Free Web NovelChapter 1206: Chapter 1188: Public Sentiment
As soon as Wang Yi ran, the morale of the troops dispersed. Gan Zhuo wanted to fight to the death, and his assistant general could only persuade him with his neck on the line, "It is not that I fear death; I truly don’t understand why we are fighting to the death."
Gan Zhuo said, "For a general to fight to the death is only right and proper; no need to ask for reasons."
"But General, we too are Jin people, and those attacking the city are also Jin generals, some even share the Wang surname," the assistant general said angrily, "Whether they fight for the country or for personal vendetta, how are our soldiers not innocent? If the Wang Family’s sons were fearless and charged at the forefront, it would be different, but he’s already run away, so why should we fight to the death?"
"This city that we defend, does it belong to the Jin State, King Langya, or Mrs. Wang?" the assistant general wept bitterly, "Look at these soldiers injured or killed by explosions, they too have parents, wives, and children. Why should they risk their lives for Mrs. Wang?"
Gan Zhuo’s rationality returned, and his bloodshot eyes regained calmness. The defenders on the city wall barely repelled a wave of ladder assaults, but due to Wang Yi’s escape, the focus was lost. Meanwhile, Zhao Family Army was already pushing siege engines to the gatehouse and was pounding the city gates.
After pondering for a moment with downcast eyes, he gritted his teeth and said, "Open the city, surrender!"
The assistant general breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly signaled the troops to lower the flag and surrender.
Wang Xuan was left dumbfounded but quickly regained his composure, leaving part of the troops outside the city for support, he led people into the city to accept the surrender.
Could it be that his Uncle Yi had finally seen the light and abandoned Wang Dun to side with them?
Then he entered the city only to find that the surrendering general was Gan Zhuo, and his Uncle Yi had fled the city earlier.
Wang Xuan was so furious that his chest heaved, and he almost gnashed his teeth to bits.
Wang Yi’s actions disgraced not only himself but the entire Wang Family lineage. Even on opposing sides, Wang Xuan felt deeply ashamed.
Wang Yi could either fight to the death or surrender, but how could he abandon the city and flee?
Ever since the late Han period and during the Three Kingdoms era, surrendering and changing allegiances was common. Although contemptible, it was not uncommon, but deserting was a grave taboo.
Wang Xuan feigned a smile as he faced Gan Zhuo, internally cursing his uncle seven or eight times over, and included a swipe at Wang Dun — what kind of judgment was that?
To favor clan members due to personal ties without considering their competence for the role, this not only harms soldiers and civilians but also oneself.
Wang Xuan took this as a warning, resolving never to recommend a clan member lightly unless they possessed significant talent.
Zhao Family Army collected the weapons of the Yangzhou Army and began counting the numbers. Due to the main general’s incompetence, the battles fought over the past two weeks were not intense, and since it was a surrender, Zhao Family Army treated the Yangzhou Army kindly.
After hearing that they would be assigned to cultivate fields, injured and older soldiers could even receive money to return home, they all obediently reported their names and ages.
Most of them aged themselves a few years older, with seventeen or eighteen-year-olds even claiming to be thirty-seven.
This part of the Yangzhou Army had half from Qingzhou and Xuzhou, brought south by Wang Dun, and the other half were conscripted from refugees and forcibly drafted civilians across Yangzhou.
Living in the military, apart from slight climate discomforts, they did not feel much change in customs, but being far from home made them yearn for it.
Especially since only some officers could bring their families south, the vast majority of soldiers had come south alone, leaving their families in Jiangbei.
Having heard that Zhao Hanzhang treated the people well and remitted many taxes this year, they wondered if their families had survived last year’s devastation? If they survived, they should have been allocated land, and there should be enough grain for them to get through the winter, right?
With such thoughts, a soldier nearing the front of the line clutched his chest and, upon reaching the desk, leaned weakly, saying, "I’ve been hurt in my heart and lungs by Thunder Shock, feeling very uncomfortable, afraid I can no longer be a soldier."
The Zhao Family Army member doing the registration immediately put down his pen and supported him, "Have you spat blood? Is there bloating? Where’s the pain?"
He quickly called for a stretcher, "Quickly send him to the medical tent."
Thunder Shock could indeed cause internal injuries; they discovered this when fighting the Xiongnu, where some weren’t directly hit but laid on the ground with no apparent wounds, yet the impact was so great it caused internal bleeding — the soldiers privately discussed it was related to the air pressure from explosions.
The young soldier saw them bringing a stretcher to carry him off, momentarily dazed, he quickly grabbed the sleeve of the big soldier, with a pained and troubled expression, "I feel useless, spare me the waste of medicine. I just want to see my family again alive, why don’t you record me for discharge?"
The big soldier looked him over, placing a hand on his chest, "Where’s the pain? Here? Or here?"
Noting that although the soldier cried out "Ow ow," he showed little actual pain, the big soldier knocked on his head, saying, "You little brat, your schemes are so obvious, wanting discharge, are you? Look at you, all limbs intact, young, go train. Where are you from?"
The young soldier was dumbfounded and pleaded anxiously, "Don’t, brother, I—I can farm. I want to go cultivate fields, I really can farm, please don’t assign me to the training camp."
Zhao Family Army would select physically fit and relatively strong young soldiers for the training camp, while the rest would go to cultivate fields or be discharged. Apart from some keen to achieve great things, the vast majority just wanted a stable life.
The big soldier discerned his accent, raising an eyebrow, "You’re from Qingzhou?"
The young soldier saw the pen dipped in ink and could only nod silently. The big soldier patted his shoulder, "Alright, into the training camp. You can use the military post to write to your family, and with luck, you might get transferred back to Qingzhou — more likely than with fieldwork."
After registering the surrendered soldiers, Wang Xuan quickly led people to take over Wangcai County’s county government. The County Magistrate hadn’t fled, and every government official was present.
Following Zhao Hanzhang’s usual practice, Wang Xuan only removed officials who had committed misdeeds or were highly unpopular, preferring stability.
Upon investigation, he found that the Wangcai County Magistrate was moderate in performance and reputation decent, so he retained him in his position, instructing him to dispatch government officials to patrol in shifts, "To prevent hooligans and thieves from harassing the people. If rogue soldiers disturb civilians, send someone to the government office to request aid immediately; I’ll leave two squads of soldiers here to maintain order."
Two squads, totaling two hundred men, were more than enough for such a small county with only eighteen government officials.
To avoid causing public panic, he didn’t let the soldiers patrol the streets directly but instead removed the remaining "Wang" banners from the gatehouse, replacing them with "Zhao" banners, while the Jin State flag continued to fly, saving the trouble of changing it.
By evening, the once-quiet streets began to see people emerging as civilians gradually came out of their houses, curiously watching the occasional passing Zhao Family Army.
Passing soldiers occasionally glanced back curiously but immediately refocused, keeping their gaze serious, with even their marching steps more precise.
Civilians whispered, "It’s really like the rumors; they don’t loot homes."
"They don’t hit or rob people when encountered on the street."
Watching for a while, realizing that Zhao Family Army indeed didn’t trouble civilians, they cheerfully went about their business; fetching water, cooking meals, and some went to the garden to pick vegetables, finding their crops nibbled by the neighbor’s chickens, standing at the garden’s edge with hands on hips, shouting curses at the neighbor.
Gan Zhuo, passing by, couldn’t help but pause and listen for a while, then turned to the assistant general and said, "If she truly has her heart set on the throne, the country should undergo change."
