Chapter 541: The plan to shut up

When Xiang Quan and others learned that Zhang Long came to encircle him with eight thousand troops, they were not panicked at all, but were secretly happy. Xiang Quan and Guan Ling didn't know Zhang Long, but Fan Yang, Li Fang, Dong Ning, who had been fighting with the Zhao army in Pengcheng County for many years, were very clear. To put it nicely, Zhang Long was mediocre, and to be ugly, he was just a fool. Not to mention eight thousand people, even if there were eight thousand more, they would not be afraid.

"But the Zhao army is twice as many as ours. Although Zhang Long's ability is average, I have to be careful. I still understand Zhang Jie. It is hard to guarantee that I will not leave a backhand to help Zhang Long. It is better to be careful." Although I was in a relaxed mood, Xiang Quan still said very cautiously.

"General Xiang is right!" Fan Yang nodded and said, "Zhang Jie is one of the few generals in Zhao State who can stand alone. Although I have never dealt with him, I understand that this person should not be underestimated. Although Zhang Long is not worth worrying, it is better to be careful."

"General Xiang, Military Advisor Fan, I have a plan to do it!" At this time, Guan Ling, who was standing beside him, suddenly said.

"Oh! I wonder what General Guan had a clever plan?" This surprised Xiang Quan a little. Before going to Guangling, he had learned about the generals from Yongping Guard and knew a little about Guan Ling. Guan Ling was very skilled in martial arts and was one of the best generals in Yongping Guard, but it was not his strength to make plans. Now Guan Ling suddenly said that he had a plan, which really surprised him.

But Fan Yang and the others didn't know that, they all looked at Guan Ling with anticipation, hoping that he could say a foolproof plan.

Guan Ling said: "Zhang Long should not know the purpose of our occupation of Wu County, and at the same time, we would not know that we have reached an agreement with the gentry and nobles in the city. So if someone in the city contacted Zhang Long at this time and said that he could help him open the gate of Wu County, what would you say about Zhang Long?"

"General Guan means to send someone to surrender, lead Zhang Long into the city, and then ambush the city and annihilate the Zhao army in one fell swoop?" Xiang Quan's eyes lit up after hearing this, but he quickly frowned and said, "But will Zhang Long believe it? You must know that the people of Zhao have always been very cautious about the gentry and nobles in Chu, and they don't trust it. It may be difficult to accomplish anything."

"Not necessarily!" Just as Xiang Quan raised his doubts, Fan Yang said: "In fact, although the people of Zhao are very cautious about the gentry and nobles in Chu, if they want to stabilize the gentry and nobles, these gentry and nobles are indispensable. Therefore, in recent years, the relationship between the two sides has actually eased, but this matter requires a respected person to come forward."

"A person with high virtue? The old man who met Tang Yuan that day seemed to be the leader of all the gentry and nobles in Wu County, but he probably wouldn't help us." Speaking of the most respected person in Wu County, Xiang Quan immediately thought of Tang Yuan who spoke on behalf of the gentry and nobles in Wu County that day.

"This person is indeed the best candidate. Let's do this. I'll talk to Tang Yuan and try to convince him." Fan Yang nodded, said, and offered to look for Tang Yuan.

"Okay, I'm afraid that only Military Commander Fan can convince Tang Yuan in this matter." Xiang Quan said.

Without further ado, Fan Yang immediately stood up and went to Tang Yuan's home.

After coming to Tang Yuan's house, Tang Yuan originally disagreed. After all, his request was that after Xiang Quan and others repelled the Zhao army, the gentry and nobles of Wu County would support them. Now that they actually wanted to lure the enemy by themselves, Tang Yuan would definitely not want to.

However, Fan Yang did not give up, but moved him with emotion and reason, and finally convinced Tang Yuan.

After convinced Tang Yuan, Fan Yang returned to the county government office and arranged defense with Xiang Quan and others, waiting for the arrival of Zhao's army.

On the fifth day of the September 5th of the year of Qianyuan, Zhang Long led 8,000 troops outside Wu County. In order to pacify the riots in Wu County as soon as possible, Zhang Long also rushed forward. It originally took five days to go, so Zhang Long forced himself to advance two days.

After arriving in Wu County, Zhang Long saw that Wu County was in a lockdown and the defenders on the top of the city were ready for battle. He originally planned to attack directly, but was dissuaded by the chief clerk of the army. The chief clerk advised Zhang Long not to worry and to find out the reality of the enemy first. When Zhang Long thought about it, he felt it made sense, so he temporarily set up camp outside the city.

Seeing that Zhao's army had arrived, Fan Yang immediately found Tang Yuan and asked him to send someone out of the city to contact Zhang Long. Tang Yuan knew that he had already boarded Fan Yang's pirate ship, so he had to compromise and sent his eldest son out of the city that night.

At night, Zhang Long was discussing the siege with the chief clerk in the central army's tent. Although Zhang Long was the garrison of Pengcheng and his position in the army was not too low, he had never led troops alone and had the same ability, so he had no idea how to start facing Wuxian, which was locked in the city.

Just when Zhang Long had no choice, a guard came to report that someone asked for a meeting outside the tent. Although Zhang Long felt a little strange, he still brought him in.

"The villain Tang Bu has met the general!" The person who came was Tang Bu, the eldest son of Tang Yuan.

"Tang Bu? Who are you? What's the matter with me?" Zhang Long searched his brain memory and confirmed that he didn't know the person named Tang Bu in front of him.

Tang Bu replied: "The villain is the son of Tang Yuan, the head of the Tang family in Wu County. This time he came here on the order of his father to ask for the general."

"Wu County Tang Family?" Zhang Long frowned. He had never heard of the Tang Family in Wu County, let alone any intersection. Why did the head of the Tang Family suddenly send someone to see him?

The chief clerk beside him leaned into Zhang Long's ear and whispered: "General, this Tang family is a century-old prominent family in Wu County. The head of the family Tang Yuan is the head of the gentry and nobles in Wu County. He has great prestige in Wu County."

Zhang Long nodded in a clear way, and then said to Tang Bu: "Tang Bu, I will have no contact with your Tang family. What is your purpose for this time?"

Tang Bu replied with a humility and arrogance: "The general doesn't know. A few days ago, a group of bandits attacked Wu County and killed all the defenders in Wu County. They also threatened us, including the major families in Wu County, to hand over the money and food of the family. For the safety of the family, we had to compromise. Now, when we learned that the general led the army, our father was overjoyed. After secretly discussing with the major families in the city, he sent villains to meet the general, hoping to cooperate with the general and take back Wu County in one fell swoop."

"How can I know whether what you said is true or false? If you collude with the thief, deliberately lure me, and then set up an ambush in the city, wouldn't that be trapped?" Zhang Long couldn't think of how to break through Wu County. At this time, someone suddenly came out to cooperate with him inside and outside, and he was very happy. However, although Zhang Long was a fool, he was not a fool, and he would not believe whatever others said.

Tang Bu also knew that it was not easy to believe Zhang Long, so he took out a letter from his arms and presented it with both hands and said, "General, this is my father's handwritten letter. The reason is that the general will know at a glance."

Zhang Long took the letter half-believingly and opened it and saw that the contents were all about Tang Yuan’s accusation of the chaotic army in the city. The words made people feel a little sympathy and pity when they read it. After Zhang Long finished reading it, he handed the letter to the chief clerk.

The chief clerk took a look and said to Zhang Long: "General, his subordinates have met Tang Yuan once and saw Tang Yuan's handwriting. This letter was indeed written by Tang Yuan."

Zhang Long nodded and said, "Well, sir, do you think what Tang Yuan and Tang Bu said is credible?" Zhang Long didn't care whether the letter was written by Tang Yuan himself. He only cared about whether Tang Yuan and Tang Bu said it was true.

The chief clerk thought for a while and said, "General, his subordinates thought it was credible. These gentry and nobles have always been good at protecting themselves. In the past, our army destroyed Chu, and they did not resist. If the survival of the family was not threatened, they would never take the risk, let alone take the initiative to collude with the bandits."

With the endorsement of the chief clerk, Zhang Long also put down his doubts and said to Tang Bu with a smile: "Young Master Tang, I may be a little cautious, so please don't blame me!"

Tang Bu shook his head and said, "As the chief general of the first army, it is understandable that the general is cautious when encountering things. How dare the villain blame the general?"

"Young Master understands it. By the way, I wonder what plans does Ling Zun have?" Zhang Long asked. He urgently needed to pacify the riots in Wu County as soon as possible, so he wanted to know what plans Tang Yuan had.

Tang Bu said: "General, my father has actually successfully bribed the city gate guards. Two days later, my father will lead the guards and soldiers of various major families in the city to quietly open the city gate. General Jieshi only needs to lead his army into the city and capture the thief's head."

Zhang Long thought about it and felt that this plan was good. His biggest resistance now was the city gate. As long as the city gate opened, he led his army into the city. With the eight thousand elite soldiers in his hands, a mere thief was not worth worrying about.

"Okay, please ask Mr. Tang to go back and tell Mr. Ling that at that time, I will lead troops to support him. As long as I successfully eliminate the bandits and recover Wu County, I will definitely ask for merit for Mr. Tang and Mr. Ling in front of General Zhang Jie." Zhang Long said?

"Don't worry, General, the villain will tell my father, but my father said that he can only act like this once. If he fails, the major families in Wu County will be doomed. Please do not break the agreement." Tang Bu said.

"Don't worry, Mr. Tang. Since I agreed, I will naturally not lose the agreement. Let Ling Zun not worry!" Zhang Long said firmly.

After Tang Bu returned to the city, he told Tang Yuan a lot of the agreement with Zhang Long. After Tang Yuan heard this, he planned to go to the county government to find Fan Yang.

At this time, Tang Bu grabbed Tang Yuan and said, "Father, Xiang Quan and Fan Yang are descendants of the former Chu, compared with the powerful Zhao State, after all, they are alone and are unlikely to accomplish. Why didn't his father take advantage of the situation and cooperate with Zhang Long to recover Wu County?"

Tang Bu has always been unable to understand why his father would rather bet on the fate of the family for Xiang Quan and Fan Yang, but he would not really cooperate with Zhao Jun?

"Bu'er, you're still too young!" Tang Yuan smiled and said, "Do you really think Fan Yang and others are so simple? Fan Yang and others can pull up thousands of troops, which must be the family wealth accumulated over the years, but they have not dared to confront Zhao's army head-on for so many years, but they just came out at this time?"

"Father, didn't Fan Yang say that? Is it because the battle between Deng and Zhao has given him the opportunity to overthrow Zhao State?" Tang Bu said in confusion.

"Haha!" Tang Yuan said: "You really believe Fan Yang's nonsense? You must know that the Chu State has disappeared long ago, and how can they control the war between Deng and Zhao? Even if Fan Yang and the others overthrew Zhao's rule in Chu, what will they use to stop Deng's army like wolves and tigers? So Fan Yang and the others must have relied on to dare to act like this."

"What does my father think is the reliance behind Fan Yang?" Tang Bu asked.

"In the past few days, I have observed Xiang Quan and Fan Yang's army for my father and found that there is a team of people who are very different from others. If I guessed it wrong for my father, this team of people will definitely be the elite of the army. And those who can have such elite troops and horses in the world and appear in Pengcheng are the only ones who can appear in the Zhao army and Deng army." Tang Yuan said.

"What my father meant is the Deng Kingdom behind Xiang Quan and Fan Yang?" Tang Bu suddenly realized that such elite troops were either Zhao Army or Deng Army, but Fan Yang had a clear stand against Zhao State, so it was impossible for Zhao Army, so it was only Deng Army.
Chapter completed!