Early the next morning, Yuan Weiwen, Zhao Shuisheng, and others continued their journey toward Lingnan City.
Lingnan Province is not the same as Guiling Province.
Although Lingnan Province is more important than Guiling Province, the number of troops stationed there is not much different from that in Guiling Province.
However, Guiling Province was able to receive support from the Dian King's forces, while Lingnan Province could not.
After all, the enemy is located in a distant region, and the main force is very far away. Even if we send a message now to request reinforcements, it will be too late.
Moreover, the neighboring provinces have limited military strength, so the distant water cannot quench the immediate thirst.
Therefore, when Lingnan Province learned that the local garrison of Guiling was heading towards Lingnan City, the entire city of Lingnan became panicked.
On the streets and alleys, some shops hurriedly closed their doors. Merchants hastily packed up their valuables, wanting to flee Lingnan City.
Moreover, the gentry and powerful families from various regions who had recently taken refuge in Lingnan City have also begun to pack up their wealth and prepare to leave.
On the contrary, ordinary people in the streets and alleys continued to live their lives.
For them, the change of government officials was not a big deal; life could still go on!
Most importantly, they all heard that after Prince Xin's army arrived, it treated the people very well. They also heard that the lives of people in various parts of the north had improved considerably.
After hearing these rumors, some people in the city even secretly hoped that Prince Xin's army would arrive in Lingnan City as soon as possible.
Contrary to the common people's ideas, the Governor-General's Office of Lingnan Province...
At this moment, the entire Lingnan Governor's Mansion was in chaos.
"Where is the Governor?"
An aide paced anxiously in the courtyard and asked, "Haven't you found it yet?"
"No."
A servant shook his head and said, "We've searched the manor several times, but we haven't found the Governor. We don't know where he went."
"Can't find it?"
The aide frowned and asked, "Didn't we see the Governor yesterday afternoon? Why can't we find him now?"
He frowned slightly, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.
Could it be that the Governor-General has quietly withdrawn from Lingnan City?
The advisor took a deep breath and said, "Instruct the servants in the mansion to look around the city, especially at the docks and post stations outside the city, and also at the city gates, to see if the governor has left the city."
"Um?"
The servant frowned slightly, then quickly nodded in agreement.
News of the Lingnan Governor's Office also spread throughout Lingnan City.
In the streets and alleys, well-informed people were spreading the news that the governor had fled.
When this news spread, it caused widespread panic in Lingnan City.
Some gentry, wealthy families, and merchants also accelerated their withdrawal from Lingnan City.
In the afternoon, the servants returned.
They also brought back a message.
It turns out that last night, the governor took his money and left the city by boat at the dock.
Upon hearing this news, the staff stared wide-eyed, unable to believe it was all true.
It should be noted that the Governor-General of Lingnan had only recently taken office in Lingnan Province, and it was unexpected that he would so quickly develop the idea of fleeing Lingnan City.
Now that the Governor-General of Lingnan has fled, how can Lingnan City be defended?
The aide sighed helplessly, feeling somewhat distressed.
The news spread like wildfire.
The entire city of Lingnan was thrown into even greater chaos.
The next day, news of Prince Xin's army arrived from the west.
Prince Xin's army has arrived in Nanhai County, and is less than fifty miles away from Lingnan City.
When this news arrived, Lingnan City was completely stunned.
Inside the Lingnan Governor's Mansion, a group of officials, both high and low, gathered together.
"Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou..."
Looking at their advisors, the officials anxiously asked, "The Prince of Xin's army is coming. What should we do now?"
"Mr. Zhou, can you give us some advice?"
"Yes, the Governor-General is gone, and the Provincial Treasurer and Provincial Surveillance Commissioner also left yesterday. In Lingnan City, only you are left to give us advice!"
...
The officials asked eagerly.
Within the entire governor's mansion, most of the remaining officials were either of low status or locals, and they had nowhere else to go.
Therefore, finding a way out is the most urgent task for them.
"I make the decision?"
The advisor, Mr. Zhou, sneered and shook his head, saying, "What advice can I give you? I have no official position, no power, no money. Expecting me to do that is a joke. Heh!"
"Mr. Zhou, please don't abandon us!"
"Yes, everyone knows you, Mr. Zhou, are resourceful and incredibly capable. Mr. Zhou, please give us some advice!"
...
The officials pleaded again.
"hehe."
The advisor, Mr. Zhou, sneered and said, "Instead of coming to me for help, you might as well go to the drill ground outside the city and beg General Li. He is the garrison commander of Lingnan Province, and even if he's not the best, he still has ten or twenty thousand troops under his command. If we can ask General Li for help in defending Lingnan City, perhaps we can still hold it. That's the first method!"
"Secondly, you can compile the household registration and land records of Lingnan Province. When Prince Xin's army arrives, you can surrender and hand over the records, which may save your lives!"
"Or perhaps you could do as the governor did and escape as soon as possible!"
With that, Mr. Zhou, the advisor, glanced at everyone in the room and said calmly, "As for how to choose, that's up to you. Good luck!"
After he finished speaking, Mr. Zhou, the staff member, left.
After returning to his small courtyard, Mr. Zhou, the advisor, also packed his bags and chose to leave Lingnan City.
After all, this place was no longer important to him.
After Mr. Zhou left, the city descended into even greater chaos.
That afternoon, the local garrison of Guiling arrived outside Lingnan City.
Upon arrival, Commander Yuan Weiwen and Deputy Commander Zhao Shuisheng ordered all units to begin besieging the city and preparing for battle.
The troops of the Fifth and Sixth Regiments were stationed directly opposite the drill ground outside Lingnan City, with the momentum to break through the Lingnan drill ground in one fell swoop.
Seeing the fully armed army of Prince Xin, General Li and the others in the training ground were greatly alarmed.
Before the Prince of Xin's army could attack the city, General Li led 20,000 defenders to begin their retreat.
This threw Lingnan City into even greater chaos.
Left with no other choice, the remaining gentry and officials in the city took their household registration and land records and surrendered.
Both Yuan Weiwen and Zhao Shuisheng were stunned by what they saw.
They never expected that Lingnan City, the largest city in Lingnan, would surrender without a fight.
That's really unexpected!
"These people,"
Zhao Shuisheng shook his head with a wry smile and said, "What a disgrace! With officials like this, no wonder the people live in poverty!"
"hehe,"
Yuan Weiwen sneered and said, "Now that we're here, the sky over Lingnan is clear!"
Old Zhao, enter the city and take over Lingnan City!
"yes!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
