Han officials

The north wind howled, and thick smoke billowed.

As the Wei army gradually occupied the city walls, the four gates that had been blocked were soon opened.

As the banners bearing the character "Yuan" fell one by one from the walls of Shouchun, this important town in Huainan finally fell into the hands of the Wei army.

"Da~da~da~"

One after another, warhorses filed in, their iron hooves making a crisp sound on the streets of Shouchun.

Surrounded by his soldiers, Wei Zhe slowly ascended the city wall.

With the cautionary tales of Sun Jian and Sun Ce before him, Wei Zhe rarely charged into the front lines anymore.

After all, street fighting can sometimes be more dangerous than open field fighting, as you never know where a stray arrow might come from.

Standing on the dilapidated city wall, Wei Zhe looked down at Shouchun and found that the place was even more desolate than he had imagined.

Apart from the conspicuous imperial palace in the east of the city, the rest of the city was in a state of decay.

Thinking of this, Wei Zhe couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.

Sometimes he really couldn't understand where Yuan Shu got the confidence to declare himself emperor.

Where is Yuan Shu?

Upon hearing this, Xi Zhicai immediately stepped forward, unable to suppress a laugh, and said:
"Zilong just sent word that Yuan Shu, dressed in the emperor's crown and with the imperial seal at his waist, hanged himself under a crooked tree in the inner palace!"

"Tsk tsk, this guy really was still dreaming of becoming the emperor even until his death!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhe couldn't help but chuckle.

As expected of Yuan Gonglu, he was always stirring things up until his death!

But so be it, he'll die anyway. Even if Yuan Shu doesn't commit suicide, he'll at least make sure he's treated with dignity.

If Yuan Shu hadn't died, the tens of thousands of bones in Huainan would probably have died with their eyes wide open in dismay.

In comparison, the most disappointed was Wuwei Colonel Mao Kun.

It should be noted that he was among the first brave warriors to scale the walls and among the first Wei troops to enter the city.

After entering the city, Mao Kun disregarded the enemy's superior numbers and launched a direct attack on the Shouchun Imperial Palace.

After all, what merit is there in capturing or killing Yuan's generals and officers compared to capturing the false emperor alive?

Mao Kun was just waiting for this opportunity to use Yuan Shu as a stepping stone to help him rise to the rank of general!

However, Mao Kun never expected that Yuan Shu would die so hastily, without even waiting for him!
"Pah, what bad luck!"

Under the crooked tree, looking at the swaying teru teru bozu (a Japanese doll shaped like a teru bozu) under the branches, Mao Kun looked disgusted.

……

It's better to come early than to come by coincidence.

When Wu Jing was escorted by Wei scouts all the way to Shouchun, he happened to see Yuan Shu's corpse hanging on the city gate.

Then, they were torn off and eaten by the angry refugees, defeated soldiers, and able-bodied men outside the city.

Yes, it means exactly what it says, we ate it!

The desire to devour its flesh, spit its blood, smash its bones, and suck its marrow was vividly manifested at this moment.

Countless people in Huainan tore Yuan Shu's corpse into pieces and devoured it with gritted teeth.

Before this fellow came to Huainan, although there was war and chaos in the area, there was not a famine.

However, due to Yuan Shu's large-scale construction projects and exorbitant taxes, countless people starved to death.

Some of them were infants crying for milk, while others were elderly people on their deathbeds.

Countless people in Huainan lost their parents, wives and children, and even their lives.

If it were a natural disaster, that would be one thing, but this is purely a man-made disaster.

In this situation, Yuan Shu was lucky to have died a gruesome death.

However, looking at the scene before him, Wu Jing felt a chill run down his spine.

At that moment, he was incredibly grateful that his family had surrendered in time.

Therefore, when Wu Jing met Wei Zhe, he was extremely cautious and respectful, even crawling on his knees to enter the tent to pay his respects.

Seeing this, Wei Zhe immediately looked around and joked:

"Why is it like this? Am I that frightening?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Jing immediately prostrated himself on the ground, filled with trepidation, and said:

"Lord Wei possesses the appearance of a celestial being, while this humble general is but a mortal being, utterly unable to withstand such divine might!"

Upon hearing this, the entire tent erupted in laughter.

Mao Kun and the others chimed in, saying, "Your Highness's divine might is supreme; how could we possibly dare to peek?"

Although Wei Zhe knew they were flattering him, he couldn't help but chuckle repeatedly.

However, after this incident, Wei Zhe found Wu Jing much more pleasing to the eye when he looked at him again.

"Very well, for Wentai's sake, you shall serve under me for now."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jing was overjoyed and immediately bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

With the fall of Shouchun, Yuan's troops in various parts of Jiujiang County immediately surrendered.

This time, the matter was truly settled "with a single proclamation"!
Before Wei Zhe's military orders were even issued, Qi Ji and Qin Yi, who were stationed in Hefei with more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry, took the initiative to surrender, disarmed their troops, and put their grain into the granary. They were incredibly voluntary.

By the way, since Wei Zhe was all alone and had no one to serve him, Qiao Rui, who had already risen to the rank of auxiliary military officer, offered up her two daughters and offered them as slaves to serve Wei Zhe's daily life.

That's right, they are the Two Qiaos of Jiangdong!
This time, however, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were not chosen; Wei Zhe accepted them without hesitation.

……

Several days later, on the city wall of Hefei.

Looking out over Chaohu Lake on the horizon, Wei Zhe felt refreshed and invigorated.

I played with the two Qiao sisters at Chaohu Lake, enjoying their company day and night.

The kind of pleasure that Prime Minister Cao could never enjoy, Wei Zhe has now tasted.

Wow, the ladies of Jiangnan, speaking in the soft Wu dialect, are truly captivating!

Recalling the auspicious double phoenixes of last night, even Wei Zhe, a veteran of countless battles, couldn't help but savor the memory!

However, Xi Zhicai, standing to the side, in a rather unromantic manner, began to talk about the situation in Jiangdong.

"Although Jiujiang, Runan, and Danyang have been secured, this battle has not yet achieved complete success."

Xi Zhicai said with great regret, "If we could have taken Nanyang County as planned before the war, Jingzhou would have been in turmoil."

"Even if Liu Jingsheng is unwilling at that time, I'm afraid the people of Jingzhou will not help the wicked!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhe immediately laughed heartily:

"What's so difficult about that? Once we've settled things in Jiangdong, we can take Nanyang later."

Wei Zhe didn't believe a single word about the fact that Jingzhou was under his jurisdiction or that Liu Biao had appointed him.

Based on his understanding of Liu Bei, this guy was probably just playing with fire and then paying the price later.

Even if the Wei army turned back and destroyed Liu Bei in Nanyang, Liu Biao still wouldn't dare to meddle!
However, before that, he still needs to deal with Liu Yao first!

After all, the situations in Jingzhou and Yangzhou are different. Liu Biao is still in good health at the moment, and there will be no major changes in the next year or two.

But Yangzhou is different; it is now completely leaderless.

Especially after Wei Zhe eliminated Yuan Shu, this scourge, there were basically no major powers left in Yangzhou.

If Wei Zhe ignores this, Liu Yao, who has been officially appointed by the Chang'an court, will likely be the biggest winner.

Because rights cannot exist in a vacuum; if you don't occupy them, someone else will.

At that time, Yangzhou under Liu Yao might become an even more troublesome place than Eastern Wu.

Wei Zhe's visit to Hefei this time was actually for this very purpose.

On the very day Shouchun was captured, Wei Zhe personally wrote a letter to Lu Kang urging him to surrender.

"What did they say from Lujiang County?" Wei Zhe asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"No response yet..."

However, before Xi Zhicai could finish speaking, they saw a large ship sailing up the Shi River, gradually approaching.

When Xi Zhicai saw the character "陆" (land) on the sail, he couldn't help but laugh out loud:
"It seems that Prefect Lu has finally come to his senses!"

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on acquiring another prefecture! The people of Lujiang are truly blessed!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhe laughed heartily, in high spirits.

However, after he received the envoy from Lujiang, Lu Kang's son, Lu Jun, came forward and said apologetically:
"My father is old and frail, and he really cannot withstand the wind and waves of Chaohu Lake. Please forgive him, Your Highness!"

Wei Zhe suddenly realized, "That's right, Lu Kang is already seventy years old."

"It's alright. I still have two old ginseng roots from Buxian Mountain, which are very nourishing for the elderly. Since you're here, Gongxiu, please take them back with you. It's just a small token of my appreciation!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jun was immediately grateful and bowed in thanks.

It should be noted that with Wei Zhe's rise to power in Liaodong, everything in Liaodong is now expensive.

Even the ginseng from Buxian Mountain surpassed that of the ginseng from Shangdang Mountain, becoming a precious tonic for the powerful and wealthy.

Lu Jun had heard of it before, but he never had a way to buy it.

I am deeply grateful for Wei Zhe's kindness.

"The map of Lujiang, the household register, and the military tally are here. Please inspect them, Lord Wei!"

After saying this, Lu Jun solemnly knelt down and placed a wooden box in front of him.

Seeing this, Wei Zhe nodded in satisfaction.

Especially the military tally, that's what he values ​​most on this trip.

Although he also had his own East China Sea navy, inland rivers are different from the open sea.

Furthermore, with the extensive waterways of Jiangdong, the value of the local navy is undeniable.

The Chaohu naval forces of Lujiang County, in particular, had been tested in war.

So Wei Zhe immediately stepped forward to help Lu Jun up, and said with admiration:

"I have long known of Gongxiu's talent. Today, having gained Lujiang is not as good as having you!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jun's face immediately turned bright red with excitement.

If his previous goodwill towards Wei Zhe stemmed from Wei Zhe's care for his father, then at this moment it was purely out of respect for Wei Zhe himself.

After all, thanks to Wei Zhe's words, Lu Jun's name will be recorded in history books for future generations.

Lu Jun was immediately moved and pledged his loyalty:
"This humble subject from Jiangdong is short-sighted and does not deserve Your Highness's great favor."

"My lowly life is not worth cherishing. If Your Highness appoints me to any position, I will follow you to the death!"

"Good, good, good!" Wei Zhe exclaimed three times with a smile upon hearing this, and immediately appointed him as the Hengjiang Colonel.

He ordered them to expand the Chaohu naval force into the Yangtze River naval force, specializing in inland waterway warfare.

Wei Zhe pointed to the distant mountains and rivers, and said with boundless pride:
"You have the talent for naval warfare, it's a pity that you're confined to the small lake of Chaohu."

"This vast land of Jiangdong is all thanks to our military exploits."

"If you can brave the waves and quell the bandits during your free time, I will certainly reward you with a title of nobility!"

For a time, the two were in perfect harmony, like ruler and subject.

It must be said that the strategy of treating scholars with respect is indeed effective.

The more prestigious the person in a position, the better they are at winning people's hearts.

When Lu Kang, who was stationed in Shuxian County, learned of the news, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

After a long while, Lu Kang, with his snow-white hair and wrinkled face, couldn't help but sigh:

"Very well, this might be a good thing for the people of Jiangdong!"

As the Prefect of Lujiang, Lu Kang naturally knew what Liu Yao, the Governor of Yangzhou, was doing.

Even when the Wei army attacked Huainan, Liu Yao's envoy visited Lu Kang.

However, Liu Yao's envoy immediately asked for troops and supplies, which greatly displeased Lu Kang.

He keenly sensed that if Liu Yao seized the opportunity to rise up, Yangzhou would likely be plunged into prolonged war.

Therefore, Lu Kang not only rejected Liu Yao's request, but also sent a letter to Zhou Shu, the governor of Yuzhang, urging him to remain neutral.

Otherwise, Liu Yao would not have ultimately chosen to settle in Wu Commandery.

However, on the other hand, Lu Kang will have to remain the Prefect of Lujiang for a while longer.

Because Wei Zhe intended for Cui Yan to succeed him as the Prefect of Lujiang, and even planned to make him the Governor of Yangzhou in a few years.

After all, the agricultural level and land development level of Jiangdong are still too low. If Cui Yan could develop more of Jiangdong, the pressure on the Central Plains and Hebei would be greatly reduced... (End of this chapter)