Chapter 1521 – Attack on Nie Liang and Yang Tao, Sword Pointing at the World (Sixth)
These conspiracy theories are really unfair to Yang Tao; he’s no petty villain, and he certainly wouldn’t joke with the situation just for personal vengeance.
The arrival of reinforcements is perfectly timed, but the timing of the surrender from Dangfang is quite unusual.
“Pfft—”
Yang Si was drinking tea to quench his thirst when he suddenly heard that the county magistrate of Dangfang had secretly sent someone to negotiate, causing him to spray tea all over Feng Zhen’s sleeve.
Feng Zhen nearly jumped out of his skin, his face flaring with both anger and disgust.
Seeing the two about to start grappling, Fu Wang laughed and stepped in to separate them.
“The military calculations are indeed spot on. That Dangfang county magistrate truly is a cowardly and selfish little man.”
Fu Wang chuckled while comforting Feng Zhen, easing his annoyance at Yang Si’s saliva-stained sleeve. However, Yang Si wasn’t one to back down; he was a master of contradiction.
“Just because they sent someone to negotiate doesn’t mean they’re genuinely surrendering; it could very well be a ploy to feign capitulation.”
Feng Zhen sneered, “If they had that kind of courage and iron will, Yang Jian wouldn’t have met such a miserable end back in the day.”
The powers within Zhangzhou are far more complicated than outsiders imagine, with a multitude of notable families and strongmen creating a balance of interests that’s precariously fine. Who knew that Yang Jian would appear out of nowhere, this brash youth who upended everybody’s equilibrium? Some were impressed by his swagger, but many looked down upon him. Ultimately, it was because Yang Jian’s hard stance clashed with the interests of the Zhangzhou elite, and they simply wouldn’t allow it.
Rather than saying that Yang Jian was poisoned and killed by Zhao Shao, it would be more accurate to say he died from the indifference of the many houses.
With Yang Jian gone, the reckless youth who coveted their pie and disrupted their benefits was removed, and who knows how many secretly celebrated?
Yang Tao lacks the fierce temperament of Yang Jian and does not employ such hard methods, which is why he doesn’t attract as much backlash.
If Yang Tao had been just like his father, he would have been schemed against long ago.
These people are born to chase after interests; whoever can bring them prosperity and ensure that their families flourish is who they’ll follow. This rule applies not only to the Zhangzhou families but to others as well. When Yang Tao could provide them benefits, he was their master and patriarch; when Yang Tao was in a perilous position, these people began plotting for their own sake.
Loyalty?
What’s that?
Those with true pride often die the earliest and most tragically.
The noble clans live longer than ancient tortoises; aren’t they all experts at seeking profit and avoiding harm?
Faced with the threat and pressure of eighty thousand soldiers at his doorstep, the county magistrate of Dangfang was frozen with fear, making surrender a foregone conclusion.
Pride?
Ha, what’s that worth?
Just as Feng Zhen predicted, the Dangfang county magistrate sent someone over to surrender, and the envoy was excessively flattering.
Seeing this, Yang Si didn’t bother to argue anymore; otherwise, he’d just end up getting slapped in the face by Feng Zhen—Zhangzhou was indeed Feng Zhen’s home ground.
“If everyone we encounter on this march is so sensible, that’d be wonderful.”
Fu Wang, though eager for battle, understood that fighting leads to death. His old comrades had fallen one after another, and finding someone new to drink with was becoming increasingly difficult. If they could take Zhangzhou without any bloodshed, that would be fantastic. Sadly, that’s just a daydream.
Yang Si chuckled, “General Fu, this is hardly a good thing.”
Fu Wang asked in surprise, “Why do you say that? Isn’t it good for the enemy to surrender voluntarily?”
Yang Si replied, “The more people surrender, the harder it is for you to tell which ones are genuinely loyal and which are trying to infiltrate among them for an opportunity.”
If it were nothing but surrendering folks along the way, it would keep Yang Si up at night with worry.
Fu Wang agreed, “The military advisor does have a point.”
The county magistrate of Xia didn’t hesitate to open the gates and surrender, clearly feeling guilty, and the noble families within the city were also anxious, as not a single person thought to inform Yang Tao.
By the time Yang Tao’s reinforcements arrived nearby, he realized something was amiss and sent a few scouts disguised as refugees to gather intelligence.
Before long, the scouts returned, reporting that there were no signs of a siege at the city gates, but the flags on the walls had already been changed to the “Liu” banner. The commanding officer knew immediately what had transpired, filled with both fury and outrage, and he chopped a nearby withered tree in half.
“What a bunch of small-minded men—are they trying to set us up for disaster and then curry favor with the new lord?”
The officer was seething, but with anger bubbling in his chest, he didn’t have the luxury to indulge it; he had to turn his troops around immediately.
Dangfang was garrisoned with eighty thousand elite troops, and Jiang Pengji’s soldiers were renowned for their prowess in land combat. The officer certainly didn’t want to pit an exhausted long-marched army against their elite forces. Unfortunately, he was still a step too slow. Fu Wang led the troops to cut off their route of retreat, and a melee ensued in the fields outside Dangfang. After a fierce battle, the crows circled in the sky, unwilling to leave, with broken limbs and remnants scattered everywhere. The reinforcements sent by Yang Tao suffered heavy casualties. However, Fu Wang couldn’t keep them all back; nearly half of the ragged soldiers broke through the encirclement.
Not long after, the news reached Yang Tao’s ears. Upon understanding the situation, his fury soared, and he smashed the table to pieces.
“I’ve never seen such a bunch of spineless cowards.”
The military generals beneath him were fuming as well, wanting to charge into the Dangfang county magistrate and dismember him.
Yang Tao’s eyes were bloodshot, his jaw twitching with rage, and he felt a deep pang of heartbreak too.
He had rushed out elite troops upon receiving the urgent plea from Dangfang, making day and night haste to arrive. With the tall and thick walls of Dangfang, holding out for a day or two should be a piece of cake. Who would’ve thought that the county magistrate wouldn’t even put up a fight, opening the gates and surrendering without a second thought? This fool, out of fear for his life, not only showed cowardice but allowed countless fine men to pay with their lives. Since he had no fighting spirit and surrendered so readily, why even send an urgent message for help in the first place?
They hadn’t even officially engaged in battle yet, and he turned to the enemy so quickly—truly impressive!
Yan Lin said, “My lord, please calm your anger; it’s hardly worth getting worked up over such a small fry.”
Yang Tao gasped for breath, saying, “I’m not angry over these capricious little men; it’s clearly for the soldiers who suffered for nothing.”
Yan Lin sighed inwardly, “The Dangfang county magistrate is merely pretending to ally with Liu Xi on the surface, while underneath, who knows how many are trying to curry favor with her?”
The more anxious one is, the worse it gets.
Yan Lin advised, “My lord, have you heard of the saying about grass on the wall? Wherever the wind blows, people lean that way. What truly determines their stance isn’t the scenery inside or outside the wall; it’s just a matter of the breeze. If they can surrender to Liu Xi for the sake of interests and self-preservation, they’ll surely pledge loyalty to us for similar reasons. Why not use this to our advantage, so Liu Xi can taste the bitterness of her own medicine? After she’s had her fill, she’ll understand that not all dirty, stinky trash can just go in her mouth. Some trash is merely unpalatable, while others can choke a person to death.”
Yang Tao asked, “Does Shaoyang mean to send someone to feign surrender?”
Yan Lin replied, “Making a show is easy to leave traces; it’s better to let it unfold naturally.”
