Chapter 86

Taizhou City.

Looking down at the imperial army constantly approaching outside the city, Huang Renlong's face was terrifyingly gloomy.

It wasn't because the incoming enemy was too strong; on the contrary, it was because the imperial army was too weak.

If the imperial army was magnificent and looked like an elite force, then his defeat last time wouldn't be unjust.

The imperial army in front of him had neither neat military appearance nor strong physique.

Walking freely and loosely, looking gray-faced one by one, the whole army was filled with twilight.

From the scene in front of him, it was hard to compare this group of mobs with the enemy elite that defeated them.

If the guys who defeated them last time were this group, then the righteous army's combat effectiveness really couldn't be seen.

"Have you verified whether this imperial army really came from Yangzhou City?"

Huang Renlong asked uncertainly.

If the imperial army in other regions was at this level, he could completely accept it.

During the four times he smuggled salt in the past, he had also dealt with garrisons in various places.

Because of lack of training, garrison soldiers were generally loose.

Combat consciousness was almost equal to zero; dropping a few taels of broken silver on the road could make this group of guys who hadn't seen the world stop.

But attacking Yangzhou last time was different; the quality shown by the defenders was far from what this group of soldiers in front could compare to.

"Big Brother, don't doubt it; these people really came from Yangzhou City.

There are some old acquaintances inside; I arranged for people to spend money to inquire.

It is said that there was a conflict within the Wucheng Military Commission, and those generals with real power looked down on those who were just hanging around; the two sides had a fierce quarrel.

Perhaps it also has something to do with Grand Secretary Xu, who sits in Yangzhou; a city cannot hold two Imperial Envoys.

When he took office, no one in Yangzhou went to welcome him.

People in the government are best at internal fighting; to compete for power, Grand Secretary Xu must have had a conflict with Marquis Wuyang.

Later, I don't know what happened, but the Wucheng Military Commission suddenly split into two routes, advancing north and south at the same time.

What we encountered before was a regular army; most of the soldiers were personal guards brought by those generals, so their combat effectiveness was naturally powerful.

The team in front of us is led by a general surnamed Rong.

It is said that he is from Imperial Consort Rong's family, purely a playboy.

Those who act together are all famous playboys in the capital.

Besides the thugs of these guys, the rest are local soldiers from Yangzhou, with no combat effectiveness."

Huang Renliang explained.

Adversity is the easiest way to make people grow.

In the past, he was used to listening to his big brother and basically didn't need to use his brain.

In recent days, Huang Renlong suddenly started to rot, spending his days in debauchery, and many military affairs fell on him.

Biting the bullet and handling it, the whole person changed.

Problems he wouldn't have thought about before, he now keeps an eye on.

"If that's the case, then this battle is easy to fight.

Send people out to verify and confirm whether the other route of the Wucheng Military Commission has entered Xinghua now.

Marquis Wuyang is not a fool; under normal circumstances, he wouldn't send these people to die; I'm worried this is the enemy's conspiracy!"

Huang Renlong nodded and said.

Official infighting is not strange, but the identities of these people under the city are special.

Either they are imperial relatives or noble families; their backgrounds are one bigger than the other.

In the past, if any of these guys died in their jurisdiction, local officials would be so anxious they would jump into the river.

Sending so many people out at once to be cannon fodder—no matter how you look at it, it feels like a conspiracy.

……

"Attack the city!"

Seeing that the enemy had no movement, Commander Rong ordered immediately.

However, given that his bizarre orders in the past were too many and everyone had suffered a lot along the way, the generals around him didn't act immediately.

"Commander, we don't have siege equipment!

Military books say that siege warfare requires siege equipment.

Last time the rebels attacked Yangzhou City, they used a lot of equipment."

Shi Haifu advised.

As fellow playboys in the capital, compared to Commander Rong, who was purely a military novice, he still had a sense of superiority.

As a noble descendant, although he was not promising, he was still forced to read a few military books when he was young.

Most of the content was returned, but some basic knowledge was still understood.

Deep down, he had always had a dream.

That was to lead troops on an expedition one day, to be able to achieve great military glory, letting those who looked down on him know who was the most outstanding in the family.

However, since it was a dream, it was limited to when he was sleeping.

After waking up, he still ate and drank.

The ministers in the court are not fools; Great Dayu's army cannot be said to have famous generals, but military generals above the passing line still exist; no one would hand over the army to an unpromising playboy descendant.

The dream of sealing the wolf was shattered; when the Yangzhou defense battle started, he went to advise Marquis Wuyang, but was also met with a cold reception.

Compared to him, a playboy with a bad reputation, people were more willing to believe in generals holding important positions in the army.

After a burst of indignation, he finally waited for an opportunity.

Compared to Marquis Wuyang, the Commander Rong in front didn't look very smart and was obviously much easier to bluff.

"The rebels held siege equipment and still didn't capture Yangzhou City.

Facts prove that whether there is siege equipment or not is not the key to capturing the city.

However, we have come from afar, and the soldiers are tired; let's rest for two days first.

Remember to send people to deliver letters of persuasion to the city; the highest realm of a general is to subdue the enemy without fighting!"

Commander Rong supported his face and said.

Although Taizhou is not as good as Yangzhou, the city walls are not something that can be climbed with bare hands.

Forgetting siege equipment was his mistake, and even more so the mistake of the many generals under his command.

Such a big thing, and no one told him in advance; it was clear they wanted to see him make a fool of himself.

They were all mixing in the same circle; he knew what kind of color everyone was.

The playboy circle has no good people, and good people can't be playboys.

There were many people jealous of him serving as Regional Commander; he didn't believe these guys would work hard.

Just like when Marquis Wuyang served as commander before, he himself didn't do less to make trouble.

……

Letters of persuasion flew into the city; the effect of persuasion didn't manifest, but instead provoked a burst of cursing from the city defenders.

Since falling out with the families, the righteous army soldiers had transformed into a peasant army, and nine out of ten members were illiterate.

Persuading a group of illiterate people to surrender was more like insulting them for not knowing characters.

Most people didn't know characters, but there were also those who did.

"The opportunity to defeat the enemy has come; I am prepared to arrange for people to pretend to surrender and trick the enemy into the city.

If the enemy refuses to enter the city, then use negotiation as an excuse to get close to the Regional Commander and seize the opportunity to control him.

There are many big figures in the enemy army outside the city; everyone should try their best to catch them alive.

These people will have great use later; maybe when attacking other cities, they can be used to trick the city!"

Huang Renlong said spiritedly.

The opportunity to turn over had come; this time, he couldn't miss it.

Eating up this imperial army, the prestige lost before could be made up.

Only when military morale is restored can one consider the next step.

Reason told him that Taizhou was not a place to stay for long, and even the entire Yangzhou Prefecture had no place for him.

If he didn't want to die in the hands of the imperial court, he had to jump out of the Yangzhou circle as soon as possible to have a glimmer of hope.

……

Gaoyou Prefecture.

Under the fierce attack of the Capital Battalion's main army, the Baoying defenders, who suffered heavy casualties, finally welcomed a collapse.

The bad news came, and Wen Feiyang was stunned.

Xinghua falling could be said to be an accident, but Baoying being lost was the enemy's forced assault.

According to the initial assumption, the righteous army's layout in Baoying could hold out for at least a month.

Overnight, the Wen family army, which occupied one prefecture and two counties, was left with only one isolated city.

Hunkering down in Gaoyou is waiting for death; with the manpower and material resources in the hands of the imperial court, they can completely besiege them for a long time.

Leaving Gaoyou Prefecture City and encountering the enemy in the wild would only lead to a faster death.

Both sides were a dead end, and there was no way to see a path to survival.

Whether it was the pro-amnesty faction that occupied the mainstream or the pro-northern expedition faction that took a side path, they no longer had their past arrogance.

"General, the imperial army has completed the pincer attack on us; strategically, we have failed.

Gaoyou is no longer a place to stay for long; we must leave as soon as possible.

The Great Dayu Dynasty has been passed down for more than two hundred years; counting the time, it should be time for a change of dynasty.

We are just unlucky, starting the rebellion a little early, but the final outcome is unchanged; the Great Dayu will eventually perish.

Without the constraints of the foundation, we have many directions to choose from.

We can enter the mountains to temporarily avoid the imperial army's edge and kill them when the time comes.

We can also choose to be wandering bandits and stir up the Great Dayu's rivers and mountains.

As long as we run fast enough, the imperial army won't be able to catch up with us!"

Hearing Wen Feiyun's words, everyone rolled their eyes on the spot.

The momentum was so strong, and they thought there was some wonderful strategy; without expecting it, it could be summarized in one word—run!

But this is indeed a way; if you can't win, run—this is a common strategy.

As noble descendants, they have read history books.

Historically, no matter which righteous army, when facing the imperial court's heavy encirclement and suppression, most of the time they were running.

Even if they defeated the imperial army, it was achieved while running.

Rebellion has never been smooth sailing.

There is simply no such thing as defeating the imperial army at the start, sweeping the world, and unifying the world by pushing through the feudal lords.

"Saying run is natural, but without the foundation in Gaoyou Prefecture, what will so many of us eat?

You have all read history books; you should know that wandering bandits are not easy to be.

The clan members have never suffered the bitterness of displacement; once the family business is abandoned, I'm afraid everyone won't be able to bear it!"

An elder spoke up to refute.

It is hard to leave one's homeland, especially for old guys like them.

Fighting for the world is purely a painted cake, used to unite people's hearts and bluff the soldiers below.

As plan formulators, they don't believe themselves that their family can ask for the Central Plains.

There is no other reason; they have read too many books.

Since ancient times, those who raise troops to rebel first are all paving the way for others.

Searching through history books, one can't find a successful case.

"Clan Elder, we must eat this bitterness.

If you are willing to follow and fight for the world, then follow the main army.

If you don't want to take risks, while the family still has some ability, then send people away as soon as possible.

In fact, besides us, the choices of the other families are to arrange for the clan's younger generation to leave secretly.

Either go into exile overseas, go up the mountain to become bandits, or change their names and appear with new identities.

Under the whole world, is it not the king's land? Where can one run to?

Even if they temporarily escape a disaster, once their identity is exposed in the future, they still can't avoid being liquidated by the imperial court.

Moreover, our reputation is well-known, and the whole world knows that salt merchants are rich.

In the eyes of the outside world, we are all gold and silver mountains.

Even if the family property in various places is sealed by the imperial court, the outside world won't believe it.

According to the tradition of big families, for the sake of descendants, which family doesn't arrange a few secret treasure houses!"

Wen Feiyun said helplessly.

Wealth moves people's hearts; their name is simply too loud.

Even if the family property in various places is sealed by the imperial court, the outside world won't believe it.

According to the tradition of big families, for the sake of descendants, which family doesn't arrange a few secret treasure houses!

"If there is no better way, then follow Feiyun's suggestion and abandon Gaoyou Prefecture.

To avoid being wiped out by the enemy in one pot, this time I decided to divide the righteous army into three, respectively breaking through in the south, north, and west directions.

Counting the one that has already set out, it is actually four armies, just right for the four branches of the clan to lead one army each.

For those who don't want to follow the righteous army, after distributing some travel expenses, I will arrange for people to send them away secretly.

From now on, unless the Wen family wins the world, the branches scattered out will never contact each other again!"

Wen Feiyang made a decision with a heavy heart.

Originally, the strength was not good, and dividing the troops would only further weaken the righteous army's strength.

But there is no way; now they have to run.

The strength of the righteous army is secondary; the key is to preserve the family bloodline inheritance.

Not dispersing and withdrawing, once blocked by the enemy, it is total annihilation.

"You young people go!

The imperial army is coming aggressively; someone needs to stay behind to break the rear and fight for time for the main army to withdraw.

We old bones are all at this age, just right to make one last effort for the family!"

The clan elder who took the initiative to stay behind to break the rear was the one who opposed the withdrawal just now.

……

(End of chapter)