life on the battlefield last time,"
"Instead of being grateful, you are willing to serve a tyrannical ruler like Zhao Ji and aid and abet his evil deeds."
"If you wish to be loyal to the Song Dynasty, I will grant your request."
"After the city falls, they will be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public."
"This small town can be conquered in the blink of an eye."
"Listen, all other soldiers: those who surrender after the city falls will be spared."
Those who resist will be killed without mercy!
Upon hearing Zhao Yuan's words, Xiang Yuanzhen
He was furious.
He shot an arrow at Zhao Yuan.
"The light of a firefly cannot compete with the brilliance of the moon."
Zhao Yuan caught the incoming arrow.
Throw it on the ground.
Pick up his Overlord Bow,
Take out an iron arrow.
"Take this arrow."
Zhou Nanxing chuckled, "Could it be that this bandit can't shoot an arrow?"
"Even the archers on the city walls could barely shoot that far,"
"How could he possibly shoot his way up from below the city walls?"