All Heavens and Worlds Modified History System

Chapter 305: Siege of Youzhou, life and death

"Mr. Zheng has come from afar, what advice do you have for me?"

In the Longhuo Army City, Chen Ran received Zheng Ting who came from Chang'an.

Zheng Ting did not mention any official business, but instead looked around in surprise, "Why doesn't the general live in Youzhou City? Are you worried that the guards will cause chaos?"

Considering the speed and capability of information dissemination in this era, even the ministers in the imperial court did not know what had happened in Youzhou Town.

"Before, it was Zhang Gongsu who asked me to send troops to help and cede the states outside Youzhou as a reward." Chen Ran briefly recounted the incident and ended with the words "I have a promise in advance. As long as Zhang Xianggong is in the city, I will never set foot in Youzhou City."

Zheng Ting had been in the officialdom for many years, so he understood immediately after hearing this, and thought to himself, "It seems that Zhang Gongsu will not live long."

"I came here this time on the orders of the Emperor."

He took out the imperial edict, knowing that the man in front of him was a rebel, so he naturally didn't have any formalities to receive the edict, and simply said, "The court wants to recruit the general."

"Recruit me." Chen Ran laughed at this. "I wonder what conditions the court offered to recruit me?"

"Nothing practical." Zheng Ting looked relaxed, as if this was not his job. "Besides being a nominal prince, it's the post of Jiedushi of Youzhou Lulong Town, and maybe he will be given the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Menxia Zhongshu Shilang or something like that."

"I just wanted to get something for nothing and lure the general into a fight with Huang Chao."

Chen Ran keenly noticed that there was something wrong with Zheng Ting's attitude, and asked in confusion, "Mr. Zheng, what do you mean?"

Putting the imperial edict aside, Zheng Ting stood up and bowed respectfully to Chen Ran. "Official business is done, and the next thing is private business."

"The Tang Dynasty is in turmoil, and the court is in danger of extinction. The emperor only knows how to fight cocks and dogs, and plays all day long. Emperor Taizong's coffin is almost unable to hold it down. The power of the court has fallen into the hands of eunuchs, and the local vassal states are arrogant and domineering. Although Zheng is a prime minister, he is trembling with fear every day, as if walking on thin ice."

Raising his hand and stroking his chin, Chen Ran looked at Zheng Ting and asked, "Do you want to join me? Are you betting on me?"

Smart people can see that the Tang Dynasty is about to be destroyed, so they will naturally choose other large ships.

"That's right." Zheng Ting bowed again, "Zheng of Xingyang is willing to serve the general!"

This is the orthodox way to change dynasties.

Aristocratic families who have money, land, capable clansmen, a large population, and a network of relationships all over the world, when their own families have no chance of rising to the top, will choose a target of their choice and provide all the resources to help that person rise to the top.

In return, the aristocratic families can still enjoy endless wealth and glory in the new dynasty, continue to enhance the strength and influence of their family, and wait for the next reincarnation.

For those who are vying for world domination, getting the support of aristocratic families is like adding wings to a tiger.

For thousands of years, everyone has been following this routine.

It’s a pity that today Zheng Ting met someone who didn’t play by the rules.

If Chen Ran just came through this world alone and couldn't return to the modern world, he might have agreed.

Live a happy and carefree life and don't let the time travel down. Who cares about what happens in the future, no matter how terrible the disaster!

Unfortunately, Chen Ran has plenty of ways out.

"No need."

Chen Ran simply shook his head and said, "I don't need your support."

Zheng Ting, who had been controlling his attitude before, lost his composure for the first time.

He looked at Chen Ran in confusion, as if he had heard it wrong.

"The world is there, I will take it." Chen Ran smiled and waved his hand, "I just want to try and see if I can break the fate of the 200-year dynasty cycle."

"Great~General." Zheng Ting's face was full of disbelief. "I am from the Zheng family of Xingyang."

"Report~~~"

Liu Xun strode in and interrupted Zheng Xianggong's words, "Report to the general, there is a riot in Youzhou City!"

"Oh?" Chen Ran stood up and frowned slightly. "Then how is my good friend, Youzhou Lulong Jiedushi Zhang Gongsu, now?"

"It may not be good." Liu Xun shook his head. "I heard that the rebellion was aimed at Zhang Xianggong."

"Oh~~~"

Chen Ran sighed, "After all, they are my good friends. I have to help Zhang Xianggong when he is in trouble. Order all the troops to gather. When Zhang Xianggong comes to ask for help, we will send troops!"

"I obey your orders~~~"

Zheng Ting, who was standing by, was dumbfounded. "Since Zhang Gongsu was besieged by the chaotic soldiers, how could he come to you for help? He can't fly! You clearly want to seize Youzhou City in the name of revenge for Zhang Gongsu. No, you may have planned this yourself! I was right about you. You are decisive and shameless. Only such a person can win the world!"

'

"Mr. Zheng." Chen Ran, who didn't know what Zheng Ting was thinking, said, "Take a rest while I avenge Mr. Zhang. Ahem, I'm going to rescue Mr. Zhang, and then I'll come to have a drink and talk with you."

After saying that, he simply left.

There was indeed military turmoil in Youzhou City. The reason was simple: the guards in the city could not receive their military pay and routine rewards, and the prices of goods in the city had soared to the point where they could no longer survive.

In the late Tang Dynasty, it was a very terrible thing for the military officers to fail to pay their salaries.

The military men of the Tang Dynasty were not the imperial guards of the late Song Dynasty or the military households of the late Ming Dynasty.

If you dare to delay their salaries, we will kill you immediately!

Chen Ran used the same tactics used by Zhu Wen in history to destroy the Wei Bo garrison troops. He asked Zhang Gongsu for the food and drink expenses of his tens of thousands of troops. As for the title, it was there. I came to help you fight and take back the position of Jiedushi. What's wrong with eating your food, drinking your drinks and using your money?
Not to mention that Zhang Gongsu was unwilling, even if he was willing, the guards in the city would not do it.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t do it. Chen Ran directly blocked the roads around Youzhou City and cut off the transportation of materials from various places.

There were more than 100,000 guardsmen and their families in Youzhou City, as well as the craftsmen and technical workers who served them.

With the supply of materials cut off, survival becomes a problem, and even if you have money you can’t buy anything.

I heard that in recent days, the price of grain in the city has soared to the level of 500,000 coins per stone!

That’s five hundred thousand dollars, which can’t even be carried in a cart!

Not to mention the guards, even ordinary people would raise their flags and rebel if they encountered such a thing.

The guards in the city first took action to kill Zhang Gongsu. This was the tradition of the vassal states. When something happened, the governor would be killed first.

What's more, Chen Ran was lured here by Zhang Gongsu, so the guards would certainly not let him go.

The guards in the city also contacted the guards outside the city in various fortresses, preparing to fight Chen Ran together.

Unfortunately, Chen Ran had already taken action and brought all the foreign soldiers surrounding Youzhou City under his command.

The soldiers of this era joined the army just to get food and salary.

Chen Ran's army was stationed outside the city of Youzhou, facing the Youzhou soldiers day and night. Not only were they paid adequate wages, but they also went out to fight a battle every now and then, and when they came back they were either rewarded with fans of pork or jars of lard.

These are all good things that you may not be able to get even during the Chinese New Year.

Especially some time ago, the soldiers of Yinqiang Xiaojie and Zhuangshan went out to fight the Khitan alliance.

After returning, almost everyone was leading cows and dragging sheep home. The number of people was so large that the price of sheep near Youzhou City even dropped sharply.

Look at other people eating meat all day long, with their mouths full of oil.

Then he looked at the dry food he ate and the cold water he drank, and found that the trouser pockets were almost breaking his waist.

There was no need for Chen Ran to actively recruit. In the many fortresses outside Youzhou City, there were tens of thousands of foreign soldiers who came in groups to join the army.

When the city guards wanted to find help, they were shocked to find that there were enemies all around them.

They first offered sacrifice to Zhang Gongsu, and then prepared to leave the city for a decisive battle with Chen Ran.

As a guard of the number one town in the world, he still has this determination and courage.

However, just after leaving the city gate, they were attacked by a fierce rain of arrows. When they were farther away from the city gate, armored cavalry charged and forced the guards back into the city.

The city gate was wide open, but the enemy troops outside did not come in at all.

The smart ones among the tooth soldiers quickly figured out, "They want to trap us to death!"

A city without food and supplies is undoubtedly a dead place.

The guards rushed out, but going out meant death.

They may not be afraid of death, but they don't want to die in such a miserable way.

Chen Ran even moved down the crossbows from the top of the nearby city wall and placed them outside the city gate, facing the gate.

Many guards who rushed out of the city did not even have a chance to fight before they were shot by crossbow arrows as thick as their wrists.

Zheng Ting witnessed a spectacle with his own eyes.

Youzhou City is the most famous city in the north. People in the city wanted to leave, but were stopped.

People outside the city don't want to go in, and they want to stop people in the city from going back.

This is really an unprecedented and strange thing. Chen Ran actually doesn't want a famous city!
After the toughest teeth soldiers died, the remaining teeth soldiers finally calmed down.

They no longer rushed outwards. After all, it was meaningless to die in vain.

The guards opened all the city gates, expecting the enemy troops to come in so that they could kill them all using the city defense facilities and geographical advantages.

The two sides just stared at each other, those inside unwilling to come out and those outside unwilling to come in.

The soldiers outside the city didn't care. They had enough supplies and were even in the mood for a barbecue.

The aroma of meat wafted into the city, making the hungry soldiers grit their teeth in hatred.

Ancient cities were not self-sufficient. Even if there was wasteland to grow crops, there would not be enough time, and considering the population in the city, it would be a drop in the bucket.

As supplies in the city rapidly decreased, all kinds of vicious cases broke out, to the point where even the families of the guards were in danger.

Seeing that a human tragedy was about to break out in Youzhou City, Chen Ran took action again.

Hundreds of soldiers with loud voices gathered outside the range of the city defenses, shouting, "The general has ordered that those who take the heads of captains and above can take their families out of the city to serve as soldiers!"

"Sufficient food and wages, the three festivals and two grants are never in arrears!"

"The general has taken over the entire Youzhou town. Do you want to continue to serve as soldiers and eat food, or starve to death in the city?"

Chen Ran can retain the soldiers of the guards, but the backbone officers must not be kept!

(End of this chapter)