Chapter 52: Post-Battle Handling

Upon hearing Zhang Liao's words, Niu Gao was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he asked Zhang Liao with a trembling voice, "Zhang Liao, I don't think I've said anything wrong. Can you at least let me die with an explanation?"

"Hmph, it doesn't hurt to tell you. Who told you to dare insult His Majesty? Those who insult His Majesty shall be killed without mercy!"

After hearing Niu Gao's inquiry, Zhang Liao gave him a cold smile and explained in an icy voice.

"Hahaha, who would have thought that the brat Liu Bian actually had such tricks up his sleeve, to make you, Zhang Liao, so loyal in such a short time. Truly impressive."

"It was I who underestimated Liu Bian! No, it should be everyone under heaven who underestimated Liu Bian! The brat Liu Bian—he has deceived everyone under heaven!!!"

Knowing that he had brought this fatal disaster upon himself because he had cursed Liu Bian, Niu Gao said in deep regret.

"Hmph, this general did give you a chance. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not seizing it!"

Now you know to say this—where were you earlier? If you had known today would come, why did you act as you did back then?

Afterward, Zhang Liao waved his hand at the guards. The guards immediately understood Zhang Liao's meaning, turned around, and led Niu Gao away.

Not long after, a head with bulging, furious eyes was brought into the Main Hall by the guards.

"Good, well killed! This is the fate of those who defame His Majesty!"

Seeing the guards bring in Niu Gao's head, everyone in the Main Hall clapped and cheered.

Zhang Liao could understand everyone's feelings about this. After all, to them, Liu Bian was the supreme faith in their hearts, an existence no one was allowed to defame.

"Zhang Long, take some men and escort the Military Advisor into the city. This general still has matters to discuss with him."

After raising his hand to signal everyone to quiet down, Zhang Liao gave the order to Zhang Long.

"This subordinate obeys the order!" Zhang Long cupped his fist toward Zhang Liao at the head of the hall, then turned and left the Main Hall.

"Hahaha, General, I'm already here. There's no need to trouble Zhang Long."

Just as Zhang Long was about to walk out of the Main Hall, Xi Zhicai's loud laughter came from outside the door.

"The Military Advisor has arrived!"

Hearing the voice, everyone turned their heads to look outside the door. Upon seeing Xi Zhicai's figure, they all respectfully bowed to him.

Although Xi Zhicai had joined the Bingzhou Army relatively late, with his Tongsheng First Heaven strength and extraordinary wisdom, he had long earned the recognition of all the Soldiers in the army.

Therefore, everyone was still very respectful toward him. Coupled with his usually gentle manner in dealing with people, he was deeply loved by the Soldiers.

Seeing that Xi Zhicai had actually entered the city on his own, Zhang Liao immediately said angrily, "Military Advisor, why didn't you wait for me to send someone to escort you in, and entered the city on your own? You must understand that our army has not yet fully taken control of Shangjun City."

"If you had encountered any danger, what would we have done?"

After speaking, a trace of concern appeared on his angry face.

"Hehe, I thank the General for your concern. But please don't forget, General, that I also have cultivation on me! I still have the ability to protect myself."

Seeing Zhang Liao concerned about his safety, a warm feeling also welled up in Xi Zhicai's heart, and he said to Zhang Liao with a smile.

"Hahaha, this general actually forgot that you've already broken through to Tongsheng First Heaven!"

After speaking, he gave Xi Zhicai an embarrassed smile.

Then he said to Xi Zhicai, "Military Advisor, Shangjun City will be fully under our army's control soon. When that time comes, I'll have to trouble you to handle the city's political affairs and pacify the people of Shangjun City."

Zhang Liao looked at Xi Zhicai with a solemn expression and said seriously.

"General, rest assured. However, regarding the choice of who will garrison the city, I hope the General will arrange it as soon as possible. We should set out as early as possible, to seize the entire Shangjun in one fell swoop before the remaining five Cities of Shangjun can react."

After Xi Zhicai finished explaining his plan to Zhang Long, he quietly looked at Zhang Liao.

"Military Advisor, in your opinion, should this general concentrate our forces into one route, or send men to take them one by one?"

Zhang Liao also knew this matter was urgent, but he was still somewhat hesitant at the moment, so he asked Xi Zhicai.

"Hehehe, General, you're overthinking it. In the past, I would certainly have advised concentrating our forces and taking them one by one."

"However, that was based on our former strength. Since we began cultivating the Martial Dao, currently in our army alone, there are already ten who have reached the strength of a First-rate Martial General, not to mention those who have reached Second-Rate and Third-Rate."

"With our current strength, splitting the army into five routes to seize all of Shangjun in one go is the best strategy."

After Xi Zhicai finished speaking to everyone with a face full of confidence, he quietly awaited Zhang Liao's decision.

"General, this subordinate believes the Military Advisor speaks reason. With our strength, this subordinate only needs Two Thousand Troops, and I will surely take a City for the General!"

Having just been promoted to Chulu, Zhang Long, after hearing Xi Zhicai's words, immediately stepped forward and said loudly.

Upon hearing Zhang Long's words, the others also reacted one after another, immediately requesting orders from Zhang Liao: "General, this subordinate also only needs Two Thousand Troops to take a City…"

Seeing the high fighting spirit of the crowd, Zhang Liao's own fighting spirit also soared. He immediately said to everyone, "Then we'll follow the Military Advisor's plan—split the army into five routes and seize all of Shangjun in one go!"

"The General is wise!"

"This subordinate requests to fight!"

……

Seeing Zhang Liao agree to split the army into five routes, everyone immediately knew that the chance to earn merit had come, and they all requested to fight one after another.

Watching the people below argue until their faces turned red over the chance to go on the expedition, Zhang Liao was instantly furious.

He immediately slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Enough! This is a Military Camp. All this noise and commotion—what kind of behavior is this!"

Seeing Zhang Liao's great anger, the people below instantly fell silent. With fearful expressions and sincere attitudes, they cupped their fists toward Zhang Liao and said, "This subordinate knows his fault. Please forgive us, General!"

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Zhang Liao said in a solemn tone, "Stop fighting over it. For this military expedition, this general has his own arrangements. Our top priority right now is to secure control of Shangjun City."

"Later, Zhang Long, Niu Er, you two will cooperate with the Military Advisor to pacify the city's people. Anyone who causes trouble, arrest them all. For serious cases, you may kill a chicken to scare the monkeys!"

A trace of coldness seeped into Zhang Liao's voice as he said to the two with a resolute expression.

"This subordinate obeys the order!"

Having received the order, the two immediately shouted loudly with resolute faces.

"As for the rest of you, come with this general to recruit the surrendered soldiers. Remove the old and the young, select the young and strong, and reorganize them into Commandery soldiers. When the time comes, we'll still need them to garrison the Cities we seize."

Zhang Liao said in a deep voice to the remaining people.

"Remember, we don't take just anyone either. Those who have committed serious crimes shall be executed without exception."

"This time, only Two Thousand Troops are needed. If that's not enough, recruit from among the city's people!"

Zhang Liao explained the recruitment requirements to everyone once.

Then, turning to the clerk tallying military merits, he asked, "Have our casualties all been tallied?"

Hearing Zhang Liao's question, the middle-aged clerk immediately gathered up the documents in his hands, cupped his fist toward Zhang Liao, and said, "Reporting to the General, because the fighting in the city has not yet ended, only a portion has been tallied so far."

"However, the rest are just a few who slipped through the net, so the difference won't be significant."

The middle-aged clerk first briefed everyone on the situation, then opened the record book in his hands and announced loudly, "In this great battle, our army suffered no fatalities; fifty-four were lightly wounded, all injured by stray projectiles on the battlefield."

"Hahaha, this is the most exhilarating battle I've fought in all these years!"

"Indeed, not a single man lost!"