Catching Monsters

Chapter 493 It's fine to make Belle give up!
At this moment, the imperial army that was stationed in Daegu County had withdrawn, and Wang Longzhi's more than 60,000 men had once again successfully occupied the city.

At this moment, Wang Longzhi, dressed in white armor and riding a white horse, rode towards the county town amidst the welcoming crowds organized by the people of the city, his face expressionless.

The people continued to shower him with flowers and hold up banners to welcome General Wang; of course, the people had no choice but to do so.

After all, it is common for soldiers to burn, kill, and plunder after occupying a city during military campaigns.

However, after Wang Longzhi's army arrived, they maintained strict military discipline. Apart from the curfew and strict checks on people entering and leaving the city, the scene of burning, killing, and looting that one had imagined did not occur.

Burning, killing, looting, and even massacring cities were the actions of the rebel army before. Since Wang Longzhi and his group were acting in the name of the Sixth Prince, it would be inappropriate for them to commit massacres, burning, killing, and looting again.

Of course, all of this was Xiao Min'er's idea.

Soon, Wang Longzhi brought Xiao Min'er to the general's mansion, which had been prepared.

As soon as they entered, the soldiers below rushed over to report: "Reporting to the general, as before, most of the food and military equipment have been taken away, and what could not be taken away was burned."

Wang Longzhi nodded, first leading Xiao Min'er to sit down in the hall, and then said to the Sword God Xie Yifeng and the Demon Spirit Sect Elder Bai Xuanang behind him, "Master, Elder Bai, please have a seat."

Although Sword God Xie Yifeng was there, the Demon Spirit Sect also sent Elder Bai Xuanang to protect the two of them.

Bai Xuanang said with a smile, "What I didn't expect was that Miss Xiao is really a brilliant strategist. There haven't been any major battles during this period, yet she has been conquering cities and territories one after another."

After the Demon Spirit Cult and Wang Longzhi's group cooperated, they discovered that all the military deployments were actually orchestrated by Xiao Min'er.

This is somewhat unexpected.

Xiao Min'er simply smiled faintly, then took the nearby terrain map and said, "Next, we're probably going to lose a few battles."

"How many battles have you lost?" Wang Longzhi was slightly taken aback.

Xiao Min'er said, "Xu Xiaogang has been transferred back again, and now Zhang Yuhu has returned to the front line."

"Xu Xiaogang is a tough opponent. We are only able to keep conquering territory because we have a huge numerical advantage. But at this rate, it will probably take another year to reach the capital."

"If Xiao Yuzheng realizes what's happening and moves the northern border troops south, coupled with Xu Xiaogang's familiarity with the battle situation, it will be very disadvantageous for us."

Xiao Min'er paused, looked at the map, and said, "According to the information I have received, Zhang Yuhu has lost power in the capital. The reason he has been reinstated is that Xiao Yuzheng wants him to win some battles."

"Then let's give him a few victories."

"In that case, Xu Xiaogang will not be able to return to the battlefield for the time being."

"Then, we'll see if Zhang Yuhu is impatient. If he is, and wants to get rich quick, he'll actively seek out the best opportunity for a decisive battle."

Xiao Min'er's eyes gleamed slightly: "At that time, only by wiping out a large part of the Zhenchi Army and the Tianqi Army's elite forces will the victory lean towards us."

……

In the Imperial Study early in the morning, Xiao Yuzheng said with a smile, "Duke Zhenguo, the main reason I asked you to come back this time is to let you rest. Your sister's wedding is about to begin, and it won't do if you're not here."

As he spoke, Xiao Yuzheng personally got up to pour tea for Xu Xiaogang. Xu Xiaogang quickly got up to take the tea and said, "Your Majesty, it doesn't matter whether I come back or not. As far as I know, the Marquis of Weiwu still has 120,000 border troops in the north."

"Marquis Mingyu has 100,000 border troops under his command."

"The Marquis of Beiding has 150,000 border troops under his command."

“These border troops are all well-trained; we might as well transfer some more south.”

Xiao Yuzheng explained, "Marquis Weiwu, Marquis Mingyu, and Marquis Beiding are all actively training new recruits. In six months, they will be able to train another 300,000 well-trained soldiers."

“It won’t be too late for these 300,000 troops to head south then.” “Xiao Gang, you’ve been in the northern border for quite a while, so you should know very well that the internal strife among the Hu people is almost over.”

"If a large number of border troops are sent south at this critical juncture, and the north falls, it will be much more troublesome than Wang Longzhi's rebel army."

Xu Xiaogang was well aware of this, and could only sigh. He estimated in his mind that if he continued with his previous tactics, he could at least hold out for a year, and the rebels would not be able to reach the capital within that year.

If we can train 300,000 qualified soldiers in six months, then it's not too late.

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaogang felt a little more at ease, and Zhang Yuhu's abilities were in fact no less than Xu Xiaogang's.

When Xu Xiaogang returned to Beijing last time, Zhang Yuhu was also steadily advancing and solidifying his defense on the front lines. Although his territory was gradually being eroded, he was doing no worse than Xu Xiaogang.

After all, Zhang Yuhu rose to the position of commander of the Tianqi Army through his own abilities, so his capabilities are not lacking.

As long as he doesn't think about attacking, there won't be any major problems.

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaogang reminded him, "Your Majesty, you must write a letter to General Zhang, instructing him to hold firm and not leave..."

"I don't understand military matters, so I won't meddle." Xiao Yuzheng did not agree. After all, it was because Xu Xiaogang was suffering repeated defeats at the front that he was transferred back and Zhang Yuhu was sent to try.

If no changes are made, what's the point of replacing them?

"Let's talk about something else. Your sister is about to get married, but the Duke is still unmarried. Are there any women you like in or around the capital? I'll act as your matchmaker."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaogang quickly waved his hand in refusal: "Your Majesty, I have no time to consider matters of love and romance at the moment."

"Look at yourself." Xiao Yuzheng chuckled.

……

The news that Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen were about to get married had already spread throughout the capital. Jiang Yun was no longer an unknown nobody.

That was the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Garrison, a top-tier figure.

Xu Suwen was the daughter of a Duke.

Many people were even quite pleased to have received an invitation to the Jiang family's wedding banquet.

Of course, some people were also unhappy, such as Feng Beier. At this time, Feng Beier was in her boudoir. After learning that Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen were about to get married, she was depressed.

Before her disheveled dressing table were the poems Jiang Yun had written. She had changed into a red wedding dress and sat in front of the dressing table, staring blankly at herself in the bronze mirror.

Inside a room in the Marquis of Weiwu's residence, a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old was frowning as he stood beside a noblewoman, saying, "Mother, I'm afraid we'll have to keep a close eye on Bei'er these next few days, lest she do something reckless."

"The marriage between Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen was decreed by His Majesty himself. What if that girl Bei'er goes and causes trouble..."

The noblewoman sighed, "What a tragedy! It's not like your sister can't get married. There are so many wealthy and powerful men out there; she can't just pick and choose."

"But she is only in love with Jiang Yun. If our family were poorer, we could just grit our teeth and let her become Jiang Yun's concubine."

“But how can the legitimate daughter of our Marquis of Weiwu’s mansion be treated like this?”

Feng Huan was indeed handsome, a dashing young man. He frowned and said in a deep voice, "I'm going to find that Jiang Yun!"

"No matter what, let him find a way to make Belle give up!"

(End of this chapter)