"Yes, we can only rely on the knife in our hands to make a living. But sir, Xuchang City is only about ten miles away, and the scouts also showed that the lake bandits did not have much military force in the city. Are we..."

Cao Zhilun wanted to speak but stopped, so Hu Biao certainly understood what his deputy thought.

Why doesn’t he want to take down Xuchang City? This is the capital of Yunzhou Prefecture.

Although he has been harmed by the lake bandits for many years, he is still the center of a state. If he can seize the Xuchang County Town, this honorary land will be a foregone conclusion.

Unfortunately, there is an order above. The task of the Third Army of Wuning Left Army is to clean up the south side of Xuchang and the lake area, completely cut off the connection between the lake bandits and Xuchang City, so that this is how to advance step by step.

More than ten major battles were fought, and the losses were quite large. There were thousands of lake bandits killed, but there were really no such thing as a great victory. Today's battle has already achieved quite good results.

Now the strategy of the Wuning Left Army is like this. The Third Army of the Wuning Left Army is located on the southern road, the middle road is the First Army of the Wuning Left Army that has just entered the battlefield, the Northern road is the Second Army of the Wuning Left Army, and the Pinglu in the south is the Fifth Army of the Wuning Left Army (formerly the Fifth Army of the Huai You Left Army).

The Fourth Army of the Wuning Left Army, which was closely behind the First Army of Wuning Left Army in the middle, was scattered in a relatively wide range of battalions and spread out in battalions, mainly to clear out the escaped lake bandits and escaped lake bandits and those who wanted to return home from the lake bandits.

According to the principle determined by the Wang Sutra, it is that whether it is the captured lake bandits, the person who automatically escapes from the lake bandits, or the person who actively surrenders to the government army and the lake bandits who surrender, they all need to be taken to Sucheng for review and identification.

These people need to explain to the officials responsible for the review clearly their time, experience and actions to join the lake bandits, and also list witnesses who are no less than three people for verification. After identification and review, they must confirm that they are willing to completely turn back and return to justice, and issue a guarantee letter before they can be forgiven and treated with lenient treatment.

There are two ways to make meritorious service to atone for sins. One is to report and expose others, especially those gentry and people who privately collude with the lake bandits and do evil; the other is to take the initiative to join the army and guide the official army to attack the lake bandits.

This trick is very skillful. For the gangsters who want to be good, it is not as simple as you just surrendering and explaining your own problems. These people are more or less involved in the murder of someone who has engaged in looting. If you want to atone for your sins, you must make meritorious service.

The first method is basically to cut off one's own position, and the second way out is to have to join the army.

"Zhilun, we have to be content. Our Third Army has made great contributions in the Northern Expedition. Although the deputy envoy of the army has been promoted, our brothers below are still waiting to give their merits to the test department. Although we are going to the southern line in this battle, we have made some contributions after these ten more battles, right?" Hu Biao said happily: "If Xuchang City is also occupied by us, how can you let the First Army and the Fourth Army bear the feelings? They have just caught up with the first battle after joining our county magistrate, and I hope to make some achievements through this battle."

Cao Zhilun also grinned.

This is indeed reasonable. In the army, we must also say that opportunities are equal and we cannot eat alone.

Everyone knows that there are not many decent battles in Yunzhou. It is probably the greatest contribution to capturing a few county towns. It is not easy for the First Army to catch up. There is also the Fourth Army following behind and it is even more difficult.

"Sir, according to the current situation, it will take some time to clean up Xuchang and Shouzhang?"

Cao Zhilun was really afraid that he would finish the war in a few moves.

The Wuning Left Army is pretty good. He picked up a Yunzhou and could at least fight a few battles from all over the world.

But although Wuning's Right Army had determined to attack Haizhou, it was said that it was still pacifying the Lu army's negotiations. If the negotiations were successful, the battle would not be successful.

For the army, an army that cannot fight is really tragic.

According to the strategy determined by the General Staff of the Privy Council, with Sucheng Hepinglu as the base and Sucheng as the bridgehead, three routes were advanced toward Xuchang.

The southern line, that is, the Third Army, has a great responsibility, and is mainly responsible for clearing the lake bandits and cutting off the connection between the lake bandits and the lake. The middle line must conquer Xuchang, and the northern line will detour and march ahead along the border between Yunzhou and Jeju to prevent the lake bandits in the Shouzhang direction from reinforced the Xuchang Lake bandits.

From the current perspective, the lake bandits obviously realized that the general situation was uncontradictory, and began to evacuate from Xuchang County to the west and south one after another. However, the lake bandits' retreat still seemed very strategic. They did not flee in a swarm, but proved that they still had the power of a war in a small-scale counterattack, which made the official army dare not advance rashly.

"Once Xuchang is taken down, it will be soon. Taking down Xuchang, Xuchang, Sucheng, and Pinglu will become a triangular area. The lake bandits will not dare to go deep into this area easily, and social security will improve significantly. As long as you take down Liangshan, the strategic location, you can directly suppress Shouzhang. It is estimated that by then, the Shouzhang water bandits will have to take the initiative to withdraw to the lake." Hu Biao stroked his jaw and said with certainty.

"The key is that Liangshan is still in the hands of the water bandits. If this throat is not taken down, the lake bandits can still be rampant for a while." Cao Zhilun also sighed a little regretfully, "So you must take down Liangshan first. I wonder if this good thing will be our turn?"

At this time, Liangshan was not close to Juyeze. It was ten miles away from Juyeze, but it was close to Jishui, which was the key to the plains and lowlands in the northern part of Yunzhou. As long as Liangshan is taken down, Shouzhang can go down without fighting and even directly threaten Yuncheng.

Hu Biao was also weighing it in his heart.

He knew the hidden meaning in Cao Zhilun's words. In addition to Wuning's left army, he also sent Xiaozuo to understand the surrounding situation.

There must be brave men under heavy rewards. And now, no one in this area can see that the good days of the lake bandits are coming soon. A large number of lake bandits surrendered and would rather take the initiative to go to Sucheng for education.

In these consecutive battles, they also captured many lake bandits, many of which were lake bandits near Liangshan. They were also familiar with the situation in Liangshan. If they could select a few people from them and make a profit, they could fight this battle well.

The two exchanged gazes, Hu Biao put his hands down from his jaw, and said lightly: "Zhilun, just say something if you have something to do."

"Hehe, I can't hide this little thought from my subordinates." Cao Zhilun also smiled mysteriously, "I was thinking a few days ago that Xuchang City will be able to be taken sooner or later, but Shouzhang City will take some days. Although the Shumitang has not set a time for our Wuning Left Army, we also know that the county magistrate will be at ease if he takes Yunzhou one day as soon as possible."

Hu Biao nodded slightly and signaled the other party to continue.

"A few days ago, many of the lake bandits captured were once among the Liangshan bandits, and several of them had been small leaders." Cao Zhilun paused, "In addition, a man who had discussed with the Yunzhou Army who came to take over the prisoners yesterday. He mentioned that a surrender was once the leader of the Liangshan Lake bandits, and talked about his willingness to return to Liangshan to cooperate with others and redeem his sins,..."

"Oh?" Hu Biao's interest increased greatly, and his eyes were full of brilliance. "How did Zhilun think about it?"

"I was thinking that if this is true, we can make a good conclusion." Seeing that the Lord was interested in the future, Cao Zhilun couldn't help but be ready to fight. If this battle is good, the other side can make a first-class contribution. "I think so. If the surrender is willing to sneak back to Liangshan to cooperate, you might as well let Wuwentang carefully first. After sure, you can send it back. It is a path. In addition, among the captive bandits, there are also many who are willing to atone for their sins. They can also return. We have secretly told these people back. This is the second path...."

"No, we can do this,..." Hu Biao's face showed a deeper and cold smile.

******************************************

"Captain Ruan, Chief Ruan!"

Turning around, covered in dark lumps of flesh, the strong man burped inadvertently, "What's the matter?"

"Brother Chao said he wanted to invite Leader Ruan to come over and discuss important matters." The man running over smiled and bent over and said.

"Hmph, what's the idea of ​​Brother Chao?" The strong man looked impatient. "I know what he said, but the brothers who escaped must not stop? They all have to drive them out. Who would be willing to surrender in the future? Besides, we are all neighbors in the wings near Liangshan, who doesn't know the truth? Brother Chao is too timid, right?"

"Hehe, Leader Ruan, we don't understand these words. Please ask Leader Ruan to discuss with Brother Chao and the others." A sharp look flashed in the man's eyes, but because there were two men following behind the strong man, holding the knife on his waist with both hands, he could only suppress his temperament and smile.

"Go and tell your second brother that someone has drunk some wine and is a little tired. What if someone goes to his village to apologize tomorrow?" The strong man waved his hand.

"Hehe, Leader Ruan, aren't you making things difficult for the young people? How dare we delay what Brother Chao ordered? Please..." The man cursed in his heart, but he did not dare to act rashly.

"Don't be clamoring, I have my own idea." The strong man's face turned cold and he waved his hand, "You go and tell me that my second brother, and my second brother won't make things difficult for you."

After saying that, he turned around and left. The other two men also looked at each other coldly and followed the leader of the Ruan.

The man stood there on the spot, almost clenching his fists, but he did not dare to explode. He could only look at the other party's back as he left, stomped his feet, and finally he could only sigh and turn back.

The three of them turned around the foot of the mountain, and the dark and strong man's face had become even more sinister, "I'm afraid something will happen tonight!"
Chapter completed!