Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 409 With the King present, I dare not act rashly
Jiankang.

To Hebasheng's surprise, after he led his troops south to the Southern Liang Dynasty, he was not only not humiliated, but was also treated with great courtesy.

Emperor Xiao Yan regarded him as a typical example of a northerner who had migrated south and rewarded him handsomely.

During the winter, Hebasheng's troops were temporarily settled at Lijiangting near Shouyang, while he himself was summoned to Jiankang by Xiao Yan.

Hebasheng was astonished when he first arrived in Jiankang City.

He had seen the once-prosperous city of Luoyang, but that magnificent city was no more. The rebuilt Luoyang could not compare to the magnificent city in Hebasheng's memory.

But Jiankang was different; the prosperity of this city even surpassed that of Luoyang in its heyday.

Following the chaos of the Five Barbarian Invasions, many scholars and refugees from the Central Plains fled south, crossing the Yangtze River to escape the war and injecting fresh blood into Jianye, the former capital of the Eastern Wu dynasty. For over two hundred years, dynasties rose and fell in the Southern Dynasties, but Jiankang continued to develop.

From the original Stone City established by the Eastern Wu, it has become a megacity with a population of millions.

The land is strategically important, a place where tigers crouch and dragons coil.

Today, Xiao Yan wanted to see Hebasheng. He followed his attendants along the Imperial Street toward the Taicheng Palace. Along the way, he saw too many eyes watching him.

Hebasheng was initially uncomfortable; he felt like a trophy, being displayed on the street under the curious gazes of the people of Jiankang. But even knowing this, Hebasheng had no way to resist.

After all, he is now living under someone else's roof.

Since Xiao Yan accepted him, he naturally had to repay him in kind.

Being exhibited like a trophy was one of Hebasheng's rewards.

In the propaganda of the Southern Liang Dynasty, Hebasheng was portrayed as a model North Korean defector who admired orthodoxy.

Not long ago, the Northern General, who was invincible in battle, chose to submit to the imperial rule because he could no longer endure the persecution by the evil Da Yeshuang in Guanzhong.

Nothing could be more inspiring for the Liang soldiers and the people of Jiankang who had just suffered a defeat.

He Basheng forced himself to suppress the humiliation in his heart and focused his attention on the urban construction of Jiankang.

Instead of building an outer wall, Jiankang City used a bamboo fence. Of course, this was based on practical considerations.

Firstly, the Yangtze River is the best defensive wall for Jiankang City. Secondly, if enemy troops were to cross the Yangtze River, such a long outer wall would be difficult to defend against.

For more than two hundred years, the bamboo fence surrounding Jiankang has been more like a declaration: once you cross this wall, you are a resident of the capital.

The bamboo fence surrounding Jiankang covered a vast area, stretching from Shitoucheng in the west to Nitang in the east, north past Zijin Mountain, and south to Yuhuatai. Within the city, the area was prosperous and thriving.

Hebasheng also saw many foreigners in the city. These were all overseas merchants who had come to Jiankang via the Maritime Silk Road. There were all sorts of people, but the most common were Indians. In addition, monks and nuns could be seen coming and going everywhere in the city.

Hebasheng was even somewhat agitated by this.

The Herba clan also believed in Buddhism.

However, after frequent wars, many of the more than 1,000 Buddhist temples in and around Luoyang were destroyed.

Famous historical sites like the White Horse Temple, which have been passed down from the Eastern Han Dynasty, were also dimmed by the flames of war.

However, Jiankang had a great many Buddhist temples, and compared to Chang'an and Luoyang, it was a place of great prosperity. Hebasheng felt a sense of reverence for this.

Hebasheng rode his horse and gradually arrived outside the palace.

The palace city of Jiankang was eight li in circumference, extremely large, with three layers of city walls. The city walls were not made of earth, but were also covered with bricks.

Looking at the majestic palace, Hebasheng finally witnessed the majesty of the Southern Liang royal family.

Walking north from Xuanyang Gate, the main gate of the imperial city, and reaching the Grand Marshal Gate, Hebasheng arrived at the palace.

The palaces of Jiankang and Luoyang were modeled after the Luoyang Palace of Cao Wei and Western Jin. The main hall was Taiji Hall, and behind it was Xianyang Hall. Hualin Garden was built in the rear courtyard.

Xiao Yan met Hebasheng in the Huaguang Hall, the main hall of the Hualin Garden.

When Hebasheng first met the emperor who founded the Southern Liang dynasty, he felt that the other party was very peaceful, like a monk, not an emperor.

After the meeting, Xiao Yan did not let Hebasheng leave immediately, but instead took him to Hualin Garden for a visit and treated him to a meal.

Next to Huaguang Hall is Tianyuan Pond, whose waters are like a mirror, shimmering beautifully under the winter sun.

Emperor Xiao Yan entertained Hebasheng in a side hall next to Tianyuan Pond.

Earlier in the main hall, Hebasheng was far away and didn't feel anything unusual. But now, in the side hall, less than twenty paces away from Xiao Yan, Hebasheng felt an imposing aura emanating from Xiao Yan.

Under this imposing aura, Hebasheng's heart pounded, and he felt a cold sweat break out on his back. He didn't even dare to look up at the old emperor.

Emperor Wu of Liang (Xiao Yan) was exceptionally intelligent and well-versed in Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. At the beginning of his reign, he promoted Confucianism, diligently attended to state affairs, widely accepted advice, and revised the criminal law, making him a truly enlightened ruler.

Even in the Northern Dynasties, Xiao Yan was very influential.

His poems, his calligraphy, and his literary manuscripts were all regarded as treasures by scholars of the Northern Dynasties.

Of course, northerners like Hebasheng were not interested in Confucianism, but they were different when it came to Buddhism.

Buddhism was precisely what Xiao Yan had been studying in recent years.

Xiao Yan's attainments in Buddhism surpassed those in Confucianism, and his influence was so great that even the royal families of Tuyuhun and Goguryeo were delighted to obtain the scriptures annotated by the Southern Liang emperor.

Xiao Yan looked at Hebasheng with a mixture of admiration and regret in his eyes.

"His sins of killing are so heavy; he is truly a weapon of death!"

Upon hearing this, Hebasheng immediately bowed and apologized. Although he didn't know what he was apologizing for, he felt guilty and dared not face Xiao Yan.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

Xiao Yan didn't care about this, and simply asked:

"I wonder how the King of Qin in Guanzhong compares to you?"

Xiao Yan accepted Hebasheng not only as a model for propaganda, but also because of his status. Over the years, Hebasheng had maintained close relationships with both Erzhu Rong and Li Shuang.

What Xiao Yan most wanted to know was how the King of Qin in Guanzhong was doing.

Hebasheng didn't know how to answer, so after thinking for a moment, he simply said:

"With the King of Qin still alive, I have a deep-seated hatred for him, who killed my brother, and I dare not turn against him!"

Hebasheng's words made Xiao Yan sigh. For a weapon as formidable as Hebasheng to remain motionless before the Prince of Qin speaks volumes about the man's stature.

Xiao Yan looked at Hebasheng and said:
"Stand up and answer!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Hebasheng stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and listened as Xiao Yan continued to ask:
What is your view on the current war situation in Sichuan and Chongqing?

The war in Bashu?
Hebasheng found it strange that Xiao Yan asked about the war in Bashu, rather than the war in Yuzhou.

Seeing Hebasheng like this, Xiao Yan said:

"Speak freely. Whatever you say today, I will not only not punish you, but will also reward you."

"I believe the matter of Bashu will be easier at first and more difficult later. I know Wang Sizheng well; he is a great general under the Prince of Qin, skilled in building and defending cities. His heart is as firm as iron and unwavering; he will hold out until the very last moment. I worry that if the war drags on, something unexpected may happen." For some reason, Hebasheng dared not lie in front of Xiao Yan and spoke his most honest thoughts.

The people of Bashu have long suffered from poverty, and many county towns are deserted. Jiangzhou is also a strategic waterway, so the Liang army could only capture it and could not bypass it, as supplies were hard to find in the counties along the way. Without Heba Yun's cooperation, even if the Liang army besieged Jiangzhou and then sent a large army to launch a surprise attack on Chengdu, the chances of success would be extremely low.

As a result, the longer the battle dragged on, the lower the morale of Liang's army became, as one can imagine.

In fact, Liang's army entered Sichuan in the autumn, and has been besieging the northern city of Jiangzhou for over two months now. If they could take it, they would have done so long ago. Dragging it out won't be very effective. Unless, of course, a miracle occurs.

Xiao Yan listened but did not blame him.

"I already understand your intentions. Guards, prepare a banquet!"

At the banquet, Hebasheng ate with trepidation and trepidation. When he returned home, he met Nianxian, who had come with him.

The other party asked:

"What happened to Emperor Liang?"

He Basheng recalled the scene just now and felt oppressed and restrained, with some sighs.

"I have fought my way from Wuchuan, killing countless heroes. Yet now, seeing Emperor Liang, I dare not overstep my bounds in the slightest. This is what an emperor is all about!"

……

Jiangzhou North City.

For the past two months, Liang Jun has been building earthen mounds and digging tunnels outside the city in an attempt to breach its defenses, but all his efforts have been thwarted by the veteran general Wang Bi within the city.

As Liang Jun slowly wore down his troops, his morale continued to decline.

Jiangzhou City is unique, consisting of two cities. For Liang's army, even the northern city was difficult to breach; how long would it take to conquer the even more fortified southern city, located on the Yuzhong Peninsula?

The generals in Liang's army all knew that it was impossible to enter Chengdu in winter. Capturing the northern city of Jiangzhou in winter would be a great achievement.

But Xiao Yi was still forcing himself to stay upright.

This war was not just a simple military contest; it also involved a power struggle within the imperial court.

Xiao Yi not only paid attention to the battle in Jiangzhou, but also to the battlefield in the Jianghuai region.

After Hebasheng surrendered to Liang, Hou Jing did not continue the offensive, but instead chose to defend Guangling City and consolidate the territory north of the Huai River that Hebasheng had conquered. Of course, Hou Jing's failure to launch an immediate attack was also related to the fact that many of his troops were from the north, making it difficult for him to control them.

Regardless, Hou Jing's decision not to continue the attack was a victory for Crown Prince Xiao Gang, who was stationed in Shouyang. Coupled with Hebasheng's surrender to the south and the vigorous publicity from Jiankang, the people of Jiankang believed that Crown Prince Xiao Gang was a capable military leader.

As for the lost counties, they were all located north of the Huai River, on the periphery. Before the war, most of the people had been relocated to the south of the Huai River, so the losses were not significant.

Therefore, both the imperial court and the common people could accept the war in the Jianghuai region.

But the situation in Bashu is different. Xiao Yi had reported a victory beforehand, saying that he had captured many counties and gained the support of many people. But now he has been stuck in Jiangzhou City for more than two months without any results. Neither the court nor the people can explain this to him.

Are they just going to retreat in such a disgraceful manner? I'm afraid that after Xiao Yi does this, he will have to resign from his post and go back to Jiankang to atone for his crimes once he returns to Jiangling.

As dawn broke, Xiao Yi, who had been busy all night, was resting in his tent when a commotion broke out outside.

Xiao Yi was somewhat angry after being woken up.

"What is the matter?"

"Your Majesty, a section of the city wall of Beifu City in Jiangzhou has collapsed!"

This sound was like a sudden awakening, instantly waking Xiao Yi from his slumber. He ran out of the tent barefoot, without even putting on his clothes, and exclaimed joyfully:

"Heaven is on our side! Quickly send troops to attack the city, and don't let that old scoundrel Wang Bi react."

"Your Majesty, rest assured, General Bao Quan led his troops into the city this morning after learning of the collapse of the city wall."

After listening, Xiao Yi shouted:

"Tell Wang Sengbian, Hu Sengyou, Wang Lin, and Xu Wensheng to immediately assemble their troops and attack the city."

……

In the city of Beifu, Wang Bi, who was fast asleep, heard the commotion in the city and decided to get up to inquire about the situation.

But when he got up, he found that his servants were nowhere to be found, and several strangers barged into his house.

However, judging from their clothing, Wang Bi quickly realized that they were soldiers of the Liang army.

The collapse of the city wall of Beifu City was sudden, and it was the same for both the attacking and defending sides.

Xiao Yi's general Bao Quan did not want to miss the opportunity, so he immediately ordered his soldiers to enter the city through the breach, without even putting on their armor.

Of course, it's unrealistic to expect the siege troops at the front to be fully armored while building earthen mounds. Therefore, the armor possession rate among siege troops was not high.

As for the defenders, most of them were fast asleep, so naturally they wouldn't be wearing armor.

Upon seeing Liang's army enter the city, the defending troops inside immediately panicked.

Wang Bi was dressed in a single layer of clothing and barefoot, but he was quite burly. Upon seeing these unfamiliar faces in the winter, he roared like a ferocious beast.

After he roared, the Liang soldiers were terrified and turned to run away.

Wang Bi looked around, grabbed a thick stick, and chased after them.

As he chased, he shouted:
"My lads, come with me!"

The city's garrison was in chaos, but had not been annihilated. Seeing how imposing Wang Bi was, they all followed him.

Wang Bi's army gradually grew larger, and they encountered Liang general Bao Quan.

Although in this era civil and military affairs were not separated, Bao Quan, who came from an official family, had never seen such a scene before.

In his sight, a burly man, as big as a bear, ran over with a thick stick and knocked down the Liang soldier blocking his way with a single blow.

While hitting him, he kept shouting:

"You scoundrel, how dare you seize my city while I was off guard!"

This old general not only looked like a bear, but his roar was also like that of a wild beast, which was so terrifying that the soldiers around Bao Quan turned around and ran away, not daring to fight him at all.

Seeing this, Bao Quan dared not linger. He tried to delay, but the speed at which the soldiers around him fled completely thwarted his plan.

By the time Xiao Yi arrived outside Beifu City with his generals and army, Bao Quan and his soldiers had already been driven out of the city.

The breach in the city wall was also plugged by Wang Bi. Standing atop the wall, facing thousands of Liang soldiers, he exuded boundless pride and laughed loudly:

"These little brats from Liang dare to attack my city. They should return to Jiangdong as soon as possible; staying here will only make them a laughingstock."

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yi was furious and roared:
"You old scoundrel, I swear to kill you!"

……

(End of this chapter)