The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 560 The Sorrow of White Horse Lake

Among the many rivers and lakes in Chuzhou, Baima Lake is just an inconspicuous one.

Located more than [-] miles west of Anyi County, the lake is not big, with a radius of more than ten hectares. There are more than a dozen small islands scattered in the lake, and there are many reeds in the lake.

After Shi Kuangwei led his army to invade Chuzhou, he destroyed the layers of water fortresses set up by Zha Baojing from Hongze to Anyi County, and advanced towards Shanyang County step by step.

The Chuzhou Tang army also all retreated to Shanyang, assuming a desperate fight posture.

Unexpectedly, late at night seven days ago, an unknown Tang army suddenly appeared from the direction of Anyi and stormed the Zhou army's camp near the bank of Cao River in the north of Baima Lake.

The Shanyang Tang Army also sent troops to attack at the same time. The two sides seemed to have agreed to attack from both front and rear to defeat the Zhou army's camp.

The two sides fought bloody battles all night, and the Zhou army suffered heavy casualties.

At dawn, Tian Chongjin was ordered by Shi Kuangwei to organize a commando team of more than [-] people. Taking advantage of the dense reeds of Baima Lake, they took a small boat and broke out south.

Shi Kuangwei led the remnants of the army and fought against the Tang army with their backs against the White Horse Lake, beheading Cha Baojing, the general of the Tang army in Chuzhou. An island in the middle of the lake with a size of more than [-] acres.

Until evening, the Tang army did not launch another attack, but Shi Kuangwei knew that they might not be able to see the sun rise tomorrow morning.

The setting sun is like a golden disk, gradually sinking towards the west where the lake meets the sky.

Shi Kuangwei sat by the lake, leaning against a large smooth stone that had been washed by the lake for many years. He held a reed in his mouth and squinted at the sunset that was about to sink into the lake.

The afterglow shone on his face, as if it was dyed golden, and the scarred head looked less gray.

The heirloom Phoenix Mouth Overlord Sword stood behind him, its sharp blade glowing with a bright yellow light.

The cool lake breeze blew, and Shi Kuangwei couldn't help shivering and murmured: "It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Guan Tieshi was holding a broken earthen bowl and limping over with one leg.

When he was breaking out of the siege, he was hit by an arrow in the knee. The arrow cluster sank into the bone seam. Several people held him down before pulling it out. The pain was so painful that he lost half of his life.

"Master Handsome, the brothers from the Huai Army took out some seafood, try it!"

Guan Tieshi fell down and sat down, grinning with his blood-stained face.

Shi Kuangwei glanced at the earthen bowl and saw several burnt black loaches, a few brown crabs, and a few mole crickets that smelled like paste.

"This fucking thing is also called seafood? Are you fooling me?" Shi Kuangwei laughed, touched the knife wound on his ribs, covered the wound and grinned.

Guan Tieshi said with a smile: "It's good to have these. You have forgotten that in Weizhou back then, we were trapped in the desert by the Tubo people. We couldn't even find grass roots when digging through the sand."

Shi Kuangwei changed into a comfortable position and lay down, picked up a roasted mole cricket from the earthen bowl, and said with a smile: "Since we came to Kaifeng, our life has been much easier, and Taihelou has made us naughty. Zhu Xiaozi's In other words, it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality!~~"

Shi Kuangwei threw the black mole cricket into his mouth and chewed it for a while: "Hmm~ Don't tell me, I haven't eaten this thing for a long time, it tastes good to chew one!"

Guan Tieshi said hehely: "I heard from military doctors before that this is a good thing. It can detoxify, reduce swelling and remove malignant sores."

Skuangwei picked up another small crab: "Okay, take it to the injured brother."

After a pause, Shi Kuangwei said softly: "Eat evenly, don't let the brothers go down to reincarnation on an empty stomach."

Guan Tieshi nodded, stood up and dragged his lame leg, and distributed the contents of the earthen bowl to other sergeants.

Shi Kuangwei ate the crab slowly, put the crab legs and crab tentacles in his mouth and took a few bites with great enjoyment, as if he was having a banquet at Taihe Tower.

After a while, Guan Tieshi came back and sat down next to him. Pain came from his injured leg. He suppressed it and his voice was trembling: "Eleven more brothers were seriously injured and are gone."

Shi Kuangwei's expression darkened, and he said quietly, "The boys from the Huai Army are really good! If I'm 20 years younger, I will definitely lead them into Jiangning City!"

The wound on Guan Tieshi's leg began to gush with blood, instantly dyeing the wound cloth red. Most of his trouser legs were soaked. Drops of blood dripped down and landed on the soft sand, forming small pits.

Guan Tieshi's lips turned white, his face was covered with sweat, and his breathing became rapid. He slowly lay down and said with a wry smile: "Mom, I don't know who could shoot this arrow. It's so damn accurate."

Shi Kuangwei smiled and scolded: "Hurry up, lie down and rest, save some energy, wait until the Tang army comes to the island, it's not too late for you to scold me again."

Guan Tieshi grinned, lying flat on the sandy ground, looking up at the high sky, and murmured: "I hope that kid in my family can study hard in the future, become a secretary or a county magistrate, and live a peaceful and stable life." "

Shi Kuangwei shook his head: "We have no ambition! We, the sons of Zhangyi Army in Jingzhou, will be satisfied with being the chief magistrate? At the very least, we must be a governor, a bachelor or something like that!"

Guan Tieshi grinned and said in a weak voice: "Then my old Guan family really has smoke coming out of their ancestral graves."

Shi Kuangwei spat out the chewed crab shell, pulled out a reed and bit into his mouth: "Don't worry, with Mr. Zhu here, the children and grandchildren of our old brothers from the Zhangyi Army will have a good life in the future."

Guan Tieshi slowly closed his eyes: "Yes~ and with Zhu Xiu taking care of him, the sons of Zhang Yijun will definitely be able to live well."

Shi Kuangwei chewed the reed roots, stared at the few black spots appearing on the lakeside, and said with a smile: "Your kid must be six years old this year, right? I remember the year we were preparing to come to Kaifeng, your kid was just born ,Right?"

After a long while, no one responded. Shi Kuangwei turned his head and looked around in confusion, only to see Guan Tieshi's eyes closed, his expression no longer painful, as calm as a deep sleep.

Under him, the sand was soaked with blood and turned black.

After being stunned for a while, Shi Kuangwei laughed and cursed: "You bastard, I'm still alive, but you went first."

When he turned his head, Lao Shi's eyes were wet and red.

At the end of the line of sight, the black spots gradually expanded and became more and more numerous. They were Tang Army warships, hundreds of them large and small, surrounding the island in the middle of the lake.

"Work~"

Shi Kuangwei grunted, patted his butt and climbed up. He took out a small string of shells strung with twine from his arms and placed them gently on the big rock behind him.

He originally picked it up by the lake and made it into shell strings to give to his precious granddaughter Xiao Yuan'er when he returned to Kaifeng.

Unfortunately, it seems there is no chance.

Shi Kuangwei picked up the Fengzui Overlord Sword, took a deep look at the shell string, turned around and stood upright with the knife in hand, staring coldly at the approaching Tang army.

On the entire island in the middle of the lake, the last few hundred Zhou army sergeants stood up. Most of them were injured, their clothes and armor were in pieces, and their bodies were covered in blood and mud.

They looked at the Tang army who was about to land on the island, their faces as calm as the white horse lake at sunset, without any ripples.

Swish~ A burst of arrows broke through the wind!

Soon, the cry of killing resounded throughout the entire island in the middle of the lake.
~~~
Late at night, thunder and lightning, heavy rain torrential.

Outside Gaoyou County, a Zhou army cavalry army was marching hastily.

Zhu Xiu, who was wearing a raincoat, swung the riding whip vigorously, and the red boy under his crotch neighed twice from time to time.

Galloping all the way, Jinshan Horse King like Honghai'er can't bear it.

Horses understand human nature, and seem to know how anxious the owner on their back is at the moment, and are trying to hold on.

Zhu Xiu looked back and saw Shi Xiangwen riding a camel not far behind him.

A thunderbolt cracked through, lighting up most of the night sky.

There was an exclamation from the Zhou army, and Zhu Xiu hurriedly looked back. It turned out that the camel that Shi Xiangwen was riding was knocked to the ground.

"Appreciate~"

Zhu Xiu hurriedly reined in his horse, stopped on one side of the official road, pointed his whip north, and ordered the cavalry to continue heading north.

"Dalang, are you injured?" Zhu Xiu got off his horse, ran over and asked loudly.

The rain was so heavy that the big raindrops hit my face painfully.

Shi Xiangwen sat blankly in the mud puddle, his raincoat was blown away by the strong wind, and he was soaked to the skin.

The camel fell in the middle of the road, snorting and struggling to stand up, but couldn't.

Zhu Xiu wiped the rain off her face, helped him and shouted: "Get up!"

Shi Xiangwen got up, his face as dull as a demon.

Suddenly, he grabbed Zhu Xiu's arm tightly and said in despair: "Dad is gone, dad is gone."

Zhu Xiu suddenly froze, her whole body shivered with chills, and her whole body seemed as stiff as being frozen.

Kachacha~
Thunder and lightning roared above her head. Zhu Xiu looked up at the dark sky, and suddenly felt a sense of sadness that made her want to cry loudly.
Two days later, when they arrived in Anyi County, Zhao Kuangyin's troops and the Zhou army who came from Sizhou joined together.

Tian Chongjin, who had not recovered from his serious injury, also returned to the army. He was carried all the way from Duliang Mountain by sergeants.

Three days later, nearly [-] Zhou troops surrounded Shanyang County.

Zhu Xiu did not order a strong attack, but ordered his sergeants to block the canals and prepare to dig ditches to divert water into Shanyang County.

The Shanyang Cao Canal, which connects Yangzhou, was excavated and rebuilt on the basis of the Hangou ditch in the Sui Dynasty.

The outer walls of Shanyang County are all made of rammed earth. Once flooded and soaked, they will collapse within a few days.

In the county town, the generals of the Tang Army, Zheng Yanhua and Lin Renhan, had previously tried to defend the city. However, when they saw that the Zhou army was encircling them, they did not attack. Instead, they began to dig ditches in preparation for diverting water from the canals to flood the city. They were greatly alarmed and the morale of the Tang army was depleted.In the Zhou army's camp outside the city, Zhu Xiu moved a mazaar and sat outside the tent. He looked at the head of Shanyang County in the distance with an expressionless face. He sat there all day long.

Mi Xin and several sergeants came carrying Tian Zhongjin.

"Handsome Master, Shi Dalang's fever has subsided, but he is still unconscious." Mi Xin whispered.

Zhu Xiu nodded and said nothing.

When arriving in Anyi, Shi Xiangwen started to have a high fever.

In Zhu Xiu's impression, this was the first time Shi Xiangwen fell ill as an adult.

The crappy military doctor accompanying him was helpless and said whether he could survive it would depend on God's will.

Zhu Xiu had his body scrubbed and cooled down every day, and the military tent was ventilated. After a few days, Shi Xiangwen's high fever gradually subsided.

Tian Chongjin was lying on the stretcher, with regret on his face: "I shouldn't have listened to Marshal Shi that day. Even if I died in the battle, I would still stay! It would be better to kill a few more sons of bitches from the Tang Army as a backing than to look like a useless person now."

Mi Xin glared at him and whispered: "Say less!"

Tian Chongjin sighed, covered his face and sobbed softly.

Zhu Xiu said softly: "Do you know why he insisted on letting you break out?"

Tian Chongjin wiped away his tears and choked up: "Shuai Shi knew that he would definitely die if he stayed, so he wanted to leave the hope of survival to me!"

Zhu Xiu squinted his eyes and chuckled: "Lao Shi is such a person. He likes to promote young people and is willing to give young people opportunities. Back in Jingzhou, he felt that if I were to take charge of the Zhangyi Army, I might be able to do better than him. Even more outstanding, so he decisively supported me in becoming the Major Envoy of the Changyi Army and supported me in radically transforming the Changyi Army."

After a moment of silence, Zhu Xiu looked at Tian Chongjin: "Before going to Duliang Mountain, Lao Shi told me that you are outstanding in martial arts and can use your brain in battle. You are a talent that can be made. What is missing is a good family background. If given a chance, he will do a good job." Cultivate you.

He knew that only young people would have a future, and he was already old.

Therefore, he left the hope of life to you."

"Shuai Shi~" Tian Chongjin cried bitterly, curling up and crying extremely sadly.

Zhao Kuangyin strode over, glanced at Tian Chongjin, clasped his fists and whispered: "On an island in the middle of Baima Lake, traces of a bloody battle were found."

Zhu Xiu didn't even raise his head and said calmly: "Is there a corpse?"

Zhao Kuangyin smiled bitterly and said: "It was completely burned by a fire, and the scorched corpses were everywhere, making them unrecognizable."

Zhu Xiu was silent for a while, "They are all sons of our army. We sent people to the island to collect and bury them."

Zhao Kuangyin nodded: "I understand."

Ma Renyu rushed into the camp, jumped off his horse and ran over: "Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Zheng Yanhua and Lin Renhan wrote in their own handwriting that they are willing to surrender!"

Ma Renyu knelt on one knee and handed over the letter of surrender.

Zhao Kuangyin breathed a sigh of relief: "The Tang army is willing to surrender, which means they understand the current affairs."

Ma Renyu hesitated for a moment and said softly: "The two also put forward conditions. They would return the head and relics of Commander Shi Jie. The three thousand Tang troops in the city would pay their weapons and armor, but they would not be reorganized or detained. All of them would be released to the south of the Yangtze River.

Zheng Yanhua and Lin Renhan were willing to stay as hostages. "

Zhu Xiu's eyes turned cold and she said nothing. She opened the book and glanced at it a few times.

Zhao Kuangyin whispered: "I think I can agree to this condition."

Ma Renyu added: "The two of them want the deputy commander to write a formal reply in black and white."

Zhu Xiu smiled and ordered his guards to get paper and pen, write it down in a few strokes, and stamp it with a talisman.

Ma Renyu put it away, cupped his fists and said, "General, I will go and answer the Tang army right now!"

On the afternoon of the next day, Kaicheng of Shanyang County surrendered. The soldiers of the Tang army, wearing only white clothes, lined up in two columns and slowly left the city.

The two generals in white at the head were none other than Zheng Yanhua and Lin Renhan.

Zhao Kuangyin led his troops to escort the Tang army prisoners into the camp, and ordered the Tang army soldiers to sit on the ground in an open space prepared in advance.

Zhu Xiu, wearing a cloak, a horse and a golden sword, sat upright on the commander's seat, with Mi Xin and Shi Xiangwen standing behind him.

Zheng Yanhua was holding a square wooden box, and Lin Renhan was holding the Fengzui Overlord Sword. The two looked at each other, walked forward and knelt down on one knee in front of Zhu Xiu.

"I'm here to return General Shi's head and sword. Please accept them!"

Zhu Xiu stood up and walked forward, looked at the wooden box, then at the Phoenix Mouth Overlord Knife, and slowly stretched out his hand to open the lid of the box.

Inside was a head, Converse's head.

His face was dark green and slightly ferocious, his eyes were closed tightly, and there was a cut at the corner of his mouth with black bloody scabs.

Zhu Xiu felt her eyes sting extremely, closed her eyes, and gently put down the lid of the box.

A personal guard stepped forward to take the wooden box and the Phoenix Mouth Overlord Sword.

Zhu Xiu turned around and returned to the chair to sit down.

Shi Xiangwen leaned on the iron rod and murmured: "Is it dad's head?"

Zhu Xiu nodded silently.

Shi Xiangwen stopped talking, his thick eyebrows were squeezed into a pile, his eyes turned frightening scarlet, and his breathing became louder and louder.

Mi Xin smiled ferociously and waved his hand fiercely.

The Zhou army, which had been neatly arranged in a square formation, suddenly rushed forward with a crash, brought in spikes to resist the horses, and surrounded the open space where the Tang army's soldiers were surrendering.

The sound of strings tightening was making people's scalp numb. Thousands of sharp arrows were aimed at the Tang soldiers in the center of the paddock.

Tang Bing stood up in a hurry, everyone's face showed fear and confusion, not knowing what happened.

Zheng Yanhua and Lin Renhan looked at each other in shock, and then they realized that they had been fooled by Zhou Jun!
The two roared angrily, and flew forward together, trying to catch Zhu Xiu immediately.

Shi Xiangwen let out a roar, like an angry lion, swung an iron rod and smashed it on the top of Zheng Yanhua's head, smashing his brains everywhere on the spot!

Another stick swept across Lin Renhan's legs, and only heard a scream. Lin Renhan's legs were broken, and he lay on the ground and rolled in pain.

"Zhu Xiu! Despicable villain! If you dare to break your promise, if word spreads, my Jiangnan descendants will eat you alive!"

Lin Renhan cursed wildly.

Zhu Xiu was sitting in command, looking at him expressionlessly, nodded and said, "I'll wait."

Zheng Yanhua's body fell at his feet, and the splattered brains fell on his boots.

Zhao Kuangyin was shocked. He never expected that Zhu Xiu was going to kill the Tang army and surrendered the soldiers. He rushed forward to stop it, but several guards drew their swords to stop him.

"No, dear brother! Stop it quickly!" Zhao Kuangyin was blocked by several personal guards and said anxiously: "Deputy Commander Zhu, it is unknown whether he has killed or captured prisoners since ancient times! Besides, you have promised to let them go beforehand, so why bother now?"

Zhu Xiu did not look at him and said calmly: "In the battle of Shanyang, Generals Zheng Yanhua and Lin Renhan led an attack and were completely wiped out by our army. How could they surrender? Since there was no surrender, there were naturally no prisoners!"

Swish, swish, swish~ dense arrows were fired at the paddock, and Tang soldiers fell down in pieces screaming.

Some Tang soldiers rushed towards Juma in a desperate attempt to snatch weapons. Some were pierced by spikes, and some were stabbed to death by Zhou soldiers with spears.

Lin Renhan lay on the ground and beat the sand with all his strength, crying bitterly: "Shameless thief! Three thousand dead souls will curse you to a bad death!"

Zhao Kuangyin clenched his fists and sighed: "Lin Renhan is the brother of Lin Renzhao, the general of the Southern Tang Dynasty. With him in hand, maybe Lin Renzhao can be used to defeat the enemy."

Zhu Xiu sneered: "Is it possible that a mere Lin Renzhao can turn the world upside down? Dalang, do it!"

Shi Xiangwen roared violently and hit Lin Renhan's head with a heavy stick. Lin Renhan's head was split into pieces on the spot.

Zhao Kuangyin was angry and helpless. Ma Renyu appeared out of nowhere, grabbed his arm and whispered: "Forget it, General Zhao. You also know that Shi Jieshuai and Vice Marshal Zhu are like father and son, and they have the hatred of killing their father." They are irreconcilable and no one can dissuade them.”

Zhao Kuangyin said in shock and anger: "Have you known about this before?"

Ma Renyu didn't dare to look into his eyes, lowered his head and remained silent.

"You~" Zhao Kuangyin was even more angry. He never expected that Ma Renyu, whom he regarded as a confidant, would hide such an important matter from him.

In the paddock, the corpses of three thousand Tang troops were piled into mountains, with not a single living person left.

Zhu Xiu stood up and took out a bunch of tinkling shells from his arms. On the largest shell, there were two words crookedly engraved on it: Yuanyuan
This was discovered by Zhou Jun when he was cleaning the island in the middle of Baima Lake.

Zhu Xiu clenched the string of shells and shouted to the sky: "Old Shi, I will take you home!"

(End of this chapter)