Chapter 135
"What's the situation over there?" Yao Chunnuan asked about the main city of Yichun.
“We’re already taking action.”
Chief Steward Wu looked towards the north, where the fighting continued. "I wonder how many prisoners we can capture this time?"
The engineers of the Yichun military settlement set up many barricades and tripwires ten miles north of the settlement. Their purpose was not to kill or injure anyone, but to capture prisoners. The enemy chose to break out from the north, which was exactly what they wanted.
"I think it should be at least four or five thousand." Yu Chen made a conservative estimate.
Yao Chunnuan estimated that the number was probably higher than that. "No matter how many, we must keep up with the ideological education classes." The first thing to do when capturing prisoners is brainwashing. Our Party has extensive experience in this area. Yao Chunnuan followed suit and tortured them. We were all from the Central Plains, the people of Daliang. With a good talk and lessons, and by integrating them into the life of the military settlement, they would quickly become our own recruits.
Fighting on their home turf, morale was high. The soldiers of the Yichun military settlement were like chickens with their blood pumped up, chasing the enemy with cries of "Those in front, surrender and you won't be killed!"
No killing for surrender?
Huh—huh—
They were so tired from running. Since they wouldn't be killed if they surrendered, why were they still running? Especially those who had been tripped by the trap, they just lay down and didn't struggle.
The soldiers of the Yichun military camp were delighted to find that shouting was effective. They chased after the enemy while shouting, "Surrender and we will not kill you!"
Qi Lao San bared his white teeth at the fallen enemy soldier and said, "Brother, I'm grabbing you, can you please stop struggling? I don't want to hurt you."
His words made the other party not know how to react.
When he was pulled up, the other party hadn't reacted yet.
Seeing that the other party was quite well-behaved, Qi Laosan advised him again, "Don't even think about running away. Actually, it's nothing if you think about it. We are all from Yichun. It doesn't matter who we serve in the army."
The other party boldly asked, "You captured us and made us soldiers. Aren't we prisoners?"
"Hahaha, it depends on your performance. If you perform well, you can continue to serve in the army..."
"What if you don't perform well?"
Qi Lao San gave the other person a look that said 'you know what I mean'.
The other party shuddered and said, "Don't worry, big brother, I will do my best!" He wanted to continue serving in the army and didn't want to be a prisoner!
"That's right." Qi Lao San patted the other person's shoulder, very satisfied with the other person's understanding.
The other party muttered, "It's mainly because the prisoners in your military settlements are so miserable. I heard that each person has to cultivate at least two acres of land every day, and they are not even given enough to eat."
Qi Lao San rolled his eyes and said, "You are not from Di Luo, so don't even think about enjoying such 'good' treatment."
The other party was shocked at first, "How can you applaud such treatment?" Then he wanted to cry, "I joined the army just to have enough food to eat." He was not afraid of working, but he was afraid of not having enough to eat after working.
"Brother, why don't you just let me go quietly? I'll repay you when I become rich in the future."
Hearing this, Qi Lao San looked the other person up and down. He was wrong. He thought it was a well-behaved little white rabbit, but it turned out to be a big-tailed wolf. "Get lost! You're dreaming! Do you know how many merit points I can earn if I catch someone like you? Ten! Ten in total! I'd be a fool to let you go."
The soldier shrank his neck and sighed inwardly, "I didn't expect him to be so valuable!" I heard that the merit points of the Yichun military settlement can be exchanged for some rare and good things in their exchange building.
Yao Chunnuan and his men didn't have to wait long before word arrived: the main city of Yichun had been taken. There had been minimal resistance from the city, partly because Governor Lei had emptied the city's forces, and partly because they had planned without realizing it, so the capture of Yichun was swift and natural.
"Okay!" Yao Chunnuan said happily.
So far, everything is going smoothly, which is a good sign.
Chief Steward Wu, Yu Chen, Yao Chunnuan and others looked at each other and smiled.
"Let's go and get to work!" Yu Chen called them.
Ignoring the forces of the Yichun Camp, Yichun was already theirs, at least the main city was theirs. Cleaning up and managing the post-war area was their job.
In the end, only Yao Chunnuan and Yu Chen left for Yichun's main city. Chief Steward Wu stayed behind in the Yichun military settlement. After all, the settlement had its fair share of internal affairs, not to mention the distant ones. Just to name a few, the newly captured prisoners needed to be properly sorted and settled. This was crucial work; if it wasn't done well, it would lead to major chaos.
After Yao Chunnuan and Yu Chen took over the defense of Yichun's main city, martial law began in Yichun, allowing only entry but not exit.
********
Marshal Zhu, who was well-informed, soon learned that Governor Lei was leading 30,000 troops to crush the Yichun military camp.
"Is Governor Lei causing trouble for the Yichun military settlement again? Is he losing his mind? The imperial envoy sent by the crown prince will arrive soon, right? Isn't he just exacerbating the conflict?" Marshal Zhu no longer had any desire to watch the show; a faint shadow even loomed in his heart. Governor Lei now looked like a gambler who had lost everything. He had rarely seen such people end well.
Shi Mei and others were also confused, "Marshal, do you think he is making decisions on his own?" The prince would never let him do that.
As soon as Governor Lei led his troops to break through the gate of the Yichun military settlement, the news that the King of Ruyin and the King of Annan had rebelled reached Yichun. Marshal Zhu couldn't believe it. It was too sudden. He had not received any news about the King of Ruyin's rebellion in advance. It could be said that there was no rehearsal at all.
Just as Marshal Zhu was in a trance, the communications soldier stumbled in.
This loss of composure made Marshal Zhu subconsciously realize that something big was happening. However, he felt that nothing could be more serious than two kings of different surnames raising the banner of rebellion one after another on the same day.
"General, it's bad! General Xing Changfeng has rebelled!"
Marshal Zhu stood up suddenly. "What did you say?" Did he hear correctly? After the two kings of different surnames rebelled, Xing Changfeng followed suit in the blink of an eye? Now their Yichun was going to be famous. Very famous!
"Didn't Xing Changfeng lead his troops to support his father-in-law?"
"I'm back! The first thing I did after returning was to shoot and kill Governor Lei."
"You mean Ray-Ban is dead?"
"Replying to the commander, yes, Governor Lei is dead. He was shot in the heart by an arrow from General Xing."
"Where is the main city of Yichun?" Shi Mei asked hurriedly.
"The main city of Yichun was also quickly occupied by them."
Marshal Zhu gritted his teeth and said, "LeBan, this sinner!" If he had not repeatedly provoked the Yichun military settlement, would the situation have evolved into what it is today?
Shi Mei agreed deeply, isn't he a sinner?
However, they had more important things to do than scold Ray-Ban. "Marshal, what should we do now?" Shi Mei was also at a loss. Too fast, this day changed too quickly!
Marshal Zhu was also getting anxious. It was time to make a choice and take sides again. Should he side with the imperial court or Xing Changfeng?
If he chose to remain loyal to the court, he would inevitably be ordered to fight the Yichun military settlements, a choice he did not want. The Yichun military settlements were a real tough nut to crack, and if they really faced them, they might not be able to gnaw on them, and they might even break their teeth...
But he was unwilling to submit to Xing Changfeng and serve him as his master. He had a full 70,000 soldiers and horses, and the soldiers and horses in the Yichun military garrison were even smaller than his.
"Hold on first." Let him escape for a while, it's annoying! "Damn Ray-Ban!"
"Marshal, the rebellion of the Yichun military settlement was premeditated." Shi Mei came to her senses. The Yichun military settlement reacted so quickly, and Xing Changfeng also rushed back from the northern border. It was definitely not an emotional rebellion, but a premeditated one.
If this is the case, then Governor Lei is probably just a victim of the rebellion of the Yichun military settlement. How pitiful.
"Even if he's pitiful, he deserves to die!" Marshal Zhu couldn't bear to hear this name now, and he would curse as soon as he heard it.
********
On this side, the prince and his entourage hurried and finally arrived in Yichun in the shortest time possible.
Looking at the towering city gate, the guard showed a hint of joy, "Prince, we have arrived at Yichun City!"
Just when the prince and his entourage were planning to tidy up a bit and then enter the city.
There was an inconspicuous man who had been standing outside the gate of Yichun City for an hour. When he saw the prince and his entourage, he hurried to greet them. After being stopped by the prince's guards, he quickly showed his identity badge.
Then the man was quickly brought before the prince, "Prince, don't go into the city, Xing Changfeng is rebelling."
The prince had already sensed something was amiss without him having to tell him. He observed for a moment and saw that although the gates of Yichun City were wide open, only people were entering the city, with no one leaving.
The prince clenched his fists, stared at the gate of Yichun City, and asked through gritted teeth, "When did it happen?"
"Half an hour ago."
The prince stood there stubbornly, feeling extremely unwilling. He was almost there, just this little bit! Why didn't God help them? His father was the emperor, and he was the crown prince. Why didn't God bless Daliang?!
Everyone was silent, especially the subordinates who had accompanied the prince all the way to Yichun, sighing inwardly. Despite their haste, they were still a step too late. Really, just half a day! They felt a deep sense of helplessness, a sense of urgency.
"Where are the Ray-Bans?"
"He was shot to death by Xing Changfeng with an arrow."
"Where are my troops?"
"They were surrounded by the Yichun military garrison, so only half of them returned. The other half were either arrested or had already gotten separated."
Ah! The prince raised his head and let out a long cry. He drew the sword from his waist and chopped it down at the big tree beside him.
After a while, his confidant Huaian stepped forward and advised, "Prince, go back."
Looking at the gate of Yichun, the prince was filled with reluctance. He knew that entering Yichun again was meaningless and even dangerous.
Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Since they have rebelled, they will not turn back, even if he, the prince, comes in person.
What's even more hateful is that because Governor Lei had mobilized his troops without authorization, he now doesn't even have the confidence to enter the city. Without the protection of his own army, the risk of him entering Yichun and never returning is very high.
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