E Huan persuaded Gao Ding to surrender. That night, Gao Ding opened the city gates. Accompanied by E Huan, he brought the household register and money and grain register of Yuechi County to the Han army camp. Zhao Yun, the general of the Han army, immediately agreed to Gao Ding's surrender and led all his troops into Qiongdu City. He also ordered Gao Ding to disband the rebels on the spot. The entire Yuechi County cheered.
On the second day, Zhao Yun left behind a troop of ten thousand men stationed in Qiongdu City. He took Gao Ding and E Huan with him and set off with the army towards the meeting place. At the same time, Wei Yan's left army had already set off and was on the way to the meeting place. Thus, the left and right armies sent out scouts to inquire about Zhuge Liang's army in the middle. Zhuge Liang led 100,000 troops to attack Jianning. He used a counter-spy tactic to kill Yong Kai and took down Jianning Prefecture without bloodshed. Zhuge Liang rested in Jianning County for another three days before setting off for Yongchang County.
A few days later, the three armies arrived at Yongchang County. Yongchang County had a total of eight cities. Other than Buwei City, the other seven cities had all fallen into the hands of Nanman. The three armies arrived at Buwei City in Yongchang. Prime Minister Zhuge Liang raised his tent in the camp and summoned all the generals to discuss matters.
Zhuge Liang sat high up in the middle of the tent with many civil and military officials standing in two rows. He immediately said in a clear voice,"Now that the rebels of the three counties in the south of Yizhou have been pacified, Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, who has contributed the most from your two armies, report it to me and I will reward you accordingly.”
Zhao Yun wanted to speak, but Wei Yan beat her to it and said,""Prime Minister! Our left army, thanks to Hengjiang General Yang Zhen's clever plan, was able to defeat the rebel army with a few casualties. Please reward us, Prime Minister.”
Zhuge Liang narrowed his eyes and looked at Yang Zhen."Very good. Young and promising, it can be said that it is the fortune of the Great Han Dynasty. Yang Zhen, come forward and listen to the appointment.”
Yang Zhen stepped out of his seat and cupped his hands.”
"In recognition of your contribution, I hereby confer upon you…" Zhuge Liang said loudly.
"Prime Minister, don't be in a hurry to reward me!" Zhao Yun's shout interrupted Zhuge Liang's words.
Zhuge Liang glanced at Zhao Yun and said,"General Conquering the South, what do you have to say?"
"Reporting to the Prime Minister!" Zhao Yun cupped his fists and said. The reason why my army on the right could make Gao Ding surrender was all because of General Hengjiang's plan. How many lives have been saved? I hope the Prime Minister will reward me!”
The moment Zhao Yun said this, the civil and military officials present began to discuss animatedly. Ma Su stepped forward and asked,""General Zhao! What do you mean? Yang Zhen belongs to the left army, what does he have to do with your right army?”
"Ma Junjun!" Zhao Yun said sternly. Would I lie? General Yang has indeed contributed the most to the right army. Everyone in our right army knows about it, so how can it be false?”
Ma Su wanted to say something, but Zhuge Liang shouted,""Youchang, you can leave now! Ping Wang! As the deputy general of the right army, tell me what happened.”
Wang Ping walked out and bowed to the Prime Minister before telling him everything. After everyone heard this, they all nodded. Jiang Wan walked out and bowed respectfully to Zhuge Liang, then said,"Prime minister, in that case, Hengjiang General Yang Zhen's contribution cannot be ignored.”
Zhuge Liang waved his hand, indicating for Jiang Wan to leave, and then said,"Where are Gao Ding and E Huan?"
"Wait outside the tent!" Zhao Yun replied.”
"Let them in!" Zhuge Liang waved the feather fan in his hand.
Gao Ding and E Huan immediately entered the tent. After paying their respects to Zhuge Liang, they stood in the tent. "Gao Ding and E Huan," Zhuge Liang said. Gao Ding was appointed as a lieutenant in the south of Yizhou, fully in charge of the government affairs and military affairs of Yueyu County, Yueyu County, and Jianning County. E Huan was appointed as the general of Yamen, assisting Gao Ding in handling the affairs of the three counties.”
Gao Ding and E Huan immediately shouted,""Thank you, Prime Minister!"
"Prime Minister!" Zhao Yun asked. Why didn't you reward Yang Zhen?"
"Yang Zhen has made great contributions. After the Nanman army is pacified, he will return to Chengdu to see His Majesty and reward him." Zhuge Liang said calmly.”
Suddenly, a soldier reported from outside the tent,""Prime Minister! Yongchang prefect Wang Wei, together with Buwei Lv Kai request to see the prime minister!”
Zhuge Liang said,"Let them in quickly!" Everyone in the tent, please return to your original positions."
Thus, Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, Wang Ping, Yang Zhen, Gao Ding, E Huan, and the others all stood to the side. Two people walked in from outside the tent. One was Wang Kang and the other was Lu Kai. When they saw Zhuge Liang, they immediately knelt down. Zhuge Liang asked," Wang Kang, you have made great contributions in guarding Yongchang for the past three years. Although there is only one city left, you have not disgraced the prestige of the Han Dynasty. I hereby appoint you as the remonstrant doctor to continue your position as the prefect of Yongchang. When you return triumphantly to the court and report to His Majesty, you will be rewarded separately."”
"Wang Kang thanks the Prime Minister! However, Lu Kai had planned to help me guard this city, so the southern barbarians did not dare to approach. I hope the prime minister will reward Lu Kai.”Wang Kang said.
Zhuge Liang nodded and said," I already know about this. Lu Kai is a wise and resourceful man. Please take up the position of the Prime Minister's Official Bookkeeper."”
"Thank you, Prime Minister!" Lu Kai hurriedly said.”He took out a map from his pocket and held it in his hand. He raised it high and said,"Prime Minister, ever since I became an official, I knew that the southern barbarians wanted to rebel for a long time, so I secretly sent people to go deep into their territory to see where they could station their troops and fight. I'm offering it to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister could see it at a glance, and it could be considered as doing his part in conquering the southern barbarians.”
Zhuge Liang personally walked over and took the map.'Peaceful Barbarian Palm' Zhuge Liang opened the map and saw that the mountains and rivers were all on it. Many places were circled with a cinnabar red pen. Zhuge Liang took a closer look and understood the meaning. Zhuge Liang took the map and said to Lu Kai,"With such a map, I don't have to worry about the Nanman Empire not being conquered. Since you are very familiar with the terrain here, you can be a guide for the army and save the army from taking unnecessary routes.”
Lu Kai immediately thanked the Prime Minister and retreated to the side with Wang Kang. Zhuge Liang asked in front of all the civil and military officials,""Now that the army is here, we can't rest for long. We have to go straight for the dragon. However, most of the Nanman people are uncivilized people. Wherever our army passes by, it will definitely calm down. Once we return to the court, I'm afraid the Nanman people will rebel again. It's not a blessing for the country to repeat this. I don't know what plans the generals have. Why don't you tell us?”
Just as Zhuge Liang finished speaking, Ma Su walked out and said loudly,""In the art of war, attacking the heart is the best and attacking the city is the worst. Mental warfare is the best, military warfare is the worst. Prime Minister, as long as the southern barbarians are convinced, they will not rebel.”
Zhuge Liang smiled and said,"I like the idea of having a young and normal life." Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, I order the two of you to be the vanguard of the army, leading 30,000 troops. With Lu Kai as the guide, you will definitely make the Southern Barbarians lose their courage! The rest of the generals followed the army and advanced slowly.”
In the tent, the civil officials and generals shouted,""Yes, Prime Minister!"
Zhao Yun and Wei Yan gathered 30,000 soldiers and set off with Lu Kai. Yang Zhen and Guan Feng were in the army that Wei Yan and Zhao Yun had chosen. Thus, the two of them set off together with Zhao Yun and Wei Yan. Zhao Yun and Lu Kai were in the front, Wei Yan in the middle, Yang Zhen and Guan Feng in the back, each with ten thousand troops to hold the line.
They traveled south, and the more they walked, the narrower it became. Thus, they lined up in a few rows, and the 30,000-strong army continued on the long, narrow path. The army walked through this narrow path, and the front and middle troops entered a dense forest. The rear troops were at the junction of the mountain path and the forest. Zhao Yun ordered the army to wait for orders in the front, and he and Lu Kai led a dozen cavalrymen to scout ahead.
It was March, and the forest was neither hot nor cold. It was particularly comfortable, and many soldiers were sitting on the ground. Yang Zhen and Guan Feng stood at the intersection of the mountain path and the forest, talking about what had happened along the way. Wei Yan ordered someone to call Yang Zhen to the middle army to hold the line while he ran to the front to hold the line. At this moment, an ear-piercing whistle sounded out from somewhere. The army on standby became nervous. They held their weapons tightly in their hands and looked around. Yang Zhen said to Guan Feng," Master and Lu Kai will go to the front to scout the way. Big Brother will go to the front to hold the line. We lack a general to hold the line in the middle. You stay at the back and I'll go to the middle to hold the line." He Ping, Niu San, protect General Guan.”
Before Guan Feng could reply, Yang Zhen had already left on his horse. He was riding Zhuiying. Before the army set off, E Huan found Yang Zhen and returned Zhuiying to him. Just as Yang Zhen rode his horse to the center, he heard another ear-piercing whistle. At this moment, Yang Zhen's Shadow Chaser began to become anxious. Not only that, but all the horses in the army around him also began to become a little anxious. They kept neighing, as if they were afraid, as if something that made them afraid was coming.
"Ah!" A cavalryman was thrown off by an anxious horse. The horse was like a wild horse that had lost its reins and quickly ran into the depths of the forest. At this moment, all the horses in the army began to become especially agitated, wishing they could leave this place immediately. Yang Zhen had just steadied himself when he saw a few more warhorses abandon the cavalry and run away frantically. The soldiers also panicked because of the madness brought by the horses. Yang Zhen was surrounded by soldiers. They held weapons in their hands and looked around, not knowing what had happened.
Fear wasn't because of what he saw. On the contrary, it was because he didn't know what he was afraid of.
Seeing this, Yang Zhen shouted,""Hold your ground. There's nothing in the forest. Don't scare yourself.”After he finished shouting, the area around him became a little more peaceful. However, he was also glad because most of the troops around him were infantry. The real cavalry only added up to a hundred or so people. However, it was these insignificant cavalrymen who were thrown off their horses and ran back.
Yang Zhen looked at the army. The middle of his army was still better because they were all infantry. It was much easier for him to get off his horse and chase after the shadow. He didn't know how Guan Feng's side was doing. He didn't know if they had encountered the same situation. He also didn't know how Wei Yan's front army was doing. But he couldn't leave because he was needed here.
Yang Zhen and many soldiers heard the rustling sound. Yang Zhen's Shadow Chaser began to become manic again. Compared to the last time, he was very manic this time, and there was no room to calm him down. Suddenly, a snake darted out from the grass on the ground. It let out a long neigh and threw Yang Zhen off the horse. It ran wildly without any desire to turn back. The snake missed and landed in the grass on the ground. At this moment, Yang Zhen got up from the ground and saw green snake heads sticking out from the grass beside him. They were flicking their long tongues.
Yang Zhen stood up, feeling that the situation was very bad. With a long and continuous flute sound, the snakes in the grass jumped up one after another. They opened their bloody mouths and stuck out their forked tongues, pouncing on the Han soldiers.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。