Chapter 53

After hearing the numbers reported by the scholar, everyone was excited.

This is a great victory! Who could achieve zero deaths in a siege battle? They did it today!

Unlike the excitement of the crowd, Zhang Liao's face turned somewhat grim; looking at the excited crowd, he angrily barked with an ugly expression: "Enough!"

As Zhang Liao's voice fell, the main hall instantly fell silent; everyone looked at Zhang Liao, puzzled.

Clearly they had won an unprecedented victory, so why did Zhang Liao get angry?

Looking at the doubtful crowd, Zhang Liao said in a low, grim voice: "Do you think that because you won a great victory, having zero deaths is something to brag about?"

"Have you not considered that we are all cultivators of martial dao, and everyone is about to enter the ranks of third-rate generals?"

"And you all know what strength the enemy has; they lack a main commander and only have two thousand troops! Yet we still have casualties—do you still think that's something to brag about?"

Having said that, he looked at everyone with a cold gaze.

After hearing Zhang Liao's words, everyone lowered their heads in shame, not daring to look at his face.

Yes, they only thought zero deaths was something to brag about, forgetting the relative strength and numbers of both sides.

With their strength, it was a crushing victory; the enemy was so frightened they didn't even use bows, yet they still had fifty-four wounded—truly nothing to brag about.

Seeing the silent crowd, Zhang Liao said coldly: "Go back and train well; next campaign, I want zero casualties—can you do that?"

At the end, Zhang Liao even used inner strength; his voice rang like a great bell in everyone's ears.

"The subordinate obeys orders!"

Everyone hurriedly responded loudly to Zhang Liao, their faces showing determination.

"Tell me, how did the battle go?"

The middle-aged clerk immediately said respectfully: "Reporting to the general, in this battle our forces killed over a thousand enemy troops and captured more than eight hundred!"

"Of those captives, we can probably use about five hundred; the remaining over a thousand will need to be recruited from the city—take care of this immediately!"

Zhang Liao immediately gave orders to everyone.

Afterwards, everyone hurriedly left, handling their assigned tasks according to Zhang Liao's arrangements.

At this moment, the battle in Shangjun City was nearing its end; Niu Gao's troops who resisted were all slain on the spot.

Those who surrendered were also being escorted by the Bing Province Army soldiers to the Military Camp in the city.

The citizens of Shangjun City, upon hearing the news of the city's fall, all hid in their homes and shut their doors tightly.

They feared that these soldiers, like Niu Gao, would rush into their homes to loot.

At this time, most of the armies under the various marquises of the Han Dynasty would, after capturing a city, plunder the residents' belongings.

Thus, at this time the common people greatly feared the soldiers.

However, Liu Bian had earlier ordered his troops not to take the people's property; this was a matter of principle, and anyone who dared to overstep would be killed without pardon.

Therefore, after Zhang Liao and his troops entered the city, they did not harm the populace in the slightest.

Watching the crowd depart, Zhang Liao and Xi Zhicai discussed a bit more about the arrangements for Shangjun City, then each went off to attend to their own affairs.

……

Soon, two days passed, and Shangjun City was already being managed in good order by everyone.

The merchants and citizens in the city also began to appear; initially they had hidden in their homes, fearing the Bing Province Army soldiers would harm them.

As time passed, they realized the Bing Province Army soldiers were different from previous armies; they treated the people well and never took their belongings.

Moreover, whenever they needed help, those soldiers were always the first to step forward and assist.

Soon, the Bing Province Army soldiers earned the approval of the entire city's populace.

And Zhang Liao's recruitment conditions were excellent, so over fifteen hundred people were quickly enlisted.

Now, the garrison force stationed in Shangjun City already numbers two thousand.

And Zhang Liao also selected from the Bing Province Army two individuals whose strength reached the level of second-rate general, and ten whose strength reached third-rate general, to serve as officers of the new army.

With these veterans leading, the new army will soon have combat capability.

At this point, after arranging the city's affairs, Zhang Liao gathered everyone in the Taishou Fu.

In the main hall of the Taishou Fu, the Commander of the Bing Province Army, Zhang Liao, sat high in the chief seat, looking down at the crowd, and said in a low voice: "Gentlemen, all matters in Shangjun City have been settled."

"The city's populace and the garrison personnel have already been arranged by me and the Military Advisor; it's also time for us to take the other five cities!"

Zhang Liao solemnly finished speaking to the crowd, then silently looked at them.

Upon hearing Zhang Liao's words, everyone's thoughts instantly became lively.

Finally, it was time to decide who would go on the expedition; over these two days they've been busy day and night, wasn't it all for the chance to seize this opportunity?

Now this opportunity has finally arrived, so everyone's gaze toward Zhang Liao is especially eager.

Shangjun still has five cities not yet taken; the situation of these five cities, and the strength of their garrisons, are roughly equal.

So this time, the five senior colonels will each lead their own detachment of five thousand troops, while I and the Military Advisor will lead the remaining twenty-five thousand troops and arrive first at Hanyang City in Xihe Commandery to wait for you.

Zhang Liao looked at everyone's fervent expression, his face solemn, and gave orders.

"The subordinate obeys orders!"

Upon hearing the order, the five senior colonels were overjoyed and immediately clasped their fists toward Zhang Liao in excitement.

Looking at the excited crowd, Zhang Liao again cautioned the five: "Remember, this campaign must be swift and decisive; the news of Shangjun City's fall has been blocked by us, so for now the people of these cities have not yet received the news."

We can make good use of this, minimizing casualties as much as possible; each of my soldiers is extremely precious.

Seeing Zhang Liao's solemn expression, the five all responded solemnly and loudly: "We understand, Commander; please rest assured!"

After seeing the solemn expressions of the five, Zhang Liao then said: "As for the troops guarding the cities, follow the example of Shangjun City: each city's garrison must not be fewer than two thousand."

Then you can demonstrate your strength to them; these people, without martial force to keep them in line, might not obey otherwise.

The military has always revered the strong, so if we display our strength, we can also effectively intimidate them.

The newly recruited soldiers already have unstable morale; without strong martial force to keep them in check, they would be a loose sand, utterly unreliable.

Moreover, with little time, we can only strengthen training later, so Zhang Liao attaches great importance to this.

"The subordinate has received orders; please rest assured, General, we understand the importance of this matter!"

"The five immediately grew solemn, their expressions grave as they spoke."

"As for Zhang Liao's concern, they, who had led troops, felt it even more deeply."