Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"Don't even bother to find a doctor."

Xie Baoyi soon came to pay his respects.

He was horrified when he saw Zhong Xiang's appearance:

"Sir, this is not the time to be sick!"

"Ah, I'm getting old,"

“I’m exhausted these days,”

"It rained again yesterday,"

Zhong Xiang leaned against the headboard and said,

"Changsha is most likely to fall,"

"The Great Chu may be gone."

Xie Baoyi said, "Li Herong is in Changsha."

"Holding out for two or three months shouldn't be a problem."

Chapter 1924 The Enemy Approaches the City

Zhong Xiang said, "The enemy army is at the city gates."

"Zhong Xu seized Li Herong's military power."

"what?"

Xie Baoyi screamed in surprise.

"That idiot is absolutely stupid,"

Zhong Xiang said helplessly,

"I have appointed Li Herong to take overall command of the defense of Changsha,"

"I'm just afraid someone will do something reckless,"

"I never expected Zhong Xu to be so bold,"

"They actually dared to lure Li Herong into their trap and imprison him."

"Heaven is determined to destroy Chu, what can be done?"

Xie Baoyi stood there dumbfounded.

I don't know how to react.

Zhong Xiang said, "I have a favor to ask."

Xie Baoyi said, "Just give the order, sir."

"Your wife, children, and elderly parents are all in Changsha,"

"I shouldn't have let you abandon your family,"

Zhong Xiang said,

"But I don't trust anyone else,"

"I can only ask you to do it."

"There are no enemy camps to the north,"

"After nightfall tonight,"

"They fled in the dark with the crown prince,"

"Find a place to live in anonymity."

"Don't even think about revenge,"

"And do not rebel."

"Let the Crown Prince find a village woman to marry,"

"At least let my Zhong family line continue."

"If I leave, Your Majesty will fall ill,"

"What should we do about Hengyang?" Xie Baoyi asked.

Zhong Xiang said, "I will surrender in three days."

"Within these three days, you will take the Crown Prince..."

"Go as far as you can."

"I...obey your order!"

Xie Baoyi's eyes were filled with tears.

These tears,

It was for Zhong Xiang and the Great Chu.

He shed it for his wife, children, and elderly parents.

He knew he would never see his family again in his life.

That night, Xie Baoyi was decked out in gold and silver.

He carried a weeping Zhong Zi'ang, carrying a basket, out of the city.

He told the soldiers guarding the city that he was going to Changsha to fetch reinforcements.

The two of them,

And so it disappeared from the world.

Zhong Xiang endured a high fever without seeking medical treatment.

No doctor was called throughout the entire process.

He actually managed to get through it all on his own.

By the third day,

Only symptoms such as coughing remain.

He summoned all his generals and instructed them:

"Changsha is mostly gone now,"

"You have followed me in battle for four years,"

"I didn't enjoy any wealth or luxury."

"Now that we're at our wits' end, let's open the city gates and surrender to the enemy."

"But we must not surrender to those outside the city,"

“Those men have poor military discipline,”

"Once they enter the city, they will definitely plunder and kill indiscriminately."

"The Ming army's discipline was excellent,"

“Tell those bastards outside the city,”

"Let the Duke of Shu of the Ming Dynasty come in person to take over Hengyang City."

"His Majesty!"

All the generals knelt down in unison.

Some people were crying loudly.

Zhong Xiang shook his head: "Your families are mostly in Changsha."

"Surrendering sooner might save us."

"And all of you, step back and let me have some peace and quiet."

The generals wept again.

Some also advised Zhong Xiang to defend the city to the bitter end.

Zhong Xiang waved his hand helplessly.

After making a fuss for a long time,

He was the only one left in the room.

Zhong Xiang picked up his pen and wrote his last words.

It was simply a request for Lin Chong to treat the surrendered soldiers well.

Treat the people within the territory of Chu well.

After finishing writing,

It was then put in an envelope.

It was placed neatly on the table.

Zhong Xiang gripped the hilt of the knife.

I feel a little reluctant to leave this wonderful world.

After much hesitation,

Finally, he drew his sword and held it to his neck.

He ended his own life.

Until the personal guards brought the food.

I called several times but there was no response.

Only then did he push open the door to check the situation.

"His Majesty....."

Inside Hengyang City, the entire army was dressed in white mourning clothes.

The remaining soldiers defended the city to the death.

They resolutely refused to surrender to the allied forces outside the city.

Instead, they waited for Lin Chong to personally lead his troops to take over.

.....

Lin Chong had not yet captured Changsha,

Zhao Ding had already arrived in Yueyang.

A large number of officials were also present.

Although Hunan's population has decreased sharply

Establishing a province seems a bit of a stretch.

But precisely because of the insufficient population and the urgent need for development,

The imperial court then established Hunan Province to accelerate its development.

Zhao Ding, Prefect of Kaifeng

He was transferred here to serve as the first Left Provincial Administration Commissioner of Hunan.

When he returns to Beijing after completing his term,

He is highly likely to be promoted to a ministerial position.

Or perhaps he would be the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of Revenue.

"The imperial court will issue an official document soon,"

Zhao Ding said,

"The capital of Hubei Province was moved to Xiangyang,"