Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 372 Suppression
Of the three thousand people who went out, only a few have returned?
General Zhang swayed, and his vision went black.

The military officers were shocked and hurriedly helped General Zhang up, crying, "General! General!"

General Zhang took a few quick breaths and barely opened his eyes: "Have the men who have returned treat their wounds and heal them. Also, muster the troops at the city gates. By daybreak, the Pei family army will definitely attack the city again!"

On the battlefield, the one who understands you best is not your friend, but your enemy.

General Zhang's prediction was entirely correct. At daybreak, the black Pei banner once again fluttered in the air. The surprise attack and night battle had resulted in heavy losses for the Bohai Navy, and the Pei family army had also suffered numerous casualties. They also had to rush to put out fires and clean up the battlefield, and the whole night was non-stop.

However, Pei Qinghe had no intention of stopping the offensive. The key to a successful siege is to maintain a continuous and relentless attack to apply pressure.

Even today, the number of people attacking the city has increased significantly, and they are exceptionally fierce and ruthless. One battalion was the first to scale the city gate, slaughtering many Bohai soldiers.

As the morale of Pei's army rose, the morale of Bohai's army fell. On the battlefield, this manifested as them becoming increasingly incompetent, timid, and unable to even hold their swords steadily.

For the first time, Pei's army soldiers stormed into the city.

The common people hiding behind the door turned pale with fright at the sounds of battle so close at hand: "How could the general have been defeated?"

"Is the Pei family army really that powerful?"

"what should we do?"

General Zhang, who hadn't been on the front lines for a while, could no longer wait. He donned his armor, led his personal guards, and charged forward menacingly, wiping out the entire Pei family army that had stormed into the city.

However, the panic that the city could fall at any moment has spread rapidly.

The civil officials followed Vice Minister Qin into the palace, pleading with the emperor to issue an edict to hand over the Zhang family: "A life for a life! The Zhang family killed twenty-three members of the Pei family. General Pei only wants the lives of the Zhang family, which is already exceptionally lenient."

"We beg Your Majesty to issue an order to bind the Zhang father and son and open the city gates to welcome the Pei family army!"

In his haste, Minister Qin spoke rather bluntly: "General Pei is only seeking revenge, not plotting a rebellion. If Your Majesty continues to be so indecisive, I'm afraid there will truly be no room for maneuver in the future."

"The Pei family army is brave and skilled in battle, and General Pei is a hero of our time. Your Majesty should rely on him more in the future."

The civil officials echoed this sentiment. They preferred to side with General Pei rather than the ambitious, arrogant, and domineering General Zhang!

Emperor Jian'an, pushed to his limit, angrily said, "Fine, I'll listen to you. I'm issuing an order now: who among you will go and bind the Grand General?"

The civil officials were speechless.

Emperor Jian'an unleashed all the pent-up anger he had been holding in for over half a month: "Didn't I think of any of this? This is Bohai County, a place that the Zhang family has been managing for decades. Go outside and take a look. Those wearing soft armor and carrying weapons are all Zhang family soldiers. The people in the city don't know who the emperor is; they only know General Zhang."

"If I were to hand over the Zhang family, as you suggest, I fear I would be on my way to the underworld before the imperial decree even leaves the palace."

"What way do you have to survive?"

How could there be no way to survive?

General Pei has acquired Bohai Commandery and will soon establish a new court. He cannot do without civil officials to govern the people. He certainly won't kill them all. Perhaps they can even secure a better future for themselves!
Such treasonous words must never be uttered.

The civil officials each had their own calculations and considerations, but they all wore righteous expressions and refused to leave, constantly urging the emperor to issue an edict.

"The general is here!"

Shen Gonggong's sharp voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone in the Golden Palace was startled and quickly fell silent. General Zhang, his face grim, strode in. Behind him were dozens of his personal guards, their menacing aura like that of wolves and tigers.

He did not bow to the emperor; his sinister eyes swept across the faces of the civil officials. A chill ran down their spines.

With Prime Minister Pang absent, the group took the lead from Qin, the most senior official. Faced with General Zhang's invisible pressure, the civil officials instinctively hid behind Qin.

Reluctantly, Minister Qin was pushed to the front, helplessly facing General Zhang's murderous aura and rage: "Wasn't the General supervising the battle from the city walls? Why did you suddenly come to the palace?"

General Zhang sneered: "While I, the general, am leading my soldiers in a bloody battle at the city gates, someone is plotting to stab me in the back. How could I, the general, not come?"

Qin Shilang broke out in a cold sweat and looked at Emperor Jian'an with pleading eyes.

In crucial moments, Emperor Jian'an is never reliable. He rose and walked over, grasping General Zhang's hand: "Today they entered the palace and forced me to issue an edict demanding that I hand over the General to the city in exchange for their lives. I refused, and they wouldn't leave. Fortunately, the General arrived in time!"

General Zhang looked at the pale face of the young emperor so close to him, twitched the corner of his mouth, and looked at the group of civil officials with a contemptuous gaze: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this little matter can be left to me, the General."

"Guards, tie them all up and lock them in the palace dungeon."

Dozens of tall, strong, and imposing guards drew their long swords with a clang and approached coldly.

Minister Qin and the others paled and angrily exclaimed, "We are officials appointed by the imperial court, how dare you treat us like this!"

"You traitorous scoundrel! How dare you draw your swords and spears in the palace! Are you plotting a rebellion?!"

However, no matter how sharp one's words are, they cannot compare to the sharpness of a sword.

When the gleaming weapons were right in front of them, Minister Qin and his entourage of more than ten people finally fell silent.

Emperor Jian'an's face was also made deathly pale by the light of the weapons.

There were a thousand imperial guards in the palace. But these thousand men were no match for General Zhang, who commanded a large army.

To put it more bluntly, Pei Qinghe was still outside the city gates. The one truly standing before him, exuding murderous intent, was General Zhang.

General Zhang might not be able to defeat Pei Qinghe, but besieging the palace and trapping the emperor would be an easy task for him.

“It’s very chaotic outside,” General Zhang said slowly, staring at Emperor Jian’an. “For your safety, Your Majesty should stay in the palace. I will fight to the bitter end to protect Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jian'an's lips trembled slightly as he managed to reply, "Very well, General, you are so loyal. I entrust my safety to you."

General Zhang twitched the corner of his mouth, but there was no smile in his eyes. He turned his head and waved his hand: "Take Vice Minister Qin and the others to the imperial prison."

Minister Qin and his entourage were imprisoned in the imperial prison.

Emperor Jian'an returned to his study in a daze, with only Eunuch Shen by his side.

Empress Zhang brought the Crown Prince, but was refused entry.

That evening, the imperial physician brought the medicine again. This time, Eunuch Shen was unable to "test the medicine" on behalf of the emperor, because General Zhang was right there, watching intently.

Emperor Jian'an had no choice but to tremble as he picked up the bowl and drank the medicine.

(End of this chapter)