Grand Tutor Yuan Feng was unwilling to let the Shannan Army dominate the Mount Liang surrender process, and Dong Zhuo's response was extremely domineering.
Then nobody should eat it!
Wang Yan, unwilling to say more, waved his hand and said, "Kill him."
Zhang Liao led his men and charged forward again.
In the end, Song Hai collapsed, his face filled with resentment.
This Mount Liang commander died on the very night he successfully surrendered to the imperial court.
"Cut off their heads and send them to the capital to claim credit."
Wang Yan glanced one last time at the corpses scattered on the ground and coldly gave the order.
December 27th, the ninth year of Yuanxing.
News has been received in the capital—
The Mount Liang rebels feigned acceptance of amnesty, but in reality harbored treacherous intentions. The soldiers of the Shannan Army were ambushed, fought valiantly, and ultimately defeated the Mount Liang rebels!
The heads of Song Hai and other Mount Liang leaders were sent to the capital, thus ending the Mount Liang turmoil that had lasted for nearly half a year.
Upon receiving this news, the emperor was furious at Song Hai and his ilk for their ungratefulness and ordered the execution of the families of all the rebels on Mount Liang!
The emperor finally rewarded the Shannan Army. Wang Yan, the commander-in-chief of the army, was granted the title of Viscount of Nanping County, and the other major generals also received corresponding rewards.
Among them, Zhang Liao, the garrison commander of Tiger Soul Pass, was promoted to the position of Assistant General of Ya Province and concurrently served as the Tiger Soul Pass because he assisted the Shannan Army in suppressing bandits and made many meritorious contributions.
December 28th, evening.
The Yuan family mansion in the capital.
As the head of the Four Great Aristocratic Clans, the Yuan family mansion occupied a vast area and was exceptionally grand, attracting visits from powerful and influential figures in the capital almost every day.
The current head of the Yuan Clan family Yuan Feng, is the prime minister and grand tutor of the current dynasty. Three generations of his family heads produced two grand tutors and one grand commandant.
This is the foundation of the Yuan Clan!
Given Yuan Feng Yuan Clan's status, there were very few things that could anger him. However, yesterday, Dong Zhuo sent people to the capital to claim credit for the heads of Song Hai and others. Upon receiving the news, Yuan Feng was unusually furious.
Inside the hall, Yuan Feng sat in the main seat, with his two sons standing in front of him.
The man was tall and imposing, with a dignified and imposing presence.
One of them was thin, and his appearance paled in comparison to his brother beside him.
The former's name was Yuan Shao, and the latter's name was Yuan Shu.
However, the former was only Yuan Feng's illegitimate son, while the latter was his legitimate son.
"At the beginning of next year, the imperial court will thoroughly investigate the land reclamation activities of the Shanbei Army. I have requested a post from His Majesty; who among you is willing to go?"
Yuan Feng asked.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Yuan Shao spoke first, "Father, Brother Shu is frail. The borderlands are harsh and cold, unlike other places. I should go instead."
Yuan Shu glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Yuan Feng looked at Yuan Shao and said in a deep voice, "Do you know why your father asked for this job?"
Yuan Shao said without hesitation, "Dong Zhuo of Shannan Circuit is ambitious. If anything changes in the future, Shanbei Circuit, which is adjacent to Shannan Circuit, will be the key."
Yuan Feng nodded. "Dong Zhuo is a cunning, cruel, and treacherous man. If he were to gain power, who knows what chaos the world would descend into! This time, when you investigate the Shanbei Army's land reclamation, you can take the opportunity to befriend the generals of the Shanbei Army for future purposes. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
Yuan Shao cupped his hands in response.
Looking at his handsome son, Yuan Feng's tone softened. "The wind and sand are strong in the Shanbei, you must take care of yourself."
Yuan Shao bowed respectfully. "Yes, Father, rest assured, I will certainly not disappoint you!"
"You can go and prepare now."
Yuan Feng said.
Yuan Shao bowed again and left the hall.
Yuan Shu glanced back at his brother's retreating figure, his gaze cold.
Yuan Feng observed this scene without changing his expression and asked, "I asked you to investigate the battle in Jiannan Circuit. What did you find out?"
Yuan Shu said respectfully, "Father, Zhang Liao, the garrison commander of Tiger Soul Pass, played a very important role in this battle. If he hadn't held Tiger Soul Pass and held out until the Shannan Army arrived, the battle in Jiannan Circuit would probably have had a different outcome."
The battle report submitted by the Shannan Army clearly stated this man's merits, obviously to recommend him for credit. I think this Zhang Liao was already one of Dong Zhuo's men.
Dong Zhuo's intention to win over the garrison commander of Tiger Soul Pass is indeed, as my father said, ambitious and with ulterior motives!
Yuan Feng looked at Yuan Shu: "Anything else?"
Yuan Shu was taken aback. He thought that his father had asked him to carefully study the war in Jiannan Circuit in order to find out that Zhang Liao was a key pawn planted by Dong Zhuo.
Is there anything else that you haven't seen?
Yuan Shu pondered deeply.
Yuan Feng shook his head, somewhat disappointed. "You've only focused on Ya Province and Rong Province, haven't you even looked at Yi Province?"
"Yi Province?"
Yuan Shu pursed his lips. Because Mount Liang's forces had only captured Ya Province City and Rong Province City this time, but not Yi Province's capital, he hadn't really paid much attention to the battle in Yi Province.
"Yi Province has abundant grain reserves; if Mount Liang wants to go further, Yi Province is a must-have!"
Yuan Feng said, "If we take Yi Province, Mount Liang can fight for at least another year or two, and might even have a chance to take Shu Province as well. If we talk about amnesty then, they can offer more terms. But they're in such a hurry to offer amnesty after less than half a year of uprising. Why do you think that is? Do you really think the Shannan Army is incredibly powerful?"
Yuan Shu's mind raced.
Jiannan Circuit is too far from the capital, and the intelligence he obtained mainly focused on Ya Province and Rong Province, with very little written about the war in Yi Province.
Only after hearing Yuan Feng's analysis did he realize—
In this battle of Jiannan Circuit, securing the Ya Province pass is key, and taking Yi Province is also crucial!
"Does Father mean that there's more to the story than meets the eye in Mount Liang's failure to capture Yi Prefecture City?"
"Intelligence reports that local militias in Yi Province organized themselves and held off the Mount Liang army. Do you think this is normal?"
"..."
Yuan Shu was speechless for a moment.
He didn't realize at first that Yi Province was also key, and subconsciously thought that Mount Liang had only sent a small number of troops to attack Yi Province. It was normal that they were eventually stopped by the local militia of Yi Province.
The imperial court allowed local areas to form militias precisely so that these areas would be able to defend themselves against external enemies.
In the early stages of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the local militias in Hebei Circuit also achieved many impressive victories.
But now, Yuan Shu has realized what's happening.
Mount Liang will definitely send its elite troops to launch a fierce attack on Yi Province. Ya Province and Rong Province failed to stop Mount Liang's advance, so what makes the local militias of Yi Province think they can?
"I am dull-witted, please guide me, Father."
Yuan Shu bowed respectfully, admitting that he couldn't understand the hidden story behind it.
"Officials from Yi Province submitted a report on the war situation in Yi Province, in which they highlighted one person— Xu Jing."
Who is this person?
"He is a member of the Lulin Xu Family and currently serves as the county magistrate of Bo County."
"The Lulin Xu Family..."
Yuan Shu thought carefully for a moment and barely remembered that it was a fallen military family, which was not worth mentioning in his eyes.
"Officials in Yi Province said that Yi Province was able to withstand the Mount Liang army's attack this time entirely thanks to Xu Jing's organization of local militias throughout Yi Province. The local braves united to form the Yi Province Militia and fought together against the enemy."
Yuan Feng said.
"Yi Province Militia?"
Yuan Shu revealed a knowing look. "It seems the Xu Family has some influence in Yi Province as well."
In his view, Xu Jing was able to unite the armed forces from all over Yi Province, and the title of county magistrate of Bo County alone was far from enough.
Yuan Feng said, "The Xu Family also had a deputy general in Yi Province, but he died in this battle."
Yuan Shu looked at his father but didn't say anything.
He knew his father must have a reason for bringing this up.
"The fact that the officials of Yi Province mentioned Xu Jing's contributions this time may have involved the Xu Family's influence. However, the Xu Family has been away from the court for a long time, so it will probably not be easy for them to get Xu Jing a suitable official position."
Yuan Feng said, "I've decided to lend a hand to the Xu Family."
Yuan Shu understood the implied meaning in the song. "Father wants to take this opportunity to win over the Xu Family, and perhaps use their business in Yi Province to restrain Dong Zhuo in the future?"
Yuan Feng nodded. "Next, send someone to Yi Province to thoroughly investigate Xu Jing and this Yi Province Militia."
"Yes."
Yuan Shu said.
On this day, the ' Yi Province Militia ' came into the view of the empire's important figures for the first time.
December 30th, the ninth year of Yuanxing.
On the last day of the year, news came from Hebei Circuit that Grand Commandant Han Shizhong had defeated the Yellow Turban Army, killed the Zhang Jiao in battle, and completely quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion!
When the news reached the capital, the entire city rejoiced.
First, the Mount Liang rebellion was quelled, and now the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which lasted for more than a year, has also been quelled. For the Wu Dynasty, it is a rare opportunity to have a good New Year.
Although the Wu Dynasty appeared to be on the verge of collapse, it showed signs of prosperity during this New Year's festival, and the people, both in the court and the country, were invigorated!
During the New Year's celebrations, the emperor held a grand banquet for his officials, and in his delight, he drank several cups of wine, displaying a rare and exceptionally pleased expression.
The thirty-fifth day after Xu Rong was killed.
The Shannan Army has returned to Shannan Circuit, and the people of Ya Province Rong Province, which were ravaged by the army, are gradually recovering.
Because of the recent misfortune, the festive atmosphere in both places was much weaker than in previous years.
Rong Province City.
Drunken Immortal Tower, the largest restaurant in Rong Province City, was booked out tonight.
The local militia leaders and powerful clans from all over Rong Province have sent people to the banquet tonight.
Because Wu Shuangren initiated this banquet tonight.
The Yi Province Militia had already returned to Yi Province, but Wu Shuangren was in no hurry to go back.
On the one hand, he needs to recover from his injury and should not engage in long-distance travel.
On the other hand, there are still things to be done in Rong Province.
"Militia Commander Wu, let me toast you!"
During the banquet, Huang Cheng, the former First Battalion Rong Province Battalion, raised his wine cup to toast Wu Shuangren:
"You kept your word, truly leading the troops to repel the Mount Liang rebels and saving the people of my hometown in Rong Province. I, Huang Cheng, admire you. From now on, whatever your command, I, Huang Cheng, will go through fire and water for you!"
After saying that, he downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.
With him taking the lead, the other militia leaders and powerful figures in Rong Province also stood up to toast Wu Shuangren.
The former battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders of the two Rong Province Battalion all declared that they would follow Wu Shuangren from now on!
The atmosphere inside the restaurant became lively for a time.
Wu Shuangren's injuries had not yet fully healed, so he shouldn't drink too much alcohol, but he also couldn't spoil the mood for everyone on this occasion.
Guo Jiwang, standing by his side, displayed his true strength at this moment—
He shielded Wu Shuangren from drinks, accepting every toast offered, and drank with everyone, one cup after another, displaying an imposing manner. He exuded an aura of "I am the Great Grandmaster at the drinking table!"
The crowd was intimidated by his ability to drink without getting drunk, and for a moment they dared not urge him to drink anymore.