Chương 436: Zhang Liao Takes Over Nanhai County

He was overjoyed; finally, he wouldn't have to suffer in this godforsaken place of Jiaozhou anymore.

Back in Luoyang, with his father Zhu Jun protecting him and a sinecure given to him by the Prince of Yan, he could enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life. Wouldn't that be better than being a powerless governor here?

After seeing Zhu Fu off, Yue Fei immediately proceeded with the previously agreed-upon plan and gave instructions to Zhang Liao:

"Wen Yuan, you will lead 10, 000 troops eastward immediately to take over Nanhai Commandery. Remember, diplomacy first, then force. Those who are willing to submit will be forgiven; those who dare to resist will be subdued directly. Be sure to advance steadily and firmly grasp Nanhai Commandery in your hands."

"Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail in my mission!" Zhang Liao clasped his hands in acceptance, his voice booming.

That very day, he led 10, 000 troops eastward in a grand procession, heading straight for Nanhai County.

...

Zhang Liao led his army and arrived at the city of Panyu in Nanhai Commandery in less than a week.

Panyu City was the seat of Nanhai County, located at the mouth of the Pearl River, and was one of the most prosperous cities in Lingnan.

The city walls were higher than those of Guangxin, and the moat was also wider. However, the soldiers standing on the city walls were clearly just for show. Their armor was crooked, their weapons were rusty, and they had no proper posture.

Just as Yue Fei had predicted, the governor of Nanhai Commandery was already waiting at the city gate with several obedient county magistrates.

The prefect's surname was Wang, and he was from the same hometown as Zhu Fu. He got his position because of Zhu Fu's connections.

He had long heard of the Han army's formidable reputation, and knew that Zhu Fu was gone; his meager resources wouldn't even be enough to fill their teeth.

Upon seeing Zhang Liao's army arrive, he immediately raised his seal and surrendered the city without offering any resistance.

"General Zhang! I am willing to surrender! I am willing to surrender!" Prefect Wang knelt on the ground, holding the seal in his hands, not daring to raise his head.

Zhang Liao took the seal, glanced at it, and said indifferently:

"Get up. Work hard from now on, and His Highness the Prince of Yan will not mistreat you."

Prefect Wang felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet and led Zhang Liao into the city.

The treasury, household registration, and military personnel were all handed over perfectly.

However, the Li and Liao tribes and local powerful clans in the mountains outside Panyu City did not buy into this at all.

These tribes and powerful clans had been entrenched in the mountains for hundreds of years, never taking the imperial court seriously.

Officials sent by the imperial court in the past were either sidelined, driven away, or killed.

They set their own rules, collect their own taxes, and fight their own wars; they're no different from independent kingdoms.

Upon hearing that the Han army had arrived, they not only closed their camp and refused to surrender, but also declared that they would ensure the Han army would never return.

Several arrogant tribal leaders even sent people to the city of Panyu to shoot arrows in provocation. The arrows had notes attached that read, "Han dogs, go back home."

Zhang Liao didn't waste any words with them.

He fought alongside Liu Ce; what kind of tough battles hadn't he seen?

The Xianbei and Wuhuan in the north, Ma Teng and Han Sui in the west, and the allied forces of the feudal lords in the east—which of them wasn't more capable than these local tyrants in the mountains?

In his eyes, these mountain tyrants and barbarians were no different from clay chickens and earthen dogs.

He first sent people to persuade each village to surrender.

Those who are willing to submit will have their past transgressions forgiven, and their tribes will even be exempt from taxes.

When the envoy entered the mountains, Zhang Liao specifically instructed him: "Be polite and don't frighten them. Avoid fighting if possible, so as not to cause trouble for the brothers."

Zhang Liao's envoy entered the mountains with sincerity and told the tribal leaders: "Those who are willing to submit will have their past transgressions forgiven... The imperial court has come not to seize your territory, but to ensure your safety. Your cattle and sheep are still yours, your villages are still yours, as long as you obey, everything will remain the same."

The results of it?

The three largest Li Liao tribes, relying on their high mountains, dense forests, and strong fortified walls, not only refused to surrender but also drove back the envoys sent by Zhang Liao.

Two of them went even further, killing Han army scouts who were out on patrol. They captured them, chopped off their heads, and hung them at the gate of the stockade.

Zhang Liao became famous on the spot.

He usually appears gentle and refined, and speaks to everyone in a friendly and approachable manner.

But when they really get angry, they can be more ruthless than anyone else.

Moreover, in all the years he had followed Liu Ce, no one had ever dared to slap him in the face like this.

The messenger represents his face; to strike the messenger is to slap his face.

I can't swallow this insult.

He slammed his fist on the table, his face cold, and gave the order: "Archers, form ranks! Rain arrows upon the ground! Siege engines, push them forward and smash them! Soldiers, prepare yourselves! After the fortress is breached, any who resist are to be killed without mercy!"

At a command, the Han army's arrows rained down on the village.

Those barbarian soldiers who stood on the stockade wall and shouted "The Han dogs are coming!" were shot down by a rain of arrows after only a few words.

Arrows pierced their bamboo armor; some were pinned to the stockade walls, while others rolled off, their screams echoing throughout the village.

Immediately afterwards, the catapults that followed unleashed their power.

A millstone-sized boulder crashed against the stockade wall, creating a deafening roar that echoed through the valley.

In no time, several large gaps were smashed into the sturdy wooden fortress wall, with wood chips flying everywhere and dust filling the air.

Zhang Liao sent his generals and soldiers to the front, while he himself rode behind on horseback to bring up the rear, his broadsword gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

That general was a ruthless man. He took the lead and was the first to rush into the gap. With a swing of his broadsword, he cut down two barbarian soldiers blocking his way.

When the Han soldiers saw their generals charging forward, their morale soared, and they roared as they stormed into the camp.

The barbarian soldiers in the village had never seen anything like this before.

They usually just bully ordinary people; when it comes to fighting a regular army, they're no match at all.

They were routed in no time and fled in all directions.

In less than an hour, Zhang Liao had completely wiped out the three most arrogant tribal villages.

The tribal leaders who spearheaded the resistance were all beheaded, and their heads were displayed at the village gate.

All the property and grain in the village were confiscated.

As for prisoners, Zhang Liao said he hadn't seen any.

This terrified all the powerful clans and tribes in the entire South China Sea Commandery.

Those who had originally intended to observe or even make some small moves immediately and hastily led their cattle, sheep, and treasures to Panyu City to surrender to Zhang Liao, without even daring to raise their heads.

"General Zhang, spare our lives! We are willing to surrender! We are willing to surrender!"

"We've wanted to submit to the imperial court for a long time! It's all because of those three tribes that they started this trouble!"

Zhang Liao glanced at the kneeling nobles and barbarian chieftains, and snorted coldly:

"Get up. Behave yourself from now on, pay your tribute on time, and obey orders. Anyone who dares to cause trouble again will suffer the same fate as those three tribes."

Everyone nodded vigorously, as if they wanted to tear their hearts out to show their loyalty.

Zhang Liao didn't make things difficult for them.

As long as they are willing to submit, obey orders, and pay tribute on time, their past transgressions will be forgiven, and they will be allowed to continue managing their tribes and territories as before.

For those powerful clans that oppressed the people and committed numerous evils, their homes were confiscated, and all the land and property they had seized were returned to the people.

Several powerful clans had been running rampant in Nanhai County for decades, and the people dared not speak out against them. This time, they finally got their comeuppance.

On the day the house was ransacked, the onlookers clapped and cheered, and some even cried on the spot.