Chapter 224 Entering the City
Zhengyang Prefecture City.
The mighty and majestic Beijing troops entered the city, immediately calming the restless people's hearts.
"Your humble servant...Zhengyang prefect Sun Xingyun greets His Royal Highness Prince Jin."
The Prince of Jin rode into the city on horseback and was greeted by the prefect of Zhengyang, who was accompanied by all the officials.
He frowned and shouted softly, "Catch him!"
The fierce soldiers waiting on both sides immediately rushed forward, knocked off the black hat of the Zhengyang prefect, and tied him up.
When the other kneeling officials saw this scene, they didn't even have the courage to say a word for their superior. Instead, they sweated profusely and trembled with fear.
This is the authority of a unified feudal dynasty. Life and death are decided by the ruler in a moment's thought.
Sun Xingyun's face turned pale, but he said nothing.
Seeing this scene, the King of Jin was quite satisfied: "No matter what... there are rebels under your rule, and you have been unable to suppress them. You can't escape the crime of dereliction of duty. Take him away first!"
Then he asked, "Where is Tongzhi?"
"Your humble servant Chun Yuqin pays respects to His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin!"
A middle-aged civil servant knelt down. Although his face was pale, he still maintained his official demeanor.
"Well, you are the deputy prefect, and you are acting as the prefect at this time... My army's expedition and logistics supply are all up to you. Can you do it? If you can't, I won't hide it from you. Your fate will definitely be worse than Prefect Sun's!"
Sun Xingyun was actually wronged, but who was to blame for the incident that happened under his rule?
Chun Yuqin understood this and knew that this was an opportunity but also a risk.
Once he does it well, the position of prefect will be a sure thing, and he will be favored by King Jin, so his future prospects will be limitless.
But if it fails, the consequences are self-evident.
Without thinking, he gritted his teeth and said, "Even if I risk my life, I will do the job for you, Your Majesty..."
“Very good!”
The King of Jin nodded and said to a general beside him: "General Huang, I am only the commander of the army. I will leave the fighting to you."
"Please rest assured, Your Highness."
General Huang Ba, with a bronze face, responded, knowing very well his identity and mission.
This time, if the battle is successful, the Prince of Jin will naturally be praised in great detail, but if something unfortunately goes wrong, he will be the one to take the blame. This is also the emperor's love for his son.
Although I know it, I have nothing to say. Instead, I have to try my best to get the job done.
"Well then..."
The King of Jin smiled and went into the city with General Huang Ba. When they entered the house that had been prepared long ago, the King of Jin could not wait to ask, "General, what can you teach me?"
"In this battle, we cannot seek speed, but stability."
Huang Ba stroked his beard and ordered someone to send a map: "We have 30,000 provincial soldiers and 20,000 Beijing troops. The cost of food for the men and horses is huge... If we go into the mountains, Bailiang Mountain is broad and deep. I am afraid that the rebels will drag us to death... I think we should proceed steadily, deploy heavy troops in the counties around Bailiang Mountain, block all mountain roads, kill all merchants, and make sure not to let a grain of rice, a grain of salt, a foot of cloth, or a pound of iron enter the mountain area..."
There is a shortage of supplies in the mountainous areas, especially salt, so this is indeed a plan that will wipe out the entire family.
"It's a good plan indeed." King Jin looked at the map and nodded. "I read in history books that when there was a rebellion in the southern border in the past, General Long used this method to suppress the rebellion. The previous dynasty also used the same method... It's just that my father is worried about the country, and as a son, I have to share his worries."
This means that the emperor is somewhat anxious to pacify the situation.
"My suggestion is that while blocking the area, we should send a small team into the mountains to fight a war of attrition with the mountain people... Quality is more important than quantity. The main purpose is to gain experience in mountain warfare. Once they become proficient, we can organize them into a mountain warfare battalion, which may be able to achieve success."
Prince Jin paced a few steps and suddenly said.
"What a good plan. With this two-pronged approach, the mountain people will never be able to turn the tables."
Huang Ba praised highly.
In fact, he had thought of this strategy a long time ago, but he just didn't say it on purpose. With some reluctance to finish, the King of Jin brought it up.
I will also take this opportunity to record the merit for the King of Jin. This is the duty of a subject.
"The general trend is on my side. With our hard power, I am not afraid of anyone in the imperial court."
King Jin sneered and said, "I will offer another reward. For every head of a mountain dweller cut off by the team that goes into the mountains to fight, I will give them five taels of silver!"
When a war comes to the point where it comes down to who can afford to lose more lives, it is no longer a endgame but a dead end.
The mountain people died one by one, but the imperial army continued to arrive.
"Prince Jin's plan is great... Now there is only one thing to worry about, and that is the monster." Huang Ba said, this is a variable.
"I have also gathered some Taoists, who may be useful this time... Besides, what if the mountain people are desperate and come out of the mountains to fight?"
King Jin asked.
"Haha...how many mountain folks are there? If they dare to come out of the mountains to challenge us, then we will fight them in one go. The best outcome is to annihilate them completely. Even if there are monsters and tens of thousands of troops surround them, they will all die."
Huang Ba laughed.
Just then, the newly appointed acting prefect Chunyu Qin asked for a meeting.
"Let him in."
Prince Jin's eyebrows twitched, and he had a premonition.
Chun Yuqin was seen jogging along, not even caring about his official manners, holding a piece of intelligence in his hand: "Your Highness Prince Jin... The latest intelligence is that the bandit leader Wang Shun seems to be planning to come out of retirement!"
Prince Jin and Huang Ba looked at each other, both feeling a bit like they were in a dream or something unreal.
Is Wang Shun a fool?
Or has he become inflated because of his previous successes?
With only a few thousand mountain folks, he dared to come out of the mountains to fight against the 50,000-strong army of the imperial court. Even the King of Jin had to write a word of admiration to him.
…
At this time, outside the city.
When the army entered the city, martial law was naturally imposed, but suddenly a man appeared outside the city gate.
"Who is coming?"
The soldiers guarding the city immediately drew their bows and arrows and shouted loudly.
"Jin King's staff, Zhou Zhu! This is the token!"
Zhou Zhu held up a gold medal and handed it to the team leader for inspection, and only then was he allowed to pass through the city gate and arrive at the temporary residence of Prince Jin.
As soon as he entered, he felt the atmosphere was tense and very strange.
"Manager Sun, what happened? I want to see the prince!"
Zhou Zhu stopped a familiar manager and asked.
"It's Mr. Zhou. Is everything going well?" Steward Sun replied with a smile, and at the same time explained: "The prince is very busy today... Just after entering the city, he received the news that Wang Ni had come out of seclusion and was discussing military affairs with the generals. If Mr. Zhou is not on important business, it is best not to disturb him."
This is only Zhou Zhu. If it were anyone else, he wouldn't bother to remind them of this.
"Thank you, sir. I understand..."
Zhou Zhu's face was as gloomy as water.
The information about monsters he obtained was not useless, but it was too late.
How could the traitor Wang Shun dare to come out and fight? Who gave him the courage?
But the prince will not let go of such a good opportunity.
Even if all the monsters come out, this is the best time to catch them all!
'only……'
Zhou Zhu secretly touched the inspiration bead and found that the bead became more active.
"This pearl... I'm afraid it can transform disasters into spiritual energy... Now that it's so active, I'm afraid it's a very ominous sign. Unfortunately, I can't use it to make a fuss..."
A huge cloud of gloom suddenly appeared in Zhou Zhu's heart.
