Zhengyang Prefecture City.
The grandiose Capital Army entered the city, looking mighty and majestic. The restless people immediately calmed down.
"This humble official... Zhengyang Prefectural Magistrate Sun Xingyun greets Your Highness Prince Jin."
Prince Jin rode into the city and greeted the Zhengyang Prefectural Magistrate with hundreds of officials.
He raised his eyebrows and shouted, "Take him down!"
The ferocious soldiers waiting on both sides immediately rushed forward and knocked off the Zhengyang Prefectural Magistrate's official hat, then tied him up.
When the other officials saw this, they did not even have the courage to speak up for their superior. Instead, they sweated profusely and trembled in fear.
This was the authority of a unified feudal dynasty. Life and death were in the hands of the superior.
Sun Xingyun's face was pale, but he did not say a word.
Seeing this, Prince Jin was satisfied. "No matter what... there are rebels under your rule, and you have not been able to eliminate them. You will not be able to escape the crime of negligence. Detain them!"
He then asked, "Where is your comrade?"
"This humble official Chunyuqin greets Your Highness Prince Jin!"
A middle-aged civil official knelt out. Although his face was pale, he still maintained his official posture.
"Mm, you are the assistant of the prefectural magistrate. Right now, you are acting as the prefectural magistrate... I will leave the logistics to you. Can you do it? If you can't, I will not hide it from you. Your fate will be worse than Prefectural Magistrate Sun's! "
Sun Xingyun was wronged, but who asked his subordinates to be in trouble?
Chunyuqin understood this. He knew that this was an opportunity, but also a risk.
If he did it well, the position of prefectural magistrate would be set in stone. Prince Jin would also like him, and his future would be limitless.
However, if he failed, the consequences would be obvious.
Without thinking, he gritted his teeth and said, "Even if I have to risk my life, I will do my job well, Your Highness..."
"Very good!"
Prince Jin nodded and said to a general beside him, "General Huang, I am only the military governor. I will leave the war to you."
"Don't worry, Your Highness."
The bronze-faced General Huang Ba responded. He was very clear about his identity and mission.
This time, if the war was successful, Prince Jin would naturally be written about. However, if something went wrong, he would be the scapegoat. this was the emperor's love for his son.
Although he knew, he had nothing to say. Instead, he had to do his best.
"Alright then …"
Smiling, Prince Jin entered the city with General Huang Ba. After entering the courtyard that had already been prepared, Prince Jin impatiently asked, "General, what do you want to teach me?"
"We cannot seek speed in this battle. We must seek stability."
Huang Ba stroked his beard and ordered someone to deliver a map. "We have thirty thousand soldiers from the provinces and twenty thousand soldiers from the capital. It's a huge cost for us to feed our men and horses … If we enter the mountain, White Liang Mountain is wide and deep. I'm afraid the rebels won't be able to drag us to death … In my opinion, we should fight steadily. We should deploy heavy troops in the counties around White Liang Mountain and seal off all the mountain paths. We should kill all the merchants and not let a single grain of rice, salt, a foot of cloth or a pound of iron enter the mountain …"
There was a shortage of resources in the mountainous area, especially salt. This was indeed a desperate plan.
"It is indeed a good plan." Prince Jin looked at the map and nodded. "I've read the history books. In the past, when the Southern Border was in chaos, General Long used this method to quell the rebellion. It's the same for the previous dynasties … It's just that Father is worried about the country. As his son, I have to share his worries."
This meant that the Emperor was anxious to quell the rebellion.
"I think we should send a small team into the mountain to fight a war of attrition with the mountain people while we seal off the roads … The quality of the troops is more important than the quantity. The main purpose is to gain experience in fighting in the mountains. When they're proficient, we can assemble them into a mountain battle camp.
Perhaps we can make a contribution. "Prince Jin paced a few steps and suddenly said.
"Good plan. With this two-pronged strategy, the mountain people have no chance of turning the tables."
Huang Ba praised.
In fact, he had thought of this plan a long time ago. He just did not mention it on purpose. As expected, Prince Jin brought it up with a hint of regret.
He would then take advantage of the situation to record Prince Jin's contribution. This was the duty of a minister.
"The general trend is with me. The Imperial Court is not afraid of anyone."
Prince Jin sneered. "I'll give out another reward. Any team that enters the mountain to fight will be rewarded with five taels of silver for every mountain person they behead!"
When the battle reached the stage of who could afford to die, it was no longer a stalemate but a dead end.
The number of mountain people decreased with each death, but the Imperial Court's army was endless.
"Prince Jin's plan is brilliant … The only thing we have to worry about now is the demons," Huang Ba said. This was a variable.
"I've also gathered some Daoists. They might be useful this time … Besides, what if the mountain people are desperate and come out to fight?"
Prince Jin asked.
"Haha … How many mountain people are there? If they dare to come out to fight, we'll settle it with a battle. Wiping out their entire army is the best outcome. Even if there are demons, the army of tens of thousands will kill them all. "
Huang Ba laughed.
At this moment, the newly appointed prefectural magistrate, Chunyu Qin, asked for an audience.
"Let him in."
Prince Jin's eyebrows twitched. He had a hunch.
Chunyu Qin ran over. He did not even care about his bearing as an official. He held a report in his hand. "Your Highness Prince Jin … the latest news. The bandit leader, Wang Shun, seems to have the intention to come out!"
Prince Jin and Huang Ba looked at each other. They felt like they were dreaming.
Was Wang Shun an idiot?
Or had he become arrogant after his previous victories?
Even Prince Jin had to admire him for daring to fight against the Imperial Court's army of fifty thousand with only a few thousand mountain people.
…
At this moment, outside the prefectural city.
The army entered the city and martial law was enforced. Suddenly, someone appeared outside the city gates.
"Who are you?"
The guards immediately drew their bows and asked loudly.
"Prince Jin's aide, Assistant Zhou! This is the token! "
Assistant Zhou raised a golden token and handed it to the captain for inspection. Only then did he pass through the city gates and arrive at Prince Jin's temporary residence.
The moment he entered, he felt the tense atmosphere. It was extremely strange.
"Steward Sun, what's the matter? I want to see His Highness! "
Assistant Zhou stopped a familiar steward and asked.
"So it's Mister Zhou. Is everything going well?" Steward Sun smiled and answered. At the same time, he said, "His Highness is very busy today … He just entered the city and received news that the traitor Wang has come out. He is currently discussing military affairs with the generals. If it's not an important matter, it's best not to disturb him."
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't even bother to remind them.
"Thank you, steward. I understand …"
Assistant Zhou's face was dark.
The information he obtained about the demons was not useless, but it was too late.
How did that traitor Wang Shun dare to come out and fight? Who gave him the courage?
However, His Highness would definitely not let go of such a good opportunity.
Even if all the demons came out, it would be the best time to catch them all!
"However …"
Assistant Zhou secretly touched the Spiritual Opportunity Bead and found that it was even more active.
"This bead … I'm afraid it can convert disasters into Spirit Qi … Now that it's so active, I'm afraid it's very inauspicious. However, I can't use it to talk about anything …"
Assistant Zhou's heart suddenly became gloomy.
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