Taiheiki

Chapter 272 Breakthrough
Under this relentless onslaught, the defenders were rapidly losing blood. By the fifth day of the siege, Zhang Wen found that his manpower was nearly exhausted.

“General, we must find another solution now!” said Cai Wen, Zhang Wen’s military advisor. “Wei Cong has already dispatched a surprise force to the walls of Luoyang. General, you are preoccupied with your own affairs, how can you possibly send reinforcements to Yique? You have already done your utmost these past few days, but Wei Cong’s offensive is like thunder from the sky, beyond human resistance—”

"Are you telling me to submit to Wei Cong?"

"Why not? Circumstances dictate actions. Besides, has he done anything heinous or immoral?"

Zhang Wen was furious upon hearing this and was about to reprimand Cai Wen, the military advisor, when he suddenly noticed that the atmosphere around him was strange. He looked around and found that all the officers and subordinates around him were looking at him with strange expressions, as if they were looking at a madman. The words of reprimand he was about to say were swallowed back down.

“This matter is of great importance. Even if we want to negotiate peace with Marquis Wei, we must first defeat him and hold Yique Pass. We can only make peace if we can fight, right?” Zhang Wen said.

At this moment, the defenders finally repelled the Wei army's attack once again. The Wei soldiers retreated like a tide, leaving behind corpses everywhere on and off the city walls. The defenders on the city walls also immediately ran down the walls and crouched down close to the inner side of the walls. They already knew how powerful the Wei army's catapults were. Those things could throw stone projectiles weighing twenty or thirty kilograms, as well as scatter a large number of fist-sized pebbles. The former could destroy houses and parapets on the walls, while the latter could kill a lot of people, and the scattering area was very wide. The only safe area was the blind spot of the inner side of the city walls.

"General, time is of the essence! We must negotiate peace with Marquis Wei as soon as possible!" a general shouted. "If we delay any longer, I fear the soldiers will not be able to hold on any longer!"

"That's right! The Wei army's offensive is fierce; I'm afraid the next wave will breach the city!"

"Let's make peace quickly!"

"We have done right by resisting the Wei army for five days with a ragtag force of over ten thousand men!"

"Yes, we are soldiers of the Han Dynasty, not soldiers of the Dou family. We've been guarding for so many days, and not a single reinforcement has been sent. Why are you so stubborn?"

Just as Zhang Wen was hesitating under the pressure of the crowd, a cry of alarm from upstairs interrupted his hesitation: "The thief's trolley is coming up!"

Zhang Wen swiftly climbed the watchtower and looked towards the pass. He saw a siege tower, about four stories high, slowly moving towards the city gate. Thick curtains hung from the tower's side, facing the city wall. Besides the drawbridge at the top, crossbowmen were firing arrows at the few remaining defenders on the wall. At the very bottom of the tower, a thick log could be vaguely seen protruding from the rear; clearly, the other end of the log was iron, intended for ramming the city gate. Behind the tower were hundreds of fully armored soldiers, obviously waiting for the tower to approach the city wall.

"General, make a decision! There are no ropes, hooks, grease, or iron pots left on the city walls. Once this siege tower gets close to the city wall and lowers the drawbridge, people can get on and off while those below ram the gates. It will only be a matter of time before the city falls!" Cai Wen said urgently. "At that time, not only you and I, but also the soldiers guarding the pass and the people inside and outside will perish. Even if you don't care about your own life, don't you care about the lives of the soldiers and the people?"

"General!"

"General!"

"Enough!" Faced with the approaching siege towers and the pleas from all around, Zhang Wen finally conceded: "Send down the order: the entire army shall lay down their arms and surrender!"

------------------

"What? Zhang Wen opened the gates and surrendered?" Wei Cong stood up, squinting to see more clearly. He saw that the gates of Yique Pass in the distance had been opened, and soldiers walked out of the gates, dropped their weapons, and knelt by the roadside. He couldn't see anything else.

"Yuan Tian, ​​you lead the troops into the pass first. Remember, accepting surrender is like facing an enemy, so you must not be careless!" Wei Cong shouted.

"Yes, sir!" Yuan Tian responded and led his troops forward. He entered the city without encountering any resistance, and a moment later, Wei soldiers appeared on the city wall, waving Wei army banners. Wei Cong could hear everyone around him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Congratulations, Lord Wei! With Yique captured, Luoyang is now in your grasp!" Deng Zhong was the first to offer his congratulations: "Driving a long chariot, riding six steeds, and whipping the world, you have risen above the masses before the age of thirty. There has never been anyone like you in history!"

"Without Brother Deng, I am but a commoner, how could I be where I am today?" Wei Cong said with a smile, taking Deng Zhong's arm. "After we enter the capital, I hope you will not abandon me. All the good things in the world should be shared with you, Brother Deng!"

"I dare not!" Deng Zhong hurriedly declined, saying, "Lord Wei's talent is like an awl in a bag; even without me, he would still stand out. It is I, Deng, a mediocre person, who has achieved what I have today thanks to Lord Wei. I am truly grateful!"

Hearing Deng Zhong's words, Wei Cong knew that it was mostly flattery, but he was still somewhat flattered. He stretched out his right arm and waved to the officers and soldiers around him: "You all have made outstanding contributions on this trip to Luoyang. I will remember this in my heart. When we enter the capital, I will definitely submit a memorial to the Emperor, requesting that you all be rewarded and share in the wealth and honor!"

"Thank you for the reward, Lord Wei!" the generals and officers knelt down and replied in unison.

————————————————————————————

Wei Cong's army crossed the moat and passed through the city gate. Wei Cong sat atop a white war elephant, a magnificent parasol spread over his head, blocking the sunlight and casting shadows on his face, adding to his mystery and majesty.

"Why is Zhang Gong doing this to himself!" Wei Cong sighed. Zhang Wen was kneeling on the ground, his naked upper body bound with ropes, his back pale, like a dead man.

"Guards, untie Zhang Gong's ropes!" Wei Cong said in a deep voice. He dismounted from the white elephant, took off his outer robe and draped it over Zhang Gong's shoulders. "You were merely following orders, you have done nothing wrong, and opening the city gates was a meritorious act. Why torture yourself like this?" "Zhang Wen is ignorant and resists the royal army!" Zhang Wen said in a low voice. "I dare not beg Lord Wei for mercy, I only ask that you do not harm the soldiers and officers within the pass!"

"Of course!" Wei Cong answered decisively. "I made it very clear when I raised this army: this uprising is only to target the Dou family. As long as others do not rebel, they will not be attacked!" At this point, Wei Cong announced loudly, "Please rest assured, everyone. Those soldiers who wish to return home will be given travel expenses and will be allowed to pass tomorrow; those who do not wish to return home will be incorporated into the army. Those who are wounded will be treated by doctors in the army, and those who die in battle will be buried outside the pass!"

"Lord Wei is truly benevolent!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Wei!"

"Lord Wei is benevolent and kind!"

"Thank you, Lord Wei, for sparing my life!"

Upon hearing Wei Cong's words, the remaining defenders, who had been filled with anxiety, were overjoyed. Historically, sieges in this manner usually resulted in heavy losses for the attacking side, and after the city fell, retaliatory massacres of the city's inhabitants were common to vent anger. However, Wei Cong not only refrained from slaughter after capturing the city, but also provided travel expenses for those wanting to return home, medical care for the wounded, and proper burial for the dead—this far exceeded the prevailing moral standards of the time. How could these men not be moved to tears of gratitude?

"My uprising is entirely under the Emperor's decree to punish the Dou clan, and will not harm others! You are also loyal subjects of the court, but you failed to understand right from wrong and thus raised troops in defiance. Now that you have laid down your arms and opened the city gates, I will forgive your past transgressions. You may return home or remain in the army; both are legitimate paths. However, if you commit any further crimes, you will be severely punished!" Wei Cong's voice was stern and harsh by the end, completely devoid of his previous leniency. This was understandable; in ancient times, defeated soldiers easily turned into bandits. They were organized, had rich military experience, and possessed superior weaponry, making them difficult for the local security forces to deal with. Wei Cong was laying down his cards on the table beforehand to avoid future complaints when he took action.

Wrapped in Wei Cong's outer robe, Zhang Wen watched as Wei Cong, with a few words combining kindness and severity, won over the thousands of previously uneasy defeated soldiers within the pass, making them completely convinced of his loyalty. Zhang Wen couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. He knew, of course, that Wei Cong's actions weren't merely simple kindness; although after capturing Yique Pass, there were no longer any obstacles between the Wei army and Luoyang, and the situation was undeniably favorable.

Ultimately, however, the emperor was still in the hands of the Dou family. If pushed too far, the Dou family could easily take the emperor and flee Luoyang, heading to Hebei to gather their forces and launch a counterattack. This would certainly be a huge political blow to the Dou family, but it would also prolong the war. Without the emperor's support, even if Wei Cong captured Luoyang, his political position would be extremely awkward. After all, he raised his army on the grounds of supporting the current emperor; he couldn't just find any random member of the imperial clan to be the new emperor. Furthermore, Zhang Huan and Feng Kun were not truly convinced of his loyalty, and Wei Cong was too far from his rear base. The winter weather was also unfavorable for his southern troops. It was easy for him to find himself surrounded on all sides in Luoyang, ultimately forced to flee in disarray.

Wei Cong, however, remained remarkably calm, despite having just achieved a great victory. He showed great magnanimity towards the defeated and repeatedly emphasized that his only enemy was the Dou family, clearly trying to quell any hostility from the surrounding Luoyang region. He was obviously well aware of his future predicament.

More importantly, his subordinates did not object to Wei Cong's lenient treatment of the defeated. Just days before, in the fierce siege, the Wei army had also suffered considerable losses, with many wounded or even killed. Undoubtedly, they too craved revenge after their victory. At that time, looting and massacring were considered part of the spoils of war for victorious armies; leniency towards the defeated was an infringement on the interests of the victorious soldiers. This only demonstrates Wei Cong's absolute control over his men, allowing him to act entirely according to his own will. This is only found in a very few highly prestigious generals. Such a calm and absolutely controlling commander would undoubtedly be terrifying in the battles to come.

"Lord Zhang!" Wei Cong said with a smile, "Time is of the essence, so you shall come with me to Luoyang to pay homage to the Emperor!"

Upon hearing Wei Cong's gentle voice, Zhang Wen couldn't help but shiver and lowered his head, saying, "If Lord Wei commands, I dare not disobey!"

After passing Yique Pass, Wei Cong abandoned Huang Ping to clean up the mess and led his army along the west bank of the Yi River towards Luoyang. No one resisted along the way; whether it was a county town or a manor or fortress, all surrendered without resistance, sending grain, cattle, and wine to reward the troops. Wei Cong ordered that the grain, cattle, and wine be exchanged for money, saying gently, "I was ordered by the Emperor to attack the Dou clan. You are all subjects of the King, just like me. How could I possibly harm you? Our provisions are sufficient; there is no need to waste them!" The troops were overjoyed and departed, all praising Wei Cong's benevolent reputation.

When they were about ten miles from Luoyang City, it was already late, and Wei Cong ordered the troops to set up camp. Just then, an uninvited guest arrived at the camp, bringing some very surprising news.

"What? Shi Xie from Jiaozhou wants to see me?" Wei Cong laughed. "This man is strange. When I was in Jiaozhou, he was willing to risk his life to abandon his family and flee. Now that I've come to Luoyang, he's come to me himself. Isn't he afraid I'll kill him?"

"It's simply a matter of changing times and understanding right and wrong!" Deng Zhong laughed. "I've heard of Shi Xie; he's a high-ranking official from Jiaozhou. If you don't want to kill him, you might as well meet him!"

“His brother is doing a good job under me. Even for his brother’s sake, I won’t kill him!” Wei Cong laughed. “Alright, bring him up!”

A moment later, Shi Xie was brought in. He knelt down outside the tent, crawled into the tent, and kowtowed to Wei Cong, saying, "This sinner, Shi Xie, pays his respects to Lord Wei. I deserve death!"

"Shi Xie, since you know you deserve to die, why do you still dare to come see me?" Wei Cong laughed, "Just find somewhere to hide, I won't be so petty as to send people to arrest you!"

“Shi Xie was foolish and did not know right from wrong before, which is why he did such a foolish thing! Now that right from wrong is clear, even if Shi Xie is dull-witted, he can understand right and wrong. How can he run away from death out of fear of punishment!”

Upon hearing this, Wei Cong laughed. Shi Xie's words were quite clever: "Before, I was foolish and didn't know that you were the one representing the Central Committee, which is why I did such a thing. Now that you are the one representing the Central Committee, how can I, Shi Xie, refuse to accept your punishment just because I'm afraid of death!" He both flattered Wei Cong and showed that his problem was a matter of understanding, not character. He was truly quite capable.

"Very well! Since you put it that way, you may be spared the death penalty, but you can't escape punishment. Considering your brother's service to me, I'll order you to go home and study in seclusion to reflect on your mistakes. Do you accept that?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Wei!" Shi Xie kowtowed twice more and said, "I will return to Jiaozhou tomorrow to study and reflect on my mistakes. However, there is one matter concerning the safety of the Emperor that I must first report to you, Lord Wei!"

"Regarding the Emperor's safety?" Wei Cong's smile vanished. "What is it?"

"Two days ago, the government in Luoyang began arresting a boy of thirteen or fourteen years old. He is said to be a favorite servant of Marquis Dou Ji of Weiyang, and they are pressing him hard!"

(End of this chapter)