Chapter 540: Give it a try! (Thanks to book friend Zhuang Qingyu for the reward!)

In addition to reporting the course of the war to Ye Mingsheng, Guo Zhiping also reported to Ye Mingsheng some information about Yuyang. Although the Gu family wanted to cooperate with Ma Hongye and others in the early stage, after being warned, they behaved very honestly and did not do anything out of line. Therefore, the means Guo Zhiping prepared to deal with them were not used...
Not only that, after receiving the news that Bujiha's 10,000 Luobei cavalry were completely wiped out and Bujiha was killed, the Gu family also took the initiative to cooperate with the Fengwu Army and handed over Ma Hongye and his followers who escaped in the chaos to the Fengwu Army. They also organized the gentry of Yuyang to comfort the soldiers of the Third Division and gave them some pigs, sheep, fish, chickens and other things.

Seeing this, a gleam of light flashed in Ye Mingsheng's eyes. Naturally, those little tricks of the Gu family did not escape his eyes. Although he was very disappointed with the Gu family and Gu Zhongshi, since they were able to stop from falling, Ye Mingsheng could just punish one or two this time and make a decision based on their performance later.

After all, Ye Mingsheng's goal this time is to eliminate the interest groups represented by the Ma family, rather than declaring war on the entire Youyan gentry class, so it is important to pull one to fight one. Now Ye Mingsheng needs a stable Youyan that can provide him with constant help in his fight for hegemony!
Putting down Guo Zhiping's memorial, Ye Mingsheng picked up the memorial on the battle of Shunping. Like Guo Zhiping, the battle report of Shunping was also written to Ye Mingsheng by Gu Shouting himself. In the report, Gu Shouting stated that the battle of Shunping was progressing smoothly and the results were brilliant. At present, Shunping City had been captured, and more than 5,000 people including Yan army general Zhao Su were captured. The Fengwu Army only suffered more than 2,000 casualties.

Seeing that Shunping had been lost and the Fengwu Army was approaching Xinle, Xinle's defender Liu Shi became afraid and did not dare to fight with the Fengwu Army. He led the main force of more than 3,000 people to flee south, leaving only a few hundred people to guard Xinle. The Fengwu Army took over Xinle and took the two cities that the Yan Army planned to defend Zhuo County into their pockets. At present, Shunping and Xinle have restored their past order, and everything is proceeding in an orderly manner...
After scanning Gu Shouting's battle report, Ye Mingsheng showed a smile on his face. After taking Shunping and Xinle cities, the Yan army's old nest Zhuo County would be indefensible. The Fengwu army could reach Zhuo County directly. Ye Mingsheng originally planned that after the autumn harvest, when the Fengwu army had recuperated, they would march south to completely annihilate the participating Yan troops. But now it seems that the plan should be brought forward!
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Just as Ye Mingsheng was reading one victory report after another in his study, thousands of miles away in the Yan Army Governor's Mansion in Zhuo County, all the important officials of the Yan Army were present. The Youyan Governor Zhao Fuqu was in the high position, but a young man was kneeling in the hall. The atmosphere in the room was very solemn and negative.

Looking at Liu Shi kneeling in the hall, Zhao Fuqu snorted coldly and said angrily:
"Liu Shi, do you still have the nerve to come back?"

"I heard that as soon as the Fengwu Army arrived in Xinle, you led the main force to abandon the city and flee? Where did your courage in the bloody battle in Yunbing go? Were you scared away by the Fengwu Army? Are the Fengwu Army monsters with three heads and six arms that turned you into a coward?"

Zhao Fuqu was filled with grief and indignation when he said this. He felt very disappointed with the young man. The Liu Shi in front of him was originally just a captain. When Zhao Fuqu was fighting in Yunbing, he saw that this young man was brave and daring in fighting, and he looked like him when he killed the Luobi people on the border. So he went against all odds and promoted Liu Shi to the commander of thousands of people.

Zhao Fuqu arranged for him to be stationed in Xinle this time, and he had high hopes for this young man whom he had promoted. He hoped that Liu Shi could continue to display his fighting spirit and teach the Fengwu Army a severe lesson in Xinle, boost the morale of the Yan Army which had suffered successive defeats, and also bring honor to Zhao Fuqu himself.

However, although the idea is good, the reality is often not what one wants. Liu Shi, who led the army to flee south, not only did not bring him honor, but also made Zhao Fuqu lose face...

Feeling the tremendous anger in Zhao Fuqu's words, although Liu Shi had expected it, when it really came to this, he couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart. He knew very well that if he couldn't defend himself well, he would definitely not escape death today!
Liu Shi took a deep breath, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed three times to Zhao Fuqu.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Liu Shi knocked his head very hard, and his forehead was bloody. After doing this, Liu Shi clasped his fists towards Zhao Fuqu and said sincerely:

"Liu Shi knows very well that what he has done is a grave sin and has disappointed the Marshal, but please give me a chance to speak. After I have finished speaking, I will kill or chop me up at your will!"

Although he was very disappointed with Liu Shi and wanted to execute him immediately and use his head to warn the Yan army, seeing that Liu Shi was very sincere, Zhao Fuqu hesitated for a moment and decided to give him a chance. He then said:
"Go ahead! I want to see what you, a deserter, have to say!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shi said:

"Thank you very much, Marshal. Liu Shi is very grateful!"

"General, judging from the terrain, Xinle and Shunping are mutually supportive. The advantage of this is that if one city is attacked, the other can respond, tying down the enemy's forces and blocking their food supply. But at the same time, this also means that if one city is lost, it will be difficult to save the other city!"

"Marshal, Xinle is different from Shunping. Xinle is just a small city with a population of just over 10,000. The city has been in disrepair for a long time and its fortifications are aging. When there were bandits two years ago, the bandits even broke into the city..."

"Shunping has been lost. The Fengwu Army has tens of thousands of troops approaching the city. They are carrying heavy weapons such as the Red Cannon. With our mere 3,000 troops, it is meaningless to defend Xinle. We will be wiped out in less than a day!"

"I did escape from Xinle, but it was not because I was afraid of death. I would never be able to repay the Marshal's kindness. A mere Fengwu Army is nothing, but Liu Shi does not want to die in vain and lead his soldiers to fight a battle that is bound to be lost!"

After Liu Shi finished speaking, Zhao Fuqu snorted again and asked:
"According to what you said, you led your troops to abandon Xinle, and you did a good job in preserving your strength? Did I misunderstand you?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shi cupped his hands and said:

"Even though I want to preserve my strength and take the overall situation into consideration, as a general, fleeing without fighting is an unforgivable crime. But I would like to ask you not to kill me and dirty your sword. Put me in the Death Squad and let me kill a few more Fengwu Army thieves for you before I die!"

Listening to Liu Shi's words, although Zhao Fuqu still had a sullen face, there was some movement in his eyes. At this point, killing Liu Shi or not was a small matter. His prestige in the army was a big deal!

He was the one who promoted Liu Shi. Killing Liu Shi now would mean that Zhao Fuqu admitted that he had problems in judging people. At a time when the Yan army was in turmoil, this would undoubtedly be another major blow to his prestige!

Now, although it would be shameful to spare Liu Shi’s life, at least a trace of dignity would be retained and it wouldn’t be too embarrassing...

Huang Wen Ze, who was standing nearby, noticed the change in Zhao Fuqu's expression and immediately understood what he was thinking. Without Zhao Fuqu saying anything, he took the initiative to step forward and said:
"General, in my opinion, although Liu Shi fled without a fight, he had reasons for it and he was not cowardly. At present, the Fengwu Army has not changed its wolfish ambitions and is eyeing our army covetously. They may attack Zhuo County at any time. Our army is in need of manpower, so it is better to spare Liu Shi's life for the time being and let him die on the battlefield to be loyal to you!"

Seeing Huang Wen Ze, the strategist, speaking, other generals and officials also echoed him. Seeing that he had a way out, Zhao Fuqu also took advantage of the situation and snorted coldly, saying:
"Liu Shi, you lost Xinle and fled without fighting. This should be a capital crime, but considering your past achievements and the generals' pleas for mercy, I will spare your life for now. You will be assigned to the Death Squad as its sentry leader. If you dare to do such a shameful thing that humiliates the reputation of our Yan Army again, your entire family will be executed and there will be no mercy!" Liu Shi, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly became serious when he heard this. He knew that Zhao Fuqu was serious, and he nodded heavily and said:

"I will repay the Marshal's kindness with my death!"

After resolving Liu Shi’s issue, Zhao Fuqu ended the meeting, leaving Huang Wen Ze alone by his side...

In front of Huang Wen Ze, his trusted adviser who had been through thick and thin for decades, Zhao Fuqu finally took off some of his mask as a military strongman, revealed a trace of fatigue, and asked Huang Wen Ze:
"Wen Ze, what do you think of the current situation?"

Facing Zhao Fuqu's question, Huang Wen Ze fell silent. It was not that he had no idea, but he could not bear to tell Zhao Fuqu in person how dangerous the Yan army was now. But even if Huang Wen Ze did not say it, how could Zhao Fuqu not know it? He patted Huang Wen Ze on the shoulder and said:

"I plan to fight the Fengwu Army and that little bastard Ye Mingsheng!"

Huang Wen Ze looked at Zhao Fuqu in surprise when he heard this, while Zhao Fuqu said to himself:

"I can see clearly now that Gao Zongchang and Cao Changping are totally unreliable. It's just a dream to count on them!"

“Cao Changping is now determined to go south. Ye Mingsheng sent a special envoy to meet him a few days ago. It is said that the two of them had a very good talk. He and the Fengwu Army seem to be willing to swear a blood pact of non-aggression. The Fengwu Army also wants to sell him a batch of firearms. Cao Changping, this idiot, doesn’t even look at what happened to the last person who bought firearms from the Fengwu Army…”

At this point, Zhao Fuqu showed a self-deprecating smile, and then continued:

"Cao Changping is now fighting fiercely with Ye Mingsheng. It is impossible to expect him to help us. Gao Zongchang is stronger than him. He has given us some money and food intermittently, but he has no intention of helping us to fight Ye Mingsheng. He just wants us to be his watchdogs in Hebei and Henan, and a buffer zone between him and the Fengwu Army. It is impossible to expect him to send troops to participate in the war directly!"

After he finished speaking, Zhao Fuqu looked at Huang Wen Ze and said earnestly:
"Wen Ze, the only ones who can save us are ourselves!"

Hearing what Zhao Fuqu said, Huang Wenzhe, who had previously advocated the formation of an anti-Feng alliance, immediately trembled and knelt on the ground and said:
"Marshal, I am not doing my job well!"

Zhao Fuqu shook his head and helped Huang Wen Ze up personally and said:
"I know it's not your fault. Wen Ze, you have tried your best. If you hadn't gotten the money and food from Gao Zongchang, we wouldn't have been able to hold on until now and maintain the current size of our army!"

Huang Wen Ze felt relieved after hearing this, but he still quickly said:
"This is all due to the Marshal's good leadership. I dare not take credit for it!"

Zhao Fuqu smiled and shook his head when he heard this, but he did not continue to dwell on this issue. Instead, he sighed and said leisurely:

“This little bastard Ye Mingsheng is really a ruthless character. He did something that I have always wanted to do but never dared to do. Just based on this point of view, he is indeed better than me…”

Although Zhao Fuqu did not say what it was, Huang Wenzhe understood Zhao Fuqu's thoughts and said consolingly:

"Marshal, you came from Youyan, and your interests are too deeply entangled with theirs. If you use force, you will kill one thousand enemies and lose eight hundred of your own. Ye Mingsheng came from Liaoyang, and he doesn't have this burden, so he can do it drastically. If you switch places, Marshal, you can do better than him!"

Although he knew that Huang Wen Ze was taking pictures of his horse, Zhao Fuqu was still very happy with Huang Wen Ze's words, and his originally lonely mood was relieved a lot.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhao Fuqu raised his head and said to Huang Wen Ze very calmly:

"I have decided that instead of passively waiting for the Fengwu Army to attack, I might as well take the opportunity to attack them and fight to the death while I still have troops at hand! Even if I fail, I will let the heroes of the world see that although I, Zhao Fuqu, am old, I am not a coward!"

As soon as Huang Wen Ze said this, he wanted to open his mouth to admonish him, but before he could open his mouth, he was stopped by Zhao Fuqu and continued:

"I know you don't think highly of my decision, Wen Ze, but there is no other way now. The few territories in southern Youyan alone cannot support so many soldiers and horses we have now. Moreover, Shunping and Xinle have been lost. Without the barrier, the cavalry of the Fengwu Army can directly charge into our hinterland and interfere with our tax collection."

In addition, there is a peasant uprising in Hebei and Henan. If nothing unexpected happens, Emperor Gaozongchang will not provide us with money and grain support. He will definitely reduce the amount of support or even stop supporting us..."

(End of this chapter)