Chapter 835: Captives (9000-word supplement)

"This city... has fallen just like that?"

Dulongzi stared at the city gate that had been blown open, his face full of disbelief.

"Of course... It is not easy for my Supreme Thunder Technique to blast down a section of the city wall; it requires accumulating a large number of Thunder Pellets and digging tunnels... but what is wrong with blowing open two wooden gates? As long as there are death-defying soldiers willing to do it, it can be done!"

Aaron waved his hand dismissively, letting the remaining soldiers charge into the city through the gate.

Since ancient times, defending a city is about defending morale!

Once the city gate is breached, morale immediately collapses like an avalanche!

Aaron yawned and said to Zhan Da beside him: "Pass on my military order... The main army is to enter the city; they only need to secure the four gates, the prefectural office, the storehouses, and other key locations..."

Aaron nodded, seeing a death poem still on the wall nearby, but he didn't even look at it and walked toward the back.

"It is actually Chen Zitong!"

The group arrived at the main hall and saw a corpse hanging from the crossbeam, wearing the official robes of a Prefect.

The group rode their horses to the location of the prefectural office, where sounds of fighting were still coming from inside.

Immediately after...

"I don't care what kind of talent you are; if you cannot be used by me, then go die. Kill them!"

Aaron laughed, not caring about his inner struggle, and asked: "Is there anyone in the county office who has surrendered?"

"The reason for the stubborn resistance has been found. Camp Commander Chen Zitong, who was responsible for presiding over the city's defense, fled here with the Prefect after the defeat and wanted to continue resisting."

Boom!

Dulongzi's heart stirred; this man was quite a talented general.

However, once this city was taken and the corpses were collected at leisure, there would likely be three or four thousand Six Jia Divine Soldiers, as well as several thousand surrendered soldiers.

"Since that is the case, I will release the two of you. You go first to collect the remains and settle your families, then come to the prefectural office to serve."

He had wanted to strike down the Hidden Dragon in advance, staking everything on it, calculating every possibility, yet the Hidden Dragon had still escaped, and his efforts had fallen short at the final hurdle!

"Kill them!"

Seeing Aaron's gaze fall upon him, Fan Jin gave a bitter smile: "I, the unworthy Fan Jin, am willing to work for the Daoist! I only ask that you allow me to collect the Young Master's remains and preserve the Young Master's surviving clansmen!"

Aaron nodded and went to check, only to see a scene of bloody carnage.

However, when Aaron asked, this general also shook his head.

These two were the ones he valued most; one was Fan Jin, the other was Tang Xun. Both were civil and military, and their physiognomy was quite extraordinary.

Aaron gave an order, letting a Knight go.

After carefully examining the head, he felt a bit of melancholy.

So-called Qi Luck is actually power; wealth is power, territory is power, and talent is naturally power as well!

To truly seize Chen Zitong's Qi Number, one must seize the person himself!

"Hmm, then let's ask."

"None... The officials either ran away or committed suicide; only a few clerks are willing to be driven!"

There were also several severely wounded men, injured by the blast, crushed... with broken hands and feet, lying on the ground wailing.

Even though Dulongzi was a Daoist, he felt his heart tremble at this moment. He found another corpse and exclaimed: "It really is Chen Zitong!"

Not long after, a blood-stained Six Jia Divine Soldier came out: "Report... the office has been pacified!"

The structure was grand and vast with many rooms. Corpses lay on the ground, and there were traces of blades and arrows on the walls, clearly showing that the previous battle had been extremely intense.

Dulongzi was stunned for a moment.

Dulongzi nodded repeatedly, then saw several captives tied up. He went to look at them one by one, lost in thought, then came to Aaron's side and lowered his voice: "This Chen Zitong possesses Dragon Qi, and the few aides and generals around him are also talents who could save the world. If you can truly win their sincere allegiance, your Qi Number will surely increase greatly!"

Dulongzi nodded slightly and came to Aaron's side: "These words should be sincere!"

The old Daoist Dulongzi agreed and followed behind Aaron. The two passed through the city gate, where the shattered wooden boards and severed fingers and remains still lay.

Aaron was speechless: "If I said he was fated to die a violent death, and then had someone cut him down with a blade, what would you say then?"

The one being pointed at was Jiang Tui, who spat: "Rebellious traitor, are you worthy?"

Tang Xun had originally thought of dying rather than yielding, following Chen Zitong to the end. At this moment, his eyes reddened and he remained silent, seemingly in tacit agreement.

"This person is very capable."

Hei Er answered numbly: "We used the Supreme Divine Thunder; many were blown to death, and those who weren't blown to death were shaken to death or severely wounded. They have all been carried to the courtyard."

Aaron smiled.

"I couldn't ask for more."

"Daoist, are you willing to enter the city with me?"

"Order... mobilize the residents to put out the fire!"

Aaron became interested: "Then let's go see, are they still alive?"

Dulongzi was out to support the dragon; he could see this much clearly.

"Before the city was breached, a squad of soldiers protected the Prefect and fled to the prefectural office, where they are still putting up a desperate resistance."

Of course, sometimes a Qi Gazer can only see mist or the surface; this is the confusion of Heavenly Intent.

Could it be... that his Qi Number greatly suppresses the Hidden Dragon?

"Sigh... what a pity, what a pity..."

Hei Er, covered in blood, returned to report.

The sound of the explosion rang out, nearly scaring Dulongzi off his horse.

"Give you another hour, pacify this office for me!"

After waiting for another few hours, the sounds of fighting in the city finally gradually subsided.

"It should have been this way; a few were already too few..."

How is it that when Xulingzi makes a move, it is so effortless, and he succeeds so easily?

This world has the Qi Gazing Technique; whenever a great talent pledges allegiance, their Qi Number must fluctuate, so it is truly difficult to hide the truth with lies.

Seeing this, Hei Er said: "After he died, several personal soldiers voluntarily cut their own throats to follow their master in death..."

Aaron gave the order, and he saw several Six Jia Divine Soldiers with explosive packs strapped to their bodies charge inside.

Hei Er shook his head.

Aaron also sneered, and Hei Er struck with one blade, severing the general's head.

Dulongzi widened his eyes: "Daoist Xulingzi, this is the Hidden Dragon that the Five Skies Sect has bet on... I never expected to be able to kill him here today!"

But if they are unwilling to follow the rebels, then no matter how high their talent, they can only be killed.

"Since the city has fallen, the Prefect has died for the city; at least his family can be preserved. Not bad, not bad, still quite clever!"

"What is going on?"

Dulongzi sighed repeatedly and looked at the last two.

Aaron dismounted and walked into the Prefect's office, which he could not have entered at all in the past.

Aaron raised an eyebrow and asked.

Aaron had originally been indifferent, but then he thought about how his subordinates were indeed lacking people, especially commanding generals, so he pointed at the captives and asked: "Are you willing to surrender?"

Aaron waved his hand, and Hei Er immediately cut the ropes of these two men.

"Hmm."

Aaron rode the White Tiger Xiaoyu, followed by a dozen cavalrymen, and asked with a smile.

Then he looked at the next one; this time it was a Wu general, but he was covered in dust and dirt, with blood all over his face and body.

"Another dragon seed?"

The army is too small; that is the only downside.

Hei Er said.

Dulongzi rubbed his hands excitedly: "That scholar, his Qi is extraordinary; I see the fate of a prime minister in him..."

Aaron waved his hand, and Hei Er immediately went over to behead him.

Many civilian houses behind the city were destroyed, and the scene was extremely tragic.

"Not bad, not bad. Even if they had stayed, I wouldn't have wanted them anyway." Aaron nodded: "We have entered Jiangzhou Prefecture to establish a regime, and the use of personnel is the first priority. I will first draw a red line: as for the original officials, use them as little as possible. Even if they voluntarily pledge allegiance to us, Child Scholars at most; Cultivated Talents and Provincial Graduates must absolutely not be used!"

Studying until one becomes a Child Scholar is still acceptable, but once they reach the level of Cultivated Talent or Provincial Graduate, they have truly become steeped in their studies and have developed their own outlook on life, the world, and values. Their hearts are not upright, and it is difficult to change them again.

(End of chapter)