It is said that since that day when Li Hui and Zhang Yi defeated Yong Kai and Liu Chan captured the Qingqiang King Huo Buuli, the army was like a broken bamboo wherever it went.
Take Tonglao, defeat Kunze, and occupy Guchang.
The Yong family, which had destroyed the main army, had no power to fight back. The county officials and soldiers either fled or surrendered, but they had no intention of defending the city.
For a time, the counties that had been captured gradually returned to their homes under the vigorous propaganda and poverty alleviation work of Liu Chan and his generals.
In the counties that have not yet been conquered, people are also in a state of confusion. Rumors about Liu Chan are spreading more and more widely, and they are getting more and more mysterious.
In addition, the people in the captured county were not massacred and plundered. On the contrary, the customs were cleared under Liu Chan's rule. The big families in the county who used to take advantage of the plunder and did not know how to restrain themselves are now cautiously holding their tails between their legs, for fear of being taken advantage of by Liu Chan. Negative example.
Following the Huo family, the Yang family, a large family in Tonglao County, instigated their merchants to hoard rice grains. At the same time, they took advantage of the county government to transfer all the rice grains from the treasury to the merchants of their family.
Since the beginning of the war, they have continued to create panic, hoarded goods, raised prices, and indirectly exploited the people and small businesses in the county through food prices. They not only plundered the already meager people's wealth, but also took the opportunity to purchase land on a large scale.
This move forced many poor people in the county to become refugees. Small households lost their land and became shelters. Other families who could barely make a living were also miserable.
At the same time, they also stated that the reason for this situation was caused by Liu Chan's military expedition to the south, which diverted the people's contradictions and hatred and ruined the reputation of Liu Chan and the Han army.
When the Han army arrived, they took away their money and food, abandoned the city and fled to Kunze.
After Liu Chan's army arrived and understood the situation, he left Zhang Yi to guard the city and personally led the army to attack Kunze!
The army marched 80 miles in one day and arrived in Kunze in two days. They arrived in the afternoon and besieged the city for an hour. The magistrate of Kunze opened the city and surrendered.
After entering the city, they immediately searched for members of the Yang family, a large family member of the same labor force, and arrested all of their family members, including more than a hundred people, before dusk.
"Order all counties to publicize the crimes of the Yang family and publish a list to announce the principles of our army. Three days later, Yang Ling, the head of the family, abandoned the city. Anyone who was directly involved in this matter was hanged. The rest of the Yang family were sent back to work as slaves to farm and raise food. Animals, serve as a warning to others.”
In addition, Liu Chan also confiscated all the money and food hidden by the Yang family, and distributed them to the poor local people with the same labor to return the money and food to the people.
The land it took the opportunity to annex will be returned together.
The fellow workers were jubilant, and the Yang family's slanderous rumors about Liu Chan and the Han army were immediately broken.
As for merchants and wealthy households with good attitudes and no serious crimes, as long as they abide by the rules set by Liu Chan, he would comfort and protect them and would not seize their wealth.
Since then, no one has dared to commit crimes.
In the counties that had not yet been captured, the unscrupulous big families who had been too closely attached to the Yong family fled to Dianchi Lake one after another. Their faces changed when talking about Liu Chan, and they were more afraid of Liu Chan and the Han army than the fierce beasts.
The poor people and knowledgeable people eagerly awaited the arrival of the Han army. In some places, several riots even broke out. Before the Han army arrived, the county magistrate already wanted to run away...
…
Dianchi County.
"Brother Xian, I heard that the Han army has already reached Guchang County."
"Yes, dear brother, I only hope that the prince will send his troops to Dianchi Lake as soon as possible to save the people here from the fire and water."
"Eh? Brother Xian's family has a great business. How can we expect the Han army to come here? Are we not afraid of being like the Yang family?"
"Hey, dear brother, what you said is wrong. The Han army only punishes the common people who steal and plunder their homes. My family knows the law, observes etiquette, and helps the neighbors. Even if the Yong family compromised with them when they entered the city, it was an expedient measure. Prince How can it be difficult?"
"That's true. The prince is destined to return. He only hopes to put down the rebellion as soon as possible and return our Nanzhong to a bright future..."
"Hush! Silence, you and I will change our conversation in another place. Yong Kai and the others are here."
When the two of them saw Yong Kai and Meng Huo coming in force with their escorts, they hurriedly left with their heads lowered.
As Liu Chan's Han army conquered every county with great momentum, Yong Kai and Meng Huo were not as relaxed as these two...
Yong Kai hadn't had a good night's sleep for a long time, and he said anxiously: "Brother Meng, it's been nearly a month since I left here, why is there no news yet?! Liu Chan's army has arrived in Guchang, and it will arrive very soon. Now there are only 2,000 defenders of Dianchi Lake, how can we defeat them?"
Meng Huo seemed much calmer. These days, Yong Kai's performance made the barbarian king "impressed".
It was just a surprise. I thought that the Yong family had been in Yizhou County for generations. This Yong Kai was usually decisive and ruthless, so he should be a figure.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Liu Chan's army arrived, his true colors were immediately revealed. The ferocity and cruelty on the outside could not hide the cowardice and incompetence in his heart.
It's just that although Meng Huo no longer looks down on Yong Kai in his heart, if he wants to dominate Nanzhong, he still has to rely on the Yong family's influence among the Han people.
At this time, he patiently reassured: "Brother, there is no need to be so worried. Meng Yan has sent a letter before, and the Kunming clan is actively preparing for war. The long time since they have been away just shows that they are fully prepared. When their army arrives, they will definitely be able to reverse the situation."
"Hey!" Yong Kai punched his palm, "If we wait any longer, when they are ready, our heads will be chopped off by that kid Liu Chan!"
"I have sent people to closely monitor the road from Guchang to here. If Liu Chan advances his troops before Meng Yan returns, we will retreat until we are victorious. It will never happen as my brother said." Meng Huo still looked very calm.
The Meng family was able to order all the Yi tribes here, even the warlike big tribes such as Qingqiang and Kunming, to give face. It did not rely on the ancestral protection like Yong Kai, but the prestige gained by fighting with real swords and guns.
Yong Kai felt a little relieved after hearing this, but the previous defeat, his nearly death experience, and the devastating offensive of the Han army had already frightened him.
At this time, he rolled his eyes and said to Meng Huo: "We might as well take the road to Zangcha and enter Jiaozhou. I have written a letter to Jiangdong to express my intentions. At this time, if I ask Jiaozhou to send troops to help, and then join forces with your younger brother, we can reach the enemy's north. military!"
Meng Huo turned his head and took a deep look at Yong Kai, feeling extremely disappointed.
It wasn't until Yong Kai was staring at him that his heart went crazy, and Meng Huo said: "Brother, if this is the case, Nanzhong will no longer be a place for us. You and I will both live under someone else's fence and bow our heads to Sun Quan. This will be the same as losing at the hands of Liu Chan." What's the difference? People in Jiangdong are cunning, how can we be credulous?"
"Can……"
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"
Yong Kai was about to say more when suddenly a horse galloped through the city and crashed into the crowd of people.
When they were nearby, they slowed down and stopped in front of the two men. The knight turned over and dismounted, clasped his fists and said, "Report to the master of the family! Meng Yan, the younger brother of King Menghuo, and King Kunming, together with five of their subordinates, have led an army! Now we are 30 meters south of the city. I’ll set up camp in Yuli and go down to the village, we can arrive tomorrow!”
Yong Kai was overjoyed when he heard this and quickly stepped forward and grabbed his arms: "Is this true?!"
"Absolutely true!"
"Hahahaha, okay, okay!" The sky cleared up and the rain stopped. Yong Kai instantly felt that he was okay again. "You can go to the mansion to receive the reward. It's a big reward!"
"Thank you, Master!"
Meng Huo had expected this, and was not as rude as Yong Kai, but at this time, he also raised a confident smile on his lips, preparing to give the Han army a head-on blow.
"When they come here, they must have prepared a 'big gift' for Liu Chan. This battle will definitely reverse the situation. By then, it will not be too late to repel the Han army and make peace with Jiangdong. Liu Chan and Sun Quan need to be told that we, the southerners, are not allowed Look down on.”
With a large army behind him, Yong Kai changed his frightened look and said with a red face: "What Brother Meng said is true. When the army arrives tomorrow and rewards the whole army, he will send his army north to find Liu Chan and fight to the death! Hahaha... "
However, under the smile, the look in Yong Kai's eyes was complicated and not as simple as he appeared.
He wanted to join Jiangdong, but he also had his own considerations.
The main force of the Yong family was wiped out, and Yong Kai, who had no soldiers at his disposal, gradually lost his confidence in front of Meng Huo.
Even if he were defeated, he could only become a vassal of Meng Huo. The reversal of their status was somewhat difficult for Yong Kai to accept.
It's different to vote for Jiangdong. After all, they are all Han people. Presumably Sun Quan will be more willing to support him instead of trusting the barbarians.
By then, taking advantage of Jiangdong's momentum, the Yong family will have a chance to make a comeback.
Although the army has arrived, Yong Kai and Meng Huo are already distant from each other...
(End of chapter)
