The Battle of Xing Guo Fu ended with a complete victory for the Chu army. In this battle, the Chu army suffered less than 500 casualties, and more than 13000 Xiang soldiers were wiped out and captured. Only less than 2000 Xiang soldiers escaped from the net lake.
After the battle of Xing Guo Mansion, the local officials of Xiang Province who had been watching the battle immediately rushed over with large amounts of pork, mutton, rice, and flour to welcome the imperial army.
Because Xiang Province was the base of the Xiang Army, many people here were related to the Xiang Army.
Because they were afraid of being punished by the imperial court, they tried their best to curry favor with Zuo Zongtang, who was also from Xiang Province, hoping that he would be magnanimous and let them off!
Of course, if he wanted to plead for mercy, he naturally couldn't just say a few words!
"Lord Zuo, this is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will accept it!”
"Hehe, Lord Zuo, I specially asked someone to buy this red coral at a high price. I wonder if you like it!”
"Lord Zuo, I heard that you like reading. I bought you a big house near Yuelu Academy…"
The officials were afraid that they would be punished, so they all gave Zuo Zongtang silver notes and gifts.
Some of them gave silver notes, some gave gold, silver, pearls, and red corals, and some gave large amounts of land and houses.
It could be said that they had used everything they could think of to bribe him.
Zuo Zongtang accepted all the gifts from these people.
When the officials of Xiang Province saw him accept the gift, they all heaved a sigh of relief.
There was a saying that one would take someone's money and help them eliminate disasters.
If he didn't want to help, then he definitely wouldn't accept the benefits that everyone gave him.
Now that he had received the benefits, it proved that he had agreed to help everyone!
With Zuo Zongtang's help, everyone felt more at ease. At least they wouldn't be implicated by the rebellion of the Xiang Army!
Thinking of this, many people let down their guard and sighed.
Fortunately, the imperial court had sent Zuo Zongtang with his troops. Zuo Zongtang himself was from Xiang Province. Most of the people present had a certain relationship with him, so it was easier to plead with him.
If it was someone else who had led their troops to attack Xiang Province, it would not be so easy for these people to use their connections to plead for mercy!
Zuo Zongtang saw everyone's reaction. When everyone relaxed their vigilance, he said with a smile,
"Everyone, are all the officials of Xiang Province here?”
Everyone nodded. They naturally would not let go of such a good opportunity to plead for mercy.
Therefore, almost all the officials of the entire Xiang Province had arrived!
"Very good, in that case!"
Zuo Zongtang sneered and suddenly turned hostile!
"Men, take them all down!”
Hualala!
Groups of Chu soldiers with loaded guns rushed in and took control of the confused Xiang officials.
"Count the number of people and see if they are all here!”
Zuo Zongtang ordered the soldiers.
"Yes, Marshal!"
The soldiers immediately picked up the roster of Xiang Province officials and counted them.
"Lord, Lord Zuo, you, you can't turn your back on me!”
The officials of Xiang Province were scared silly and did not react for a long time.
"That's right. We're from the same hometown. We can't leave him in the lurch!”
"Lord Zuo, please be magnanimous and let us go. We are willing to give you all our wealth.”
Seeing Zuo Zongtang reveal his fangs, the officials of Xiang Province panicked.
They had made a mistake!
Seeing Zuo Zongtang's actions, all of them thought that Zuo Zongtang was ordered by the imperial court to kill them all.
He had never thought that Zuo Zongtang was no longer a Qing army, but a Han army!
"Oh? Are you willing to give up all your assets?”
Zuo Zongtang's interest was piqued when he heard their words.
Originally, he did not plan to kill these people. Instead, he planned to seize their seals and forge their documents to earn money to open the city gates. From there, he would control the entire Xiang Province without bloodshed.
In the end, he didn't expect that he would pull out the radish and bring it out of the mud!
These guys were willing to pay for his life. Zuo Zongtang naturally welcomed this kind of behavior!
It took a lot of money to build and maintain an army, and the industrial construction of the Han army in Guangdong Province also needed money!
At this time, if he could get money, he would definitely be valued by the Han King and share his worries.
Besides, Zuo Zongtang, who was also an official, knew better than anyone else what kind of people these people were!
These people used their power to plunder the people's wealth and land, plundering large amounts of wealth from the people.
Instead of letting this wealth fall into the hands of these dog officials, it was better to seize this money so that the Han army could expand their strength and develop their industries. They could quickly realize the prosperity of the country and the strengthening of the army!
This was something that was more meaningful to the country and the people!
Therefore, he did not reject the money these people offered!
He even wanted all the things that these people had not handed over yet!
He would definitely not leave a single stone for this group of people!
"I'm willing, I'm willing. We're willing to buy our lives!”
Everyone was overjoyed when they saw that Zuo Zongtang was showing signs of relenting. They expressed that they were willing to spend money to eliminate the disaster and buy their lives!
"Very good. In that case, write down all of your assets in detail. If you dare to lie to this official, hehe, you know the consequences!”
Zuo Zongtang glanced at these people and sneered. Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
They believed that if they dared to hide anything, the other party would definitely not let them off!
At that time, as long as the other party reported to the court that they were related to the rebellion of the Xiang army, they would be sentenced to death!
In the face of the threat of beheading, money and whatnot could naturally be abandoned!
Therefore, most of these people were very honest. They confessed all the assets under their names, including cash, land deeds, land deeds, real estate, shops, and so on.
Of course, some were honest while others were not.
Some people who thought that Zuo Zongtang wouldn't be able to find out that they were hiding something deliberately concealed some of their assets. In the end, they didn't expect the Chu army to check the accounts on the spot and send troops to raid their houses. Soon, they found that the figures didn't match.
"Hmph, bastard, how dare you lie to me. After the imperial court, come and drag him out and behead him!”
Zuo Zongtang was not someone to be trifled with. He was a veteran general who had led tens of thousands of troops to suppress the Taiping Country.
He had once led his troops on the battlefield to kill people and cause rivers of blood to flow. What kind of scene had he not seen?
Killing a few people was naturally not a problem for him!
"Lord, please spare my life!”
Those who were found out about the cover-up panicked and begged for mercy desperately, hoping to save their lives.
However, Zuo Zongtang's expression was cold and he did not even look at them.
Along with a scream outside, the heads of a few guys who thought they were smart fell to the ground.
Everyone in the room immediately became obedient!
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