Ancestors, please don't crawl out again.

Chapter 132 The Emperor Sweeps Across the Land

Yang Feng also needs to prepare for the future, since the difficulty may continue to increase given the current pace.

The current difficulty is indeed manageable.

But what about the future?

Looking at the noble young masters wielding their swords on the city wall with the elegance of dancing, yet still cutting down Xiongnu soldiers with their sword energy as easily as slicing melons and vegetables; then looking at the commoner generals wielding two iron halberds weighing over a hundred pounds each, leaping over the city wall with ease; and then looking at the Xiongnu warriors covered in blood-red runes, still fighting bitterly—Yang Feng truly didn't believe that a chaotic battle of gods like the Investiture of the Gods wouldn't occur in the future.

He could indeed introduce technology and use firearms to enhance the combat power of ordinary people, allowing them to overwhelm them with sheer numbers after massing troops, and together with his divine artifacts, form an invincible force.

but……

What if the opponent is a god?

He has a divine artifact that can cleave space; what if his opponent has something similar?
He can split space and teleport at will, even to another world, but what if his opponent can freeze him like the immobilization spell in Journey to the West?

Therefore, he needs a sufficient number of grunts to hold the line for him, and a large number of Teletubbies as strong as possible. The Hunnic blood sacrifice witchcraft is obviously most suitable for strengthening ordinary people. As for the Duan family's pills and Shi Le's monsters, they are too evil. In fact, there are several monsters inside his halberd, but they are only sealed inside. Duan Mobo's pills are also inside.

These cannot be used.

After all, one wanted to eat people, and the other wanted to use young boys and girls.

Although Yang Feng believed that he had experienced so much that he had long since reached the point of regarding human life as worthless, his moral standards had not yet fallen to this level.

The Xiongnu, on the other hand, didn't need any of that.

At most, there will be serious aftereffects, but since they are just cannon fodder Teletubbies, it doesn't matter.

Of course, I'm not saying they can carry weapons weighing over 100 pounds and withstand hundreds of bullets with cold weapons, charging like mad warhorses. Wouldn't they be even more ferocious if equipped with modern weapons? With Liu Hu's strength, if you gave him a recoilless rifle, he'd probably dare to use it like a PRG. A modern soldier carrying an ammunition box and a Gatling gun is just for show, but he could actually carry a thousand rounds of ammunition and charge with a Gatling gun, and it would have to be a 12.7 caliber one. Similarly, a modern soldier's protective gear weighing over ten kilograms is considered heavy protection. Even if he wore fifty kilograms of armor, it would only prevent him from jumping more than ten meters. Over a hundred kilograms wouldn't prevent him from running the 110-meter hurdles at the Olympics.

It's very useful!

One is certainly not enough.

But what about a legion like that?
The emperor on the golden toilet descends upon another world with his interstellar legion?
Countless blood sacrifice warriors, clad in heavy armor and carrying heavy machine guns and even small-caliber cannons, surrounded His Majesty the Emperor's imperial carriage, sweeping through mountains of corpses and seas of blood under a crimson sky, conquering one otherworld after another...

In the midst of Emperor Taizu Gao's fantasy, the Tiele Xiongnu cavalry collapsed. They seemed to have appeared on the battlefield as if deliberately sent to their deaths, abandoning their chieftain and over a thousand corpses before hastily departing. Of course, their actions weren't sudden. In reality, as Yang Feng had guessed, Liu Cong was already besieged in Pingyang. Neither Liu Yao nor Liu Yi had any interest in rescuing their emperor, but once he was dead, they would certainly be interested in seizing the throne.

Since Liu Yi was the Crown Prince, Liu Cong needed to find outsiders to sponsor him. Therefore, he specially invited Liu Hu, who was disliked even among the Xiongnu.

The latter came to help him seize the throne.

Moreover, it wasn't just Liu Hu; Liu Yao also won over Yao Yizhong and Pu Hong. However, these two had impure intentions, and at least they wouldn't actually get involved before Liu Yao and Liu Yi started fighting. This was standard practice. When Liu Yao and Liu Yi started fighting, that was when they were truly waiting for the best offer. Only a brainless brute like Liu Hu would get involved at that time. But unexpectedly, before Liu Yao and Liu Yi even started fighting, and even before their emperor died, Yang Feng's army had already appeared in Chang'an.

The brainless Liu Hu, seeing that Yang Feng's army had already stormed into Chang'an and there were only a few thousand guards outside, actually had the audacity to think of beheading someone.

It can only be said that he was extremely unlucky.

If he had possessed the intelligence of his great-grandson Bobo, he wouldn't have died beneath the walls of Chang'an.

The collapse of the Tiefu Xiongnu and the death of Liu Hu were both within the sight of the Xiongnu soldiers on the city wall, so they collapsed as well.

sunset.

"This is Liu Yao?"

Yang Feng looked at the desiccated corpse in front of him.

The future emperor of the Great Zhao Dynasty has now shrunk into a small clump, like a resurrection plant on a dry rock face.

Even the colors are the same.

"Reporting to Emperor Taizu Gao, it was indeed this villain. This villain was extremely fierce and brave. I lost more than three hundred troops before I finally managed to drag him to his death."

Zhou Fu quickly said.

"Alright, I will remember the Zhou family's contributions. But I seem to recall that he also took in Sima Zhong's woman, right? If we find her in the city, I will bestow her upon you. You can have her as your wife or concubine, it's up to you."

Yang Feng said with great interest.

"How can we compare a foolish man who brought about the downfall of a nation with Your Majesty, a wise ruler who founded the dynasty? At that time, I truly wished to die, thinking that all men in the world were like that. Only since I began to serve you have I realized that there are men in the world!"

Listen to what a eloquent woman she is; no wonder Liu Yao was able to have several children with her.

This woman is only thirty years old, still a good age.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!"

Zhou Fu said excitedly.

It was truly exciting. That was the Yang clan of Mount Tai, a genuine top-tier aristocratic family, far superior to his own. Moreover, the Yang clan of Mount Tai had only suffered severe damage, but remained a top-tier aristocratic family. Among Yang Xianrong's clan members were a number of people who had previously served as officials under Sima Rui. Yang Man had previously been Sima Rui's chief clerk, on par with figures like Wang Dao. Even the mother of Sima Pou's wife, Lady Shan, whom Yang Feng had previously killed, was from the Yang clan of Mount Tai. This was the nature of the aristocratic families; they were all cunning and resourceful. For Zhou Fu, from a humble family, receiving this woman was a stroke of good fortune.

Of course, Emperor Taizu Gao was only acting out of good intentions; he was simply concerned about this poor woman and certainly not out of any perverse pleasure.

After glancing at Liu Yao's mummified corpse on the ground, Emperor Taizu Gao stood up, stepped down from his chariot, and stomped directly over the corpse, turning it into a pile of fragments as if crushing a charred tree branch.

"Issue the imperial decree: cleanse the city for three days, and then proceed to Pingyang."

Yang Feng shouted.

The soldiers cheered.

Three days later.

Pingyang.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

……

Amidst a chorus of prostrations, Emperor Taizu Gao's imperial carriage emerged from the spatial rift, and not far opposite him, Pingyang City still stood tall.

"How's the war going?"

Yang Feng asked.

"Your Majesty, the rebels Liu Cong and others are putting up a stubborn resistance. Pingyang City is well-fortified, and we have attacked the city many times but have failed to capture it."

Wei Xiong quickly replied. At this time, Ji Dan was in Jinyang gathering provisions, and he and Li Ju were in charge of the battle. In reality, they had only launched a few probing attacks. As Liu Cong's capital, Jinyang was home to a large concentration of elite troops, but they dared not come out to fight because of the intimidation of the Han army's musketeers. However, it would be different if the Han army took the initiative to attack. Even if the musketeers suppressed the enemy from below the city, their effect would not be as strong as that of the bows and arrows. As for the hand-to-hand combat on the city walls, that would be the home ground for the Xiongnu's blood sacrifice warriors.

Wei Xiong and his companion were aware of this, so their main task was to besiege the area, while the Tuoba Xianbei cavalry cleared out the surrounding Xiongnu.

The latter is happy to do this.

Because the Tuoba tribe was still in internal strife, more and more Tuoba Xianbei people moved south, and then, according to custom, grew their hair long, changed their clothes, adopted Han surnames, and learned Han language.

In fact, it wasn't just the Tuoba Xianbei; refugees from all over the country flocked to them in droves.

As for the origins of these people, it's impossible to discern them. They all speak Han Chinese, dress in Han attire, and claim to be descendants of Han Chinese, but in reality, the Tu Ge, Wuhuan, and even the Di and Qiang originally lived like this. At this time, Tu Ge actually referred to the completely Sinicized Xiongnu. These people are impossible to identify, and even if they could, those in charge would inevitably be bribed and let them go. In the end, even Wei Xiong and his group didn't care about this. They originally followed the Tuoba Xianbei, and when they first migrated south, they not only had Xianbei but also a group of Wuhuan.

Even those who were originally under Liu Kun's command didn't care; they used to rely on the Tuoba Xianbei for help in battles.

By this time, more than 500,000 Han soldiers had gathered around Pingyang, a motley crew including the elderly, women, and children, some of whom had even started farming in the surrounding area.

This is actually standard practice in ancient siege warfare: establishing blockade outposts around the target city, even cultivating land to replenish supplies, then using soldiers to block external reinforcements, ultimately testing endurance—it's quite normal for these battles to last for years, even after the advent of cannons. Zheng Chenggong, when attacking Fort Zeelandia, also cultivated land outside the city walls. Yang Feng's tactic of arriving at the location, shooting down the city wall with a single arrow, and then having all his soldiers swarm in, conquering a large city in less than a day, is nothing short of a miracle.

Looking at the kneeling subjects before him, Yang Feng could tell, even with his understanding of people of this era, that many of them were definitely not Han Chinese.

Although there is none as obvious as that of the Capricorns.

His subjects also looked at him with expectant eyes.

After all, everyone knew that Emperor Taizu Gao had arrived, and Pingyang was immediately captured.

"Issue the order to select a group of people skilled in digging, and then dig towards the city wall, with the Imperial Guards providing cover, until they reach the city wall."

Yang Feng said.

"Emperor Taizu, are we no longer using the divine arrows?"

Xi Jian said cautiously.

"You all depend on me, what use are you to me?"

Yang Feng shouted.

The officials quickly apologized.

But thinking about it, it makes sense; how could a country rely entirely on Emperor Taizu Gao for its wars?

Immediately afterwards, the Imperial Guards began selecting Teletubbies. As for what kind to choose, that was quite simple: start with those who looked least like Han Chinese. In the end, Emperor Taizu Gaozu didn't mind taking them in, but they still had to pay the blood tax.

Those selected were quickly given farming tools and began digging towards Pingyang City.

Yang Feng's task for them was to dig a trench two zhang deep, starting half a li outside the city and heading towards the city wall.

During this time, the Imperial Guard's musketeers were responsible for protecting them. This trench had to cross the moat, so it had to be dug through the riverbed. The problem of water seepage was simple: as they approached the moat, they continued digging deeper. Then they manufactured interlocking wooden pipes with progressively smaller diameters, like barrel hoops, only larger. They dug through these pipes into the riverbed, inserting new ones as they went, until they reached the bottom—it was only a few meters wide anyway.

In short, batches of Teletubbies were conscripted and then filled into the trenches. The Huns inside the city, of course, understood that they wanted to dig tunnels to attack the city, so soon blood sacrifice warriors jumped off the city walls, braving the bullets of the Imperial Guards, and jumped into the trenches to fight the people inside.

Then the Imperial Guards who came to rescue him and the generals who followed Yang Feng killed him.

Of course, the Teletubbies they killed were ignored.

After all, it's normal for people to die in war.

Meanwhile, the trenches continued to advance little by little amidst this fierce fighting, with batches of recruited Teletubbies being filled in to replace those who died or were wounded.

Emperor Taizu Gao's imperial carriage was right behind them, and everyone was vying to be the first.

By midnight, the trench was finally completed.

"Push it to the very back."

Yang Feng pointed to the mobile bomb cart at his feet and said.

As for the car...

FAB3000 aerial bomb.

No fuse installed.

But they inserted an electric detonator inside, and a coil of wire connected to the detonator was placed behind it.

So a new batch of Teletubbies were recruited and sent into the trench to push the heavy iron lump forward.

The Xiongnu inside the city were completely bewildered. They had even dug trenches within the city walls, waiting to kill the Han army when they emerged from the walls. Instead, the Han army stopped digging and pushed the thing forward, which was utterly inexplicable. However, one thing they knew was certain: they couldn't let it cross the moat. Immediately afterward, a large number of Xiongnu warriors, including elite cavalry, charged out of the city after a blood sacrifice. This was no longer Yang Feng's concern; the Xianbei cavalry, led by fierce Han generals, charged directly at the Xiongnu, engaging in a bloody battle.

The Teletubbies continued forward inside the trench.

The Xiongnu warriors continued to charge into the trenches as part of a blood sacrifice ritual, and the chaotic bloody battle continued, with the entire trench even being stained with blood and changing its color.

Meanwhile, the corpses blocking the way were constantly being thrown out, forming long walls of corpses on both sides.

But new Teletubbies kept being sent in, and with their flesh and blood paving the way, FAB 3000 slowly moved through the mud in the trench, reminiscent of the trenches of World War I. However, it was eventually sent into the tunnel that went under the river...

"Gentlemen, do you want to know the true power of the gunpowder used in our cannons?"

Yang Feng looked at the assembled officials before him and spoke.

The latter quickly put on a smiling face.

"And you, do you know why I made you suffer these casualties?"

Yang Feng then addressed the soldiers and the Teletubbies that hadn't yet been used, saying something to them.

The next moment he pressed the detonator.

Everyone instinctively looked towards the city wall. At the same time, at the end of the tunnel, the city wall transformed into a black column that shot into the sky, and a fiery monster arched up, its lower part shimmering with crimson light. This was followed by a deafening roar that pounded everyone's eardrums. The terrifying roar even caused everyone to scream instinctively. Amid their screams, a visible shockwave instantly swept across the battlefield, and the Xianbei and Xiongnu cavalry who were engaged in battle fell in droves in the shockwave.

The tremor of the earth came from beneath everyone's feet.

(End of this chapter)