Chapter 73

Ma Chao saw Pang De's resentful look and couldn't help but smile.

"Haha, Lingming, this matter can't be blamed on me; it's all luck; who knew E He and Yan Xing would both choose to break out from the back!"

"However, with their strength, I'm afraid even if you really encountered them, you wouldn't necessarily be able to take them down!"

Although Ma Chao was comforting Pang De, the pride in his eyes couldn't be hidden no matter what.

Seeing Ma Chao's proud expression, Pang De immediately turned around.

He was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist going up and giving him a punch!

"Alright, being able to achieve such a great victory this time, you all have great merit; hurry and clean up the battlefield; we can't stay too long."

Ma Teng looked at the expressions of the two and hurriedly interrupted their argument.

Now was not the time to argue; Han Sui should also be arriving at Yunwu City soon.

Next, they still had a tough battle to fight!

"This humble general obeys the order!"

The few stopped arguing immediately, clasped their fists to Ma Teng solemnly, and all went to arrange for people to clean up the battlefield.

At this time, Liu Bian had long since arranged the matters of Anding Commandery; at this time, he was leading an army of forty thousand toward Fuping City in Beidi Commandery.

And the remaining thirty thousand troops, among them, Cao Cao's twenty thousand Xiyuan Eight Captains personnel, were arranged by him to go to Hanyang Commandery, Wudu Commandery, and Longxi Commandery.

These three commanderies had no powerful military strength garrisoned; with Cao Cao's ability and an army of twenty thousand with the strength of third-rate martial warriors, recovering these three commanderies was not a problem.

And the remaining ten thousand Xiliang troops were arranged by him to attack Niyang City in Beidi Commandery; leading the army were the two brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who had broken through to the second heaven of the Postnatal Realm.

These two, ever since being arranged by Liu Bian under Lü Bu's command, had been spending their time in cultivation.

And at this time, their strength had also successfully broken through to the second heaven of the Postnatal Realm.

This time, Liu Bian specially arranged for the two to go and attack Niyang City; anyone with a discerning eye could see that Liu Bian wanted to reuse these two.

However, regarding this, others were not jealous of the two; after all, Guan Yu and the two's strength was there!

In the entire Xiliang Army, besides the commander Lü Bu whose strength had reached the third heaven of the Postnatal Realm, the strength of others hadn't reached the Postnatal Realm yet!

That was Gao Shun, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and seven of the eight generals under Lü Bu besides Zhang Liao.

Therefore, everyone in the army was also quite impressed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who had joined later.

"Fengxiao, how long do you think Mengde and the others will take to take the three commanderies of Longxi?"

Liu Bian, who was riding a horse with the army, asked Guo Jia, who was also riding a black war horse beside him.

"Your Majesty, with General Cao's strength, this subject guesses that ten days will be enough to take this land of three commanderies."

Facing Liu Bian's inquiry, Guo Jia appeared very calm and replied to Liu Bian confidently.

"Hahaha, if Mengde can really take the three commanderies of Longxi within ten days, then we have hope of taking the entire Liangzhou land within a month!"

Regarding Cao Cao and the others acting alone, this was decided by Liu Bian, Guo Jia, and the others after discussion these past two days.

"Hahaha, what Your Majesty says is very true; before, it was mainly because of intelligence; if we had known their troop deployment earlier, we would have divided our troops long ago!"

Guo Jia looked at Liu Bian, who was full of smiles, and also explained.

"Fengxiao is right; if I had established the Shadow Guards earlier, how would we have waited until now to dare to divide our troops into three routes."

Earlier, Liu Bian had wanted to divide his troops; however, because everyone was not clear about the strength of various places in Liangzhou, they didn't dare to act rashly.

Now, the Shadow Guards had already taken initial shape, and the entire Liangzhou was under their control.

Only then did the crowd dare to divide their troops, and moreover, Cao Cao's route of sending troops was to start from Anding Commandery and head all the way toward Jincheng Commandery.

Hanyang Commandery, Wudu Commandery, and Longxi Commandery along the way were all targets he was to attack.

"Wenhe, have the Shadow Guards in Niyang City and Fuping City been arranged?"

Liu Bian asked Jia Xu beside him.

Before setting off, the few had discussed that they would fully utilize the role of the Shadow Guards this time.

Have the Shadow Guards spread the events that happened in Linjing City to the various cities in Beidi Commandery occupied by Xu Rong.

Imprint Liu Bian's wise image into the hearts of the people of Liangzhou.

Now, the person who could save them was the Emperor of the Han Empire.

Spread the sweet potatoes planted by the people of Sili, as well as the corn planted by the people of Linjing City, throughout all parts of Liangzhou.

These two food crops had extremely high yields and short growth cycles, and could be used as staple food.

If promoted throughout Liangzhou, it could not only solve the local food and clothing problem but also promote economic development and population growth.

In this way, the strength of the Liangzhou region would be greatly enhanced.

However, for other cities, this was not good news.

Because they didn't master this food and technology; if the strength of the Liangzhou region were allowed to increase, then their own status would be threatened.

Therefore, after the people in these cities heard this news, they would definitely be panicked.

After all, everyone wanted to live a better life, and now that an opportunity was placed before them, they naturally wouldn't let it go.

In this way, the people in these cities would definitely make a scene, and this would just give Liu Bian a chance.

By then, coordinating with the Shadow Guards already lurking in the city, taking control of the city gate would be much simpler.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty; now, Shadow Guards have been arranged in all the major cities of Liangzhou; as long as our army arrives."

"They will coordinate with us from inside and outside, and moreover, this subject has already had Tai'a arrange a person of the Postnatal Realm in each city; controlling the city gate will be no problem."

Jia Xu smiled confidently and replied to Liu Bian and the others confidently.

Subsequently, he introduced: "Moreover, our personnel have already spread the events that happened in Linjing City in all the cities."

"Now, in some cities, many people have started to gather in front of the city lord's mansion, demanding that they surrender to the imperial court, so as to obtain food seeds that can be planted."

"In this way, as long as the people lean toward the imperial court, then for us, it is a great good thing."

Jia Xu introduced the news sent by the Shadow Guards these days to the crowd again.

"This is indeed good news; in this way, as long as we take these cities, we can quickly take control."

"By the way, is there any movement from Xu Rong in Fuping City?"

Liu Bian was quite satisfied with the news reported by Jia Xu; after listening, he asked about Xu Rong's news.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject was just about to report this matter to Your Majesty; Xu Rong is still the same as before."

"Moreover, according to the news sent by the Shadow Guards, Xu Rong might surrender to us."

"His relationship with Dong Zhuo was not very good to begin with; after seeing our powerful strength, he had even less intention of resisting."

"This subject suggests that this humble subject go and persuade Xu Rong to surrender!"

Jia Xu stated his thoughts to Liu Bian.