The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 549 Unification of the Country

The chaos in Quanzhou at night, regardless of whether Xu Wen's plan to burn the port could succeed, with Xiao Yanyue's order in Wuzhou at the beginning of the month, Wang Yanzhang and Chi Li's two forces were like tigers released from their cages, breaking through the defenses set up by the Fujian army in Jianzhou and Zhangzhou one after another.

After training his navy in Hangzhou, Duke Li Maozhen of Weiguo had already conducted a second training in Wenzhou. After receiving professional supplies and repairing the ships, he set sail with a large number of conscripted soldiers and fishermen familiar with the water and land, heading towards Ryukyu.

Therefore, for a time, the entire Fujian province was like a turtle in a jar. As soon as King Shenzhi of Min received the news that Xiao Yan demanded Xu Wen's head, the pressure of being surrounded from all sides immediately loomed before him.

It can be said that since the emperor wanted Wang Shenzhi to hear the drumbeats from the north, the soldiers below immediately beat the drums for the King of Min.

As the Tang Dynasty issued its final ultimatum, Wang Yanbing, the so-called governor of Jianzhou who was also Wang Shenzhi's adopted son, sent a series of letters to seek Wang Shenzhi's opinion, but instead of firing a single arrow or soldier, he took the initiative to send envoys to offer supplies to reward the Tang army, which could be considered as buying his adoptive father a moment of respite.

Therefore, the path that lay before Wang Shenzhi was actually quite clear.

The Prince's Mansion in Fuzhou.

Inside the study, the windows were tightly closed, and the candlelight flickered, casting Wang Shenzhi's shadow, which sat listlessly in the armchair, on a slightly worn map of Fujian Province on the wall behind him.

On the desk was a secret letter sent by his nephew Wang Yanbin from Quanzhou. It said that the emperor's tenth brother, Li Yi, had personally warned him, and his eleventh brother, Li Xingyun, had personally led the Embroidered Uniform Guard to rush to his aid in time. As a result, they captured and killed hundreds of Xu Wen's spies and assassins in Quanzhou, thus ensuring the safety of the important port of Quanzhou. Otherwise, everything would have been lost.

Since Wang Yanbin had already clearly surrendered Quanzhou to the Tang Dynasty, the letter concluded with another piece of advice to Wang Shenzhi:

"...Quanzhou was spared thanks to the Emperor's far-reaching virtue and divine protection. Now, the Tang army is attacking from both the north and south with overwhelming force. Xu Wen, at his wit's end, has resorted to this treacherous scheme, intending to drag our Wang clan down with him. My uncle has managed Fujian for twenty years, treating the people like his own children, and his reputation is well-established. I dare to speak frankly: the situation is hopeless, do not harbor any illusions. We must act decisively, surrender our territory, and we can protect the people of the city from the ravages of war and ensure the continuation of our Wang clan's bloodline. Delay will only lead to unforeseen changes, and then it will be too late for regrets."

The study was eerily quiet. Wang Shenzhi did not speak, and his sons Wang Yanhan, Wang Yanjun, Wang Yanfeng, and others standing to his left and right all bowed respectfully, each with a different expression. Nearby, Zhang Mu, Yang Yifeng, Xu Yin, Zheng Liangshi, and other civil and military officials from Fuzhou also stood with their hands at their sides, each with a solemn expression and lowered eyes, remaining silent.

After a long while, seeing that Wang Shenzhi still remained silent, his eldest son, Wang Yanhan, finally could not hold back any longer and said unwillingly:
“Father, Xu Wen deserves to die, but we still have tens of thousands of armored soldiers in Fujian. The mountains are high and the forests are dense, and the sea routes are accessible. We may not be unable to fight! Even if things don’t go well, we can follow Xu Wen’s example, set sail, and find another base! Why should we sit idly by and wait for death, handing over this great foundation to others?”

Before he could finish speaking, his younger brother, Wang Yanjun, immediately retorted sharply:

"Second Brother makes it sound so easy. War? With what can we fight? Wang Yanzhang is coming from the north, unstoppable; Chi Li is approaching from the west, unstoppable; Li Maozhen's navy has long since blocked the sea routes, cutting off our chance to escape! The Emperor has the power to unify the world, and our army has been out of practice for a long time. Our passes are leaky everywhere. How can we fight?"

Wang Yanfeng also chimed in anxiously, "Third Brother is right. Even if we were to go to sea, Xu Wen couldn't succeed in setting fire to Quanzhou, which shows that the Northern Dynasty was prepared for this. The Emperor has sharp eyes and has already sent Li Maozhen to Ryukyu. The islands of the South Seas will eventually become the Tang Dynasty's shooting range, and we are completely unfamiliar with the islands of Japan. Now that the sea area is blocked, we might not even be able to get through. Does Eldest Brother want to drag the whole family to the sea to become rootless duckweed?"

Wang Yanhan's face flushed red, and he was about to argue when Wang Yanjun coldly interrupted him again: "Second brother keeps talking about the ancestral legacy, but do you know that if you hesitate any longer, the next head to be put into a wooden box will be ours? Do you want the whole clan to be buried with your pride?"

Although Wang Yanmei, Wang Yanbao and their sons did not speak out, their silence, which was tantamount to expressing their stance, was a clear indication of their opposition.

Zhang Mu, Yang Yifeng, and other ministers exchanged glances, already understanding the situation in their hearts.

Compared to stubbornly resisting or hastily fleeing overseas, surrendering territory and accepting the court's punishment, though humiliating, might not be a bad way out. Given the emperor's magnanimity in conquering the world, as long as they sincerely submit, whether the Wang clan can be preserved is another matter, but these officials might still have a chance to rise again in the Tang Dynasty in the future.

However, this was a crucial decision concerning the survival of the Wang family business, and as foreign officials, they could only remain silent and await Wang Shenzhi's decision.

Wang Shenzhi slowly raised his eyes, glanced at his arguing sons, and finally focused on Wang Yanhan, whose face was flushed and who was still unconvinced. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Xu Wen used the burning of the port to cut off my escape route. This is an open conspiracy. And now the emperor has issued an ultimatum. If I do not comply, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Quanzhou and the century-old foundation of Fujian will be buried with Xu Wen."

He turned around and glanced at his sons: "I cannot gamble the lives of my entire clan on the emperor's mercy, nor can I use the land of Fujian to fill Xu Wen's grave."

Wang Yanhan cried out urgently, "Father! We can still..."

"Enough!" Wang Shenzhi slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly. "You unfilial son, how dare you speak so arrogantly! Xu Wen is about to die, yet he still wants to drag us all down with him. The Emperor understands this, and so do I, but you, you fool, don't! If I don't make a decision soon, the next head to be put into a wooden box and presented before the Emperor will be that of all of us from the Wang family!"

He grew angrier as he spoke, and seeing that Wang Yanhan was still about to speak, he suddenly raised his foot and kicked Wang Yanhan hard in the chest, causing him to stagger backward and fall to the ground.

"You wretched creature! Even now, can't you see the situation clearly?! Do you have to wait until the axe is at your throat before you realize your mistake? If you dare to say another word, believe me, I'll take your head right now, pack it up with that old scoundrel Xu Wen, and present it to the Emperor to show the sincerity of my Wang family's submission!"

This kick, along with these words, was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, instantly turning Wang Yanhan's face deathly pale, rendering him speechless. The other sons also fell silent, trembling with fear.

Wang Shenzhi's chest heaved as he took a few deep breaths. His gaze swept coldly over Wang Yanfeng, Wang Yanmei, and the others: "You lot, keep an eye on this good-for-nothing. Without my order, he is not allowed to step out of the room!"

"Yes, Father!" Wang Yanfeng and the others quickly responded and stepped forward to support Wang Yanhan, whose face was ashen.

Wang Shenzhi then took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood, and said to the ministers in a deep voice: "Issue the order to summon civil and military officials, open the treasury, and prepare... for the surrender. Also, gather my personal guards, Yan Jun, and accompany me to 'invite' Lord Xu."

------

In the southeast corner of Fuzhou city, inside the so-called Xu Xiang Mansion.

Xu Wen sat on the couch in the inner room, covered with a thin blanket. His cheeks were sunken and there were dark circles under his eyes. After hearing the noise outside, he struggled to sit up.

It turned out that Yan Keqiu had barged in from the outside, followed by Zhong Taizhang and a large group of Xu Wen's loyal followers. As soon as he entered, he said urgently:
"My lord, Wang Shenzhi's movements are not right. He summoned his officials late at night, opened the treasury, and gathered all his civil and military officials... We have lost contact with several of our informants. The agreed time has passed from Quanzhou, and there is still no news. I believe we cannot wait any longer. We must act immediately, seize the docks, and take as many ships as we can!"

Zhong Taizhang also clasped his hands and said, "My lord! We are willing to fight to the death and carve out a bloody path! As long as we enter the sea, we may still have a chance to make a comeback!"

Xu Wen coughed a few times, seemingly stunned for a moment, before slowly saying, "...Now that Wang Shenzhi has made his move, the dock must be a den of dragons and tigers. With our small force, going there would be suicide."

"We can't just sit here and wait to die!" Zhong Taizhang said urgently. "Perhaps... we can split up and hide in the mountains, waiting for an opportunity..."

Before Xu Wen could speak, another flurry of footsteps sounded outside the door, and a guard rushed in: "My lord, something terrible has happened! The mansion is completely surrounded by the Min Army! Torches are everywhere, and the King of Min has personally sealed off the gates. We... can't get out!"

The room fell silent upon hearing this. Yan Keqiu's face turned deathly pale instantly, while Zhong Taizhang gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Xu Wen's gaze slowly swept over the faces of those who had followed him for years and were still willing to die for him. His face showed no fear, but rather a bitter smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Actually," he said, "I should have realized long ago that after the defeat at Wuchang, abandoning Poyang and fleeing into this Fujian region… cough cough… the opportunity was already gone. Xiao Yan wouldn't give it to me, and now, if the Quanzhou affair fails, Wang Shenzhi certainly won't." He took a few breaths and continued, "I, Xu Wen, rose from humble beginnings, struggled in this chaotic world, maneuvered among Yang Xingmi's former subordinates, and feigned compliance with the likes of Zhu Wen and Qian Liu… finally gaining control of the Wu Kingdom. Ha… I never imagined I would ultimately fall into the hands of such a young successor. Perhaps… that saying is true: some people are born to sweep away the dust of the world."

Just then, the sounds of battle erupted outside the courtyard. The clash of weapons and screams filled the air, clearly indicating that the Fujian army was attacking the mansion, while the guards left outside were putting up a last stand.

Yan Keqiu's expression changed, and then he suddenly drew his short sword from his waist. Zhong Taizhang and the other loyal followers also drew their swords and protected Xu Wen in the inner circle, preparing for a final battle.

Xu Wen waved his hand again.

"No need."

Not long after he finished speaking, the sounds of fighting outside gradually faded away. Soon after, countless footsteps surged into the courtyard, and the firelight illuminated the window paper in a bright red, as if it were daytime.

Then a large number of Fujian soldiers poured into the courtyard. A row of crossbowmen first crouched down with their crossbows to suppress Xu Wen's loyal followers who were also drawing their swords and crossbows inside and outside the house. Then, under the cover of a large group of shield bearers and Wang Yanjun, Wang Shenzhi slowly walked out in full armor.

“Master Xu.” Wang Shenzhi’s voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Xu Wen propped himself up, and with the help of Yan Keqiu and Zhong Taizhang, he was escorted out of the room by a group of loyal followers.

With assistance, Xu Wen managed to stand upright under the eaves. Staring at Wang Shenzhi, he actually smiled and said, "King of Min, have you come all this way to see me off, or are you so eager to take my head as the best gift for your audience with the Northern Emperor?"

Wang Shenzhi paused for a moment, then slowly said, "There is no place for us to stand in this world. Lord Xu, the situation is hopeless. To resist stubbornly will only increase casualties. If you are willing to surrender, I may submit a memorial to the Emperor, explaining the situation, and ask for a proper burial for you."

"A complete corpse?" Xu Wen laughed through a dry cough, as if he had heard a joke. "Wang Shenzhi, whether I have a complete corpse or not is another matter. You, the King of Min, are you really willing to accept this? Decades of hard work and cultivation of this land of Min, and now you want to hand it over to the Li family? From now on, you will become a prisoner, your life, death, honor, and disgrace all in the hands of others, no different from the common people?"

As he spoke, amidst the approving looks from Zhong Taizhang and the other warriors around him, Xu Wen's gaze sharpened, as if in a final burst of energy, fixing intently on Wang Shenzhi's face:

"Look at Li Yi and Li Xingyun. What virtue or ability do they have? They only rely on the blood of the Li Tang dynasty flowing in their veins. Even if they usurp the title of emperor and divide the country, they can still be preserved and listed as members of the imperial clan in the end! This world, in the end, is nothing more than the world of the Li family! You and I may have lofty ambitions and great talents, but in the end we are outsiders, mere weeds! You betray me for personal gain today, but who knows if you will be discarded like a dog after the rabbit has died?!"

Wang Shenzhi's face darkened, and he sneered:

"Xu Wen, at this point, why do you still put on airs in front of me, trying to sow discord? When you secretly plotted to burn down Quanzhou Port and drag my entire Wang clan to your grave, did you ever think of my life or death? Did you ever show even a shred of camaraderie?! You only care about your own gains and losses, and you never truly care about others!"

Xu Wen was speechless, looking rather embarrassed for a moment, and then somewhat dejected.

A moment later, he suddenly straightened his back slightly and said boldly, "Enough! The victor is king, the loser is villain, what more is there to say! I have roamed the Jianghuai region for decades, and even in defeat, I will not allow a mere upstart to humiliate me! Wang Shenzhi, I am willing to offer my head as a stepping stone for your advancement, in exchange for a promise from you to spare my men, Keqiu and Taizhang, and their..."

Unexpectedly, Wang Shenzhi interrupted with a sneer:

"Xu Wen, Xu Wen, do you really think your head is worth anything? Do you think the Emperor offered a high price for your head? Let me tell you, from beginning to end, the price he offered was nothing more than the lives of my entire Wang clan. Using your life, Xu Wen, to exchange for the survival of my Wang clan. With such a bargaining chip, besides me, Wang Shenzhi, who else in this world would value your defeated, deserted head?!"

"you……!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Wen trembled violently, his finger pointing at Wang Shenzhi with trembling fingers. Overwhelmed by anger, a mouthful of blood surged to his throat, and the heroic expression on his face vanished instantly, turning purplish-red.

Wang Shenzhi, however, gave him no chance to speak again, and suddenly waved his hand: "You traitors, who have brought chaos to the world, are unforgivable! The Emperor has ordered that you all be executed! Fire the arrows!"

"My lord, be careful!" Yan Keqiu and Zhong Taizhang cried out in alarm, trying to pull Xu Wen back behind them.

But it's too late.

Upon Wang Shenzhi's order, the archers, who had been waiting in ambush, instantly pulled the triggers.

A dense rain of arrows, like locusts, swept in, instantly covering the interior and exterior of the main house in the inner courtyard.

In an instant, blood and flesh flew everywhere.

Yan Keqiu, Zhong Taizhang, and the others brandished their weapons and desperately tried to block, but how could they withstand the barrage of arrows at close range? In a short while, countless arrows pierced through their armor and entered their bodies, bringing out puffs of blood mist.

Xu Wen was the first to be hit, and several arrows pierced his body instantly. He suddenly widened his eyes, as if he wanted to say something, but only blood kept gushing from his mouth.

He may have tried to maintain his last shred of dignity, but under the onslaught of arrows, he was forced to stagger backward and finally collapsed heavily on the threshold, staring blankly at the night sky illuminated by the firelight, his eyes still wide open, before he breathed his last.

The rain of arrows stopped.

There was no one left standing in the courtyard. Xu Wen and his loyal followers all lay dead in pools of blood, their deaths gruesome.

Under the strict protection of Wang Yanjun and a group of guards, Wang Shenzhi slowly stepped forward. He first glanced at Yan Keqiu's slumped body, then shook his head, seemingly with some regret.

However, he immediately stepped forward and kicked Xu Wen's still-warm corpse, looked at the unseeing eyes, smiled, and then suddenly spat viciously:
"You old scoundrel! You almost caused my entire clan to perish with you!"

Having said that, he immediately waved his hand and said expressionlessly, "Sever the head, pack it carefully. Send it, along with the situation here, to the Emperor by fast horse."

His son, Wang Yanjun, dared not delay. He stepped forward personally, raised his knife, and carefully cut off Xu Wen's head, placing it into a wooden box that had been prepared beforehand.

The so-called vast lands and rivers, the unification of the world, were all settled with the death of one man. When the news arrived, the man who was busy handling state affairs with his wives and concubines merely smiled and casually commented with four words:

"Nothing."

(End of this chapter)