According to subsequent statistics, throughout the day on July 22, the Anbei Army suffered more than 1,000 casualties, and the Ruinan Army suffered more than 3,300 casualties. The battle loss ratio was almost one to three.
If this was really the case, it would be hard for Zhou Bai to accept such a loss. In order to win the battle quickly, he brought out all the veterans this time.
Before dusk that day, Yan Luo thought the same way. In desperate situations, he would do whatever he wanted.
If Zhou Bai can really be surrounded and killed in one battle, it will be worth paying the price of 30,000 people.
Because this is a common problem among separatist forces in troubled times. No matter how large a territory you occupy, the rise and fall of the entire system depends on you alone.
If the leader of a separatist regime dies, the foundation will inevitably be unstable, and fragmentation is a common occurrence.
What's more, as far as Yan Luo knows, Zhou Bai has not married and has children. If Zhou Bai dies, it is foreseeable that the Anbei Governor's Mansion will inevitably collapse.
When the time comes to take advantage of the situation to counterattack Bei'an, the price of 30,000 people may not be exchanged for 10,000 Anbei troops and one Zhou Bai, but a rich and prosperous Bei'an County.
In fact, Zhou Bai has also thought about this question, who can take over from him if he dies, and the answer is no.
No matter Chen Zhongbang, Zhou Yuan, or anyone within the Zhou clan, no one has such reputation and ability.
Marrying a wife and having children is what Zhou Bai must do, but his consideration is to appease people's hearts rather than worrying about having no one to inherit his inheritance.
With the memory and wisdom of two lifetimes, and the help of the Book of Luck, it is impossible to start a business. Is it possible to expect a young child to be supported by others to achieve success?
Yan Luo's idea of the Duizi strategy was very good, but when Anbei's army kept fighting fiercely and Ruinan's army was not allowed to surrender, he felt that a disaster was coming.
As he expected, after one night, Ruinan's army suffered nearly 10,000 casualties, nearly 10,000 surrendered and captured, countless people escaped to other places, and less than 5,000 people actually retreated to the city.
It was even said that last night was not called a battle, but a one-sided massacre. Thousands of people chased 30,000 people. If they did not lay down their weapons and kneel down and surrender, they would die.
Attacking in the scorching heat during the day consumed most of their physical strength. More importantly, the morale of the army collapsed. All the Ruinan soldiers were frightened.
This is the insignificance of personal efforts under the sweeping general trend.
Now the people in Ruinan City are shaken. The total number of soldiers and horses gathered is less than 20,000, and they can barely maintain order. This is the reward of Yan Luo's long-term management of this city.
Of course, the appearance of a great master like Xuanwu Zhenren and the frequent attacks by the Jiedufu Taoist group also made some thoughtful people in the city dare not act rashly.
Relying on the huge pressure brought by the Anbei Army outside the city, Yan Luo reluctantly gathered the strength from above and below to make the city wall defense look what it was.
He pointed to the piles of corpses outside the city and told the soldiers that this was what would happen if they could not defend the city. Then he often visited the front line in person to greet his soldiers and reward them with rewards.
For a time, morale, which had been at the bottom of the valley, really recovered a lot. After all, in this era, the concept of regionalism is really strong.
The vast majority of people have never left their hometown in their lives. Bianzhou is so large that Ruinan County and Bei'an County are actually two countries.
This is why Yan Luo was able to mobilize his soldiers and manage to defend the city under such circumstances.
No matter how well the Anbei Governor's slogan is written, no matter how loud the slogans are, they are still invaders, at most better than "outsiders" like Qingxu.
If Zhou Baizhen ordered an attack at this time, the defenders might be brave enough to defend the city with the same hatred of the enemy.
But Zhou Baiguan Rui Nancheng's luck ran out of firewood, bottomed out, and there was a clash of weapons, so he was not in a hurry.
Ruinan City, which had lost most of its army and had no fighting spirit, could be taken at any time.
So in the next few days, the Anbei Army, apart from renovating the camp, was provoking generals and suppressing morale.
Only half of the two teams of one hundred silver dragon troops returned to the city. More than sixty silver dragon cavalry failed to break through. They turned around and incorporated these dragon horses into the enemy cavalry, letting them show off their power outside the city. This made Yan Luo hate it. Teeth itchy.
But that's not the most irritating thing. The most irritating thing is that Zhou Bai reorganized and practiced surrendering troops in front of the city's defenders and Yan Luo.
After completing the strength, speed, obedience and other tests, they can be incorporated into the recruit camp for the following training.
Those who do not pass the test will be eliminated and will be immediately given dry food and sent back to their hometowns.
The wheat fields at home are ripe and young laborers are needed for the summer harvest.
The defenders on the city were dumbfounded. Is it really that good? But the grain and the free money cannot be faked. It can only be said that An Beijun is rich and powerful.
After passing the test, what kind of treatment will it be like if you really become An Beijun?
No, the other side seemed to hear the voices of the defenders, and then began to register and distribute money to the newly formed army.
Just for the new recruits, they had five taels of silver to settle down, and their monthly salary was two taels of silver, and they would have to pay for the silk, grain, and rice later.
In addition, many Anbei soldiers with rough voices directly shouted slogans such as joining the army and conferring land, meritorious service and conferring land.
There are three meals a day, including solid white rice or steamed buns for every meal, and fragrant broth at noon.
All kinds of treatment directly stunned the defenders at the city head, not to mention the various policies that were promoted after the staff of the Anbei Army wrote the manuscript.
Such as exempting all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, paying wages for corvee service, ensuring that the output of grain fields is doubled, etc., various beautiful blueprints are publicized day and night.
Even though Yan Luo repeatedly emphasized that this was a lie, it could not stop people's yearning for a better life. Besides, if it was true, how could Bei'an be so much stronger than Ruinan.
Time passed day by day, and gradually everyone inside and outside the city became accustomed to this "peaceful" confrontation. The biggest action of the Anbei Army was to dig rivers and channel water from the moat into various ponds and reservoirs.
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Many guards were thinking that surrendering would actually be a good idea, since it was obvious that they couldn't defeat them.
In troubled times, the Ruinan people need a strong leader and system to protect their safety and at least have enough to eat.
Ever since Lou Jinpeng led two thousand cavalry to carry out the blockade operation, not a grain of rice has entered the city. At this point in the situation, Jiedu Mansion has ordered to reduce expenses.
Except for large-scale battles, the rest of the time can only eat one dry meal and two porridge meals. The people in the city are given quotas of food, and can only eat one bowl of porridge a day to survive.
What's even more ironic is that if it hadn't been for the loss of more than 20,000 soldiers in the first battle, I am afraid that we would no longer be releasing food to civilians.
Yan Luo and all the civil and military officials of Jiedu Mansion sat there all day with no way to break the situation.
And in the next few days, after seeing surrounding residents daring to harvest wheat fields under An Beijun's nose, he became even more desperate.
Because this means that Zhou Bai has gradually won Ruinan's heart, and Anbei Army has proved with facts that they are not tyrannical people, but come to teach the kingly way.
In the end, Yan Luo could only hope for miracles occasionally, because with the help of Master Xuanwu several times, many messengers still managed to break through.
Don't say anything to some powerful local forces, just go along the way, and the gains and losses will not affect the overall situation.
Only the other three routes are the key, all the way to the three southern counties of Ruinan and the Ningjiang River, all the way to Dingxi to seek help from Lu Ding, and all the way to Dingzhou City to seek help from Governor Lei Haomiao.
In the letter, he spoke sincerely, talking about forming alliances and "professing vassal status", talking about Zhou Bai's ambition, the strength of the Anbei Army, and the principle of losing one's lips and teeth...
To be honest, Yan Luo felt that there was some hope of waiting for reinforcements. After all, he was the only one who could give so much autonomy to the people in power in the three counties.
As for the other two major tycoons in Dingzhou, Lu Ding and Lei Haomiao, it is impossible for them to be willing to watch Zhou Bai rise.
However, the garrison and militia gradually sent by Bei'an County gradually shattered this hope.
Although these soldiers and horses are not as elite as the government army, they are not weaker than ordinary government soldiers. The key is their large number.
According to observations, there are 10,000 people stationed in the main camp, and there may be even more sent to counties, checkpoints, and military towns.
Yan Luo couldn't figure out why a border county had such great war potential, and how did the Anbei Governor's Mansion get the huge amount of money and food to support troops and horses.
Then on July 29, the news from the south directly defeated the last hope and confidence of all the forces in Ruinan City.
The three southern counties of Ruinan County have all fallen and are completely controlled by the main force of 20,000 government troops commanded by Zhou Yuan.
On August 1, when all the ferries in the Ruinan section of the Ningjiang River were occupied by Anbei troops, Captain Li Bao decided to lead more than 100 large and small warships and more than 2,000 sailors to ask for the surrender of Anbei Governor Zhou Bai.
This means that Yan Luo's waterway harassment plan has also failed. He has a favor for Li Bao, so he believes that Li Bao is loyal.
But Yan Luo didn't want to think about how Li Bao could carry out his plan. All the ferries were lost, supplies were completely cut off on land, and the survival of the navy's soldiers was a problem.
The key is that they are good at water warfare, but not good at land warfare. There are only a few hundred soldiers who can land for combat, and they cannot affect the overall situation on the shore at all.
In the end, all the county towns were lost, and at the unanimous request of his subordinates, Li Bao had no choice but to surrender.
Their wives, children, and children are all still on the shore. If they continue to resist, the consequences can be imagined.
The Governor of Zhou Dynasty was a heroic and benevolent lord, but he was never a "good man".
Of course Zhou Bai warmly welcomed Li Bao's surrender, but he made a request, that is, there should be a surrender ceremony and it should be held outside Ruinan City.
More than two thousand navy soldiers all came ashore. Under the leadership of Li Bao, they were reviewed by Zhou Bai outside Ruinan City.
Although the sailors followed the army's drill training, which was somewhat nondescript, Zhou Bai's purpose of attacking Ruinan City was fully achieved.
After the review, Zhou Bai announced the formation of a navy with more than 2,000 sailors. There was silence at the top of Ruinan City, and the guards who were so hungry that they were weak all had bright eyes.
Seeing this situation, Yan Luo became so furious that he almost ordered to kill all the guards.
At this time, the air in the sky above Ruinan City was getting thinner and thinner, and it was mostly gray and white. The extremely dull red only lingered in the center of the city.
Every time the black energy attacks from the direction of Anbei Army Camp, the red energy will be further eroded, leaving it shaken and helpless.
Late at night, this time there was no Xuan Yiwei joining forces, but several major families independently launching a rebellion.
They set fire everywhere to attract the attention of the defenders, while more than a thousand servants rushed directly to the north city, trying to open the city gate and surrender.
The Beicheng garrison has a rotating commander, who is from the Wang family of the county commander in the city, so he is actually quite sure.
But he never expected that Master Xuanwu notified Yan Luo in advance, and the rebellion was suppressed by the well-fed yamen army.
This night was another night of bloodshed. Several families, including the Wang family, were wiped out. The ruffians and gang members faced ruthless attacks.
But Yan Luo overestimated his authority after all, and at this time, killing could only maintain superficial stability.
The leading county magistrate family was gone, as were the county magnates and civil servants. Even the atmosphere in the army had become uncomfortable. No one wanted to have a crazy butcher's knife put on their necks at any time.
In the military camp, the Taoist officials did not dare to enter at will, and even the Yinshen Perfect Master Xuanwu had to be wary.
In this city where more than 200,000 people gathered, the previous large-scale searches for spiritual consciousness had been carried out despite the legal suppression of Jiedu Mansion.
Now if Master Xuanwu makes any slight changes, he will be restricted and uncomfortable. He is not a member of the Taoist official group, or even a worshipper, so some of Yan Luo's privileges cannot take effect.
Yan Luo's internal purge will of course affect the city's defense, and Zhou Bai will not wait and see at this time.
It would be possible to drag it on, but the time would just pass by in vain.
News came from Dingxi that Lu Ding had completely controlled Pinghe and Xingyun counties, and the influence of Qingxu warships in the territory had been eliminated.
Now he is launching an offensive against Yongquan County in the name of reassuring the people and driving away foreigners, similar to Zhou Bai. The offensive is going very smoothly and he has already established a firm foothold in Yongquan County.
Lei Haomiao in the south has devoted all his resources to support the Taoist group and the two Yang Shen Zhenjun, and now the clearing operation against the two general ships has also made significant progress.
The base of a general ship was bulldozed, and everyone from the fourth-series captain on down was killed in the battle. This was due to the excitement of the people in Dingzhou County. The damage and killing caused by these outsiders was too great.
More than 100,000 people became nian slaves, forcing the state soldiers to massacre the villagers. This was a mortal hatred.
The other general ship is also in danger. Without resources and supplies, it will be difficult to maintain it.
Overall, Tianting's strategy of closing the door and beating the dogs was successful. Except for things that went wrong in Xuzhou, most areas were able to be pacified like Dingzhou.
Dingzhou's war against Qingxu's invasion is coming to an end, as is the Northern Territory and other large regions.
The eunuch Wang Xiu sent a message saying that the imperial court was drafting a decree on enfeoffment. If Zhou Bai intends to establish a feudal state, please hurry up.
The implication is that he, Wang Xiu, can help, as long as you are willing to spend money.
Of course Zhou Bai would not be Daxu's screen vassal, but he still made additional investment with only two requirements.
The first is to know in advance the prepared enfeoffment list, and the second is to try to intercept news related to him, such as the annexation of Ruinan County, so that the higher-ups don't know about it.
Ruinan City is already an isolated city. There is a raging undercurrent inside, and the Anbei Army is sparing no effort to launch an offensive outside.
All the water in the moat has been diverted away during this period, and the year of severe drought cannot be wasted.
First, there was the counterweight trebuchet that had not been used. It showed a ferocious appearance. More than thirty of them took turns bombarding it without stopping for a moment.
Like thunder, the sound shook heaven and earth.
Wherever the artillery and stones hit, everything was destroyed.
The city tower immediately fell into ruins, and a large number of soldiers from Flesh Mold Lake were carried off the city, and the whole city wailed.
The people of Ruinan had never seen such a posture before. They just thought that Zhou Bai summoned the God of Thunder to help, and the order that was already on the verge of collapse was completely ended.
