New and dark light years

Chapter 476 Entering Beishan County
Behind the largest battlement of the city wall in Beishan County.

Two men who looked like officials were watching the army in front of them retreat.

One of the middle-aged men, who looked like a civil official, stroked his long beard and smiled happily.

"This military governor of Cangwu Road is nothing special. Seeing that my Beishan County has a strong and well-equipped army, he still had to obediently retreat!"

His words carried a hint of smugness.

The man dressed in black official robes, who looked like a military officer, had a grave expression: "Your Excellency, if you were to use your fists to strike someone, what should be your first step?"

"Clench your fist?"

"First, pull your arm back."

The middle-aged civil official's expression changed: "Is he really going to attack the city?"

"Just now someone shouted from below... the whole city shall be guilty."

The middle-aged magistrate's expression shifted several times, then he waved his sleeve and said, "So what if they attack the city? My Beishan County has high walls and strong soldiers. As long as I hold my ground and don't come out, what can they do to me! County Lieutenant Gao, I'm entrusting the defense of the city to you. Remember, hold out for five days. After five days, there will be a great reward."

The county magistrates bowed and clasped their hands: "Yes, sir!"

The middle-aged magistrate then hurriedly descended the city wall, and the county constable watched his retreating figure, shaking his head helplessly.

The Jin County government troops retreated one mile and began to set up camp and cook.

By evening, all the soldiers were eating large mouthfuls of steaming hot rice.

Tomorrow... we'll be attacking the city.

Whether we achieve merit or die in battle tomorrow, let's fill our stomachs first.

Li Lin was also eating cured pork rice in his own command tent.

As the head coach, his meals are naturally of a higher standard.

Just then, a voice came from outside: "Sir, we caught a suspicious man outside the camp. He claims to be an envoy from Beishan County and has important business to discuss with you."

"Hand him over to the guards, then bring him in."

"Yes."

After a while, six guards brought in a thin, bony man who was tied up.

The man was bent over, with dark skin and a thin build; he looked like an ordinary person.

When he saw Li Lin, he bowed and scraped vigorously, his nervousness was palpable. If he hadn't been tied up, he probably would have knelt down immediately.

This is very much in line with how ordinary people react when they meet high-ranking officials.

"You say you are an envoy, could it be that the magistrate of Beishan County sent you?"

The man shook his head vigorously: "No, no, I am a local soldier under the command of the county magistrate."

The village soldiers were so thin, they looked like they hadn't had a proper meal in a long time.

Li Lin asked, "What did your county magistrate send you here for?"

"Our county magistrate said he wants to surrender to you, sir."

Li Lin had already guessed that this was probably the case, and he laughed, "Words are meaningless; how can he prove himself?"

"At midnight, our county magistrate will open the city gates and let your men into the city."

Li Lin raised an eyebrow slightly: "Can he do it?"

“Our soldiers on the city wall are all under the command of the county magistrate, so naturally we obey the county magistrate.”

Li Lin laughed and said, "Okay, I understand. He's gotten so thin. Go outside, untie him, give him a bowl of rice, and let him leave after he's eaten."

The envoy's eyes lit up when he heard there was food to be had, and he kept nodding and smiling obsequiously.

The guards escorted the messenger away.

Li Lin said to the guards waiting beside him, "Go and invite Supervisor Xiao over."

After saying that, Li Lin continued eating.

After he finished his meal, Xiao Chunzhu came in.

"grown ups!"

As soon as Xiao Chunzhu entered, she immediately bowed with her hands clasped in greeting.

"Have you eaten?" Li Lin asked.

"Thank you for your concern, sir. I have already eaten."

Li Lin nodded, then said, "You know about the envoy from Beishan County, right?" "I saw him outside before. That fellow ate three whole bowls of rice. His appetite is no less than that of a calf."

Li Lin laughed: "So, at midnight tonight, the magistrate of Beishan County will open the city gates wide. Do you think that's true or false?"

"The subordinates' inclination is real."

“I think so too,” Li Lin said. “At midnight, you will take two thousand men. One thousand will enter the city, and one thousand will provide support at the city gate. You have the authority to decide based on the situation, understand?”

"As ordered."

"Go and prepare."

Xiao Chunzhu bowed and quickly left.

The command tent quieted down, and Li Lin sat cross-legged practicing his internal energy.

Cultivating alone is naturally not as effective as dual cultivation, but... even a small mosquito is still meat.

Practicing Buddhism is like rowing against the current, if you don’t move forward, you will move backward.

Even making a little progress in normal times is good.

Time quickly passed to the second day.

The camp became lively again. The cooks were preparing breakfast, and soon a soldier came in carrying a bowl of meat porridge.

"Sir, here's your breakfast."

Li Lin took it and asked, "What's the situation up ahead?"

"My lord, everything went smoothly. The two commanders have entered the city, and Supervisor Xiao is stationed outside the city. Our men are gradually being replaced on the city walls."

"It seems that the county constable was not lying."

Li Lin smiled and then began to drink his porridge.

Not long after, Xiao Chunzhu's voice rang out from outside.

"Your humble servant Xiao Chunzhu and Gao Yuan, the county magistrate of Beishan, request an audience with Your Excellency."

"Come in."

After Xiao Chunzhu entered, she first bowed and then stood to the side.

Behind him, a man dressed in a black military uniform entered, then knelt on one knee, clasped his hands and said, "Your humble servant Gao Yuan, serving as the magistrate of Beishan County, pays his respects to Your Excellency the Military Governor."

Li Lin sized up the man and found him to have a rather upright appearance. He asked curiously, "Why did you decide to surrender?"

“I am not surrendering, but restoring order. The military governor has the power to control the three prefectures of Cangwu Road. Magistrate Tian knows this, yet he still refuses to open the city gates to let the military governor in. This is treason.”

Li Lin smiled.

In fact, everyone in the officialdom of the Great Qi Dynasty knows that Li Lin is very likely to be the next Marshal Tang.

From the government's perspective, Magistrate Tian was a loyal subject, while Li Lin was the one plotting rebellion.

But openly, no one dared to say it.

Even Magistrate Tian was accused of treason, which is... quite absurd.

Li Lin smiled and said, "You know when to advance and when to retreat, that's good. I have the power to appoint local officials. From now on, you will be the magistrate of Beishan County. Are you willing?"

Gao Yuan was overjoyed and prostrated himself, saying, "This humble official is willing, thank you for your grace, sir."

I thought there would be a big battle, but... things were resolved very simply.

The soldiers were somewhat disappointed.

Although war is dangerous, every man has the desire to make a name for himself and achieve great things.

Li Lin's rewards are generous once a battle breaks out, so the government troops are now extremely eager for military achievements.

Moreover, there are examples like Xiao Chunzhu and Su Bei.

Li Lin then left two thousand soldiers to garrison outside the city, and led about a hundred men into the county town.

Here, riding his horse through the streets, Li Lin found the place to be quite deserted.

There were very few people on the streets.

When Li Lin arrived at the county government office, the entire Beishan County had been controlled by the Jinjun Prefecture troops, and this place was no exception.

In the county jail, I saw Magistrate Tian, ​​imprisoned alone in the largest iron cell.

He was wearing official robes and locked in an iron cell. When he saw Li Lin enter, he rushed to the iron bars and cursed, "Traitor Li Lin, how dare you come to Gui County! You want to emulate the Tang traitors! You are a sinner of the world!"

(End of this chapter)