The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 272 Breaking Through the City and Slaughtering the City
However, after his anger subsided, Kato Kiyomasa looked at the city outside, where more than 10,000 cavalrymen and tens of thousands of Zhou and Goryeo infantrymen surrounded the entire city.

Then there's the thought of the 30,000 elite warriors outside the city, who were routed by the heavy cavalry of the Great Zhou in just a few charges.

The fear and anxiety in my heart grew stronger and stronger.

Japan is short of horses, and the horses produced domestically are not very tall.

Let alone heavy cavalry, there weren't many cavalry at all.

Now trapped in an isolated city, we've basically lost all our food and supplies.

Kiyomasa Kato had little confidence that he could hold out for long.

But he couldn't bring himself to surrender.

Once the news reached Japan, based on Kato Kiyomasa's understanding of Toyotomi Hideyoshi...

Not only will their own fiefdom in Kyushu be taken back, but the entire family will be punished.

The choice is between confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan, or besieging the isolated city and fighting to the death to preserve hope for the family.

There's no need to consider how to choose anymore.

Kato Kiyomasa suppressed his anger and fear, and turned to ask his men how long the city's food supplies would last.

Reality made Kiyomasa Kato realize that trying to hold on was basically a dead end.
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Seeing that his men had been shouting into the city for over an hour without any response, Li Jingxiao had no time to waste with these Japanese.

He immediately ordered the earth to be filled in and the nine thousand prisoners to be executed.

Furthermore, the number of heads taken is also counted in the reward.

The force that took action consisted of 6,000 Jurchens and 2,000 Goryeos.

2 heavy cavalry and 4 light cavalry from the Tiger Warrior Battalion.

There are still 1 elite infantrymen in Liaodong who haven't moved.

Moreover, both light and heavy cavalry and infantry were prepared to charge at any time.

The Japanese soldiers inside the city watched as two thousand heavy cavalrymen prepared to charge.

They dared not leave the city to rescue people.

Moreover, although the distance between them is not far (5 li), running three or four li on foot still consumes a lot of energy.

They were then attacked by heavy cavalry and charged by light cavalry.

Let alone the 1.4 Japanese pirates in the city, even if there were one or two times that number, it would be difficult to withstand them.

The Japanese pirates on the city walls could only watch helplessly as their comrades were slain, shot, and killed one by one outside the city.

In an instant, cries of agony and pleas for mercy filled the air.

The Japanese people inside the city were also horrified, never expecting that the commander of the Great Zhou would be so decisive and ruthless.

If we were to regroup and march out of the city now, it would take a considerable amount of time to prepare, and morale would be equally uncertain.

A surge of fear and dread rushed from the soles of my feet to my head.

The Goryeo people and Jurchens, however, were not so lenient; for them, killing 10 people meant gaining 100 acres of land.

Kill twenty, and grant them the title of lord of a village.

One hundred men would become city lords; such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was right before their eyes.

They all acted like madmen, indiscriminately hacking and slashing at the unarmed prisoners.

Especially the three thousand Koreans, who were deeply saddened by the thought of the Japanese pirates who had wantonly slaughtered their compatriots.

They were even more fanatical and enthusiastic than the Jurchens when it came to killing Japanese pirates.

Even the soldiers around Li Jingxiao all showed bloodthirsty expressions.

A few people felt that doing so might cause trouble for Li Jingxiao when he returned to the capital.

Looking at the expressions of his colleagues around him, he could only swallow the words he was about to say.

The killing continued until it was almost dark before it stopped.

Li Jingxiao, riding on his horse, sighed inwardly.

It's not that I sympathize with the Japanese, but rather that it's a pity that the city didn't send troops to fight a decisive battle.

This surprised Li Jingxiao somewhat.

Kato Kiyoshi was known throughout Japan for his fierce generalship, but it was unexpected that he was so patient at this moment.

However, Li Jingxiao's decisive order to massacre 9 Japanese pirates dealt a significant blow to the morale of the pirates in the city.

Sinology and Confucianism are prevalent in Japan, and in their eyes, the generals of the Central Plains dynasties should all be Confucian generals.

Not a god of death.

Moreover, the city was isolated and had no food or supplies.

At this moment, the Japanese pirate commanders inside the city couldn't help but start to worry.

If soldiers develop a fear of battle, lower-ranking samurai and foot soldiers might disobey orders and surrender voluntarily.

They even arrested these generals and then had them surrender.

Unfortunately, Li Jingxiao never intended to take prisoners.

They never even considered asking for a ransom.

It could take half a year for the prisoners' letters to be sent to Japan and the ransom to be brought back.

Even a year or two later.

In that time, Li Jingxiao felt he could have already led his army into Japan.
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It was 3 a.m. that night, when everyone was exhausted.

Li Jingxiao appeared outside the city, opened his mouth to inhale, and then exhaled.

Before long, a large amount of fog began to spread and diffuse.

He then ordered the men of the two centurions of the Left Garrison Command to be led by Erfu and six others.

Taking advantage of the fog, they climbed the city wall at night and then opened the city gate.

Erfu and the others have been practicing the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber for three years.

He also gets to drink monkey spirit wine from time to time, so his internal strength cultivation is not low.

In Li Jingxiao's eyes, it was at least third-rate in the martial arts world.

Li Jingxiao was completely unaware that his vision was actually too high.

What he considers third-rate would be at least second-rate in the world of martial arts.

With the help of the light-footed skills taught casually, Erfu and his friends could easily climb the Chengxing City wall, which was only four or five meters high.

Erfu and his comrades were all very enthusiastic about the credit for breaking through the city.

In fact, if Li Jingxiao hadn't deliberately given Erfu and the others a chance to make a contribution, there wouldn't have been so much trouble.

He could easily open the city gate by himself.

Even without opening the city gates, it wouldn't be difficult for him to kill the Japanese pirates in the city all by himself.

Before long, Li Jingxiao saw the city gates open and immediately led his heavy cavalry in a charge.

By the time the 2 heavy cavalrymen reached the city gate, the fog had already begun to dissipate.

Li Jingxiao rode a Ferghana horse, wearing a suit of golden chainmail, and wielded a level 20 bronze cudgel.

His staff moved like a spear, flying up and down, and no one could withstand a single blow from him.

It's not that I don't want to use the Black Gold Silver Spear, but the Akhal-Teke horse I'm riding is from a game.

Its endurance and load-bearing capacity far exceed those of ordinary warhorses, but it is not a divine beast after all.

It simply couldn't withstand the weight of the 729-pound Bright Silver Spear.

During the day, the heavy cavalry and 4,000 Tiger Warrior light cavalry could only watch helplessly as 3,000 Goryeo people and 6,000 Jurchen people slaughtered 9,000 Japanese pirates to earn military merit.

I've been incredibly envious for a long time.

Now that they had followed Li Jingxiao into the city, they naturally slaughtered the Japanese pirates without restraint.

Not long after, the other three city gates were opened by the Japanese pirates themselves.

He rushed out to escape, but was quickly stopped by 1 Liaodong infantrymen.

Moreover, after fighting the Jurchens all day, they only rested for seven or eight hours before insisting on joining the battle.

Li Jingxiao knew that the Jurchens were obsessed with money and land.

But their morale was so high that they naturally wouldn't refuse.

Let them conduct guerrilla warfare outside the city and hunt down the Japanese pirates who escaped from the city.

Shouts filled the air, both inside and outside the city.

Everywhere you look, there are Japanese pirates being hacked down and chased.

The fighting had raged for several hours, and it was already broad daylight. Li Jingxiao had already climbed onto the city wall, having long since lost interest in personally engaging in combat.

Hu Xian'er, Liu Cuitong, and Quan Zhili, along with four Goryeo maids, gave him a quick wash.

He changed into a dry Qilin robe.

The shouts of battle within the city had largely subsided.

Li Jingxiao simply took out his daybed and took a nap on the city wall.

At noon, a loud cursing voice came from inside, and Kwon Ji-ri's face immediately turned displeased.

I walked quickly to the city wall and looked down into the city.

Then they saw Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng, with dozens of their men, escorting several Japanese pirates toward the city wall.

Kwon Ji-ri could tell at a glance that these Japanese pirates must be important figures.

He turned to look at Hu Xian'er and Liu Cuitong, who were guarding Li Jingxiao.

As for Erfu and the others, they held the hilts of their knives like door gods.

But Erfu and the others already knew that these two vixens held a much higher position in the Duke's heart than they did.

Moreover, Erfu and the others had no jealousy whatsoever.

They were no match for each other in a fight, and their knowledge was also inferior to the two of them.

Only then did they spontaneously listen to Hu Xian'er and the other person.

Of course, this was only because Li Jingxiao was sleeping; otherwise, he would naturally listen to his commander.

Hu Xian'er didn't care about the Japanese pirates' commander.

In her eyes, her parents had been busy for so many days, what was wrong with them taking a nap?

Just you wait.

However, Lee Kyung-hyo wasn't really asleep; he made a gesture to Kwon Ji-ri.

The woman's face lit up with joy, and she quickly called out to the Imperial Guards below the city.

Only then did the men from the Left Garrison Command make way.

Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng led several Japanese pirate generals, including Kato Kiyomasa, onto the city wall.

Seeing that Li Jingxiao was leaning against the soft cushions of the daybed with his eyes closed, pretending to sleep, he subconsciously lowered his pace.

Kato Kiyomasa also saw his opponent this time.

Seeing that Li Jingxiao was so young and was fighting on the front lines, yet he still had so many beautiful women with him.

This Japanese general, nicknamed "Tiger Kato," couldn't understand how he had lost.

But reality told him that a loss is a loss, and no amount of excuses would help.

Although the enemy launched a surprise attack, they still routed their troops in a direct confrontation.

Thinking of this, Kato Kiyomasa sighed; surrender was impossible.

If they truly surrender, the Kato family will inevitably be executed by their lord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

It would be better to die in battle or commit seppuku.

He knelt down and said to Li Jingxiao, "I am Kato Kiyomasa, a fierce general of Torata no Osamu, and a retainer of the Toyotomi family."

Since I have been defeated by you, I beg you to make the final decision for me.

Li Jingxiao was taken aback and opened his eyes to look at this meritorious general of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

However, considering my understanding of Japan, I know that for the Japanese, family reputation is more important than their own lives.

Suicide after defeat is the preferred choice for the vast majority of Japanese people.

Preserving the family name means remaining a samurai family, and thus having the opportunity to rise again in the future.

Dying at the hands of the victors was also considered an honor.

In the movie "The Last Samurai", the samurai leader Katsumoto acts as the second (kaishakunin) for the defeated side's commander.

After the other person committed seppuku, he chopped off the man's head with a single stroke.

Li Jingxiao was naturally happy to accept such an unusual request.

He stood up, nodded, and casually drew the Tang sword from Quan Zhili's hand.

Walking up to Kato Kiyomasa, he said with a smile, "Once I cut off your head, I will have it sent to Osaka Castle to tell that monkey Toyotomi Hideyoshi your loyalty to him."

I'll also tell him to wait until I lead my army to land in Japan and capture Osaka Castle.

He would also personally cut off his head.

Kato was taken aback. Among the Japanese generals who were also kneeling on the ground, some were furious, while others were shocked.

But then he thought that Li Jingxiao had only led less than 30,000 men, yet he had annihilated the 40,000-strong army led by himself and others.

They themselves haven't suffered any losses yet.

Kato suddenly realized that someone among them had to go back alive and tell their lord in person.

What happened here? Who is the enemy? And how dangerous is the commander of the Great Zhou Dynasty in front of us?

So he looked at his three subordinates or colleagues and shook his head firmly at them.

Nabeshima Naoshige, Sagara Yorifusa, and Otomo Yoshitomo understood Kato Kiyomasa's meaning.

When the city fell, the four of them, as the commander and deputy commanders, had already discussed the possible problems and situations they might face.

So the three of them could only suppress their anger, lower their heads and remain silent.

Li Jingxiao smiled, knowing that verbal sparring was of little practical use.

But if you can make your opponent unhappy, then you'll feel good too.

Li Jingxiao twirled his sword, signaling to Kato Kiyomasa that they could begin.

Kato nodded. This guy was fearless, with not a trace of fear on his face.

He removed his armor and clothes, drew a short knife, and carefully wiped it with a white cloth.

Finally, he looked at the midday sky and clouds, and sang a few lines of Japanese waka. Li Jingxiao didn't understand it, but he didn't show any impatience.

Even if someone is an enemy, a person who is fearless in the face of death naturally deserves a certain degree of respect.

As for letting Kato go, that's impossible.

In any case, Li Jingxiao will not only not let Kato Kiyomasa go, but he will also kill the three deputy generals and all the Japanese pirates captured in the city.

Then they built a mound of skulls.

Li Jingxiao thought that since he had built so many mounds of Jing on the grasslands, if given the opportunity, he would be the first person in history to build mounds of Jing in Goryeo and the countries surrounding the Central Plains.

The people of the Central Plains in later generations might portray themselves as heroes.

Just then, Kato Kiyoshi gripped the short sword and took a deep breath.

He plunged the knife deep into her stomach.

The most perfect seppuku is to cut a cross on the stomach, then touch the ground with the forehead and die without making a sound.

But this method of dying is extremely difficult.

When the pain reaches a certain level, very few people have the unwavering willpower to endure it.

In order to preserve the dignity of those who commit seppuku, so that they would not cry out in agony before their death because they could not bear the pain after committing seppuku themselves.

That's how the second was created.

Seeing the cross already cut into Kato Kiyomasa's stomach, Lee Kyung-hyo was also nearing his limit of endurance.

With a single swing of his Tang-style sword, he easily severed Kato's head.

Li Jingxiao waved his hand to shake off the bloodstains on Tang Hengdao's sword, and still bowed to the corpse.

Just as Nabeshima Naoshige and the other two were gratefully bowing to Li Jingxiao in return, they heard Li Jingxiao say to Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng.

“All the prisoners were beheaded, and their bodies were used to build a mound of corpses outside the city to tell future generations what we have done for the Great Zhou and for Goryeo.”

At this point, Li Jingxiao looked towards the sky outside the city and the distant mountains.

He said firmly, "History books can be rewritten, but stone inscriptions and monuments cannot."

Our achievements today will surely be admired and praised by future generations.

Niu Zhanpeng, Chen Hongsheng, and the sons of more than a dozen noble families were originally worried that they would be cursed by scholars for hundreds or thousands of years.

But after hearing what Li Jingxiao said, he immediately realized that he was right.

My heart was stirred by those words.

(End of this chapter)