Mengxia District!
The enormous catapults roared and threw enormous rocks weighing hundreds of kilograms onto the city walls. They smashed down and brought with them a rain of flesh and blood.
Other than the catapults, there were siege vehicles, ladders, and arrow platforms that had been modified by the militarists to become terrifying war machines. As they assisted in the siege, they also reaped the lives of the enemy.
"Kill!"
The Nan Feng soldiers roared, biting their blades as they charged forward like ants, fighting against the defenders on the city walls.
"The ones on the city walls are the Golden Crow Soldiers?"
Below, Chen Jingzong's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. He looked at the elite soldiers on the city walls in gilded leather armor. He couldn't help but smile coldly. "It seems that the district is in danger. Marquis Ding has taken out his last asset to maintain his marquis title … but they are losing every day. Now, they have lost almost half of their force. How can they continue?"
In this siege, Marquis Ding Shi Tai had personally led ten thousand troops to support. The two sides had been here for half a month!
With Chen Jingzong and other military generals in command, the losses of the defenders were beyond Shi Tai's expectations. He had no choice but to send out the Golden Crow Soldiers.
Golden Crow was a famous district in Ding Yuan Commandery. The people were brave and brave. The Golden Crow Soldiers that they produced were famous in the world.
After Huang Jie's rebellion, Ding Yuan Commandery had been plagued by bandits. Shi Tai's father had once recruited five thousand soldiers here. He spent all his wealth and a great amount of money to create a Golden Crow Troop to quell the bandits. He had even traveled thousands of miles to save the provincial capital. He had achieved great merit and had been made a marquis by the court.
Now, while the marquis title had been passed down one generation, the Golden Crow Troop had not completely faded. They were Shi Tai's most elite force.
"The way of war, at this time, is essentially trading pieces!"
Chen Jingzong thought. "Our side controls two commanderies and has sufficient resources. Because the rear is determined to award land for military merits, the men are proud to fight and want to join the army. They hope to be given land. We have expanded ten new barracks and there are new recruits every day … but while the Golden Crow Troop is good, they are as unruly as the tooth soldiers. They wear leather armor and eat meat. One of them is equal to five of my recruits, but their combat power is only equal to two or three … over time, if there is no external help, the other will be the first to collapse!"
This external force naturally referred to the prefecture and Pingshan Commandery.
"Fair Mountain County's Qi Lin has been seriously ill recently. Even if the county governor takes power, it won't be something that can be done in a day. Even if he wants to go against our town, he doesn't have the strength to send troops … The only thing we have to worry about is the provincial capital's general, Zhang Wenzhen!"
Thinking of the latest intelligence, even Chen Jingzong couldn't help but look gloomy.
Zhang Wenzhen was a talented general, and he understood the importance of speed in war. It was said that he had already reorganized more than half of the army, and the 30,000 strong army could pounce on him at any time.
When the time came, the twenty thousand Southern Phoenix Army would be completely annihilated!
…
On the opposite tower.
Marquis Ding Shi Tai wore an official robe and had a dignified appearance. His face was as cold and hard as a reef as he watched the tide-like army retreat.
"Marquis! The enemy has retreated! "
A general stepped forward and bowed. There was heartache in his eyes. "Three hundred and twenty-seven Golden Crow followers died on the city wall, and two hundred were lightly injured. I have ordered the soldiers to carry them down and hand them over to the military doctors … Marquis, we can't go on like this!"
"I know!"
Shi Tai pressed his lips together. "Comparing a mere heir to a great cause, I know how to choose. He isn't my only son … but …"
He pointed at the army below. "Wu Zhi, this woman has the ambition of a wolf! Even if I didn't attack her, she would have swallowed me sooner or later. After all, she is an ambitious person with ambitions in Dingzhou! Today's matter is proof! "
It had to be said that Marquis Ding's judgment was quite accurate.
His conflict with Wu Zhi had never been about killing his son. For an ambitious person, what was a mere son worth for the sake of a great cause?
Just like Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu from Wu Ming's previous life. Back then, Zhang Xiu had surrendered and rebelled. In the chaos, Cao Cao's eldest son Cao Ang, nephew Cao Anmin, and valiant general Dian Wei had all died in battle. This was much more violent than what Shi Tai had encountered.
However, later, when Zhang Xiu once again surrendered, Cao Cao still gladly accepted and made Zhang Xiu General of Yangwu. He also ordered his son Cao Jun to marry Zhang Xiu's daughter.
A treacherous person was a treacherous person because he could endure what others could not!
Naturally, Shi Tai was the same. Looking at the devastation in the city, he suddenly smiled. "My army is like this. Although the Nanfeng army has reinforcements, how much better can it be? I have already received intelligence that the court's general Zhang Wenzhen has led 30,000 soldiers out of the city and will arrive in a few days! "
At this point, his eyes were filled with endless coldness. "When the time comes, we will work together from the inside and destroy this woman in one fell swoop!"
He knew that after this battle, his strength had been greatly damaged. Even the Golden Crow followers who had risen to power had been mostly killed or crippled. In the future, he would no longer have any hope of fighting for the throne. He might not even be able to keep his marquis title.
However, there was still a chance of survival! Compared to the inevitable death of Wu Zhi and the extermination of his clan after breaking into Dingyuan Commandery, it was much better.
"Marquis, urgent news from the rear!"
At this time, a messenger with dust on his face quickly reported. "Reporting to Marquis! Bad news! The military governor of Pingshan Commandery, Qi Lin, has personally led the troops to break through the tiger's mouth. Two thousand cavalrymen have broken through within 30 li of Pingyuan Commandery. There are tens of thousands of foot soldiers behind! Second Young Master has galloped to ask for help! "
"What?"
Shi Tai stood up in shock. He suddenly felt dizzy. "Shi Tai! Isn't he seriously ill? How dare you bully me!!! "
Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood, and his entire body swayed.
"Marquis!"
The generals were shocked and hurriedly went forward to support him. Then, they saw Shi Tai collapse weakly …
…
Dingyuan Commandery's strength was originally similar to Pingshan Commandery. In fact, they were at a disadvantage in the battle between the two commanderies.
This time, Marquis Ding had brought his elites out. Now that he was stabbed in the back, he could not take it anymore.
Especially when there was still Wu Zhi's army in front of them. Rashly retreating to provide reinforcements would be a dead end!
Without this city wall, Marquis Ding's army's morale would immediately plummet. Once they were attacked from the rear, it would be very common for tens of thousands of people to collapse in one night.
"Haha!"
In the commander's tent, Wu Zhi looked at Qi Lin's letter in his hands. He could no longer conceal the smile on his face. "Pass down my orders! Spread this news to the entire army. Then, order the spies in Meng Xia to spread the news as much as possible! Starting from tomorrow, the army will surround the city and attack with all their might! "
Dingyuan Commandery was only one commandery. It was already very difficult to face the combined attack of Wu Zhi and Wu Zhi. Now that they had been attacked from the back by Qi Lin, it would be unreasonable if they did not lose!
On the 18th of April in the sixth year of Pingan, news suddenly came that the commandery city had been attacked. Shi Tai's army was panic-stricken. Wu Zhi took the opportunity to attack fiercely. Meng Xia City was broken through. Marquis Shi Tai died on the spot. Countless soldiers surrendered!
On the 20th of April, news came from the rear that Qi Lin had broken through Dingyuan Commandery and captured Marquis Ding's two sons as well as a hundred members of the Shi family. He had trapped and killed them all!
All the counties in Dingyuan Commandery were terrified and all surrendered to Wu Zhi. The entire Dingyuan Commandery was immediately unified.
The two armies merged into one to face the provincial soldiers together.
At this time, Zhang Wenzhen had ordered 30,000 troops, which he claimed to be 60,000 to the outside world, to be stationed in Rinan Commandery. He immediately received reports from the frontlines and was immediately in a dilemma.
In terms of raw power, after joining forces with Qi Lin, Wu Zhi's side also had 30,000 troops. If the auxiliary soldiers that had surrendered were included, the number was even greater. In terms of power, they were not inferior.
Furthermore, the four commanderies joined forces and occupied most of Dingzhou. Behind Zhang Wenzhen were only Rinan, Zhuwu, and Jiude Commandery. The strength of power had been flipped.
However, not sending troops was not an option! Zhang Wenzhen knew very well that if he retreated now, it would give Wu Zhi time to calmly clean up the rear. In the future, the gap between the two sides would widen and they would not even have the power to fight back.
At this time, there was still a chance!
Wu Zhi and Qi Lin each had their own masters and had different interests.
If they could cause them to fight, such as fighting over Dingyuan Commandery, it would be excellent.
At the very least, Qi Lin would occupy Dingyuan Commandery. The two military towns would be wary of each other. The court and the provincial magistrate would mediate in the middle and benefit from both sides. They could still manage to maintain it.
Immediately, the troops did not come out of Nanjun. Waves of messengers and instigators rushed towards both sides of Wu Zhi and Qi Lin. They must instigate the two of them to be suspicious of each other and win an opportunity for the imperial court and the prefecture.
Titles, titles, special honors … it could be said that this time, the court could be said to have put in a lot of effort and used all kinds of tricks. It was enough to dazzle people. Unfortunately, in troubled times, these kinds of nominal things were not worth a penny.
However, after Qi Lin announced his surrender to Wu Zhi, these wishful thinking were completely destroyed!
"What? Is Qi Lin stupid? If he occupies Dingyuan Commandery, I will certainly support him. He can also receive the title of a marquis from the court. From then on, he can stand up to Wu Zhi as an equal! "
"Wu Zhi is the same. The Jiedu of a town and a warlord in troubled times have surrendered, and she accepts it without any doubt?"
Inside the military camp, Zhang Wenzhen rose. The cups and documents in front of him all fell to the ground, indicating the extreme unrest in his heart.
"He didn't give up the opportunity to stand on his own and chose to rely on a woman. What an idiot!"
Zhang Wenzhen roared and began to roar hysterically. All the civil and military officials in the tent lowered their heads and didn't dare to say another word. They were terrified of receiving his anger. At the same time, their hearts were filled with surprise.
Qi Lin was skilled in both the pen and the sword. He was renowned in Dingzhou and was an elder who had been famous for a long time! How could he so easily submit to Wu Zhi?
Could it be that this woman truly had the mandate of heaven?
However, regardless of whether Wu Zhi had the mandate of heaven or not, the result of this declaration meant that Zhang Wenzhen's policy of waiting for internal strife was completely ruined. He had no choice but to advance.
April 25th.
The two armies met on the Giant Stone Plains. Qi Lin led 2,000 riders in a charge. Zhang Wenzhen's formation was thrown into chaos. Thousands of people were killed, and he had a bad start.
They confronted each other for a long time. Zhang Wenzhen was still unable to find an opportunity. His own army's rations grew by the day, so he finally had no choice but to retreat.
Wu Zhi and Qi Lin saw that their rear was unstable, and the army had fought repeatedly. Additionally, the strength of the provincial soldiers was still present, so they did not pursue.
The great battle that swept through Dingzhou finally slowly came to an end. However, those with eyes could see that, based on this development, the trend of Wu Zhi ruling a certain province was almost unstoppable.
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