Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 329 Yuan Shu: I was wrong
The noise became louder and louder, with screams and shouts of all kinds ringing in the ears.

"The city is broken!"

"Our army is defeated!"

"The Qingzhou army is coming, run away!"

The backyard of Yuan Shu's mansion was home to many concubines and women, and they also heard the noises coming from all directions. The defeated soldiers and generals who had retreated were running and shouting at the same time, and their cries echoed throughout the city, as they all flocked to the streets and courtyards in the city.

The guards in the city were instantly thrown into chaos. The enemy had already rushed in and there was no point in resisting.

They threw away their weapons and armor, quickly changed into the clothes of ordinary people, and hid or buried all the cloth, silk, and money that Yuan Gong had distributed earlier.

These things are the most important. If it weren’t for money, who would be willing to keep them until now?

For many defeated soldiers, the first priority is to save their lives, and the second is to save their property.

Although they knew that there was a lot of money and even countless beautiful maids in Yuan Gong's mansion, usually when the city was breached, the rebels would take the opportunity to burn, kill, loot, humiliate women, and do things that they would not dare to do under normal circumstances.

Just to vent the murderous and brutal ferocity that had been accumulating in his heart for many days.

The situation in Shouchun City at this moment was different from the past. For the past few months, Yuan's soldiers were almost frightened by the Han army. Under Yuan Shu's generous reward, the soldiers have been resisting stubbornly until now.

Now that the city wall has been breached, what should we do if the Han army intends to kill all those who refuse to surrender?

Only by hiding the things first and then quickly taking advantage of the situation can you bring the money back to the village.

If we attack Yuan Gong's mansion, it is surrounded by high walls, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack.

I’m afraid that the Han army has the same idea and will attack the mansion first after breaking into the city. Then they will collide head-on and will be unable to retreat or advance.

I want to lay down my weapons and surrender, but I haven't had time to hide my money. Then all these years of fighting for my life would have been in vain, right?
The most urgent priority is to preserve life and the money already obtained.

Therefore, after the city was broken, even though there were many women in Yuan Shu's mansion who were in a state of panic, their hair was disheveled and their hairpins were messy, they had no intention of dressing up and just screamed and were in chaos.

Even though the soldiers who fled back from the city walls heard the voices of many women from afar, they did not feel any excitement or joy at seeing the prey. They still ran for their lives with their clothes torn and their knees wrapped, without looking back.

Hearing the deafening shouts and cries getting closer and closer to the mansion, his concubines were frightened and burst into tears, worried about their own fate.

Yuan Shu in the Huangtang also looked pale and his lips trembled violently. Even though he felt that Shouchun City could not be defended for too long, it was too fast for it to be breached at this time.

He had expected to be able to hold out for a year, but he didn't expect that he could not hold out for just a few months. Unless Cao Mengde rushed to Shouchun at this moment and quickly defeated the Han army outside the city, he would surely die.

Yuan Shu's pale lips trembled, and he tried hard to keep his voice from trembling. He forced out words to Yan Xiang and Yang Hong, who were also horrified, and asked: "You two, Shouchun has been destroyed, and the Qingzhou army is about to rush into the city. What should Yuan and you do?"

To be honest, he didn't want to die yet. He still had the imperial seal, hadn't ascended the throne yet, and hadn't enjoyed all the wealth and luxury yet. He hadn't worn a crown and ridden in a carriage to enjoy the fine wine and delicious food, the graceful dancers, the slender-shouldered and thin-waisted musicians, and the sounds of bells, stone instruments, and silk and bamboo instruments in the world yet.

It is such a pity that he died in Shouchun.

But the Qingzhou army called him a Han traitor and listed many crimes to put on him. As a relative of the Han family, Liu Xuande would definitely not let him go.

Yuan Shu suddenly felt a little regretful. If he had not defended Shouchun to the death, he would have abandoned the city and fled to Shu County in Lujiang. When the Han army attacked, he would have escaped to Jiangdong. He might have saved his life.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shu regretted it so much that all kinds of emotions surged in his heart. He couldn't help but mutter to himself: "I was wrong, I was wrong, I was really wrong."

After hearing this, Yan Xiang gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Yuan, things have come to this point. What's the point of saying this now?"

"The Mandate of Heaven has not yet ended. If you had thought of supporting the Han Dynasty earlier, you wouldn't have suffered the disaster you are facing today. It's too late to regret now."

Yan Xiang could not help crying blood and beating his chest, in great grief.

He had told Yuan Gong a long time ago that although the Han Dynasty was weak, it was not as tyrannical as King Zhou of Shang, nor was it as bad as the late Qin Dynasty where the whole country rebelled after suffering for a long time.

Not to mention that the three dukes of the Yuan family of Runan assisted the Han Dynasty for four generations, even the Zhou Dynasty from Hou Ji to King Wen of Zhou, who accumulated virtues and contributions to the world for hundreds of years, still served the Yin Dynasty.

How many contributions did the Yuan family make over the past decades, yet they chose to commit acts of usurpation and rebellion, making everyone in Jianghuai aware of it. Now they don't even have the chance to surrender to the King of Han, otherwise how could they be in such a desperate situation.

Even Yuan Benchu ​​was able to make the Yuan family of Hebei surrender, but you, Yuan Gonglu, cannot surrender. Don’t you know the reason?
After hearing this, Yuan Shu wanted to say something, but in the end he just pursed his lips and kept silent. He turned sideways to look at the Chief Clerk Yang Hong, only to find that the other party had already slumped on the ground with empty eyes and was muttering something in a low voice.

Seeing Yan Xiang's trembling lips and sighs, Yuan Shu couldn't help but flash a trace of regret in his eyes.

Just as Yan Xiang said, it is too late to regret if you don't accept the betrayal. It is too late to do anything now. There is nothing you can do but sit and wait for death.

No one spoke again, and the hall fell into deathly silence.

Unlike everyone else in Yuan’s mansion, everyone was gloomy and sad.

The Han army poured into Shouchun City like a tide from the western wall, drawing their swords and crossbows like hungry warriors, rushing forward with drums and drums, ignoring their injuries, chasing after the enemy's heels, slashing left and right as they charged forward.

The soldiers' eyes were bloodthirsty and they killed wherever there were crowds. They swung their ring-handled swords vigorously, specifically chopping down hard on the weak spot in Yuan Bing's neck armor. The enemy's neck broke, blood spurted into the sky, and the mutilated body fell to the ground in an instant, without even time to utter a scream or wail.

"kill!"

"Kill!"

The Han army fought more and more vigorously, forcing the enemy reinforcements coming from other places to retreat step by step. It wasn't long before the reinforcements completely collapsed. The generals and captains of Yuan's army did not escape, and were killed and beheaded by the Han army who pursued them.

Wherever he passed, he killed the enemies on the opposite side, leaving behind corpses all over the ground and the surrendering soldiers who had no time to escape and kowtowed heavily to beg for mercy.

The elite soldiers of Yuan army who came back to support were directly scattered on the spot by the vanguard of the Han army.

It was like a rolling torrent pouring past, leaving no waves behind.

After a short and fierce battle, Yuan's army was completely defeated and no one could stop the advance of the Han army.

Some soldiers were rubbing their hands and shouting impatiently: "Quick, kill Yuan Shu! Don't let him escape among the chaotic soldiers."

"The Shouchun Mansion is not far ahead, rush over and kill the thief Yuan!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers immediately cheered up, mustered up their energy, drove away the fatigue from physical exhaustion, and bravely advanced to fight.

(End of this chapter)