You have truly caused me great suffering!

December has arrived.

Japan became bitterly cold, with heavy snow falling.

Due to the siege by the Jing army, the city lacked timber, and food and water became scarce.

The Taira clan's henchmen had begun dismantling people's houses to make fires for warmth.

Guo Hao ordered the burning of their granaries, the digging of trenches around the camp to a depth of over ten feet, the installation of deer antlers, and the laying of iron caltrops to prevent birds from escaping.

Every day, they fire poison cannons into the city, destroying the will of its inhabitants.

Toba and Fujiwara no Tadashi were not just making a declaration of war without actually fighting; they sent people to harass them from time to time.

Unfortunately, the size difference between the two sides is simply too great.

Even if we wait several decades longer, once the Taira clan seizes power through the samurai class, Japan's fighting strength and mobilization capabilities will greatly increase.

This was their weakest point, and their official positions were utterly corrupt.

This was also the time when powerful figures oppressed the common people most ruthlessly and inhumanely.

By mid-December, it had become known in the city that warriors were eating civilians.

On the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Yuwen Xuzhong and Guo Hao arrived at the front of the battle line and watched as the artillery battalion finished loading the cannons.

Guo Hao laughed and said, "The city is about to collapse."

Such generals are all heartless and have absolutely no soft heart.

Otherwise, he would inevitably be an unqualified general, and sooner or later he would harm people.

Yuwen Xuzhong was a political animal, and in order to control the surrounding barbarians, he came up with many wicked schemes.

The strategy he devised for Li Gang was so compelling that even a staunch Han official like Li Gang felt reluctant to take it.

Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dozens of fireballs billowing black smoke flew over the wooden fence of the Heiji Mansion.

The poisonous fireball was not made of iron, but rather of sulfur, arsenic, wolfsbane, croton, soapberry powder mixed with kerosene, wrapped in a ceramic shell, which would release poisonous smoke upon explosion.

The smoke rose like an ink dragon, surging along the ground, seeping through windows and into the cellar.

It's not very destructive, and its lethality is limited, but it's extremely torturous.

The scene in the city was beyond description; it was a living hell. Everywhere there were corpses covered in pus and blood.

The samurai, even when they wanted to eat people, had to be selective. They were so hungry that they lost their minds and dared not touch those who had died from poisoning.

Especially in freezing weather, the toxic fumes disperse without condensing, making it even more effective.

When does the general plan to attack the city?

Guo Hao glanced at the Ping family mansion. To be honest, if he wanted to fight, he could take it down very quickly.

However, he is currently focused on taking the city without taking any damage and is not in a hurry at all; he also wants to intimidate the powerful clans around him.

Let them see the fate of the Ping family, so that they will have a reference point when choosing whether to oppose them in the future.

"Doctor Yuwen, when do you think it would be a good time for us to attack the city?"

Yuwen Xuzhong laughed heartily, "I don't concern myself with war. His Majesty didn't send me here to supervise the army."

At this moment, the deputy general Zhao Li said, "General, it would be best to capture it before the New Year. We must not miss the opportunity to present a victory for the New Year."

He wasn't originally planning to say anything, but he was afraid that Guo would mess things up.

The brothers were all hoping to present a victory before the New Year.

Guo Hao said, "The Ping family mansion is mostly the residence of the Ping family and their confidants. These houses are often made of wood. I plan to set fire to the city and burn it down completely, so that the surrounding powerful families will be terrified and dare not have any more thoughts of resistance."

After speaking, seeing that Yuwen Xuzhong did not object, Guo Hao immediately ordered: "Send out scouts to notify all the powerful clans in the vicinity to come to the Ping Clan's residence to watch the battle within three days. Those who do not come will be the enemy in the next battle."
-
The sky was overcast and the Yangtze River was shrouded in fog.

A dozen or so sailboats were moored on the river, their dark silhouettes barely visible in the thick mist.

Looking out over Meizi Island, it is hidden deep in the misty waves, seemingly connected to the sky and clouds, indistinct and dreamlike.

It seemed as if a light snowfall could fall from the sky at any moment, but the river water continued to surge, creating ripples and waves.

The land of six dynasties, the imperial capital of Jinling.

Nanjing has been a land of beauty and extravagance since ancient times. After the opening of the sea in Jianwu, the Yangtze River shipping route flourished like never before.

Wealth and sex are inseparable.

The flourishing trade further boosted the local prostitution industry. The old courtyard, Qingxi, Taoye Ferry, and Mochou Lake were all places of great pleasure, with peach blossoms and soft songs, each a shining example of its own kind.

Across the river from the Jiangnan Examination Hall, countless brothels lined the streets. Countless self-proclaimed talented and romantic literati indulged in the rosy hues of the Qinhuai River, writing poems and composing verses, lost in their pleasures.

As the sun sets, colorful lanterns are hung at the gates of courtyards along the embankment. The lanterns illuminate the water, and the water reflects the lanterns, making the banks of the Qinhuai River as bright as day. Inside the courtyards, the scene is even more vibrant, with lanterns and music playing, men and women reveling, and the sounds of waves and laughter. All of this showcases the extravagant atmosphere of the Qinhuai River, which is said to be home to "three thousand households of scholars and officials."

Gao Si'an, who came from Dali, was out of place in the decadent atmosphere of the Qinhuai River. He himself was frowning and looked uncomfortable.

"Young Prince, this is the place." A broad-shouldered man pointed to a courtyard deep in the embankment and said.

Gao Si'an nodded and walked towards the courtyard.

News came back from the Dali delegation in Jinling that his elder brother, the heir of the Gao family, had not been seen for a month.

It is said that he went straight into a brothel in Nanjing and refused to come out. He even made a vow of eternal love with a prostitute and spent every day with her.

Dali is a Buddhist country, and the upper class is a devout Buddhist. Gao Si'an originally did not want to get involved in this place of pleasure, but his brother is now a ruthless person who can't be called by anyone.

He had no choice but to come in person if he wanted to see his elder brother.

Arriving at the gate of the courtyard surrounded by willows, though the branches and leaves were gone, a frivolous air still lingered. There were no shills leaning against the gate soliciting business; under the red lanterns, the three large characters "Jinchun Garden" were written on the lintel, the brass rings were half open, and the beaded curtains hung low.

The place reeks of a nauseating mixture of rouge and alcohol.

After walking a few steps, Gao Si'an felt some discomfort in his stomach and intestines. He endured the discomfort and went to the garden.

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind the door, "A distinguished guest has arrived!" which startled him. He turned around and saw a green parrot hopping around on its perch hanging behind the door, chirping, "Serve tea, serve tea quickly!" Its adorable antics made him laugh.

Although Gao Si'an loathed this place, he couldn't help but smile at this hairy beast.

"Who is it? We haven't been accepting customers for a long time."

The curtain was lifted, and a young maidservant appeared. She looked to be about eleven or twelve years old, with her hair in two buns, and she looked at Gao Si'an with curiosity.

"Hmm," the little maid's eyes darted around, feeling that this person looked vaguely familiar. "Is my brother here?" Gao Si'an asked, frowning.

What's your brother's name?

Gao Siyuan is the heir of the Gao family and is in fact the future master of Dali. It seems a bit inappropriate for him to call his elder brother by his name.

Gao Si'an gave a wink, and the man standing next to him immediately said, "My master's surname is Gao, and his given name is Siyuan."

"So you're a relative of the son-in-law's family! Please come in!"

The maidservant immediately changed her tune, smiling as she stepped forward to serve him attentively.

Startled, Gao Si'an quickly took a step back, thinking to himself that the women here were quite frivolous.

Although this maid is young, growing up in a place like this, she's definitely a clever little devil.

Upon seeing this, I immediately realized that this person was the younger brother of the son-in-law of the Gao family, and naturally came from a wealthy family. He seemed to be a bookish nerd with some obsession with cleanliness.

She immediately bowed her head and said, "The young master is having tea in the backyard. I will take you there."

Upon entering the backyard, a warm breeze wafted through the air. Inside the hall, a feast was laid out, featuring delicacies from land and sea, as well as fresh fruits—a dazzling array of dishes.

Gao Si'an was stunned. Dali is known as a place where spring lasts all year round, but even in the dead of winter, they couldn't gather so many fruits.

And where exactly does the warm current come from?
This is just a brothel, yet it exudes such wealth and luxury.

He didn't know that all of this was built with his family's money.

In Nanjing, as long as you have money, you can enjoy any kind of happiness.

Just then, a soft laugh came from inside, followed by footsteps, and a man and a woman came out together.

The man, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, was tall and slender with a dignified appearance. He was none other than his elder brother, Gao Siyuan, the future master of Dali.

The woman beside him had long, flowing black hair that cascaded down to her chest. She had a petite figure and, while not stunningly beautiful, was quite pretty, especially with her fair skin.

Her large, watery eyes were fixed on the man, filled with boundless tenderness, her infatuation and love for him reaching its peak.

Gao Si'an bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, elder brother."

Gao Siyuan was slightly taken aback, then asked, "Why are you here?"

"Gao Lang, what's this?"

Gao Siyuan smiled and took her hand. "Qingqing, this is my seventh brother."

"So it's Uncle. Qingqing greets Uncle."

Gao Si'an frowned, refusing to speak, and even less likely to accept her form of address.

Liu Qingqing wasn't annoyed; she simply stood quietly beside Gao Siyuan. A girl like her knew exactly how to evoke a man's tenderness.

Sure enough, Gao Siyuan was heartbroken upon seeing this and said in a deep voice, "You worthless thing, what are you doing here? Why didn't you answer my questions!"

"I have come to pay my respects to my elder brother on my father's orders."

Hearing his seventh brother mention his father, Gao Siyuan became somewhat frightened. He forced himself to remain calm and asked, "I've been away from home for a long time. How are my father and mother?"

"Everything is fine, but I miss my brother."

The fact that the prince sent by Dali frequented brothels was already a well-known joke among the people.

Even Chen Shao had heard about this gossip and was quite interested in it.

At this point, Gao Siyuan had completely lost the will to help Dali out of its predicament; he was simply indulging in his pleasures and had forgotten all about Yunnan.

After watching for a while, Gao Si'an fully understood, and a wave of sorrow washed over him.

Before his elder brother came to Jinling, he was so steady and reliable.

How did it come to this?

"Nothing's wrong, you can go back now and tell your father that everything is fine here."

Is everything alright?
Gao Si'an couldn't believe it. "You spend all your time in brothels, how can Dali possibly be any better?"

Did you know that the Han people had already begun selecting scholars from humble backgrounds and sending them to study at the Imperial Academy in Nanjing?

The various tribes of Wuman, especially those near Temo Road, are becoming increasingly close to Dajing because of the tea-horse trade.

They are just some tribes. Whether it's the Dali Kingdom or the Dajing Kingdom, they will side with whoever offers them the most benefits.

Our Gao family is already as anxious as ants on a hot pan in Guangzhou, and you, on the other hand, come and say that everything is fine.

Seeing his younger brother's expression, Gao Siyuan seemed a little guilty. He coughed lightly, "Aren't you going out yet!"

He wasn't actually that scared. His own father didn't dare come to Jinling. In the whole of Dali, besides his father, he was the most powerful person.

He simply couldn't stand the invisible pressure that Da Jing was putting on him.

The more he witnessed Da Jing's power, the more desperate he became, and he preferred to seek solace in the arms of a woman.

Gao Si'an turned away helplessly and left Jinchun Garden. Looking at the plaque with the three characters hanging behind him, he sighed inwardly.

If Dali is doomed, how can the legacy of our ancestors be preserved?

The eldest brother has completely given up. The courtyard of this brothel is full of expensive decorations, so it's obvious where the money comes from.

It doesn't matter how much money my brother wants to spend; Dali has plenty of money. The saying "rich enough to rival a country" is just an analogy.

In fact, the wealth of a nation is immeasurable; that is the true foundation and the ultimate pursuit of all families.

The Gao family were, in effect, the rulers of Dali, while the Duan family were merely puppets in their hands.

A woman like that, let her squander money, how much could she possibly spend? Even if we brought her to the Gao family mansion, it wouldn't be a problem; they could afford to support her!
Keeping a famous courtesan from the Central Plains as a concubine is not a shameful thing; in fact, it is quite elegant.

Many famous scholars have done this, and Dali still reveres the Tang Dynasty style today. During the Tang Dynasty, it was common for scholars to keep famous courtesans, a topic that was often discussed in romantic tales.

It was precisely the eldest brother's attitude that was most disappointing; he had completely lost his fighting spirit. Even after I arrived with news of our father, he remained unmoved.

Remembering her father's instructions, Gao Si'an felt that she shouldn't just sit and wait for her fate.

Seeing him standing there motionless, his subordinate tentatively asked, "Young Prince?"

"Let's go find Duan Zhengyan!" (End of Chapter)