Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 487: Conquering the City
According to Liu Hui Niang's strategy, Zhao Zhen began to deploy troops.

During this period, Shi Qian came from Mizhou again. In addition to Shi Qian, he was accompanied by Li Zhong, the former leader of Taohua Mountain.

Song Qing attacked prefectures and counties, and wherever he went, he looted all the money, grain, and armor from the government treasury. The previous method of providing loose grain to help poor farmers was no longer available, and all the gold and silk from the government treasury, the rice from the granaries, and the property of the rich families that he had robbed were loaded and shipped away.

After conquering Mizhou, Li Zhong was left in Gaomi by Song Qing to take charge of the matter.

Gaomi has two rivers, the Jiaolai River and the Weishui River, which go directly through Weizhou to the north of Laizhou Bay, which seems to confirm Wanqi Rong's words.

When Guan Sheng led his troops to Gaomi, Shi Qian volunteered and told Guan Sheng that he was acquainted with Li Zhong and wanted to go to the city to persuade Li Zhong to surrender.

When meeting Li Zhong, Shi Qian talked about the old days, and Li Zhong also talked about his regret for not being able to surrender to Zhao Zhen.

As soon as Guan Sheng arrived with his troops, Li Zhong ordered the city gates to be opened to welcome Guan Sheng into the city, and handed over all the money and grain that had been transported to Gaomi.

After the city was stabilized, Guan Sheng asked Shi Qian to take Li Zhong to see Wu Xuejiu in Anqiu. After meeting Wu Yong, the two asked Wu Yong to send Li Zhong to Laiwu Prison to see Zhao Zhen.

In addition to bringing the good news that Gaomi and Anqiu were also recaptured by Wu Yong and Guan Sheng, the two also proposed that Wu Yong plan to continue pursuing Song Qing's Qingzhou bandits.

Zhao Zhen listened to the two men's words and said, "Brothers Li Zhong and Zhou Tong originally intended to come to Liangshan, but unfortunately, God did not follow their wishes, and Song Jiang interfered. Later, I made some deals with Song Jiang through you two. Now that brother Li Zhong can come, I naturally welcome him here. At the court, just say that you brothers can't stand Song Jiang's cruelty to the people, and you brothers surrendered the city. This is also considered a meritorious service, and it will not be difficult to get a pardon from the court. How about you also be an officer in my army from now on?"

After hearing this, Li Zhong hurriedly thanked him, "Brother Zhou Tong and I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. When I came here, I heard from the military advisor that brother Zhou Tong was in Laiwu Prison. I am willing to go to the city. Brother Zhou Tong has long wanted to surrender to you, sir. Now he is trapped in an isolated city. I am afraid that his family is in Qingzhou. I will go to the city and tell him that he surrenders the city. With the help of internal and external forces, as long as no one escapes, we can just tell the outside world that brother Zhou Tong was killed, and his family will be safe. We can quietly move him to Liangshan in a few days."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen said to Li Zhong, "Brother, I don't know what happened in the city. The city is under siege again. How can you enter the city?"

"The imperial court has been urging us to do this these days. I'm afraid it won't work if we just besiege Laiwu Prison without attacking it. I have a man here. Can you recognize him, brother?"

As he spoke, Zhao Zhen whispered a few words to the soldier serving beside him.

Soon, Zhen Xianglin entered the tent.

Li Zhong was surprised when he saw her: "Ruan Zhaoer, why are you here?"

Zhen Xianglin said, "Why can't I come?"

After listening to Zhen Xianglin's words, Li Zhong looked at him carefully and said, "You are not Ruan Zhaoer."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "Yes, this brother's name is Zhen Xianglin. If he pretends to be Ruan Zhaoer, can he be identified?"

Li Zhong said: "Why should I pretend? It's not an exaggeration to say so."

At that moment, Zhao Zhen told Li Zhong the plan that everyone had discussed, and then said: "Originally I was not completely sure, but with you, my brother, it will be foolproof."

At that moment, Zhao Zhen asked Shi Qian and Li Zhong to rest in the big camp. He was not in a hurry to report the victory of Mizhou, but just waited to capture Laiwu Prison so that they could report the credit together.

Two days later, Xiao Rang of Liangshan Prefecture sent a pigeon with the news that the war horses purchased from Zengtou City had arrived. According to the price of two stones of tea for five horses, Zengtou City had sent 2500 war horses, more than half of which were mares. Zhao Zhen received the pigeon message and sent someone to call Zeng Mi, who was recovering from his injuries in the camp.

After greeting, Zhao Zhen said: "Brother, I have received news that Brother Zeng Sheng will be back with your brother Zeng Kui in the next day or two. Send out scouts to pick him up and don't let him come to the camp..."

Zhao Zhen explained to Zeng Mi the plan of Li Zhong, Zhen Xianglin and others to defraud the city.

Zeng Mi was delighted when he heard this and said, "So, my lord, you withdrew the North Gate camp a few days ago for this."

Two days later, Li Zhong and Zhen Xianglin led more than 300 riders and headed straight for the north gate of Laiwu Prison along the official road. Five miles away, Zeng Kui and Zeng Sheng, under the banner of Hu Yanzhuo, rode their horses to chase them.

On the top of the city wall, the soldiers guarding the city saw from afar the dust flying, the two groups of people chasing each other, and the sound of gongs. Meng Futong, who was on duty, heard it and hurried up the city wall. Li Zhong shouted: "Brother Zhou Tong, open the city gate quickly."

While shouting, he and Zhen Xianglin rode forward. Meng Futong looked at the bloodstained and incompletely armored horsemen under the city and shouted, "Two leaders, why are you here in Laiwu Prison?"

Li Zhong shouted, "In the battle of Laiwu, we fell into a trap. The two new Lingzhou militiamen pretended to be defeated. We chased them too far and were ambushed by Hu Yanzhuo's linked armored cavalry. We were defeated. We were separated and could not return to the city, so we had to come to Laiwu Prison to take shelter temporarily."

Meng Futong wanted to ask more questions, but Li Zhong started cursing as he watched the cavalry approaching.

Zhou Tong and Ruan Qixiang, who arrived after hearing the news, met Li Zhong and Ruan Zhaoer and immediately ordered the city to be opened.

It turned out that Lai Yong'er had deliberately chosen three people who had nothing to do with each other to guard the city, and ordered that two people's consent was required to open the city gate. Therefore, when Zhao Zhen sent people to shoot arrows to persuade them to surrender, Zhou Tong wanted to open the city and surrender, but because of this order, he could not find a chance.

Seeing the imperial troops chasing them in the distance, Zhou Tong was concerned about Li Zhong, and Ruan Qixiang was concerned about Ruan Zhaoer, so they hurriedly ordered the city gates to be opened.

Coincidentally, Laiwu Prison had four gates, and when the three men came to guard the city, the other three gates were blocked with earth and stones, leaving only the North Gate, which was convenient for traveling with Laiwu, and was also reserved for escape when the city could not be defended.

With the rattling sound of iron chains, the gate of Laiwu Prison, which had been closed for nearly two months, was finally opened.

As the gate opened, Li Zhong and Zhen Xianglin rode forward, and more than 300 cavalrymen rushed in. Without waiting for Zhou Tong and others to order the gate to be closed, the cavalrymen at the back raised their axes and cut the iron ropes of the suspension bridge.

Li Zhong and Zhen Xianglin, who rushed into the city, shouted, "Song Jiang has been defeated. Come and surrender. Those who resist will be killed without mercy."

More than 300 people shouted together, and the other three camps listened, and the war drums in various camps started beating "clang, clang, clang" at the same time. The shouts of "kill, kill, kill" rose to the sky.

On the top of the city wall, Zhou Tong and the other two were stunned.

Just as Meng Futong was about to order the arrows to be shot, Ruan Qixiang hurriedly shouted, "Captain Meng, surrender."

Soon, Zeng Kui and others also entered the city from the gate guarded by Li Zhong and others. The situation was already decided. Li Zhong shouted: "Brother Zhou Tong, if you don't surrender now, when will you surrender?"

On the top of the city wall, Zhou Tong and Ruan Qixiang, each holding a weapon, looked at Meng Futong standing aside. Seeing Meng Futong, he quickly shouted, "I am willing to surrender."

(End of this chapter)