Five days later, preparations were made for the expedition.

The scouts sent back information, Zong Jian contracted his strength, and the troops were stationed in Paohan County, and reminded that Zong Jian had more than 30,000 fierce troops, so he must be cautious.

Gao Shun wanted to equip Fu Zhi with more cavalry, but Fu Zhu refused, the Qiang Hu cavalry horses were short and poorly equipped, why was it the opponent of the cavalry under his current jurisdiction? Moreover, he is ready to outwit and not necessarily have a head-on war.

He ordered Pang De to lead 3,000 cavalry from his headquarters as the vanguard and take the lead in rushing to Daxia County.

The younger brother of the Taishou Luyi faction, Sima Luying of the other department, led 5,000 infantry and then set off and stationed in Daxia County as a supply point for the Western Expeditionary Army.

Subsequently, Ma Teng and Li Meng set off and conferred on Cheng Zhi's palace.

From Didao County to Daxia County, the cavalry could arrive on the same day.

Pang De, who arrived in Daxia County in advance, had already sent a large number of scouts, and the roads along the way, as well as the eastern and northern parts of Paohan County, were under strict surveillance, and he was very satisfied with Pang De's arrangement.

Fu ordered the army to rest in Daxia County for three days, and the scouts continued to closely monitor all movements of Zongjian.

Ma Teng didn't understand and asked, "Military advisor, why don't you quickly surround the other county?" Otherwise, after three days, the enemy will be prepared, and the difficulty of attacking the city will be greatly increased. ”

Fu Zhu asked rhetorically: "We are equal to the opponent's forces, how can we besiege it?" What's the use of being trapped? Forcing a siege at any time is a good idea. ”

"What does the military advisor mean?"

Fu Zhu explained: "Our biggest advantage is that we have the continuous support of Liangzhou Mu and Champion Hou behind us, we can fight, and Zong Jian can't fight, as long as we gradually approach and give them strong pressure, they will definitely mess up, so we can choose the fighter." ”

Pang De suggested: "Military advisor, our army can be stationed in the north of Paohan County, send a small force of cavalry, plunder their herds outside, and put pressure on Zong Jian and others in the city, and they will not be defeated." ”

The county seat of Paohan and the county seat of Daxia are both in the west of Lishui, which is also known as the Daxia River and flows into Taoshui; The two places are connected by a riverside avenue, which is very convenient.

to the west of the two counties is the Yellow River; To the south or to the north, it is blocked by high mountains, and the two counties are in the same mountain basin; It is only a hundred miles away from Daxia County to Paohan County, less than a day's journey.

Heguan County, southwest of Paohan County, and the area south of it, were not controlled by Zongjian, and were the territory of Heguan bandits and burnt Dangqiang.

Fu Zhu had already agreed with Gao Shun, and he didn't want to force Zong Jian too much, under the persecution of external forces, they would definitely unite and unite with the outside world; If they were given a little hope, they would definitely have civil strife first, after all, there were people who were loyal to the Han court and were unwilling to rebel to the end.

As for the plundering of the Qiang people grazing the towns, he didn't want to startle the grass and snakes for the time being; At present, the first task is to quell the rebellion of Zongjian and recruit Han Sui, as for the Qiang people, they can only wait until then to slowly clean up.

So he replied: "Ling Ming's attention, if it is possible in the past, but the lord wants to put down the rebellion in the entire Liangzhou, and these Qiang people are also our people after that, how can they plunder our people and cause unnecessary contradictions?" ”

More than 30,000 officers and soldiers arrived in Daxia County, and the logistical baggage was being transported one after another, and Fu Yu was not in a hurry at all.

After the rest was finished, he announced the departure of the army, but the march was very slow, and he camped and rested after marching less than thirty miles that day; The same was true the next day.

The frustration is very leisurely, but the situation in Paohan County is different.

The soldiers pressed the border, and the king of Zongjian convened hundreds of officials to discuss countermeasures, which was still similar to before, and it was difficult to reconcile.

It was proposed to take refuge in the territory of Dangqiang.

It was proposed to negotiate with the officers and soldiers.

Someone proposed to defect to Han Sui.

There were also proposals to hold the city.

It was difficult for him to choose.

Of course, those civil and military officials privately hoped to surrender the officers and soldiers, but they did not dare to say it directly.

Each high-ranking official or big family has its own plans, and that night, one after another, the family sent personnel to sneak out of the county town, hoping to contact the officers and soldiers the next day to discuss surrender.

The Gaoshun forces have always had a good reputation, and they have never killed those who surrendered voluntarily, and even gave high-ranking officials generous favors, so when the army came, the first consideration of Zongjian's civil and military officials was how to safeguard their personal interests and family interests.

By the third day, the army was stationed only more than ten miles away from the county seat, and the people in the city were even more panicked.

Fu Zhi no longer moved forward, but more than a dozen liaison personnel from various families were ushered in in the barracks one after another, which was indeed not what he and Gao Shun expected.

They were placed separately, and several scribes interviewed them separately, and then the news was gathered to distinguish the true from the false, and it was easy for him to know the defense of the city and the situation of the civil and military officials.

He accepted their surrender and made detailed arrangements for the surrender, first asking them to control the county, the army, and Zongjian, but he did not promise them anything, and then released them all.

Ma Teng asked puzzledly, "Strategist, so that they can open the city gate and surrender to us?" ”

"Haha, these families and officials are all selfish, and surrender is their best choice."

Ma Teng asked again: "But the military advisor didn't give them any promises, how can they believe it?" ”

"No commitment is the best promise, so that the family can pass on, blood and food, they are very satisfied."

Pound De asked, "Strategist, if some of them don't believe it, or tell Zong Jian, what should it do?" ”

"There may be such a situation, but most of the families will still resolutely choose to surrender, even if there is a situation that Ling Ming said, then let them fight among themselves first, and we can just accept the endgame when the time comes."

Li Meng asked, "Military Master, what if Zong Jian abandons the city and flees?" ”

"Haha, how could these families let Zong Jian escape? Then their surrender will be meaningless, and they will inevitably sacrifice their lives to leave Zongjian behind. ”

On the second night, Pang De led his 3,000 officers and soldiers, abandoned their horses, and secretly went to the county town of Paohan on foot to meet the surrenderers in the city, and the remaining cavalry, ready for war.

As long as Pound held the gates, the cavalry could arrive in a quarter of an hour.

In the morning, at dawn, the battle at the east gate was the first to start, everything went according to the plan, the city gate was opened, Pound led 3,000 men to rise up, took over the city gate, left 1,000 men to guard the city gate, and the other 2,000 people rushed into the city to expand the victory.

The soldiers, who had been prepared, piled up the firewood and grass they carried on the side of the city gate, and immediately lit it to inform the scouts who were observing from a distance; When the scouts saw the fire at the gates, they lit a bonfire to inform the frustration.

Everything went perfectly, the 30,000-strong army took over the county seat of Paohan, and Zong Jian, as well as the harem and all family members, were captured alive.

The first is to control the four gates of the county seat; then take control of the barracks, take over the army, and declare that they can continue to serve in the army after selection, and that they will be paid well, so as to stabilize the mood of the soldiers; In the end, according to the list of civil and military officials, he was arrested one by one, and all his property was returned to the public.

Ma Teng was still puzzled and asked, "Strategist, haven't you already accepted their surrender?" How can you go back on your word and break your promise? ”

"I accepted their surrender, but I did not promise not to kill them, and I will not be forgiven for those who dare to rebel and claim the king."

Ma Teng secretly said that it was a fluke, although he had also rebelled, but he did not dare to be the king, it was really a fluke, otherwise this would be the end, and the sin would not be forgiven.

He immediately wrote a letter to Gao Shun to report the good news, and applied to send officers at all levels to reorganize the officers and soldiers of Zongjian.

Prefectural commanders and prefectural lieutenants who had already been appointed immediately took office to exercise their powers and stabilize the localities.

Ma Teng and others selected officers and men according to the established standards.

Three days later, Gao Shun's order came, promoting Pang De to the western lieutenant, garrisoning the county town of Paohan, and increasing the number of cavalry under his jurisdiction to 5,000, which was replenished by the officers and soldiers under the jurisdiction of Cheng Zhi; All the officers and soldiers who passed the selection were brought back to Didao County for reorganization; The remaining officers and soldiers returned to Didao County.

On the day of his return to Didao County, he sent Zong Jian and hundreds of civil and military officials, as well as their families, to the banks of the Lishui River to be beheaded and exposed to the sun for three days, and their bodies were not allowed to be collected.

The ruthlessness of the frustrated professor not only shocked the officers and soldiers who had just surrendered and the local people, but even Ma Teng, Li Meng and others were also surprised by the ruthlessness of the frustrated professor, and the literati were even more ruthless than their generals.

When the news spread, Liangzhou was boiling, and he was named the "butcher".