Wang Renze was undoubtedly very cunning. His personal soldiers were also cavalry, and they were also wearing bright light armor like the Sui cavalry. The main difference was that the Zheng army cavalry had helmets and tassels on the helmets, and his personal soldiers had cloaks.

In the chaos, Wang Renze ordered his personal soldiers to take off their cloaks and pull out their helmets. He threw away his golden helmet and changed into ordinary helmets. At the same time, he raised a battle flag of the Sui army and massacred his soldiers like other Sui cavalry. With the cover of the night, they actually successfully intervened in the Sui cavalry, took advantage of the chaos to run into the pine forest, and escaped the killing of the Sui cavalry.

Wang Renze was as frightened as a stray dog, and he led a hundred personal soldiers to flee west along the Han River. At dawn, they had already left Xiangyang City for about 60 miles and entered Changping County. At this time, the walls of Changping County appeared in front of him. Everyone was tired and hungry, and the war horses were exhausted and could no longer run.

Wang Renze pointed to Changping County in front of him with a horse whip and said to several personal soldiers: "You go to the county town to find out if there are any garrison troops stationed, and get some food back by the way!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud drum sound suddenly appeared in the woods in front of him. An army of thousands of people rushed out of the woods, blocking Wang Renze's way. Wang Renze was so scared that he lost his soul and pulled the reins and took several steps back. At this time, he suddenly recognized that the general opposite was his deputy general Tian Zan, and the two thousand soldiers were his former subordinates.

Wang Renze was overjoyed and shouted quickly: "General Tian comes and save me!"

Tian Zan smiled coldly, "Wang Renze, did he ever think that today would be the one that he would be when he was in charge of soldiers killing civilians in Jingzhou?"

Wang Renze was stunned, and suddenly frightened, shouting with a harsh and timid voice: "Tian Zan, what do you want to do?"

Tian Zan snorted, "Can't you see it yet? I want your head to be my letter of fame!"

Wang Renze shouted, turned around and fled. His personal soldiers also turned their horses' heads one after another. Tian Zan waved his hand and said, "Shoot!"

Two thousand soldiers had arrows like rain, and Wang Renze and more than a hundred of his personal soldiers were shot like hedgehogs and fell off the horse and died. At this point, tens of thousands of Zheng troops in the southern expedition were destroyed, including the chief general Wang Renze who died under the scattered arrows.

.........

Three days later, Zhang Xuan personally led tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of warships to Xiangyang City along the Han River.

Zhang Xuan led an army of 50,000 to line up outside the North City. At this time, Huang Junhan, who arrived in Xiangyang first, brought a group of Xiangyang officials to welcome the arrival of King Zhang Xuan of Qi.

Huang Junhan served as the chief general of the prefecture in Xiangyang for ten years and had a deep connection in Xiangyang. He was born into a famous Huang family in Jiangxia, and had a friendship with all the big families in Jingzhou. He also had a good reputation among the people. Zhang Xuan decided to let him serve as the general manager of Jingbei, in charge of 10,000 troops in Xiangyang and the soldiers of the six counties and counties in Jingbei.

Although such local people's appointments as senior local military positions are likely to produce local warlords, everything has its disadvantages and advantages. The advantage is that at the beginning of chaos, this appointment is very beneficial to local stability and also to the court's control over the local area. As long as the world is stable and then slowly changes, its disadvantages can be avoided in time. Therefore, Zhang Xuan is not worried that Huang Junhan will become a big shot.

Huang Junhan saluted Zhang Xuan and introduced the officials around him to Zhang Xuan. He pointed to a civil servant and smiled and said, "This is Yang Junzhu, who has a very high prestige in Xiangyang."

Yang Shilin was originally resentful because the Northern Sui Dynasty assigned Xiangyang to Wang Shichong. This emotion always influenced him, so that he decided to abandon his post and go to Chang'an after defeating Wang Renze's army. However, the Sui army's heroic performance in fighting against Wang Renze's siege gradually eliminated his resentment towards the Northern Sui Dynasty. He felt more grateful for the Sui army. More importantly, Yang Shilin also knew that the Northern Sui Dynasty's strength was far stronger than the Tang Dynasty. From his personal future, loyalty to the Northern Sui Dynasty was obviously brighter.

This subtle change in mentality ultimately caused him not to leave after the war, but chose to stay. Moreover, Zhang Xuan's order to lead Huang Junhan to lead his army to Xiangyang also made him feel at ease, and he finally decided to turn to loyalty to the Northern Sui Dynasty.

Yang Shilin stepped forward and bowed, "My minister Yang Shilin met His Highness the King of Qi!"

Zhang Xuan said to him meaningfully: "Mr. Yang Jun is exempted from courtesy. This time, Yang Jun. Yang is able to convene a militia to defend his home. I hope that after Yang Jun. Yang will be more kind to the people and continue to work hard for the prosperity of Xiangyang."

Yang Shilin was stunned. He suddenly understood the profound meaning of what King Qi said about "ruling Xiangyang" and was to let himself take office as the prefect. He was moved and bowed again, "I will do my best to govern Xiangyang well and never let Your Highness down!"

Zhang Xuan nodded with a smile, and Yang Shilin introduced other officials to Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan comforted everyone one by one, and clearly expressed that he would not adjust the attitude of Xiangyang officialdom, which made everyone happy.

At this time, Zhang Xuan looked up and saw a head hanging from the Xiangyang city gate, and asked with a horse whip: "Is that Wang Renze's head?"

Huang Junhan quickly replied: "That's right!"

"Wang Renze was very guilty, especially the people of Jingling County were too much of a harm. He could send his head to Jingling County to comfort those innocent creatures."

"I will send someone to the decree today."

Zhang Xuan looked back at Luo Shixin and asked, "Can General Tian be there?"

Luo Shixin hurriedly pulled Tian Zan forward, and Tian Zan knelt down on one knee to salute, "I am not good at ease, please see His Highness, King Qi!"

He dared not call Zhang Xuan the commander. Although Luo Shixin accepted his surrender, Zhang Xuan had to nod and grant him the title before he could truly become a member of the Northern Sui Army.

Zhang Xuan asked lightly: "General Tian is also from Xiangyang?"

Tian Zan said with shame: "Bizhi was from Longzhong, Xiangyang. He followed General Zhang Zhenzhou. After General Zhang Zhenzhou was killed by Wang Shichong, Beizhi failed to adhere to the principle and was attracted by Wang Shichong."

"But you still broke up with Wang Shichong at a critical moment, didn't you?"

"Report to your highness, the mother of Wei Yi is from Jingling County. How can she tolerate Wang Renze killing the villagers? However, because of his own strength, he could not stop his atrocities. He had to break up with him and then find a way to avenge the villagers."

Zhang Xuan nodded, "I'll explain to the general later, let's go to the city first!"

Everyone surrounded Zhang Xuan and walked towards Xiangyang City. At this time, the refugees in Xiangyang City had basically evacuated and returned to their hometowns, and the city had also returned to the past order. Today, because of His Highness the King of Qi, the people of Xiangyang specially cleaned the streets, opened the doors of every household, placed incense tables at the door and knelt down to worship, sincerely welcomed the arrival of the Northern Sui monarch.

At this time, more than a hundred elders came towards us, knelt down to Zhang Xuan in the street, and shouted together: "Thank you, Your Highness, for sending troops to fight against the tiger and wolf army and protecting Xiangyang City."

Zhang Xuan quickly ordered his personal soldiers to lift these old men up, and said sincerely to them with his fists: "Although Xiangyang is a strategic place that must be fought for by military strategists, I believe that there will be no war in Xiangyang in the future. I also promise that all elders, I will do my best to defend the peace and tranquility of Xiangyang!"

"Long live Your Highness! Long live!" The elders cheered excitedly.

Countless people in the distance also shouted long live. Amid the cheers, Zhang Xuan walked into the county yamen.

After walking around Xiangyang, Zhang Xuan returned to the camp outside the city and sat down in the camp. Zhang Xuan asked him to invite Tian Zan. Zhang Xuan asked him to sit down and smiled: "General Tian served as a general in Wang Shichong, but General Tian should also know that the Northern Sui Dynasty does not have the position of a general at the moment, which is different from the Zheng army. So in terms of military positions, I cannot give you the position of a general."

Tian Zan hurriedly said: "I have no merits and no virtues, and I never dare to think about the position of a general."

Tian Zan knew very well how could he expect the position of general? Zhang Xuan was just saying this. He was originally a general of the Xiongwu in the Sui Dynasty. Wang Shichong appointed him as a general in order to win him over. Moreover, Wang Shichong had more than 20 generals, and there were countless generals, but the army was only more than 100,000. The value of his general was too low, and it was unlikely that even the Huben General was. He was satisfied that he could be named Huya Lang.

However, what made Tian Zan feel a glimmer of hope again was that Zhang Xuan did not need to receive his official position specifically. Only important officials would be accepted. Does he really have hope of being promoted?

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment: "I temporarily grant the general the position of General Huya Lang. In addition, I have a task to the general. If the general can complete it, it is not impossible for me to be promoted to General Hubei Lang."

Tian Zan immediately understood what Zhang Xuan meant, and he said without hesitation: "I am not willing to go through fire and water!"

Having said that, he was still a little nervous. He knew that the promotion from General Huya Lang to General Hubei Lang was not a little bit, but the difference between being promoted from Deputy General to Main General. This was because the Sui army clearly stipulated that the minimum commander of any battle must be General Hubei Lang, while General Huya Lang could only be Deputy General at the highest.

This shows that what Zhang Xuan wants to do himself will never be easy and will definitely be difficult.

At this time, Zhang Xuan asked, "I heard that General Tian and Guo Shiheng have a good personal relationship. I wonder if this person is loyal to Wang Shichong?"
Chapter completed!