The Sui Dynasty's chess game

Chapter 846 Destroy its System
After marching thirty li, the Sui army encountered a large area of ​​mountains and forests ahead, and they needed to cross a narrow valley.

Fei Qingnu waved his hand, and the army stopped advancing. Fei Qingnu had fought against the Japanese army at sea and had some experience. He knew the Japanese army's combat characteristics. Even if the army attacked in large numbers, it would break into many small groups and like to launch surprise attacks. Perhaps this was related to the fact that Japan had many mountains and could not spread out its battlefield.

At this moment, a scout rode up on horseback and said, "Reporting to the general, there are signs of enemy ambush in the mountains and forests, and many birds have taken flight in fright."

Fei Qingnu sneered and ordered, "Prepare to set the forest on fire!"

Their location is not far from the sea, and the strong southerly winds make it ideal for burning forests from the south.

Sui soldiers spread barrels of oil along the edge of the forest, which was the best accelerant. As torches were thrown into the woods, thick smoke rose and the fire began to spread rapidly in a short time.

Flocks of startled birds took flight from the mountain forest. Fueled by the strong sea breeze, the fire spread extremely rapidly. Especially since the mountain was covered with pine trees, a burst of flames shot up and reached hundreds of feet away. The fire was terrifyingly raging.

The 30,000 Japanese soldiers lying in ambush in the mountains were terrified and fled desperately, but the fire, fueled by the wind, spread even faster. Patches of Japanese soldiers were engulfed, and tens of thousands of soldiers were burned alive, falling to the ground amidst screams.

Fei Qingnu, the Sui general at the foot of the mountain, frowned deeply. The fire was too intense; would it allow the powerful Japanese lords in the capital to escape?

Just then, Pei Shiqing stepped forward and said to Fei Qingnu, "I found some locals who said there is another way to get around to Asuka Kiyomihara."

"Is it reliable?"

“I offered a high price, and they agreed to lead the way because of the money.”

Fei Qingnu did not want to waste time waiting, so he immediately ordered General Zuo Shouhui to lead 3,000 men as the vanguard and 20,000 troops to bypass the main force and attack Asuka Kiyohara.

Lured by the silver, dozens of local farmers indeed led them to Asuka Kiyohara, about ten miles from the capital. The vanguard, led by Zuo Shouhui, had already engaged in fierce fighting with the enemy.

Nearly 10,000 soldiers, their heads and bodies burned, retreated from the other side and encountered the vanguard of the Sui army. A battle ensued.

Although the Japanese army numbered in the tens of thousands, they were routed by the Sui army. The Sui army did not use firearms at all, and the difference in weaponry between the two sides was too great. The Sui army was equipped with fine steel swords and spears, while the Japanese army had no long weapons, only katanas. Their katanas were made of wrought iron and could be broken with a single cut. Moreover, the Sui soldiers wore bright armor, which the Japanese swords could not penetrate.

Three thousand vanguard soldiers fought against ten men each, killing more than ten thousand Japanese soldiers who screamed in terror, their corpses strewn all over the ground. Even those who knelt down to surrender were still pierced through the chest by a spear.

When Fei Qingnu led his army to the scene, the war was already over. Nearly 10,000 Japanese soldiers were completely annihilated by 3,000 Sui soldiers, with no prisoners of war left. The Sui army suffered only minor injuries to more than 20 men.

Fei Qingnu praised Zuo Shouhui and immediately led his army to attack Fei Niao Jingyu Plain, which was ten miles away.

During the Sui Dynasty, the castles of Wa (Japan) had no city walls; they were like large villages, only with larger and more elaborate houses. Even the imperial palace consisted almost entirely of single-story buildings.

Chaos reigned in the capital. The streets were packed with all kinds of rickshaws, each one fully loaded. Every wealthy family had hundreds of rickshaws, packing up their property to transport away. This was not due to panic caused by fires in the distant mountains, but rather a normal reaction to the Sui army's landing. On the one hand, they sent troops to resist, and on the other hand, they had to prepare for a retreat.

The streets were filled with noise as everyone awaited news. If they defeated the Sui army, they would unload their goods and go home; if they failed, they would retreat immediately.

At that moment, a dozen scouts rushed in, shouting, "They've all been burned to death! Our entire army has been burned to death!"

This statement stirred up a hornet's nest, causing chaos as vehicles on the street began to flee in panic.

But the fastest carts were ambushed less than a mile from the city. Countless soldiers suddenly appeared from both sides of the road, intercepting all the carts. The drivers who reacted quickly abandoned their carts and scrambled into the roadside bushes, while those who reacted slower were trapped and had no choice but to kneel and beg for mercy. Twenty thousand Sui soldiers had already entered the capital and began searching house to house. The Sui army was not brutal; they ignored the common people and only arrested nobles. Many noble sons who had fled to civilian homes were also found during the search.

Although they don't speak the same language, they can still tell the difference by looking at their feet. People from the lower classes go barefoot year-round, their skin is dark and rough, and their soles are covered with thick calluses.

Noble children generally wear shoes and live a life of luxury. Even when they take off their shoes, their feet are white and clean, and there are no calluses on the soles of their feet. This is a characteristic of noble children.

The Sui army also stormed into the palace, driving everyone out, including the female emperor.

Empress Suiko angrily questioned Pei Shiqing, "What has my Japan done to offend the Sui Dynasty that we are being treated like this?"

Pei Shiqing shook his head. "Our two countries are currently at war. When you sent 40,000 troops to fight in Baekje, you were already declaring war on the Sui Dynasty. Did the Emperor not know that?"

Empress Suiko said after a long pause, "That happened a long time ago. Besides, our army hasn't returned yet. We were defeated."

"This is not a matter of victory or defeat, but rather that once war is declared, it is very difficult to end. The Emperor of the Great Sui gave you a chance to admit your mistakes and for both sides to sign an agreement to end the war. However, you have been ignoring this opportunity. Therefore, our Emperor believes that you are preparing for the next war. We will not wait passively; this is our initiative to attack."

Empress Suiko could only sigh, "Then how about I announce my surrender?"

"Of course you can announce your surrender, but we have no right to accept your country's surrender. Only the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty can make the decision. You will be sent to Luoyang."

With tears in her eyes, Empress Suiko said, "I am willing to die. I beg you to lay down your swords and spare my people!"

"This is not something I can decide, but I can try to persuade them."

Pei Shiqing approached Fei Qingnu and said, "General Fei, the other side is already willing to surrender. Isn't it too cruel of us to kill all the nobles and royalty?"

Fei Qingnu glanced at him and said coldly, "This is the Emperor's order. If Magistrate Pei is dissatisfied, go and speak to the Emperor!"

Upon hearing that it was the Emperor's decree, Pei Shiqing fell silent and dared not offer any further advice.

In this targeted purge, all noble and royal men, regardless of age, were executed, while women were spared. All young women and the Empress were transported back to the Sui Dynasty. The capital city of Asuka Kiyomihara was burned to the ground, and the wealth accumulated by Japan over hundreds of years was also transported back to the Sui Dynasty.

More than 3,000 members of the royal family, nobles, and officials and their families were beheaded by the Sui army. The Japanese court was completely destroyed, the imperial system ended, and various provinces under the imperial system became independent. Japan then entered the Warring States period, which lasted for three hundred years.

The Sui army also occupied all of Kyushu Island to the west, destroyed all seven of the imperial kingdoms, and killed all the kings, nobles, and large landowners, leaving only the common people.

The Sui army then declared that all land belonged to the tillers, meaning that the land cultivated by the peasants would belong to them, and the Sui Dynasty would exempt them from taxes for three years.

After the news was announced, there was jubilation throughout Kyushu. At this time, hundreds of thousands of people in Kyushu were proud to become subjects of the Sui Dynasty. The Sui army began to establish schools and change customs. Twenty years later, the Japanese language could no longer be heard in Kyushu.

But what truly excited the Sui Dynasty was that the Shijian Silver Mine began to be developed, with tens of thousands of miners working in the mines and thousands of Han Chinese smelting craftsmen refining silver on the spot. Ship after ship of crude silver was transported to Jiangdu, where it was refined. The silver began to flow into the Sui Dynasty's treasury in a steady stream.

(End of this chapter)