Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

Defang and Tian Guzheng were talking, Cao Bin came over, "Your Highness! Why did you leave the camp?"

"General Cao, I want to see Jinling City."

Cao Bin looked into the distance, "Your Highness, it's dark at night, so you can't see much, but don't worry, Your Highness. In a few days, the old officials will capture Jinling, and then your Highness can enter the city to see enough, hehe."

"General Cao, our army has been here for a long time, is Li Yu still unwilling to surrender?"

"Yes." Cao Bin shook his head, "Unexpectedly, Li Yu still has the spirit of a king."

Defang sighed, "It's a pity that I will soon become the Lord of Subjugation."

"Your Highness, my Great Song Dynasty has always treated those who surrendered kindly, and Your Majesty is even more merciful. Now that we have captured the Southern Tang Dynasty, we have also saved tens of thousands of people here, so that they no longer suffer from taxation."

"What General Cao said is that Li Yu, as the lord of the country, only knows how to enjoy himself every day. It is difficult to govern the country with literature, and it is difficult to stabilize the country with military power. If he wants to exploit and squeeze the people in this way, the country will die sooner or later."

"Your Highness, I heard from the soldiers and generals that you have learned a lot from them."

"That's right, it's my first time marching and fighting, and I should learn some basic things. Besides, as the son of His Majesty, how can I just stay in the camp all day with nothing to do? Otherwise, if I really want to lead the army Wouldn't it be a joke if you can't even start a fire or deal with a knife wound when you're out in battle?"

"Hehehe, Your Highness treats people generously, is studious and humble, and is just like His Majesty."

"General Cao praised me absurdly. I'm not as good as my father." Defang touched his head and said with a smile, "As long as Jinling can be captured, my father will be very happy."

"Well! Now our army is ready to fight on three sides, and we can attack the city at any time." Cao Bin looked at Jinling City, "Your Highness, go back to the camp. The old minister wants to call the generals to discuss again. We will send troops to break the city of Jinling in a few days. At that time, let Li Yu surrender in front of His Highness!"

"Okay! General Cao please."

"Your Highness please"

"Report!" A scout ran over, "Report to the general! There are enemy troops leaving the city at the north gate of Jinling!"

"Going out of the city?" Cao Bin frowned, "He wants to sneak attack."

Defang was startled, "General Cao, will they escort Li Yu out?"

"No, the army is besieged. They dare not take Li Yu out of the city rashly. They must have attacked at night."

"General" Defang said, "Please let me also go to meet the enemy."

"No, Your Highness is a body of ten thousand gold. If there is any damage, the old minister cannot explain to His Majesty."

"But..."

"His Highness sits in the camp, and the veterans will defeat them in a moment!"

Cao Bin rushed to the North Camp with his soldiers. At this time, the Southern Tang Dynasty sent 5000 troops to attack the Song Army at night, but they were quickly defeated. A few days later, Cao Bin ordered to attack the city. Surrounding the inner city, Cao Bin immediately ordered to stop the attack and reorganize the army. Seeing that the general situation was over, Li Yu submitted a letter to surrender.

At this time, Cao Bin in the army suddenly complained of illness and was unwilling to pay attention to the matter. When Defang learned about it, she went to visit Cao Bin.

Defang supported Cao Bin, "General Cao is sick, so don't be polite, you need to rest more."

Cao Bin pulled Defang over and whispered softly, "Your Highness, I am not ill."

"No disease?" Defang looked at Cao Bin in surprise, "Why is the general pretending to be sick at this time?"

"Your Highness, now our army has surrounded Jinling inside and outside. It is only a matter of time before we capture the inner city and capture Li Yu. However, the people in the city are innocent. I can't bear to see the army enter the city to kill innocent people and plunder people's wealth. Therefore, the false illness made the generals swear an alliance. .”

Defang thought for a while, nodded and said, "General Cao is truly benevolent and wise. Not only did he lead the army to conquer the Southern Tang Dynasty, so that the people of Jinling could save their wealth and lives, but also won the hearts of the people for His Majesty. This hall admires it."

Afterwards, all the generals in the army came to visit Cao Bin. Cao Bin said to the generals: "The rest of my illness cannot be cured by medicine and stones, but you must sincerely swear that you will not kill a single person on the day of conquering the city. Heal yourself." The generals immediately understood Cao Bin's intentions, and they all promised to obey, and they burned incense and made an oath together.

The next day, Cao Bin led the troops into Jinling City in the Southern Tang Dynasty. Li Yu, the lord of the country, surrendered. There is no disturbance at all, and life remains the same. Since then, all the Southern Tang Dynasty has been included in the territory of the Song Dynasty.