Chaoyang Cave.

It was already dark, and dozens of torches were lit along the middle, illuminating the cave. Dozens of bandits gathered together, shouted and drank happily, celebrating Taishi Ci's merits. After finding Zulang's hiding place, the tension that had been over the past few days was finally relieved, and they were all very excited.

The bandits were very excited and people kept coming to toast Taishici. If they had not had Taishici in this battle today, their losses would have been greater, especially Wan Bing. Without Taishici's timely cover, he would probably not be able to come back. He pulled Taishici to drink a few drinks and thanked them repeatedly.

Taishi Ci said a few humble words. "The general doesn't have to do this. Sun Ce's subordinates are brave and have excellent military equipment. I also suffered a loss a few days ago."

Wan Bing agreed repeatedly. He once rushed to Zulang's formation with his personal guards, and he was about to achieve success. Unexpectedly, Zulang almost killed his life with his personal guards and lost all his face. Taishi Ci's words were considered to have relieved him of the siege. Compared with others, Zulang's personal guards were better equipped and had stronger combat power. "Yes, their weapons are so good, Sun Ce has a wealth and awesomeness, so we can't compare to it."

Taishici looked at the bandit generals who were caring and was silent for a moment. "Two generals, I have a saying that may not be very memorable, but it is related to the life and death of thousands of soldiers in the village. I dare to ask the two generals to hear it."

Chen Bai was unanimous, but Wan Bing urged him repeatedly. Taishici said: "In today's battle, although Zulang has the advantage of terrain and military weapons, his advantage is not only here."

Wan Bing was puzzled. "What else?"

"I wonder if the general has noticed that Zulang's subordinates are all young and strong, and they cooperate very well and have a good understanding of each other."

Wan Bing thought about it carefully, felt it was reasonable and agreed. Chen Bai nodded silently, looking at the wine glass in his hand without saying a word.

"The two generals think that with such standards, how many people can you choose?"

Wan Bing and Chen Bai looked at each other and smiled bitterly at the same time. Wan Bing raised one hand, opened his five fingers, thought for a while, and then put away two more. "It's probably more than 300 people, there won't be more than one more."

Chen Bai also sighed and said, "No wonder Sun Ce left Zulang alone and went to attack Wuxian by himself. Zulang was originally a commander with 30,000 or 50,000 people, and his strength was much stronger than us. Now he has only picked 2,000 people, so he is naturally all young and strong. We are no match for each other. Even if we add up all the seven or eight groups around here, it may not be possible. Ziyi, what should we do?"

"The general is so serious. I am here under the order of Envoy Liu to assist you. It is my responsibility and honor to give advice to you and help you. Although I have been here for a short time, from the two generals to ordinary soldiers, I regard me, Taishici as my brother. I am very grateful and cannot bear to see anyone hurt, so I dare to make a bold statement. If there is any abrupt point, I would like to forgive you."

Wan Bing slapped his thigh. "Hey, look at what you said. Since you are brothers, you can't be so disgusted. You saved my life. If you say that, I'll be angry. Lao Chen, don't you?"

Chen Baiying said: "That's right, Ziyi, just say anything you have. Let's take the initiative together."

Taishi Ci said a few more humble words before saying: "The benefits of elite soldiers are of course not to mention, but elite soldiers also have disadvantages of elite soldiers. The number of people is too small. Once the battlefield range is too large, it is impossible to take care of both. Zulang only has two thousand people. He can control Tongguan Mountain, but he cannot take care of both Fuhu Mountain and Shimen Mountain, and can only defeat them one by one. But don't forget the two generals that it was not only Zulang, but also Sun Ce who came to attack Tongguan Mountain. Sun Ce first trained troops in the mountains, and then went out to Wuxian. Have the two generals ever thought that if he captured Wuxian and brought Wuxian's county soldiers here, will you still be spared?"

Wan Bing and Chen Bai's faces changed immediately. They knew their strength and the strength of Wu County. Wu County has thirteen cities, a total of 160,000 households, one-third of the population is in Wu County. Yangxian has less than 10,000 households, but Wu County has 50,000 or 60,000 households, and most of the wealthy and powerful families are concentrated in Wu County. The prefect of Wu County can immediately summon 30,000 to 50,000 people to fight. If they were not related to Xu Chun, Xu Gong would have dealt with them long ago. Now Xu Chun has been dealt with by Sun Ce, and they have sent people to attack Sun Ce's fleet. How could Sun Ce let them go?

As Taishici said, Tongguan Mountain, Fuhu Mountain, and Shimen Mountain look quite large, but if Sun Cezhen brought Wujun's troops into the mountain to fight, they would sooner or later be killed.

"This... Sun Ce only has a few thousand people, can he take down Wujun?" Chen's defeated general was suspicious, but his face was very ugly. He couldn't even hold the wine glass in his hand and threw it everywhere. They didn't know Sun Ce's past record, but they knew that Sun Ce was from Wujun, and even Lu Kang had such a good relationship with Sun Ce. How could other Wujun families not help Sun Ce? Without the help of Wujun families, Xu Gong would be useless without fighting.

Taishici sipped the wine slowly. He didn't want to scare these two bandits anymore. Everything was a matter of course. If he really wanted to tell Sun Ce's past achievements, if these two people were not sure, they would surrender to Sun Ce directly, and his plan would be ruined.

Chen Bai and Wan Bing discussed it. Wan Bing was already impressed with Taishi Ci, so there was no need to say much. Although Chen Bai was unwilling to accept the situation, he knew that the situation was serious and had to ask Taishi Ci for help. Taishi Ci finally made a suggestion, sending people to contact the bandits in Danyang and Kuaiji, and seized the time to clean up the fine and soft evacuation, especially the old and weak, who had to leave first. Tongguan Mountain, Fuhu Mountain, and Shimen Mountain are independent, and there is a flat land between the large mountainous areas south. If Sun Ce sent people to control this area and cut off the retreat, it would be difficult to retreat again.

I heard that I would give up Tongguan Mountain, which I had been operating for so long, not only did Chen Bai reluctantly give up, but Wan Bing also couldn't make up his mind. Taishi Ci didn't urge them, but just advised them to contact the clerks in the hinterland of Danyang first and make preparations. Wan Bing and Chen Bai discussed for a long time and barely agreed.

Taishici held the wine glass and drank with the bandits until midnight. Zhang Zhong accompanied him on the mountain road and returned to Taishici's residence. It was quiet around him, and there was no sound of insects. Taishici felt something strange. He thought about it and turned to look at Zhang Zhong. Zhang Zhong was a person who couldn't speak. He was used to what Zhang Zhong said in his ears all the time. Today, Zhang Zhong did not say a word, which was really strange.

"What's wrong?"

Zhang Zhong stopped, looked at the undulating mountains in the distance, and sighed several times one after another. "General, are we really going to leave?"

Taishici looked at Zhang Zhong. "You heard it all?"

Zhang Zhong nodded. "I am a scout, and my ears are more powerful than ordinary people. I have heard everything you said to the two great men."

"Don't you want to leave?"

"I..." Zhang Zhong hesitated for a moment, turned to look at Taishi Ci, and said stutteringly: "General, I don't want to be a bandit anymore. I want to... go home. My Ang came into the mountain the day before yesterday. If I go home, I can... get several acres of good paddy fields."

Taishici looked at Zhang Zhong, and a cold light flashed in his eyes in an instant. Zhang Zhong was startled, took a step back, and almost fell down. Taishici quickly and quickly grabbed him. Zhang Zhong sweated like rain and said in a trembling voice: "General, I..."

Taishi Ci pulled Zhang Zhong back, asked him to stand up, and patted him on the shoulder. "Go quietly, don't disturb anyone."

Zhang Zhong was surprised and happy, and knelt down on the ground with a "thump", kowtowed twice to Taishi Ci, stood up, flashed through the woods, and disappeared. Taishi Ci looked at the dark forest, and a helpless and bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Chapter completed!