Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Xie Tingyu defeated the enemy with lightning speed, and his might...
Xuyi City.
In the dead of night, the soldiers defending the city suddenly heard the thundering sound of horse hooves approaching from afar. Looking up, they saw a group of black-armored cavalrymen breaking through the fog like a black dragon, heading straight for the city gate.
The guard on the watchtower spotted the distinct Chinese character "Zhou" on the red flag and immediately shouted, "The imperial army is arriving. Open the city gates!"
Immediately, a soldier jumped on his horse and galloped into the city to inform the nobles.
Soon, several luxurious carriages drove out of the manor and stopped in front of the city gate. As the doors opened, several young ladies from the aristocratic families, clad in fox furs and with their hair adorned with gold and jade, gracefully stepped out.
Since most of Pengcheng fell to the rebels, the Pengcheng Liu clan, the largest clan in the northern border, hastily fled south, trapped in the city of Xuyi in Yuzhou. Although they had attempted to resist with their own troops, years of pampered living had left them neglecting military matters, ultimately leading to their disastrous defeat. Now, they could only hope for a relief force from the imperial court.
The clatter of horses' hooves ceased, the clang of armored vehicles clung to the air, and the troops formed a line in front of the city gate. Torches blazed brightly, illuminating the cold gleam of their armor.
Liu Xi looked up and saw several armored female generals standing in front of them. The one in the middle was wearing a black double-breasted armor tightly wrapped around her body, with a sword hanging from her waist. The red silk on the sword handle rustled, adding a touch of beauty to the coldness.
Their eyes moved upwards and met.
Liu Xi was over sixty years old and he prided himself on having seen countless men. However, the moment he met this general, whose rank he did not know, he could faintly smell the aura of slaughter coming from the battlefield.
When he looked more closely, he saw that the other person had eyes like cold stars, a straight figure, and looked no more than twenty years old, but he exuded a calm and refined demeanor that was very different from others.
Seeing the black-armored female general dismount swiftly, Liu Xi immediately stepped forward, stopped five or six steps away, and bowed, "I have been waiting here for a long time."
Xie Tingyu returned the greeting and then raised his hand to wave back. Cen Xiu immediately said, "The entire army will camp outside the city to repair—"
After the military order was passed down, she turned her gaze back and said calmly, "We received urgent reports from Pengcheng along the way. It seems that even though Master Liu has trained his troops for a thousand days, they are unable to use them in a short time."
Liu Xi was about to vent her frustration, but the young general's casual words choked her back. She choked slightly, forcing a smile. "The rebels came with such force, and they took Prefect Wang's life in a surprise attack at night. We are not good fighters, and we are unable to resist."
"In that case, there's no need to waste words. Although there are military matters to report, please tell me the specific situation, Master Liu."
Liu Xi had just uttered the word "General" when he saw Xie Tingyu swiftly climb onto his horse. He had to swallow back the words "General, please move to the carriage." He thought to himself that this military general really did not understand the ways of the world, so he had no choice but to get in the carriage with him to discuss the matter.
When Cui Yuanying heard the word "general", he burst out laughing, "Hahahahahahahahaha, someone mistook you for a general again. Luckily General Huan didn't come with us this time, otherwise he would have been mad at me again."
Liu Xi originally wanted to hold a banquet to welcome him, but was unexpectedly rejected by Xie Tingyu, which further confirmed the stereotype that military generals were all fools. He had no choice but to call the housekeeper and tell him in detail about the changes that had taken place in recent days.
It's said that during the Great Zhou's Northern Expedition, Pengcheng and Sikou fell to the Xianbei. Although they were later recaptured by Wang's army and returned to the Great Zhou, many Xianbei captives remained after the war, most of whom were purchased as slaves by aristocratic families. Following the narrow victory in the Northern Expedition, a surprising number of Xianbei women migrated south to Pengcheng. All were strong but scarred, seemingly near death. Ultimately, they were all purchased by Wang Ning and used as bodyguards.
Most of these guards were unaware of the Great Zhou Han dialect, though the leader spoke a few words, albeit haltingly. Originally, Wang Ning's tax manipulation and tampering with the Bai register had nothing to do with these Xianbei guards. However, they had taken advantage of Wang Ning's banquet, sneaked into his inner chamber, and assassinated him. They then exploited Wang Ning's harsh policies to stir up public anger, and, with the help of a Xianbei woman, seized control of several towns in Pengcheng.
This woman was not only a skilled warrior but also well versed in military tactics. She also had advisors under her command, leveraging Wang Ning's evil policies to incite popular sentiment, and her influence grew immensely. The local nobles initially dismissed her as a mere Xianbei slave, unable to achieve anything significant. However, they were repeatedly defeated, and their plan to quell the rebellion without alerting the imperial court was dashed. They were left with no choice but to desperately seek assistance.
The housekeeper looked worried. "Their forces are growing stronger and stronger. It's estimated that there are at least 60,000 to 70,000 of them. They have already occupied Pengcheng, Fuyang, Sikou, Xiapi, and even Liu County, which is affiliated with Pengcheng. The situation is really not optimistic."
Xie Tingyu raised his eyes and stared at the map on the screen. His eyes were like blades, sweeping across the mountains, rivers and borders inch by inch.
Although this person has now wandered into the territory of the Great Zhou, if she is secretly connected with the Xianbei, her connection with the north must be cut off first.
Since ancient times, Sikou has been a vital thoroughfare for north-south traffic. If one wishes to capture it, one must first seize this city. This way, once the enemy is routed, the waterway can be blocked and all captured.
Next, we should take Liu County. We cannot confirm whether this person has any contact with the Xianbei. If we first seize the northernmost city, we won't have to worry about someone stabbing us in the back when we capture Pengcheng.
With this thought, in just ten breaths, Xie Tingyu had already imprinted the entire map in his mind. Suddenly, a pen floated across his mind, sketching on the map. The sequence of the expedition's route suddenly became clear as a picture.
Yuan Wangshu and Wang Lanzhi approached Xie Tingyu together, and the three of them discussed military affairs in a low voice. On the other side, Cui Yuanying was in high spirits, chatting with Liu Xi about the gossip of Pengcheng with a curious heart.
Liu Xi shook his head and sighed, "We had invited several young ladies from the aristocracy to a banquet, and I was among the guests. However, that night my grandson-in-law gave birth to a child, so I had to leave early. The next day, I learned that all the attendees had been slaughtered, with only one remaining."
Having said this, she leaned heavily on her cane, her brows slightly furrowed, as if searching for something from the depths of her memory. "I remember that Ji Yao from the Ji family of Luoyi was the one who was left behind."
Xie Tingyu paused as she uttered the words. Her eyes narrowed, a cold expression on her face, like a patient wolf waiting for its opportunity, and she instantly fixed her gaze on Liu Xi.
Cui Yuanying asked again in confusion: "How can you be sure she is not dead?"
Liu Xi replied calmly, "All those who attended the banquet were beheaded and hung at the city gates for public display. I sent someone to carefully count them, but her head was not among them."
Xie Tingyu spoke, his voice as cold as a knife: "Why is Ji Yao in Pengcheng? Shouldn't she have died in the Northern Expedition?"
As soon as these words were spoken, a moment of deathly silence fell in the tent. Everyone looked at each other, secretly surprised and baffled: Why was Xie Tingyu so sensitive about an old friend? She was just a child during the Northern Expedition, so where did the deep hatred come from?
But in fact, Xie Tingyu really had a grudge against this person.
Ji Yao was originally from a branch of the Ji clan in Luoyi. When the previous emperor recruited members of her clan to serve in the Jinwu Guard, she and Xie Tingyu were assigned to the same team.
This woman was arrogant and conceited. She repeatedly tripped him during patrols, and during autumn bird hunting, her arrows repeatedly collided with Xie Tingyu's. She clearly wanted to use her status as a Ji family member to gain an advantage, but Xie Tingyu was known for his vengeance. He tackled her to the ground in public, and also beat several people who tried to dissuade her.
Although there was reconciliation on the surface, the knot had already been formed.
Later, when Wang Zhuozhang was recruiting personal guards, Ji Yao was selected, and she even secretly competed with Xie Tingyu for credit. Although Xie Tingyu disdained credit and prestige at the time, who was she to compete for it? When someone you dislike appears, it's really annoying if they even take things you don't want. For Xie Tingyu, the moment she saw this person, she felt uneasy, and a nameless anger was about to burn.
Although Liu Xi didn't understand what he meant, she still replied, "Rumor has it that during the Northern Expedition, she carried the body of the late General Wang Zhuozhang, evading detection and returning to our camp. She was rewarded by the late emperor and was granted the position of supervising military forces in Pengcheng."
Xie Tingyu looked at Wang Lanzhi, "Is that true?"
Wang Lanzhi shook her head. "At the time, I was only concerned with my mother's remains and didn't pay attention to these things. If that were the case, I should have rescued her."
Xie Tingyu remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.
In the end, everyone agreed to wait for the right time and choose a night with heavy snow and wind to attack Sikou.
However, although Xie Tingyu, as the military commander, was supposed to guard the rear and supervise the troops, she refused to remain there. She ordered five hundred elite soldiers to accompany her and personally led the charge. Yuan Wangshu also insisted on going with her, under the pretext of fulfilling an old agreement to protect her every step of the way.
"Xie Tingyu." Yuan Wangshu whispered, "Are you really okay?"
"No problem. I'm here, and I'm familiar with the route. I can take you directly to the commander's residence and explore the food and sward along the way."
Yuan Wangshu looked at her doubtfully, "You've never been here before, so how can you be familiar with this place? Don't lead us into this trap. My life and property depend on you."
Xie Tingyu patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
The sentry's eyelids drooped from the cold night, and he vaguely saw a group of dark shadows approaching. Just as he tried to see more clearly, his throat suddenly ached.
It was actually an arrow that broke through the air, as fast as a strong wind, and went straight into the throat. Without even having time to scream, he fell straight down.
Xie Tingyu retracted her horn bow and waved her hand. The Northern Army soldiers behind her drew their grappling hooks, their iron hooks precisely slid into the notches in the city wall. Their orderly movements were the fruit of her days and nights of training. Like monkeys climbing a wall, they leaped onto the city wall in an instant. Ring-handled swords flashed a few cold flashes, blood gushed out, and sentry heads tumbled down. Before they could alarm anyone, the gate capstan was firmly under control.
Yuan Wangshu stayed close to Xie Tingyu, following her every step. Before she could even unsheath her sword, Yuan Wangshu had already struck, slashing down the lurking enemies one by one, without even needing Cen Xiu's reminder. He fulfilled his duty of protection to the utmost.
"I think you are quite suitable to be my bodyguard." Xie Tingyu joked in a low voice.
Yuan Wangshu was stunned for a moment, then turned his face away and snorted coldly, "You're dreaming."
Xie Tingyu said nothing more, leading the others on their way. In the darkness, they moved like stalking wolves, silently slipping past the wall. As she had predicted, after the rebels captured Sikou, they seized the former commander's residence.
After sneaking in, she leaped onto the roof, surveying the courtyard and accurately locating the guard's position. The snowy night was still, and the guards within were all dozing. Suddenly, a dark figure descended, wielding a sword. A flash of blood appeared, and the guard's head tumbled to the ground beneath the eaves.
The guard in the mansion was still snoring loudly, his dream still lingering as a cold light flashed across his neck. In an instant, a column of blood spurted out, splattering the bedding. On the bed, only a headless corpse remained.
Xie Tingyu immediately ordered his men to set fire to the grain and grass, and flames shot up into the sky.
Overnight, only 500 people captured a city.
The next morning, an urgent report of military intelligence arrived in Jiankang, carried by a specially appointed official and delivered at full speed by the post station. The news shocked the court, and the people of the city spread the story endlessly. Xie Tingyu's swift victory over the enemy sent his prestige soaring, and word spread that he resembled Wang Xuanji.
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Author's Note: Updated. I am a role model.
I will force myself to write again tomorrow.
When I posted this, it already had 2296 collections. I wonder if I can break 2300 by the time I wake up tomorrow.
2300, my family. (That's all I've achieved so far.
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