Ancestors, please don't crawl out again.

Chapter 105 An Era of Filial Piety and Kind Fathers

The ensuing bloody battle did not occur; in fact, most of the Jin army accepted the one in ten cuts for each soldier killed…

Mortals cannot defy the gods.

The odds of one out of ten being killed are still worth a gamble, since even if you die, it's only a one in ten chance.

But the probability of dying while resisting is far greater than that.

Li Keyong's main force was indeed the Shatuo, but it wasn't just the Shatuo. The vast majority of them were still young men from various parts of Hedong. They did like to establish their own independent regimes, after all, it was determined by their interests, but to say that they would fight to the death for it was another matter.

In previous attacks on Taiyuan by Zhu Wen, most places, including Fenzhou, surrendered without a fight. In essence, Li Keyong's rule over Hedong was his Daibei group taking control of Hedong.

The vast majority of his thirteen bodyguards came from Daibei rather than Hedong.

Li Siyuan was a member of the Shatuo ethnic group.

Li Sizhao was indeed from Hedong; he was originally from Taigu, Fenzhou, and his original surname was Han.

But the remaining ones are Li Cunxin of the Uyghurs, Cunjin of Zhenwu, Siben of Yanmen, Sien of Tuyuhun, Cunzhang of Yunzhong, Cunshen or Fu Cunshen of Chenzhou, Cunxian of Xuzhou, Shi Jingsi of the Shatuo tribe, Kang Junli of Weizhou, Li Cunxiao of Feihu, and Zhou Dewei of Shuozhou, who is not one of the Thirteen Protectors but is actually a major general.

Of the thirteen major generals, only one was from Hedong, two from Henan, and the remaining ten were all from Daibei.

That's why they're called the Daibei Group.

Li Keyong's appointment as the military governor of Hedong was largely due to his merit in recapturing Chang'an, but also because of the constant mutinies in Hedong. In the later Tang Dynasty, even a prime minister was needed as an envoy to suppress the arrogant and unruly soldiers in Hedong. His predecessor, Zheng Congdang, was an envoy-prime minister, and his predecessor before that, Kang Chuangui, died in a mutiny. A significant reason for appointing him as military governor was that, in the emperor's view, the arrogant and unruly soldiers in this region were beyond his control anyway; if he wanted them, he might as well give them to him and see who was more ruthless.

Don't you guys like to make trouble?

Then here's a tough guy for you. If you're so capable, go ahead and cause trouble for Li Keyong's Crow Army!
This is the true nature of his relationship with the local forces in Hedong.

The latter wouldn't risk his life for him.

They would welcome Zhu Wen's army with joy, so why would they risk their lives for him against a god?
The battle outside the city had barely begun when internal strife broke out within Jinyang City. Local able-bodied men, who had witnessed everything from the city walls, elected Ding Hui as their leader and launched a mutiny. Meanwhile, many soldiers outside the city began to surrender, awaiting execution for every ten men they captured. When Li Siyuan and other generals led a contingent of soldiers back into the city, they were blocked outside by the mutinous soldiers. Unable to delay any longer, he fled around the city walls. Shortly after, Li Cunxu led the main force of the Shatuo tribe within the city to withdraw.

After the two armies joined forces, they fled north together.

the next day.

early morning.

The gates of Jinyang were wide open.

All the soldiers and civilians in the city went out to welcome the Grand Preceptor outside the city.

"Your humble servant, Ding Hui, Military Governor of Zhaoyi, pays his respects to the Imperial Preceptor!"

Ding Hui, who was in the lead, knelt on the ground trembling and kowtowed to the national teacher.

At least in terms of his official position, he was still the military governor of Zhaoyi in the Tang Dynasty.

Then, the local soldiers and civilians lined up outside the city also knelt down in fear.

I was really on tenterhooks!
At this moment, the surrendered Jin soldiers outside the city were being drawn into groups of ten under the supervision of the Tang army. Those who drew death lots were dragged aside and executed by the Mo Dao soldiers, who cut off their heads on the spot and piled them up as a Jing Guan (a mound of corpses). The Grand Preceptor was truly ruthless. However, since he was a deity, he might also regard mortals as ants.

Of course, it could also be a demon...

That would be treating human life as worthless.

In short, whether he is a god or a demon, human life is insignificant in his eyes.

Since that's the case, you might as well kneel down obediently in front of him!
"Who are these people?"

Yang Feng glanced at the group of men, women, and children tied up behind Ding Hui.

"Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor, these are all family members of the disgraced official Li Keyong. His eldest son was killed by Luo Hongxin, and his second son, Cunxu, was made heir apparent. He has already led his army north to escape. The remaining young sons and female relatives were not taken with them and are all here awaiting the Imperial Preceptor's judgment. His younger brother, Kening, has died in the chaos of battle. Most of the other generals' families were also not taken with them and are all here awaiting the Imperial Preceptor's judgment."

Ding said tremblingly.

"Send them all to the capital for resettlement."

Li Keyong should be executed for refusing the imperial edict, and Li Siyuan and others should also be executed for their rebellion. But what crime have women and children committed? Moreover, he did have the merit of recovering Chang'an. His remains should be returned to his family and he should be buried in the capital with the honors due to a Duke.
In addition, orders were sent to Zhou Dewei and his companion, instructing them to wait at the South Gate for their troop rotation.

Yang Feng said.

After saying that, he walked straight into the city.

Ding Hui trembled as he got up and quickly followed him, bowing and scraping.

"Grand Preceptor, I am willing to go to the South Gate to inform Zhou Dewei and Li Cunshen."

He fawned over him as he walked.

"No need."

Yang Feng said.

"Well, if the two of them make a mistake and their troops surrender to the enemy, it could cause some trouble."

Ding said cautiously.

He's so kind-hearted; he genuinely cares about the imperial court!

Zhou Dewei and Li Cunshen held the southern pass with tens of thousands of troops, blocking Zhu Wen's supposedly 200,000-strong army. If they chose to surrender to Zhu Wen, the Liang army would immediately pour into Hedong and head straight for Jinyang. At this point, a little appeasement and promises would make them accept reality. After all, they weren't like Li Keyong and his son, who still wanted to contend for the world. Whether they surrendered to the court or Zhu Wen, they were all working for someone else.

Surrendering to the imperial court seems safer at the moment, but the premise is that we have to give them some benefits.

"trouble?"

Yang Feng sneered.

"What trouble do you think they could cause me?"

He went on to say.

Ding quickly shut up.

He's not stupid; the Grand Preceptor is clearly hoping that Zhou Dewei and the other man will surrender to Zhu Wen!

Of course, Zhou Dewei and his companion weren't stupid. That very evening, they rode a hundred miles from the front lines to Jinyang, where they knelt in awe before the Imperial Preceptor. After being reprimanded by the Imperial Preceptor for leaving the front lines without permission, they rushed back to Nanguan that same night, nearly collapsing from exhaustion. However, it was all in vain. After all, they weren't the only ones on the front lines. Initially, they didn't know what had happened in Jinyang, but by the afternoon of the third day, they knew almost everything they could.

Immediately following this, Shi Jingsi's son Shi Jiantang, Li Keyong's nephew Li Sigong, and others staged a mutiny, leading the Shatuo troops to defect and surrender to Zhu Wen. The latter then launched a major offensive.

Meanwhile, the Jin army was in chaos. Both generals and soldiers were at a loss because the Jinyang Incident happened so suddenly. Some surrendered directly, while most simply scattered. Zhou Dewei and Li Cunshen were powerless to reverse the situation and could only lead their confidants to abandon Nanguan and flee north.

If the South Pass couldn't be defended, the North Pass certainly couldn't be defended either, and Zhu Wen's supposedly 200,000-strong army poured into the Jinzhong Basin.

Qi County, Taigu, and other places surrendered without a fight, and even Fenzhou surrendered without a battle. Zhu Wen's Hezhong Jiedushi, Zhu Youqian, also entered the Jinzhong Basin after leaving Lengquan Pass. However, strangely, Yang Feng in Jinyang City turned a blind eye to all of this, completely ignoring it and allowing the Liang army to quickly occupy most of the Jinzhong Basin, as if it had nothing to do with him. However, the Liang army did not attack Jinyang. For Zhu Wen, attacking Jinyang was not the most important thing at the moment. In fact, this was like a windfall for him, and he even wondered if he was truly destined for greatness.

During the attack on Luzhou, an object fell from the sky and smashed down the city wall.

Then his arch-rival Li Keyong died.

He was laughing so hard he was about to die.

Moreover, this suddenly appearing Tang Dynasty actually wants to abolish all the military governors, which is to help him tie all the military governors to the Great Liang Dynasty!
His priority now isn't attacking Jinyang; the city is there, it can't run away, and he can attack it whenever he wants. What's important now is using this incident to stir up trouble, or rather, to incite the regional warlords to unite against a common enemy. After all, this so-called Grand Preceptor didn't even spare Li Keyong. He stripped Li Maozhen of his power and seized his territory, and he killed Li Keyong—both of whom still respected the Tang Dynasty. If he treated them this way, it goes without saying how he would treat the warlords who betrayed the Tang.

Who isn't afraid?
Who doesn't share the same hatred for the enemy?

Zhao Wang Rong, Ye Wang Luo Shaowei, Beiping Wang Chuzhi...

Which of them doesn't feel a sense of shared sorrow and hatred for the enemy?
Even Liu Rengong had to share the same hatred for the enemy.

The Emperor of Liang in Kaifeng has been in a state of high spirits these past few days, and he has been showing more affection to his daughters-in-law than ever before, which has made his sons more and more filial. What a loving father and filial sons!

Upon learning of Li Keyong's death, which Zhu Wen had urgently announced to the world, or rather, that the newly rebuilt Tang Dynasty was about to abolish all military governors, Wang Rong, who had become quite calm, was enraged. After all, when it came to the traitors of the Tang Dynasty, his family had the longest and most illustrious lineage. His army also marched westward, and all the cities along the way surrendered without a fight. Li Cunxu, who had fled to Xinzhou, left Li Siyuan to guard Xinkou and returned directly to his hometown of Yingzhou. He then submitted to Zhu Wen under the pretext of avenging his father. The latter immediately granted him the title of Prince of Jin, bestowed upon him all the official titles that Li Keyong had held in the Tang Dynasty, and sent his son Zhu Yougui to Yingzhou to offer sacrifices to Li Keyong on his behalf.

Incidentally, a host of posthumous titles were bestowed upon Li Keyong, and they were addressed as brothers...

Brothers!
Our parting at Shangyuan Post Station turned out to be our last.

Of course, it's not just him.

Although Li Cunxu only set up a cenotaph for his father in Yingzhou, the funeral was extremely grand. Except for those who were too far away to attend, such as Wang Jian and Yang Xingmi, all the regional military governors in the north sent people to participate, and even his other good brother Yelü Abaoji sent people to attend.

A month and a half later.

Jinyang.

"Abaoji? Is he trying to pull the same trick as Shi Jingtang ahead of time?"

Yang Feng sneered.

Abaoji not only sent envoys to Li Keyong's funeral, but also dispatched 5,000 Khitan cavalry, reportedly borrowed from Li Cunxu. Abaoji and Li Keyong had sworn brotherhood during the Yunzhong Alliance, and now that Li Keyong had been killed by demons, it was reasonable for his son to borrow troops from his uncle to avenge his father. However, his true intention was probably not revenge. Li Cunxu could not genuinely surrender to Zhu Wen; he harbored great ambitions, but he was no longer able to fight Zhu Wen. In this situation, clinging to another uncle was the standard tactic.

Including the recent hype surrounding his father's death, and the loud calls for revenge, all of which were merely attempts to draw more forces into the fray.

He didn't take any action.

Li Siyuan not only did not go south from Xinkou to participate in Zhu Wen's plan to recapture Jinyang, but he also blocked a cavalry force sent by Zhu Wen to probe at Shiling Pass. Wang Chuzhi asked to go south from Lingqiu to help them avenge their defeat, but they refused as well.

Of course, Wang Chuzhi was just saying that; he didn't dare to send troops, after all, Liu Rengong was watching him in a very shady way.

However, we can't say anything about Liu Rengong anymore.

The latter is currently enjoying a harmonious relationship with his father and son. Zhu Wen previously sent his general Li Si'an to attack Youzhou. Liu Rengong has already been cultivating immortality in Da'an Mountain. His son Liu Shouguang, who was previously expelled from the family for having an affair with a concubine, defeated Li Si'an and then declared himself a military governor. He sent troops to attack Liu Rengong, captured and imprisoned him, and attacked Liu Rengong's other son Liu Shouwen.

A loving father and a filial son.

They were a very loving father and filial son.

Li Cunxu knew how terrifying Yang Feng was. He wasn't currently focused on revenge, but he did have the intention of luring others to avenge him. Similarly, to avoid being annexed by Zhu Wen, he also needed to lead Yelü Abaoji south. Of course, he still had to submit to Zhu Wen. That way, if his uncle Abaoji wanted to favor him, he could appeal to his uncle Zhu. Abaoji, having suffered repeated setbacks against Liu Rengong over the years, wasn't entirely without the desire to find another avenue for advancement.

"What a despicable and underhanded scheme!"

Yang Feng said contemptuously.

He then looked at Zhou Dewei and the others who were waiting for the Grand Preceptor's instructions.

These intelligence reports were all gathered for him by Zhou Dewei and Li Cunshen. After losing the North and South Passes, these two are now relying entirely on serving the Grand Preceptor like slaves. However, their military talents are still unquestionable, so they have now been reassigned as generals of the Sixteen Guards.

The sixteen generals were Qin Qiong and others, but below them were a bunch of senior generals and generals, which could be given to these surrendered generals.

"How many enemy troops have reached Taiyuan?"

Yang Feng said.

This Taiyuan refers to Taiyuan Prefecture, or more specifically, the Jinzhong Basin.

Taiyuan Prefecture, the northern capital.

The entire Jinzhong Basin is divided into two parts: one under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture in the north, and the other under the jurisdiction of Fenzhou. Now, all the areas under the jurisdiction of Fenzhou have surrendered to Zhu Wen, and all the areas east of the Fen River in Taiyuan Prefecture have fallen into Zhu Wen's hands, including Yangqu, and even the cities south of Jinyang. The Tang Dynasty only has the isolated city of Jinyang under its actual control.

“Returning to the Imperial Preceptor, east of the Fen River from north to south are the troops of Chengde general Li Honggui, Liang generals Yang Shihou, Kang Chengxun, and Li Si'an, the troops of Weibo general Pan Yan, the rebel generals of Hedong Shi Jiantang and Li Sigong, and west of the Fen River are the troops of Liang general Zhu Youqian, Dingnan Army Li Renfu, and Gaozong Yi.”

Zhou Dewei quickly said.

"The Dingnan Army, even they've come?"

Yang Feng said in surprise.

"Grand Preceptor, the Dingnan Army has occupied Suizhou, which is only separated by a mountain. After Fenzhou surrendered to the enemy, this road is now open."

Fu Cunshen quickly said.

He has actually changed his name to Fu Cun.

His original name was Fu Cun, but he later became Li Keyong's adopted son and changed his name to Li Cunshen. As for why he was later commonly called Fu Cunshen...

His son, Fu Yanqing, was the father-in-law of two emperors, Chai Rong and Zhao Guangyi. His family had three empresses. As the Prince of Wei of the Great Song Dynasty, a true minister of the highest rank, he could not possibly use someone else's surname. He restored his surname to Fu, so his father could no longer be called Li Cunshen. In fact, he was originally called Li Yanqing.

"That's still a bit too few. Forget it, I guess we won't be able to catch the others anyway. Let's issue a challenge and tell them that we will fight them to the death at Jinci in three days and leave them with nothing."

Yang Feng said.

"I obey your command."

Zhou Dewei and the others quickly bowed and said...

(End of this chapter)