Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 241 Please Kill He Shikai!!
“Ah!! Help!! Help!!”

An arrow suddenly flew over his head and shot off Gao Zhan's crown. Gao Zhan was so scared that he fell off his horse and fell into the bushes, his face pale.

He Shikai quickly jumped off his horse, found the emperor in the bushes, and helped him up.

At this moment, Gao Zhan no longer had the appearance of the mighty emperor in the past. His clothes were tattered and his hair was unkempt. The arrow just now frightened him so much that he couldn't even stand steadily. His legs were shaking. Looking at He Shikai who helped him up, he asked blankly: "He Qing, am I dead?"

He Shikai burst into tears, "How can your Majesty say such a thing! Your Majesty will be fine! Our guard post is just ahead!"

He Shikai ordered the knights to fight back, and then helped Gao Zhan onto the horse. Gao Zhan got on the horse tremblingly, and failed to do so several times. After he was finally able to get on the horse, He Shikai followed them and continued to move forward.

The news that the emperor had left the city had already been known to the Zhou people. Yang Zhong no longer cared about Jinyang. He left Li Mu to continue besieging Jinyang, and he led the light cavalry to hunt down Gao Zhan.

Along the way, the number of people around Gao Zhan became fewer and fewer.

He didn't even dare to take the official road and started to take the small path.

After walking for a while, they heard shouting and killing from the front. Gao Zhan did not dare to move forward and had to stay on the small road.

The knights were on guard all around, their faces full of fatigue. The long journey had made them feel a little overwhelmed.

Gao Zhan was sitting on the ground at this moment, looking ahead in despair with a sad face.

He Shikai quickly took out the prepared dried meat and candied fruit. Gao Zhan took a few bites before reacting, "Why are you leaving them here with me?! Share them! Share them with everyone!! As long as I am alive, no one is allowed to fight on an empty stomach!"

He Shikai quickly arranged for his attendants to distribute the dried meat and candied fruits. The knights thanked the emperor and began to enjoy the fruits.

When He Shikai returned to Gao Zhan again, Gao Zhan secretly wiped his tears with his sleeves.

"If I had known this earlier, I should have listened to my fifth brother's advice!"

"If I had promoted Liu Taozi and given him horses, money and food, how could old man Yang Zhong bully me to this extent?"

He Shikai hung his head and dared not speak.

Gao Zhan added: "If I had listened to my fifth brother at the beginning, and let Duan Shao guard Jinyang, let Hulugu sit in Sizhou, and let Lou Rui go to Pingyang, how could the old thief Yang Zhong be so rampant?"

"Blame me, it's all my fault!"

"Prince Ping Qin advised me many times that the defenses around here are rotten and we should send people to fix them earlier, but I didn't listen to him. I didn't listen."

As Gao Zhan was speaking, the sound of horse hooves was heard again in the distance.

The knight roared and rushed to meet the enemy.

Gao Zhan trembled as he mounted his horse again, and He Shikai protected him as he continued to escape.

Yang Zhong may have guessed Gao Zhan's route and set up defenses on many necessary roads. Gao Zhan asked He Shikai to lead the troops to break out, but He Shikai didn't have the ability to do so. After fighting several times, the result was that the number of knights around Gao Zhan became even smaller.

Gao Zhan couldn't get through, and couldn't even go back.

He and many imperial guards were trapped on a small trail in Liangshan, hiding here and there, in a dilemma. The slaves and eunuchs he brought from Jinyang had long since run away, and now no one knew where they were. There were only more than 300 elite cavalrymen left with him. Even the most elite cavalrymen were useless without a commander, and they even gradually ran out of food.

The knights also had to get food for Gao Zhan. The biggest problem was water, as the enemy's light cavalry kept wandering around the water source.

Gao Zhan had never suffered such hardship in his life.

He sat dejectedly in the woods, his lips pale and his eyes revealing deep despair.

For a moment, he even thought about surrendering.

At least, surrendering won't cause you such pain, being chased everywhere, lacking food and water.
The people around him had already been tortured to the point of being paranoid, with their morale down and their spirit dead.

Gao Zhan once again confessed to He Shikai, "Since I came to power, I have never done a single thing well. I only thought about how to get rid of those who were not good for me, and never thought about the safety of the country. If these people were gone, Da Qi would really perish."

"How could the Great Qi be destroyed in my hands?"

"Before Hulugu left, he advised me to be careful of Yang Zhong. I should have listened to him."

"Murong Sanzang told me to stay in the city and wait for reinforcements. He was right!!"

"If I can go back this time by luck."

"kill!!!"

Shouts of killing came from behind again, interrupting Gao Zhan's confession. The knights around him were no longer able to fight and fled in all directions. He Shikai and another servant stepped forward to support Gao Zhan, but Gao Zhan did not move.

He just sat there in a daze, muttering, "No need to run, this is fate."

"Whoosh~~"

"Pfft!"

The arrow flew and pierced through the servant beside Gao Zhan. The servant fell headfirst in front of Gao Zhan, blood splattered, and the hot blood splashed on Gao Zhan's face. At that moment, Gao Zhan screamed and climbed up. He didn't even need He Shikai's support. He crawled onto the horse and ran away without looking back.

He Shikai followed behind him.

They ran for a long time, and the shouting and screaming behind them gradually subsided.

Gao Zhan had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw a cloud of dust rolling in front of him. The ground was shaking slightly, and a large number of cavalry were charging towards him.

Gao Zhan was riding on his horse, trembling all over, his teeth were stuck together, and he was unable to speak.

The knights in the distance slowly revealed their flags and appearances.

He Shikai cried with joy, "Your Majesty! We are family! We are family!!"

Gao Zhan was overjoyed, and if he had not been riding a horse, he would have hugged He Shikai and cried.

The knights slowly arrived, and He Shikai hurried forward, "Your Majesty is here!!"

The cavalry was immediately in an uproar. They stopped and a young officer immediately rushed over on his horse, dismounted, and saluted Gao Zhan.

"This humble general, the Cavalry Commander Shenglie, pays respect to Your Majesty."

Gao Zhan saw him, then looked at the cavalrymen behind him, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He said gently: "You have done a great job in saving the emperor. When we return to Yecheng, you will be rewarded handsomely!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Gao Zhan looked sternly at Jinyang in the distance, "Liu Taozi is incompetent, allowing Yang Zhong to march into the hinterland so brazenly. Hui Luo, Gao Anagong, Duguzhi, Murong Sanzang and others all led the troops poorly!! They put me in such a dangerous situation!"

"You brag all the time and act so arrogant, but when it comes to the crucial moment, you are no match for me, a Cavalry Commander!!"

"I will never let these people go."

Looking at Gao Zhan's ferocious expression, He Shikai cleared his throat and quickly reminded him, "Your Majesty, now is not the time to discuss this matter."

The knights in the distance suddenly split into two groups, and then a man in military uniform was seen leading the knights through the vanguards.

When he saw this person, the smile on Gao Zhan's face froze.

Gao Yu came riding on horseback, wearing military uniform, and beside him were the fat little Gao Yanzong and Rencheng Prince Gao Xi.

Gao Zhan swallowed and said nothing.

Soon, the two sides encountered each other.

Prince Gao Wei of Rencheng ranked tenth among the fourteen rivers. His mother was also from the Erzhu clan, and was the cousin of Erzhu Ying'e.

Gao Xi was young and clever, observant of the people, loyal, resolute, brave and upright. Among the Fourteen Rivers, wise kings actually accounted for the majority.

Gao Zhan quickly calmed down and looked at He Shikai confidently.

Gao Yu is not dead?

However, it doesn't matter if he didn't die. Gao Yin has a weak character. When his second brother raped his mother and later beat and killed her, he didn't dare to resist. What is there to be afraid of with such a person?

Gao Yanzong and Gao Xi hurriedly dismounted and bowed to meet him.

Gao Yu did not dismount. He raised his head and looked straight at the emperor, with little respect in his eyes.

At this moment, He Shikai panicked and hurriedly pulled Gao Zhan's reins.

Gao Zhan was somewhat surprised, but he did not dare to question. He just sighed and said, "I never thought that the one who came to save me in the end was actually my brother!"

“I am really touched.”

"Is my brother okay?"

"Thanks to your majesty, I am safe."

"Your Majesty, please follow us."

Gao Yu said coldly. Gao Zhan's heart trembled at this moment. He quickly looked at the cavalry commander beside him and said, "You can send people to gather the defeated soldiers around. I can't bear to leave them behind. They are the elite soldiers of the temple."

Gao Yu slowly looked at the cavalry commander, "Edi Shenglie, His Majesty has given the order, why don't you do it? Do you want to end up like your father, killed by illness on the road?"

Gao Zhan slowly turned his head and looked at the cavalry commander beside him.

At this moment, he noticed the other person's deep eyes. He knew this person!
The one who followed Hui Luo into the palace!
Gao Zhan's hands began to tremble slightly. He slowly looked at Gao Yu and said, "Brother, let's gather the defeated soldiers first."

"Your Majesty, you are the emperor of the Great Qi after all. If you fall into the hands of the enemy or are killed by the enemy, the Great Qi will lose face, the morale of the army and the people will be in turmoil, and the local area will fall apart. I don't know how many tricks the Zhou people will use you to do, and the harm will be extremely great. You'd better follow us." Gao Yun gave the order, and immediately the knights came forward, forcibly took over the protection from the imperial guards, and escorted the emperor away.

Gao Zhan rode on his horse and looked at the surrounding army, and then he reacted.

"These are the reinforcements returning to Luo to defeat the enemy."

Gao Yu rode his horse and walked beside him. He nodded and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, these are the soldiers returning to Luoyang."

"Hui Luo is a greedy, tyrannical, and has all the shortcomings of others."

"But after all, he has fought more than a hundred battles with King Gao, and was injured countless times. He was crowned king for his military merits. We can show off our power and prestige because of such a brave general."

"For his crime of corruption, he could be executed, dismissed, and his property confiscated, but he should not be forced to go to the battlefield and die tragically on the march when he was too old and weak to walk."

"His son cried and said: He had been traveling for six days, coughing for six days, and finally died of the pain."

"Hui Luo died in Jinglin Mountain. I led my men there and gathered his army."

Gao Yu spoke calmly, and then said, "Arun is dead."

"I was chatting with him in the carriage when someone with a powerful crossbow descended from the sky and tried to shoot me. My brother stood up, opened his arms, and blocked my way. He died in my arms."

"The next day, his mother, Concubine Zheng, hanged herself in the house."

Gao Zhan looked at Gao Yun in horror. He suddenly felt a deep chill from this usually gentle brother, as if the other party was suppressing something.

"I sent someone to contact Jinyang."

"Murong Sanzang died in battle. Following the order of Your Majesty, he rashly led his troops in the dark. Although he defeated Li Mu, he was still no match for Yang Zhong and fell off his horse. He would rather die than surrender. It was when Your Majesty was leading his men to flee. The enemy generals respected his bravery and sent his body to the outside of Jinyang Gate."

"Murong Sanzang was not a good person either. He occupied farmland and tried every means to be an enemy of General Anxi. However, it was a pity that he died. He was forced to leave the city and fight against an unknown enemy he had no idea about even though he had the advantage of occupying the city wall. This should not have happened."

He Shikai lowered his head, his whole body shaking like a sieve. He tried to move back as much as possible, trying hard not to let Gao Yin notice him.

Gao Zhan suddenly burst into tears, "This is all my fault!"

"I shouldn't have let Huiluo lead the troops, and I shouldn't have let Sanzang go to the battle!"

"It's my fault!!"

"I will issue an edict of apology and reward these people."

Gao Yu did not say anything, but just quickened his pace and headed for the front army's position. Gao Zhan looked at him going away, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

He Shikai was following Gao Zhan at this moment. He Shikai looked at the army in front and behind him and said in fear: "Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

"The King of Pengcheng seems to have rebelled"

Gao Zhan said, "Don't worry, don't be afraid. Fifth Brother is a very kind person. I made some mistakes, so it's reasonable for him to be angry, but he will never rebel. If he wanted to rebel, why would he escort me?"

"Don't worry."

Gao Zhan spoke very quickly, constantly comforting He Shikai.

But He Shikai always felt that he was comforting himself.

As the army advanced, the shouting and screaming behind them became weaker and weaker.

The army stopped only when they arrived at the Jinglin Mountain camp.

Gao Zhan was brought to the camp, which was a temporary tent. It was the place for them to rest after Hui Luo was completely unable to walk. He also died here.

The knights stayed in the camp to rest, there were no tents here.

A large bonfire was burning in the middle, and Gao Zhan sat in front of it, wolfing down his food.

He Shikai sat next to him and had no appetite.

Gao Yu stood aside, and the knights filled the entire camp.

As the cold wind blew, the bonfire began to change its appearance constantly. Under the night sky, the bonfire became more colorful, and the flames rose and disappeared.

Gao Yu walked forward and bowed to Gao Zhan.

"His Majesty!!"

"The knights believe that the current chaos in the world is all due to He Shikai's fault. They all hope that you can execute He Shikai and should not let him continue to serve you!"

Gao Zhan was stunned and the food in his hand fell to the ground.

He Shikai was so frightened that he went limp all over and quickly hid behind Gao Zhan.

Gao Zhan looked at Gao Yu, his eyes full of tears, "Brother! He Shikai is just a servant, what fault could he have committed?"

"If there is any fault, it is all mine. I am willing to be punished by my brother, and I only hope that you can forgive He Shikai!"

Gao Yu stood up and looked around.

The knights immediately struck their shields with their swords and made a noise.

For a moment, the camp was filled with sounds of killing and was extremely chaotic.

Looking at the murderous knights around him, Gao Zhan's face changed. He held He Shikai's hand tightly and looked at Gao Yun pleadingly.

"Brother!!"

Gao Yu, however, kept a straight face and remained unmoved. The knights began to approach step by step.

Seeing things develop to this point, He Shikai burst into tears, "Your Majesty! Save me! Your Majesty!!"

Gao Zhan looked around until the armored soldiers stepped forward and forcibly pulled He Shikai away. He Shikai continued to struggle but could not break free. Gao Zhan stood up and said, "King Pengcheng, please spare his life."

"Your Majesty, please give the order!!!"

the knights shouted.

Gao Zhan looked at Gao Yu, who had a fierce look in his eyes, and then looked at He Shikai. His lips trembled, "Okay."

"Give me white silk, and do not let the sword touch me."

He Shikai was so frightened that he was almost paralyzed. His hands and feet were weak, his whole body was shaking, he kept vomiting, and he couldn't speak at all.

Gao Yu looked at the knights and said, "Tie him to the flagpole and let the soldiers shoot him with crossbows."

Several soldiers dragged He Shikai to the flagpole and tied him up. Gao Zhan was shocked, "How could they kill him so cruelly?!"

Gao Yu's eyes widened as he looked at him menacingly, "Your Majesty!! Gao Run also died this way!!"

Before Gao Zhan could dissuade them, the knights took action directly.

The sound of the powerful crossbow was very loud, and the arrows flew out, filling the He Shikai in a moment.

He Shikai cried and begged for mercy. A moment later, he turned into a hedgehog, his whole body covered with arrows, and he looked completely unrecognizable as a human being.

He Shi couldn't drive anymore.

Gao Zhan looked at the dead He Shikai blankly. He suddenly collapsed to the ground and then began to cry bitterly. He could not make a sound and tears kept falling.

Watching He Shikai's tragic death, he felt indescribable pain in his heart. This pain seemed to be more sad than the enemy's attack on Jinyang.

Looking at Gao Zhan, whose heart was broken and in great pain, Gao Yun was speechless for a moment.

He looked up and sighed.

"Your Majesty, there is one more matter that requires your decision."

"When the Zhou people are rampant and have reached Jinyang, the whole country is in fear. Please give me the order to serve as the left prime minister, temporarily lead the affairs of the country, repel the Zhou people, and support the country."

Gao Zhan just sat on the ground and cried. He ignored Gao Yin.

Gao Yu then ordered someone to bring the imperial edict and stamp Gao Zhan's imperial seal on it.

This means that with an imperial edict, we can officially take over the government affairs of the world.

After doing all this, Gao Yu ordered everyone to go and rest.

The next day, the army left.

Gao Zhan rode on his horse, looking at the bloody corpse that was still tied up in the distance. He just shed tears silently. Even when he was riding away, his head was always looking in the direction behind him. He couldn't bear to leave.

I don't know how long I walked until I couldn't even see the tent anymore.

Gao Zhan looked ahead, he didn't dare to look at Gao Yun.

He was afraid that he would not be able to control his anger at the moment and would fall into Gao Yin's clutches.

He trusted Gao Yun so much and valued Gao Yun, but he didn't expect that the person who betrayed him in the end was Gao Yun.

When we get to Yecheng, I will make you pay back a hundred, a thousand times!!!
(End of this chapter)