Song Xiu

Chapter 93 Overwhelming Power in Shangdang City

"Third: My wife, Lady Zhe, and my young son, Yanzhao, are still in Daizhou. If the general can help me escort them south, I will be extremely grateful."

The third point is precisely what Liu Jiye is most worried about.

It is unknown how his wife and children are doing now that he has been captured.

After hearing Liu Jiye's third request, Zhao Dexiu couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Zhao Dexiu's loud laughter puzzled Liu Jiye.

Under Liu Jiye's questioning gaze, Zhao Dexiu smiled and pointed north, saying:

"Don't worry!"

"I sent someone to pick up your family a while ago."

I imagine that in a few days, your family will be reunited.

If it were anyone else, Zhao Dexiu would rarely focus her attention on his family.

But it was different for Yang Ye.

When people hear the name Yang Family Generals, they often think of the phrase "a family full of loyal martyrs".

In this life, due to his different status, Zhao Dexiu is completely powerless against the words "a family of loyal martyrs".

Since Zhao Dexiu had long planned to subdue Liu Jiye, how could he possibly forget about Lady Zhe, the youngest son of the Yang family, and others?
Buy one get eight free – don't miss out!

When Lü Qiu Zhongqing went to Taiyuan, Zhao Dexiu entrusted him with the task of protecting Liu Jiye's family.

Zhao Dexiu didn't mind spending a lot of money, but the money had to be well spent!
In a letter from Lu Qiu Zhongqing some time ago, Zhao Dexiu learned that Liu Jiye's family was currently safe.

Zhao Dexiu's assurances delighted Liu Jiye.

Overjoyed, Liu Jiye also deeply appreciated how much Zhao Dexiu valued him.

If it weren't for taking it very seriously, who in this era would have thought of this step in advance for him?
As the saying goes, a scholar will die for his confidant!

With no more worries in his heart and deeply moved, Liu Jiye bowed directly to Zhao Dexiu:
"Your subject pays respects to the General!"

By acknowledging his submission, Liu Jiye had already pledged allegiance.

Liu Jiye's submission made Zhao Dexiu laugh loudly again:
"From this moment on, the Battle of Funiu is complete for me."

After laughing, Zhao Dexiu reached out and helped Liu Jiye up.

"Now that you have pledged allegiance to me, the name Liu Jiye should no longer be used."

In my opinion, since your original surname is Yang, you should change it back.

As for the name, how about removing the character "继" and using the single name "业" in the future?

"Yang Ye?"
Yang Ye!

Alright, everything will be as you wish, General.

From now on, there will be no more Liu Jiye in the world, only Yang Ye, who shed his blood for the general's great cause!

It seems that Yang Ye likes his new name very much.

Hearing a familiar name appear filled Zhao Dexiu with satisfaction.

The Yang family generals are his now; let's see who dares to frame them in the future!

“From now on, call me Marquis, and that’s what everyone around me calls me.”

After subduing Yang Ye, Zhao Dexiu asked him for advice:
"Now that the elite troops of Hedong have been wiped out, what strategy should be used to subdue Shangdang?"

After listening to Zhao Dexiu's question, Yang Ye replied without hesitation:
“The Marquis often takes Emperor Taizong of Tang as an example to encourage himself. Why don’t you follow his example now?”

In the past, Emperor Taizong of Tang defeated 100,000 with only 3,000 men, and the city of Luoyang fell without a fight.

Now, the Marquis of the Commandery, with only a hundred cavalrymen, can pursue tens of thousands, and thus his prestige and reputation can overwhelm Shangdang.

After joining Zhao Dexiu's staff, Yang Ye learned many secrets.

For example, the actual number of Song soldiers throughout history.

When Yang Ye learned that the Song army truly numbered five thousand, with one thousand left to guard the rear, he was shocked and admired Zhao Dexiu even more.

With only 4,000 soldiers, he dared to chase after tens of thousands of Han soldiers. If he had 40,000 soldiers in the future, wouldn't Zhao Dexiu lead his troops to Chengdu for a visit?
Yang Ye's suggestion coincided perfectly with what Zhao Dexiu had in mind.

“This plan is excellent; I shall do it.”

Thick, dark clouds pressed heavily against the sky, plunging the entire city of Shangdang into a gloomy atmosphere.

The Song army's "long dragon appearing at night" incident some time ago was naturally witnessed by the garrison in Shangdang City.

Similarly, the garrison in Shangdang City also thought that Song reinforcements had arrived.

The bitterness brought about by the arrival of enemy reinforcements while one's own reinforcements chose to withdraw was something only the defenders of Shangdang City could truly understand.

Fortunately, the Song army went to pursue the Han army.

Given the numbers of the two armies, a protracted and fierce battle is inevitable.

During the protracted stalemate between the two armies, those inside Shangdang City were able to get a lot of breathing room.

Such wishful thinking arose in the minds of every soldier defending Shangdang City.

Sensing that another day would be wasted, a sentry in a watchtower on the Shangdang city wall couldn't help but yawn.

Before he could even exhale the breath he had inhaled, the scene outside the city terrified him so much that he swallowed the breath he had inhaled.

On the distant horizon, a dark, surging wave was appearing. It was not a flood, but rather a mass of figures and several black battle flags fluttering in the wind.

The crowd was spreading towards Shangdang City at a visible speed.

As he watched, the sentry was so startled that he dropped the copper bell from his hand, and it fell with a clatter to the bluestone slab at his feet.

What does the appearance of a large number of black battle flags represent?
"It is the Song army!"

After the exclamation, many soldiers on the city wall who heard the commotion poked their heads out from the battlements and looked towards the outside of the city.

In an instant, the city walls were thrown into chaos.

The piercing sound of the copper bells ringing frequently from the city wall instantly shattered the oppressive atmosphere within Shangdang City.

The ringing of the copper bells, like a long-awaited thunderclap, completely roused the people of Shangdang City who were living in a state of wishful thinking. "Wake up, everyone! The Song Dynasty is coming to take you away!"

Because he was preoccupied with the war between the Song and Han armies, Li Shoujie had not slept well for the past few days.

Having not slept well for several days, Li Shoujie appeared quite exhausted.

Li Shoujie had just managed to get a short rest when he was woken up by anxious calls.

Upon hearing the news of the Song army's arrival outside the city, Li Shoujie, who had just woken from a dream, became even more bewildered.

Shouldn't the Song army be confronting the Han army outside Lucheng at this time?
Under the gloomy sky, Li Shoujie and many other guards hurriedly arrived at the city wall.

Upon arriving at the city wall, Li Shoujie and the city's garrison commanders saw tens of thousands of soldiers stationed below.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in one place, resembling a black ocean, causing those on the city walls to turn pale at the sight.

What frightened the people on the city walls even more was that the military flags standing below the city were clearly those of the Song army, but the tens of thousands of soldiers standing below the city were mostly dressed in Han army uniforms.

How is this going?

Some quick-thinking individuals are gradually guessing at a terrifying possibility.

How could Zhao Dexiu, who was always eager to help others, bear to let the people on the city wall waste their time making wild guesses?

As several powerful drumbeats sounded, a troop of Song cavalry led donkey carts out from both sides of the formation to the city.

The sight of donkey carts driving out immediately attracted the attention of everyone on the city wall.

The first thing that caught Li Shoujie's eye was several "Jiedushi" (military governor) banners with their edges crushed by horses' hooves.

"Liaozhou, Shizhou, Daizhou."

The people on the city wall were dumbfounded as they stared at the distorted yet familiar banners of the generals of the important towns of the Northern Han.

Immediately afterwards, the rattling sound of the chains dragging on the ground sent shivers down one's spine.

More than twenty Han soldiers were captured and appeared together at the foot of the city, their arms bound behind their backs and linked together by numerous chains.

Most of them were Han generals who survived in the Funiu Mountains.

They, who used to be so imposing and domineering in front of Li Shoujie, now all had disheveled hair and their armor had been removed, revealing their tattered inner linings.

They were in a sorry state, looking like beggars, their faces ashen, and they no longer resembled any of the "important officials of the Northern Han Dynasty".

As the people on the city wall observed more closely, they eventually focused their attention on the leading prisoner.

"It's Liu Ji'en, the Prefect of Taiyuan!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Li Shoujie's heart pounded faster and faster, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

Li Jun had been entangled with the Northern Han for many years, so how could he not recognize Liu Ji'en?

But it's precisely because you recognize someone that you feel your heart churning.

Even the crown prince of Northern Han was captured by Zhao Dexiu?

After Liu Ji'en's identity was revealed, all the breathing on the city wall suddenly became heavy.

"Look carefully!"

Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out from below the city.

Surrounded by his generals, Zhao Dexiu rode his horse to the city.

This was the first time anyone in Shangdang City had seen Zhao Dexiu.

Upon seeing him today, those on the city walls immediately felt that this young man below the walls possessed remarkable talent and charisma.

Zhao Dexiu's words were sharp, as if they had materialized into tangible blades, stabbing them repeatedly and causing them excruciating pain.

Some people on the city wall were already on the verge of collapsing.

Zhao Dexiu didn't care about their physical condition.

If you're going to protest, then go all the way.

Zhao Dexiu pointed with his riding whip at the prisoners, including Liu Ji'en, in front of him and continued:
"I have been ordered by the Emperor to recover Luzhou. The rebels from Hedong have come from afar to invade."

"Though there are many of them, I will still kill them!"

"When the Song Dynasty was first established, the emperor was benevolent and did not want the people to suffer from the pain of war."

If there are righteous people within the city willing to abandon darkness and embrace the light, I can pardon you on behalf of the Emperor!

After saying this, Zhao Dexiu took out the imperial edict given to him by Zhao Kuangyin and held it high above his head.

The fact that “all punishments in Luzhou were carried out by the Marquis of Taiyuan” had long been known throughout the counties of Luzhou.

Zhao Dexiu's public admission of this matter proves that these were not rumors, but real facts.

After saying this, Zhao Dexiu ordered the Han soldiers to be untied and released down to the city walls.

After completing everything, Zhao Dexiu rode away from the city under the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd on the city wall.

After Zhao Dexiu left, the city walls were eerily quiet.

The Zhou-character military flag on the city wall made a mournful sound as the wind howled.

After the prisoners were released into the city, many of the city's garrison commanders were eager to inquire about the specific details of the Han army's defeat.

As the prisoners recounted their harrowing experiences, the people in the city seemed to have personally witnessed that horrific scene.

Everything that happened on the city wall today, coupled with the tragic recounting of these Han generals, solidified the belief of most of the garrison commanders inside the city.

After exchanging a glance, they took their weapons, gathered their personal guards, and marched menacingly toward the general's mansion where Li Shoujie was located.

After returning to his residence, Li Shoujie was unable to calm down for a long time.

Tens of thousands of Han soldiers were wiped out by Zhao Dexiu in just a few days.

How could his small city of Shangdang possibly withstand it?
Logically speaking, Li Shoujie wanted to surrender the city.

But Li Shoujie couldn't bear to think of Li Jun, who was still fighting on the front lines.

A son must not abandon his father!
(End of this chapter)