It is precisely because of these reasons that the Hezhou Mansion was united by King Xiang Qian Zhi, and attempted to launch an offensive and defensive battle with Gongsun Jian's army one by one. Such a result did make Gongsun Jian feel a little headache.

He and his men are not afraid of fighting, even if it is a siege battle. However, each city had to be attacked with all its might, which not only took time but also easily damaged manpower. The last thing Gongsun Jian wants to fight in a war is to use human lives to pile up, the main reason is that the commander's tactical strategy is too poor, and second, who will not cherish the lives of his soldiers? Otherwise, will anyone be willing to follow you in the future?

In fact, the siege warfare of this era was not a difficult thing for Gongsun Jian, who already had explosives. But the only thing that made him a little hesitant was that he couldn't use explosives every time he encountered a siege. Moreover, its own gunpowder production capacity is really very inefficient. The shortage of raw materials severely limited the frequency of his use and the development of other functions. In addition, what worries Gongsun Jian the most is that once he uses explosives repeatedly, he is very easy to attract the attention of everyone in the world. Once it leaks out one day, the world will be really in chaos.

Leaving enough manpower to continue to integrate the newly occupied three prefectures, Gongsun Jian led his army towards Hezhou Mansion, which was already fortified at this time, and almost all other places were uninhabited except for some remote villages where people could be seen along the way.

Gongsun Jian couldn't help but laugh secretly, it seems that King Xiang is really determined enough, and he also has a certain strategy. From this point of view alone, not only will it consume its own logistical supplies, but it will also be determined to resist and defend to the end.

The army soon settled outside the first county on their way. Tuohe County, like Linshui County, is named after the Tuohe River in the county. However, Tuohe County is much larger and richer than the previous Linshui County. Therefore, for Gongsun Jian's army, this will be the first difficult bone they encounter.

After the army set up camp, Gongsun Jian brought all the generals and Cao Liang and Shi Fangheng with the army to discuss the next combat deployment. Everyone in the room knew that the most difficult siege battle was ahead. After everyone expressed their opinions, they all looked at Gongsun Jian, who had been silent. Waiting for his final decision.

After a long while, Gongsun Jian let out a long sigh and said: "If we have to let the soldiers fight hard in every city and spend a huge sacrifice to take Hezhou Mansion, then after we take Hezhou Mansion, it is estimated that we will not have the strength to go south to capture the four southwestern mansions." What's more, as long as the time drags on, there will inevitably be actions on the side of the imperial court, and then the situation will become more and more unfavorable to us. Therefore, we must fight this first county, and we must warn and deter those who still try to have illusions and are ready to fight us to the end. Speaking of this, Gongsun Jian paused for a moment before continuing: "My idea is to give the other party a warning first, if you surrender, then everything is discussed, if you have to hold on, once the city is broken and slaughtered for three days." According to the information collected by Changle's subordinates, it seems that the magistrate of Tuohe County has done a good job in office, and has generally won the support of the people. In fact, I like this kind of official very much. It's a pity that this kind of person is also brainless. It has to stop us from sinking with the broken ship of the Qian family. Therefore, I analyze that once the fight really starts, then we are likely to face a vicious battle. Therefore, I ordered all the participants to be ready for everything, and once I gave the order to attack, I must take the county seat of Tuohe in one go. ”

"Yes. Subordinates and other subordinates obey orders. Everyone left their seats and bowed in agreement.

"Alright, let's go and get ready. Shi Sima left the general manager to write a letter of persuasion to the magistrate of Tuohe County, knowing the benefits. ”

The letter was quickly shot with bows and arrows into Tuohe County, where the gates were closed, and unsurprisingly it was rejected. Not only was it rejected, but the other party also scolded Gongsun Jian and others in his reply. He also threatened that the whole Tuohe County was ready to live and die with the city.

Gongsun Jian listened to Shi Fangheng's reading of the letter, smiled contemptuously, and then said lightly: "Since this is the case, then fulfill their wishes." ”

That night, Ding Feng personally led people out of the camp and went to the upper reaches of the Tuo River, which passed through the city. Until after the whole army had breakfast at dawn, Gongsun Jian ordered to gather and prepare to attack the city. After the team was assembled, Gongsun Jian was not in a hurry. It was not until almost noon that Gongsun Jian let Ma Teng's second division and the first regiment attack tentatively. As a result, before he could get close to the city wall, he was attacked by a dense rain of arrows from the city. Gongsun Jian immediately ordered Ming Jin to collect his troops and return to the camp.

The next day was the same, and after five days of repetition, the troops who had attempted to attack actually set up a ladder under the city wall before they were attacked by the sparse Lala. As a result, it didn't take much effort for the second division and a regiment to capture the north city head of Tuohe County, and after a short while, the city gate was opened from the inside, and a team of men and horses came back to report the news.

The leader is a platoon commander, who looks like he is twenty-five or sixteen years old, but his face is very pale at this time. After seeing Gongsun Jian, he knelt down on one knee and clasped his fists and saluted: "Chief, I came to report on the order of the commander of the second division and the first regiment that Tuohe County has been taken by our regiment, but it is just ......."

"It's just miserable inside, isn't it?" Gongsun Jian frowned and asked lightly.

"Lord Steward, it is true, there are corpses everywhere that have not had time and no place to bury, and it is tentatively estimated that at least more than half of the population in the city has died."

Gongsun Jian raised his head slightly and glanced at Tuohe County not far away, let out a long sigh, and then shook his head and ordered: "Tuohe County is considered to be abandoned. Go back and report to your regimental commander, and immediately evacuate with the people. There is no point in occupying it anymore. As he spoke, he turned his head and said to Shi Fangheng beside him: "Pass my order, the army will pull out the camp and bypass Tuohe County and continue to advance according to the original plan, and let the Fourth Division leave a battalion of soldiers into the city to set fire everywhere and burn the county seat." ”

"Yes. The subordinates will go to give orders. Shi Fangheng bowed down to receive the order, and before he could turn around and leave, he saw another team of men and horses escorting several people to the front of the army.

"My lord, this person is Zhang Yuanqiu, the magistrate of Tuohe County, and he was captured by our company after capturing the county government." The company commander who spoke pointed to a middle-aged man in his forties who was lying on a stretcher behind him and was carried over.

Gongsun Jian glanced at the man, wrinkled his eyebrows and said angrily: "Zhang Zhixian, do you know that because of your wrong decision, tens of thousands of innocent people died in Tuohe County, and from now on, Tuohe County will also be abolished." I didn't expect an idiot like you to be alive, but it doesn't seem like he will live long. Otherwise, I will cut you up with a knife and feed it to the dogs. ”

Zhang Yuanqiu, who was lying on the stretcher, sneered, and then raised his arm with difficulty and pointed at Gongsun Jian and scolded: "Rebel ministers and thieves, after killing innocents, you have to shift the blame to this official." Hehe, even if the official is dead, he will never let you go. If it weren't for you brutes who messed up my Zhou Kingdom, then how could the people in my county die innocently. However, the cycle of heaven will come one day......"

Gongsun Jian is too lazy to talk nonsense with such a foolish and loyal person, in fact, he is not comfortable in his heart at this moment. In fact, he had already expected the consequences at the beginning of his operation, poisoning everyone in the city indiscriminately by poisoning drinking water, this kind of thing is an unforgivable sin in the previous life, and it is impossible for ordinary people to do it, but for the sake of more people or less sacrifice of his own soldiers, as well as the empire he wants to build, Gongsun Jian has to be ruthless.

looked at Zhang Yuanqiu, who was already breathing in front of him but still staring at him with a pair of angry eyes, and then looked at the blood-dripping sword in his hand. Gongsun Jian's heart was unusually heavy. threw away the sword casually, sat on the ground and said lightly: "Ordered someone to bury this person." ”

Shi Fangheng on the side knew that Gongsun Jian at this moment could not admit his mistake, nor could he be soft-hearted. Especially at this time, we must not affect the mentality of the entire army. He immediately knelt down in front of Gongsun Jian and shouted, "My lord, you are not wrong! If you don't kill them, then our soldiers will die. You are also for the common people in the world! Lord, the idea is mine, if Cang Tian really wants to lower the punishment, I Shi Fangheng will bear it alone, even if I die, I will have no regrets! ”

And Ma Teng, Tian Kuo and several others behind Gongsun Jian also knelt down and shouted, "My lord." You're right, it's the people of the world who drink human blood and eat human flesh that are wrong. It's the unfair thief who is wrong. ”

After a long time, Gongsun Jian stood up with Ma Teng's support. After taking a deep breath, he gritted his teeth and said firmly: "Order, order someone to pass on the message to Wuling County to surrender, otherwise Tuohe County will be their example." ”

A few days later, Gongsun Jian's army came to the city of Wuling County, and this time Gongsun Jian did not use the previous vicious methods, but directly attacked the city with the handsome army that took the lead.

The battle lasted from morning to afternoon, and Gongsun Jian's men and horses conquered the city pass, and opened the city gate to take Wuling County in one fell swoop. This was followed by the slaughter of the city without sealing the knife for three days, but Gongsun Jian also issued a strict military order, slaughtering the city but not committing adultery, and the offender was beheaded. After half of the property obtained in the whole city was handed over, the rest of the officers and men participating in the battle were equally divided.

This time, Gongsun Jian still did not enter the city. He and his guards lived in the camp outside the city. After cleaning up all the Wuling County, Gongsun Jian never entered the city. For several days, Gongsun Jian sat in his tent and copied the Heart Sutra, trying to calm his restlessness and guilt.

After a few more days of rest, the army marched again and headed for the next target, Qiushan County. Before Gongsun Jian's army arrived in Qiushan County, the magistrate of Qiushan County hurriedly came to surrender with people. Not for anything else, just because I was scared. Two counties in a row were directly slaughtered because of the resistance to Gongsun Jian's army. This kind of psychological pressure is not acceptable to ordinary people. So even if you don't want to surrender anymore, think about the tragic situation after the county seat was breached. Qiu Shan Zhixian has not slept for several nights.

Gongsun Jian generously accepted the other party's surrender, and promised that all the subsequent treatment would be in accordance with the same as Liuzhou Mansion and Yongzhou Mansion, implement the new policy, and redeem the acres of land. In addition, the magistrate of Qiushan County, who voluntarily surrendered, still retains his official position. It's also a reward. And the local wealthy families also breathed a sigh of relief. If the field is gone, it is gone, and the life is still there. In addition, the family is not without money, and those acres of Gongsun Jian will also spend money to redeem them, but the price is lower.

After the different performances and treatment of the first three counties, Gongsun Jian's army was very smooth all the way, and after successfully winning the fourth county seat, Gongsun Jian was about to face the capital of Hezhou Mansion and the more than 10,000 regular troops of Zhou led by King Xiang and him, plus the 50,000 landlord armies gathered. This is the real test that Gongsun Jian's army has faced since it went south. There were countless attacks and harassments along the way, but fortunately, Ma Teng, as the vanguard of the army, was originally a scout, and Xie Wu's reconnaissance battalion was the guide and reconnaissance. The army is always able to detect the enemy in advance, and then start defending and attacking. Although it did not suffer too much damage, it slowed down the march of the army.