The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 357 The Death of Zhu Xi
A resounding slap!

Qu Buyang, the Third Commander of the Tibetan Cavalry, had just returned and hadn't even come to a complete stop when a Xingguo Army colonel grabbed him from his horse and dragged him along the ground by his hair.

"Why have you, the lowly Tubo, returned to your homeland?"

The Xingguo Army colonel dragged him into the crowd, raised his scabbard, and struck him across the face: "You cunning and sly coward, you're not putting in any effort! Do you have rebellious intentions, waiting for us to be worn down so you can take the opportunity to join forces with the rebels and start a rebellion?"

The scabbard flashed wildly, causing Qu Buyang to curl up in pain: "We've traveled such a long distance, and the horse is exhausted. After fighting for a couple of rounds, we need to drink water and rest."

The Tibetan soldiers standing nearby stared blankly in their direction.

"Take a break and want some water, huh... Fine!" The Xingguo Army colonel lifted his skirt armor and started urinating in front of Qu Buyang: "You want to rest and drink water, right? Drink up, drink up, I'll give you your fill."

Qu Buyang covered his face and raised his hand, looking utterly disheveled. Several Imperial Guards also gathered around, cursing and spraying him with water.

In an instant, Qu Buyang was soaked through.

Seeing this, several Tibetan generals gritted their teeth, leaned closer, and laughed, "These cowards, let us strip them naked, pin them down in front of the lines, and beat them up. Then they can lead the charge in the next battle."

The soldiers turned their heads and saw that the speaker was a Tibetan, who looked at them with disdain: "Since when have the Western barbarians been allowed to sit at the table and eat in front of us?"

The Tibetan general was taken aback, then angrily said, "I am not a captive, I am a Tang citizen! I have already been granted military status in the Holy Tang Dynasty."

"Grant citizenship?" The Xingguo Army colonel shoved him aside contemptuously. "A captive is a captive, even if you're granted citizenship. What, do you really think you're Chinese or Han? Let me tell you, you barbarian, in my eyes you'll always be a bastard!"

Dozens of Han army officers raised their hands and loudly ordered, "The next wave of troops will charge again. As long as there are any soldiers in the army who can still walk, they should be at the forefront! If they dare to come back to rest after less than ten rounds, what kind of warriors are they to be called Holy Tang warriors!"

"Let's go, resume the battle, and capture the little pig!"

These men, who were resting, were thrown back into battle, joining forces with other small groups on the plains to annihilate the Bian army.

"Whoosh!" Waves of arrows flew out from the still-resisting Bian army infantry formation, shooting down large groups of Tibetans.

Whether the remaining soldiers were afraid or not, with nowhere to retreat, they simply pushed their horses to their limits and chased after Zhu Dalang and the officials.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..." On the opposite bank of the Yi River, scattered Bian troops provided support with bursts of fire.

"Oh!"

"Hold!"

"Crash."

Braving a dense hail of arrows, the Tibetan army rammed into a Bian army unit.

"Charge!" The sound of footsteps striking shields echoed continuously.

The frontline Bian army fought desperately, but the powerful impact and inertia caused several rows of them to fall down.

Many Tibetans also fell from their horses; as soon as they fell, they were pierced into a bloody pulp by more than a dozen spears.

The Han army and the Turks and Uyghurs did not engage in direct combat.

They fought independently, coordinating to outnumber the enemy and using small groups of Bian troops to harass and pursue them.

The major events were already decided, and their minds were all on Bianliang. Moreover, the Bian army was so devastated that it seemed as if it could be crushed with a single step, worn down to nothing. At this point, it was best not to take the risk of losing one's life to these Bian people whom they had already deeply hated and who were now at their wits' end.

Large groups of cavalrymen would sometimes gallop and shoot arrows, and sometimes stop their horses and shout.

The shouts were not loud, and the horse was not moving very fast.

Even so, the thunderous roar that swept across the mountains and plains from all directions still made the Bian army feel that they could not resist!
With his armor tattered, Yuan Zheng, who had just fought his way out of the chaos of the enemy, chuckled softly, "Big Brother, I wonder if our names will be remembered on this side of the Yi River?"

Zhu Dalang was somewhat hunched over.

The prolonged physical and mental strain, coupled with the torment of the plague, had nearly destroyed his body; this burly, bull-like prostitute was struggling to stay afloat. Blood streamed down his disheveled face as he braced himself against his lance. He stood there swaying, a small mountain of corpses of men and horses at his feet.

"I never imagined I'd be hacked to death here!" He raised his head, his eyes filled with ruthless malice. "Dividing the troops at night and personally pursuing them seems resolute, but it actually exposes Li Ye's panic and fear! We are a defeated and routed army, why not pursue normally? Why violate military strategy and mobilize such a large force in the middle of the night? It's simply because he's afraid of us, afraid that we'll break through and replicate the miracles of Liu Bei, Yuwen Tai, and Hou Jing elsewhere..."

"How much of the army has crossed the river?"

"half."

"Enough, enough!" Zhu Dalang tossed his hair, looked up at the sky, and saw countless stars.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!" Another wave of Tibetan cavalry charged in, their spears thrusting everywhere.

"Capture the little pig! Capture the little pig!" Large groups of Han and Turkic cavalrymen surrounded the area with torches, making a commotion on the outskirts.

"Zhu Da, I gave you a chance but you failed! Do you even have the strength to fight a sage?"

Even your father is no good.

Do you even know what a chosen one of destiny is?

"Zhu Dalang is inside. Take this bastard's life, and the world will be ours!"

Flames soared into the sky, illuminating half the river in crimson light.

Zhu Jinjing, shirtless and without even a shield, dismounted and strode through the crowd, his eyes red as he urged the battle on: "Call the Tibetans! Call the Tibetans! Ram them with your horses! Ram them hard! Break through their spear formation! Crush them down!"

The Tibetans, under immense pressure from the officers of the Xingguo Army and the Imperial Guards, were also fiercely engaging in physical combat without his orders.

Although there were many other Han, Turkic, and Uyghur cavalrymen around, who obeyed his orders? They were all just watching the spectacle, shooting arrows in support, or harassing the Bian army crossing the river when they got tired of watching.

"It's broken! It's broken!" After a stalemate, several sections of the array shattered with a loud crash.

A high heap of red flesh had been erected in one corner of the large formation formed by Zhu Dalang's thousand-plus soldiers, revealing a hole. All around were the dazed and confused Bian soldiers and fallen Tibetans, writhing and biting each other in the darkness…

The defenders rushed in desperately, desperately using their spears to block any further advance.

"That prisoner is really strong!" Zhu Jin yelled and jumped forward.

As he wielded the broadsword, he snapped the shafts of more than a dozen spears he encountered in one strike!
"Where is Zhu Dalang? Where is Zhu Youyu?" Zhu Jin looked around and suddenly burst into laughter: "I see you, my comrade!"

The Zhu family, father and son!
You ruined my family and killed my brother and his entire family!
If it weren't for you and your son, how could I have wandered the world in fear, ending up in a position of power and being controlled by others, fighting for the Holy Tang Dynasty!

Fortunately, fate was on our side.

After personally tearing out Zhu Quanzhong's heart, it seems that tonight he will also personally cut off Zhu Youyu's head.

"Hehe." After a few excited yet cruel laughs, Zhu Jin ordered the arrows to be fired.

"Alright, alright, I know you have a deep grudge." The infantry and cavalry of all the troops fired their bows simultaneously.

Immediately, a hail of arrows rained down from all directions near Zhu Dalang!

Genji fled in terror, surrounded by screams of agony.

Zhu Jin was also hit by a stray arrow; it's unclear who shot it off target.

"Are you blind?!" He snapped the arrow shaft in half, slapped it open, and the arrowhead emerged from the fleshy end. He didn't care about the flesh hanging on it; he just ripped it out and threw it away!
"Shields! Shields! Surround them!" Many officers and soldiers rushed forward, carrying large shields.

"Didn't the sage say that we should snatch this fellow's head and give it to the marquis?"

"I don't remember, but there will definitely be plenty of benefits!"

"I am the general, make way! Let me clear the path."

"Get lost, you second aunt's third aunt! Hey, send someone to drag Zhu Jin back, don't let this incredible fortune fall into his lap!"

Countless followers simply surrounded the small pile of corpses where Zhu Dalang was, baring their teeth at the top.

Bloodthirsty and eager to fight, they didn't wait for the remaining enemy lines to break through before attempting to break into the enemy ranks for hand-to-hand combat.

Some people even went crazy, chasing after Zhu Dalang's figure in circles.

The remaining Bian army officers, soldiers, and ministers fought desperately, trying to break through to the ferry crossing behind them.

"Brother, run! If we don't break through now, it will be too late!" Zuo Chuji cried out.

In his view, the royal army was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, no longer as careful and disciplined as before, and its formation had completely collapsed.

This is no longer a normal pursuit formation!

Once caught, they would all likely die in the chaos of battle.

And our side?
Looking around, all he saw were headless flies everywhere.

They might kneel in droves, bowing their heads, removing their armor, sticking out their buttocks, and anxiously awaiting their surrender after the battle.

Or they might run around aimlessly, only to be picked up and stabbed to death by cavalrymen.

Or they might rush to the ferry crossing, draw their swords, and kill each other.

Squads of cavalrymen shot arrows and dragged spears, throwing the slain Bian soldiers into the Yi River like filling a river.

"So what if we escaped the river?" Zhu Dalang's battle clothes were stained with blood as he desperately thrust his lance outwards, again and again. The remaining troops had been broken, and the battle had devolved into hand-to-hand combat. The densely packed Han and non-Han soldiers were simply pulling and tugging at each other as they climbed over the mountain of corpses.

"Escape to the river, and you'll just be torn apart by wolves in a different place!"

"There's no hope!"

"After more than ten years in the army, this is my end, but it's a relief! At least I wasn't killed by my servants!"

"Kill this traitor immediately!" Zhu Jin appeared in his blurry vision.

"We meet again." Zhu Dalang chuckled. "If you're so capable, come up and snatch my head, and give your old friend a good fortune."

Zhu Jin remained silent, staring intently at him.

"Kill!" Dawn was breaking.

A little later, a long bugle call sounded from behind, and in the gray light of dawn, the soldiers looked back.

Then, a figure in a black crane cloak emerged from the morning mist.

Next came an armored knight, holding a lance upright, who slowly stepped out from the edge of the mist.

It was indeed the sage. More than ten civil and military officials appeared on horseback almost simultaneously behind him.

Then more knights emerged from the edge of the fog, forming a horizontal line. On the green grasslands to the left and right, large numbers of cavalry and infantry appeared one after another, dismounting and leading their mounts as they walked in this direction to conserve horsepower and manpower.

"Are we too late?" The sage could not see clearly what was opposite him, but only saw a chaotic army swirling around many kneeling surrendered soldiers and a pile of corpses.

"Zhu Dalang is dead?" The emperor was both pleased and regretful, stroking his chin.

"He's not dead!" Nangong Daoyuan listened for a while and said, "I can still hear the voice shouting 'Kill Zhu Dalang!' He's still fighting!"

"Good." The sage sneered, "After fighting with me for so long, I still haven't seen what kind of face you have."

"I thought there would be a fierce battle ahead, but I didn't expect that the vanguard of four thousand cavalry could take him down so easily." It was that simple? The sage turned around and smiled at his elite troops: "Dismount and rest."

Having said that, he jumped off his horse.

Ministers and soldiers dismounted and rode side by side.

"After defeating Zhu Dalang, I hope there will be peace... From Guanzhong to Lingxia, Luoyang... We have fought across half the country, and we have shed enough blood. It is hateful that this rebel cannot be killed! I hope that this traitor will be captured so that the rebels can suppress their ambitions a little."

"Haha, now that the Bian army is wiped out, even the boldest among us will have to behave themselves for a few days."

“Your Majesty, once you have captured Bianliang, summon the military governors of Zhao, Wei, Qi, Wu, E, and Cai to Bianliang for an audience! We will hold a grand ceremony in Bianliang to appease the heavens and the saints for their protection of the Holy Tang.”

"What credit does Heaven have? This is a cause that the Holy Ruler and we risked our lives to achieve!"

"You military officials should have reverence for Heaven."

"The people of the Central Plains have become so alienated from the Holy Tang Dynasty that after the war, the court should issue an edict of self-reproach, examine and reflect on the mistakes of the Holy Tang Dynasty since it was misled by the emperor, and reconsider its strategy for governing the country."

"Yes, the first thing to consider is why children become bad seeds once they join the army."

"The Mandate of Heaven is in our hands, and we must be cautious. We must treat the people well and select, promote, and advocate officials who are outstanding in both morality and ability. If good people do not occupy power, power will be seized by bad people and treacherous villains."

"Let the Holy Tang Dynasty be great again!"

The ministers and attendants chatted casually, and the emperor simply listened with a smile. The tense atmosphere of the march completely relaxed.

How can one person's perseverance compare to that of a group of people?
We all persevered.

After years of hard work, we are finally about to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The first stage of survival has passed. Can the Holy Tang Dynasty become great again in my hands, or even surpass the glorious Tang Dynasty?

Expecting.

A man of his time, skilled in both literature and military affairs, saved the nation from collapse, possessing abilities others could not. He held everything in his hands, leading the era, the nation, and the people towards light and prosperity. This kind of perseverance and dedication—this is what we should truly strive for!

"Your Majesty, I request permission to attack!" Nangong Daoyuan volunteered for battle.

“Go then.” The sage nodded and instructed, “Take care of yourselves. These desperate bandits are exhausted and will eventually be worn down.”

The large contingent of Bian troops assembled on the east bank of the Yi River seemed to have lost their souls, staring blankly at yet another batch of troops arriving.

"Run!"

"Forget it, I feel like I can't escape. I'll go back to the river crossing and surrender."

The Bian army on the east bank scattered in panic.

Five thousand cavalrymen gradually mobilized on the western river plain. The remaining Bian army, whether they surrendered or not, only erupted in a huge clamor, but this clamor did not mean they were preparing to go into battle; rather, it was chaos and fear.

Wherever the horses' hooves passed, countless Bian soldiers were cut down, and countless bodies were trampled into mud.

In an instant, many cavalry and infantry rushed to the pile of corpses, pulling on their reins and stepping over the bodies!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Arrows rained down, and this time it was Xu Huaiyu, Liu Chongxin, and Zuo Chuji who were riddled with arrows.

"Crack, crack, crack." The lances thrust out in unison, lifting the three men, who were bleeding profusely, high into the air.

Zhu Dalang's armor was tattered, and his clothes were ragged. He held two broken spears in his hands and stood up with difficulty.

No longer caring about the arrows that might come flying at any moment, he looked at the dark, surging crowd below the mountain and just laughed: "So this is what it means to be doomed!"

The crowd below the mountain was in an uproar, all shouting the same thing: "Climb up and kill Zhu Dalang!"

"Where is the sage?" Zhu Dalang rubbed his eyes, searching for his opponent in the crowd.

"I'm here." The large group of armored soldiers parted to reveal the sage sitting on his horse. He raised his hand and grinned, "What do you want?"

"I thought he was just as ugly as Zhu Wen, but I didn't expect him to be quite handsome." The ministers sized up Zhu Youyu and rebuked him sternly: "The court appointed you as the commander of Bianliang, intending to let you go. But you were still full of treacherous intentions and brought about your own destruction today. Furthermore, you are nothing but the son of a lowly prostitute. How dare you presume to call yourself the emperor in private in Bianliang?"

"Weighed, how was it?" Zhu Dalang chuckled, shaking his head helplessly. "It's just a pity that I'm all alone and my reign was short-lived, so I can't keep this power and title..."

"Enough!" Arguing is pointless and beneath one's dignity. The sage waved his hand and said, "Kill him! Anyone who dares to steal credit or get distracted while killing Zhu Dalang is a stupid dog."

As soon as he finished speaking, officers and soldiers climbed up from all sides.

"Sage!" Zhu Dalang, spitting out blood, sat cross-legged and said with a bitter smile, "Why must you kill me now? All ambitious people only care about themselves. I want to live a few more days! Capture me alive, parade me through the streets of Chang'an and Bianliang, then behead me under the Lone Willow Tree. That would be in accordance with the law and would also be enough to intimidate all the heroes! Sage, you are a wise ruler, and I also yearn to see you. Men, help me down to pay my respects to the Sage!"

The soldiers exchanged glances.

Everyone thought that someone like Zhu Dalang would never surrender and be humiliated. They never expected to be caught alive.

Unexpectedly, this guy, who had been fighting like a cornered beast, has now taken the initiative to beg for mercy!
However, as he said, it would be best to get them alive.

Only Zhu Jin was indignant, because he had always wanted to kill Zhu Da with his own hands.

Immediately, Tiger-Swift Army warriors drew their swords and strode forward. Zhu Dalang also extended his hand, adopting a posture of cooperating as a prisoner.

Hu Jiejun grabbed his hand and was about to lift him up.

Zhu Dalang suddenly grabbed the broken knife beside him and, following the momentum, shoved it into Hu Jiejun's stomach.

"Fuck your mother!" (Snap)

But the samurai turned around and slashed upwards along his armpit with his sword.

Zhu Dalang missed his target, and his arm was already halfway off.

"Cunning," the sage clapped his hands slowly. A true hero is one who will not give up as long as there is even the slightest hope, but will fight desperately to the very end, unless all other paths have been exhausted!

Zhu Dalang pressed his arm and slowly slumped down, laughing and cursing, "I can't even earn another one... Fine, fine. I was orphaned at birth, and from my early teens I wandered through ravines and fought in the army. I've seen countless generals and officers in Bianfu, but none of them could truly surpass me in skill! My failure is truly due to insufficient foundation, not my fault! My fate shouldn't be like this! Sage, you are a hero, I will die at your hands without injustice! Who will take action?!"

"Don't let him commit suicide!" Countless voices rang out simultaneously: "Don't let him escape, capturing him alive would be a great achievement!"

The troops rushed forward in a flurry of activity.

"Alright, hahaha." Zhu Dalang picked up the broken knife and plunged it fiercely into the throat, pinning himself to the corpse behind him.

Fresh blood splattered onto his chest.

The giant thief spread his legs and stopped moving.

"The traitor is dead!" General Cui Jian cleaved off his head with an axe, raising it high: "Peace has been restored to the land!"

"The traitor is dead!!" The Minister of War led Zhu Dalang's body down the mountain, cheering in unison.

"Haha, haha." The sage chuckled softly as he watched the scene of singing and dancing.

His laughter was strange.

One cascade at a time.

It brings both the exhilaration of successfully annihilating the main force of the rebels and the satisfaction of revenge for killing Zhu Wen's son.

There was also excitement about the imminent pacification of the Central Plains and the restoration of the world.

There is also an indescribable fear.

However, it's all over now.

The Zhu family was destroyed.

Li Keyong huddled in a rat hole.

Yang Xingmi's life is nearing its end.

No one can stop me from unifying the four seas and commanding the Chinese and barbarians.

"How many people were captured?" the sage asked.

"The statistics haven't been compiled yet, but I estimate it to be seven or eight thousand?" Zhu Jin whispered.

“Your Majesty, these people are extremely vicious and beyond redemption. Why not slaughter them right here by the river?” the Taoist priest suggested.

"What ferocity?" The sage sneered, pointing at the warriors kneeling across the plain, looking as if they had lost their parents and were as terrified as women and children: "What's the difference between them and a pack of dogs? Disarm them first, and deal with them after we enter Bianliang."

"Your subject respectfully obeys."

"Did some more flee from the east bank?" the sage asked, turning to look around.

"Yes."

The sage took out a flatbread, chewed on it, thought for a moment, and said, "Chase after them and kill them all."

"Here."

"Is Li Cunxiao on the other side? Order him to come with me to Bianliang." The Emperor concluded, "We will take the route through Ruzhou, passing through Ruzhou and Zhengzhou to reach Bianliang. Tell him to prepare a batch of provisions as soon as possible."

"Here."

That day, the troops were stationed on the west bank of the Yi River, cleaning up the battlefield and taking care of the prisoners.

The next day, the emperor, escorting the prisoners and seized supplies, headed towards Bianliang. At the same time, he sent messengers to urge the main force, which had departed from Shanzhou, to speed up and join forces in Zhengzhou.

(End of this chapter)