Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 230 Laifu
The collapse of the government troops' formation spread from the rear to the front, blocking the escape route for most of the officers and soldiers.

Many swirling crowds collided on the ground, and soldiers who had fought side by side pushed and shoved each other to make way. After the mob swept through, they left behind piles of unrecognizable corpses.

In such chaos, the number of government soldiers who died from infighting and trampling was even greater than that of the peasant army.

Among them were many elite government troops.

Han Ping's defection unexpectedly led to the most exhilarating annihilation battle of the Grass Army to date.

More than 10,000 officers and soldiers fell on the plains, and the results even surpassed those of the Battle of Songzhou, where more than 8,000 enemy soldiers were killed.

Ironically, Han Ping, who betrayed the rebel army, became the greatest contributor to the bloody battle of Guilin.

This hero ended up in a terrible state.

After capturing Han Ping, Zhu Zhen ordered his men to keep him under guard.

As Zhu Wen instructed, if Gao Yan could be captured soon, they would be executed together.

Gao Yan was suspicious and wary of Han Ping from the very beginning, and wished he could kill him.

The fact that the two of them were executed together was quite dramatic.

Han Ping knew that Zhu Wen and the others would not let him off the hook, so he burst into tears as soon as he saw someone coming.

Fear did not affect his appetite at all; every day, Han Ping would scoop out every last grain of rice from the bottom of the bowl.

After returning to Guilin with his remaining troops, Yang Fuguang found that morale was low and the city was indefensible. He deeply regretted trusting Han Ping, which had led to such a disastrous defeat.

When Eunuch Yang was leaving, he ordered the burning of any grain and fodder that could not be taken from the official granary, so as to prevent it from falling into the hands of bandits.

Han Ping's elderly mother, who was also a hostage, was thrown into the fire and burned alive.

Han Ping's wives, concubines, and daughters were ordered by Yang Fuguang to be taken away with the army and prepared to be used as official prostitutes.

This was precisely the approach that Takahiko had suggested before the war.

Doing it after the fact is just hindsight.

This news will soon reach Han Ping's ears.

But faced with his own life or death, Han Ping had no time to feel pain for his family's plight.

He could only pray in his heart that Gao Yan would not be captured by the bandits.

If the Cao army fails to capture Gao Yan, they will naturally execute him one day.

But for Han Ping, every extra day he lives is a day worth living.

……

Gao Yan rallied the defeated soldiers and gathered them in a mountain hollow.

The soldiers, still shaken, settled down for the time being.

Looking at the group of wounded and defeated soldiers, Gao Yan felt a deep sense of frustration.

At that time, he pierced Zhu Wen's right chest with his spear, while Zhu Wen's Dragon Sparrow Sword cleaved the beast-shaped armor and injured Gao Yan's lower abdomen.

Gao Yan was certain that Zhu Wen's injuries were significantly more severe than his own.

After being wounded, Gao Yan's fierce courage instantly turned into utter fear when faced with the overwhelming power of Zhu Wen's next strike.

He lost control of himself, retreated hastily, and forever lost the opportunity to kill Zhu Wen.

The moment that turns the tide is gone forever.

Thinking of this, Gao Yan wished he could slap himself a few times.

He was clearly stronger than Zhu Wen. If he mustered his courage and fought Zhu Wen, he would surely be the one to die in the end.

Damn cowardice, it was at this moment that it devoured him!
Gao Yan couldn't understand the reason at all, and felt that he had been bewitched at the time.

He believed that if he could do it all over again, Zhu Wen would surely die by his own gun.

But a defeat is a defeat; there are no "what ifs" in this world.
Deputy General Liang Zuan approached, his eyes showing a comforting look: "Young master, there is no need to be so sad. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war."

"Although the government troops suffered heavy losses in this battle, fortunately the Changwu Cavalry and Wudang Flying Army did not suffer heavy losses. Commander Lei is now in the same boat as the young master, and will not blame him."

The Liang family had served the Bohai Gao clan for generations. Liang Zuan met Gao Yan when he was twelve years old, and they became close friends.

“You’re right. We must bring the team back and give Uncle an explanation.” Gao Yan said, tears suddenly streaming down his face.

"The army has just suffered a defeat, and the morale of the three armies depends entirely on you, young master. You must not weep like this!" Liang Zuan said urgently, wiping Gao Yan's tears with his sleeve.

"No, I'm not crying because of the defeat," Gao Yan said sadly. "I'm just saddened to lose a good helper."

Liang Zuan looked puzzled.

Gao Yan's gold and silver inlaid sword was suddenly drawn from its sheath.

Amidst Liang Zuan's incredulous expression, the blade flashed across Liang Zuan's neck.

The head and body were separated, and blood gushed from the cavity, splattering onto the military flag.

At the last moment, Leung Chuan felt his head stop falling.

Gao Yan held his head in his hand.

At this moment, Gao Yan really felt a little regretful.

He wants the throne, and he needs talented people to assist him.

Liang Zuan is a rare talent, but I have no choice but to kill him.

With a single stroke, Gao Yan beheaded Liang Zuan. Holding Liang Zuan's head, he shouted to the army, "Liang Zuan colluded with bandits and betrayed our military secrets, leading to today's defeat. I, Gao Yan, have killed him to appease the soldiers and comfort the spirits of our fallen comrades!"

The unexpected turn of events left the defeated soldiers terrified and speechless, a deathly silence settling over them. After a long while, someone finally said sheepishly, "General Yanwei, is there a mistake? Should we investigate further?"

“No need.” Gao Yan pulled out a letter: “Just now, I found a letter written to him by Huang Ze in Liang Zuan’s tent. Look, everyone, this is Huang Ze Jutian’s handwriting.”

Although Huang Chao was a major rebel, he was also a talented scholar of his time, with excellent calligraphy skills.

This piece of calligraphy is so vigorous and powerful, it truly resembles the work of a master.

When a military defeat occurs, people's hearts are in turmoil, and they often believe whatever their commander says.

When Gao Yan said this, the soldiers believed him to some extent.

Actually, the flaws are not hard to find.

The ink on the paper is still fresh, and if someone familiar with Huang Chao's calligraphy were to notice that the characters only resembled six or seven parts of his style, capturing the form but not the essence.

But the soldiers never expected that after Gao Yan's defeat, he would make the decision to kill Liang Zuan to shift the blame and stabilize the morale of the army in a very short time!

"If it were just to shirk responsibility, I could point the finger at that eunuch Yang Fuguang," Gao Yan muttered to himself. "What a pity, Liang Zuan, you're the one my uncle sent to spy on me. How can I go back and seize the army if I don't kill you?"

He said something else entirely: "Aside from Liang Zuan's collusion with the bandits, the defeat in this battle was also due to the court's suspicion. If the court hadn't used Yang Fuguang to command the entire army and had entrusted everything to us, we would have already wiped out the bandits and were celebrating our victory!"

His words criticizing the imperial court resonated with the soldiers: "Indeed! If it weren't for the incompetence of that eunuch Yang Fuguang, General Yanwei would have already defeated the enemy!"

"If the eunuch hadn't insisted on taking in that fickle band of outlaws, how could things have come to this?"

Gao Yan raised his voice several octaves: "Not only that, now that my uncle's troops are mostly accompanying me on the expedition, the court has transferred him from the Zhenhai military governor to the Huainan military governor. What do you all think is the reason for this?"

When he was transferred to a new post, he could only take his personal guards with him. Most of Gao Pian's personal guards went south with Gao Yan. When they moved from Zhenhai Army to Huainan, they were immediately surrounded by unfamiliar troops and their defenses were very weak.

After inciting them, Gao Yan further tempted them with words, causing everyone to become suspicious.

Some soldiers looked frightened: "Could it be that the imperial court is going to take action against Commander Lei?"

Gao Yanzhen said in a deep voice, "The court's suspicion of my uncle has not been a matter of just one or two days."

"My uncle is old and his strength is waning, so he is bound to be targeted. I received intelligence that he has been taken into custody by the imperial court. Logically speaking, news of his sudden death from illness will soon follow."

"As you all should know, my uncle's teacher, my grandmaster Shi Xiong, passed away in this way!"

The crowd looked at each other, their expressions gradually turning indignant.

"The way the imperial court treats its meritorious officials is disheartening!"

"Let's fight our way back, wipe out the court's lackeys, and rescue Commander Gao!"

The soldiers raised their arms and shouted.

Morale is good, that's great.

Gao Yan nodded. Next, while his uncle was comforting the defeated troops, he ordered his soldiers to bravely eliminate the traitors.

In the process of eliminating traitors, his uncle died tragically in an accident, and he then wrote a letter requesting to be appointed as the acting governor of Huainan.

The court has long been suspicious of my uncle Gao Pian. If I simply offer a substantial tribute to demonstrate that I am more loyal and reliable than my uncle, the court will surely go along with it and grant my request.

You should know that in the hearts of some people in the imperial court, Lei Shuai Gao Pian is their biggest threat, even more so than the bandit Huang Jutian!

Gao Pian treated Gao Yan with the utmost kindness. If it weren't for the defeat in this battle, which thwarted his plan to join forces with Li Tiao to seize control of Lingnan, Gao Yan would not have harbored any thoughts of retaliation.

But having come this far, Gao Yan had no choice but to obey his mother's dying wish.

What he desires is a glittering throne and supreme power. For this goal, he is willing to betray anyone, even those who repay kindness with enmity.

……

But why did things turn out this way?
Gao Yan clutched his wounded abdomen, fell off his horse, and groaned in pain.

Lai Fu then added another stab to Gao Yan at the spot where Zhu Wen had slashed him.

Gao Pian used more than one person to monitor Gao Yan.

His most trusted servant, Raffles, had been his uncle's man from the beginning.

In the middle of the night after Gao Yan killed Liang Zuan, the bandit army suddenly attacked.

Despite being severely wounded, Zhu Wen, disregarding his injuries, led his elite troops at double speed to pursue them.

The army's morale was high, and Gao Yan was unable to resist. He was defeated once again, and his soldiers scattered.

Both the Wudang Flying Army and the Changwu Cavalry were skilled at escaping, so Gao Yan wasn't worried about them being wiped out by Zhu Wen in one fell swoop.

But as he rode away, Lai Fu drew his knife and attacked.

Gao Yan was caught off guard and suffered a severe blow.

"Humans aren't plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?" Lai Fu's eyes flashed with murderous intent: "You killed Liang Zuan without the slightest hesitation. If you were to kill me one day, would you do the same?"

"How could that be?" Gao Yan said with a heavy heart, "If we succeed this time, all the wealth and honor will be shared with you. Once I become a military governor, I will definitely make you my deputy military governor!"

Lai Fu clearly saw through his plan, and Gao Yan didn't try to hide it either.

“No, I just want you to pay for Liang Zuan’s life.” Lai Fu’s voice trembled.

After the defeat, Laifu realized that Gao Yan was planning something, possibly aiming to seize Gao Pian's position as military governor.

Gao Yan's murder of Liang Zuan left him with no more doubts.

Gao Yan thought that Lai Fu would cut his own neck with the next blow.

But the blade did not fall.

Lai Fu looked back at the pursuing cavalry, stretched out his arm, and pushed Gao Yan off his horse.

(End of this chapter)