"General Pan, don't let Yu Du escape!"
"Lord, rest assured!" Pan Feng said, patting his horse and chasing after him.
Yu Du was just waking up from a hangover at this moment, his limbs soft and weak, barely able to hold onto the reins. How could he possibly control his horse?
Before long, Pan Feng caught up and brought his axe down towards Yu Du.
At the critical moment, with a 'clang', a long spear extended out and blocked Pan Feng's great axe.
Pan Feng looked closely and saw it was Fang Ping. He heard Fang Ping turn around and shout, "General, hurry and go, Zhang He will cover the rear!"
With that, Fang Ping thrust his spear towards Pan Feng.
Zhang Chen watched from the side, his fondness for Fang Ping growing even stronger in his heart.
To still be loyal and protect his Lord in times of peril, this man, though not recorded in history books, was a rare loyal and righteous person!
Conversely, seeing Yu Du ride away without looking back, Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel even more contempt for him.
Fang Ping and Pan Feng exchanged dozens of blows, but Fang Ping was ultimately slightly inferior. Pan Feng's axe knocked his long spear away, and as their horses crossed paths, Pan Feng grabbed him with a large hand and captured him from his horse's back.
Pan Feng turned his horse around and came before Zhang Chen, throwing Fang Ping to the ground. He ordered his men to tie him up, then clasped his hands towards Zhang Chen and said, "Lord, I have not failed in my mission, I have captured this bandit."
Just then, a rider galloped out from the rear of the camp. Zhang Chen looked closely and saw it was Gao Ming, Qu Yi's deputy. He saw that there was someone lying on his horse's back, being held down by Gao Ming. It was none other than the bandit army's leader, Yu Du.
Gao Ming rode forward and threw Yu Du to the ground. The First to Ascend Camp Soldiers immediately surrounded him and firmly held him down.
"Lord, Zhang He has captured the bandit leader, please give your command!"
"Execute!" Zhang Chen's eyes filled with cold light as he coldly uttered this word.
Hearing this, Yu Du was instantly terrified out of his wits and hastily pleaded for mercy, "Lord! Lord, spare my life! Spare..."
Before he could finish, Gao Ming raised his hand and brought down his blade, severing Yu Du's head with a single strike.
The First to Ascend Camp was decisive in battle and never procrastinated.
Zhang Chen took the opportunity to collect all the blue and green attributes from Yu Du. As for the white attribute 【Lack of Strategy】, which caused a significant decrease in intelligence, it was a negative attribute through and through, and Zhang Chen naturally didn't touch it.
Zhang Chen collected the attributes, then urged his horse forward and used the tip of his spear to lift Yu Du's head. He shouted loudly to the remaining defeated Soldiers, "Listen, everyone! The bandit leader Yu Du has been executed. Those who lay down their weapons will be spared death. Those who stubbornly resist will be executed without mercy!"
As soon as this was said, the bandit Soldiers were as if granted a great amnesty. They all dropped their weapons, knelt on the ground, and cried out, begging for surrender, "Lord, spare our lives, we are willing to surrender!"
With the situation settled, Zhang Chen was greatly pleased. He immediately issued orders, commanding Gao Ming and Pan Feng to lead the troops in clearing the battlefield, collecting all military equipment, horses, and provisions. He also dispatched Soldiers to escort the surrendered Soldiers back to Guangping County to await their fate.
After a while, the Soldiers finished counting and reported to Zhang Chen.
In this battle, over three thousand enemies were killed, and over four thousand surrendered. A total of one thousand two hundred warhorses, two thousand shi of grain, one hundred thousand cash, and countless other military supplies were obtained. It was a complete victory!
Zhang Chen was very happy after hearing the Soldier's report and was about to order the return to the city when suddenly a sound of galloping horses came from the distance.
Zhang Chen looked towards the source of the sound and saw a fast horse galloping from the north.
"Whoa!" The rider stopped his horse when he reached the front, dismounted, and ran towards Zhang Chen. He was a Soldier from the Trap Camp.
"Greetings, Lord!" The man came closer, knelt down, and bowed, "Lord, an urgent letter from Sir Gongyu!"
Saying that, the man took out an envelope from his Pregnant, and handed it to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen took it and read it, his brows slightly furrowed, and his expression changed.
"Lord, what happened?" Pan Feng and Gao Ming asked anxiously.
"Gongyu says in the letter that the scouts he sent out have reported that two other bandit armies are rushing towards this location. He wants us not to linger in battle and to quickly return to the city!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Ming quickly said, "Lord, since that is the case, we should not stay here for long. It would be better to return to Guangping County first and then make a plan!"
Zhang Chen pondered for a moment, then immediately said, "All troops listen to the order, return to the city!"
By dawn, Zhang Chen and others led the troops back into the city. The city residents saw their County Magistrate personally leading the army back into the city, followed by a large number of captives, military equipment, and provisions. They couldn't help but feel suspicious and began whispering and discussing among themselves.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "Look at that flag, I recognize that flag, it's the flag of the Black Mountain Army!"
As soon as this was said, everyone took a few steps back, all with expressions of panic.
The Black Mountain Army originated in the Taihang Mountains and was currently causing trouble only in the Eastern Commandery area. Although they had not yet disturbed Wei Commandery, their influence was vast and had long been known to the world.
The Black Mountain Army was much more formidable than ordinary mountain bandits!
"Whoa!" Zhang Chen reined in his horse and stopped, saying to the surrounding people, "Villagers, there is no need to panic. The Black Mountain Bandits attempted to plunder my Guangping County. Last night, this official personally led the armored Soldiers and have already wiped out the bandit army and executed the bandit leader Yu Du. Everyone can rest assured. As long as this official is here for a day, there will be peace in Guangping County, and no one shall dare to harm the people of my Guangping County!"
Instantly, the people cheered with joy.
"The Lord can even defeat the Black Mountain Army, he's simply too amazing! I also want to join the army, I want to follow the County Magistrate!"
"The world is not peaceful today, we must take up arms and protect our homes!"
"Lord, accept us!"
"Accept us!"
...
Suddenly, the latent passion in some young men was ignited in an instant.
Zhang Chen was very satisfied with this situation.
After this matter, he had also planned to start expanding his army. Now, he had also gained a lot of military equipment and provisions, enough to support several thousand Soldiers.
With Yu Du's previous plundering, and the two subsequent forces with unknown intentions, it was only right for Zhang Chen to expand his army for self-preservation. Even the Prefect would not say anything.
Zhang Chen immediately praised, "Good! With spirited young men like you in my Guangping County, we will surely be able to protect this region's peace and allow the people to live and work in peace! After some time, I will post a recruitment notice, and you will have the opportunity to serve. At that time, we will together achieve merits and bring glory to our ancestors!"
"We respectfully obey the Lord's command!"
On both sides of the road, the people knelt and bowed.
Pan Feng and Gao Ming witnessed this scene and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe in their hearts.
Gao Ming looked at Zhang Chen's back on his horse and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
In today's chaotic world, nine out of ten officials are corrupt, and the people are suffering. Perhaps only places like Guangping County can maintain a clean land. For Zhang Chen, at such a young age, to be so supported by the people is truly rare and valuable!
In last night's raid, his deployment was skillful, and he was decisive in killing. This shows that this person has great talent. Looking at his Trap Camp, their military appearance is orderly, and their military might is imposing, in no way inferior to the First to Ascend Camp. Such a person truly cannot be underestimated!
Pan Feng was also secretly startled at this moment, thinking that such a talent was something that many of the noble family descendants in Loyang lacked. If this person were born into a prominent family, he would surely become a pillar of the Great Han in the future!
In that instant, Pan Feng's own passion seemed to be ignited. There was a time when he was also full of ambition, wanting to join the army and serve the country, achieving merits with his bravery.
It was just a pity that he was deeply indebted to Han Fu for his recognition and support. He had already decided to serve Han Fu as his Lord for the rest of his life and would not join anyone else.
Thinking of this, Pan Feng couldn't help but sigh deeply in his heart.