Song Xiu

Chapter 120 Surprise Attack on Jiangling, Cries Fill the City
Was Zhao Dexiu asking a question?
No, it's more like an announcement.

Zhao Dexiu's words extinguished the drunkenness in Sun Guangxian's eyes and set off alarm bells in his mind.

Having been in charge of the government in Nanping for many years, if Sun Guangxian had not taken any action by this point, then he would be underestimating him.

Looking at the tent entrance not far away, Sun Guangxian suddenly stood up from his seat.

We must leave the table immediately, or Nanping will be in grave danger.

But it was all too late.

As soon as Sun Guangxian stood up, all the Song generals at the banquet inside the tent also stood up.

Weapons are not permitted during banquets.

But which Song general at the banquet hadn't come through fire and water?

When they smile, it might give Sun Guangxian the illusion of being bathed in a spring breeze.

Once their expressions turned cold, Sun Guangxian could sense the faint aura of bloodlust emanating from them.

Every Song general was a tiger or wolf.

Under the watchful eyes of the assembled wolves and tigers, Sun Guangxian, who had never been on the battlefield before, was already trembling.

Before he could hold on for long, Sun Guangxian's legs gave way and he collapsed back into his seat.

"You, you guys."

Sun Guangxian pointed to each of the Song generals at the table, as if he wanted to ask them what their intentions were.

But when the words reached his lips, fear prevented him from uttering them.

Not long ago, weren't they having a very pleasant conversation?
The sudden change in circumstances, coupled with a sense of powerlessness, left Sun Guangxian somewhat unable to accept it for a time.

In his emotional turmoil, Sun Guangxian looked pleadingly at Zhao Dexiu.

A ridiculous idea popped into Sun Guangxian's mind:
Perhaps everything that just happened was a joke played by Zhao Dexiu?

Upon noticing Sun Guangxian's pleading gaze, Zhao Dexiu let out a soft laugh.

Zhao Dexiu seemed to see in Sun Guangxian the figure of the civil officials of the late Northern Song Dynasty in history.

Naïve and absurd.

Meeting Sun Guangxian's gaze, Zhao Dexiu announced:
"The Nanping Kingdom is abolished, and its territory belongs to the Song Dynasty!"

Upon hearing Zhao Dexiu's words, Sun Guangxian felt as if all the strength in his body had been instantly drained away.

Overwhelmed by fear, Sun Guangxian collapsed to his knees, repeatedly kowtowing to Zhao Dexiu.

"Please, Prince of Taiyuan, spare my life! Spare my life!"

Words of constant pleas for mercy poured from Sun Guangxian's mouth.

Sun Guangxian knew that his life was in Zhao Dexiu's hands.

Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, which war of annihilation of a country has not been accompanied by massacres?

Royal family members, high-ranking officials, and common people will all fall under the butcher's knife.

Sun Guangxian could no longer consider the fate of the Nanping dynasty; he only hoped that Zhao Dexiu would have mercy and not kill him as a sacrifice to the flag.

Sun Guangxian's kowtows and pleas for mercy startled Gao Baoyin.

When Gao Baoyin opened his sleepy eyes and saw Sun Guangxian's disheveled state, although he did not know what had happened, his survival instinct prompted him to kneel down in front of Zhao Dexiu and kowtow for mercy, just like Sun Guangxian.

While Sun Guangxian and Gao Baoyin were terrified, Zhao Dexiu spoke up:
"I will not kill you."

Zhao Dexiu's words immediately silenced Sun Guangxian and Gao Baoyin's pleas for mercy.

The two of them looked up at Zhao Dexiu with eyes full of gratitude.

Then Zhao Dexiu revealed his intention:
"I need the two of you to stabilize the hearts of the people in Nanping for the sake of the Song Dynasty."

The perspective from which you view things differs depending on your vantage point.

For Zhao Dexiu, conquering Nanping was not difficult; the challenge was how to quickly and thoroughly integrate the three prefectures of Nanping into the territory of the Song Dynasty.

To achieve this, the assistance of Sun Guangxian and Gao Baoyin was crucial.

Sun Guangxian was the Chancellor of Nanping, and Gao Baoyin was a member of the royal family. If they could act as representatives of the Song Dynasty, the people of the three prefectures of Nanping would feel a greater sense of belonging to the Song Dynasty.

Seeing that Zhao Dexiu was willing to spare their lives, how could Sun Guangxian and Gao Baoyin dare to refuse Zhao Dexiu's request?
"Your subject is willing to serve the Great Song Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dexiu nodded in satisfaction.

As the sun quietly moved westward, an elite Song cavalry force appeared outside Jiangling City.

As Jiangling City drew ever closer, a smile appeared on Pan Mei's face.

Jingmen is only about 100 miles away from Jiangling.

A distance of 100 li (approximately 50 kilometers) can be covered in a day at most by elite cavalry.

As soon as it got dark last night, Pan Mei gathered three thousand elite cavalry and set off from Jingmen City under the cover of night.

Although intelligence indicates that Jiangling City is currently almost undefended.

However, just to be on the safe side, before leading his troops out, Pan Mei still ordered the entire army to "gag themselves, harness their horses, and wrap their hooves in cloth."

This measure minimized the noise generated by the march.

With the cover of night, this Song cavalry force arrived outside Jiangling City almost unnoticed.

With Jiangling City in sight, Pan Mei used the command flag in his hand to direct the elite cavalry behind him to speed up their advance.

When this Song cavalry force was only a few miles away from Jiangling City, the garrison on the city walls finally noticed their arrival.

Because rumors had long circulated in Jiangling that the Song army had come to protect Nanping, the defenders on the city walls did not panic when they saw the Song cavalry approaching.

This Song cavalry force likely passed through Jiangling before continuing south to attack Wuping Army.

If the Song army had any ill intentions, Sun Guangxian and Gao Baoyin would have sent back the message long ago.

The general in charge of defending the city was Liang Yansi.

After these thoughts surfaced in Liang Yansi's mind, he still had the composure to smile and say to the adjutant beside him:

"The soldiers who went to court were indeed impressive in appearance."

With elite troops guarding us, what is there to fear from the Wuping Army?

After saying this, Liang Yansi first sent someone to the Prince's residence to inform Gao Baoxu of the arrival of the Song army.

Previously, because Gao Baoxu disrespected the Song Dynasty, the King of Taiyuan had just reprimanded the Nanping Kingdom. The same mistake must not be repeated.

Then Liang Yansi thought that Gao Baoxu had been partying every night lately and was probably still asleep.

Having thought of this, Liang Yansi straightened his clothes and decided to go out of the city to welcome the Song army on behalf of Gao Baoxu.

Soon, Liang Yansi led a group of officers guarding the city to wait outside the drawbridge below the city.

The distance of several miles would not take long for a light cavalryman galloping at full speed.

Shortly after Liang Yansi left the city, Pan Mei led Song cavalry to the city.

Looking at the city of Jiangling so close at hand, Pan Mei stopped her horse in front of Liang Yansi.

Pan Mei was handsome, a rare sight in his time.

Beauty is justice, and this holds true throughout history.

Pan Mei's beautiful appearance made Liang Yansi develop feelings for her.

While Liang Yansi was admiring Pan Mei's appearance, under Pan Mei's command, hundreds of elite cavalrymen followed Li Hanqiong and charged towards the city gate along the lowered drawbridge.

Seeing the Song cavalry rushing past from both sides, Liang Yansi began to panic.

Liang Yansi quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and addressed Pan Meiyan on horseback:
"General, please order the heavenly soldiers to halt. Food supplies are being prepared within the city."

They'll be sent out of the city soon, so the heavenly soldiers can have a good meal.

After saying this, Liang Yansi whispered to Pan Meiyan:
"There are also alluring songstresses in the city. If the general is interested, I will go into the city later to fetch them for the general to enjoy."

Even at this moment, Liang Yansi still thought that this Song cavalry force had come to collect the provisions for their southward campaign to quell the rebellion. Liang Yansi's words made Pan Mei burst into laughter.

Hearing Pan Mei's laughter, Liang Yansi also laughed.

It seems his arrangement pleased the general.

Unexpectedly, Pan Mei's next words after she finished laughing left Liang Yansi stunned on the spot:
Why bother?
"Since the provisions are in the city, I will take them myself!"

As Pan Mei said this, she saw that Li Hanqiong had successfully led his troops into the city.

Pan Mei's words made Liang Yansi realize that something was wrong. Before he could ask for details, Pan Mei rode past him at high speed.

When Liang Yansi looked back and saw more and more Song cavalry rushing into the city, he was so frightened that he hurriedly ran into the city.

But how can a person outrun a horse?
In his hasty return to the city, Liang Yansi was picked up by a passing Song cavalryman and placed on the horse's back as a trophy, and they entered Jiangling City together.

After leading his troops into the city, Pan Mei was busy directing his men to divide their forces and first take control of key locations within the city.

After issuing a series of orders, Pan Mei led the remaining Song soldiers toward the Prince's Palace in the city.

Li Hanqiong was the first to lead his troops toward the Prince's Palace.

As the heart of the Nanping Kingdom, the Nanping Prince's Palace naturally had a garrison.

However, after Gao Baoxu succeeded to the throne, he often allowed the garrison to play with prostitutes, which led to the garrison of the Prince of Nanping's mansion becoming addicted to wine and women and losing their fighting ability.

When Li Hanqiong led his army to the Prince's Palace, before he could even order an attack, the palace's defenders surrendered without resistance under the imposing presence of the Song army.

This familiar scene made Li Hanqiong's face turn dark.

However, before the army set off, Pan Mei had given a strict order: "Anyone who enters the city and kills indiscriminately shall be executed!"

Under this strict order, Li Hanqiong dared not act recklessly.

After suppressing his anger, Li Hanqiong ordered his men to break down the gates of the Prince's Mansion, and then led his troops straight in.

Led by the surrendered soldiers, Li Hanqiong led his troops on a swift march. After passing many magnificent buildings, Li Hanqiong arrived at the outside of a grand hall.

This main hall was where Gao Baoxu used to gather people for entertainment.

Realizing that Gao Baoxu was inside the hall, Li Hanqiong excitedly rushed in with his knife.

As soon as Li Hanqiong entered the hall, he was greeted by a scene of utter debauchery.

The ground was stained with wine, and delicacies were scattered everywhere.

A delicacy that an ordinary person might only taste once in their lifetime is being carelessly discarded on the ground inside the palace.

Enveloped in a multitude of fine wines and delicacies were intertwined, naked, snow-white bodies.

Because the madness of the previous night had lasted so long, the soldiers and prostitutes on the ground were so engrossed in their dreams that they were completely unaware of the Song army that had stormed in.

Everywhere you look, there are signs of a fallen nation.

Feeling disgusted, Li Hanqiong forced open a passage and quickly walked towards the inner hall.

Under Li Hanqiong's kicks, some of the guards and prostitutes were awakened by the physical pain.

When they awoke, they found the palace filled with heavily armed Song soldiers.

Having just woken from a beautiful dream, they felt as if they had instantly fallen into a hellish battlefield.

For a moment, screams and pleas for mercy echoed throughout the hall.

The terrified screams from the outer hall caught the attention of Gao Baoxu in the inner hall.

Seemingly annoyed that his sweet dream had been disturbed, Gao Baoxu, in his dazed state, called out:
"Who dares to make a sound? Kill them!"

No matter how licentious he was, Gao Baoxu was still the ruler of Nanping.

He held the power of life and death over the entire nation of Nanping; in the past, when he uttered this one sentence, countless people would lose their heads.

But no eunuch responded to his royal decree today.

His response was a cold voice.

"It's you that damn it!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Baoxu was furious.

Wang Wei could not be offended. His anger made Gao Baoxu open his eyes and look in the direction from which the words came.

When he looked over, Gao Baoxu saw a man dressed in Song general's armor, staring at him with a cold smile.

The Song general had drawn his sword, the sharp tip pointing directly at him.

This shocking scene dealt a heavy blow to Gao Baoxu's mind.

Was this nightmare caused by an overwhelming fear of the Song army?
The Song army should be in Jingmen!
Before Gao Baoxu could react, several Song soldiers stepped forward and roughly dragged him off the exquisite dragon bed.

Gao Baoxu's crown was still on the dragon bed. The Song army's brutal behavior caused the crown of the Prince of Nanping to roll down to Li Hanqiong's feet like a child's toy.

Looking at the crown that symbolized royal power, Li Hanqiong kicked it away with disdain.

Gao Baoxu's body was dragged off the couch and landed heavily on the ground. The pain from his body made Gao Baoxu cry out in pain.

The physical pain made Gao Baoxu realize that this was not a dream.

In an instant, a bone-chilling cold spread throughout my body.

When the state is in power, the ruler of a country naturally commands great authority.

When a nation collapses, its ruler is sometimes less powerful than a dog on the street.

At this moment, Gao Baoxu had no time to maintain any semblance of royal decorum.

Gao Baoxu knelt down at Li Hanqiong's feet, begging for mercy through tears:
"The foundation of Nanping can be taken by the King of Taiyuan if he wants."

I beg the King of Taiyuan to spare my life.

Please, please.

Gao Baoxu's voice was filled with terror.

Gao Baoxu's pleas for mercy did not move Li Hanqiong in the slightest.

During the chaotic Five Dynasties period, who would show even the slightest mercy to a deposed ruler?
Li Hanqiong ordered his soldiers to escort Gao Baoxu directly outside the palace.

As Li Hanqiong arrived outside the palace, more and more members of the Gao clan, officials of Nanping, and their families were being brought in by the Song army from all directions.

Before long, the open space outside the hall was filled with kneeling people.

Adults, the elderly, women, and children.
If the sword of slaughter is raised in this world, then families will be killed one by one until they are all wiped out!
Looking at the Song soldiers standing guard with swords all around, bursts of crying erupted outside the hall, and some children were even so frightened that they lost control of their bladders.

Even after many years of peace, the people of Nanping had heard of the tragic state of the country after its destruction.

Sometimes, a single, fatal blow can be a relief.

The heinous acts of humiliating women, cannibalism, and burning down entire families are the norm for the losers in chaotic times.

As the crying inside the palace grew louder and louder, Pan Mei came to the outside of the palace.

Seeing Li Hanqiong glaring fiercely at the kneeling crowd with a knife in hand, Pan Mei quickly stepped forward and said:
"What do you want?"

On the surface, Li Hanqiong seemed about to wield a butcher's knife at any moment.

However, Pan Mei misunderstood Li Hanqiong.

Zhao Dexiu had given strict orders beforehand, so Li Hanqiong certainly wouldn't dare to kill anyone arbitrarily.

In response to Pan Mei's question, Li Hanqiong casually replied:
"First, we took them under control."

Once the Prince of Taiyuan arrives in Jiangling, it will be easier for him to eliminate any potential threats.

Judging by the moral standards of later generations, Li Hanqiong's words are truly chilling.

However, judging from Li Hanqiong's tone, such a thing was quite normal in this day and age.

The moral compass of our time has long been distorted.

What Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Dexiu wanted to save was such a chaotic world.

(End of this chapter)