The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 93: Please Don’t Talk About Becoming a Marquis

On the sixth day of the ninth month of the first year of Jingfu, the Fengzhou soldiers failed to steal cattle and were chased by Li Zan for ten miles, killing and wounding more than 700 people. Yan Shibalang, a dissolute general who had made a big fool of himself, had just returned to the barracks when he was lifted up by the noisy warriors and thrown into the pot.

On the seventh day, the Fengzhou soldiers launched another night attack on the king's army, trying to instigate the camp. The sage had already deployed scouts and eavesdroppers to keep alert day and night, and sent Sima Kanwu to reinforce the camp. After receiving the news, he mobilized Yingwu and Changjian to fight back at the gate, killing so many people that the shouts shook the sky and the fire lit up half of the night sky. The thieves could not succeed, so they retreated. The sleeping army heard the noise and became restless, but the Du Yuhou led people to enforce the law, ordering them to sleep and strictly prohibiting noise and walking. They also said that it was a small group of enemy troops harassing, and the sage had sent troops to repel them, so everyone was at peace.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the weather was gloomy, and dark clouds covered half of the dome, brewing a heavy rain. The strong wind blew hard, whipping the colorful wild flowers. The forests on both sides of the Mustard Bay were even darker and deeper; it was a good day for fighting! Hou Jing, Wang Yu, Li Gongdi, Xue Tao and other generals discussed and decided not to test it, just go straight to the fucking thing. Otherwise, if they continued to wait, would the meat be exhausted and the army would collapse without a fight! Defeat the dog emperor as soon as possible, so that we can go to Hanzhong as soon as possible.

After two days of small-scale tug-of-war, more than 12000 rebels rushed out, escorting more than men and women, and marched towards Mustard Bay. There were dense cries, shouts, and curses everywhere. It was like a black mudslide, rushing over the hills.

Wherever they passed, smoke and dust billowed, and fallen leaves splashed all over the sky, making these beast soldiers look like demons unleashed from a cage, full of terrifying deterrent power.

Behind the vanguard, there were 15 long lines. The beast soldiers in brown clothes and iron armor carried long spears and marched to the battlefield in a column. They laughed and cursed along the way, but if there were any crying or procrastination, they would be hacked to death and their heads would be stuffed to their families as a protest.

"The whole country is weak, the sea is boiling, and the heroes are vying for supremacy. Who in the world is rebelling against Fengzhou? How dare you come to fight!"

"The king's army has only more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry. It is a long journey. We only need to charge and crush the front line to defeat the enemy."

"Kill the dog-footed emperor! We attacked Chang'an and robbed his wife and daughter."

"Don't even mention the kings, princes, generals, or even the emperor. Is there any kind of person who can be called a tyrant? Only the fierce ones can do that!"

“Kill, kill, kill!!!” They are all a bunch of desperadoes.

Hou Jing, the commander of the Ganyi Army, and Wang Yu, the commander of the Langdang Army, stood on the carriage, listening to the roar of drums, with wooden expressions. A large group of mule soldiers crowded around them, threatening them from time to time. On the carriage, several soldiers crowded around them, staring at them covetously. Hou Jing shook his head slightly - rituals and music have collapsed, and it has come to this. The only towns in the world that are still a little bit human are Wei Bo, Chengde, Zibo, Qing, Xiasui, and Xuanwu. They don't massacre the people in their jurisdiction, and generally don't plunder. Killing a Jiedushi will make them quiet for several years...

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"Sima Kanwu, Liu Bo, He Zongyi, Amonan!"

"I'm waiting here!"

"You four will lead 4000 heavy infantrymen from the Iron Axe, Overlord, Zhan Dao, and Tu Chong divisions, carrying spears, Mo Dao, Peng Pai and other weapons. Stand in the front line and dampen the enemy's courage. This is the key to success or failure! I and the three armies will leave all the men in your hands. If you can hold your ground, when you return to the capital, the warriors of the four divisions of the Iron Axe will be rewarded with 5 pieces of silk. Those who die for their country will be compensated with 20 pieces of silk and 15 dou of salt. Let me ask you, are you afraid of death?"

"Even saints are not afraid of death, so why should we be afraid? Kill him and your horse will fall to the ground!"

"Destroy the Fengzhou soldiers and rob them!"

"If you die in battle, there will be saints to mourn you! Don't break your promise of compensation, or I will die with regret." The armored soldiers of the four cities responded by hitting the ground with their spears. The soldiers of other cities in the rear were infected by the atmosphere, their teeth were chattering, their faces were red, and they also screamed loudly.

Very good, the chances of winning are one point higher.

"Yin Shouzhi, you will lead 1000 archers from Jueshengdu. Carry crossbows and foot archers, stand behind Pengpai, rely on shieldmen, and assist the vanguard in suppressing the enemy formation."

"Li Zan, Wang Shaorong, Jiang Tao. Lead the light infantry of Yingwu, Changjian, and Hujie, and march into the open space between the Zhanfeng teams in several columns. If Zhanfeng is in danger and the formation is in chaos, and a tangle of battles breaks out with the enemy, then we will share the hatred with Zhanfeng!"

"Yes, sir!" The three turned and left.

"Helian Weihuan and Ouyang Jian, you two will lead 1000 soldiers of the Tongtiandu Huatu and deploy them to the left of the battle front to guard the left wing and prepare for the enemy to attack from the side. Tuoba Weicai and Yelu Chongde, you two will lead 1000 soldiers of the Wansuidu Huatu and deploy them to the right of the battle front to prevent surprise attacks from the woods and hills on the right and assault the battle front."

"I leave the safety of the four battlefronts in your hands. You must be cautious," the saint warned.

The four of them nodded curtly. They were all veterans of the battlefield and did not need to be warned.

"Liu Xianyuan, Cao Zhe, lead 1000 cavalrymen from Yi Congdu and line up behind me, divided into the left and right wings, each with a commander. If the battle front defeats the enemy, chase them and drive them north. If the battle front is defeated, cover their retreat."

"He Chuyu, Zhao Fu, and Tong Longjie will be stationed on the left and right of the battle front, and will be stationed behind Tongtian and Wansui. When the enemy and our battle fronts clash, we will make a detour to attack and harass the enemy from a distance."

"Zhazhu, Fu Cunshen, I will personally lead your Leopard Cavalry and place them in the center. Chen Xizhen, I will also personally lead your Imperial Kingdom Flower Troops as a reserve force."

The sage was fully prepared and issued the order in one breath. There was nothing wrong with it, and there were no loopholes. Of course, there was no advantage either. All the generals had no objection, and quickly assembled more than 13000 infantry and cavalry soldiers, more than a thousand flags, drums, trumpets, gongs, and horns, and each took his position. All the warriors in the army were here.

The camp only had a few thousand horsemen and servants to guard the livestock, food and other supplies, as well as the shivering civilians hiding inside - they could be discarded! If the entire army collapsed in a field battle, the saint would have fled on a camel and would not have been able to take care of everyone.

At 9:00 pm, scattered raindrops floated in the dark sky. The saint raised his head and caught a few of them, which were a little cold when they fell on his face. I wonder how Chang'an is doing. He Yuqing is probably planting vegetables. This virtuous wife of a commoner origin has even created two small vegetable plots in the palace to plant some onions, leeks, and beans. The quiet Zhu Xiewusi should be reading or shooting arrows, and Zhao and Yang Kezheng are probably busy with government affairs in the Privy Council.

Chen Meiren must be taking care of the baby, and Feilang is still healthy...

At 2:00 pm, Mo Zang Qiqi, with his hair loose, returned with the scouts who had been out all night. The rebel army was fully deployed, and they were squeezed out of space. Everyone looked exhausted, but their fighting spirit was still high. They gathered in groups of three or four to discuss what happened last night.

At three quarters past the hour of Si, the sage climbed up the watchtower, wearing armor, carrying a bow and arrows, and a sword.

Six large white banners were erected in front of him, indicating that the emperor was here. To the north and left were 12 war drums and 12 horns, and strong men were bare-chested, ready to go. The five-colored flags fluttered in the wind, making a rustling sound. The banners, festivals, drums, and horns made the soldiers see the flags, hear the drums and horns, and keep the orders in their hearts.

"There is room for formations between formations, for formations between teams, and for curves between curves. Use the long to complement the short, and the short to complement the long. Turn the army around, with the front behind and the back ahead. Do not run fast when advancing and do not run quickly when retreating. Fight in chaos but do not be chaotic." Before the enemy arrived, Zhazhu lost no time to explain the art of war to the sage: "The one who is in chaos and cannot be defeated is the one who uses the strange and the regular. Advance and retreat in order, and do not panic when fast or slow. Unite with the regular and win with the strange. Listen to the sound and look at the flag. Unite and separate at times. Repeat the orders again and again. If the orders are not in order, even if the soldiers have the courage of King Xiang, it will be difficult to win."

That's right. Without a good commander, no matter how good you are at fighting, you are just a bunch of pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered. In the Battle of Meipi Ze, the Qi people were so fierce, but what happened after they lost their orders? Tens of thousands of people were killed like wild dogs! Whether the soldiers obey orders is also an important part of combat effectiveness. At present, my soldiers are okay.

At three quarters past the hour of the si, a roar like thunder was heard on the horizon.

The enemy is coming!

The saint concentrated his attention and looked through narrowed eyes.

But under the dense rain, a large group of beast soldiers in brown and black armor stopped and looked up at the king's army formation, cheering and shouting. The generals hurriedly organized the troops, slapping their heads, kicking, and punching the beast soldiers, and asked them to stand up quickly. There was no doubt that this was the main force of the enemy. There were more than ten columns, stretching out of sight, with no less than ten thousand people.

When there were more than 10,000 people, there was no end in sight. He had seen this scene in the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" in his previous life. Before the meeting between the Leper King and King Saladin, the armies of both sides were overwhelming, which was very shocking.

Fuck, the saint cursed in a low voice.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..." The strong man swung his arms and 24 war drums sounded at the same time.

"Kill, kill, kill!!!" The four divisions of Tiefu, Bawang, Zhandao, and Tuchong shouted three times in unison. Perhaps due to the secretion of adrenaline, everyone's eyes were bloodshot, the corners of their mouths twitched, and their teeth chattered up and down, making a jiejiejie sound. The soldiers of Changjian, Yingwu, and Hujie were ready with their bows and crossbows, staring at the speed of the enemy's movement and calculating the time it would take for them to enter the range.

"Beep..." The sound of a cow horn suddenly sounded from the opposite side.

In the mist and rain, the faint cries gradually became clearer. On the arched hill, the chaotic army finally quieted down and formed a square formation all over the mountain. In front of it, a black mass of supplies were driven, like whipping livestock, forcing them to move towards the king's army.

The pitiful pleas and wails were heard, and the soldiers of the four Iron Axe cities were slightly agitated.

"I am a member of the suicide bandit army, do not challenge me!"

"Whoever comes will die!"

"Draw your spears!" Sima Kanwu had no sympathy for these people. Who let these people fall into the hands of the warriors and become scapegoats to fill the trenches? The saints didn't give in, he didn't give in, and the men didn't give in. When the two armies were fighting for their lives, if you don't die, I will die, and he will not show mercy.

Sima Kanwu gave an order, and the shields collided and quickly connected tightly to form a shield wall. The shield bearer sat under the shield, supporting the shield with his body. Then, a five or six meter long spear was placed above the shield and stretched out, with the sharp blade rolling with raindrops, extremely bright. In the second row, the heavy Mo Dao stood up, forming a sword wall. The long sword light infantrymen of the three cities, who were interspersed between the teams, sat on the ground and strung arrows.

There is no doubt that there will be a mountain of corpses in front of the shield later.

……

The two sides were getting closer and closer, and the roars of the beast soldiers had already penetrated into their ears.

"Why don't we join forces and go to Chang'an together?"

"Kill the saint, and the wealth will still be yours. Why bother to fight with us?"

"If we turn against each other, we are comrades."

In the herd, Li Gongdi rode on a mule, waving a whip, and others around him were doing the same: "Let them move faster, get to the front of the king's army, and consume the king's army's physical strength and arrows. Whoever dares to cry will be killed."

Accompanied by brutal shouting and cursing, men and women were dragged out and killed from time to time, and the consumables had to stop crying and speed up their pace.

"Haha." Li Gongdi held the head and played with it.

Aren't saints here to comfort the people and punish the criminals? Now the people are in front of you, will you comfort them or kill them?

……

Looking down at the tragic scene, Fu Cunshen frowned and said, "This is... a big trouble."

He was very familiar with this trick. The last great commander Li Hanzhi had used it countless times. The people under his rule were killed to the point that only a few hundred households were left. Those hiding in cliffs and caves were searched out by Li Hanzhi and made into jerky. He repeatedly made death appeals but to no avail, so he left. It is said that Sun Ru, who attacked Jiangnan, killed tens of thousands of people in Yangzhou, and forced the remaining hundreds of thousands of men and women across the river and threw their bodies into the river.

I wonder what the saint would do.

Then, he looked towards the watchtower. The figure on top was standing straight and motionless.

The saint is indeed suffering. Perhaps for most kings, the people are indeed important, but are the people who have never seen them, who are held hostage by the enemy, and who will cause harm to themselves, still the people? They are consumables, damned inferiors. If you want to blame someone, blame your bad luck; the world is the emperor's private property, and the people of the world are the emperor's concubines. The emperor can do whatever he wants, and if you don't like it, you can get out.

But Mr. Li couldn't think that way.

However, if we don’t sacrifice these poor people and eliminate the beast soldiers, more people will be killed.

For a "human", this is such a painful choice.

Secondly, they were also worried that the prestige of the court would suffer another huge blow. The emperor was the emperor, he received the mandate of heaven and the people's support. Killing these tens of thousands of men and women would put himself in the spotlight. Even if there were countless reasons to explain, it could not change the fact that the emperor massacred the people.

For an emperor, this was a very difficult decision.

Li Ye felt that his moral standards were rapidly declining, and the bottom line he adhered to was like a collapsing building.

"I am guilty!" The saint closed his eyes in pain.

The pig was killed unexpectedly.

A sage has a kind and righteous heart.

In this world, is benevolence and righteousness useful? Not much, but it is definitely useful.

He thought of the thunderstorm night at Shangyuanyi. The people who surrounded him and risked their lives to block the arrows and rescue Li Situ were not himself and the slaves Miao Jilie, Ke Yezui, Xiao, and Li Cunzhang who were treated kindly by Li Zhenwu's family.

Huainan Yang Xingmi was beaten by Sun Ru, and he had nowhere else to go so he recruited a group of Cai thieves. When the army was defeated, his troops scattered like birds and beasts. In the chaos, it was these brutal Cai thieves who pulled Yang Xingmi onto his horse and helped him break out of the encirclement.

Shouzhou Wang Xu was a murderer by nature. He even wanted to execute all the soldiers' families to prevent them from being homesick. A junior officer, Wang Chao, stood up and said: If you want to kill, please kill me first. I will die for my parents. All the warriors present were moved and supported Wang Chao as their leader. When the powerful landlords in Quanzhou heard about this, they opened the city to welcome him as the governor.

The saint did not wave his hand and think that war would lead to death, which made Zhazhu look up to the saint. In this world, there are too many heroes who kill people. Only by loving people can you win the hearts of the people and the world. Like Li Situ, who treats the people as grass and ants, and still wants to compete with Quanzhong? Dream on.

Zhazhu no longer wants to go back to Taiyuan!

"Shoot!!!" Arrows shot out in a swarm, covering the sky and the sun. Crowded men and women were nailed to the ground. In just a moment, the dead piled up into a mountain of flesh. The soldiers had to look up to see the top. Large streams of blood gathered into streams, rushing. The beast soldiers waded through the blood, whipped the men and women fiercely, and forced them sternly: "Go! If you don't, I'll kill you now!"

The beast soldiers borrowed supplies and reached within fifty steps with almost zero losses.

The king's army had to retreat to make room for the new pile of corpses.

"Damn it, what's the point of using a peasant as a shield? Come up and fight with me if you have the guts!" There was a warrior from Bawangdu who couldn't help but turned back and cursed as he retreated.

"Boom boom boom boom!!!" The sound of horse hooves rang out like thunder. On both wings, He Chuyu and Zhao Fu led Long Jiedu's 1000 armored heavy cavalry to charge out, splashing mud and attacking the enemy from the side.

(End of this chapter)