The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 88 Capturing the Enemy

Li Hongjian was standing behind the desk, dressed for a long journey, with his cloak already on.

He was Li Ye's elder brother, around fifty years old. His silver hair at the temples was dyed indigo, and in the firelight, it revealed a hint of his advanced age, though his expression was kind. His eyes, however, held a deep thoughtfulness.

Xiao Yi noticed that when Wang Chengxun greeted him, Li Hongjian kept fidgeting with the gold thread on his clothes, presumably because he was anxious.

"It's kind of you, Wang Erlang, to come into the city to see me. I wonder how my brother is doing?"

"Of course it's good. He left Chanzhou and stayed by the General's side. He's become more relaxed and has gained weight. He'll soon be able to reunite with Brother Li."

"You can rest assured, Erlang, I am taking good care of the Wang family."

"Let me be frank, I've come tonight to wish Mr. Li a bright future."

Li Hongjian's expression changed, and after thinking for a moment, he asked, "There are still Liu Zhu's troops in the city. How did you get into the city?"

"Huh?" Wang Chengxun chuckled and said, "Lord Li actually considers Liu Zhu a person of importance? In my humble opinion, he is nothing more than a credit. He should be captured and presented to the commander-in-chief as soon as possible, lest the credit go to someone else. Once more people surrender, it will be difficult for Lord Li to even get a chance to rise to the top..."

Xiao Yi remained silent, observing coldly from the sidelines.

Li Hongjian was clearly struggling internally, but he refused to express his opinion, glancing several times at the carriage outside the door, indicating that he still wanted to leave.

He then spoke, shattering Li Hongjian's last glimmer of hope.

"Lord Li, do you perhaps intend to take the imperial treasury's gold to Shanzhou and establish your own independent regime?"

"You! You... what are you saying?"

Li Hongjian's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he pointed at Xiao Yi, his finger trembling uncontrollably.

"How do you know..."

Xiao Yi suddenly raised his voice, his tone fierce, and shouted, "Didn't you see how the General quelled the rebellion in the three towns? How do you, the Li brothers, compare to the strength of those three towns? Are you relying on the town's soldiers? Aren't you afraid of yourselves being killed and your clans wiped out?!"

Li Hongjian's pupils dilated violently, and cold sweat poured down his face.

"I……"

Just then, a whistle blew.

"call out--"

A sharp whistle pierced the somber atmosphere of the Imperial Guard's headquarters.

Xiao Yi thought Li Hongjian was about to make a move, so he subconsciously took a step forward.

Looking over, I saw Li Hongjian shudder, his eyes wide with terror.

“What…what happened?!”

"Report!"

A soldier came running up and said, "Prefect Liu...Prefect Liu has arrived with his troops!"

"What?! He must be after the gold! Quick, move the carriage to the back!" Li Hongjian suddenly stood up, paced anxiously for a couple of steps, and muttered to himself, "What should we do? What should we do?"

Xiao Yi was also pondering it.

Liu Zhu's arrival was too sudden; Zhang Mantun probably hadn't yet coordinated with the Imperial Guards to launch an uprising. But this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. If they chose to deal with Liu Zhu first, Li Hongjian would surely have fled with the imperial treasury's gold. Now they could force Li Hongjian to order the Imperial Guards to capture Liu Zhu.

The worst fear is that Guo Xin, Guo Xin, Li Chongjin, Tang Jin, and the others guarding outside will act impulsively and recklessly; we must hurry.

Wang Chengxun reacted quickly, immediately bowing solemnly to Li Hongjian with a joyful expression.

"Lord Li, this is a golden opportunity!"

He started with a very persuasive statement, and then Wang Chengxun went on to speak eloquently.

"If we lead the Imperial Guards to capture Liu Zhu now and present him to the Commander-in-Chief, we can not only avoid death and the extermination of our clan, but also ensure a bright future!"

"I……"

Li Hongjian almost agreed, but the words caught in his throat as his eyes darted around, and he murmured, "Let me think about it... let me think about it some more..."

"Quick!"

Wang Chengxun was nearly driven mad with anger. He stepped forward and said, “What is there to hesitate about? Do you know how many Han officials who wanted to surrender have sought this opportunity but failed to seize it? I urge Lord Li to make a decision as soon as possible and follow the trend of the times. If Heaven grants you this opportunity and you do not take it, you will suffer the consequences! Any further hesitation will be a death sentence, a death sentence!”

"I'm thinking... my mind is too confused..."

"Give the order quickly, quickly!"

"I……"

“Fuck!”

Wang Chengxun rarely lost his composure and started cursing.

Suddenly, Xiao Yi strode forward and pounced on Li Hongjian.

"Protect the commander!"

The guards in the hall immediately drew their swords and attacked.

"stop!"

Xiao Yi had already grabbed Li Hongjian by the neck and shouted, "Order the Imperial Guards to seize Liu Zhu."

"Yes, yes, put away your knives, I'll give the order right away, I'll give the order right away... Where's my talisman? My talisman..."

In his panic, Li Hongjian slammed his knee into the desk, scattering documents and tallies all over the floor.

That's too late.

The sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the courtyard, followed by the resounding clang of armor clashing against each other.

Xiao Yi turned around and saw faces filled with murderous intent beneath helmets, as well as Liu Zhu.

The first thing to rush into the lobby was a commotion.

"Liu Jingyin, you can't come in..."

"roll!"

"Imperial Brother-in-law, we are about to fight the Northern Army to the death, why do you intend to flee with the imperial treasury's gold?!"

"I...I didn't, it's a misunderstanding..."

"You dare to lie to me?!"

Compared to Li Hongjian's indecisiveness, Liu Zhu was much more decisive and ruthless. He was dressed in armor and led over a hundred elite soldiers. He had already drawn his sword before entering the hall.

"Take down this one who surrendered before the battle even began... Huh? Shi Erlang? What are you doing here..."

"Protect the Governor of the Capital!"

Xiao Yi grasped the nine-section whip on the general's desk and suddenly made his move.

Liu Zhu stepped into the hall, his gaze turned, and his face showed astonishment. He could also sense that everyone in the hall was stunned for a moment.

He had only met Liu Zhu once; at that time, he was just a slave. The incongruity brought about by his time travel could easily lead to misidentification. No matter, once Liu Zhu was killed, no one would care about this "incongruity."

"Shh-"

The nine-section whip flew out like a nimble snake.

The whip is nearly two meters long and weighs less than five kilograms. It is divided into nine sections, cast from refined iron, and is octagonal in shape, making it easy to concentrate force. Each section is connected by copper rings with flat, round double buckles. The outer ring is larger and the inner ring is smaller. The two rings are riveted together with copper tenons, allowing for flexible rotation without ever coming apart. The craftsmanship is extremely complex.

This is a rare weapon, and others might think it's not deadly enough.

However, things were different in Xiao Yi's hands...

He didn't use his arm strength when he made his move, but his waist. With a twist of his waist, the tip of the whip was sent out like a flying arrow, and the spikes of the copper band were like the spitting tongue of a venomous snake.

"puff."

The spike pierced the throat of a soldier who was blocking Liu Zhu's way. He couldn't believe he had been attacked from such a distance and died on the spot.

"Kill!"

A sudden drumming noise arose.

In the front hall, amidst the sounds of fighting, Li Chongjin and Tangjin shouted like thunder.

"Marshal Guo's royal army is entering the city! Only the ringleaders will be executed; those who surrender will be spared! Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

Guo Xin's shout carried a youthful air as he continued, "Whoever captures Liu Zhu will not only have their past transgressions forgiven, but will also be rewarded according to their merits!"

As the deafening clamor continued, shouts and cries of battle gradually drifted in from the direction of the rear office.

"Brothers of the Imperial Guards, follow us and surrender to Marshal Guo!"

"Following Marshal Guo in purging the court of corrupt officials, we will only punish the ringleaders!"

"Abandon darkness and embrace light, and let bygones be bygones!"

You can also hear the voices of Zhang Mantun, Lü You, Fan Si, Wei Liang, and Li Chongju.

Inside the hall, Wang Chengxun held Li Hongjian hostage, raised his token high, and shouted: "Li Hongjian has surrendered! Whoever captures Liu Zhu will be rewarded with one hundred strings of cash and promoted three ranks! Anyone who disobeys this order will be executed along with their entire family for being an accomplice!"

Li Hongjian turned pale with fright and said in a trembling voice, "Yes, yes... take down Liu Zhu!" When the Imperial Guards heard their commander speak, almost all of them were willing to surrender. Some drew their swords and circled the hall to observe the situation, while others turned against Liu Zhu and attacked him.

However, the soldiers brought by Liu Zhu were also fierce, shouting "Traitors must die!" and wielding their swords to kill indiscriminately. In a short time, they killed many imperial guards, frightening others into not daring to step forward.

"Form ranks! Protect the Prefect of the Capital!"

"Kill out!"

"Break through! Break through!"

"kill!"

Seeing that the situation was clearly divided, Xiao Yi focused on killing the enemy.

He learned to use the nine-section whip to help the villainous master; although this weapon is uncommon, it is actually very powerful.

The whip tip stabbed one man, and blood splattered as the wrist sank, the whip trembling like a wave, knocking the knives from the hands of two enemy soldiers. At the same time, the whip tip slashed, cutting from the temple to the chest of another enemy soldier.

With the help of flexible rings, a single whip can attack three times, hence the saying "one move, three variations".

"Kill him!"

The two pounced.

Xiao Yi gripped the whip diagonally, using his waist and abdomen to drive his arm in a horizontal sweep.

"Shh-"

With a flick of the whip, the nine sections of refined iron formed an attack range of more than two meters, creating a powerful and swift motion.

An enemy soldier charged at him, and the Ninth Section immediately shattered his leather armor and broke his neck.

"what!"

The flexible copper rings prevented the whip from getting stuck like a spear, allowing it to sweep across the ground. At the same time, the sixth strike hit another enemy soldier's arm, causing him to scream and fall to the ground.

Xiao Yi changed his move, switching from a sweeping motion to a whipping strike.

First, he pulled back the whip, then suddenly flicked his wrist forward. On the ninth section, using the inertia of the copper ring, he lashed out like a python's tail, striking an enemy soldier in the face, shattering his cheekbone and spitting out a mouthful of teeth. The scene was extremely horrifying.

Blood splattered and splashed onto Liu Zhu's face.

Shouts from outside the hall could also be heard.

"Seal off the main government office; not even a mosquito is allowed to fly out!"

"Capture Liu Zhu!"

As the shouts of battle drew closer, Xiao Yi could already see the figures of Guo Xin and Guo Xin.

"Lord of the Capital, we can't break through..."

"so what?!"

Liu Zhu suddenly looked at Xiao Yi, his pupils contracted sharply, and a murderous aura burst forth.

"Shi Er, let's fight to the death!"

"Tiger--"

Under the cover of two soldiers, Liu Zhu suddenly pounced and swung his sword.

This man is insane; instead of trying to escape, he chose to fight to the death.

Xiao Yi flicked his wrist again, and the long whip, like a snake, came to life. The second section wrapped around the back of the knife, and the copper ring rubbed against the iron blade, producing a piercing screech.

Liu Zhu was also extremely skilled in battle. He drew his sword, leaned back, and his body seemed to break in two as if it were severed, thus avoiding the long whip.

He planned to close in and fight.

Xiao Yi is strong because he is 1 inch longer, while Liu Zhu is 1 inch shorter because he is 1 inch more dangerous.

"Step aside!"

The nine-section whip immediately unleashed its power, dancing so densely that in an instant, almost half the hall was filled with afterimages, forcing Liu Zhu to keep his distance.

"You hurt me..."

Wang Chengxun exclaimed in surprise, shook off Li Hongjian, and nearly fell to the side.

The whip struck the desk, sending splinters of wood flying.

"Boom."

"Boom."

Liu Zhu, however, subdued one of the imperial guards who was trying to capture him and pushed him toward Xiao Yi. At the same time, he kicked another imperial guard into the area covered by the afterimage.

With two muffled thuds, the two imperial guards fell to the ground, dead.

The nine-section whip was also wrapped around one person's neck.

"die!"

"Tiger--"

Liu Zhu swooped down like a hawk, wielding his sword.

Xiao Yi instantly stepped back, stepping on the broken desk, and moved backward to stand on the wooden rafters of the desk. His movements were fluid and graceful, like a crane in flight.

But his armor was cleaved open by the blade, and leather shards fell to the ground.

Liu Zhu approached, grinning maliciously, and charged forward, his blade aimed straight at Xiao Yi's lower abdomen.

Fast and ruthless, these are killing techniques honed on the battlefield, clean and efficient.

Between the lightning and the fire.

Xiao Yi placed his right foot on the wooden rafters of the general's desk, his left leg dangling behind him, his body stretched out like a flying dragon circling the clouds. As he turned to the side and twisted his waist, he gripped the middle of the whip with his right hand and flicked it sharply.

The long whip was replaced by a short stick.

"clang!"

The tip of the whip cleverly pierced the back of Liu Zhu's hand.

The single blade flew out of his hand, grazing Xiao Yi's neck, and embedded itself in the map behind him, its hilt still humming and vibrating.

"it is good!"

As soon as the crowd stormed into the hall, they were met with cheers.

In an instant, Xiao Yi took advantage of the momentum and stepped forward, kicking Liu Zhu's supporting leg in the back of the knee with his left foot.

Liu Zhu immediately knelt down, and just as he was about to raise his head, Xiao Yi stomped his right foot hard on his face.

Taking advantage of the momentum, he leaped off the rickety wooden rafters, and the command table behind him snapped with a crash.

"You fancy but ineffective fighters, go to hell!"

Liu Zhu still refused to be bound. He turned around, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He drew a short dagger from his boot, stood up, and pounced.

With a flick and twist of Xiao Yi's long whip, the whip coiled around Liu Zhu's ankle like a snake, and the copper ring tightened instantly.

"what!"

Liu Zhu roared, fell to the ground, and struggled to get up.

Guo Xin, Tang Jin, and Li Chongjin rushed in, stepped on Liu Zhu's back, and forcefully pinned the madman down.

"Don't kill him!"

Guo Xin's face turned bright red. He slashed more than ten times, chopping up Liu Zhu's hand that was holding the dagger, while still shouting and yelling.

"Don't kill him, torture him to death!"

"Haha." Liu Zhu groaned in pain, but still laughed loudly. "As long as I don't care, no matter how much you torture me, you'll only be the one who gets angry."

"Go to hell! Go to hell!"

Guo Xin was so angry that he slammed the object several times.

Liu Zhu seemed oblivious, and looked up at Xiao Yi with a cold laugh: "Second Master Shi, I also killed all the members of the Shi family. Come on, come and torture me too, hahaha."

"Silly bird, I am not Shi Erlang."

Liu Zhu was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "No? Who else could it be but Shi Er who orchestrated your capture?"

"Ah."

Xiao Yi ignored him and turned to walk away.

A chilling, guttural laugh came from behind Tang Jin.

“Arrogant? Let’s play with him slowly… Sanlang, I’m skilled enough to cut him into 3,600 pieces. Let’s cut off his eyelids first, so he can’t close his eyes and not see me when I’m doing the torture.”

(End of this chapter)