Chapter 46

The taste in the river breeze became extremely complex, with the smell of gunpowder, the scent of burning, the stench of blood, and the odor of decay, along with other indescribable scents.

After the battle, the battlefield was extremely bloody and chaotic. Even Zhang Hao, who had gradually become accustomed to the cruelty of this era, could not help but frown.

It was already evening, and this decisive battle had come to a temporary end. The victor was clearly Zhang Hao.

However, the course of the battle was slightly more unexpected for Zhang Hao. At the beginning, under the bombardment of artillery, Chen Wen's army still mustered the courage to charge, which was not surprising, as they had become somewhat accustomed to the artillery after so many days.

But when ancient versions of hand grenades, rocket launchers, and incendiary bombs appeared, Chen Wen's army still showed sufficient tenacity.

Although some of the enemy troops directly collapsed and fled, they were suppressed, and most of the enemy troops still gritted their teeth and charged with all their might.

Zhang Hao thought that when all these firearms appeared, the enemy troops would directly collapse. Now, he realized that the main body of the enemy, the aristocratic guards and retainers, might have been given a death order. Whether it was due to long-term habits or their families, they were forced to endure.

At that time, Zhang Hao was slightly nervous, but the subsequent developments were somewhat unexpected.

Relying on their numerical advantage and paying a heavy price, the enemy broke through the firearms blockade and engaged in close combat. At this point, Chen Wen's army finally could not bear it.

Previously, they thought that the Gan army only relied on weapons like artillery, and as long as they broke through the firearms blockade, they could defeat them.

But the result of close combat made them despair. Not only were the enemy soldiers well-equipped and skilled in martial arts, but they also had excellent coordination.

Even with a certain numerical advantage, Chen Wen's army still could not resist. Moreover, the firearms continued to wreak havoc.

Seeing the gap between reality and their imagination, Chen Wen's army finally collapsed. For an ancient army, the loss of morale had terrible consequences.

These enemy troops scattered and fled, even directly collapsing the camps that had already been ravaged by artillery. After that, there were no surprises—capturing prisoners, pursuing, and treating the wounded. These matters did not require Zhang Hao's attention.

Walking through the camp, hearing the cries of pain from the prisoner camp, Zhang Hao shook his head. War was so cruel, especially after the appearance of firearms, which caused even more terrifying injuries.

Fortunately, Zhang Hao had brought a large amount of medicine from the modern era and trained enough medical personnel in advance. He believed that the mortality rate of the wounded would not be too high. These prisoners would also be his future subjects, so he could not abandon them casually.

"Lord, this is the list of captured officials and commanders." Ding Xuan came over and handed the list to Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao did not rush to look at it but continued to inspect the wounded camp. The prisoners could be ignored, but his own wounded soldiers needed to be comforted.

Although this war went smoothly, the decisive battle and the enemy's stubborn attack for a while caused significant damage to the Gan army.

These people were the foundation of Zhang Hao. Even if they could not continue to serve as soldiers in the future, they would become loyal supporters of Zhang Hao in their local areas, whether as law enforcement officers or in other roles. He naturally valued them and wanted to clearly show this importance.

"Your Majesty, General Huang Zhong has already captured Linyang." Another attendant brought a message from a messenger.

Zhang Hao was not surprised at all. Linyang was not far from the battlefield, and with the outcome of the battle, whether it was due to the impact of fleeing soldiers or the activities of 'smart people,' capturing Linyang was a matter of course.

Not only Linyang, but after this battle, the entire Yangzhou could be said to be firmly in Zhang Hao's hands.

After instructing the camp commander to take good care of the wounded, Zhang Hao led his people directly to Linyang.

Linyang was the capital of Yangzhou and was much more prosperous than the cities in Jiangdong. However, it was easy to imagine that after the war, the entire city was in a state of suppressed anxiety.

As Zhang Hao and his entourage entered Linyang, many people noticed the Gan King's flag and had various expressions. Some civilians even bowed to Zhang Hao.

Seeing the orderly city, Zhang Hao was satisfied. Emphasizing military discipline had reduced many unnecessary casualties and allowed the city to quickly recover from panic and worry, making the people more willing to submit.

Apart from these pragmatic considerations, as a modern person and a normal person, Zhang Hao himself did not like the cruel venting that often followed war.

At the provincial governor's residence, Huang Zhong and the commanders waited outside. After greeting, they entered the residence.

"Your Majesty, Chen Wen fled very quickly and did not even enter the city. Although troops have been sent to capture him, it will soon be dark, so there is no guarantee of catching him. The surrounding terrain is complex, with many mountains and rivers, providing many ways to escape," Huang Zhong said with some regret.

"It's fine, let him run. It doesn't affect the overall situation," Zhang Hao was not very concerned.

"Moreover, at this point, Chen Wen has no chance of turning the tide. I think what he should consider now is how to deal with the court's investigation."

Now, all the capable troops in Yangzhou had been defeated. Even if Chen Wen fled to other counties, he would have no way to resist Zhang Hao's army.

Zhang Hao was somewhat concerned about the Liu, Guan, and Zhang trio but did not specifically inquire. Given Liu Bei's ability to run, he probably fled at the first sign of trouble. As for Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, their martial prowess made it unlikely they would be captured.

These three brothers had not yet achieved a stable development. Even if they fled, it would only be a minor issue.

Just after the war ended, various matters were quite complicated, and Zhang Hao had no leisure time, dealing with various affairs.

Despite Zhang Hao's efforts to delegate authority, there were still many matters that required his attention. By the time he finished setting the rewards for this battle, it was already pitch dark outside.

Zhang Hao lay in Xiao Zhu's warm embrace, enjoying the massage from Xiao Zhu and Xiao Cha, relaxing his mind. He looked like a decadent landlord.

At this moment, a knock came from outside. "Your Majesty, General Ling and Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin have returned. They have captured Guan Yu."

Zhang Hao was somewhat surprised. Had the Liu, Guan, and Zhang trio been separated?

Thinking about Guan Yu's capture, Zhang Hao felt a bit strange. Historically, Guan Yu seemed to have been captured before. Ah, he didn't learn the essence of his brother's ability to fight across a thousand miles. Perhaps he hadn't obtained the Red Hare yet, and other horses had held him back? He pondered these thoughts with a bit of malice.

After Xiao Zhu and Xiao Cha helped him tidy up his clothes, Zhang Hao walked out of the inner chamber and came to the outer hall, sitting directly on the soft couch at the head of the table.

Knowing Guan Yu's exceptional skills and that Ling Cao and others would have made arrangements, Ding Xuan was still not at ease and brought his guards to protect Zhang Hao on either side. Zhang Hao could not refuse Ding Xuan's kindness, and it was more appropriate anyway. After all, this was Guan Yu. Who knew if he might attempt an assassination on the spot?

Zhang Hao nodded, and Ding Xuan immediately passed the order. Soon, with a series of footsteps, Guan Yu, bound with specially made leather ropes, was brought in by Ling Cao and others. Ling Cao and his men were extremely cautious and stood guard beside Guan Yu.

It seemed that Lord Guan had suffered quite a bit, Zhang Hao thought as he observed Guan Yu.

At this moment, Guan Yu looked quite disheveled. His originally magnificent armor was tattered, and his fine beard seemed to have been singed by fire. His eyes and mouth had some bruising, and he had significant injuries, limping as he walked. His wounds were hastily bandaged, but the bloodstains were clearly visible.

"Kneel down."

Zhou Tai shouted, trying to press Guan Yu down. Despite his anger and frustration, the exhausted Guan Yu had little strength to resist.

"Enough, Youping. There's no need for that. Although he may not be a hero, he is still a valiant general. There's no need to be so harsh," Zhang Hao waved his hand.

"Why do you insult me, traitor?" Guan Yu shouted angrily, clearly upset by Zhang Hao's evaluation.

Lord Guan usually prided himself on his loyalty and righteousness, and he pursued elegance and wisdom by reading the Spring and Autumn Annals. Now, being seen as just a warrior by Zhang Hao was unbearable for the proud Lord Guan.

Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, and Ling Cao glared at Guan Yu. If it weren't for Zhang Hao's indication, they would have likely punished Guan Yu again.