The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 352 The Eastern Expedition of Duke Wenzhao of Zheng

On Niutou Plain.

Dusty gray rats scurried around, squeaking incessantly in the camp.

Yu Ziyan leaned against the wooden shed and shot arrows outwards through the wall.

The main force of the Bian army, or rather, the Bian army that was still able to run, had long since left. Now, only these wounded and sick soldiers remained in the company and battalion.

But they were just barely surviving.

The plague takes away many people every day.

In one military barracks, rows of corpses lay on the beds, their bodily fluids flowing beneath.

Yesterday, the Wang army, which had contracted the disease, rushed out of the village again under the leadership of Wang Congxun and Guo Meng, and joined forces with Liu Xianyuan to launch an offensive against Niutouyuan, vowing to kill them all.

The camp was ravaged by bloodshed that day, and Yu Ziyan was unable to stand up. He took some Tianshi San (a traditional Chinese medicine) and was able to barely manage to get up.

Even now, his face is still rotten like a zombie.

The person exuded a lifeless, highly contagious aura of a living zombie.

However, the pain won't last long.

At this moment, the camp was overwhelmed by the swarming sick soldiers. Although the number of Bian soldiers and civilians here far exceeded that of Wang Congxun's troops, they were powerless to resist under the strong reinforcements of the Longjie Army and the Moli Army.

The royal army had no discipline, not even a proper formation.

The large contingent of sick soldiers simply poured in in a chaotic manner.

They first burned down the outer walls, then filled in the trenches, dismantled the gate, and laid traps. Next, they rushed to the central army and set fire to Zhu's commander's tent.

When the first soldier bravely planted the Holy Tang banner in front of the flames, the Niu Tou Yuan battalion fell.

However, the battles that followed did not go as smoothly as Wang Congxun had anticipated.

It's true that the Bian army was sickly and crippled, and so were they.

After some surrendered but were still executed, Yu Ziyan and other officers made a judgment in their hearts:
Let's die together then!
It's better for both sides to lose than for one side to win.

So they gathered the able-bodied men who obeyed orders and began street fighting in the intricate network of camps. Small groups of scattered soldiers simply took up positions in houses, hiding in ditches, piles of corpses, behind doors, on roof beams, in warehouses, and outhouses, ready to kill anyone who passed by.

Along the roads within the camp, scattered cavalrymen, armed with spears, searched the area, shot and killed fleeing soldiers, and set fire to buildings.

Occasionally, cavalrymen would be knocked off by sneak attacks, and others would break down the threshold and engage in chaotic battles with a group of people.

In short, the Bian army was trying to drag people into the mess.

Staggering into the company camp, Wang Congxun heard the news, which made him even more violent: "The Zhu traitor has been killed and driven away. Do these people still want to stir up trouble?"

"Steel blades forward, indiscriminately cutting down soldiers and civilians alike!"

"Don't fight over houses and tents, just set them on fire side by side, and talk about it after they're all burned."

These sick soldiers were sent out with the idea of ​​killing one more enemy as a bonus. From Wang Congxun down to the lowest-ranking soldier, no one thought they could catch their breath for more than a few days, so they didn't care about discipline at all.

As the military order was issued, the fire began to spread.

The agonizing cries and screams of those being burned alive filled the air.

Soon, Yu Ziyan, a commander of a certain unit of the Bian Army, was shot and killed under the wooden shed.

This was a genuine military genius from the Xuanwu Army. Even after being severely weakened by the plague, he was still able to put on his armor and launch a counterattack. The dozen or so sick soldiers who came here were unable to defeat him for a while.

In the end, a passing Mo Lijun stepped into the wooden shed and killed him with six spear thrusts in a second.

Thus, the last Bian army on Niutou Plain was wiped out by the combined attack of Liu Xianyuan and Wang Congxun.

After the large-scale battle subsided, the surviving civilians were taken to the central army.

"General, spare my life! I only came with the army because I wanted something to eat." The woman kowtowed repeatedly.

"While farming in the village, I was conscripted by the military and brought here..."

"I'm only after two cakes, I really don't want to rebel against the saints."

"Let them kill. The whole family is wiped out. There's no point in living."

Wang Congxun strode over and slashed at one of the men with his sword: "You son of a bitch, your face is covered in scars, and your eyes look like a ghost's. Trying to play the human with me?"

"Select them, and kill the brutes on the spot!"

"The men and women will be imprisoned on the spot, awaiting transfer to the imperial court. I have heard that the Emperor has recovered the Western Regions, and they will be exiled there in the future."

"This matter..." He glanced at the officers and soldiers scattered on the ground, his gaze landing on Fu Cunshen's face: "Fu Cunshen, you will preside over this matter."

“Yes,” Fu Cunshen replied.

"How many suits of armor and weapons were confiscated?" Wang Congxun asked as he turned to leave.

"We haven't taken inventory yet," Guo Meng interjected. "We just took a look around and roughly estimated that there are tens of thousands of swords and spears, tens of thousands of armors, and countless bows, shields, arrows, flags, and other such items."

"Excellent! Even if we all die of illness, it won't be a loss!" Wang Congxun waved his hand and laughed, "My men, gather the weapons and the Bian dogs in the central army. Pile the weapons into an armory, build a mound of heads, and a pile of skulls, so that the Emperor can inspect your spoils and reward you for your achievements!"

"Our fallen soldiers and civilians will be categorized according to their military status, wrapped in straw mats, and await the imperial court's receipt and placement in the Hall of Heroes!"

"My lords." Wang Congxun steadied himself against the wall, glanced at the soldiers, and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "We are plagued by evil spirits, so we will not enter the pass! Let us all die here, let the suffering end with us, and prevent it from spreading inside the pass. Then each of us and our families will be safe. Any questions?"

"Say what you will," the soldiers murmured.

The six-month tug-of-war has finally come to an end.

They had achieved a major strategic victory and were eager to celebrate, but they didn't know what to be happy about.

The final outcome of victory is far from known, but the fate of closing the village and dying is today.

In the afternoon, the ailing soldiers, having finished their hurried post-battle work, quieted down. In less than an hour, everyone removed their gear and, according to their military and civilian ranks, piled their armor, flags, seals, and official robes outside the forbidden moat. Then, a grand feast was held, with people eating and drinking to their hearts' content.

In the afternoon, the Tibetan soldiers on the city wall suddenly saw a huge shadow swirling across the ground below the city walls.

Suddenly it soared straight into the sky, then suddenly it swooped down.

Moluqili gazed intently into the distance; it was a majestic golden eagle. Its wings were spread wide, its posture like that of a Kunpeng soaring through the sky.

“It is a sage.” A minister smiled and said, “This is Zhang Hui’s golden eagle Cangjun. I have seen it before. This eagle is spiritual and will sing when it sees two sages.”

In the distance, across the hazy plains bathed in golden light, a large contingent of infantry and cavalry thundered forward.

The sage and the empress, two people and two horses, rode side by side at the back, welcoming the spring sun.

The golden eagle slowly descended, gently stepping onto the Empress's shoulder. It shrugged, stretched its neck, and fiercely surveyed the majestic pass with its bald head.

"Get off the bridge!" shouted a desperate cry from the city wall.

Several suspension bridges were slowly lowered.

The Sage wore a blue robe with a skirt-like armor underneath. The Empress, dressed in red, was radiant with her hair piled high. As they crossed the bridge, the entire army, both Han and non-Han, paid their respects, and the Sage and Empress sped past. A chilly mountain wind blew down from the Qinling Mountains, and the Empress's disheveled hair obscured her face. The cold wind whipped at their clothes, revealing the Sage's muscular physique.

As they drew closer, people from near and far around the pass raised their arms and cheered.

The sage nodded and waved in acknowledgment.

Although this battle was thrilling, and we were almost dragged to the Western Sea by the Grand Chancellor of the Eastern Army, and Chang'an was almost captured by Zhu Dalang... in the end, it turned out to be a false alarm.

Wang Congxun, Guo Meng, Wang Zimei, and all the ministers, soldiers, and officers ultimately did not disappoint him.

They fought a bloody battle with Zhu Dalang and survived!

Although Tongguan was somewhat prepared, seeing the earthen mound standing outside the massive city wall at the end of Tongguan Road was still a shocking sight.

It's hard to estimate its height or circumference by sight. It gives the impression of a winding mountain range, seemingly created entirely by human hands.

At least half of the villages inside the pass were releasing embers and were trampled flat.

Grayish-black embers fell from the sky.

A faint yellow odor and a foul smell permeated the air.

Not a single house could be seen. The mountains along the southern border, where they met the Qinling Mountains, resembled the aftermath of the California wildfires. One side of the mountain was completely bare and dark.

The so-called "four passes for the country" refers to the vast Tongguan defense line, a huge area where the Mongol and Jin dynasties fought for many years before a victor emerged. This battle has now destroyed it into this state.

The soldiers and ministers on the city wall looked at the expressionless emperor and muttered their dissatisfaction in low voices: "Why is the emperor taking so long to arrive!"

"We almost all died, and we almost collapsed!"

"I was so scared, I thought I had been abandoned."

"Does even a sage know how difficult it is to persevere! How much effort it has taken for us to persevere until now!"

How difficult is it to persevere?

All the civil and military officials present were taken aback.

Both can answer this question.

Because among them, some persisted because of their families, some because of fame and fortune, some because of the military government, some because of their ambition for power, and some because of their principles...

And what about sages?

Why did the sage persist in this?
Is it difficult to uphold what the sage carried in his heart? And how difficult is it?
The courtiers all looked in that direction, following the Empress's intense gaze.

The sage remained silent and continued on his way.

I complained, but gradually I got used to being silent.

I was afraid and I cried, but gradually I learned to bear everything.

I felt sympathy and hesitation, but gradually I lost all emotion.

And now!
There is nothing outside my mind; I regard all things and people as straw dogs.

My heart is filled with nothing but the desire to build a prosperous and peaceful nation, and with nothing but perseverance.

This is me, a time traveler, and Li Ye's persistence.

A golden eagle howled, and amidst the embers of the smoke and fire, the sage rode alone, quietly observing the pass.

*****
Upon arriving at Tongguan, the first person the emperor dealt with was Zheng Yanchang. Because of the warmer weather, even though Wang Congxun had salted him, he still rotted.

He was placed in a coffin mixed with fish and salt.

Minister Cheng Rui and Lu Yi carried the coffin, while officers from the military, the Imperial Guard, and the Three Palace Commands escorted Zheng Yanchang out of the city.

"Greet your superior!" Wang Tuan shouted.

The officials removed their turbans.

The sage silently offered his commentary.

Perhaps due to the nation's many difficulties and the gloomy atmosphere that enveloped Chang'an, Lao Deng, after being dismissed from his post as prime minister due to threats from Li Maozhen, died in the first year of the Qianning era. In this life, he lived six years longer. If not for the plague, perhaps even longer.

It's better than the original timeline.

"For over thirty years, Prime Minister Zheng has served three emperors with utmost loyalty, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the Holy Tang Dynasty, risking his life and making outstanding contributions." The emperor consulted his attendants, "As a minister of the late king, how should I treat him?"

"He held both high-ranking positions and served three emperors with great loyalty and outstanding achievements." Cui Yin, a court official, replied, "This is the same kind of person as Marquis Li Ye. He should be posthumously granted the title of Marquis and the position of Crown Prince."

“Gongchang is aspiring to be enshrined in the Temple and promoted to the rank of one of the Three Dukes.” Cheng Rui proposed, “He should be posthumously granted the title of Minister of Works and buried next to Emperor Min’s mausoleum.”

Upon hearing what Cui and Cheng said, a sinister glint appeared in Han Wo's eyes.

Back then, Zheng Yanchang relied on his aristocratic family background and extensive experience to frequently berate and beat officials, including himself.

Last time, it almost ruined the King of Wu's important plans.

"Nobility should not be bestowed indiscriminately." Han Wo immediately interrupted Cheng Rui: "Cheng Jun Changwu, I suggest you refrain from making any suggestions regarding the posthumous conferment of titles on high-ranking officials. Moreover, the Prime Minister has been in power for many years but has not achieved any remarkable political achievements that can convince people. Bestowing the title of Three Dukes upon him is too indiscriminate."

Cheng Rui was furious.

"Posthumously confer upon him the title of Marquis and the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince." The Sage, no longer wanting to hear, instructed: "The Sage King once said that a minister who has merit but does not seek the limelight is called Duke Zhao. A prime minister with the ability to regulate Yin and Yang and pacify the feudal lords is compared to the stories of Zheng Congtang and Zheng Tian, ​​and is called Wen. Therefore, he is posthumously named Duke Wen Zhao of Zheng, in recognition of his years of service."

"The ruler is wise and sagacious," the ministers praised.

"Why are Guo Meng and his men nowhere to be seen?" the sage asked, gazing at the pass.

There's a plague going on inside; if you get infected, it's easy to spread the disease. It's not that we're not afraid of death, but we can't die now, at the hands of this disease.

"They've all fallen ill, and Marquis Changshan is waiting with his entire army at Niutou Plain..." Han Wo said sadly.

Are they all sick? The sage closed his eyes.

Plague, it's plague again! Is it impossible to avoid this batch of things?
"Enough." The sage beckoned to Sun Weisheng: "Provide them with enough wine, meat, clothing, and medicine, and they can set up camp on the spot."

"The Imperial Hospital?"

"Your subject is here." Xu Shifu clasped his hands.

"Leave half of the Imperial Hospital staff to treat the plague." This person was the same Imperial Physician who delivered the Empress's first child. The Emperor trusted his medical skills and had already promoted him to Imperial Physician. After saying this, he summoned the Court of Imperial Sacrifices: "Also, draw some witches and doctors who are knowledgeable in medicine and witchcraft."

"According to the order."

"Is there any news about Yang Shouliang?" The sage opened the hand-drawn map and held it in his palm.

"I received a report from the King of Wu that he has dispatched two generals with three thousand troops to seize Bianliang from the King," Wang Tuan replied.

"According to Liu Xianyuan's report, this fellow is heavily guarding the city." Zhu Jin, the Commander-in-Chief of the Four Directions, added, "I have already dispatched a second team to verify this."

This work ethic is commendable. The sage approves.

"Your Majesty," Zhu Jin bowed and said, "Shanzhou is a passage for the rebels, yet Shou Liang hesitated and watched as the rebel army passed through, advancing towards the capital region for half a year. I cannot rest easy until this man is executed."

"This will surely arouse suspicion and resentment, and he is not the only one who is two-faced."

“The situation is different,” Zhu Jin said. “He held the imperial staff and was on the main road; there was no reason for him not to intercept the rebels. But he didn’t. Now that the Emperor has returned, he must be terrified. The trust between the ruler and his subjects has been so shattered that it can no longer be appeased. Even if the Emperor is magnanimous, he won’t believe it. All he can think about is how to join forces with others and fight against the Emperor. These kinds of warriors, just kill them!”

"Anyone who dares to speak out for him is his accomplice."

"If any of the feudal lords in the land dare to speak out for him, then we shall punish them one by one," Zhu Jin said loudly, his eyes wide.

"Moreover, Shaanxi and Guo connect the two capitals. If they rebel after we go east, wouldn't we be in grave danger?"

"This guy isn't stupid, how could he let us trick him out?" Zhao Hui said irritably.

Seeing that the emperor remained silent, Zhu Jin was delighted to have a chance to shine. His eyes lit up: "I have a plan! Why don't I infiltrate Shaanxi City and wait until they are unprepared before killing them? I am skilled in both sword and spear, and also adept at the art of assassination. It will be easy for us to accomplish this."

Zhu Jin kept talking and coming up with new ideas.

The sage frowned deeply upon hearing this.

So, Old Zhu's mind was entirely focused on these underhanded and treacherous schemes.

"That's enough!" Li Zan rolled his eyes and sneered, "Is this Zhu Shuai's unique low-down tactics? I've never heard of a military governor being assassinated in his own military headquarters."

Zhu Jin wanted to argue, but after thinking about it, she decided against it.

You do not understand!
If the sage really entrusted him with this task, he was 70% confident that he could send Yang Shouliang on his way.

Pity.

"The way of the assassin is not impossible," the sage finally stated, "but the success rate is too low, and it might put you in danger instead. It's not worth risking your safety to save this thief."

"Your Majesty..." Zhu Jin bowed slightly, her expression moved. She had thought she was a stray dog ​​in the Emperor's heart, but unexpectedly...

“But a direct assault won’t be easy either,” Zhu Jin said worriedly. “Surrounded by mountains on all sides and water on three, half the city is shrouded in mist and trees and the other half in fields. Shaanxi City is an exquisite ancient city dating back to the Han and Wei dynasties. It will take a long time to conquer it.”

"Celestial Immortal, what do you think?" The Sage looked at Zhang Hui.

"The feudal lords of the land despise the imperial court. A million rebels roam freely. The safety of the empire rests entirely on the few ministers and officials under the emperor." Zhang Hui shook her head, a glint of cold light in her eyes: "Yang Shouliang is utterly disloyal, harboring traitors to enhance his own power. Your Majesty wishes to forgive him, but I do not know what the future holds."

"Once we reach Shanzhou, summon him out of the city." Zhang Hui leaned close to his ear, his breath hot and fragrant: "If he obeys the decree, he will be demoted to a sinecure, which will benefit Li Lang's reputation. If he does not obey, we will make a show of attacking the city and offer a reward for his command. With the heart of a warrior, we can get his head in three days."

"That's fine." The sage thought for a moment, but had no better solution.

If you are unjust, I can be ten times more unjust. Sooner or later, I will turn against Yang Shouliang.

However, starting a war too early might hinder the grand plan to conquer the Central Plains.

Let's do it this way for now.

If that doesn't work, the only option is to station troops at Tongguan.

"My dear sister is finally offering her sincere advice... and she's fallen for me?" The sage approached her, pretending to have a stern face, and whispered.

Zhang Hui forced a smile, trying to suppress it.

This kid can be so childish sometimes.

But it's actually quite cute...

"No." Zhang Hui wanted to tease him, so she pretended to be expressionless and said like a dead fish, "My heart died long ago."

"You—" the sage pointed and poked, suppressing his anger: "Just wait, when we get to Bianliang, you'll have your day, hmm?"

"Just kidding~" Zhang Hui smiled.

"So you mean you still like it, right?" The sage felt incredibly humble.

"It was just a joke," Zhang Hui said, leaning out with a smile. "It was just a joke with you."

Which line from the play?

"I lied to you."

The saint's mind is a bit off; good or bad women.

"Cough cough!" Han Wo covered his mouth, feeling utterly disgusted.

You two, stop your supernatural powers now!

"Go and rest first," the sage said, patting Zhang Hui affectionately.

"I'm going to prepare lunch. I'll be back soon." The Empress squeezed the back of the Emperor's hand and gracefully departed.

His mind returned to the map, and the sage placed his hand on Zhengzhou, suddenly asking, "What's the situation with the Zhongwu Army, the Yicheng Army, and the King of Wu?"

“The Zhongwu Army is respectful in appearance, but when asked about dispatching troops, they evade the question and make excuses. This scoundrel is beyond saving.”

"The Yicheng army sent two thousand soldiers, which is better than nothing."

"Wei Bo has dispatched 13,000 troops. In the last letter, they reported that their army had reached Fengqiu County, north of Bianliang. They should have arrived in Bianliang by now. The King of Wu reported that he was passing through Zhengzhou. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, they should have joined forces with the Wei army and the Yicheng army at the gates of Bianliang."

The ministers answered in turn.

"Urge King Wu, do not stand idly by! Launch a raid on the city and probe the strength of the defending army."

"As ordered."

"Are Ge Congzhou, Wang Jingrao, and their ilk making any unusual moves?"

"Not yet, I doubt they would dare," Han Wo replied.

The emperor felt somewhat relieved: "The army should quickly prepare food and set up camp. At dawn tomorrow, the cavalry will advance and wait for me in Shancheng. If you encounter Yang's army, do not kill them, but chase them back to Shancheng and let it go... Yang Shouliang has not yet truly raised the banner of rebellion, and his face has not yet been completely torn apart. The infantry will follow behind with the laborers."

"Yes, sir." The military officer accepted the order and dispersed.

"The refugees in the Tongwu region are now in your care." The sage was overwhelmed with worry at the thought of the refugees gathered in this area.

"This matter is easy to handle; we have already made the arrangements," Han Wo explained. "First, we will provide them with food and shelter to prevent a second famine and mass death. After that, we will see how to distribute the supplies to the various counties."

"Hurry up." The sage sighed. "These days, it's not easy to fight for one's life. Don't waste it anymore. Let the people live a good life."

"I've given instructions regarding Rou Nu's palace: food, housing, land, clothing, medicine, seasonings, pots and pans, and the number of eunuchs and palace maids. The central court will also provide full support using royal assets." The emperor warned, and finally said, "But I absolutely do not want to hear of anyone starving to death, dying from illness without medicine, being beaten for no reason, disappearing, or dying in a muddled way."

"Your Majesty, we respectfully obey." Han Wo, Wang Tuan, and Li Xixin tensed up and said in unison, "We will keep a close eye on things."

There were quite a few officials in the Sili Xiaowei, the Security Bureau, the Jinwuwei, the Street Envoy, the Imperial City Envoy, the Censorate, and the Observation Office.

Hopefully, those below them are aware of the situation.

If someone with such a saintly attitude is caught, then they will have no choice but to punish them severely.

(End of this chapter)