Gao Lan still doesn't understand that the Black Mountain Army, which occupies the Taihang Mountains, has a force of one million.

Zhang Yan himself had 30,000 troops and 2,000 cavalry.

But why did they choose to surrender to this prince?

Indeed, the end of the universe is the organization!

Perhaps this prince recruited Zhang Yan and gave him high-ranking official positions and generous salaries.

However, Gao Lan's unwilling words left Zhang Yan speechless.

Sure enough, the one holding the Mohist Master's Token and the successor to the Great Teacher of Virtue is none other than the current prince.

Seeing Zhang Yan's dazed expression, Liu Wei knew that it was only a matter of time before Zhang Yan learned the truth.

However, at this moment, Zhang Yan no longer had the capital to be arrogant.

Of his two thousand trusted cavalrymen, less than a thousand remain, with five hundred guarding the grain supplies at the Nine Gates.

Of the 30,000 infantrymen, 20,000 had already been scattered by Gao Lan, leaving 8,000 led by Du Chang who were attacking Zhengding City.

Of those 8,000 people, I wonder how many are still alive today.

By this calculation, Zhang Yan's direct Black Mountain Army has less than 10,000 men left, and they may not all obey his orders.

Zhang Yan realized that Liu Wei's reason for sending his men into battle was to continuously weaken his power, so that in the end he would have few troops left and would have no choice but to submit.

"You can leave now, take those five hundred cavalrymen with you, and the provisions too!"

Liu Wei looked coldly at Zhang Yan, "But next time I come to Changshan, I won't be so polite to you!"

Zhang Yan swallowed hard and asked with difficulty, "What's the deal with the Grand Master's Decree?"

"What I want to do may lead to the same goal, but I've said all I can say. Your choice to stay or leave is up to you," Liu Wei said cryptically.

Upon hearing this, Tian Kai was visibly shaken, his eyes gleaming with intense light.

As expected, our lord is ambitious; there's no need for him to constantly incite rebellion.

Just as Zhang Yan was about to express her opinion, Zhang Baiqi arrived.

"Commander, we have good equipment and food to eat if we follow him, and we can also kill enemies and make meritorious contributions. Why should we leave!"

Zhang Baiqi bowed to Liu Wei and said, "Your Highness, it is my honor to fight alongside you in Zhen Family Village. I have long been impressed by Your Highness's demeanor. Whether you are a Grand Master or a Prince, I, Zhang Baiqi, will follow you to the death!"

Whether to join the official ranks or become an outlaw, anyone would know which to choose.

The Black Mountain Army is starving now, so what's the point of talking about independent personalities? They might as well be kept by someone else.

Zhang Baiqi didn't care whether Liu Wei was a Grand Master or a Prince.

"Brother White Rider, please don't call me Commander anymore. I am willing to serve Your Highness like a dog or a horse."

Zhang Yan immediately bowed to Liu Wei.

"Tian Kai, write the letter of appointment!" Liu Wei chuckled.

Under these circumstances, Zhang Yan will make the wisest choice she can make.

Upon hearing this, Tian Kai immediately took out the letter of appointment, already stamped with the imperial seal, from his baggage on horseback.

Liu Wei spent 50 million coins to buy a General of the North and four Lieutenant Generals from Liu Hong, and also gave him a large number of Colonels, Cavalry Captains, and Captains.

You should know that the Yuan family spent a hundred million coins to buy a Grand Commandant!

"Zhang Yan is appointed as the Commandant of the Black Mountain Army, leading 1,000 Black Mountain cavalry; Zhang Baiqi and Du Chang are appointed as Commandants, each leading 1,000 troops!"

Zhang Yan was shocked upon hearing Liu Wei's reward.

Liu Wei still took into account the influence of his Black Mountain Army in the Taihang Mountains and gave him the rank of captain.

Moreover, with a strength of three thousand men, they were already officers with real power, leading an entire army.

Most importantly, the three of them transformed from bandits into official government employees.

Also, I really was judging a gentleman by my own petty standards just now!

Liu Wei originally intended to incorporate those 30,000 infantrymen and then let them settle down in Youzhou, but unexpectedly they were defeated by Gao Lan's troops!

Zhang Yan felt ashamed and exchanged a glance with Zhang Baiqi before bowing in unison: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

"You two go and reorganize the Black Mountain Army. Leave only three thousand elite troops behind, and the rest can stay in Changshan or go north to Youzhou."

Liu Wei confessed.

"Here you go!"

The two accepted the order and left.

So it turns out that Zhang Yan and her companion were only recruited and incorporated into Liu Wei's army now!

Why did Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army join forces with this prince to fight him before?

Gao Lan was stunned when he saw Liu Wei take out a letter of appointment to recruit Zhang Yan.

"Prefect Gao, it's your turn!"

After arranging Zhang Yan's affairs, Liu Wei looked at Gao Lan and said with a smile, "I just heard from Clerk Tian that you didn't take my name seriously when you heard it, and instead treated us like the Black Mountain Army."

"So now, how do you view this issue?"

Gao Lan was somewhat unconvinced: "If I hadn't divided my forces just now, Your Highness might not have been able to defeat me!"

"Heh, just for a moment of anger, you caused the deaths of two of your brothers. Tell me, why did you do that?"

"I might not necessarily win against you? Zilong can move in and out of your formation with ease, so what?"

"My hundred cavalrymen can easily break through your thousand infantry formations and easily kill half of them."

"My five hundred iron cavalry haven't even warmed up yet, and I've already slain two hundred of your cavalry!"

"And how do you explain all this?"

Gao Lan remained silent.

Liu Wei smiled slightly, "Prefect Gao, I'll give you a chance. Either go to Zhengding now and have the garrison open the gates to let me into the city."

"Either take your head and use it to force the city gates to open. Like Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army, I'm giving you two choices!"

Do we even need to choose?

Gao Lan was still somewhat incredulous: "Your Highness, you...you really won't kill me?"

"Hey, Prefect Gao, even if you question the current emperor, you can't question our Prince!"

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