Chapter 924 Explosive news!
On May 13th, at night in the Fengwu Army camp.

Today is the fifth day since the Fengwu Army began to attack the city. Since the Fengwu Army adopted the method of digging the earth to advance, although the progress is not very fast, as of today, the trench has only been dug to within a hundred steps of Weiguan City, but the effect is very good························
The trenches effectively offset many arrows and bullets fired from the Wei Pass city walls, reducing the number of casualties of the Fengwu Army during the siege. This undoubtedly further strengthened the Fengwu Army's confidence in continuing to implement this strategy.

At this time, in the central camp of the Fengwu Army, Lieutenant General Zheng Chuang smiled and reported to Yuan Song:

"Sir, the propaganda team's performance was very successful. The soldiers' faith in the Fengwu Army has been greatly strengthened. They all shouted that they wanted to serve the Marshal, serve the Fengwu Army, and capture Wei Pass for the Marshal!
"Also, everyone is discussing how to spend their reward silver. They are all afraid that the silver they worked so hard to get will be wasted. Some brothers even want to keep the silver in the Dadongsheng Company!"

Hearing this, Yuan Song nodded calmly. Although he didn't know how Ye Mingsheng came up with this trick, Yuan Song had to admit that this trick was very effective.

The dramas performed by those propaganda teams were very eye-catching, and the scene at the end of the drama where the Fengwu Army solved the problem for the soldiers was very popular. Many people were even moved to tears, and the cohesion of the troops was also strengthened.

To be honest, as the commander-in-chief of the Fengwu Army's Western Expedition, Yuan Song was a little worried at the beginning about the propaganda teams sent by his superiors and the new reward and pension plan, fearing that these would shake the morale of the army and affect the Fengwu Army's attack on Wei Pass.

Despite such concerns, Yuan Song also had some understanding of the financial situation of the Fengwu Army. He knew that if the Fengwu Army did not cut spending now, it would not be able to increase investment and send more soldiers to the front line, so he chose to acquiesce, secretly hoping that the propaganda would be successful.

Although the new reward and pension plan has not yet been officially announced in the military for frontline soldiers to choose from, judging from the effect of the current publicity, all of Yuan Song’s doubts have been eliminated.

Yuan Song believed that after the new plan was launched in a few days, the soldiers of the Fengwu Army would sign up enthusiastically and express their support for the Fengwu Army with practical actions.

While Yuan Song and Zheng Chuang were discussing something, the guard came over and reported:

"Sir! General Ye Tao of the Eighth Division has important matters to report!"

Yuan Song was a little confused when he heard this. He wondered what important matter Ye Tao had to report so late at night, but he still nodded and signaled the guard to let Ye Tao in.

A moment later, Ye Tao walked into the tent. As soon as he entered the tent, he wanted to say something. However, when he saw the Lieutenant General Zheng Chuang in the tent, a hint of hesitation emerged in his expression, and he didn’t know whether he should say it or not...

Seeing this, Zheng Chuang felt a little unhappy, but he still bowed to Yuan Song tactfully and walked out of the tent. After Zheng Chuang left, Ye Tao immediately began to preach:
"Master Yuan, we have captured an enemy soldier. He claims to be Yang Dafu and is the guard of Tang Peng, the deputy governor of Weiguan. He climbed down the wall of Weiguan along a rope to contact our army on behalf of Tang Peng!"

Yuan Song was shocked when he heard this. No wonder Ye Tao wanted Zheng Chuang to leave before telling him. Such news was indeed very confidential!
After a pause, Yuan Song asked Ye Tao:
"Does this person have any evidence to prove that he is Tang Peng's bodyguard?"

Ye Tao immediately took out a token with the word "Tang" engraved on the front and the three words "Yang Dafu" engraved on the north, handed it to Yuan Song with both hands and said:
"This is what we found from this person! He said this is his proof of being Tang Peng's bodyguard!"

After taking the iron plate, Yuan Song also looked at it. He had been in the imperial guards for many years and naturally had seen Tang Peng.

However, Tang Peng was the son of the Duke of Chu at that time, and he was just a small sentry leader, so the two of them did not have much communication. Therefore, Yuan Song did not know whether this iron plate was the proof of Tang Peng's guarding.

However, just looking at this token, it still looks quite authentic. The style is quite exquisite and the casting is quite standard. Seeing Yuan Song holding the iron plate without saying anything, Ye Tao couldn't help but suggest:
“Sir, that man only said that he came here to report something important to you on the orders of Tang Peng, but no matter how I pressed him, he wouldn’t say what he was going to report. He insisted that he could only report it to you, sir. So, do you want to meet him…”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Song also felt that it was better to believe it than not. After all, Tang Peng was the deputy governor of Wei Guan. He sent people to contact him most likely to surrender. Although he didn't know why Tang Peng did this, if it was true, then with the help of Tang Peng, they might be able to break into the city soon!
Thinking of this, Yuan Song couldn't help but ask:
"Where is this person now?"

"I am outside the tent, waiting for you, Master Yuan, to summon me!" Ye Tao replied immediately:

"Bring him in to me!"

"Yes!"

Following Yuan Song's order, a strong young man who was tied up was escorted into the tent by two guards.

Yuan Song looked at the young man in front of him, and then asked in a deep voice:
"You said you were Tang Peng's bodyguard?"

Although he was tied up, the young Yang Dafu was not panicked. He did not directly answer Yuan Song's question but asked:

"Are you Yuan Song? I will only tell him!"

As soon as these words came out, Ye Tao immediately yelled:

"You bastard, open your dog eyes and take a look. The person in front of you is Master Yuan Song!"

When Yang Dafu heard this, his eyes suddenly gleamed, and he looked at Yuan Song in front of him with some curiosity. Looking at this middle-aged man in front of him who was not tall, had an unremarkable appearance, and had a frosted face, the man said in disbelief:

"You are Yuan Song? The Yuan Song who is known as the number one general of the Fengwu Army?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Song said calmly:
“I don’t dare to be the first general of the Fengwu Army, but if you want to find Yuan Song, the commander-in-chief of the Fengwu Army’s Western Expedition, that person is me…”

Yang Dafu hesitated for a moment and whispered:
"My name is Yang Dafu. I am a servant of the Tang family and also the guard of our general. I came here to tell you, Lord Yuan, that our general has decided to give up his evil ways and is willing to hand over Weiguan to your army!"

The young Ye Tao was undoubtedly very excited when he heard this, and a look of joy appeared on his face unconsciously. However, the mature and steady Yuan Song had already guessed the purpose of Yang Dafu's visit, so his expression did not fluctuate. Glancing at Yang Dafu, Yuan Song asked:
"What is your plan, General Tang?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Dafu preached without hesitation:
"When your troops attack the city tomorrow, our General Tang will open the city gates and let your troops enter Weiguan!"

Yuan Song frowned slightly when he heard this. Although he guessed that Tang Peng asked Yang Dafu to come in order to surrender, he did not expect that Tang Peng was so anxious that he wanted to take action tomorrow!
And there was another thing that puzzled Yuan Song. Tang Peng was the hereditary Duke of Chu in the Luoan court and a representative figure among the nobles.

Although the Fengwu Army is currently advocating the slogan of clearing out the imperial court, everyone knows that slogans are just slogans. What Ye Mingsheng and the Fengwu Army are doing is changing the dynasty!

Although the Luoan court is in a difficult situation right now, Weiguan has not been lost after all. As long as the Fengwu Army is blocked outside Weiguan, the Luoan court can continue to survive. Therefore, the Luoan court has not yet reached the point where it must perish...

Therefore, as a noble of the Great Zhou, even if Tang Peng surrendered, it would be impossible for him to continue to retain his family's title of Duke of Chu in the new dynasty founded by the Fengwu Army. Therefore, Yuan Song believed that Tang Peng should not give up until the last moment!
After all, that was the title of Duke. Under the rule of the Zhou Dynasty that people with the surname Jiang could not be crowned kings, it was already the top among the nobles. How many ancestors of the Tang family died and how many sacrifices did they make to gain this honor?

Therefore, it is difficult for Yuan Song to understand why Tang Peng would take the initiative to surrender to the Fengwu Army and give up the title of Duke inherited from his family at this time?
Is it simply because the Fengwu Army is now attacking swiftly and is in an absolute advantage in the situation that Tang Peng thinks the Luoan court cannot hold on?
Yuan Song didn't know what Tang Peng was thinking, but if he were in Tang Peng's shoes, even if he wanted to surrender, he would wait until the Fengwu Army broke through Wei Pass and headed straight for Luoan. The Luoan court had completely lost hope, and only then would he reluctantly give up surrendering to the Fengwu Army!

Yuan Song couldn't understand Tang Peng's behavior, so he couldn't help but suspect that Tang Peng and Ma Chongyang were setting a trap for him!

Although Weiguan is still in the hands of the imperial guards at the moment, the situation in Weiguan is difficult and it is a fact known to everyone. The fall of Weiguan is likely to be only a matter of time·····························

The only suspense is whether the imperial guards can hold out for a month, two months, or even longer!

Ma Chongyang and Tang Peng are not fools, so they naturally understand this point. So in order to change the outcome of failure, these two people want to take a bold and risky move and trick Yuan into falling into a trap?
Realizing this possibility, Yuan Song couldn't help but narrow his eyes. Although he doubted whether Ma Chongyang and Tang Peng were so bold as to do this!
But as the old saying goes, don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be prepared for the worst!

So Yuan Song hesitated for a moment and asked Yang Dafu:
"If General Tang Peng can turn from evil to good, it will be a great joy for both of us!"

"I believe our Marshal Ye will also welcome General Tang's arrival. I wonder if General Tang will offer Weiguan to our army, but what are the conditions?"

Facing Yuan Song's question, Yang Dafu blinked and fell into deep thought, as if he was recalling what Tang Peng had said to him. After thinking for half a cup of tea, Yang Dafu raised his head, shook his head at Yuan Song and said:

"Sir Yuan, our general did not instruct me to make any demands on your army. He only told me that he would open the city gates if your army attacked the city tomorrow!"

Even Yuan Song, who is calm and composed, was somewhat surprised by the answer given by Yang Dafu.

What on earth was Tang Peng thinking? For such a big thing as surrendering, he didn't even put forward any conditions?

After thinking carefully for a while, Yuan Song really couldn't figure out what Tang Peng wanted to do, so he asked Yang Dafu directly;

"Brother Yang, let's be frank. Why did General Tang suddenly want to surrender?"

Yang Dafu's face immediately became hesitant when he heard this. Seeing this, Yuan Song's expression became even more serious and he said in a deep voice:

"If you don't explain this issue clearly, Brother Yang, I'm afraid your words won't be trusted!"

Hearing Yuan Song say this, Yang Dafu sighed and said:

"Since you have said this, Master Yuan, I can only tell you the truth!"

"Our general had not yet made up his mind whether to surrender to your army, but two days ago, the Minister of Personnel Murong Lun started an uprising in Luoan!"

"But because the news leaked out, the uprising was suppressed by Shangguan Changgong, and Murong Lun, Chen Jingyu and others were all killed. Although our general did not participate in this uprising, he had been exchanging letters with Murong Lun!"

"There's news from Luoan that these letters have fallen into Shangguan Changgong's hands! Shangguan Changgong is now blood-thirsty. Our general feels that he can't escape his clutches, so he wants..."

"Master Yuan, I have told you everything honestly. Now it depends on whether you believe me or not!"

Although Yang Dafu didn't say much, the amount of information he contained was so huge that both Yuan Song and Ye Tao were shocked.

Yuan Song was the first to react and said to Yang Dafu:
"Thank you, Brother Yang, for being honest. This is a serious matter and we need to discuss it as soon as possible. You can go down and rest now. We will give you a reply tonight!"

Seeing that Yuan Song didn't really trust him, Yang Dafu felt a little helpless, but he could only nod and retreat with the guards.

After Yang Dafu left, Yuan Song immediately ordered:
"Call all generals above the rank of military commander to come to the Central Army Camp for a meeting! And ask the centurion Zhang Xiaojie from the Coordination Office to come as well!"

"Yes!"

Although it was late at night and many people had already washed up and gone to bed, under Yuan Song’s military order, the generals of the Fengwu Army immediately climbed out of their warm beds, dressed neatly, and hurried towards Yuan Song’s central military tent, not daring to be negligent in the slightest...
(End of this chapter)