White Horse, Silver Spear, Grand Commandant Gao

I had just finished telling my son about Wang Yanzhang's death, and the story ended abruptly.

After that, Gao Xingzhou did not continue recounting the events of the surprise attack on Bianliang and the destruction of the Liang Kingdom, because he did not know how to begin.

The first year of the Tongguang reign, the seventh day of the tenth month, the day of Dingchou.

In three nights and two days, five thousand men and horses marched more than two hundred li to Caozhou, where the prefect surrendered.

Li Siyuan did not stop or pause, and continued to lead his army forward.

October 9th, Ji-Mao.

Chi Ming, the vanguard arrived at Bianliang.

Li Congke and Gao Xingzhou served as the vanguard, with Li Congke and Gao Xingzhou assigned to capture the enemy soldiers on the left and right respectively.

As the name suggests, "capturing alive" means capturing enemy scouts. The two men traveled along the way, capturing and killing soldiers sent out by Bianjing to scout, so that the news did not leak out before the Tang army arrived at the city.

Li Siyuan immediately ordered an attack on Fengqiu Gate, directly north of Bianliang, to intimidate the people of Bianliang.

The cavalrymen sped along, plundering civilians gathering firewood and shooting arrows at the city walls to test the strength of the defenses.

According to intelligence, there are still several thousand Imperial Guards in Bianliang City, whose numbers alone are comparable to those of the raiding force. This includes over a thousand members of the Crane Control Army.

The organization of the Crane Control Army originated from Wu Zetian. The Left and Right Gate Guards Offices were renamed the Left and Right Crane Control Offices, which were established by her favored ministers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong.

The chief officer was of the third rank, below the Imperial Censor, and there were twenty-four of them, corresponding to the twenty-four solar terms. Originally, they were a group of handsome young men who served as the imperial guards, and could be said to have no fighting power whatsoever.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, Zhu Wen reorganized the Crane Control Army and listed it as a personal guard outside of the emperor's six armies, which is how it became an elite force.

Ironically, Zhu Wen himself died at the hands of the Crane Control Army.

At that time, Zhu Wen's illegitimate son, Zhu Yougui, served as the Commander of the Crane Control Army, commanding this force responsible for guarding the palace and protecting the emperor. Unexpectedly, Zhu Wen's bestial nature was unleashed, and he wantonly abused his wife and daughter-in-law.

Zhu Yougui's mother came from a brothel in Bozhou, and Zhu Wen showed her no respect whatsoever. After ascending the throne, he believed that he could have any woman in the world at his beck and call.

The result was that Zhu Yougui mixed 500 Dragon Tiger Army soldiers with the Crane Control Army. At midnight, he broke through the gates, entered the palace, and murdered his father. (Note 1)

After a five-day, rapid march of five hundred li, with no supplies or equipment, and with sufficient troops still in the city, Gao Xingzhou anticipated a fierce battle.

But after only one volley of arrows, a white flag was raised on the city wall, and many people shouted in unison, "Royal army, do not attack! Wang Zan, the Prefect of Kaifeng, surrenders!"

The result was unexpected, yet also reasonable.

Wang Zan, the highest-ranking official in Bianliang, opened the city gates to welcome the Tang army into the city and explained everything.

Upon hearing of the defeat at Zhongdu, Zhu Youzhen hastily summoned Duan Ning on the river. Unexpectedly, the messenger first fell from his horse and injured his foot, and then was hindered by the floodwaters of the breached riverbank, preventing reinforcements from arriving. He had only himself to blame.

The imperial guards in Bianliang still numbered four thousand, and close advisors requested that they be used to resist the Tang army.

Zhu Youzhen refused, climbed the city tower and wept day and night. He summoned Wang Zan, holding the national treasure in his hand, and said, "Duan Ning has not yet arrived. I possess this item. The fate of the nation rests on your strategies."

The Imperial Guards were insufficient to defend the capital city, and there were no soldiers outside the city walls. Wang Zan had no choice but to inspect the city's residents and laymen and have them climb the city walls in preparation.

At this point, Wang Zan couldn't help but smile bitterly: "The fate of the Great Liang dynasty cannot be shouldered by me alone."

Gao Xingzhou remained silent. This must be what it means when a country is about to perish and the hearts of its people are scattered.

In any case, Li Congke and himself became the first Tang army generals to enter the capital of Liang.

Taking over the city's defenses, guarding the treasury, surrounding the palace, overseeing the civil and military officials, ordering Wang Zan to prepare for surrender, welcoming Li Siyuan's troops, and later Li Cunxu's large army—after occupying the enemy's capital, he was extremely busy with one thing after another.

Under the protection of Shi Jingtang, Li Siyuan led his army to Jianguo Gate, which is located in the center of the south side of the palace. Upon hearing that the Liang ruler had committed suicide, he returned to Fengchan Temple and stationed his troops there.

As a subject, one should abide by one's duty and not enter the palace without permission; one must wait for His Majesty's arrival.

Fortunately, Li Cunxu did not march slowly this time. He arrived only an hour or two later and entered the city through the Daliang Gate after being greeted by Wang Zan.

The civil and military officials of Liang paid homage before the horse, each recounting how their families had served the Tang dynasty for generations, but were unfortunately trapped in the false court. Today, they witnessed the restoration of the Tang dynasty, and though they died, they had no regrets.

Li Cunxu instructed them, "I have fought bloody battles for twenty years so that your families are no longer a cause for concern. You may all return to your positions."

Without having time to deal with the officials, Li Cunxu hastily moved into the palace.

Li Siyuan greeted Li Cunxu by the roadside. Overjoyed, Li Cunxu grabbed Li Siyuan's robe and touched him with his head as if in worship, saying without thinking, "I have the world because of your bloody battles. I should share it with you."

This was a victory a hundred times greater than the one at Zhongdu, and Li Cunxu's state of mind at that moment was truly indescribable.

His 15-year-long dream has finally come true, and he is ready to savor the joy of success.

For a powerful ruler, money and beautiful women are readily available, and ordinary pleasures no longer bring him joy.

To defeat one's former enemies—emperors and generals—and bring them down from their pedestals to submit; to bring empresses and concubines into one's bedchamber and make them entangled beneath one's legs—this is the greatest joy in life.

Most of the concubines of the Liang emperor were afraid of death, so they prostrated themselves, begged for mercy, and wept as they welcomed and worshipped him.

Li Cunxu saw that all the beautiful women were crying with tears streaming down their faces, but one woman stood still and did not bow, standing out like a crane among chickens. He asked the people around him about the woman's identity and learned that she was Lady Shi, the wife of Prince He, Zhu Youyong.

Seeing her stunning beauty and remarkably calm demeanor, Li Cunxu ordered her to sleep with him.

I thought this woman had been favored and would be grateful, serving me wholeheartedly and enjoying a night of passion. I imagined it would be quite interesting when she abandoned her pride and dignity.

Unexpectedly, Shi glared and cursed, "My Shi family descends from Shi La, a high-ranking official of the State of Wei during the Spring and Autumn Period. How could we serve you, the Shatuo barbarian dog! You may cut off my head, but you will not be humiliated!"

If Li Congke were present, he would probably tease her: "Hmm? How come this woman's background is exactly the same as someone else's?"

Li Cunxu was in high spirits and could not tolerate offending the emperor's majesty, so he immediately ordered him to be taken out and executed.

After killing Shi, Li Cunxu saw Zhu Youzhen's second wife, Guo, dressed in white, with tearful eyes and a sorrowful expression, her beauty captivating. He then beckoned her over with his finger.

Guo had no choice but to crawl forward on her knees and kneel before Li Cunxu, allowing herself to be caressed and teased. (Note 2)

……

Night had fallen, and a curfew was in effect in Bianliang. The people kept their doors tightly shut. Every few steps, there was a Tang soldier on guard.

The torches crackled, illuminating the silent streets; without a sound, a new dynasty had already been established.

Gao Xingzhou's troops were stationed at the Kaifeng Prefectural Government Office, which was not only an important place for governing civil affairs, but also housed an armory and stables. There was also a prison in the southwest corner, so it was necessary to strictly prevent unscrupulous people from sneaking in and releasing prisoners to incite unrest.

After completing his rounds of inspections, he was about to rest when he heard a commotion outside, and Li Congke walked in.

"Are you done with your work? Want to grab a drink?"

Gao Xingzhou knew that he was fond of drinking, so he was about to bring out some wine.

"I won't drink tonight."

Li Congke asked with a grin, "Do you still remember that old man Liu Xun?"

Gao Xingzhou certainly remembered Liu Xun.

The Battle of Weizhou cemented Xia Luqi's fame, but it was also a matter of life and death. Had he made even the slightest mistake, Li Cunxu would have been captured and killed, and there would have been no subsequent struggle for supremacy between the Jin and Liang dynasties.

Liu Xun had been given poisoned wine and died two years prior. Gao Xingzhou was puzzled as to why Li Congke brought him up now: "You neither drink nor sleep peacefully, so what are you doing here?"

Li Congke did not answer, but clapped his hands, and two strong soldiers carried in a sedan chair and placed it in front of Gao Xingzhou.

The sedan chair was covered by curtains, so it was impossible to see who was sitting inside.

With a wave of his hand, Li Congke dismissed the soldiers and said with a grin, "Liu Xun may be old, but he's not young at heart. A few years ago, he married a beautiful young woman. The nights are long and I can't sleep alone, so I specially invited her here to be your bedmate."

"Ah India, you're really good at handling things."

Gao Xingzhou waved his hand, telling him to quickly send the child back to where he came from.

"We fought and won, risking our lives, and this is the reward we deserve."

Li Congke shook his head vigorously. Which military general didn't do the same? Rather than letting such a beautiful woman go to someone else, it would be better to give her to one of his own brothers.

He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "You don't know, do you? When His Majesty entered the palace today, all those women cried and knelt to welcome him. One stubborn woman refused and cursed at him, and was killed on the spot. The second concubine of the Liang Emperor was scared, and now she's naked and lying obediently on the bed, letting His Majesty do as he pleases."

Gao Xingzhou didn't know what to say to him: "You really have a lot of free time, even managing to find out the gossip in the palace."

"If His Majesty can do it, why can't we?"

Li Congke chuckled and whispered in Gao Congzhou's ear, "Don't worry, you'll be satisfied the moment you see this young lady."

Before Gao Xingzhou could retort, Li Congke reached down and pulled out his crotch: "Tomorrow I'm ordered to head north to deal with Duan Ning, but there probably won't be a fight. I'll just be going to accept his surrender. You've been marching for days, you must be feeling quite pent up. Why don't you relax a bit tonight?"

Before he finished speaking, he ran off in a flash.

Gao Xingzhou couldn't catch him, leaving only the sedan chair in the room.

The woman in the sedan chair heard everything Li Congke had just said.

When a group of soldiers stormed into the mansion like wolves, the woman knew what awaited her; fortunately, it wasn't the worst possible outcome.

"Come out."

Gao Xingzhou said loudly, "Since the person has already been sent, there's no need to be pretentious and disappoint our friend's good intentions."

A slender, delicate hand lifted the curtain, then the tip of her foot lightly touched the ground.

Those were a pair of brocade shoes woven from red feathers, decorated with cloud patterns at the front and back, and adorned with pearl flowers at the top, hence the name "flower-shaped shoes," which wrapped around her delicate jade feet.

The woman stepped out of the sedan chair, bowed slightly, and said softly, "Wang, the widow of Liu Xun, the former Prefect of Kaifeng, greets the General."

For a moment, Gao Xingzhou held his breath.

Approaching forty, he finally understood what it meant to be a peerless beauty, breathtaking and captivating.

Seemingly accustomed to men being captivated by her beauty at first sight, the woman smiled, but with an indescribable bitterness in her eyes.

She lowered her head, as if unable to withstand Gao Xingzhou's sharp gaze; only her shiny black hair and cloud-like temples were visible.

A peerless beauty born in a chaotic world will only become a plaything for military leaders to satisfy their lust, and if she is unlucky, she will change hands many times and wander from place to place without a place to settle down.

Just like I am now.

The woman closed her starry eyes slightly. She had just glanced at the man in front of her and thought he was tall, handsome, and looked like a hero.

The next moment, he'll probably turn into a beast and pounce on you, tearing off your clothes.

The woman's delicate body trembled involuntarily as she mentally prepared herself to endure what was to come.

Since killing Wang Yanzhang to avenge his father, and now destroying the Liang Kingdom, Gao Xingzhou felt no more burdens or pressures in his heart. He felt incredibly relaxed and carefree, and what was wrong with indulging in a bit of unrestrained pleasure?

He laughed heartily, put his arm around the woman's soft waist, and got up to walk towards the bed.

The woman leaned softly against his shoulder. Tonight, it was a foregone conclusion that she would give herself to this man. She only hoped that he would show her some tenderness.

That night, Gao Xingzhou frantically gathered nectar from the flowers like a bee or butterfly, yet the nectar seemed inexhaustible.

In the ecstasy of pleasure, inhaling the woman's alluring, subtle fragrance, he murmured to himself, "I thought that the phrase 'the moon hides its face and the flowers blush' was just literary exaggeration, but I never imagined that such a beauty truly exists in this world—what is your name?"

The woman wrapped her jade-like arms around Gao Xingzhou's shoulders and back, buried her face in his broad chest, and answered with a soft moan: "I am originally from the Wang family of Binzhou, a baker. My nickname is Jinlian, and I am also known as 'Flower-Shy'."

Selling cakes, Jinlian? Gao Xingzhou couldn't think of anything else, deeply immersed in the soft and fragrant embrace of her.

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Place Name Comparison

Caozhou: present-day Laocheng District, Heze City, Shandong Province