I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 124 It’s too late to regret
Upon learning of the fall of Wu County, Taishi Ci immediately ordered his soldiers to return to reinforce it.

However, many of the soldiers who were sent out surrendered to Liu Miao's army before they even reached Wu County, and in the end only a few returned to report to Taishi Ci.

Faced with such an ending, even Taishi Ci could only sigh:

"This is a righteous war!"

Whether or not there is a greater cause has such a direct and terrifying impact on the outcome of a war!
Now, Taishi Ci, who was holding Piling, saw that the morale of Zhu Zhi and Han Dang's army outside was getting stronger and stronger, and he knew that his resistance was meaningless.

The most terrifying thing is... because Liu Miao's army held the moral high ground, Taishi Ci didn't even dare to commit suicide to show his loyalty!

If Taishi Ci were to commit suicide now, to whom would he be serving?

A big man?
Can Taishi Ci now represent the generals of the Han Dynasty?

Liu Yao?
Little did they know that even Liu Yao was labeled a traitor to the Han Dynasty! Even if Taishi Ci committed suicide, people would not marvel at his loyalty and righteousness, but would only think that Taishi Ci was stubborn and unrepentant!

Taishi Ci didn't care about matters before his death.

But his posthumous reputation was enough to make Taishi Ci worry!

Strangely, Zhu Zhi and Han Dang did not rush to attack Taishi Ci, as if they were waiting for something.

Just a few days later, Taishi Ci learned who they were waiting for.

Beneath the walls of Piling City, an elderly woman with gray hair, leaning on a cane, shakily approached the city before the soldiers on both sides—

"My son! Are you really going to remain so stubbornly deluded?"

The person before me was none other than Taishi Ci's mother, whom I had captured after the fall of Wu County!

When Taishi Ci saw his mother's faltering steps and the white hair and wrinkles that had raised him, he finally burst into tears.

"I, Taishi Ci, am unable to assist the monarch, unable to defend against enemy troops, and unable to care for my mother. How can I still have the face to call myself a great man?"

Taishi Ci finally dropped his bow and arrows and ordered the city gates to be opened.

With this, Wu Commandery fell entirely into Liu Miao's hands! Liu Miao thus became the undisputed ruler of Jiangdong!
Taishi Ci was also stripped of his armor and imprisoned in a prison cart.

"Ziyi, is that you?"

Taishi Ci then realized that the prison cart next to him was actually carrying Liu Yao!
Taishi Ci's eyes were bloodshot: "I am a criminal, and it doesn't matter how you treat me! But the governor is a member of the Han imperial family! He is the governor of Yangzhou appointed by the court! How can you treat him like this?"

However, despite the loud noise, none of the soldiers around paid any attention to it.

It was Liu Yao, still sitting in the prison cart, who tried to dissuade him: "Ziyi, let it go. Since ancient times, the victor is king and the loser is villain. Why bother with these empty formalities now?"

Liu Yao was no longer as dignified as usual. His hair was disheveled, and he leaned dejectedly against the prison cart, his eyes filled with melancholy.

"Ziyi, although we have been defeated, our righteousness remains!"

"Liu Miao was merely acting rashly because of his temporary bravery. A person as disloyal and unfilial as him, who could not care for the people, would not last long."

"The world will surely be at peace, and the Han Dynasty will surely be restored! As long as we hold this thought in mind, we can bravely face death!"

Liu Yao's words swept away Taishi Ci's frustration and depression!

Yes!

A man like Liu Miao will likely be defeated and killed by righteous people soon, so why should I be sad?

When that time comes, surely someone in the world will clear our names?
The prison cart carried these people westward to Jinling.

However, the closer they got to Jinling, the more uneasy Liu Yao, Taishi Ci, and the others felt...

Since entering Danyang, peace and tranquility have been everywhere. Where is the “misery and hardship of the people” that Xu Gong and Zhang Yun described?
Liu Yao witnessed firsthand that as he passed through a field, an old, barefoot farmer stood by the irrigation ditch, holding a bamboo cane, his face crinkled with a smile as he stroked the heavy ears of rice. When he saw Liu Miao's army, he showed no fear, but instead waved his arms in their direction, creating a completely harmonious scene.

Is this what is meant by disrespecting the three elders?
Liu Yao also saw signs of farmers cultivating the land in many mountainous areas.

Clearing land in the mountains is not a remarkable feat, but the rows of waterwheels and the crisscrossing irrigation ditches were clearly beyond the capabilities of ordinary people. Without the government's unified planning and the use of the people's corvée labor to complete these projects, such a scene would not be seen for several years.

Is this what they call disregarding the people's well-being?

When they reached the vicinity of Jinling, Liu Yao and Taishi Ci didn't even dare to raise their heads.

With Zhang Zhao's continuous construction, the city of Jinling was no longer just a rudimentary shape, but gradually took on a considerable size.

In particular, Zhang Zhao did not rush to repair the palaces, which had a long construction period. Instead, he focused his energy on the residential areas and markets surrounding Jinling, which made this city, which had hundreds of thousands of people, burst with its due vitality!
The market was filled with the aroma of freshly baked wheat cakes, the salt vendors and hemp weavers haggling over prices, and the occasional music and dance celebrating the harvest. All of this made Liu Yao and Taishi Ci tremble with unease and a sense of inexplicable panic.

Whether the escorting soldiers did it intentionally or not, they deliberately led the group on a long detour, arriving at the southernmost and most bustling part of Jinling, the Zhuque Bridge, and passing through there with Liu Yao, Taishi Ci, and others.

"So that's the person who wanted to kill Liu Yangzhou?" "May they die a horrible death!"

"But I heard he's a member of the Han imperial family..."

"What Han imperial relative! He's nothing but a traitor to the Han!"

Unfortunately, the people of Jinling were not wealthy at the time, and they couldn't even bear to waste vegetable leaves, let alone precious foods like eggs. Otherwise, Liu Yao and Taishi Ci would probably have met a terrible end if they had gone this far!
Liu Yao remained silent with his head down until he was off the prison cart. Then, taking advantage of the soldiers' inattention, he angrily ran up to Zhang Yun, who was also in shackles, and kicked him to the ground: "Is this what you call extortion and oppression of the people? Zhang Yun! Xu Gong! You've ruined my life!"

Liu Yao, who had remained silent throughout the journey, finally erupted, tears streaming down his face: "I have brought shame upon my ancestor, King Liu Fei of Qi! And my uncle! My brother! Zhang Yun! How can I face my ancestors! You beast! You beast!"

Liu Yao still had the energy to beat up Zhang Yun, while Taishi Ci was completely limp in the prison cart.

The moment Taishi Ci stepped into Danyang, he knew that all the information he knew about Liu Miao was a lie!

Taishi Ci had originally hoped that someone would expose Liu Miao's atrocities after defeating him, thus clearing his and Liu Yao's names... but now it seems that was just wishful thinking!

"Ah~"

"Oh~~~"

At this moment, Taishi Ci finally lost his heroic spirit and let out a few sobs like an old ox.

If given a choice, Taishi Ci would rather die on the battlefield or commit suicide!
The clearer his understanding became, the more desperate and pained he felt.

"Now, even death won't bring peace!"

Taishi Ci had never asked anyone for a favor before, but today, as if he had just realized the importance of a jailer, he pleaded with the soldier beside him: "The only thing I can't let go of right now is my old mother. I wonder if you could let me see her one last time before I die?"

Liu Yao did not want to waste the last moments of his life on someone like Zhang Yun, so he hurriedly asked his soldiers, "May I see my son? As a father, I still have things to take care of for him."

Even with such a request, the jailer did not grant it.

"Our lord said that once you are escorted to Jinling, you must be brought to see him immediately, without delay!"

Taishi Ci felt even more bitter upon hearing this, clearly never expecting that he wouldn't even be able to see his mother one last time before he died...

The soldiers led Taishi Ci and Liu Yao into the inner palace of Jinling, but did not let them see Liu Miao directly. Instead, they took them to a small room.

“There is hot soup and clean clothes inside for you to bathe in.”

The two men were clearly surprised to receive such treatment and asked in bewilderment, "Do dying people still need to cleanse their faces?"

"Whether you wash or not is your business. I am only here on the orders of my lord."

Upon hearing this, Taishi Ci and Liu Yao hesitated for a moment before entering the house to take a bath.

Although they didn't know exactly how Liu Miao wanted to humiliate them, why should they refuse a dignified way to leave?
The two went inside to wash off the stench, changed into clean everyday clothes, and came out looking like completely different people.

Although his expression was still somewhat gloomy, he at least looked somewhat like his usual self.

The soldiers escorted the two men, who had been cleaned, to a main hall and pointed ahead, saying, "Our lord is inside. You may go in."

Although Taishi Ci and Liu Yao had doubts, they were at a disadvantage and could only lower their heads and follow the servants into the main hall.

Upon entering, the two were immediately greeted by the aroma of meat and wine.

Is Liu Miao... hosting a banquet?
At the same time, a voice rang out from above. Although it was somewhat frivolous, the two were certain that the voice must have come from Liu Miao!

"That's right, that's right! Ziyi is a good kid, just a little dim-witted! You can talk to him about it later, it's alright~~ Kids will make mistakes!"

"What? You say your name is Liu Ji? Your father, Liu Yao, certainly knows how to name people! Tsk tsk! Little guy, I also know a Liu Ji, his courtesy name was Bowen. Would you like me to tell you about him?"

"..."

Following Liu Miao were several voices that were extremely familiar to both Taishi Ci and Liu Yao!

Taishi Ci and Liu Yao were taken aback when they saw that Taishi Ci's mother and Liu Yao's children were sitting on either side of Liu Miao!

Liu Miao did not treat them like prisoners, but rather with the utmost respect, like guests. When facing Taishi Ci's mother, he even leaned in to listen to the old woman's indistinct words, chatting and laughing with her. When facing the young Liu Ji, he even held him in his arms and played with him.

It was only then that Taishi Ci and Liu Yao understood why Liu Yao had specifically asked them to take a bath.

The reason for doing this is that I don't want my mother to see her son and children seeing their father as a prisoner!
Liu Miao, in front of their relatives, always preserved their last shred of dignity!
Taishi Ci and Liu Yao finally collapsed to their knees and knelt down.

"The sinner Taishi Ci (Liu Yao) greets Governor Liu!"

(End of this chapter)