Chapter 171: The Trump Card

Two days later.

Chang Wei arrived leading his troops, and one day later, Mo Yu arrived at Shanggu City with his troops.

"Your Highness, the four northern counties of Shanggu Commandery have all been taken by this general, and a battalion of soldiers has been left to garrison each county," Chang Wei said.

When they joined forces to march north and attack the county seats, he did not encounter much resistance.

After all, the Rich Clans of Shanggu had staked everything on the ambush.

Now that their gathered elites had been soundly defeated, they naturally had no strength left to resist.

"The four southern counties have also been taken, and among them, the Gao Family Fort's Shangyi County has surrendered to this general," Mo Yu said, cupping his hands.

Zhao Xu nodded.

Liu Fu had already told him about the matter of the Zhong Family.

If not for Zhong Shidao, Liu Fu would not have understood the conspiracy of the Shanggu Rich Clans so clearly.

After the fighting broke out, Zhong Shidao sent a letter to his family, ordering the Zhong Family descendants to surrender to Yan Wang.

For the Rich Clans that submitted, Zhao Xu still chose to accept them; there was no need to push them into the opposite camp.

"It seems the hardest bone left to chew is the Gao Family Fort," Zhao Xu said, picking up his tea and blowing on it gently. "The Gao Family Fort has high walls and thick ramparts, and the private soldiers of the Rich Clans gathered within number nearly twenty thousand. If we attack it head-on, I fear there will be no small number of casualties. What do you two think?"

Chang Wei and Mo Yu exchanged a glance.

When they headed to Shanggu City, they had already left their troops on the perimeter of the Gao Family Fort.

They had also personally inspected the Gao Family Fort.

The walls of the Gao Family Fort were about fifteen meters high, and there were many soldiers guarding them.

Although both were confident they could take it, attacking a city was different from defending one.

Attacking from below would inevitably result in being pelted with stones, wooden logs, Fire Oil, and other such things.

Although Plate Armor was hard, its protection against these falling heavy objects was not very good.

If they attacked by force, thousands of casualties would likely be unavoidable.

After hesitating for a moment, the two seemed to reach a consensus.

Chang Wei said, "Your Highness, this general believes we should use Artillery."

Mo Yu nodded.

"I knew you two would choose this," Zhao Xu smiled.

These past two days, he had gone to look at the Gao Family Fort and had been equally stumped.

If not for this thing called Artillery, they would certainly have to attack by force this time.

Otherwise, they would have to lay a long-term siege, which was also disadvantageous for him.

After all, the situation in Yanzhou was changing rapidly, and keeping a large number of troops tied up here was not a good idea.

"Then Your Highness agrees?" Chang Wei was delighted.

They knew the power of the Artillery, but what kind of effect it would have on the battlefield was still unknown.

Therefore, for the two of them, this was a golden opportunity to accumulate experience in using Artillery.

Zhao Xu nodded, although he had wanted to save the first combat use of the Artillery for the Northern Barbarians.

But there was no need to waste the lives of the Wangfu Army soldiers for that.

"When transporting them, you must still keep them covered; if you can avoid leaking the news, then do so," Zhao Xu added.

"Yes, Your Highness," the two said loudly.

Following this, Chang Wei immediately sent men back to Yan Commandery to order soldiers to transport ten pieces of Artillery to Shanggu City.

Fanyang, Yuan Family.

"Husband, you must save my father."

"

Before Yuan Li, a woman knelt on the ground, weeping softly.

She was the daughter of Gao Yuan, who had married Yuan Li as a concubine.

After her clansmen told her the news that the fortress was under siege, she immediately came to beg Yuan Li.

Yuan Li sat with a gloomy face, saying nothing.

After Shanggu Commandery was incorporated into Yan Wang's fief, he had instructed Gao Yuan to deal with Yan Wang in secret, preferably killing him.

Gao Yuan had done so, but unfortunately, he had failed.

Now that Yan Wang had thwarted the ambush, basically controlled Shanggu Commandery, and besieged the Gao Family Fort.

Although he was angry, Yan Wang's fief was his own; if he rashly led troops there,

not to mention whether he could intimidate Yan Wang and lift the siege on the Gao Family, he would have no justification if this matter were brought before the Imperial Court.

But if he did not save them, the Rich Clans in the other commanderies were watching, were they not?

The prestige of his Yuan Family would inevitably plummet.

In the future, which Rich Clan would still be willing to risk their lives for him?

Thinking of this, he could not help but fall into a dilemma.

"Chief Clerk Guo, what do you think?" Yuan Li looked at Guo Tu.

Because of several brilliant strategies, Yuan Li now trusted Guo Tu deeply and had appointed him to the post of Chief Clerk to assist him.

Upon hearing this, Guo Tu thought for a moment and said, "Sending troops is not right, and not sending troops is also not right."

"Exactly," Yuan Li nodded; Guo Tu had guessed his thoughts instantly.

"Just now, the Gao concubine mentioned that the Head of the Family of the Zhong Family, Zhong Shidao, perished in a sea of fire. Why does my lord not pin this matter on Yan Wang and inform Captain Zhong, ordering him to seek revenge? In this way, this matter will have nothing to do with my lord," Guo Tu said, shaking his head slowly.

Yuan Li's eyes lit up. "That's right! This Zhong Li has repeatedly spoken in defiance; I have long been dissatisfied with him. This time, I will incite him to go. If he saves Gao Yuan, that is of course best; if he cannot save him and dies in Shanggu Commandery, it doesn't matter either. The Rich Clans of Yanzhou will also know that I, Yuan Li, have done my best."

"That is exactly the intent. Zhong Li's horsemanship is superb, and with a long spear, he has few rivals within the Black Armored Army. It is quite possible he could achieve an unexpected effect," Guo Tu said with a smile.

Yuan Li clapped his hands in excitement and immediately had someone summon Zhong Li.

Before long, a general in black armor strode over.

"Greetings, Prefect," Zhong Li said, kneeling on one knee.

Seeing this, Yuan Li let out a long sigh, "Captain Zhong, there is a matter I must tell you: your father has been killed by Yan Wang."

"What!" Upon hearing this, Zhong Li was shocked and turned pale.

Yuan Li chuckled inwardly, but his face showed a sense of grief and indignation, "Yan Wang is devoid of Dao and wishes to harm the Rich Clans of Shanggu Commandery. After your father consulted with Gao Yuan and returned to the inn, he was unexpectedly burned to death by Yan Wang's men. Commandery Governor Gao, overcome with righteous indignation, led troops to crusade against Yan Wang, but now he is trapped in the Fortress by Yan Wang's soldiers."

"Is this really true?" Zhong Li was overcome with grief and despair.

"If you do not believe it, Captain Zhong, you may lead troops to Shanggu City yourself. If it is true, I hope that while you seek revenge, you can rescue Commandery Governor Gao. I am willing to give you twenty thousand troops," Yuan Li said.

Zhong Li's eyes were bloodshot, "This general shall march to Shanggu City at once."

Shanggu City.

After waiting for two days.

Ten pieces of Artillery, escorted by over five hundred soldiers, arrived at Shanggu City.

Accompanying them were the Artillerymen who had been training for several days.

They had already mastered the firing procedure for the Artillery.

"My treasures."

Seeing the Artillery, Chang Wei wished he could go up and give them a fierce kiss.

In his view, this was the beginning of a qualitative change for the Prince's Personal Army.

Once the Artillery was in place in the army, the Yuan Family's two hundred thousand Black Armored Army would be nothing but a pile of meat before him.

As for the Northern Di, they might not be able to defeat them in open field battles, but in defending a city, they would absolutely remain in an invincible position.

Mo Yu was more composed than Chang Wei, but his face also carried a hint of excitement.

"Move the Artillery to the Gao Family Fort; it is time to end the chaos in Shanggu Commandery," Zhao Xu said.

During this time, he had watched the affairs of Shanggu Commandery with annoyance in his heart.

In his own fief, his orders could not flow unimpeded, which reminded him of the terrible situation in Yan Commandery at that time.

Therefore, when Gao Yuan set an ambush to kill him, he felt not the slightest anger, but rather, he felt quite refreshed.

He could finally use the violent machine of the army to quickly resolve the Rich Clan forces in Shanggu Commandery, and he would have a legitimate reason for doing so.

Even if it were taken to the Imperial Court, he would not fear it in the slightest.

"Yes, Your Highness, move out!"

Chang Wei patted the barrel of the cannon again and shouted loudly.