Chapter 348: Take All
Effortlessly, three villages, Wulibao, Shilibao, and Elliu, were surrendered. Zhao Zhenzheng was planning to make a go of it and make a forced landing in the other four towns. After hearing what Shi Kuo said, he didn't care. After all, with the troops and horses in hand, taking over these villages and towns is a sure thing.
Shi Kuo and Shi Yue were still asked to lead Xiang Yong to open the way, and Liu Mu also followed them. Zhao Zhen and his party rushed towards the nearest Xiaoxuzhuang.
On the road, he only heard the sound of cannons. Zhao Zhen stopped his horse and looked at the place where the sound of cannons came from. Summoning Shi Kuo and three other people over for questioning, Shi Kuo said: "Listen to this sound, I'm afraid it's the direction of the town."
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen asked the sergeant to speed up his pace. At the same time, he asked Lu Fang and Guo Sheng to People went to investigate.
After hearing this, the two led their cavalry troops, bypassing Xiaoxuzhuang and heading towards Jingmen Town.
Small Xuzhuang, like Elliuzhuang, also closed its gates. The village heroes each held their simple knives and five-pronged forks to keep the guests in. Under the leadership of Xu Qing, the son of Li Zheng Xu Tan, Guard the village.
Shi Kuo stepped forward to talk. As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Xu Qing from the village standing on the wall and shouting: "Shi Kuo, you are also an ally with blood and vowed to work together to protect the village. How are you doing today?" Are you trying to attract outsiders to attack me here?"
Shi Kuo was ashamed, and Shi Yue shouted: "Xu Qing, the smell of milk in your mouth has not subsided, and the hair on your head is still there. Your father Xu Tan has not yet died. Death, when will it be your turn to make the decision, Xiaoxuzhuang?"
Guang Hui said to Zhao Zhen on the horse, "Sir, have you seen that Xu Qing is not wearing any armor? Speaking of which, it’s better to ask the Shi brothers.”
Zhao Zhen sent people to the front to call Shi Kuo and ask him. Shi Kuo said: "General, at first the Zhang, Qi, Sun, and Wei families here formed a blood alliance to protect the countryside. Later, the Xu, Liu, and Shi families moved over, took root, and joined in. The last person from my family came here. It's late, although there are many people, the village has only been established for two generations, and some situations are unknown. Brother Liu Mu may know."
Zhao Zhen nodded and called Liu Mu. Liu Mu listened to Zhao Zhen's question. He replied: "General, there is a kinsman in the Xu family. I heard he is a great figure, called [Four-legged Snake] Xu Jing. He once killed officials and fell into bandits, and was later recruited. He has made many military exploits. His official position is the highest in the Taiyuan Festival." Du Shi. This Xu Qing went out a few years ago and heard that he had joined this distant relative. He just came back a few days ago and heard that he had learned martial arts, but he didn't know whether it was true or not."
Zhao Zhen felt relieved after hearing this. The tone, after all, Xu Qing had not come back at that time, it was not because the spy was not doing his best.
Zhao Zhen said to Liu Mu: "You are like this, so you inspire Xu Qing to come out to fight."
After hearing this, Liu Mu quickly agreed, stepped forward and shouted: " Nephew Xu, the general heard that you have learned martial arts and come back, why don't you come out and have a fight. If your nephew wins, the general promises to turn around and leave. If your nephew loses, Xiaoxuzhuang will be surrendered. This will save you trouble. Even if the evildoer is killed, the villagers can still be saved. What does the wise nephew think?”
After Xu Qing heard this, he was about to come out to fight. Xu Tan quickly comforted him: "Dalang, who are these people outside? How can they get out so easily?" , but it makes sense. Look at the soldiers outside, they are fully armored and have high morale. If they really want to attack the village, how can the ten-foot-high earth wall here block it? My son learned this method of marksmanship from his uncle. Twenty people can't get close, so it's better to take this opportunity to go out and test his strength. If it's a wine bag and rice bag, I'll kill him with one shot, which will also demoralize him. I can also defend the village and wait for Qi Qi. Gai and Wei Zhuang came to the rescue and cooperated internally and externally to defeat this group of soldiers."
Xu Tan said with a worried look on his face: "My son, be careful."
As he said this, he asked people to open it. At the village gate, Xu Qing got on his horse, held up his gun and walked out of the village gate. The villagers quickly closed the village gate.
Xu Qing shouted: "Whoever comes here to die."
Guanghui laughed, pulled out a pair of swords, and stepped forward. Here, Hu Sanniang had already kicked her horse and ran out of the formation. She suddenly moved her horse forward, raised the sun and moon swords in her hands, and went out to meet the enemy.
When Xu Qing saw it, he suddenly felt contempt and shouted: "A woman who doesn't care for her husband and raise her children at home dares to fight in battle."
Hu Sanniang was angry and didn't say anything to her. , went straight to Xu Qing. When Xu Qing saw her, he also came to fight Hu Sanniang, dancing with his horse and spear.
One is skilled with two swords, and the other is outstanding with a single gun. The two fought for seven or eight times. When Zhao Zhen looked on the horse, he smiled and saw that Xu Qing had messed up his shooting skills and had to put up a barrier.
After another three rounds of fighting, Hu Sanniang heard a loud shout and slashed at Xu Qing's right arm with a knife. Xu Qing was unable to fire back, so he had to abandon the gun and shrink back. The two of them passed by each other. Hu Sanniang's sword was turned backwards, and she struck Xu Qing on the back. Xu Qing was knocked off his horse without looking at him, and he rode back to the formation.
"Official, I'm lucky to have lived up to my command."
There was thunderous cheers here in Zhao Zhen, and here in Xiaoxuzhuang, Xu Tan saw that his son had lost, so he quickly had someone open the door of the village, and with twenty or thirty people, came forward to help him. Starting from Xu Qing. Xu Tan said: "Dalang, are you injured?" Xu Qing's face turned red and white, he looked at Zhao Zhen and sighed: "Dad, it's because I'm not good at studying. Now I'm afraid I can only surrender." "
Xu Tan said: "Then surrender. It is better to protect the countryside."
As he said that, the father and son walked to Zhao Zhen's army. , fell to his knees.
Shi Kuo and Liu Mu received Zhao Zhen's signal and led them forward to pay homage. Xu Tan said: "The heavenly soldiers are here and have spoken disrespectfully. I pray for the general's forgiveness. I am willing to donate my family wealth and reward the soldiers."
Zhao Zhen said: "Get up, you will be useful later."
After that, let Shi Kuo lead the way and continue to Wei Zhuang in the northwest.
Half way, I met Lu Fang and Guo Sheng leading their own cavalry army. They met Zhao Zhen and reported: "Officials, Zhang Gai, Qi Gai, Sunzhuang and Weizhuang have been captured. "
Zhao Zhen asked: "Instructor Lin is full of horse troops, how can he capture these four villages so quickly? "
Guo Sheng said: "The sound of the cannon just now was indeed fired by the Zhang and Qi families. These guys didn't know whether to live or die. They actually summoned the village warriors and villagers to form a formation outside the town. Coach Lin defeated this group of village warriors with just one charge. In the formation, Qi Teng and Zhang Gai, as well as the instructors Qi Zhen and Zhang Kui, killed sixty or seventy people and captured nearly a hundred. The Luan Tingfang brothers encountered Sunzhuang Xiangyong who was leading troops to help, and they were killed and dispersed. Qi Teng and Zhang Gai surrendered Sunzhuang and Weizhuang."
Zhao Zhen was very happy after hearing this.
Ling Zhen, who came with him, said: "It's a pity that I brought a lot of artillery, and we won without firing a single shot."
Lu Zhishen also said: "The Zen staff of the Sa family has not yet become profitable."
The crowd joked and urged the sergeant to go to the town where Zhang Gai and Qi Gai were.
In the town, the mansion where Qi Teng lives is the best built, with good materials and spacious space. When Zhao Zhen arrived, Zhu Wu had imprisoned all the immediate family members of Qi and Zhang, and the house where Qi Teng lived was also tidied up.
The camp was set up outside the town, the sergeants were settled, pigeon messages were sent, and Guanghui was left to guard the army. Zhu Wu led Zhao Zhen and others into Qi's mansion in the town.
Zhao Zhen first praised Lin Chong and others, and Lin Chong continued: "They are all stupid villagers with no knowledge. When they saw the horse army, they did not want to defend the city and dared to go out to fight. Those two The coaches Qi Zhen and Zhang Kui are quite capable, so they injured two good horses."
Zhao Zhen said: "There is no one who can win completely in the battle."
Zhu Wudao: "How will Zhang and Qi be settled as officials?"
Zhao Zhen said: "The leading families are sent to Liangshan County for forced labor, the strong men are sent to the coal mines, and the rest are sent to prison cells to grind rice. If there are sergeants who have made meritorious service, and if there are women they like, they can also be rewarded. The rest of the farmers, If there are no serious crimes, they are all forgiven."
Zhao Zhen said this not only to Zhu Wu, but also to Shi Kuo, Shi Yue, Liu Mu, Xu Tan and his son, as well as Sun Guang and Wei in the hall. Safe for two people. After all, we have to clear out the land and population later, so these few people don't have to be afraid, for fear of causing trouble.
Shi Kuo and others looked at each other and lowered their heads.
Zhao Zhen said: "I have sent out a pigeon message. Tomorrow the two brothers Xiao Rang and Pei Xuan will bring people to count the population and land. In the past few days, the brothers have separately led the sergeants to protect them. However, if there is any obstruction, lightly The punishment will be hard labor, or even beheading, as a warning to others. If you violate the rules, don't blame me for being rude."
The people listened and did not dare to say anything.
(End of this chapter)