Chapter 237 The last time under the dark night
Man Chong's resume is very impressive. He was appointed as the postal governor of the county at the age of eighteen. This starting point is already higher than that of many people in the world.
Later, when Cao Cao served as the shepherd of Yanzhou, he recruited Man Chong as his official position. From then on, Man Chong officially began to shine in the officialdom as Cao Cao's minister.
While serving as the county magistrate of Xudu, Man Chong was law-abiding and honest, and was deeply loved by Cao Cao.
When Man Chong faced prisoners, whether they were relatives of Cao Cao's clan Cao Hong or Yang Biao, a great scholar in the world, he treated them equally and was impartial.
Even if Cao Hong interceded for his relatives, or if Xun Yu and Kong Rong interceded for Yang Biao, he would ignore them.
Later, when Man Chong served as the governor of Runan, he captured more than 20 fortresses and designed to trap and kill more than 10 leaders. Runan was finally pacified.
All these experiences have allowed Man Chong to develop a character that believes in power.
But Man Chong forgot one thing.
Although the reason why he was able to achieve various achievements was inseparable from his own ability and character, another very important reason was that Cao Cao was behind him at that time.
Cao Hong, Xun Yu, and Kong Rong were afraid of Cao Cao, not him.
The reason why the wealthy clans in Runan did not attack the clan leader in groups after he was killed is because Cao Cao used the elite Cao army as his backing.
If you want to adopt strong rule, you cannot do without a solid foundation of strength.
But now in Wudang City, he does not have that solid foundation of strength.
Perhaps Man Chong thought that if all the private soldiers of the wealthy families in Wudang City were mobilized to the city, then even if the wealthy families were dissatisfied, they would not be able to cause any trouble.
But as a wealthy family that has been rooted in the local area for hundreds or even hundreds of years, they have a strong influence in the local area. With such a strong influence, it is not difficult for them to do something secretly.
For example, liaison with foreign enemies.
After the Han army besieged the city, because the west of Wudang City was the Han River, the Han army only surrounded the north, east, and south walls of Wudang City.
And because the north of Wudang City was the main attack direction of the Han army, Man Chong accordingly placed most of his elite troops in the north.
Under such circumstances, there are relatively few private soldiers of the Wudang wealthy families on the north wall, but there are more private soldiers of the wealthy families on the east and south walls of Wudang City.
Although Man Chong had previously forcibly recruited the private soldiers of the major wealthy families and dispersed them to various city walls, so there were not many soldiers of the Yan clan on the southern city.
However, this had a great effect in the past. After Man Chong aroused the anger of the wealthy families in the city, it can be said that its effect has been minimal.
Cao Wei adopted the wrong service system. Under the wrong service system, the Wei army to which Man Chong belonged came from the north and was not a native of Wudang.
This resulted in the fact that if the private soldiers of various wealthy families spoke the local dialect, the Wei army on the city wall would not understand it at all.
The language barrier created convenient conditions for the major wealthy families in the city to pass messages and for the private soldiers of the families on the city walls.
When the civilians in the city delivered meals to the city wall today, the private soldiers of the families on the city wall who participated in the secret conversation that night all received messages from their families.
After receiving the message from the family, the wealthy private soldiers exchanged glances without anyone noticing.
Perhaps the combat effectiveness of the family's private army is not as strong as that of the regular army, but the family's private army, which is based on the clan bloodline, has advantages that the regular army cannot match in some aspects.
What's more, Wudang County is the place where they were born and raised, and is their home field.
In the messages received by the private soldiers of other families, their clan leaders asked them to obey the orders of a Yanping clan member on the city wall.
The order received by this Yanping tribesman was to bring some words to the Han army outside the city.
There were not many Wei troops actually subordinate to Man Chong on the east wall, and there were private soldiers from other clans providing cover for the Yanping clan, so it was not difficult to do this.
Shortly after receiving the message, late night fell.
When the dark sky gradually covered the entire city, the Yanping tribe began to take action.
Because the Han River is not far to the south of Wudang City, although there are Han troops outside Wudang South City, the order they received is that they only need to surround Wudang South City and do not need to attack.
Because the Han army had not launched an attack on Nancheng, the Wei army on the wall had been very relaxed in recent days.
By late at night, most of the Wei troops on the city wall had fallen into a deep sleep.
After seeing this scene, the Yanping clan members, under the cover of the private soldiers of other wealthy clans, tied a rope around their bodies, and then quickly fell to the bottom of the city wall with the combined efforts of everyone on the city.
Because of the cover of night, the actions of the Yanping tribe were not noticed by the Wei army on the city wall.
After landing safely on the ground, with the help of the hazy moonlight in the sky, the Yanping clan members quickly ran towards the Han army camp ahead.
As a highly respected clan member of Yanping, he certainly does not suffer from night blindness.
As a native of Wudang, the Yanping clan is extremely familiar with the terrain outside Wudang City.
After the Yanping tribesman ran a certain distance towards the Han army's camp, he was quickly discovered by the Han army's scouts.
Under the scolding of the Han army scouts, the Yanping tribesman fell to the ground obediently to show that he meant no threat.
This move by the Yanping clan successfully saved his life.
After the Han army scouts discovered the Yanping tribesman, they saw him lying on the ground without any intention of resisting. The two Han army scouts immediately stepped forward and captured the Yanping tribesman.
When the Han army scouts learned about his purpose from the Yanping tribe, they immediately took the Yanping tribe to the northern camp where Mi Yang was located.
Not long after, the Yanping clan members were taken to the Han army's northern camp by Han army scouts.
Mi Yang, who had already fallen asleep, immediately woke up from his sleep when he learned that someone from the rich clan in the city wanted to surrender, and then ordered Ding Feng to go quickly to summon the generals to discuss the matter.
Under Mi Yang's call, most of the Han generals who had fallen asleep were woken up one after another, and then they came to Mi Yang's tent with sleepiness in their arms.
Mi Yang saw that all the generals had arrived, so he told the generals about the arrival of the Yanping clan and his intention.
When the generals heard that some wealthy families in the city were going to help them capture Wudang, they felt as if they had been hit with hormones, and their heads that were still a little sleepy suddenly woke up.
Seeing that there was no one else in the tent, Zhang Bao came out first to pay homage to Mi Yang and said, "General, if this is true, this is a good opportunity to capture Wudang City."
Because of previous lessons, Zhang Bao also learned to make assumptions when making speeches.
After listening to Zhang Bao's advice, Mi Yang nodded in agreement.
Although the Han army's siege operations are proceeding in an orderly manner, it will take some time for the mounds to be built.
But if there is someone in the city who can open the city gate for him, then Mi Yang can capture Wudang County faster with less losses.
This is very beneficial to Mi Yang.
Under the threat of strong external military power, or if the general defending the city is unpopular, it is not uncommon for the defending party to have internal problems.
For example, during the Battle of Puyang, Cao Cao led his army to besiege Puyang City, and his army was able to enter the city because of the help of the Tian family from Puyang.
Although that battle ended in Cao Cao's defeat, Cao Cao was tricked by the Qingzhou Army with poor military discipline and wasted a good opportunity.
But the situation is different now.
Compared with the Wei army in the city, the Han army was far superior to them in terms of number and eliteness.
So if once the Han army can enter the city, it will be easy for Wudang City to be captured by the Han army.
After Zhang Bao's remarks, Feng Xi came out and spoke to Mi Yang: "General, the Yan clan of Wudang has suddenly surrendered. I'm afraid something fishy has happened."
Feng Xi's words brought a thoughtful look to Mi Yang's face.
What Feng Xi was worried about was that this was a trick set by Man Chong to lure the enemy.
Didn't Mi Yang use this move to deceive Jiangdong's army?
Just now, Mi Yang personally interrogated the Yanping clan members. Facing Mi Yang's interrogation, the Yanping clan clan members told him one by one about the situation in the city without reservation.
For example, Manchu Chong forced private soldiers from wealthy families and prepared to build high-rise buildings.
Facing Mi Yang's interrogation, the Yanping clan's reaction and words did not have any doubts, but in the final analysis, the Yanping clan's words were just his one-sided words.
Mi Yang will not be gullible.
Mi Yang glanced at the generals present and saw that they all had thoughtful expressions on this matter.
It seems that they are also concerned about this matter and cannot make a conclusion for a while.
If it is true that the Wudang wealthy clan surrendered, but they chose not to believe it, they would undoubtedly miss an excellent opportunity to seize the city.
But if the surrender of the Wudang nobles was Man Chong's trick to lure the enemy, the consequences would be serious if they were gullible.
After a moment of silence, all the generals looked at Mi Yang.
Since everyone's opinions are not unanimous, what the Han army should do next depends on the decision of the general Mi Yang.
Mi Yang's fingers kept tapping on the desk, which was what he would do when he was deep in thought.
Mi Yang didn't have much time to think, because tonight the Yanping clan members would return to the city wall.
After an unknown amount of time, Mi Yang finally made a decision.
He asked people to bring in the Yanping clan members who were outside the tent. The Yanping clan members showed a panicked look in front of Mi Yang.
After Mi Yang finished speaking about his decision, the look of fear on the faces of the Yanping tribe became even stronger.
He looked at Mi Yang with pleading eyes, but Mi Yang didn't give him time to react.
"If you are determined to be effective, then prove it with actions."
After saying this, Mi Yang ordered the Yanping clan members to be taken away without waiting for their reaction.
When the Yanping clan members were taken out of the tent by the soldiers, Zhang Bao looked at Mi Yang with doubtful eyes and asked:
"General, will the leader of the Yan clan really follow the general's orders?"
Facing Zhang Bao's doubts, Mi Yang said with a smile on his face: "Whether he knows it or not, there will be no loss to our army, right?"
After listening to Mi Yang's words, Zhang Bao also smiled on his face.
What Mi Yang asked the Yanping clan members to convey just now was: Let Yanping find an opportunity to capture Man Chong.
The original meaning of Yanping conveyed by the Yanping clan was: at the right time, open a city gate to welcome the Han army into the city.
The final result of the smooth implementation of the two measures was that the Han army captured Wudang County.
But compared to Yanping's idea, Mi Yang's decision allowed the Han army to avoid taking any risks.
And this decision can also determine whether Yanping sincerely surrendered.
If Yanping is sincerely loyal to Mi Yang, then it means that what the Yanping clan said just now is true.
Under such circumstances, Yanping's determination to serve Mi Yang should be very firm, so Yanping will do what Mi Yang asks.
And if Yanping pretended to surrender under Man Chong's instruction, it would be impossible for him to satisfy Mi Yang's request, and then Man Chong's plan to lure the enemy would be self-defeating.
As for whether it is possible for Yanping to capture Man Chong?
If, as the Yanping clan said, Yanping's actions were supported by some other wealthy clans, then it is possible for him to do this.
Even if the actions of Yanping and the wealthy families who supported him failed, it would still be beneficial to the Han army outside the city.
Because there will definitely be a major civil strife in Wudang County by then, which will also be a good opportunity for the Han army outside the city to capture Wudang.
The reason why the generals in Cai's account had difficulty making a choice was simply because Yanping left the choice to the Han army, so the Han army would have to bear the risk no matter what choice they made.
But now that Mi Yang has left the choice to Yanping, the situation will be different.
Everything depends on what Yanping does next.
When the Yanping tribe was brought back to Wudang South City by the Han army, he secretly returned to the city wall at night.
The rope that brought him down is still in place.
Upon seeing this, the Yanping clan member quickly tied the rope around his body, and then he pulled the rope several times in succession.
The tribesmen who had been waiting for the return of the Yanping clan immediately pulled him slowly up the city wall.
After seeing that the Yanping clan members returned to the city wall safe and sound, everyone present showed joy on their faces.
Although they didn't know what the Yanping tribe's purpose was when they left the city, what they did was extremely treasonous.
When the Yanping tribe left, they had always felt uneasy in their hearts.
Now that the Yanping tribe has returned, a big stone in their hearts has instantly fallen to the ground.
But compared to the joy on the faces of the clan members, the faces of the Yanping clan members showed sadness.
On the second day, when the civilian husband was delivering the meal, the Yanping clan member successfully informed a clan elder of the news that Mi Yang asked him to deliver.
In the end, the news was successfully conveyed to Yanping's ears.
When Yanping knew what Mi Yang wanted him to do, a thoughtful look appeared on his face.
But it didn't take long for the thoughtful look on Yanping's face to disappear.
Now that you are ready to commit beheading, are you still afraid of taking it a step further?
Soon after, Yanping recruited a group of clan leaders who had sworn an oath with him that night.
A few days later, Manchong, who was on the north wall of Wudang inspecting the progress of the high-rise building, had a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
Compared with what he expected, this progress seemed too slow.
It seems that those wealthy people did not remember what he said that day in their hearts, otherwise the progress would not be slowed down.
Man Chong felt that he needed to hit those wealthy families again.
With this thought, Man Chong once again issued an order to summon the heads of the wealthy clans in the city.
What Man Chong didn't know was that this was his third order and also his last in Wudang City.
Just one chapter today.
Take a nap and continue to organize information.
Goodnight everybody.
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!