The main force of the Spiritual Army was defeated miserably in decisive battles, followed by a series of battles such as pursuit, encirclement and suppression, and a desperate breakout. Today, only about 100,000 of the 400,000-strong army remain.
At this point in the war, Murong Yan surrendered.
Large numbers of Qin troops began to enter Feiyuntan from the northern line.
The generals of the Ling Army stood at the front of the team, led by Murong Yan. Seeing the Qin army's formation not far away, some Ling generals began to command their headquarters: "Put down your weapons, everyone put down their weapons..."
The already scattered, hungry and dizzy soldiers of the Ling Army received this order. Wherever there was any resistance, the scene was filled with the sound of weapons falling to the ground one after another.
Immediately afterwards, Murong Yan tidied his clothes and led the generals to Xiao Yuan. He lifted his robe, knelt down on one knee, saluted and said, "Murong Yan, the defeated general, comes to see His Highness the King of Qin."
"His Royal Highness has sacred texts and martial arts, commanding millions of troops. He is invincible in battles and invincible in all attacks. Yan, the light of fireflies, how dare you compete with the sun and moon for its brightness. Now you are leading your troops to surrender. I sincerely ask Your Highness to accept it."
At this time, Murong Yan did not forget to flatter him, obviously trying to find a way out for himself.
As he spoke, he also took out the Handsome Seal Tiger Talisman, knelt there and handed it over respectfully with both hands.
Xiao Yuan gestured to Xu Hu, who stepped forward and took the handsome seal.
This surrender ceremony was not that complicated, and there was no negotiation. After finishing this, Xiao Yuan showed a smile on his face, and personally helped Murong Yan up: "General, please get up quickly."
He showed a very easy-going attitude, and extended his hand to the generals of the Spirit Army: "Everyone, please get up quickly. I am very pleased that you are willing to surrender now. I have ordered a banquet to be prepared. Please follow me back to the camp and get drunk before you rest." "
Everyone in the Ling Army had not had a full meal for several days, and the generals were no exception. When they heard about the food and wine, out of human instinct, they couldn't help but swallow their saliva.
Xiao Yuan left with the generals of the Ling Army. The soldiers of the Ling Army had their weapons and armor confiscated by the Qin army and were temporarily detained as prisoners.
Evening banquet.
In the military tent, Xiao Yuan was in the main seat directly above, and on both sides below were the generals of the various spiritual armies. Everyone had a case in front of them.
The food and wine had been served, and Xiao Yuan also picked up the wine glass and said gently: "You have led your troops to surrender and avoided the unnecessary bloodshed of soldiers on both sides. You have all made great contributions to the country. Come, please drink this glass to the full."
"Ah, your highness, please..."
People were holding cups one after another, but they were a little nervous in their hearts. No one dared to be the first to drink. Some people even looked at each other subconsciously.
Xiao Yuan did think about getting rid of the generals of the Ling Army, but he was stopped by Jia You, who suggested that he should focus on being gentle and use Murong Yan as a model. He would make great profits and empty his position, which would further damage the morale of Caizhou's military and even the domestic resistance in Ling Kingdom. heart of.
Xiao Yuan accepted the advisor's advice.
When he finished speaking, he covered his mouth with his sleeves and was the first to drink all the wine in his glass.
As a king, he personally invited the wine and was the first to drink. No matter how worried the generals of the Spirit Army were, they had to bite the bullet and drink one by one.
"It's a pleasure." Xiao Yuan smiled heartily, put down his wine glass, and stretched out his hand again: "Everyone, please don't be restrained. Come and eat."
After a while, when they saw that the wine was not poisonous, the generals of the Spirit Army felt at ease. They relaxed their hands and feet and began to eat meat and drink from large bowls. The scene also heard the sound of changing glasses.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes of food, Xiao Yuan looked at Murong Yan and said straight to the point: "General Murong, based on your willingness to join in this great cause, I have thought over and over again and decided to confer you the title of Marquis of Guiyi, and other generals ,also
There are corresponding arrangements. what do you think. "
"Ah?" Murong Yan was stunned for a moment, then realized what he was doing. He quickly put down his wine glass and left his seat. He hurriedly walked to the middle, got dressed, knelt on the ground, put his hands on the side of his head, raised his buttocks, and said in a trembling voice: " My minister, no matter how virtuous or capable I am, if I receive this favor from the king, I will do my best to repay the favor of the king——"
There was uncontrollable excitement in his tone, and he looked groveling, unlike the commander of an army of 400,000, and he changed his tune directly.
From Murong Yan's point of view, after surrendering, it was good enough that he could save a small life. He never thought that he could still get a title. How could he not be excited about this?
Xiao Yuan smiled and said: "With your general's ability and status, you deserve to be honored by this noble title. Please take your seat quickly and without courtesy."
"My lord, I swear to be loyal to your Majesty to the death!" Murong Yan kowtowed again and shouted loudly: "My Majesty, for ten thousand years——"
The atmosphere of this banquet was quite good, at least on the surface.
After the show ended, the generals of the Ling Army were also arranged in their own separate residences. However, the guard sergeants outside the account were naturally from the Qin Army, and their personal freedom was restricted.
The next day, Xiao Yuan ordered the withdrawal of the Qin army stationed in various key roads and began to advance in an all-round way. All ministries joined forces. The situation in Baiting and Liupanshan remained unchanged. Yan Qi and Sun Qi still suppressed the two wings of Caizhou. The main force of the Qin army It is to prepare to attack the city directly.
After mobilizing troops from various battlefields, the Qin army gathered more than 500,000 troops and began to camp twenty miles outside Caizhou City, ready to launch a strong attack on the city at any time.
At this time, the issue of the handling of prisoners of war was also raised.
In the large tent of the Chinese army, all the generals gathered and lined up on both sides.
Su Yi took the lead and said: "Murong Yan's 100,000 prisoners are all regular troops of the Ling Kingdom. They have been battle-hardened for a long time. If they stay, they will always be a disaster. Once they are disbanded on the spot and they escape back to the Ling Kingdom, they may become the Ling Army again. And if By imprisoning them, our army not only has to divert its energy, but also waste food and grass. In my opinion, it would be better to pull them down to the river and behead them all."
This is the cleanest way to do it.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Shangguan Wenruo stood up and said in a bad tone: "Shuai Su has killed prisoners several times, you know the consequences!"
"Every time Lord Shangguan serves as a military advisor, he always behaves with the kindness of women!" Su Yi said, and also raised his hand towards Xiao Yuan: "Your Majesty, only in this way can we avoid future troubles."
Before Xiao Yuan could speak, Shangguan Wenruo had already retorted: "For more than a hundred years, the nations have been fighting for hegemony, wars have broken out, and the number of young men and women has declined sharply. How can their wives and children survive if a hundred thousand young men are beheaded at the same time! He will be killed as soon as he surrenders, and the whole world will be heartbroken!"
"This is an issue for the Ling Kingdom, not the Qin Kingdom." Su Yi said coldly.
"This is also a matter of people's livelihood in the world!" Shangguan Wenruo said.
"But war is war!"
"The ultimate goal of war is to bring peace to the world!"
The two of them couldn't stop arguing. After they finished speaking, they each raised their fists towards Xiao Yuan and asked in unison: "Your Majesty!"
"Okay!" Xiao Yuan was so noisy that he said seriously: "There is no need to mention the killing of prisoners again. I have ordered Xijiang, Liangzhou, Chuzhou, and Tongzhou Water Transport History to send these 100,000 prisoners to various places. Let them immigrate to guard the border, protect canals and water conservancy, and be used by the people."
"Your Majesty is wise." Shangguan Wenruo immediately said: "In this way, the world will be reunited. When the war is over, these prisoners can also take their wives, children and parents and settle down and take root."
"But the king."
Su Yi wanted to say something else, but Xiao Yuan had already glared at him, and the latter could only lower his body and swallow the words on his lips.
(End of chapter)_&
