The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 565 Crazy
In late summer and early autumn, in July, the heat of the year was scorching. The Beijing army fought fiercely for seven days and seven nights under the scorching sun and suffered heavy casualties. They finally captured the town of Jizhou. The eastern gate of the capital, Tongzhou, was now within reach.

Feng Ziying was covered in blood and stood on the city wall of Jizhou City with a ferocious look on his face, holding a knife in his right hand and the head of the rebel commander in his left hand. This man was none other than Niu Jizu, a descendant of the Niu family, one of the twelve founding marquises of the Jin Dynasty, and a hereditary third-class general. He was a family friend of the Feng family and even a relative by marriage.

However, Feng Ziying personally chopped off the head of his relative and presented it to the Prince of Nan'an. The Prince of Nan'an nodded in approval and said, "Very good, you have lived up to the Emperor's trust in you. Go ahead and take down Tongzhou City. I will personally recommend you to the Emperor for your achievements."

"I have received your order!" Feng Ziying turned around and rode away, leading his troops straight to Tongzhou.

General Feng Tang, Feng Ziying's father, assisted the retired Emperor Kangping in restoring the throne and was even the core figure in the process, responsible for making plans. So after learning that the retired Emperor had restored the throne, the Jinyiwei immediately arrested Feng Ziying who was accompanying the army on the expedition.

However, after Emperor Qiansheng talked with Feng Ziying, he not only did not execute him, but released him and appointed him as the vanguard officer to suppress the rebellion, ordering him to lead his Shenji Camp to capture cities and seize territories.

Feng Ziying was filled with gratitude and fought bravely. He was fearless and led the troops in every battle, winning battle after battle. Perhaps to prove his absolute loyalty or to vent his anger at being betrayed, Feng Ziying would slaughter all the rebels in every city he conquered, leaving no prisoners.

His father Feng Tang started the rebellion without informing him in advance and did not care about his son's life or death at all. This ruthless betrayal and abandonment undoubtedly made Feng Ziying very heartbroken, turning it into endless anger and hatred!
The capital, Wude Hall.

The news of the fall of Jizhou City has been reported back. The retired emperor on the throne has a solemn expression on his face, and the crown prince Xu Wenhong standing beside him is even more panicked. Jizhou Town is the last military barrier in the northeast of the capital. Once it is lost, the capital will be completely exposed to the enemy's attack.

At this moment, Xu Wenhong couldn't help but feel a little regretful. He didn't expect that the Beijing army was so powerful that they fought back in just half a month. The Prince of Beijing was useless.

"Your Majesty, the only solution now is to burn down Tongzhou City and recall all troops to defend the capital." Wang Ziteng said in a deep voice.

Tongzhou City is the eastern gate of the capital and the throat of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Merchant ships traveling from the south to the north all dock here. Tongzhou Warehouse is the largest granary in the capital area. Eighty percent of the grain in the capital is transported in through Tongzhou. If it falls into the hands of Emperor Qiansheng, the Beijing army will not have to worry about food and can focus on attacking the capital. That's why Wang Ziteng suggested burning down Tongzhou City.

However, Emperor Kangping only wanted to regain control of the Jin Dynasty, not destroy it. The one million dan of grain in the Tongzhou warehouse was not only related to the outcome of the struggle for imperial power, but also to the life and death of one million people in the capital, and even the safety of the Jin Dynasty.

Once the Tongzhou warehouse was destroyed, even if the battle for imperial power was won, many people in the capital area would starve to death. The soldiers on the Liaodong front would not be able to get timely supplies, and the Jiannu would take advantage of the situation and invade. There would inevitably be chaos in the world, and even the entire Jin Dynasty would be destroyed. This was definitely not what Emperor Kangping wanted to see.

Emperor Kangping hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Tongzhou City must not be burned. The meat is still rotten in the pot. Just call Prince Beijing back."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ziteng had no choice but to bow and say, "I accept your order."

Crown Prince Xu Wenhong walked out of the Wude Hall with a gloomy face and stopped Wang Ziteng, saying, "Sir Wang, the Tongzhou warehouse must be destroyed. If the grain falls into the hands of the emperor, we will lose. By then, you and I will die without a burial place."

“But if the Tongzhou warehouse is destroyed, the Jin dynasty may not be able to be saved.” Wang Ziteng said calmly.

Xu Wenhong said with a ferocious look: "Even if the country is destroyed, Tongzhou Warehouse cannot be kept. If the country is destroyed, you and I can still go into exile in a foreign country. If the capital cannot be defended, you and I will be tortured to death, and your Wang family will even be exterminated."

Wang Ziteng's expression changed, and he frowned and said, "But the emperor doesn't allow it!"

"Since you don't dare to do it, then let me, the prince, do it." Xu Wenhong stared at Wang Ziteng, who said nothing, bowed and turned away.

Xu Wenhong had no way out. Not to mention that he had rebelled against his father, just the fact that he had killed all the other brothers meant that Emperor Qiansheng would not spare him once he broke into the city. So he had to do everything he could, even if it meant endangering the destiny of the Jin Dynasty.

…………That night, a raging fire burned half the sky red, and millions of dan of grain stored in the Tongzhou warehouse were all burned. The fire burned for two days and two nights and still was not extinguished. Standing on the city wall of the capital, one could clearly see the billowing smoke rising from the direction of Tongzhou.

The news of the burning of Tongzhou warehouse spread quickly. The whole capital was in panic. The market grain prices soared sharply. Everyone was scrambling for food. Public security also plummeted. All kinds of cases emerged one after another, and even robberies and murders occurred in broad daylight. This was really shooting oneself in the foot.

The retired Emperor Kangping was furious and summoned Crown Prince Xu Wenhong to give him a severe scolding. The latter then realized that he had done something stupid, but it was too late to regret.

On July 20th of the eighth year of Qiansheng's reign, the army to suppress the rebellion arrived in Tongzhou. Emperor Qiansheng looked at the still smoking Tongzhou City with a sullen face. The ministers accompanying him were solemn and silent.

Jia Huan accompanied Xu Wenhou and was thus able to get close to the imperial carriage. Looking at the Tongzhou City which had been reduced to ruins, he could not help but be secretly shocked. This old dragon was simply crazy and mad. He actually burned the Tongzhou warehouse. Although it caused trouble for Emperor Qiansheng, it was undoubtedly also destroying his own Great Wall. Now the 200,000 troops outside the Great Wall were in danger.

Emperor Qiansheng's anger level was obviously skyrocketing, and he immediately ordered the army to charge towards Chaoyang Gate. He also asked Zhao Mingcheng to write a manifesto to quell the rebellion, scolding the retired emperor, the crown prince and others for disrupting the government and calling them traitors. The scolding was very harsh. The mouths of literati have always been the most poisonous. Although there were no dirty words, every word was heart-piercing.

It just so happened that the general in charge of guarding Chaoyang Gate was Jia She. Looking at the murderous elite troops of the Beijing camp outside the city, the old man was so scared that almost all the hair on his buttocks fell out. It had only been a month since the good days began, and now he had to risk his life!
Coincidentally, Xue Pan happened to be the commander of the East City Military Division, and was originally in charge of public security management. At this time, he was also pulled to the top of the city wall to assist in the defense. Xue Shazi was scared to death. He dropped his official seal and sneaked back home to hide.

Jia She sent people to drag him out of his home and forced him to the top of the city wall with a knife at stake. Even though Aunt Xue was frightened and crying, it was of no use.

Xue Pan went up to the top of the city wall and said with a sad face, "Master, I bought this position with my own money. I am resigning now. Please don't ask me to fight in the war. For the sake of our relationship, please let me go!"

Jia She snorted coldly, "If I let you go, who let me go? It's too late for you to resign now. Now is war time. If you retreat in the face of battle, you should be executed according to military law."

Xue Pan was so scared that his face turned green. He regretted that he had been bewitched and did not listen to his sister's advice that day. If he had resigned from his official position earlier, everything would have been fine. But now he was in a difficult situation.

Jia She patted Xue Pan on the shoulder and consoled him, "It's useless for you to be afraid now. You have rebelled against the three tribes. If you want to save your life, you must defend the city gate with all your strength. Only if you win the battle can you survive. Let's fight! Our walls are high and thick, and it will be extremely difficult for the enemy to break in. If you win, you will be given a high position and generous salary, and your wife and children will be given titles!"

Xue Pan felt relieved after hearing this. He bravely poked his head out to peek outside the city. Suddenly, he saw a bright yellow dragon flag behind the enemy formation. He took out a telescope and looked at it. His heart skipped a beat and he blurted out, "Isn't that Huan Lao San?"

Upon hearing this, Jia She hurriedly grabbed the telescope, put it in front of his eyes and took a closer look. As expected, he saw a young man riding a black horse. He was wearing a long green gown, had red lips, white teeth, sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes. Who else could it be but Jia Huan? The obese man next to him was Min Wang Xu Wenhou.

Jia She's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Huan Lao San is indeed not dead!"

That day, Jia Zhen led people to Tiewang Mountain to capture Jia Huan, but he never came back. Jia She guessed that something must have happened, and now it has finally been confirmed. Since Jia Huan is alive and well, and Jia Zhen has not come back, it is very likely that Jia Huan killed him. This kid is really lucky!

Jia She was secretly resentful when he saw the enemy army push out more than a dozen artillery pieces, as well as siege vehicles, battering rams, ladders and other large equipment. His face changed and he shouted loudly: "Prepare for battle!"

Boom boom boom...

The lighters and cannons of the Buddhas below the city began to roar, and the catapults also started to work. Countless stones and arrows poured down onto the top of the city like raindrops.

The fortress artillery on the city wall immediately returned fire, and a brutal bloody battle began.

(End of this chapter)