allonlinenovel Chapter 288 Win over the people
Chapter 288 Win over the people
It's getting late.
After the war, Guangning City finally returned to peace.
The Yan army, which crossed the river first, has already taken control of Guangning City.
Now, the State of Chen was in turmoil, with peasants rising up internally and the Yan army launching a massive attack externally. It was difficult to withdraw troops to recapture Guangning City.
Because the Chen army needed to defend the entire border line and had no time to take care of the Guangning City area, if Pan Hou had not previously dispatched additional troops to the south bank of the Ling River, perhaps the Yan army would have been able to cross the river and attack more easily.
But even so, the Chen army still couldn't stop the Yan army for a day.
Jiang Zuo and Chen Xiu stood on the city wall, overlooking the entire dim Guangning City.
In Guangning City, soldiers were still clearing the streets and repairing the city walls.
Looking at the busy soldiers below, Chen Xiu said calmly: "We have captured nearly 20,000 prisoners this time. What should we do with them?"
The number of prisoners captured this time is the highest in recent years between the two countries.
The Yan army certainly could not keep so many prisoners, so they had to either release them or kill them.
But killing prisoners in a burial pit is a big taboo, and the Yan army would definitely not do it.
Jiang Zuo thought for a moment and said, "We can let these prisoners choose for themselves. If they want to join the Yan army, then let them join."
Chen Xiu said: "How could these Chen people join our Yan army?"
After all, the two countries have been at war for many years and have long been filled with hatred. How could either side surrender to the enemy?
Jiang Zuo said: "If they don't want to stay, just give them some severance pay and let them go."
"Give them severance pay? If they join Chen's army again, wouldn't our efforts be in vain?"
Chen Xiu was a little worried.
Jiang Zuo did not have this concern. He just wanted to adhere to the principle of treating prisoners well and treat this group of Chen army prisoners.
He explained: "These prisoners of the Chen army have seen the strength of our Yan army. Even if they rejoin the Chen army, they will still surrender the next time they meet us. Moreover, once this cowardly mentality appears in the Chen army, our subsequent battles will be smoother."
After hearing Jiang Zuo's explanation, Chen Xiu suddenly understood.
Most of these surrendered prisoners were those who did not want to fight. Even if they joined Chen’s army again, they would surrender the same next time. And who knows, some of them might even bring others to surrender with them.
I have to say that Jiang Zuo's move of treating the prisoners well was indeed a clever one.
"This street is so quiet, there is hardly a single civilian in sight."
Chen Xiu looked at the dark Guangning City and felt inexplicably uneasy.
Jiang Zuo said: "The people of Chen have already demonized us, so it is normal for the people to be afraid."
Chen Xiu added: "Then we will rest in Guangning City for three days, and then continue to march and attack Zhu City after three days."
Zhucheng is not far from Guangningcheng, and the cities in this area are not difficult to attack.
Even the well-fortified Guangning City had fallen into the hands of the Yan army, and the initiative was now completely in the hands of the Yan army.
As long as we take over the Guangning City area, we can stabilize the early stage of the war.
In this way, Yan State's plan to conquer the south and recover the three states in the east of the lake can be steadily advanced.
Jiang Zuo looked into the darkness and said, "We are not in a hurry to continue the attack now. Let's first win over the people in Guangning City."
The tactics formulated by Jiang Zuo for this southern expedition were relatively conservative. Because the weapon in his hands was the forty cannons, the marching speed would become extremely slow.
Moreover, the ammunition in the rear may not be supplied in time, and the powerful weapons in the hands of the Anding Army will be difficult to use.
Therefore, Jiangzuo prepared to fight Chen's army slowly.
After all, the current situation is advantageous for the Yan army, but for the Chen State, it can no longer be delayed.
The moonlight was hazy, and it sprinkled over Guangning City.
The city was as quiet as death, with only the chirping of crickets.
One day after the Yan army entered the city, most of the people in Guangning City hid in their homes and did not dare to go out.
Because the government had previously been spreading the rumor that the soldiers of the Yan army were all demons, some people actually believed this rumor and thought that the soldiers of the Yan army were all evil.
They thought that after the Yan army entered Guangning City, they would definitely burn, kill and loot.
It has been a day since the Yan army entered Guangning City, but there is no noise outside.
They didn't even know whether the fighting outside had stopped.
night.
There was still silence in Guangning City.
The people did not dare to light lamps for fear of being discovered by the Yan army.
Many people whispered, "Hide the money quickly. Don't let those Yan people see it."
"Wife, quickly hide in the cellar. Those Yan thieves are violent by nature and will never let our people go."
Although rumors had already spread throughout the city, until the early morning, no one in the city was bullied by the Yan army soldiers.
"Could it be that the Yan army has already withdrawn from Guangning City?"
Some people can't help but wonder.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be no movement outside.
In the early morning, the sky was gray.
Only at this time did some civilians dare to open the windows on the second floor and look at the streets of Guangning City.
The next moment, the scene that came into view shocked the people.
Under the eaves of the streets in Guangning City, there was a group of Yan army soldiers sleeping on the ground.
"These Yan army soldiers are sleeping outside like this?"
The people were surprised.
Before this, they had thought that after the Yan army captured Guangning City, they would definitely seize the houses of the people and use them as resting places, but now it seems that these soldiers would rather sleep on the streets than enter the houses of the people?
In the eyes of these people, they had never seen such a disciplined army.
"Have these Yan people changed their personalities?"
"They neither rob nor steal. Is this really the army of Yan?"
Some people even doubted what the purpose of this group of Yan people was.
Now the entire Guangning City is in the hands of the Yan Army. The people of Guangning City have no way to stop them from doing whatever they want.
At dawn, the soldiers all woke up and began to defend the city, not disturbing any of the people in the city.
Before this, Jiang Zuo had issued an order that no one was allowed to oppress the people in Guangning City, and anyone who violated the order would be punished by military law.
Moreover, after conquering Guangning City, Jiang Zuo rewarded his soldiers one by one, so the soldiers did not need to rely on plundering the people's money.
At this time, Jiang Zuo came to the street and began to patrol the entire street.
There are still not many people on the streets of Guangning City.
"Yan State has recaptured Guangning City, and the war has subsided. Fellow villagers, you can go out now. Our Yan army will never harm you."
Many soldiers shouted in the street.
Now, for the Yan army, if they want to defend Guangning City, they must win the hearts of the people of Guangning City.
The soldiers of the Yan army shouted for a whole morning before some people were finally willing to go out and find out what was going on.
Not long ago, many people witnessed this group of disciplined Yan soldiers and did not have too many doubts about their words.
"Everyone can return to their normal lives. We, the Yan army, will never disturb you."
Jiang Zuo assured the people.