Qingzhou City.
Even though they were dozens of miles apart, the sound of fierce fighting in Dongshixiao could still be vaguely transmitted to the city, making the people frightened and frightened, and also making many officials in the government offices beam with joy and feel reassured.
Only a few people knew the details of the sneak attack on Xiang soldiers and others that night, and everyone else was kept in the dark. It was not until everything became an established fact that Murong Yanchao, who regained the leadership, allowed his subordinates to make a choice.
And at this time, how could a group of subordinate officials who had been subdued by him seek death and stand up to oppose him? Naturally, they all said that they were on the side of the prefect, and at the same time denounced Sun Tu and his Xiang army for colluding with bandits in the territory. I have my heart.
But they still had doubts and uneasiness in their hearts, fearing that Sun Tu would suddenly come back with his troops, and then they would really die without a burial place. After all, the government officials went on a killing spree in the military camp that night, slaughtering hundreds of Xiang troops who had no power to resist. The feud was completely settled. The only thing they could hope for was that everything would be as arranged by the prefect. , causing Sun Tu and the Qingzhou Army to suffer heavy casualties.
In fact, not only them, but also Murong Yanchao had been a little restless in the past few days. Many times he would look to the northeast in a daze, hoping that everything would happen as soon as possible.
But now, the faint sound of fighting came, which made everyone feel relieved. They thought that with such an ingenious arrangement, the people of Erlong Mountain had the advantage in location and military strength. They would definitely be able to kill Sun Tu and the others in one fell swoop. Even if any of them managed to escape the tight siege, they would surely die once they returned to Qingzhou. This made many people start to celebrate and wait for the final good news to be delivered.
Only a few people, including Master Jing Yiming and Recommended Officer Shen Bian, still had worries in their hearts. They found an opportunity to mention it to Murong Yanchao: "Futai, even if we can really use the power of Erlong Mountain to get rid of Sun Tu this time, Wait, but if this happens, my Qingzhou city will inevitably be empty. Once the bandits from Erlong Mountain take advantage of the victory and come, I'm afraid we won't be able to resist them."
"Yes, Futai. Once Mr. Jing said it is true, the people in the city will suffer. Futai, Xiaguan and others will also have to bear a lot of responsibility..."
Murong Yanchao was also stunned. Before, he was so eager to get rid of Sun Tu to avenge his shame that he had really forgotten the consequences. Now Qingzhou City has almost no troops available. The one or two hundred yamen officers alone cannot defend the city. This is really a problem.
But soon, he made a decision: "Since we can't defend it, we won't defend it. We simply opened the city gate and let the people from Erlong Mountain come in and plunder. I don't think they dare to really kill too many people." We dare not harm the imperial officials like us, otherwise the imperial court will send out a large army to encircle and suppress them!"
"But when this happens..." Upon hearing this, Shen Bian became a little anxious. But before he could speak clearly, Murong Yanchao had already interrupted: "We were just robbed of some property. I, Qingzhou City, can still afford to pay for it. As for the court's blame, we can put all the blame on Sun Tu." On the body. It was he who colluded with the three mountain bandits to invade our Qingzhou city. Although our officials led the crowd to resist desperately, we were short of manpower after all, which led to this tragedy."
After hearing these words, the two people's expressions changed, but after seeing each other's determined look, they could only sigh and say nothing. When the matter has reached this point, it seems that there is no better solution, and the people can only suffer a disaster.
So soon, secret orders were passed down one after another, asking the officers guarding each door to be prepared not to resist the bandits, and to open the door to accept the bandits as soon as they invade!
They waited for most of the day, until near dawn the next day, a group of people came flying from the east. After arriving at the bottom of the east city gate, two big men strode forward and headed towards the city. The officers with obviously frightened expressions shouted: "People at the top of Wu Na City, listen, we are heroes from Erlong Mountain. We have helped your magistrate accomplish a big thing this time. Now we are exhausted. Now we want to go to the city to rest. You Please open the city gate quickly and let me enter, and then prepare food and wine to reward our brothers."
The sound reached the top, and the people above were even more frightened. These bandits were really coming, and this team looked murderous. It was obvious that they had just come down from the fighting, and their murderous intent was not yet complete. Hidden away.
Then, someone took a torch and looked down, and saw several flags belonging to Erlong Mountain. This made them no longer suspicious, and they immediately said loudly: "Everyone, don't be impatient, my house knows you." It will come later, so I have already asked people to prepare wine and meat to reward everyone. I just wonder if Sun Tu and his group have been completely annihilated?"
"Of course, even Sun Tu's head has been chopped off by us. We can let you see clearly when we enter the city later." As he said this, this man suddenly shouted impatiently: "You're so stupid Why are you talking so much nonsense? Why don't you quickly open the city gate and welcome me in? Do you want us to attack the city?"
Feeling the threat from the outside, these people did not dare to neglect any more. They quickly went down to the city and removed the huge gate bolts that were as thick as a human waist. Then a dozen people slowly pushed open the two heavy gates with great difficulty. .
With a heartbreaking creaking sound, the Qingzhou City Gate was completely opened, completely exposing the Song Dynasty City to the iron hoofs of the army outside the city.
The leader of the government office did not feel guilty at all for betraying the people in the city. Instead, he quickly ran out happily. Before he could see the faces of the people in front of him clearly, he asked loudly: "Sun... Where is Sun Tu’s head? As long as it is handed over, Futai is willing to pay five hundred taels of gold to buy it!"
"I didn't expect that Mr. Sun's head was only worth so much! Sun Tu is here!" With this loud shout, a man and a horse suddenly rushed out from the middle of the team, before the squad leader had time to do so. When he reacted, the spear in his hand suddenly thrust out with momentum, hitting the squad leader in the face hard, shattering his entire head, and blood and brains suddenly shot out toward the back, provoking There was a scream.
Sun Tu really didn't expect that these people in the government would be so cruel and have no bottom line. Even if he knew they were causing trouble in Qingzhou City before, he was not so angry and wanted to leave these people a way to survive. But now, after seeing that he could make the defenders open the city obediently with just a casual deception, the anger in his heart had reached a whole new level, and he no longer left any room.
As he charged forward, other soldiers who were already ready to attack also shouted and pounced on the prey ahead like tigers and wolves. The more than twenty government officials didn't even have time to turn around, and were completely engulfed by hundreds of angry sergeants who rushed over to kill them. Then, without stopping, these people marched straight into the city, led by Sun Tu and others, towards the prefect's Yamen.
It's dark now
However, at twilight, the people in the city had already been alarmed, but the roar of the killings frightened them so much that they did not dare to go out and could only hide in their homes and tremble. Many people think that this should be the bandits mentioned by the prefect who have entered the city. Now everyone will suffer.
But to everyone's surprise, this massive team did not break open the door of their house as expected, and then massacred and looted wantonly. These people did not even have the intention to pause, and ran directly towards the city. go.
This aroused the curiosity of some brave people, and some people bravely hid behind the door and looked out through the gap. Upon seeing this, many people were stunned by these people running from their door. Half of the guys who passed by were actually wearing the military uniforms of the original Xiang Army. Could it be that the former Xiang Army really colluded with the three mountain bandits? But why didn't they rob and kill
These ordinary people don't know that as early as the end of the battle in Dongshixia, Sun Tu had already issued a strict order when he led his troops to Qingzhou. This time he entered Qingzhou City and must not harm the people at all. However, anyone who dares to disobey this order will be punished. No matter what your identity is, you will not be spared!
Therefore, even if this team contains more than half of the thieves from Sanshan, they would not dare to attack innocent people at this time. Moreover, they had already received a guarantee that as long as they entered the government office, part of the wealth and wealth of those officials would be allocated to reward everyone. These people were much richer than the poor common people.
Without stopping at all, the army entered Qingzhou City, and then Qi Desheng quickly ordered several groups of troops to seize and guard the remaining three gates, thereby completely taking control of the entire Qingzhou City in his own hands. When the soldiers rushed towards the other three gates separately, the vanguard led by Sun Tu had already rushed to the prefect's Yamen.
At this time, there was no one guarding the gate of the Yamen. Although the gate was closed, it could not stop the sergeants who had been prepared. They quickly tore down the large pillars of a restaurant nearby. Five or six people held him and banged the door hard several times. The door of the government office, which was not very strong, burst open with a roar, and The officials and servants inside were all running around like headless flies, not knowing what to do.
Sun Tu threw the spear in his hand to the soldiers beside him, dismounted and strode into the government office with his sword in hand, and then shouted loudly: "Prefect Murong, haven't you been waiting for Sun Tu to come back with all your heart? Now Sun Tu You're back, why are you hiding again? Why don't you show up?"
Following his roar, the sergeants quickly pounced on him, picked up their swords and guns, knocked all the government officials in front of them to the ground, and ordered them to kneel down. Sun Tu, on the other hand, didn't even glance at them and walked straight towards the depths of the second hall.
But just after walking for a while, there was a burst of yelling and cursing, and then several figures flashed out from the corner. Murong Yanchao and more than a dozen officers were holding five or six people with knives from a distance. The confrontation: "Sun Tu, I didn't expect you to come back alive. God really has no eyes for you... But look who are these people?"
Following this cry, the soldiers who had originally wanted to step forward to capture them suddenly froze, and then cursed angrily: "Despicable, shameless!" Even Lin Chong's expression changed at this time, let alone Sun Tu. At this time, his face was already as bright as a mysterious altar. He choked and drew the knife in his hand, pointing at the opponent: "Murong the dog thief, how dare you!"
Just because the people controlled by Murong Yanchao now are Ya'er, Madam Lin, Huang Wenbing, Tang Feng and others...