knife

Chapter 761 I am enough

When news of Naxin's crushing defeat reached Danyang, Zhou Zheng, who was still wavering, finally made his final decision.

Although Na Xin was merely the vanguard, leading only a mere 20,000 troops, of which only 5,000 belonged to the elite Southwest Wolf Army, this defeat clearly proved one thing: once the Southwest Wolf Army suffered a defeat, the rest, whether they were soldiers from the Great Chu Prefecture or guards, basically had no will to resist Jiang Qian.

Lin Yunqi launched a counter-espionage scheme, and Na Xin rashly believed that the grain supplies of Tong'an County had been burned by spies loyal to the Great Chu court, and that Tong'an County was now out of food, so the enemy troops stationed there were likely to retreat quickly.

In order to seize the opportunity, Na Xin led 5,000 elite wolf soldiers from the southwest and several thousand cavalrymen recruited from Jiujiang, Jiangxia and Qichun counties to Tongan County overnight, intending to deliver a heavy blow to the enemy with lightning speed.

As a result, the opposing general Lin Yunqi had anticipated Na Xin's move and set up an ambush in Qinghe Town, thirty miles away from Tongan County. This was the most suitable place for Na Xin to rest and recuperate before launching an attack on Tongan County.

As expected, after Na Xin's troops, exhausted and weary, arrived at Qinghe Town, they were about to rest before launching another attack when they were attacked by Lin Yunqi's troops, who were waiting in ambush.

The battle itself was uneventful, leading one to believe that the outcome was predetermined.

After a crushing defeat, Na Xin escaped with only a few dozen guards. Most of the five thousand Southwest Wolf soldiers were killed in battle, and the rest were either captured or scattered. As for the cavalry of the other three prefectures, they immediately turned and fled after realizing that things were not going well. Lin Yunqi's pursuit of these troops was just a formality. He devoted almost all of his fighting strength to the battle against the remaining Southwest Wolf soldiers.

After the crushing defeat, Na Xin retreated to Liyang County, while Jiangxia County and Qichun County surrendered en masse after Jiang Qian sent a proclamation. Although Jiujiang County had not yet submitted to Jiang Qian, it seemed unlikely to hold out for long.

The Danyang court launched another three-pronged attack on the eight towns south of the Yangtze River. Before the battle even officially began, one of the routes had already been lost. On the southern route, Lin Yunqi was the vanguard, Kang Zhen's central army served as support, and Jiang Qian herself was in command. Tens of thousands of troops were heading straight for Liyang County.

Behind Liyang County lies Danyang.

In his shock, Na Wei had no choice but to once again mobilize the Southwest Wolf Soldiers scattered throughout the surrounding areas to gather in Liyang. Through this battle, Na Wei realized that the troops from other prefectures were completely unreliable. Once the Southwest Wolf Soldiers suffered a defeat, these troops from other places would immediately scatter like birds and beasts. Only when the Southwest Wolf Soldiers won would these bastards excitedly come up to seize the fruits of victory.

After the first battle, it was an indisputable fact that Jiang Qian's main force was concentrated in the south. Na Wei was indeed surprised that Jiang Qian had gambled almost her entire fortune on the war in the south. At the same time, he felt somewhat ashamed and annoyed because it was clear that Jiang Qian looked down on him and wanted to finish him off quickly before turning back to fight Linghu Ye.

Despite his annoyance, Na Wei calmed down and decided to hold Liyang County first. At the same time, he sent someone to urge Linghu Ye to send troops quickly. As long as he held Liyang, Linghu Ye could take Nanyang and Xiangyang. He would see if Jiang Qian would return to the army to rescue them.

On one hand, they amassed troops, built military camps, and fortified the city in Liyang County. On the other hand, they sent people back to urge Zhou Zheng and others to quickly raise more grain and supplies to send to Liyang County for use in a long-term standoff.

"Send someone to tell the Ganba Gan Pacification Commissioner that I'm inviting him for drinks tonight, and that I've also raised some provisions, which I'll hand over to him in person!" Zhou Zheng, his face grim, ordered.

"Yes!" Seeing that Zhou Zheng had finally made up his mind, the confidant breathed a sigh of relief and turned to run out.

That evening's banquet was, of course, a trap. Turning and entering the inner room, Guan Shan, captain of the Azure Dragon Brigade; He Zheng, captain of the White Tiger Brigade; Jiang Yuyan, commander of the Jiang family's private army; and Wang Li, deputy leader of the Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Saber, were studying the encampment of Gan Ba's five thousand troops stationed in Danyang. Seeing Zhou Zheng enter, Guan Shan said, "Prefect Zhou, we have already assigned our attack positions and are awaiting your command!"

“I’ll treat Gan Ba ​​to drinks tonight!” Zhou Zheng said.

"Will he come?"

"He'll definitely come to get the money!" Zhou Zheng said. "Your men should arrive at the attack location on time at nightfall. Once I've succeeded here, you can launch your attack. Be swift and decisive. Do not let these Southwest Wolf Soldiers scatter and wander. These people are barbaric and fierce. If they escape, the ordinary people of Danyang City will inevitably suffer!"

"Prefect Zhou, rest assured!" Wang Li nodded and said, "However, I've heard that Gan Ba ​​also possesses the strength of a ninth-rank official. Do you need any help here?"

Zhou Zheng shook his head: "I am enough. You all just need to do your own thing. After I kill Gan Ba, I will immediately take those people to the palace to see the Divine Shaman. The insider in the palace has sent word that the Divine Shaman is nominally living in Ganquan Palace, but that is not the case."

“Why not use the excuse that Gan Ba’s troops, unable to collect their bounty, have been robbing and extorting throughout the city, thus inciting conflict with other forces in the city, and that the prefect wants to ask the shaman to come and put Gan Ba ​​in check, so he can stop his evil deeds?” Wang Li suggested. “The shaman must know the nature of the Southwest Wolf Soldiers, and will definitely come out to see you. Once he shows his face, he won’t be able to leave!”

Zhou Zheng laughed and said, "That's exactly what I think too! In that case, let's all get back to our work. I hope that tomorrow's Danyang will be a brand new Danyang!"

The four laughed, stood up, and bowed to each other in farewell.

As the sun set, Zhou Zheng sat upright in the main hall. Through the open doors, he could see the sun, with only half its face remaining, shining its last rays upon the undulating mountains in the distance.

Hearing the sound of horses' hooves outside, Zhou Zheng couldn't help but chuckle. They really couldn't wait. Hadn't Xin's crushing defeat in Tong'an County made these guys from the southwest realize the situation?
There are countless heroes in the world, and Na Wei can be considered one of them. However, his current status is entirely due to others; he has become a tool in their hands. His own abilities are actually insufficient to control such a situation.

Under Li Dachui's machinations, Jiang Qian was expelled, Xiang Ying died in battle, Xiong Yi lost power, and Xiang Zhuang rebelled. The Chu state, which originally had the ability to challenge the Qin state, was finally torn apart and now had no choice but to become another knife in Li Dachui's hands.

As for that knife, it now needs to be broken.

“Prefect Zhou, I heard you only managed to raise 50,000 taels. Haha, this can’t be waived with a banquet! I’ll drink the wine, but I can only give you a few more days’ grace for the remaining 50,000 taels. The young men below are starving for food!” Gan Ba’s arrogant voice came from outside the hall.

Zhou Zheng smiled and stood up to greet him in the hall.

(End of this chapter)