Tiger Owl

Chapter 228 Brothers are fighting against each other
As night fell, the Western Chu army did not stop marching, but slowed down. Each soldier held a torch, and the boundless flames stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling a fiery dragon winding and flying swiftly along the banks of the Li River.

The next day at noon, the army arrived in Guangxin County. It was about ten miles from the county seat, and the county seat could be seen from the hillside.

The soldiers rested on the spot, drinking water and eating dry rations. The riverbank was crowded with donkeys drinking water. The soldiers took out the hay bags from the donkeys and let them eat grass quietly.

At this time, Bu Zhi invited Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci, and the three of them discussed the battle plan together.

"I received a fast letter from Xu Jing. There are about 20,000 troops in Guangxian City, which are controlled by Zhang Jin's two sons. Once Zhang Jin dies, the two brothers will inevitably fight each other for the throne, and our opportunity will come. In addition, there are 2,000 local militiamen in the city, who are controlled by Chief Clerk Li Jin. Li Jin has now pledged allegiance to the Marquis of Chu. These 2,000 troops will be our support force, and they will control the water gate."

Zhao Yun sighed and said, "I thought there would be a big battle, but I didn't expect it to be so easy."

Bu Zhi smiled slightly and said, "In my plan, Cangwu County is easy to take. Zhang Jin is about to die of illness, and his army has no morale to resist. So Zhang Jin is not difficult, and Wu Ju is not difficult either, as his troops are too few. The difficult one is Shi Xie's side."

Taishi Ci nodded and said, "Should we take the initiative to contact the city?"

"Wait a little longer, I think Xu Jing will contact us."

No sooner had Bu Zhi finished speaking than a soldier ran up to report, "Reporting to the Commander, someone from inside the city has come to deliver a message!"

Bu Zhi was overjoyed and immediately ordered, "Bring the messenger up!"

Before long, a messenger was brought in. He was one of Xu Jing's men. He bowed and said, "You have to be searched to leave the city. I dare not carry a message by hand. I can only give a verbal message!"

"Please say!"

"Just this afternoon, news broke that Zhang Jin had died, but the news is currently being tightly controlled and no death announcement has been made. However, something bad might happen tonight."

Bu Zhi thought for a moment and asked, "Is it still only through the water gate that we can enter?"

"Currently, only the water gate is accessible. Prefect Xu will meet Sima at the water gate and agree to send three torches as a signal at the first watch of the night."

Bu Zhi nodded. "I understand. You can go and rest now!"

Bu Zhi immediately gave the order: "Set off after dark!"

At this moment, Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci were drawing lots. Taishi Ci drew a red lot, meaning he would be the vanguard that night.

Zhang Jin had already died of illness at noon. At this time, the person in control of the governor's mansion was the eldest son, Zhang Huan. The brothers took turns on duty to guard the governor's mansion and prevent anyone from getting close. However, Zhang Huan did not expect to be so lucky, as his father died while he was on duty.

He feigned a few sobs, then immediately ordered that no one should leak the news of the governor's death, or face execution.

He obtained his father's governor's seal and military tally, and began to deploy his axemen. When his brother came to complete the handover at dusk, he could then kill him.

But his brother Zhang Mao was no pushover either. He had already bribed the servants around their father so that they would be notified immediately if anything happened to their father. Especially since their father was on his deathbed, how could he possibly leave his elder brother alone by their father's side?

In the afternoon, Zhang Mao finally received the news that his father had passed away an hour earlier, but his elder brother had kept it a secret and even deployed axemen next to his father's sickroom, clearly intending to harm him.

Zhang Mao paced back and forth in the hall, finally gritting his teeth and saying, "You were the one who started it, so don't blame me for not showing any brotherly affection!"

He walked into the lobby and shouted, "Liao Zhong!"

"The humble position is here!"

A general stepped forward and saluted. This Liao Zhong was Zhang Mao's confidant and also his brother-in-law.

Zhang Mao coldly ordered, "Gather three thousand troops to surround the governor, and do not allow anyone to escape!" "Your subordinate obeys!"

Liao Zhong left in a hurry.

Zhang Mao sneered and muttered to himself, "Brother, you never expected that I've already figured out the truth!"

Three thousand troops surrounded the governor's mansion. Zhang Huan was shocked. The news had been leaked. His brother Zhang Mao was originally his prey, but unexpectedly, he had become the prey instead.

Zhang Huan realized the seriousness of the situation. With only three hundred guards in the manor, how could they possibly withstand the slaughter of three thousand troops?

The most urgent task now is to send someone to the military camp to transfer my troops, otherwise I'm doomed.

Zhang Mao arrived at the governor's mansion, clad in armor. It was already late when he saw three thousand soldiers surrounding the mansion, so completely that not even a fly could get out.

Just then, an attendant ran up and said, "Second Young Master, a letter has been sent by Chief Secretary Li!"

Zhang Mao took the letter and read it carefully. In the letter, Li Jin expressed his willingness to support him as governor and did not oppose his actions in the governor's office. He only asked him to delay his actions as much as possible so as not to disturb the people and make them think that he was committing patricide.

Zhang Mao didn't care about the lives of ordinary people, but he also didn't want to be branded as a patricide. The news of his father's death hadn't been released yet, and if everyone thought he had killed his father, wouldn't that be troublesome?

He immediately gave the order: "Move out at 9:00 PM!"

As the hour of Hai approached, which was nine o'clock in the evening, the entire county town fell silent. Zhang Mao gritted his teeth and ordered, "Charge in! Kill all the men except the women! Whoever gets Zhang Huan's head will be rewarded with a thousand strings of cash!"

Three thousand soldiers began to charge towards the governor. They climbed ladders and scaled the walls, rushing into the mansion. Zhang Huan ordered three hundred guards to fight to the death, while he himself hid in his father's treasure chamber, locking the iron door from the inside, waiting for his army to come to his rescue.

Li Jin and Xu Jing stood on the city wall of the water city. He heard shouts of battle coming from the direction of the governor's mansion. Zhang Mao had begun his operation.

Li Jin sighed and said to Xu Jing, "It's too late, we must act now!"

Xu Jing also agreed to act ahead of schedule. Li Jin had already delayed for more than an hour and could not delay any longer. Once Zhang Mao killed Zhang Huan and seized the seal and military tally, he would control the military power of the 20,000 troops in the city, and then things would be troublesome.

Xu Jing asked with some concern, "I wonder if they've arrived yet?"

"Try it!"

Li Jing ordered his men to open the water gate and then lit three torches outside it.

Before long, soldiers came running from outside the city. Xu Jing quickly went up to them and asked, "How many troops are there outside?"

"General Taishi has led 15,000 troops and is already lying in ambush two hundred paces away. General, should we move out ahead of schedule?"

"Exactly! Tell General Taishi that the situation inside the city is critical and that he must enter the city immediately!"

The soldiers returned, and not long after, Taishi Ci arrived with 15,500 troops.

A pontoon bridge had already been built at the water gate to allow entry into the city. Taishi Ci was the first to enter the city, and Xu Jing greeted him, saying, "General Taishi, Zhang Mao is leading three thousand troops to attack the governor's mansion. Please lead your army to encircle and annihilate them. The city can then be captured!"

Taishi Ci nodded. "Lead the way!"

(End of this chapter)