Sweep Yuan

Chapter 172 A Series of Schemes to Break People's Hearts

The formation was broken by the fleeing cavalry and could no longer be held. Chen Tong had no choice but to flee with the fleeing soldiers towards the small camp.

But the cold iron armor and the mud-soaked battle robe were as heavy as lead, and every step he took felt like a tug-of-war with the entire mud pit. The long run had also made his lungs feel like broken bellows, and every breath he took carried the bloody smell of rust.

The routed soldiers scattered and fled, but his group was the largest and best dressed in bright armor, which caught Feng Guosheng's eye. He led more than ten men straight at them.

"what!"

Another familiar scream came from behind, and the rapid sound of horses' hooves kicking up mud was like a death knell, rapidly approaching.

Chen Tong was shaken to his core. He knew that if he continued to run blindly like this, he would be the next one to fall. His survival instinct gave him a final burst of courage.

He clenched his teeth and used all his remaining strength to twist his body in the mud. With the momentum of the rotation, his spear, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, whistled through the air as he thrust it back at the red figure that had caught up behind him.

"what?"

Feng Guosheng was about to thrust his spear forward when the armored officer, who had never expected that the enemy would launch such a precise and ruthless counterattack in such a desperate situation, suddenly appeared.

In a flash, the body's instincts, honed and cultivated over many years, surpassed the speed of thought.

Feng Guosheng suddenly leaned back, almost completely flat against the horse's back. The deadly spear tip, carrying a chilling aura, grazed the upper edge of his breastplate with a sharp "whoosh," a near miss!

Having dodged the fatal blow, Feng Guosheng's eyes gleamed even more fiercely. He exerted force from his waist and abdomen, instantly springing up. Using the momentum of his stride, he transformed his spear into a heavy iron rod, swinging it with the force of wind and thunder, and lashed it fiercely at the middle of Chen Tong's spear shaft.

"clang--!"

Chen Tong felt an immense force coming from the spear shaft, his tiger's mouth instantly split open, blood gushing out, the spear almost flying out of his hand, and he was also shaken by the force, sliding three or four feet to the side before he could barely steady himself. His internal organs were churning, and his arms were so sore and numb that he couldn't lift them.

Feng Guosheng had already reined in his horse and turned around, his spear pointing diagonally, the blood groove on the tip of the spear still dripping with a mixture of muddy blood. Looking at the enemy general in front of him, who was covered in mud and in a sorry state but still stubbornly refused to fall, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

The man slowly withdrew his spear, his voice booming and piercing through the rain:
"You brave man! You've been running for so long today, you're exhausted and no match for us! We respect you as a man, willing to cover the retreat for your men. Would you be willing to surrender to the Red Flag Battalion? Let's avoid unnecessary casualties!"

Chen Tong's chest heaved violently, and he was panting heavily as he looked down at the battlefield.

In the distance, the Red Flag Battalion infantry and cavalry, having landed, climbed the riverbank, surging across the muddy battlefield like a red tide. Meanwhile, the four hundred soldiers he had led out of the camp were now scattered and broken up.

Exhausted soldiers lay in the cold mud, their eyes vacant as they awaited death; many more threw down their weapons, kneeling in the mud with their hands raised; only a few dozen of their own cavalrymen remained, fleeing like stray dogs toward the tightly closed city gates.

The trend is over!

"The thousand households... have... surrendered..."

Behind him, several soldiers, equally covered in blood and exhausted, offered their advice in hoarse voices. Their eyes were filled with a longing for life and fear of their comrades' tragic deaths.

This sound was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, crushing the last vestiges of Chen Tong's resolve. What was the point of continuing the fight, other than wasting the lives of his loyal subordinates?
Chen Tong gazed at the figure on horseback who resembled a god of war, then looked at his comrades beside him with despair in their eyes. Finally, the long spear in his hand, which had once been soaked with the blood of the rebels of the "Peng Zu family," crashed heavily into the muddy water with a loud clang.

The man knelt on one knee, head bowed, his voice hoarse and weary.
"I, Chen Tong, am willing to surrender. Please, General, spare the lives of my men."

Feng Guosheng had a great time today, defeating the infantry and cavalry of Lujiang in succession. He was in high spirits and laughed loudly upon hearing this, his voice echoing across the fields.
"Hahaha! Good! A wise man submits to circumstances! Get up! The Red Flag Battalion's rule is not to kill prisoners! As long as you lay down your weapons, I guarantee you won't die!"

With a wave of his hand, his personal guards stepped forward and took Chen Tong and his remaining troops into custody.

After a brief inquiry, Feng Guosheng learned that Chen Tong was actually the commander of the Shushan camp, and that there were only a hundred soldiers left in the camp. He was overjoyed and immediately ordered Chen Tong to go to the camp to persuade them to surrender.

The main force of the camp had been wiped out in the battle with Chen Tong. The remaining troops had witnessed the Red Flag Battalion's overwhelming power and were already in a state of panic. Seeing that Commander Chen Tong personally persuaded them to surrender, they knew that resistance was futile and that the city would not send any more reinforcements. Without much hesitation, they gave up resistance.

When Chang Yuchun led the main force of the Qingri Guard to the foot of Shushan Mountain, the sky miraculously cleared up.

After several days of continuous rain, a few rare rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the wet forests and muddy battlefields. The air was filled with a complex mix of earthy and bloody smells, which lifted everyone's spirits.

Meanwhile, Feng Guosheng had also completed the initial clearing of the battlefield.

In this battle, 187 men, including the Lujiang cavalry general, were killed in action, and 436 men, including the commander of a thousand men, Chen Tong, were captured. Only a few dozen Lujiang cavalrymen managed to escape into the city. More importantly, the Shushan camp was forced to surrender without bloodshed.

Despite its name, Shushan Mountain is less than twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters) high, but it is less than three li (approximately 1.5 kilometers) from the southwest corner of Lujiang City. Standing on the mountaintop, one can clearly see the crenellations of the southwest city wall of Lujiang City and the figures of the soldiers moving about.

Zhou Chang expended enormous manpower to build this sturdy camp on the mountain, a combination of brick, stone, and earthen structure. His original intention was to serve as a forward outpost and strategic point for Lujiang County, allowing for both offensive and defensive maneuvers.

Who could have predicted that the capture of the commander Chen Tong during a rash attack would lead to the surrender of the entire small camp without a fight, handing over this crucial strategic stronghold to the Red Flag Battalion.

With the change of control of Xiaoying, the southwest direction of Lujiang City suddenly lost its protective barrier, as if someone had pressed against its waist, instantly turning it into a major threat.

Unlike Feng Guosheng, who was immersed in the excitement of killing generals, capturing flags, and seizing camps, Chang Yuchun, after hearing the general account and results of the battle, immediately grasped a deeper value—Chen Tong himself! He quickly summoned Chen Qianhu, who had just surrendered.

Inside the central command tent, Chang Yuchun sat in the main seat, his tall figure appearing even more majestic in the sunlight streaming in through the window.

"Commander Chen, tell me in detail, what kind of person is your Lujiang County Magistrate?"

Having just experienced defeat and surrender, and then being forced to persuade the camp he was stationed in to surrender, Chen Tong was filled with shame and guilt. Although he had no intention of dying, he instinctively did not want to talk too much about his former lord, especially information that might be detrimental to the siege.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, Magistrate Zhou is kind and benevolent. During his four years in office in Lujiang, he has accomplished a great deal. He has promoted water conservancy projects, dredged ditches, and encouraged the cultivation of rice, hemp, and mulberry trees, enabling the villagers to make a living. The people in the city, and even the villagers in the countryside, are all grateful for his kindness and are willing to serve the Magistrate."

"If the Commander-in-Chief wants to...if he wants to find a weakness in Magistrate Zhou to breach the city, it will likely be quite difficult."

Chang Yuchun had been besieging Lujiang City for several days, constantly thinking about capturing the city and achieving victory. Chen Tong's words exposed his thoughts, but he was not angry at all. Instead, he laughed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the tent:

"Hahaha! Interesting! Interesting! The Marshal gave me the courtesy name 'Bo Ren,' and Magistrate Zhou is known as 'Kuan Ren Hou De.' So, aren't he and I, Chang Bo Ren, destined to be together? Whether we can break through the city is up to our Red Flag Battalion. You don't need to worry about it."

Just speak frankly. If you can persuade Magistrate Zhou to surrender, saving the people of Lujiang from the ravages of war, it would be an immense act of merit. You would also be able to reunite with your family in the city sooner. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?

Upon hearing this, Chen Tong's heart skipped a beat. He had witnessed Feng Guosheng's bravery and madness before, and seeing the even more imposing and powerful Chang Yuchun before him, he had assumed that this man must be an even more bloodthirsty and warlike general.

To his utter surprise, the other party intended to persuade Zhou Chang to surrender. This huge contrast left him momentarily stunned, and he was caught in a fierce internal struggle.

His parents, wife, and children were all in the city. If he helped the Red Flag Battalion break through the city, everything would be destroyed and his family would likely perish. However, if he could persuade Zhou Chang to surrender and save the city, he could not only save his family but might even... gain merit.
After careful consideration, his concern for his family and his faint hope of avoiding further bloodshed outweighed his loyalty to his former master. Chen Tong took a deep breath, made up his mind, slowly raised his head, and spoke in a much calmer voice:

"Magistrate Zhou..."

Now, Chang Yuchun is the Commander-in-Chief and is highly regarded by Shi Shan. Under his influence, his vision has changed from that of a brave man who only knew how to win wealth and status with his sword and spear. He now understands the principle that "it is easy to seize land, but difficult to win people's hearts."

After listening to Chen Tong's detailed account of Zhou Chang's governance, temperament, military prestige, and the morale of the people in the city, Chen Tong became even more determined to persuade Zhou Chang to surrender. The people of Lujiang were loyal to Zhou Chang, and even if a direct assault succeeded, the casualties on both sides would be considerable, and the consequences would be dire. If they could persuade Zhou Chang to surrender, they would achieve twice the result with half the effort.

However, persuading the lord of a city to surrender is a matter of great importance. The marshal personally led a large army to guard the north of the city, and this was not a matter he could decide on his own.

Chang Yuchun immediately asked Zhang Desheng to personally escort Chen Tong back to the northern camp of the city to meet the marshal.

At the northern camp, after listening to the battle report from the southern battle and Chen Tong's account, Shi Shan inquired in detail about Lujiang's defenses, public morale, and Zhou Chang's character. Looking at the anxious Chen Tong, he smiled gently and said:
"Commander Chen, you have abandoned the darkness and embraced the light, and you are willing to work tirelessly to save the people of the city from the ravages of war. This is a great act of righteousness! I hereby promise..."

"Thank you, Marshal! I will do my utmost!" Chen Tong felt a great weight lifted from his heart and kowtowed excitedly.

Seeing that the marshal had so easily released the prisoners, Jin Chaoxing, the leader of the rebel army in Chaoxian, couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"Marshal, if Chen Tong harbors ulterior motives, never to return, or even turns around and bites back, wouldn't we be at a loss?"

Shi Shan withdrew his gaze from Chen Tong's departing figure, turned to look at Jin Chaoxing, and smiled:
"Winning hearts and minds is the best strategy, while attacking cities is the second best. The reason why Lujiang was able to hold off tens of thousands of troops from the 'Peng Zu family' twice was because of the unity of the people under Zhou Chang's rule. Whether Chen Tong's trip is to sincerely persuade people to surrender or to never return, as long as he appears at the gates of Lujiang, it will be a victory in winning hearts and minds!"

Outside the arched gate on the north city wall of Lujiang, Chen Tong, covered in mud and looking exhausted, was not wearing armor, only a thin military robe, which made him look particularly forlorn.

"This humble general, Chen Tong, requests an audience with Your Excellency, the County Magistrate!"

"Commander Chen? Down below, it really is Commander Chen!"

A sharp-eyed guard pointed at the lone figure below the city and cried out. The voice wasn't loud, but it was like cold water being poured into boiling oil, instantly causing a commotion among the guards. Chen Tong, the commander of the Shushan camp, had actually appeared outside the north gate. What did this mean?!

The city gates were already tightly closed. Although Chen Tong was quite prestigious among the guards and was now attracting the attention of countless soldiers, whether they were concerned or contemptuous, no one dared to open the gates and let him in without the order of Magistrate Zhou.

Chen Tong was also worried about the safety of his family in the city, so he didn't dare to speak recklessly. After announcing his identity, he stood with his hands at his sides, waiting for Zhou Chang to arrive.

In the morning battle, both the infantry and cavalry of Lujiang were defeated, and the small camp at Shushan fell. Only sixty-two riders fled back to the city in panic, and the morale of the defending army was greatly dampened. Zhou Chang witnessed this scene from the south city wall at the time.

At this moment, Magistrate Zhou was still on the city wall comforting the still-shaken guards, but his gaze was involuntarily fixed on the tree-covered hill in the southwest.

Shushan Camp was originally built for defending the city. Although the terrain it chose was good, its scale was small. The camp could not accommodate nearly three thousand people, including the infantry and cavalry of Chang Yuchun and Feng Guosheng, plus prisoners.

After the rain stopped, the soldiers of the Red Flag Battalion began to expand the Shushan Camp.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

Zhou Chang was not from a military background, but in the past two years, he had led the people of Lujiang to repeatedly repel the invading "Peng Zu family", and was already familiar with military affairs.

He not only recognized Chang Yuchun's banner, but also knew that his troops had been soaked in mud and water for several days and had to rebuild their camp. Logically, they should be quite resentful.

The distance was too great for Zhou Chang to see the expressions of the Red Flag Battalion soldiers clearly, but he could clearly see the scene of camp construction:

Digging trenches, building earthen walls, moving timber... each task was clearly defined, the movements were swift, and the advance and retreat were orderly. The progress of the entire camp construction was not much slower than when they had just arrived at the city of Lujiang and their morale was high.

In contrast, the "Peng Zu family" refugee army, which he had twice defeated, lacked this formidable tenacity and organization. They were more like a mob that had gathered together, and once the war dragged on and the siege was thwarted, their morale would visibly and rapidly decline, ultimately leaving them with no choice but to retreat.

Thinking of this, a shadow fell over Zhou Chang's heart.

"Report——!"

A junior officer rushed to the south city wall, knelt on one knee, and his voice carried a hint of barely perceptible fear.

"Reporting to Your Excellency! Commander Chen is back! He's...he's waiting at the Gongdou Gate!"

When the remnants of the cavalry fled back, the small camp at Shushan had not yet fallen. However, no battle broke out in the camp afterward. Zhou Chang guessed at the time that Chen Tong had probably surrendered or been captured. Now that he heard that Chen Tong had appeared at the North Gate, his guess was confirmed.

A surge of anger at being betrayed and a deeper sense of unease welled up within him. Zhou Chang whirled around, his face so dark it could drip water, his tone icy and chilling:
"Why did he come back?!"

The junior officer who brought the message trembled at Zhou Chang's expression, lowered his head even further, and stammered:

"They said...they said they wanted to see the Master...to report something important..."

"Humph!"

Zhou Chang let out a cold snort, his gaze sharp as a knife, and said coldly:

"If Chen Tong had fought bravely and resisted, protecting his remaining troops as they retreated to the city walls, I would have naturally opened the city gates to welcome him. But the small camp at Shushan had not heard any drums or gongs, and its flags had changed hands in an instant. Now he has appeared alone at Gongdou Gate. What else could he be but a surrendered traitor?!"

Why see him?! Considering his past service in defending the city, let him leave immediately! Otherwise…”

Zhou Chang abruptly flicked his sleeve and turned back to face the direction of Shushan, not wanting his subordinates to see the wavering and panic in his eyes.

"If he doesn't leave, shoot him to death with a hail of arrows!" The last few words were filled with chilling murderous intent.

Pfft!
No sooner had Zhou Chang finished speaking than he heard the sound of knees slamming heavily onto the city bricks behind him. Immediately afterward, a series of thuds followed. A dozen or so mid- to low-ranking officers and surrounding guards had fallen to their knees.

"Please have mercy, Your Excellency!"

"Commander Chen fought bravely against the enemy army; if not—he had no other choice!"

"Please, Your Honor, show leniency!"
Chen Tong was capable of leading the defense of Shushan Camp independently. His ability and loyalty were evident to all the soldiers. The previous defeat, which led to the loss of the camp, had a huge psychological impact on everyone.

Honestly, if I were in that desperate situation, facing the enemy cavalry's reckless fighting style, how much better could I have done than Chen Tong?

The rabbit mourns the fox's death; animals grieve for their own kind!
Although the performance of the Lujiang garrison was far superior to that of the garrison in Wuwei and Chaoxian, the Red Flag Battalion and the "Peng Zu Family" were clearly different. No one could guarantee that they would not be defeated by such an enemy. This kneeling was both to plead for Chen Tong and to leave themselves a way out.

Zhou Chang, with his back to everyone, stiffened slightly.

With the fall of Shushan Camp, the battle was already in jeopardy. The enemy sent Chen Tong back to shake the morale of the troops. If the generals and soldiers had no will to defend to the death, how could Zhou Chang alone turn the tide?
A wave of exhaustion and powerlessness washed over him. Zhou Chang slowly turned around, looking at his subordinates kneeling on the ground with a complex expression. Finally, it turned into a heavy sigh.

"All of you... rise. I will go and see what our 'Commander Chen' has to say."

After saying that, Zhou Chang stopped looking at the crowd and walked heavily toward the north city wall.

Beneath the arched gate.

When Chen Tong saw that a crenellation barrier on the city wall had been opened and Zhou Chang's figure appeared behind it, his heart tightened and he immediately knelt down.

"The criminal Chen Tong pays his respects to Your Excellency!"

Zhou Chang looked down at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure below the city, his eyes cold and his tone devoid of any warmth.

"Chen Tong! I have already shown leniency by not pursuing your responsibility for the loss of Shushan, and I will not make things difficult for your family, considering your past merits. Do not make things difficult for me, and leave immediately! Otherwise, military law will not be merciful!"

At this point, Chen Tong had no way out. His eyes held a resolute determination to go all out, and his voice was both sorrowful and loud.

"My lord! This humble general has endured humiliation and risked his life to return to the city, not for the safety of his own family. But for the lives of all the soldiers and civilians of Lujiang. Shushan has fallen, and we are surrounded by powerful enemies. To fight is to perish together, to surrender is to preserve our homeland..."

When Zhou Chang saw that Chen Tong had indeed come to persuade him to surrender, his expression changed drastically. Enraged, he shouted in a stern voice:
"Shut up! You shameless traitor, how dare you spread such heresy and mislead the public! Fire arrows! Shoot this rebellious traitor to death!"

The county magistrate, Zhou, was highly respected. Several guards instinctively drew their bows and nocked arrows. The bowstrings twanged, and several arrows shot down with a whooshing sound, but the arrows landed obliquely in the mud three or four feet in front of Chen Tong.

These arrows shattered Zhou Chang's illusions—the morale of the army had truly collapsed!

Chen Tong looked at the arrows trembling in front of him. Instead of fear, he was aroused and stood up abruptly. He ripped open his mud-stained clothes, revealing his scarred and muscular chest.

There were over a dozen scars—knife marks, gunshot wounds, arrow wounds—a mix of old and new. Each scar was a testament to the blood shed for Lujiang!
Chen Tong stood tall and proud, pointing to his scarred chest, his voice booming, each word dripping with emotion:

"In the past two years, I, Chen, have risked my life to defend Lujiang, and have sustained fifteen wounds! My lord, my comrades, open your eyes and see if there is any scar on my back!!"
"You want to shoot me, Chen? Fine! Shoot here! Shoot at this chest that has suffered fifteen wounds. I, Chen, will die here today beneath this arched gate, but I will die with honor. I will let the entire city's soldiers and civilians see that my spine is straight!"

A deathly silence fell over the city walls. Only the mournful sound of the wind whistling through the battlements could be heard. The guard who had just drawn his bow was filled with shame and silently put it away. Many others, looking at Chen Tong's battle-worn chest, had reddened eyes and their hands trembling slightly as they held their weapons.

The will of the people cannot be defied!

Those few weak and feeble arrows just now revealed the thoughts of the defending soldiers. Zhou Chang was ultimately not a cruel official like Dong Yukun who established his authority through torture. If the men did not have the will to fight to the death, he would not use even more ruthless methods to forcibly suppress and intimidate them.

A profound sense of powerlessness and resignation to reality ultimately overwhelmed his anger. Zhou Chang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and seemed to age several years in an instant. He waved his hand, his voice weary and hoarse:
"Bring him up."

Before long, Chen Tong was tied to a basket with a rope and hoisted onto the city wall. Once his feet were firmly planted on the solid bricks, he looked around and saw the complex, unspoken gazes of his comrades—a mixture of sympathy, shame, avoidance, and a hint of relief.

"Say what you want to say right here."

Zhou Chang's voice returned to calm, but beneath that calm lay a bottomless weariness and helplessness.

Chen Tong had just played the role of a tough guy at the city gates, but now, under the watchful eyes of everyone, facing Zhou Chang and many of his former comrades, the prepared words of persuasion to surrender were stuck in his throat like a fishbone, and he couldn't utter a single word.

He knew that saying more at this moment would only make him seem hypocritical and petty. After a moment of silence, Chen Tong reached into his pocket and carefully pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper that was slightly damp with sweat.

"My lord, Marshal Shi has instructed me to personally deliver this item to you for your perusal."

Zhou Chang frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

A guard stepped forward, took the paper, and respectfully presented it to him.

Zhou Chang unfolded the paper, but instead of the expected letter urging surrender, it contained a meticulously drawn diagram of a siege weapon, with the words "Lu Gongche Sketch" at the beginning.

With just one glance, Zhou Chang's face turned deathly pale as he recognized it as an improved design of the ancient siege weapon, the "Lu Gong Chariot."

This structure is several meters tall, divided into several layers, and contains powerful bows, crossbows, and elite armored soldiers. It is covered with raw cowhide for fire protection and is propelled by giant wheels to approach the city wall. The armored soldiers on top can directly leap onto the city wall to fight.

Lujiang, on the other hand, has relatively low city walls and no wide moat. Once the Red Flag Battalion builds such a weapon, how can the city walls withstand it with their superior numbers?

He certainly knew that he could use fire to attack, or hastily manufacture weapons such as battering rams and yakshas to destroy Lü Gong's chariot.

However, the fact that Shishan dared to let Chen Tong openly hand over the design blueprints of this siege weapon meant that the other party was prepared for this and must have a backup plan to counter these destructive methods.

To put it bluntly, at this point in the war, it's all about the hard power and morale of both sides.

The Red Flag Battalion's fighting prowess was on full display in today's battle, far surpassing that of the Lujiang Army. Shi Shan, in particular, is a master of psychological warfare; from Chen Tong's appearance to this blueprint, every move is meticulously planned and executed.

Previously, the only thing that could limit the Red Flag Battalion's all-out attack on the city was the continuous rain and the muddy ground.

Now, the rain has stopped and the sky has cleared.

The soil dries and hardens rapidly under the sun; time is running out for Lujiang!
Zhou Chang's gaze slowly swept across the city wall. Although the guards were still holding their weapons, the fear and confusion in their eyes were clearly visible.

Then he considered that the Red Flag Battalion's reputation for "not looting the markets after breaching a city" had already spread throughout the Jianghuai region. If he were to use the slogan "The rebels are brutal; they leave no one alive after breaching the city" to inspire the soldiers and civilians to defend to the death, who would believe him?
What was the point of resisting the Red Flag Battalion? Was it for the sake of the city's people? For the Yuan Dynasty? For the emperor, who was thousands of miles away and preoccupied with his own problems? Or was it for his own illusory reputation?
Zhou Chang, trembling, carefully folded the sketch of Lü Gongche, which weighed over a thousand pounds, and tucked it into his sleeve. He raised his head, looked at the continuous camps of the Red Flag Camp outside the city, thought of the camp being expanded on Shushan Mountain, and finally his gaze fell back on Chen Tong's face, his voice low.

"What else did Marshal Shi... say?"

Chen Tong's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. He knew that this mission, which had been fraught with danger, had been accomplished! Suppressing his excitement, he quickly stated the conditions for surrender offered by Shi Shan.

"Marshal Shi personally promised: Your Excellency, you will remain the magistrate of Lujiang County! The troops in the city must accept the reorganization of the Red Flag Battalion. Those who wish to stay can stay, and those who wish to leave will be provided with travel expenses! The people of Lujiang will be exempt from regular taxes, and all livelihoods and industries will remain unchanged. The Red Flag Battalion only seeks to protect the territory and its people, and share in peace!"

Zhou Chang astutely realized that Shi Shan had not promised to guarantee the safety of the other officials, but he couldn't possibly push his luck and ask for more. He turned his back to the crowd and looked at the people in the city who were craning their necks to look up at the city walls.

After a long while, a sigh slowly echoed across the silent city walls.

"Ugh……"

At 3:45 PM, accompanied by the sickening sound of a huge winch turning, the Gongdoumen city gate slowly opened inward.

Zhou Chang, the magistrate of Lujiang County, removed his official robes, leaving only a plain dark-colored casual suit. With a solemn expression and heavy steps, he led the civil and military officials, elders, and gentry of the city, step by step, out of the city gate and onto the open ground outside the city.

Under the silent gaze of thousands of Red Flag Battalion soldiers, Zhou Chang straightened his clothes and knelt down deeply before the fluttering "Stone" banner and the stone mountain sitting atop his horse.

"The convicted official Zhou Chang, the magistrate of Lujiang County, leads all the officials and people of the city to respectfully welcome the royal army into the city!"

(End of this chapter)