Chapter 385: Zuo Ling Surrenders

"General, I don't think they're going to come out of the city to surrender. Why don't we just storm it!"

At this moment, Xiahou Dun, who had been waiting under the city walls, saw that there had been no response for so long and became impatient as he spoke to Cao Cao.

Hearing this, Cao Cao replied in a calm tone, comforting him:

"Miaocai, there is no need to be anxious. There are only four thousand troops in the city now, and since Wang Fang is dead, I am certain they will come out to surrender!"

As the future Martial Emperor of the Great Wei, Cao Cao possessed at least that much insight and foresight.

Sure enough, just as Cao Cao's voice trailed off, the gates of Heguang City slowly opened, and Zuo Ling was seen walking out with a group of people.

Seeing this, Cao Cao could not help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly. It seemed that, just as he had expected, the garrison of Heguang City had chosen to surrender.

Just as Cao Cao's thoughts were racing, Zuo Ling had already led the group before him.

Looking at Cao Cao, who was surrounded by a group of martial generals, Zuo Ling looked at him respectfully and asked cautiously:

"May I ask if you are General Cao?"

Hearing this, Cao Cao glanced at Zuo Ling, straightened his lapels, and said in a loud voice:

"I am indeed Cao Cao. Who are you?"

Upon hearing that the martial general before him was indeed the Great Han Imperial Court's commander-in-chief, Cao Cao, Zuo Ling immediately knelt on the ground and shouted loudly to Cao Cao:

"I am Zuo Ling, Deputy General of the Heguang City garrison. I lead the civil and military officials of Heguang City in surrendering to you, General. I beg you to be lenient in your judgment!"

At this time, the people behind Zuo Ling, seeing his actions, also knelt on the ground and shouted in unison:

"We are willing to surrender to you, General. We beg you to be lenient in your judgment!"

Seeing Zuo Ling and his men surrender, Cao Cao and the others were filled with joy, and Xiahou Dun and the others beside him were full of pride.

Now that Heguang City had surrendered, their mission had been a complete success.

They only needed to arrange the affairs in the city properly before they could return to the capital in triumph.

Cao Cao first stared intently at Zuo Ling and the others, giving them a deep look.

Just as Zuo Ling and the others were trembling with fear and breaking out in a cold sweat, unable to hold on any longer, Cao Cao suddenly dismounted.

He walked up to Zuo Ling, personally helped him up, and said with a face full of smiles:

"Hahaha, General Zuo Ling, please rise!"

"I am grateful that you could lead Heguang City to surrender to the Imperial Court!"

"How could I possibly blame you!"

After saying this, Cao Cao looked at Zuo Ling with a face full of sincerity.

Seeing that Cao Cao had no intention of blaming him and had even personally helped him up,

Zuo Ling was truly moved for a moment.

He looked at Cao Cao with a face full of guilt and choked out:

"General, I am ashamed!"

"When that scoundrel Wang Fang wanted to resist, I should have stopped him."

Watching Zuo Ling reveal his true feelings, Cao Cao could not help but curl his lip subtly.

He thought to himself: "Damn, this kid is a talent; he can act better than I can."

"We are both thousand-year-old foxes, why play these games?"

However, he still greeted him with a smile on his face. Cao Cao said to Zuo Ling with a laugh:

"General Zuo Ling, you are joking. Since you were able to lead Heguang City to surrender, I will record a great merit for you."

"In the future, when I see His Majesty, I will certainly report your merits to him!"

Hearing this, Zuo Ling was overjoyed and said to Cao Cao with gratitude:

"This subordinate thanks you, General. In the future, whenever you have need of me, just say the word, and I will never retreat."

After saying this, Zuo Ling made a gesture of invitation to Cao Cao.

Then he said respectfully to Cao Cao: "General, please follow me into the city first."

Seeing this, Cao Cao nodded and said to Zuo Ling with a smile:

"General Zuo, please!"

The group soon arrived at the City Lord's Manor.

Cao Cao took the head seat without hesitation. After sitting down, he said to the people below:

"Cao Ren, you and Yuanrang shall take the five thousand troops of Heguang City, and after clearing out the dregs, incorporate the remaining personnel into our army."

Cao Cao's first order was for Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan to reorganize the surrendered troops of Heguang City.

"This subordinate obeys!"

Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan immediately stepped out and responded respectfully to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao waved his hand slightly at the two, and they immediately left the hall.

Subsequently, Cao Cao turned his gaze to Zuo Ling and said to him with a solemn expression:

"General Zuo Ling, I will need your cooperation for the reception of our army in the city later."

Hearing this, Zuo Ling's body shook, and he promised loudly to Cao Cao:

"Please rest assured, General. This subordinate will certainly cooperate with all the generals and hand over the affairs of the city to you as soon as possible."

Seeing Zuo Ling was so sensible, Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction.

He turned his gaze to the others and said in a deep voice:

"All of you, go down and do your jobs to ensure the stability of the city."

"Remember, you must not harm the common people, otherwise, do not blame me for being ruthless with military law!"

Cao Cao warned the group, but his eyes were fixed on Zuo Ling.

Cao Cao knew his own army well, so these words were mainly meant for Zuo Ling.

"This subordinate obeys!"

After Cao Cao finished speaking, the generals responded loudly, especially Zuo Ling, whose expression was quite solemn.

He had also noticed the look Cao Cao gave him just now and understood his meaning.

Seeing that everyone had responded, Cao Cao waved his hand at them.

"This subordinate takes his leave!"

Seeing Cao Cao's gesture, the generals bowed and retreated from the hall.

"Phew..."

Seeing that everyone had left, Cao Cao let out a long sigh of relief.

After so many days of fighting, they had finally taken all three commanderies: Wudu, Hanyang, and Longxi.

Once the affairs of Heguang City were properly arranged, he could go and rendezvous with Liu Bian.

"His Majesty is truly amazing!"

"To be honest, this has been the shortest war in history."

"To be able to take the entire Liang Province in just about a month."

"This is all because of the martial arts techniques taught by His Majesty."

"With His Majesty's techniques, we people have been able to become so strong!"

At this moment, Cao Cao could not help but sigh softly to himself in the hall.

Then, he carefully and slowly took a crystalline stone from his bosom.

Looking at it, Cao Cao's eyes were filled with heat.

"Hiss..."

"This is the spirit stone that His Majesty spoke of, which can be used to accelerate cultivation!"

"The spiritual energy contained within it is truly vast."

"Just holding it in my hand, I can feel the internal energy in my body becoming active, and the speed of my technique's operation has also increased."

"It is indeed a treasure that can be used for cultivation!"

It turned out that this was the spirit stone that Liu Bian had bestowed upon everyone.

Since receiving it, Cao Cao had not used it for cultivation in order to take these three commanderies as quickly as possible.

Now that the final Heguang City had been successfully taken, it was time for Cao Cao to improve his strength.

He was now on the verge of breaking through to the Postnatal Third Heaven.

This was only because he had been busy most of the time and had not cultivated properly; otherwise, he might have already reached the Postnatal Third Heaven by now. ===== CHAPTER 386 =====