Video Editor

The battle reports from the west were initially all positive.

Li Chongjin led the Second and Fourth Divisions westward, capturing Shuozhou and Yingzhou in succession, with his army's advance pointing directly at Yunzhou.

Yunzhou, the western capital of the Khitan.

It was a major town in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, second only to Youzhou, with high and thick city walls and a garrison of over ten thousand troops.

The Khitans had been operating there for decades, and the city was well-defended. The defending general, Yelü Qilie, was a famous and fierce general of the Khitans.

Li Chongjin rested in Yingzhou for three days before summoning his generals for a meeting.

“Yunzhou is a tough nut to crack.” He pointed to the map, “but we have to bite it off no matter how tough it is. Once we take Yunzhou, the western part of Yanyun will be completely pacified.”

"General," the lieutenant said, "Yelü Qilie is not easy to deal with. Should we surround him first and wait for His Majesty's reinforcements to arrive before attacking?"

Li Chongjin shook his head.

"What are we waiting for? His Majesty is busy in Youzhou. Let's fight it ourselves. If we take it, it will be our achievement."

"Order all divisions to set off tomorrow. I want to see the Great Zhou dragon flag flying over Yunzhou City within half a month."

The army marched westward.

The two armies faced off beneath the walls of Yunzhou.

Li Chongjin did not rush to attack the city, but first sent people to scout out the situation.

The scout returned and reported: "General, there are at least 20,000 troops garrisoning the city. There are also cavalry patrolling outside the city, which look like reinforcements newly arrived from the heart of the Khitan territory."

"Reinforcements?" Li Chongjin frowned. "How many have arrived?"

"It's hard to see clearly, but it's at least five thousand."

Li Chongjin pondered for a moment.

Five thousand cavalry, plus twenty thousand garrison troops, totaling twenty-five thousand.

His second and fourth divisions combined numbered 15,000, which put him at a disadvantage in terms of troop strength.

But he didn't want to back out.

To back down is to admit defeat.

"Has Mingli Hall sent any intelligence?"

"Yes! They advise us not to attack rashly, as the defenses of the Khitan in Yunzhou are really strong."

"Set up camp! Attack the city tomorrow."

"But……"

"Hmph! I'll say we'll attack the city tomorrow."

"promise!"

……

The siege began the next day.

The Second Division launched the main attack on the south gate, with the Fourth Division providing support.

The catapults pounded the city walls day and night, creating gaps in them.

The infantrymen carried ladders and charged up the city walls, while arrows rained down from the walls.

After a day, 500 people were killed or injured, and there was no progress.

The attack continued the next day.

Six hundred dead and wounded, and still no progress.

On the third day, Li Chongjin became anxious.

"Concentrate our forces and break through from the east gate!" Li Chongjin immediately gave the order.

The Fourth Division was transferred there to join the Third Division in a fierce attack on the East Gate.

The defenders on the city walls put up a desperate resistance, with logs and stones raining down on them.

The soldiers attacking the city fell from the siege ladders like dumplings being dropped into a pot, their screams deafening.

But Li Chongjin showed no intention of withdrawing his troops.

"Keep charging!" Li Chongjin shouted, his eyes red. "There's a reward for charging forward!"

On the fourth night, the Khitan cavalry attacked from behind.

The cavalrymen who were patrolling outside the city launched a surprise attack on Zhou's army's supply camp under the cover of night.

The grain and fodder were burned, and flames soared into the sky.

Zhou's army was thrown into chaos.

The city's garrison seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack from both sides.

Li Chongjin desperately organized a counterattack, but morale had already collapsed.

The soldiers scattered and fled, and countless people were trampled to death, killed, or burned to death.

At daybreak, the battlefield was a scene of utter devastation.

Of the 15,000 men in the Second and Fourth Divisions, 3,000 were killed in battle, 2,000 were captured, and 5,000 fled.

The remaining 5,000 soldiers followed Li Chongjin in a hasty retreat eastward.

Beneath the walls of Yunzhou City lay countless corpses and charred flags.

When news of Li Chongjin's defeat reached Youzhou, Guo Rong was discussing the next steps in the campaign with his generals.

After reading the battle report, his face turned ashen. "Li Chongjin! He's greedy for merit and reckless! He's ruined our plans!"

Guo Rong slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups on it to jump.

The generals looked at each other, none of them daring to utter a sound.

"Issue my decree," Guo Rong stood up, "to muster the Longjie Army, the First Division and the Third Division of the National Defense Army, and I will personally go to Yunzhou."

"Your Majesty," Gao Huaide said urgently, "If you personally lead the expedition, what will happen to Youzhou?"

"You stay here," Guo Rong said. "Take the remaining brothers of the Longjie Army and continue to expand Shanhaiguan. You will guard Youzhou."

Gao Huaide was stunned.

Let him stay, and Your Majesty will go by yourself?

"Your Majesty, I am willing to accompany you on this expedition..."

"No need," Guo Rong interrupted Gao Huaide. "Your good defense of Youzhou is a great achievement."

Guo Rong paused, his gaze sweeping over the generals, "This time, I will definitely take Yunzhou."

……

Three days later, Guo Rong led reinforcements from Youzhou, traveling westward day and night.

It was the tenth day when the army arrived at the city of Yunzhou.

Yelü Qilie stood on the city wall, looking at the dark mass of Zhou army camp outside the city, and sneered.

"Guo Rong has come in person? Good, very good."

Then Yelü Qilie turned and ordered: "Order all tribes to defend the city to the death. The cavalry outside the city shall continue to harass. I will make sure that the Zhou army never returns."

"Yes, General."

The siege has begun again.

This time, Guo Rong personally oversaw the battle.

Longjie Army launched the main attack on the south gate, while the 1st and 3rd Divisions of the National Defense Army attacked the east and west gates respectively.

The catapults pounded the earth day and night, and arrows flew back and forth like locusts.

The city walls were riddled with breaches, and the corpses piled up layer upon layer below the walls.

But Yunzhou City remains unconquered.

Yelü Qilie's military strategy was too cautious; he didn't leave the city to fight in the field, he just defended the city to the death.

Cavalry outside the city kept harassing Zhou's supply lines, forcing Guo Rong to divide his troops to protect the supplies.

One day, two days, three days...

Ten days passed, and Yunzhou City remained the same Yunzhou City.

Guo Rong became anxious and personally led his personal guards to the city walls to survey the terrain.

That afternoon, the sky was overcast.

Guo Rong rode his horse along the city wall, carefully observing every possible point of breach.

He walked slowly and looked very carefully.

No one noticed that there was a small gap in the city wall, through which a Khitan archer was hiding.

The archer stared at Guo Rong for a long time until Guo Rong stopped and looked up at the city wall.

The bowstring twanged.

An arrow shot out from the gap.

No one knew where the arrow came from, only that it went straight for Guo Rong.

Guo Rong's personal guards shouted "Your Majesty, be careful!" and rushed forward to try to stop him, but it was too late.

The arrow struck Guo Rong squarely in the shoulder.

He let out a muffled groan and fell off his horse.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

The guards swarmed forward, surrounding Guo Rong and desperately retreating.

The archer wanted to shoot again, but he could no longer find a target.

When Guo Rong was carried back to the camp, his face was deathly pale, and the arrow in his shoulder was still trembling slightly.

The imperial physician who accompanied the army arrived, cut open the clothes, and examined the body carefully.

"Your Majesty, the arrow didn't penetrate deep; it's just a superficial wound, nothing serious."

Guo Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

But the imperial physician's expression suddenly changed.

"Your Majesty, that scar on your shoulder..."

That's an old wound.

It was left behind many years ago, outside the city of Ye, during a battle with the Khitans.

That time, the arrow went even deeper and almost killed Guo Rong.

The imperial physician examined it carefully, and his hand trembled slightly.

"Your Majesty, this arrow... struck the old wound squarely. There was already a slight fracture in the bone there, and this arrow..."

"What happened with that arrow?"

The imperial physician knelt down. "Your Majesty, you must return to the capital immediately. I cannot treat this injury."

Guo Rong was stunned. "Can't it be cured?"

"The old wound has reopened, and the arrow has penetrated to the bone marrow. I... I can only stop the bleeding for now, but the wound in the bone will require slow recuperation back in the capital."

Guo Rong remained silent for a long time.

He raised his head and looked at the gray sky outside the tent.

Yunzhou City is still there.

He fought for half a month, causing so many deaths and injuries, and this is the result in the end.

"Issue my decree," Guo Rong said, his voice hoarse. "Order Li Chongjin to lead his remaining troops back to Youzhou, and temporarily cease the attack on the city."

"He ordered Gao Huaide to continue guarding Youzhou and to continue expanding Shanhaiguan."

"Order... order the Dragon Victory Army and the National Defense Army to rest for now. Wait for me... wait for me to return."

The tent was deathly silent.

Guo Rong was quickly carried onto a stretcher and returned eastward overnight.

……

Three days later, the news reached Youzhou.

Gao Huaide's hands were trembling when he received the imperial decree.

His Majesty is injured?
Recurrence of an old injury?

He stood on the construction site in Shanhaiguan, watching the prisoners working, and remained silent for a long time.

"Issue the order," Gao Huaide finally spoke, "to speed up construction. Shanhaiguan must be completed before His Majesty returns."

Beneath the walls of Yunzhou City, at the Zhou army's main camp.

Li Chongjin knelt in Guo Rong's command tent, not daring to raise his head.

He knew he had made a huge mistake.

His greed for quick success and recklessness led to the loss of so many brothers.

His Majesty came to the rescue personally and was also injured.

These crimes are enough to warrant Li Chongjin's death ten times over.

However, His Majesty's decree made no mention of punishment. It only ordered him to withdraw his troops as soon as possible.

Li Chongjin gazed at the still majestic Yunzhou City in the north, his eyes stinging with tears.

Yunzhou, wait.

I, Li Chongjin, will be back.

……

In Bianliang, Su Ning was reviewing memorials in the imperial study when he received the battle report.

After reading it, he remained silent for a long time.

Zhao Pu stood to the side, not daring to utter a sound.

Suning put down the battle report, stood up, and walked to the window.

The sun shines brightly outside the window, and the flowers and trees in the yard are lush and verdant.

He gazed northwards, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

My older brother is injured.

The old injury recurred.

History still followed its expected path, but Guo Rong never dreamed that he would be a short-lived emperor.

Yunzhou was not captured, leaving only four of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

The Khitans were still eyeing them covetously from the north.

Su Ning remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "Order the Honest Merchant Guild to expedite the transport of medicine to Youzhou. Send as much of the best wound medicine as possible; we must do everything in our power to rescue our brothers."

"Order Mingli Hall to closely monitor the movements of the Khitan. Report any unusual activity to me immediately. Also, secretly contact the Khitan military and try to ransom our captured soldiers."

"Order all divisions of the National Defense Forces to remain on high alert and be ready to move north to provide support at any time. At the same time, intensify conscription and preparation for war in various regions."

Li Fang agreed to each one.

Su Ning stood by the window, gazing northwards.

Chai Rong, your era has ended. Now it's my turn, Suning's stage.

……

Kaifeng in October of the sixth year of Xiande was unusually cold.

Guo Rong's carriage secretly entered the city on a gloomy evening.

There were no officials to greet them, no commoners to line the streets, only a troop of guards escorting the heavily concealed carriage, which silently entered through the west gate and headed straight for the palace.

No one along the way knew who was lying in that carriage.

But the news still spread.

"His Majesty has returned?"

Why were you so quiet?

"I heard he was injured, and seriously so..."

Inside and outside the palace, undercurrents were surging.

In the imperial study, Guo Rong lay on the couch, his face sallow and his body so thin that he was just skin and bones.

The arrow from Yunzhou struck his old wound, and the journey back took another ten days or so. By the time he arrived in Kaifeng, he was bedridden.

Empress Fu stood by the bedside, her eyes red and swollen, but she forced herself not to cry.

"His Majesty……"

"Issue...Issue the decree." Guo Rong's voice was very soft, like a candle flame in the wind, "To confer upon Zongxun...the title of King of Liang."

Empress Fu was stunned. "Your Majesty, Zongxun is only six years old..."

“He must be granted a title even at the age of six.” Guo Rong gasped for breath. “I…I’m afraid I won’t last much longer. I have to give him…give him a title.”

"You'll ruin Zongxun's life if you do this." Empress Fu's tears finally fell.

"We can't worry about that now! I believe that our third brother will back down again for the sake of the bigger picture."

"Your Majesty, the King of Qin has already yielded once; how could he possibly yield a second time?"

"..." Although Guo Rong understood this principle, he still did not want to give up.

You must understand that if you don't get that position, you'll never have the chance again, for all eternity.

Moreover, there is a voice deep in his soul that says his surname is Chai, not Guo.

This world should belong to the Chai family, not the Guo family.

Empress Fu could see Guo Rong's insistence and could only kneel before the bed, kowtow, and accept the decree.

On the same day, Li Jun, the military governor of Zhaoyi, sent a report of victory from the north: Liaozhou had been captured and Zhang Pidan, the governor of the Northern Han, had been taken prisoner.

Guo Rong looked at the report of victory and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"Well done... well done..."

Then he put down the report of victory and closed his eyes.

Late at night on October 19th, weeping could be heard from the Wansui Hall.

Guo Rong is gone.

He was forty years old and had been in power for six years.

When the news spread, the entire city of Bianliang fell silent for a moment, then erupted in deafening cries.

The people knelt in the street and kowtowed in the direction of the palace.

Those who migrated from the south, those who fled from the north, those who had received imperial favor and those who had not, were all weeping.

"His Majesty……"

"His Majesty left too soon..."

In the palace, Empress Fu held six-year-old Chai Zongxun and cried until she almost fainted.

Empress Fu didn't have time to cry for long.

Because the National Defense Forces have been mobilized.

The moment the news of Guo Rong's death spread, all nine gates of Bianliang were closed simultaneously.

The city gate guards were all replaced with soldiers from the National Defense Army, allowing entry but not exit.

Around the imperial city, the national defense troops stood in formation, their armor gleaming and their swords and spears drawn.

The court officials were trapped in their respective residences and unable to leave.

The Fu family wanted to go to the palace, but they were stopped at the crossroads and allowed to enter but not leave.

Even Empress Fu herself was placed under house arrest in her palace, with only a few personal maids by her side.

The entire city of Bianliang seemed to have been transported back to that terrifying night overnight...

The night Liu Chengyou of the Later Han Dynasty slaughtered the entire Guo family.

This time, however, the executioner's knife is in someone else's hands.

Qin Wangfu.

Su Ning sat in his study, a yellowed imperial edict spread out in front of him.

That was the edict left by Emperor Guo Wei before his death, stating that succession should be made by the younger brother upon the death of the elder brother.

Wang Pu, Zhao Pu, and Li Fang stood aside, while Wang Pu said softly, "Your Highness, the nine gates are closed, and the imperial city is under control. Empress Fu and Prince Liang are settled in their palaces, and no news has leaked out. All the officials in the court are waiting in their respective residences."

Suning nodded without saying anything.

Zhao Pu, who was standing to the side, looked at Su Ning with barely suppressed excitement and said, "Your Highness, it's time to persuade him to take the throne."

Su Ning looked up at Zhao Pu and asked, "You want me to persuade him to join the party?"

“It’s not about urging someone to take the throne, but about following the will of Heaven,” Zhao Pu said. “The edicts of the founding emperor and His Majesty are here, the national defense army is in our hands, and the hearts of the people are with us. If Your Highness were to refuse again, it would only make people uneasy.”

Suning was silent for a moment, then said, "The rule of three refusals and three concessions cannot be broken."

Zhao Pu and the other two immediately understood, "We'll make the arrangements right away."

The next day, all the officials jointly submitted a memorial urging the King of Qin to ascend the throne.

Su Ning declined, saying, "The late emperor has just passed away, and I cannot bear to do so now."

On the third day, the officials submitted another memorial.

Su Ning resigned again, saying, "I am of little virtue and talent, and am not up to the task."

On the fourth day, the officials submitted their memorials three times.

This time, Empress Fu personally led six-year-old Chai Zongxun to kneel outside the Qin Prince's mansion.

"Your Highness," Empress Fu raised her head, her eyes red and swollen, "Zongxun is too young to shoulder this empire. The late Emperor Taizu's edict states that succession will be made by the younger brother. If Your Highness does not ascend the throne soon, who will protect the Great Zhou dynasty?"

Su Ning stood at the gate of the mansion, looking at the orphan and widow kneeling on the ground, and remained silent for a long time.

He finally stepped forward and helped Empress Fu up.

"Your Majesty, please rise."

Then, Su Ning took the edict, unfolded it, and read it through.

Then, looking up, he naturally realized that this was not Chai Rong's work.

After all, Chai Rong still wanted Chai Zongxun to succeed him, but unfortunately things happened too quickly, and Heaven didn't give him any time to act.

"Sir, obey the order."

On the 25th day of the tenth month of the sixth year of Xiande, Su Ning ascended the throne in Chongyuan Hall.

The reign title will be changed to Shengshi, and next year will be the first year of Shengshi.

The coronation ceremony was simple and solemn, without any extravagance or luxury.

Wearing the emperor's ceremonial robes, Su Ning walked step by step to the throne, turned around, and sat down.

The officials knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

He sat there, gazing at the familiar faces below the steps...

Cao Bin, Pan Mei, Shi Shouxin, Wang Yanjun, Wang Shenqi, Zhao Pu, Wang Pu, Li Fang, Wei Renpu...

And then there were the young generals whose names he couldn't recall, who had come from the study camp.

It's been twelve years.

He finally became the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a process that had been delayed for a full twelve years.

For the past twelve years, I have been enduring, enduring as the Great Zhou's rule over the Central Plains becomes more secure.

However, the first edict issued after ascending the throne was to punish the Chai family.

"Guo Rong made great contributions to the country and was posthumously honored as Emperor Shizong, with the posthumous title of Emperor Ruiwu Xiaowen, and was buried in Qingling."

"The Chai family will revert to their original surname. From now on, they will no longer be surnamed Guo, but only Chai."

"King Chai Zongxun of Liang was demoted to Marquis of Anle. He was granted a residence in the capital and enjoyed lifelong wealth and honor."

“The Chai family are not members of the royal family and will never be involved in politics, military affairs, or business.”

The imperial edict caused a stir throughout the court and the country.

Some people think it's too cruel—Emperor Shizong's body was barely cold before his son was removed from the royal family.

Some people felt it was a good thing—at least they saved their lives and their wealth.

If it were those who usurped the throne in history, would they have achieved this result?
Empress Fu is now a member of the Fu clan...

Even though he had anticipated it, he remained silent for a very long time when he received the imperial edict.

Remembering what Su Ning said to him that day at the Prince of Qin's residence:
"This child will have a life of plenty, riches, and good health."

"Thank you... thank you, Your Majesty." Madam Fu knelt down and kowtowed three times in the direction of the palace.

The tense atmosphere in Bianliang gradually dissipated.

The nine gates reopened, and the streets returned to their former bustling state.

The ministers who had been under house arrest began to emerge and engage in various activities.

The National Defense Forces withdrew to their camps, and the guards of the Imperial City were replaced by ordinary Imperial Guards.

Everything seemed to have returned to what it was before.

But everything is different now.

The Great Zhou Dynasty has a new emperor.

The boy who climbed out of the well finally sat down in that chair.

On the first day of the first month of the first year of the prosperous era, Su Ning received the congratulations of all the officials in Chongyuan Hall.

Looking at the kneeling figures below the steps and at the sun-drenched square outside the hall, he suddenly remembered the words Guo Wei had spoken before his death.

"Yi-ge'er, I'm going to see your mother and brothers."

He raised his head and looked up at the sky.

Guo Wei, I chose to be tolerant in order to show my respect for you, but tolerance can only be given once.

...(End of this chapter)