Chapter 231: Dan County Surrenders

Su Zhenzhen just smiled knowingly and didn't insist that Jiang Sijin let Hensheng try out the wooden box in her hand.

Jiang Sijin felt uneasy under that smile.

Could there really be some kind of "recognition of a master" concept? She'd tried all sorts of bizarre methods to open this wooden box without success. If that brat Hensheng opened it so easily, wouldn't that indirectly create momentum for him?

No, impossible!

Jiang Sijin shook her head violently. She was the legitimate princess of the Jiang Dynasty, and if the Jiang Dynasty's secret treasure were to recognize a master, it should recognize her!

It must be that her method was wrong, or that the Jiang Dynasty's secret treasure was testing her!

Seeing Jiang Sijin's expression, Su Zhenzhen knew that she was having a big show going on in her mind, so she didn't bother with her anymore and took Hensheng's hand to the garrison camp outside the North Gate.

"Zhenzhen, the so-called Jiang Dynasty treasure was just something I said offhand. I don't know where my aunt dug up that little wooden box from," Hensheng said apologetically.

The woman before him had sacrificed so much for him, while he was now penniless and, due to various accidents, had not yet been able to give her a proper ceremony.

If there really is a secret treasure of the Jiang Dynasty, it should be given to Su Zhenzhen; it would be a token of his sincerity and respect for her.

Su Zhenzhen didn't care. Anything in the void world, even the most precious treasures, was nothing more than a toy in the hands of a high-ranking god.

But these words cannot be said to Hensheng, nor can they even be thought of in one's heart.

“I know.” Su Zhenzhen smiled lightly. “I don’t know how Jiang Sijin, that blind cat, managed to step on a dead mouse. But it won’t affect the overall situation. As long as we take back Huzhou, the capital will be isolated and unable to hold up. The puppet court supported by the powerful families won’t last long. In another year, the Jiang Dynasty will be back in your hands.”

Hensheng and Su Zhenzhen held hands, "As you wish, I will definitely take control of the entire Jiang Dynasty within a year."

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

It is no exaggeration to say that the entire Jiang Dynasty was conquered in a year.

History lessons from the 90s and 60s contain countless successful examples of ruling over entire regions from north to south.

By occupying key northern locations and then expanding southward, they were virtually invincible.

Once Huzhou is completely captured, the entire north will be in Hensheng's hands. Then, with a pincer attack from the north and south, the capital area will be surrounded, and victory will only be a matter of time.

Su Zhenzhen believed that by then, Hensheng would have a large and powerful army under his command.

This trip to Huzhou might just bring together a lot of surrendered officials.

After all, who would willingly resist and become a prisoner if they could live and earn a chance to rise to power?

If the generals of Huzhou were truly loyal ministers, how could they have gathered their own troops and carved out their own territories after General Hu Buwei's death?

This time, Hensheng not only led 30,000 troops outside Yangcheng, but also recruited soldiers from various parts of the south and transferred a lot of troops from the border states, bringing the total to 50,000 troops. He set off from Shanxian to launch a northern expedition against Huzhou.

Although Yangcheng appears to be internally weak, this is only temporary.

Once Hensheng's 50,000 troops enter Huzhou territory, the Huzhou troops will definitely return to defend, and will have no intention of heading south to attack Yangcheng.

Chunzhi's only real threat was the imperial army that was acting under the banner of a collateral branch of the Jiang family.

The imperial court is "borrowing" troops for this trip, so in any case, they must first discuss the marriage alliance between the Hu and Jiang families and persuade them with reason before they can start fighting.

Even if we assume that Jiang Sijin stayed in Yangcheng to study that broken box, the little monster's abilities would be more than enough to defend the city.

Unlike Su Zhenzhen, Jiang Sijin doesn't have to worry about bearing the consequences.

The entry into Huzhou was very smooth. The army led the way, the city guards opened the city gates wide, and some familiar faces were even standing at the gate to welcome them.

Cui Niang was wearing a sky-blue jacket over a grass-green skirt, with matching emerald green earrings on her ears. Her hair was styled in a common woman's bun, adorned with three silver hairpins, and a plain white silk flower in her temple. She was probably still in mourning, and looked every bit the young widow observing mourning for her husband's family.

"Master!" Cui Niang waved her small handkerchief enthusiastically.

The magistrate of Dan County was also a remarkable person. Previously, when Cui Niang's husband, Master Zhu, died mysteriously, the people in the city were talking about it and were filled with fear and unease. The magistrate of Dan County allowed the people to flee out of the city, but forbade outsiders from entering Dan County, fearing that they would be harmed by the evil spirits on Master Zhu.

Now, when Shanxian sent troops to attack, the magistrate of Danxian opened the city gates, probably fearing that the higher-ups in Huzhou would hold him accountable. He had already taken his wife, children, and elderly parents and fled into the mountains.

"The magistrate knew that I was an old acquaintance of the two immortals, so he instructed me to wait at the city gate to welcome their army into Dan County."

The soldiers guarding the city all clasped their hands in salute and respectfully stepped aside to the sides of the road.

Hensheng did not immediately lead his army into Dan County. Anyone who has read military books should know that all's fair in war.

Su Zhenzhen glanced at Cui Niang, then at the empty street behind her, and nodded to Hen Sheng.

Hensheng then managed a smile, dismounted himself first, and then helped Su Zhenzhen down.

"Cui Niang, it's been a long time," Su Zhenzhen greeted her kindly.

Cui Niang took a few steps forward, walked up to Su Zhenzhen, and performed a standard curtsy.

"It's kind of you, my lady immortal, to remember me."

"Now that you've come to Dan County, you should pay your respects to your First Madam."

Cui Niang was very excited. "If the First Madam knew that the Immortal Master cared about her so much, she would be very happy in heaven."

Su Zhenzhen doesn't have mind-reading abilities, but she can judge a person's current state by their micro-expressions.

Cui Niang's expression did not seem to be coerced. If she were to collude with others, she would not be as relaxed and natural as she is now when mentioning Madam Huo.

Lady Huo, Huo Rouzhen, was General Huo's half-sister. She married Master Zhu, the former Minister of Revenue of the Jiang Dynasty. During the siege of the capital, Master Zhu absconded with funds from the national treasury to Dan County. Later, Master Zhu died of poisoning, his death unusual, and Lady Huo's true identity was revealed. When Lady Huo's coffin was carried out for her funeral, the people of Dan County lined the streets to pay their respects. This was because she was General Huo's sister, and General Huo was a paragon of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, showing great care for ordinary people.

Cui Niang came from a peasant family and grew up listening to stories of General Huo's heroism, which she greatly admired. Hen Sheng's troops were also fighting under the banner of General Huo's former subordinates, so unless someone was truly ambitious and had designs on women, most people would at least put on a show of respect.

Therefore, Su Zhenzhen concluded that the magistrate of Dan County had indeed surrendered the city, and that there were no troops lying in ambush within the city.

Hensheng unconditionally trusted Su Zhenzhen, and seeing that she thought there was no problem, he led his army into Dan County in an orderly manner.

And indeed, nothing changed until the army left the north gate of Dan County.

"Let's go pay our respects to Madam Huo before heading north."