The next day, Bai Xiaowen led his army to Jiangxia City.
From atop the city walls, Wei Yan spotted Bai Xiaowen's imperial carriage and canopy from afar. He hurriedly ordered the gates opened and went out of the city to greet him.
"Reporting to Your majesty, I did not fail in my mission. I have already captured Jiangxia City! The remaining four commanderies of Jingzhou have also fallen under Your majesty's rule." There was a trace of concealed self-satisfaction in Wei Yan's voice. Seizing Jiangxia Commandery with the vanguard was indeed a considerable achievement.
What Wei Yan had not expected was that if Bai Xiaowen had not had an alleged force of three hundred thousand troops behind him as reinforcement, how could Lü Meng and Lu Su have abandoned the city and fled so quickly?
Bai Xiaowen glanced at Wei Yan. "Wenchang, you have rendered merit in taking the city. I heard that the commander defending Jiangxia was named Lu Su, a man of intelligence and strategy. Since you breached the city, I assume you captured him."
Wei Yan hurriedly shook his head. "Your majesty, Lu Su escaped."
"Then what of the general under Lu Su named Lü Meng? He is also a promising talent. Did you not capture him either?"
Wei Yan sensed something was amiss and could only say, "Your majesty, the Jiangdong rebel army was as slippery as eels. Seeing that the situation had turned against them, they abandoned the city and fled."
Bai Xiaowen smiled. "Then what about the three thousand rebel troops stationed in Jiangxia City?"
"...They all ran away." Wei Yan lowered his head.
Bai Xiaowen said, "I appointed you vanguard and gave you ten thousand elite soldiers to attack Jiangxia. Was the purpose merely to seize Jiangxia City? Beyond occupying the city, you