Chapter 385

As a result, because of Yuan Gonglu's crushing defeat.

It has now greatly increased Lin Yang's strength.

For this, he even paid the price of the entire Taishan Commandery.

"My lord, Taishan Commandery is barren; how can it compare to the three commanderies of Yingchuan, Chen Guo, and Nanyang?"

Xi Zhicai saw through Cao Mengde's thoughts and spoke up to offer some comfort.

There was no other way.

Cheng Yu is a man of vicious intent.

If he did not abandon a commandery, how could he have allowed the eighty thousand troops under Cheng Yu's command to retreat safely?

"With the people of these three commanderies, the troops under my lord's command can also break through the two hundred thousand mark."

The three commanderies have nearly 1.6 million people, from which one hundred thousand elite soldiers can be conscripted.

"That's right, as long as I take this Nanyang territory, I can wipe out this Yuan Gonglu."

Cao Mengde is now determined to take Nanyang Commandery.

Only by wiping out Yuan Gonglu does he, Cao Mengde, have a chance at survival.

Xuzhou is a land of four battlegrounds.

Yanzhou is likewise a land of four battlegrounds.

The strength of Yuan Benchu's forces to the north is formidable; it is not suitable to attack.

The numerous troops of Lin Ziyuan to the east also cannot be attacked.

What remains is only the Sili region and Yuan Gonglu in the south.

Xi Zhicai's strategy was aimed at Yuan Gonglu from the very beginning.

The only surprise was that Yuan Gonglu lost so miserably.

Sili region, Changancheng.

"We humbly beseech Your Majesty to appoint the Xuzhou Governor Lin Yang as General of Chariots and Cavalry, concurrently serving as Yangzhou Governor, and granting..."

Inside the imperial palace of Changancheng, the ministers under Li Jue and Guo Si knelt and requested that Lin Yang be granted titles.

The reason for this is naturally because Lin Yang's momentum is now like a rainbow.

Lin Yang had previously submitted a petition requesting the position of Yangzhou Governor, but they had never responded.

Now that Lin Yang has defeated Yuan Gonglu, he has over four hundred thousand troops under his command.

They are truly afraid.

If this man is not appeased, once he dispatches troops to the Sili region, they will be in trouble.

Therefore, the two followed the advice of their strategists and requested titles for Lin Yang to show appeasement.

"Granted."

The Xian Emperor, sitting above, was completely unable to make decisions.

At this moment, other than saying this mechanically, he had no other options.

The imperial court is controlled by Li Jue and Guo Si; he has no way to act.

Half a day later, outside Changancheng.

"Wenhe, I have troubled you with this matter."

"My lord, rest assured, Wenhe will certainly handle it properly for you."

After speaking to Li Jue and Guo Si, the middle-aged scholar left with carts of jewelry and the official appointment documents.

Watching Jia Xu leave, for some reason, the two felt an inexplicable sense of unease in their hearts.

It seemed as if they had been tricked.

After leaving Changancheng, Jia Xu directed the group and headed straight for Xuzhou.

Meanwhile, in Xia Qiu City on the other side.

"Zijing, these hundreds of thousands of refugees are entrusted to you for resettlement."

It took a month for Lin Yang to return from Runan Commandery.

Having just finished dealing with the disaster victims who had poured in earlier, Lu Su had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the sea of refugees outside again.

Hiss!

Gasping, Lu Su felt the world go black before his eyes.

His lord had actually brought back so many more refugees.

Now he would be busy again.

Resettling refugees is not a simple matter; he must arrange for everyone reasonably.

"My lord, in the previous battle, Lu Bu's generals, Gao Shun and Zhang Liao, were all captured."

After dealing with the refugee matter, Li Gang walked over and whispered.

During the previous battle, they successfully captured Gao Shun as Lin Yang had ordered.

Moreover, they also brought back an extra Zhang Liao, and both were imprisoned in Xia Qiu City.

After all, facing the enclosed bulletproof glass, even the Camp-Breaker Battalion could not break out.

They couldn't break it; they simply couldn't break it.

"Oh, let's go, take me to see them."

Hearing about Gao Shun and Zhang Liao, Lin Yang's eyes couldn't help but shine.

These two are absolutely great generals under Lu Bu.

Zhang Liao, one of the Five Elite Generals.

He beat the children of Jiangdong so badly that he earned the nickname "Sun the Hundred Thousand."

And the other, Gao Shun, has the eight hundred-strong Camp-Breaker Battalion!

This is absolutely one of the strongest elite forces of the late Eastern Han Dynasty.

Taking Li Gang, the two headed toward the courtyard where the two were imprisoned.

Xia Qiu City, a remote courtyard.

The courtyard was guarded by heavy armored troops, and hidden scouts were everywhere; the security was tight.

"I wonder what will happen to us next?"

Sitting in the courtyard, Zhang Liao looked around at this moment, feeling lost about his future.

They had been trapped here for several days.

Ever since the last battle of Xia Qiu City, they had been captured and kept here.

"Wait, I imagine this Lin Ziyuan will arrive soon."

Gao Shun remained silent, but he saw things very clearly.

If Lin Yang had not intended to recruit them, they would have been beheaded long ago.

However, neither Gao Shun nor Zhang Liao had decided whether to surrender to Lin Yang.

"Bang."

Just then, the gate of their courtyard was pushed open, and Lin Yang's figure hurried in.

"Wenyuan, Xiaofu, I have neglected you both this time."

Upon arriving, Lin Yang spoke as if they were old acquaintances.

Just after sitting down, he saw the empty table in front of them.

"How are things being handled? Today I am meeting with Wenyuan and the others, which is a great joy; how can there be no wine and meat to accompany us?"

As he spoke, a personal guard nearby nodded and hurriedly turned to leave.

In a short while, all kinds of fine wine and delicacies were laid out on the table.

"Come, Wenyuan, let us drink heartily today."

The personal guard poured wine for Lin Yang and Zhang Liao, but when he was about to pour for Gao Shun, he was stopped by Lin Yang.

"Xiaofu is not fond of wine; pour him water."

When he said this, the expressions of both Zhang Liao and Gao Shun changed.

How did Lin Yang know that Gao Shun didn't drink?

"Come, you two, let us drink heartily today!"

Raising his wine, Lin Yang took a deep drink.

For a moment, seeing Lin Yang like this, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun were stunned on the spot.

They knew Lin Yang wanted to recruit them.