The prince is more stable

Chapter 381 Surrender to the Enemy to Protect Yourself
If Zhang Lan had shown more care and concern for his soldiers and withheld less rations and wages, the soldiers would not have turned against him so quickly.

A general who leads troops only knows how to make money and is willing to sacrifice the blood of his soldiers for financial gain. Isn't it natural for him to be betrayed by his own soldiers?

If Zhang Lan had shown a little kindness to the soldiers, the soldiers on the city wall might have helped Zhang Lan for a while longer tonight, putting up some futile resistance before surrendering.

However, Zhang Lan obviously did not have a good reputation among the 10,000 imperial guards. The captain guarding the city gate and his brothers immediately chose to turn side without hesitation and obeyed Chen Shou's order.

At nightfall, the city of Zhending was silent. Snowflakes were falling all over the sky, and the ground was covered in white. The pure white snow covered up all the filth and stench of the world.

At dusk, a large group of people, about 5,000 in number, stood quietly outside Zhending City. They held flintlock rifles, wore light armor, and lined up in neat rows, quietly gazing at the closed gates of Zhending City.

Their bodies were unknowingly covered with a layer of snow, and the biting cold wind whistled past, but they stood in the queue motionless, like eternally standing statues, guarding the mission of recording history.

After a long time, the tightly closed city gate quietly opened with a dull creaking sound.

Zhong Jianzhong, who was on horseback, suddenly drew his sword and shouted, "Follow the orders of the Duke of Zhao. All soldiers, follow me into the city to punish the thieves and eliminate the traitors!"

The soldiers moved in unison, stood up straight with a bang, and responded loudly.

The orderly footsteps rumbled as they headed towards the city gate. The boundless murderous intent became more and more urgent and suffocating as the team moved forward.

The captain and his soldiers who opened the city gate opened their eyes wide in shock, and immediately made way for the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp.

This military presence, this formation, this murderous aura that's like a demonic god emerging from the world...

Were they one of the four upper armies from Bian Jing? The imperial guards, said to be the most elite in the world, lived up to their reputation after witnessing them with my own eyes today.

In addition to awe, the captain also felt a little fortunate. He was glad that he had chosen the right side. Otherwise, if he had stood on Zhang Lan's side, tonight might have been his death anniversary.

Of course, the captain felt a bit more absurd.

The Dragon Guard Battalion, so powerful and unstoppable, entered the city to eliminate the traitors and deal with Zhang Lan. Did Liu Qianliang and his officials give them face? Did they deserve to die under the swords and axes of these elite soldiers?

No, they don't deserve it.

Why use a butcher knife to kill a chicken? Just send a few hundred people into the city and all the officials and generals will be wiped out. There is no need for five thousand troops.

From this we can see that Duke Zhao must have been a very cautious person, whether in his actions or in the use of troops.

No matter how weak the enemy is, we must fight with the strength of a lion fighting a rabbit and achieve our goal.

When Zhong Jianzhong led his troops into Zhending City, a group of soldiers from the Dragon Guard Camp also appeared outside the Western Suburbs Forbidden Army Camp.

This army of about 20,000 people took advantage of the cover of night and quietly approached the camp.

The main camp was the base of the Zhending Imperial Guards, which was also Zhang Lan’s headquarters, with 10,000 Imperial Guards stationed there.

The general leading the 20,000-strong Dragon Guard Battalion was Zong Ze.

Zong Ze was very excited. This was the first time that Zhao Xiaoqian had entrusted him with an important task. Since Zong Ze had just left the Novice Village, Zhao Xiaoqian would not assign him a task that was too difficult.

Twenty thousand soldiers from the Dragon Guard Camp surrounded the camp of ten thousand imperial guards in Zhending Prefecture, controlled the situation in the camp, arrested the generals involved in the incident, and at the same time calmed the morale of the troops to prevent them from mutiny.

It must be said that the border troops were not relaxed in their armaments. After nightfall, the Imperial Guards camp set up sentries as usual. As soon as the 20,000 Dragon Guards camp soldiers approached the camp, they were discovered by the sentries and were sternly questioned about their origins.

Zong Ze calmly took out the badge and document granted by Zhao Xiaoqian and shouted, "By order of Zhao Jungong, the Governor of Zhending and the Governor of Hebei West Route, the Dragon Guard Battalion is taking over the Zhending Prefecture Imperial Guard Camp. Anyone who refuses to cooperate or dares to resist will be charged with treason and their entire clan will be executed. Make way!"

The sentry was shocked and did not dare to make any move on his own. He quickly turned around and ran into the camp.

At this time, the 20,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp also quietly completed the encirclement of the camp. Looking at the news continuously sent by the scouts, Zong Ze nodded.

Encirclement means that half the task is accomplished. Even if the imperial guards resist, there is nothing to be afraid of, because no one can escape.

…………

The words "a cornered dog will jump over the wall" were etched on Liu Qianliang's face at this moment. After the last negotiation with Zhao Xiaoqian broke down, both sides said goodbye with a smile, and Liu Qianliang, returning home, immediately prepared to start a rebellion.

There is no way out.

From the moment Zhao Xiaoqian openly investigated the public accounts of Zhending Prefecture, it meant that the matter was absolutely irreversible and the only outcome would be a life-and-death struggle for both sides.

Until now, Liu Qianliang still can't figure it out.

Why did Zhao Xiaoqian insist on dealing with him and overthrowing the entire Zhending Prefecture bureaucracy? What benefits would this bring him?
Without overturning the table, everyone can still have fun together and have a steady stream of money coming in. Every year, 40% of various incomes, whether legal or illegal, go into Zhao Xiaoqian's personal pocket. Isn't that polite enough?

Money, does he have a grudge against money?
Liu Qianliang still couldn't understand Zhao Xiaoqian's motive for overturning the entire officialdom. Corrupt officials see everyone as a corrupt official, and judge everyone from the perspective of corrupt officials. There is no official in the world who is not corrupt, so Zhao Xiaoqian's action of overturning the table is really confusing.

Perhaps because he has not been a human for a long time, Liu Qianliang may have forgotten that normal human beings, no matter how bad they are, have moral bottom lines, and the same is true for Zhao Xiaoqian.

motivation?

Zhao Xiaoqian's motive was very simple. He had no grudge against money. He was even willing to recognize money as his ancestor. However, he could not use the money scraped from the poor people. It was hot and hurtful.

At night, Liu Qianliang's mansion was brightly lit.

The torch illuminated his face, and in the dim light, Liu Qianliang's face was terribly distorted.

Next to him sat Wang Shenxian, the magistrate of Zhending Prefecture, Zhou Shen, the supervisor, and others.

In the courtyard outside the main hall, there were many men wearing black scarves and masks. They were wearing ordinary people's clothes, but holding weapons such as swords, axes and halberds in their hands.

There were about four or five hundred of these people, who were secretly gathered by Liu Qianliang and Zhang Lan.

Some of them were temporarily recruited folk martial arts masters, some were from the imperial guards, and some were martial artists who guarded Liu Qianliang’s own mansion.

Zhou Wei and others looked pale and their bodies were shaking constantly.

Knowing that there was no way out, they still couldn't make up their minds when the time came.

If this thing is done, it will be a huge event that will shake the officialdom of the entire Song Dynasty.

Zhao Xiaoqian's status and position were too important. If something happened to him in Zhending Prefecture, the government would be furious, and none of the officials present would be able to escape, regardless of whether they were responsible or not.

"Judge Liu, do you really...really want to kill Duke Zhao? Otherwise, think about it again? Maybe there is another way to survive." Zhou Shen's hands were shaking violently, like a Parkinson's patient.

Liu Qianliang, however, seemed to be insane. He pointed at the crowd of people standing densely in the yard and said, "Everyone has gathered. What do you think?"

Looking at the panicked officials, Liu Qianliang's eyes flashed coldly, with a hint of contempt.

They are a bunch of people who are indecisive and incapable of accomplishing anything!

"At this time, you still harbor illusions about Zhao Xiaoqian. Isn't that ridiculous? He has a knife at our necks. In two days at the shortest, he will have sorted out the public accounts of Zhending Prefecture. What will he do next? Do I need to tell him clearly?"

"Also, don't forget Zhao Xiaoqian has another identity. He's the official for the Imperial City Bureau, and he has countless spies and informants under his command. These past few days, the Imperial City Bureau has secretly uncovered countless pieces of evidence in Zhending Prefecture. Ha! Another knife at my neck."

"We've done so much over the years that even a hundred kills wouldn't be enough. Are you just going to sit there and wait for him to chop you off?"

Zhou Chen said in a trembling voice, "What happens after killing Zhao Xiaoqian? If we report to the court that he died in an accident, I'm afraid the emperor won't believe it, right?"

Liu Qianliang said coldly: "Does it matter whether the government believes it or not?"

Looking around at everyone, Liu Qianliang said slowly, "After tonight, I have decided to abandon my official position and head north, taking my family with me to join the Liao Kingdom. I was once a successful Jinshi, and the Liao Kingdom needs talents like me. Since the Song Dynasty cannot tolerate me, don't blame me for surrendering to the enemy to protect myself."

"I'm innocent! Zhao Xiaoqian forced me to do this!" Liu Qianliang suddenly screamed hysterically.

Everyone present was stunned. They never expected that Liu Qianliang would choose to surrender to the enemy.

Is it necessary to work so hard to survive?
(End of this chapter)