Han Khan

Chapter 56: After the City Was Broken

On the wall of Yizhou, Zhang Zhongxian looked up at the sky and could not help but sigh: "In today's world, wars are frequent and the killings are endless.

The shepherds raise dozens of sheep in the cold wind on the grassland, and they starve to death without a single bite of food. They are also treated like animals by the headmen and chiefs.

The Tang people worked till death on the farmland, but they didn’t know whether the food they planted would be enough to feed themselves… When will this world end?”

"Most High God, may you always protect your chosen people - the people of Jinhan!"

………………

Although Yizhou City is not large, it is a simple fortress that can accommodate two to three thousand households.

At this moment, in front of the Yizhou Governor's Mansion, Zhang Sheng was silent for a long time as he looked at the Hu and Han people who were kneeling on the ground to express their surrender.

As the shouting and screaming on the city wall gradually weakened, he knew that everything was over and Yizhou City had been completely captured by him.

Now, he was here to accept the surrender of all Illinoisans.

Zhang Sheng rode on his horse, looking down at the captives, and said in a deep voice:

"I will keep my word. Except for those who stubbornly resist or are about to escape, you can save your lives by opening the city and surrendering! Although the death penalty can be avoided, the living punishment cannot be escaped. You will become my slaves and work and herd for me."

He then looked at the captives outside the city who had just been used as cannon fodder by the Jin Han warriors, and said, "You survived. I promised that as long as you survived the siege, you could join Jin Han and become my subjects!"

"We thank Lord Burke for not killing us!" Several Hu chieftains and prisoners of war immediately led the people of Yizhou City and kowtowed to express their gratitude.

(Burke, Buick and Berg mean chief or master)
The three pale-faced brothers Chen Yunde, Chen Yunpeng and Chen Yunque were dragged over. Zhang Sheng's guards immediately glared at them.

If Zhang Sheng had not spoken, the three brothers would have been beheaded in public.

"You dog slave, you traitor! You never thought that you would end up like this! The emperor appointed you as the garrison commander of Yizhou, but you turned around and defected to the Uighurs. Did you ever think that retribution would come so quickly!" Zhang Xibao was furious and cursed at the three brothers Chen Yunde in front of him.

Chen Yunde heard Zhang Xibao's roar and said in a deep voice:

"Since my Chen family accepted the imperial edict from the Tang Emperor, we have guarded Yizhou for generations. How could your father Zhang Chengfeng be qualified to appoint me as the garrison commander of Yizhou? My Chen family is not a vassal of your Zhang family. This ragtag Guiyi Army has no hope of becoming the master of my Chen family!"

Zhang Sheng shook his head, unwilling to waste time talking to him. Now he was the one who held the power of life and death, and he must not be disturbed by these people. So he said in a deep voice:
"Take him away and don't let him yell again. I don't want to see these bastards.

All males related to the Chen family will be executed, and all the women of the Chen family will be imprisoned. After leaving Yizhou, they will be distributed to unmarried centurions and guards. "

"As you command, Your Highness!"

Afterwards, the Jin Han people occupied the city gates and various key points in the city, and stationed and patrolled everywhere.

The thirty hundred households of the Jinhan tribe surrounded Yizhou City and set up camp outside the city, with smoke gradually rising.

The battle is over!
Among the Yizhou people who opened the gate to surrender, many of them brought fodder, beans, and large amounts of wine and food. They walked to Zhang Sheng and the guards and others, knelt on the ground respectfully, and handed them over!

Zhang Sheng certainly couldn't just pick it up and eat it, so he asked some of the higher-ranking leaders among the captives to come forward and let them taste the food and water one by one.

After a while, when the Jin Han people saw that they were fine, they felt at ease to eat.

This could be seen as a sign of the Yizhou people's submission to the Jinhan conquerors.

More importantly, by accepting food and fodder, Zhang Sheng regarded the Yizhou people he conquered as his own subordinates, requiring them to obey his orders and granting them the protection of the Jin Han people.

Some brave Sai and Han people were kneeling on the ground, looking up at the mighty Tang leader among the many guards. It was rumored that this man was a descendant of Zhang Yichao.

He is tall, wearing shiny black iron armor, and has an extremely strong physique. There is a long scar on his forehead that goes through his brow and reaches his eyelid. He is obviously a brave warrior who has led the troops in battle and has experienced many battles.

His hair was extremely thick. Looking at the hair tied up after he took off the Tang Dynasty crown, everyone confirmed the identity of the person in front of them. He was undoubtedly a Tang Dynasty man. Only Tang people, or Han people, could have such a hairstyle.

His face is covered with a beard that connects to the sideburns above his ears and his chest below his throat, so it is difficult to tell his age, but he looks quite young.

Because of its thick beard, when it was eating, everyone could only see its white and sharp teeth, just like a tiger.

The reason why people speculated whether the other party was a Tang person was because this Tang person looked extremely fierce, with sunken eye sockets, and looked quite similar to the Sai people.

But everyone knew that the man before them had terrifying attack power, was a butcher who killed without blinking an eye, was fearless, bloody and cruel.

So when Zhang Sheng looked at these brave captives, they immediately lowered their heads and trembled. At this time, a Buddhist monk wearing a cassock and with a long flowing beard walked steadily from the crowd and walked towards Zhang Sheng.

Behind him followed a bearded monk wearing a grey robe, a tall black hat and a cross on his chest.

Zhang Sheng looked at the two approaching monks, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Several guards stepped forward to stop the two men. They would not let them approach His Highness just because they were monks!

The Jinhan people are the most outstanding people of the Lord Haotian, brave and devout believers, but not believers of Buddhism or other pagan religions!
At this time, the long-bearded monk put his hands together, bowed slightly and said, "I am Huineng, the abbot of Yizhou Temple. I am honored to meet you, General."

"I am Alonben, the bishop of the Holy Lord's Temple of the Nestorian Church in Yizhou. I am honored to meet this Tang general!"

Zhang Sheng nodded and said, "You two, why do you want to see me? We are not followers of Buddhism, nor are we followers of Nestorianism."

Zhang Sheng looked at the monk who looked like a Han Chinese and asked, "Master Huineng, are you from the Tang Dynasty?"

"Yes, General. I am a Tang person from Yizhou." Huineng answered modestly. He didn't understand why Zhang Sheng in front of him was not a Buddhist believer.

Almost all places in Hexi are believers of Buddha, but these warriors from Hexi do not believe in Buddha. It is really strange, so I have to speak humbly.

Zhang Sheng didn't expect that there would be Buddhist and Nestorian clergy here. It was normal for Buddhist monks to appear in the Western Regions and Hexi. Buddhism was what was revered everywhere in the Western Regions.

But he had never seen anyone who believed in Nestorianism, either in his previous life or in this world.

Nestorianism is an Eastern branch of Christianity and is considered a heresy by orthodox Christianity. It is called Nestorianism - or Orientalism, that is, a sect that does not recognize Mary as the Mother of God.

The Bible was translated into Sogdian and Persian and preached in Central Asia and the grasslands. In the future, the Naiman, Kerait and Wanggu tribes all accepted the Nestorianism and became believers of Christianity, which had a far-reaching impact.

The monk named Huineng saw that Zhang Sheng was silent. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "The general is kind and generous. He spared the people of Yizhou. This is a great act of kindness. On behalf of the people of the city, I would like to thank the general."

Zhang Sheng smiled slightly, "No need to be polite, monk. It was these people who opened the city gate for me, so we were able to capture Yizhou smoothly.

I swore in the name of the Lord of Heaven that as long as the city gates are opened, all those who surrender will be spared. I am just fulfilling my promise."

Hui Neng nodded, and then asked: "I wonder where the general is from and why he wants to attack Yizhou?
Oh, please forgive me, General. I am already a prisoner, but I still ask you many questions. "

"The general you are talking about is the unique and supreme god in this world, the incarnation of His Majesty the Lord of Heaven on earth, the emperor of our Jinhan people, and the first priest of the Holy Religion. I hope you will be careful with your words and actions!"

At this time, Zhang Zhongxian, Zhang Jinda, Zhang Anzuo and Wuzur, four holy priests, had already appeased the tribesmen outside the city and walked into Yizhou City. They happened to hear the conversation between Zhang Sheng and the two monks. Zhang Zhongxian said in a somewhat solemn tone, then walked to Zhang Sheng and said:
"Your Highness, the people have been pacified!"

Zhang Sheng waved his hands to show that he didn't care.

"My name is Zhang Sheng. I am the son of Zhang Chengfeng, the emperor of Jinshan State and the White-robed Emperor! I was inspired by God to lead the people of Haotian God to migrate northward. The Uighurs and the Chen family in Yizhou City blocked my way, so I conquered Yizhou."

Monk Huineng said: "I am honored to meet you, Your Excellency. I have not been to Hexi for many years. I don't know what Hexi looks like now. And I don't know which god is the Lord Haotian you mentioned?
I remember that in Hexi, whether it was the nobles or the common people, they were all followers of Buddha. I wonder what happened in Hexi?"

Well, let's start the Buddhist debate! How dare this monk Huineng speak to Zhang Sheng in such a questioning tone.

Zhang Sheng's face was as calm as a pool of stagnant water. He slowly spoke:

"I have been thinking about why you and Chen Yunde, who are obviously Tang people, are now living under the rule of the Uighurs and living so comfortably.

Are those Tang people who are controlled by the Uighurs and believe in Buddhism also living a carefree life like you?"

These words were like a sharp sword, piercing the originally calm face of Monk Huineng.

However, he did not respond immediately. Perhaps this monk's understanding of Buddhism was still shallow and he was unable to deal with such sharp questions.

Zhang Sheng looked at Monk Huineng, a trace of disappointment welled up in his heart. He shook his head gently, and then said deeply:
"Did Gautama Buddha ever say that he was a god? He never said anything like that, right?
Monk, Sakyamuni is not a real god, Buddha is not a god, he is just a prophet sent to India by the Heavenly God, he taught the will of the Heavenly God to mankind, and people in later generations learn from what he taught, which is the will of the Heavenly God! "

"Let me tell you, the Buddhas and other Buddhas you keep talking about cannot save the Tang people at all!

Even in India, the hometown of Sakyamuni, his teachings and ideas are no longer respected! People there no longer believe in the Buddha's teachings!
The Haotian God I am talking about is the one and only God in this world. He existed before all things and is the God who created the entire universe and all things in the world!

We humans were also created by Him. I received His revelation and shouldered the mission of establishing His supreme kingdom of God on this land."

At this moment, a dazzling golden light rose from under Zhang Sheng's feet, like a pillar of light that penetrated the sky and the earth, rushing straight into the sky at an astonishing speed, dazzling people.

(End of this chapter)